Well, we won't be going there...

My mom was going to take me to a cupcake place here in El Paso so that I could check it out. I was really curious. The last bakery I tried here was gross. I bought all sorts of cakes and pastries, and they were terrible! Well, the cupcake place is closed today AND tomorrow, so I'll have to wait for my next visit. Uh, I might drive by anyway, you can't trust people's websites lately. Oh, I suppose I could call.
We used to go to Juarez to go grocery shopping. You know, pick up some Mexican Cokes and some produce. We were joking about going to the pharmacy over there and my dad mentioned that 8 people were shot in a restaurant on Friday. He said that at least 40 people have been killed since last Monday. There are shootings every day. I guess we'll just stay close to home.

Cycle Two

Yesterday my dad and I went for another ride. We started out on the levee and then moved into a new neighborhood (lots of empty lots and unsold houses). I was only able to manage three trips around the neighborhood. The levee was kind of cool. We could see the Rio Grande to one side and horses to the other. When we got into the neighborhood there was a truck with two dogs. So silly. People drive their dogs out to a semi-remote area and let them run round and poop everywhere while they just sit in their truck. There was dog poop everywhere in the park. We rode nine and a half miles, but it seemed like twenty. There weren't really hills, but some uphill areas, and we seemed to be going into the wind on those streets. It kind of reminded me of the ride Ross and I did in San Francisco. I was really worn out at the end of the ride. I also managed to do some weight exercises yesterday before the ride.
I was much better yesterday. I drank over 100 oz. of water and didn't binge eat. I don't think I even had one chip! We went shopping some more and mom bought me some work out tops. I think I'm all set for working out and for teaching now.

Black Friday

Well, Thanksgiving was swell. I ate way too much. I've been eating way too much since I got here. I think a big part of the problem is that I'm dehydrated and instead of drinking water I keep eating. I'm also eating out of nerves...and sheer opportunity. There is so much food in the house.
Today I went shopping with my mom. She ended up getting some stuff at Mervyn's because they are having a going out of business sale. I went shopping later with Ross. He got shoes and I got socks. We all got things we pretty much need. Well, we don't need those two video games we bought, but nothing else was frivolous.
Oh, I went to Wally World with my mom. That was a mistake. Apparently if you want any of the sale items you have to stand in a very long line. Forget that. I only bought some febreeze and used the self check out because there was no line.
I'm behind on my sleep, and on my water intake. Tomorrow I'll have to make a point of drinking 100 ounces of water, taking a nap, working out (cycling), and not over eating. Yesterday my dad and I went for a bike ride. We were going to go in the morning, but it was raining. We did about an hour of loops around the strip mall. There was only one store open, so we didn't have any problem with traffic. We rode a loop around Best Buy (where there were folks already camping out), Target, and Barnes and Noble. Since it had rained we had to avoid some puddles. I got splashed a few times. I think I've mentioned before how much I love the smell of the desert after a rain. It was wonderful. I hope tomorrow we can go riding down by the river.

Text Invitation

1:21pm: So tonight my baby will become my husband. 6 o'clock at ... It's a little chapel. Awh.

Yeah, so that's a text message wedding invitation my mom got yesterday. Only in El Paso.

I love Texas

Today I saw a really great bumper sticker. I'm not a huge fan of bumper stickers. I've never put one on my car. Today I saw one that I would actually consider putting on my car. The sticker said I Love TEXAS. So simple and sweet, and my sentiments exactly. It is November and a few days ago the high was 72. Some of the best manicured lawns in the neighborhood have dandelions in them. November and people are still wearing shorts. November and there was a ladybug outside today. I love Texas. I love not having state income tax and I love the weather. I love the people and I love the land. I love Texas.

12 Weeks

I can't believe it has been 12 weeks since I got my piercing. I have a second piece of jewelry, and it seems to be fitting nicely. I got really lazy before and after the dessert party and did not soak it regularly (if at all). I've started getting a lot of goo and blood out of it this week. I got unlazy and started soaking again and taking my vitamins. In the photo it looks like there is a cyst forming again, but I don't think there is. The pink area just above the bottom bead is just scar tissue.
I weighed myself this morning, despite my friend Hugo being here and eating a ton of salt in the last few days. I was 3 pounds up from my low (which happens to be where I was 12 weeks ago). I seem to just bounce between here and my low of 142.5. Grr. This week was not a good work out week for me. Next week is going to be crazy. I've told my dad that I have set a goal of biking 50 miles with him over the Thanksgiving weekend. I think that is completely reasonable.
There are five and a half weeks until the end of the year. I hope I can end the year at or below my low. I seem to have hit a wall, but Lord knows I'll bang my head into it until I break through or pass out. I'm nothing if not stubborn.

Speaking of Wrecks

I visit Cake Wrecks for a daily laugh. The other day I saw this ad in the sidebar and couldn't stop laughing.