May 27th, 2010 / 3 Comments » / by Greis
So, I figure I should lighten things up around here after yesterday’s post.
I went to the Taylor Swift concert last night. I had an absolute blast! Taylor definitely knows how to put on a pretty amazing show!!
There were pre-show watermelon margaritas…
Kellie Pickler opened…
Light up signs were out in full force…
There were costume changes…
Guitar picks were thrown & caught…
And lots of confetti fell…
It was a fun night!!!
Posted in: Random
Tags: Concert Review, Taylor Swift
May 25th, 2010 / 50 Comments » / by Greis
We have to find peace with the way we look and get on with life.
- Roger Ebert
I’ve made it no secret that I struggle with weight issues. Weight has been an on-going battle in my life since my freshman year in high school. Back then, 1993 to 1997, I fluctuated between 145 and 160 pounds. Back then I was considered FAT. Today, 150 pounds is my goal weight.
My weight, along with so many other things, has affected my day to day life. I have horrible self esteem, I don’t date, I’m pretty sure that I run friends off, because, in my mind, who wants to be friends with the “fat” girl, my lower back aches daily and I can’t climb a flight of stairs or walk across a parking lot without struggling to breathe. Issues, I have them!!!
Growing up we always hear that people should love you for you. They should love your heart, your soul and your inner self. We hear that the outside doesn’t/shouldn’t matter. Unfortunately, society sees it differently. What you look like on the outside does matter. When you’re over weight people treat you differently. People look at you differently. People are quick to judge. They think you’re useless and lazy and can’t say no to food. Yes, for some of us, this may be true, but for others it’s not. Excessive weight may be a medical issue or depression or a slew of other problems.
I know that my “true” friends don’t care if I weigh 100 pounds or 500 pounds. They don’t care if I wear make-up daily or not. They don’t care if I shop at discount stores or department stores. My “true” friends love me no matter what. I know that, I cherish that, but it doesn’t change the way that I feel on the inside. It doesn’t change the fact that I question my friendships constantly. It doesn’t change the fact that I’m insecure. It doesn’t change the fact that when friends don’t call or text or invite me places I feel left out and wonder if my friendships are real. These are all thoughts/feelings that I’ve had to work on for years. It’s an on-going work in progress.
I’m currently at my HEAVIEST weight ever. To reach my goal I need to lose 155 pounds. (Go ahead, do the math!) Yes, you read that right, I.NEED.TO.LOSE.155.POUNDS!!! *sigh* Today I am considered morbidly obese, oh what I wouldn’t give to be my high school “fat” size again!
I’m not happy where I’m at and I’m not proud of some of the choices that I’ve made in life. I’d like to tell you that there’s a medical reason behind my weight. There’s not. I’m lazy, I hate the gym (when you are over 300 pounds the gym is not your friend) and I absolutely LOVE “bad for me” foods.
I’ve tried diet after diet after diet. Some have worked and some not so much. I’ll excel at a diet for a a few months and then go back to my old ways. I’ve lost weight in the past, but as I’ve gotten older it’s become harder to motivate myself. It’s become harder to lose the weight.
This summer I’ll be taking a BIG step in my weight loss journey. After a lot of research and soul searching I’ve decided, with the guidance of family, friends and my doctor, to undergo gastric bypass surgery. I’ve completed all of my pre-approval paperwork and have attended all of the insurance required classes. My doctors office has now submitted my paperwork to the insurance company and upon approval (my insurance covers 90%) the date will be set. I’m confident in my decision and also scared and nervous, it is surgery after all.
I know that surgery won’t fix everything. I know that I will have to continue to work on my inside issues and will have to change my life FOREVER. Surgery is a tool to help with weight loss. The commitment and change that will lead to success will have to come from me.
I’ve talked to friends that have, themselves, undergone the surgery. I’m aware of the side effects and the endless list of things to expect. I know this journey will by no means be an easy one. It will take strength, love and LOTS of support to get through. My family is supporting me 100% and I hope that you, my friends, will too.
Posted in: Random, Real Life
Tags: Gastric Bypass Surgery, Self, self-esteem, surgery, Weight Loss
May 18th, 2010 / 20 Comments » / by Greis
It’s been one of “those” days.
A time standing still kind of day.
A day that seems like it will NEVER end.
