Here it is October and I have noticed that it has been a month since my last post. I do have a semi-valid reason this time though, my laptop is in the shop for some repairs, so I do not have access to a computer at home right now. LOL.
I just got back from a weekend of early hunting. Nebraska had an early, any weapon, season on does for the area where I usually hunt and, since I am not working yet, I thought it would be nice to spend the weekend trying to get some good meat. Didn't get any this time though. I saw 3 does during the weekend, up 3 from last year!!! I am going to try to go down there during the regular rifle season next month.
I have a temporary job now with Omaha Steaks, working in the warehouse. I will be driving a forklift starting next month. I will be starting on days and switching to nights in December. The job will run through the beginning of January and there might be a possibility of full time work after that. I will just have to wait and see.
Shawn is still at York College, he is coming home on Wednesday for fall break. Probably for a week or so. He seems to be doing pretty good, I haven't heard any complaints yet.
Shane is probably moving back home sometime this month. He is having trouble finding a job in the Chicago area and, as we all know, it is pretty expensive to live there. Especially with no or little income coming in!! He found out that his unit in Illinois is not shipping out next March like he thought. So, he is trying to transfer to a unit located in Council Bluffs, just about 2 or 3 miles from Anne's house. If he gets that transfer, he will be living at home at least till he gets a job and can afford a place of his own.
Shay is progressing in his schoolwork. He is on track to graduate at the end of the semester. Then he still wants to go into the Army after he graduates, hopefully after the wedding!!! LOL.
Anne is currently working 2 jobs, she is still at Ford Credit and now is working part time at Nobbies (a retail store for Oriental Trading Company). She is a team lead and works there 3-4 nights a week. She is like a manager over the other employees that work with her. Right now is their busiest season of the year, they do a lot of business selling Halloween supplies and costumes. Not sure if she will have to work on Halloween or not yet.
Shannon is due on November 12 with her second child (second GRANDCHILD!!!). Things are going pretty good for her so far. Julia is growing like a weed (don't they all?!). Walking and talking up a storm. She sure keeps us all on our toes!! My mom is coming up here sometime after the birth to help Shannon and Dave out, and will probably stay around here till our (my and Anne's) wedding in mid-January.
Anne and I have a new blog page for the two of us. It is titled "thenewgronseths". It is also here at blogspot.com
Monday, October 12, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Where has all the time gone?
Wow, I looked at the date of my last blog and didn't realize it had been that long since I had updated everyone about what is going on in my life. This has been quite a busy summer for the entire family for sure.
First of all, I guess you are interested in my Weight Watchers updates. After the last meeting in July, I stopped going. Mainly because there was so much going on for the rest of the summer that I didn't think I would be able to make the meetings regularly. My final weigh-in was 234.8 lbs. I have lost 35 lbs total since the end of January!!!! I feel so much better now and I am still trying to lose more. I want to get down to between 210 and 220 for my final weight. I haven't really weighed myself much since then but, when I had my colonoscopy last month (the dreaded age 50 test!!!), I weighed in at 235. Not bad considering it had been over a month since my last weigh-in. The results were good and I don't need another one for 5 years now. Just wait, you will all be there soon!!! Ha ha.
At the end of June, the boys and I went to a wedding for my nephew, Aaron. He is the oldest son of my sister-in-law, Lorna. Julia was the flower girl in the wedding. She was soo cute. She captured everyone's heart when she danced at the reception. It was real nice to see everyone again, we had not all been together since my mother-in-laws funeral in January.
In July, Anne and I went on a long motorcycle trip to Billings, Mt for a motorcycle rally. We took mostly back roads there and back. It was fun to go through small towns and see places that not many people see anymore. It was a great time and we met so many nice people there. It is nothing like what I heard Sturgis is like. Star Touring is a family orientated organization and promotes safe motorcycle riding for all ages. They sponsored a ride through the mountains this year. We got to go into the Rockies up to a place called Bear Tooth Pass. I have been in the mountains in a car and I can now tell you that that is nothing compared to traveling there on a motorcycle! I experienced the openness and vastness of God's creation so much more. Throughout the year, Star Touring also collects food and money to give to Feed The Children and helps promote them. One day of the rally, they had a ride from the convention center where we were all meeting to the fairgrounds in Billings. They had 2 semis full of boxes of food for the needy and over 420 motorcycles riding through town. It is so hard to adequately describe the feeling of being a part of that ride, having people standing by the street waving, people in cars waving as we passed by them. Once we got to the fairgrounds, we unloaded one of the semis and stacked everything in 2 lines. Then the people came to collect the food and other things we were handing out. We provided food and stuff for over 500 families that morning!!! It touched so many peoples lives and hearts that morning. Anne and I went to a town 40 miles west of Billings to look at some silver and the woman working there thanked us for what we had done the day before in Billings!!! We were shocked to say the least. Then, on the way home, we stopped at Little Big Horn (60 miles east)and someone there thanked us again!!!
When we were at the top of Bear Tooth Pass, I asked Anne to marry me. She said yes!!! We have finally set the date of the wedding for January 16, 2010. It will be held here in Omaha at the Vineyard Church. More to follow.
