Success and Failure: Together again.

Yesterday was a baby shower luncheon thing for a friend, held at the Cheesecake Factory. I was sure I could be "strong" and had looked at the menu ahead of time, having chosen my entree and to have a goblet of strawberries for dessert. However, I truly did underestimate the pressure of being out with "the girls," which I can't even remember the last time I've done. I didn't drink, I did have my (*DELICIOUS*) salmon salad, aaaaaaaaaand then a slice of cheesecake, just like everybody else. Oh well. You know what? It was really good. I made the decision not to feel an ounce of regret. And now, it's over.

Mondays are my weigh and measure days. I started last Monday, and have been eating "core" (Weight Watchers) all week. I've been doing great, save for last night. If you "blow it," doing it the end of the week can be good or bad, depending. Good, because you don't notice the effects til the following week. So, in this instance, I had a nice weigh and measure session. I lost 5 pounds! And lost in almost every measurement. Hey, all those quarter-inches add up. Measuring, by far, tells me much more than pounds lost. There have been times in the past when I haven't lost pounds, but I could tell differences in my body. I always wished I'd been measuring the whole time. So this time I am! Anyway, the bad news is next Monday may not go so well, due to last night's meal. BUT, since I know so, I have a week to build myself up and work through it.

Our meeting is Wednesday this week instead of Tuesday, because the Circuit Overseer is at the congregation we share the Hall with. I kind of wish we always had the meeting on Wednesday. Oh, this reminds me....I made a "spiritual" schedule for myself, parsing out studying for the meetings amongst the weekdays. I was supposed to start it last Thursday, but forgot. Why Thursday? That's the day I start my Bible reading for the week. I've split it into thirds, Thursday, Friday, and Monday. Monday is also supposed to be study for the bookstudy day. So I guess I'm going to do the whole Bible Reading and Book Study today. Tuesday is studying for the School and Service Meeting. Wednesday is SUPPOSED to be field service. I've had that goal for I can't tell you how long. Then I've split the Watchtower between Thursday and Friday (along with the Bible Reading). Tuesday and Friday I need to go over service presentations, where applicable as well. I haven't scheduled in any "personal study" time in there. But this is a start. The hard part will be remembering to do it, since I've gotten so used to *not* studying.

Did I mention I had a job interview last Friday? I answered an ad on craigslist for a babysitter. It's for a lady who works from home a half a day a week. She advertised it for $7 an hour, but we agreed on $9. (I did my research and $10-12 came up as fair, being that it's two kids. I suggested 10, she countered with 9.) She wants me to get a background check, which is fine, and I know she's talking with someone else. I'm not positive if I've gotten it or not. She's supposed to contact me to make arrangements to do whatever needs to be done for the background check. Anyway, it's a 30 minute drive so I will use $5 in gas each trip, total. But, I figure that's $120 a month, sometimes more, that we don't have right now, and money is money. I can take Nolan with me, she seems great....I shouldn't pass it up.

I keep fantasizing, though, that the company in California I used to work for will call me and tell me the gal who was doing their A/R collections (from home in another state) had to quit, and offer it to me. $15 an hour, even for just a few hours a week, would really mean a lot right now. :-\

Baby is grunting. He'd woken from his nap a little while before I started writing. I'd peeked in on him and seen him sitting up in his crib, just hanging out. Now he's making noises to let me know he's up. What a sweetie.

I'm so glad I'm feeling good today. Hubby has the van because he had to travel today. (His car has no a/c.) So I'm planning some errands tomorrow. Looking forward to that too. Gotta go before baby gets too insistent. :)