And because it’s one of “those” days here are some random thoughts, because sometimes random is good.
- I canceled my trip to NY in August for Blogher. I’m quite bummed about not going to the Big Apple and seeing my friends for a weekend of fun, but sometimes life gets in the way.
- One of the main reasons for canceling is because I will be having surgery. The date is not set in stone yet, but it will happen, most likely in July. I’ll discuss the surgery more in a future post, promise!
- Another reason for canceling…a friend is getting married in San Diego in September. It was going to be too hard to make both trips, so close together, so I picked a friends wedding. I’m excited, but still bummed I’m missing out on NYC!
- I will not be missing BlogHer 2011!
- And if all my stars align I might even make it to Blissdom 2011.
- I am very happy with the outcome of Survivor.
- I was not very happy with Dell being killed off on the season finale of Private Practice.
- The season finale of Grey’s is this week. The previews make it look all happy, happy, joy, joy until of course the shooter arrives. Then it’s all intense and scary and I’ll probably end up crying!
- Neil Patrick Harris is on GLEE tonight. This makes me happy!
- I watch too much TV.
- I share a cubicle wall with the LOUDEST person in our office. He is horribly loud and it takes every ounce of my being not to yell at him EVERY.DAY. I wish he would change cubicles, shut up or just use his inside voice for once.
- The best bit of random that I have….
- I’m going to be an Aunt!!!
- My future niece or nephew is due December 6, 2010.
- I think it’s a boy, but really hope it’s a girl.
- Girls are so much more fun to shop for.
- My wallet is not very happy!!
- That is all have a great week!
Posted in: Random
Tags: Randomness
May 11th, 2010 / 20 Comments » / by Greis
When it comes to blogging I’m a follower.
When I see fun meme’s or great ideas I’ll totally post them here too.
What can I say, I’m pretty boring like that.
Some of my favorites have posted their 101 lists. They have given themselves over 1,000 days to complete a list of 101 things/tasks. I’m a slacker and really don’t want to commit to completing a list by a certain day, and I don’t want to commit to a set number of things/tasks. So I’ve titled my list Things To Do Before I Kick the Bucket. So as long as I don’t die tomorrow or in a week or even sometime within the next few 20 years I figure I’ll have some time to get these things done.
I’ll be updating my list with new things as I think of them and I’ll be crossing things off as I get them done. I don’t promise that they’ll EVER be completed. 
Things to do Before I Kick the Bucket
- Throw out the 1st pitch at an Astros game
- Go to Australia
- Go on an Alaskan Cruise
- Sit in the Diamond Club at an Astros game
- Get married
- Have a child
- Meet Justin Timberlake
- Attend a taping of the Oprah Show
- Attend a taping of the Ellen Show
- Lose 150 pounds
- Buy a house
- Work out with Jillian Michaels (in person)
- Visit all Major League Ballparks (preferably while the Astros are there)*
- Spend a few weeks (2 or 3) in California traveling the Pacific Coast Highway
- Go to the Grand Canyon
- Go to Washington DC
- Travel to Canada
- Go on a Hawaiian Cruise
- Go back to Germany (where I was born)
- Visit the Eiffel Tower
- Ride in a hot air balloon
- Create my family tree
- Get a college degree
- Visit all 50 states (not just driving through)**
- Travel by train
- See “real” snow (not fake Texas snow)
- Visit New York City during the holidays
- Run a 5K
- Get another tattoo
- Go to Ireland
- Sit front row at a Kenny Chesney concert
- Go to a SuperBowl game
- Own a MacBook
- Own a DSLR camera
- Learn to play golf
- Have Lasik eye surgery
What’s on your list?
*MLB Ballparks I’ve been to: Astrodome (Astros), Minute Maid Park (Astros), Arlington Stadium (Rangers), Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium (Mets), Old Busch Stadium (Cardinals)
**States I’ve been to (not just driven through): Arkansas,California, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Texas
Posted in: Random, Real Life
Tags: Bucket List, Randomness
May 9th, 2010 / 4 Comments » / by Greis
to my friend…
my MOM!
I may not tell you how fantastic you are as often as you deserve, but I hope that you know today, tomorrow and always that I love you and am so grateful to have you in my life. You are there to hold me when I may be falling. You are there with a smile when I’m standing tall. You are there for me always…I’m one lucky girl!
Thank you for everything that you do! You are an amazing woman, an amazing friend and most importantly an amazing MOM!! (And you’re going to be an AMAZING grandmother to my future niece/nephew!)
I LOVE YOU, MOM!!
Posted in: Family
Tags: Family, MOM, Mother's Day
May 6th, 2010 / 4 Comments » / by Greis
Back in 1997 (wow, that sounds so long ago) I was a senior in high school. I loved every minute of my senior year, it was by far my most favorite year in school. I was shy (still am to this day) with horrible self esteem issues (yes, still have those too) and didn’t date. Looking back it’s not that I wouldn’t have dated, because I totally would have, but I wasn’t the girl that guys looked at like that, and if they did look at me like that they never let on, or maybe I just never noticed. But, I digress…
I knew going in to my senior year that I would, with out a doubt, be attending prom. I didn’t want to miss out on the BIGGEST event in my high school life. I looked forward to dressing up, riding in a limo and dancing the night away with friends. Prom was scheduled from April 25, 1997, by February I had purchased the dress, but I still had no date. I definitely wanted a date for the night, but knew that there was a chance that I might be attending prom alone.
By March I had decided that if I was going to have a prom date I would have to do the asking. Again, not a big deal, but it definitely didn’t help my already lacking self esteem issues. There were 2 friends that I thought about asking to the big dance. One was a sophomore who I knew through a friend and the other was a junior who was, at the time, dating someone else, from another school.
I asked the sophomore first. He declined my invitation to the dance, he said he wanted to save the prom experience for his senior year. I couldn’t argue with that, but of course something in the back of my mind always thought he didn’t want to go with me. I dwelled on the rejection for about a week before I worked up the nerve to ask the junior.
Since the junior had a girlfriend asking him was going to be tricky. First I asked the girlfriend if she would mind, she didn’t. I proposed the idea of prom and limos and fun times to the junior after school one afternoon. A lot of his friends (some juniors, some sophomores) were going to prom so I thought he might say yes. He didn’t even have to think about it, he was all over the idea of a fun night out as friends.
As the big night approached we made plans to rent a limo with 2 other couples and go to dinner at a swanky Mexican restaurant and then head to the hotel for the event. I was getting pretty excited.
It was an unwritten rule that most seniors skipped school on the day of prom. I couldn’t let this rule die so I did what most every other senior did and stayed home. I made a hair, make-up and nail appointment for the morning/early afternoon so that I could make myself prom ready. Then I went over to a friends house to change into our dresses and meet up with the others. The limo arrived, we all took pictures and then headed to dinner.
Dinner was amazing and lots of fun. It turns out that most everyone had made the same dinner reservations. The entire restaurant was filled with prom goers, so it was basically one big party.
Prom was an amazing and fun time.
I enjoyed being with friends.
I enjoyed seeing everyone dressed up and dancing til our feet hurt.
We looked back at the past 4 years.
We received awards (I was voted Most Spirited Senior by my peers).
We danced our last dance.
And then it was over.
The after prom party, Project Prom, was held in our schools cafeteria. It was basically one really BIG lock-in hosted by the senior teachers and parents. Once you were in you weren’t allowed to leave until 7 a.m. the next morning. Most everyone attended. It was a party with casino games, large inflatables, games, door prizes, food and movies. It was a lot of fun.
Prom is a high school experience that I’m glad I didn’t miss and hope that everyone is able to experience, at least once in their life, a night as fun as I experienced that night.
Posted in: Girl Talk
Tags: Girl Talk Thursday, Prom, Randomness
May 5th, 2010 / 3 Comments » / by Greis
Posted in: Pets, Random
Tags: Astro the dog
April 30th, 2010 / 11 Comments » / by Greis
I went…
I saw…
I marched…
And then I had to leave!
We, I traveled with Magda, arrived in the Golden State on Wednesday afternoon. Our first night was spent around Mariah‘s kitchen table chatting and eating homemade salsa and chili and making new friends (friends who bring you cupcakes ROCK!). It was the perfect way to spend the night…low key and very relaxed.
We woke up early on Thursday and headed to the house of mouse, Disneyland. It was the perfect day for a Disney outing. The weather was cool, it was partly cloudy and there was a slight chance of “rain”. We were hoping the “rain” would keep the crowds away.
The crowds were NEVER a problem. The longest we waited in any line was 25 minutes (for the Toy Story ride). Our personal Disney Tour Guide and frequent Disneyland patron, Kathy, was pretty impressed with how short the lines were. We were able to ride all the rides and do both parks in one day. We were done by 7 and then spent an hour or so strolling through Downtown Disney as we waited for Firework time. It was a pretty magical, yet tiring, day.
Disneyland totally wore us out. We decided we’d use Friday as a sleep in day. And sleep in we did. Around noon we finally decided to head out and Mariah & Chris drove us to Venice Beach. We walked along the Promenade and window shopped at the beach side stores and booths. The people watching was fantastic, the pushy medical “doctors” were not. After our leisurely stroll Mariah & Chris took us to In-N-Out Burger so that we could be properly initiated into the California culture. It was HEAVEN!!
Friday night took us to Marina Del Rey where we met up with 4 amazing women, and 2 very adorable kids, for dinner over looking the water. The beer mugs were HUGE and the food was great, but the time spent with friends was priceless! Thanks for including us in your dinner plans ladies!!
Saturday was the BIG walk. We Marched for Maddie.
The walk was such an amazing experience. To be with the Spohr’s and so many of their family and friends…the love for Maddie was radiating from deep within. I wasn’t sure how my back was going to do for a 3 mile walk. The pain was unbearable a few times. I would stop take a break and then push on again. I did it for me, I did it for Maddie, I did it for all the other babies!!
Saturday night was filled with friends, pizza, guitar solos and lots of baby lovin’!
Thank you Mike, Heather, Annabel & Rigby for inviting me to your home and for being such awesome hosts.
Sunday was my day to explore. I couldn’t leave California without seeing Hollywood, so I drove to Grauman’s Chinese Theater and hopped on a double decker tour bus.
The bus drove all around Hollywood and Beverly Hills. I could get on/off at any of the stops. I loved seeing Rodeo Drive;
and the Farmers Market/Grove.
I enjoyed my first Pinkberry;
and was giddy when I finally saw the Hollywood sign!!
Monday morning we woke up bright and early, headed to LAX and hopped on our plane headed to Texas.
I was bummed to be leaving the awesomeness of California. My trip was amazing and fun. The weather never rose above 70, there were no earthquakes, no rain and for 5 glorious days I had no allergies (no worries, they were back the second I stepped off the plane in Houston). If the gas prices and the cost of living weren’t so high I would totally move there.
Thank you to everyone that made my visit in the Golden State so awesome. I met so many wonderful people. People that I now consider friends. Thank you to Mariah & Chris for opening up their home & guest house to us. Without your hospitality and kindness the trip may not have been possible.
I can’t wait to go back!!!
**to see all of my California pictures check out my FLICKR page**
Posted in: Friends, Real Life, Vacation
Tags: bloggy friends, California, Friends, March for Maddie, Vacation
April 21st, 2010 / 3 Comments » / by Greis
The BIG day has finally arrived.
In just a few short hours I’ll be boarding a plane with @themaggers and heading west to the sunny (or rainy) hills of California.
The City of Angels awaits with its movie stars, swimming pools and beaches. It’s our own little #TexasInvasion and I’m so EXCITED!!! (can anyone take me to Justin’s house?)
This will be my first EVER trip to Cali and I’m looking forward to Disneyland, In-N-Out, Marching for Maddie and so many more awesome adventures that lie ahead. **Note to Earthquakes – you are not an adventure that I need, or want, to experience, so please stay away!!**
I’m also looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Lots and lots of new ones.
I’ll be back next week with pictures, stories and hopefully the start of a tan (if the weather cooperates with us!).
Posted in: Friends, Vacation
Tags: California, Vacation
April 11th, 2010 / 15 Comments » / by Greis
The following pictures were taken with my Casio EX-Z29
.
To check out all the other Weekly Winners head on over to Lotus‘ place.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame – Opening Day 2010
April 5, 2010 – Astros vs. Giants
First Pitch 2010…
Retired Numbers…
Concessions…
Everything’s BIGGER in Texas, even the boots!
April 10, 2010 – Astros vs. Phillies
This picture was taken with the Hipstamatic App on my iPhone.
Posted in: Photos, Sports, Weekly Winners
Tags: Houston Astros