This past weekend, Anne, Shawn and I went to the LifeLight Music Festival in Sioux Falls, SD. It was Anne's first time and my second time. It was an amazing time, listening to so many different groups, all playing positive Christian music. Sunday night, the NewsBoys played to a crowd of over 100,000 people, all sitting (or standing) in an open field. It was amazing. We are definitely going back next year, hopefully with more people!!!
The week after we got back from the motorcycle rally, Anne and I went to her family reunion. What was surprising was that Shawn and Shay wanted to go with us!! Then, the day before we would leave, Shane called and wanted to come along too. My boys and Anne's girls (and the rest of her family) got along much, much better than we had expected (or even hoped for!!)
Shannon and Dave (and Julia) are doing quite well. Julia is growing up so quickly!! They went camping for the first time this summer, with Julia that is. The trip went very well. They are getting ready for the arrival of their second in early November. My mom will be coming to stay with them and help Shannon for a while after the baby is born.
Shawn is now in school at York College in York, Ne. He has this year and next year to finish up. I moved him and his stuff there in mid August He was pretty excited to be going and living on his own away from home. He is in an apartment with 3 other guys from the school and is doing pretty well.
Shane spent the month of July in the Mohave Desert with his Army Reserve unit, training. He has learned to drink his coffee black now, just like his grandma and grandpa, but not like dad. I still like mine with cream and sugar! His unit is preparing to go overseas early next year. He will be gone for a year or so.
Shay is finishing up some classes at school this semester and will hopefully have everything finished by Christmas. He still wants to go into the Army early next year, my fingers are crossed. He is enjoying himself learning to ride the motorcycle I bought and fixed up this summer. It is a 1981 Yamaha Virago 750. Not a real big bike and a good one to learn on initially. He really likes going out on rides with me, and with me and Anne sometimes. This summer, he talked me into letting him get a dog, so now we have 2 black labs running around the house!!! I didn't realize till later that I will be taking care of the two dogs while he and Shane are doing their Army tours. Oh well, the things we do for our kids :)
Last month, I lost my job at the hospital. I had mislabeled a patients specimen a second time in a year and the work rules state that twice in a year is grounds for dismissal. I am currently looking for work. I will keep you informed on my status. I am currently pursuing a few leads.
Now for a little about Anne. She is my age, born in February, divorced about 9 years. She has 3 children, 2 girls and a boy. Her children range in age from 27 (Jessica) to 23 (Mike) to 22 (Carol). Right now her two girls live with her and her son lives in Chicago. We are going to be living here in my house after the wedding, and her girls will be renting her house from us. She works for Ford Motor Credit Company. She has 2 brothers and families along with her mother all living here in the Omaha area. They are all happy for us. I hope you can all meet Anne soon.
First of all, I guess you are interested in my Weight Watchers updates. After the last meeting in July, I stopped going. Mainly because there was so much going on for the rest of the summer that I didn't think I would be able to make the meetings regularly. My final weigh-in was 234.8 lbs. I have lost 35 lbs total since the end of January!!!! I feel so much better now and I am still trying to lose more. I want to get down to between 210 and 220 for my final weight. I haven't really weighed myself much since then but, when I had my colonoscopy last month (the dreaded age 50 test!!!), I weighed in at 235. Not bad considering it had been over a month since my last weigh-in. The results were good and I don't need another one for 5 years now. Just wait, you will all be there soon!!! Ha ha.
At the end of June, the boys and I went to a wedding for my nephew, Aaron. He is the oldest son of my sister-in-law, Lorna. Julia was the flower girl in the wedding. She was soo cute. She captured everyone's heart when she danced at the reception. It was real nice to see everyone again, we had not all been together since my mother-in-laws funeral in January.
In July, Anne and I went on a long motorcycle trip to Billings, Mt for a motorcycle rally. We took mostly back roads there and back. It was fun to go through small towns and see places that not many people see anymore. It was a great time and we met so many nice people there. It is nothing like what I heard Sturgis is like. Star Touring is a family orientated organization and promotes safe motorcycle riding for all ages. They sponsored a ride through the mountains this year. We got to go into the Rockies up to a place called Bear Tooth Pass. I have been in the mountains in a car and I can now tell you that that is nothing compared to traveling there on a motorcycle! I experienced the openness and vastness of God's creation so much more. Throughout the year, Star Touring also collects food and money to give to Feed The Children and helps promote them. One day of the rally, they had a ride from the convention center where we were all meeting to the fairgrounds in Billings. They had 2 semis full of boxes of food for the needy and over 420 motorcycles riding through town. It is so hard to adequately describe the feeling of being a part of that ride, having people standing by the street waving, people in cars waving as we passed by them. Once we got to the fairgrounds, we unloaded one of the semis and stacked everything in 2 lines. Then the people came to collect the food and other things we were handing out. We provided food and stuff for over 500 families that morning!!! It touched so many peoples lives and hearts that morning. Anne and I went to a town 40 miles west of Billings to look at some silver and the woman working there thanked us for what we had done the day before in Billings!!! We were shocked to say the least. Then, on the way home, we stopped at Little Big Horn (60 miles east)and someone there thanked us again!!!
When we were at the top of Bear Tooth Pass, I asked Anne to marry me. She said yes!!! We have finally set the date of the wedding for January 16, 2010. It will be held here in Omaha at the Vineyard Church. More to follow.
This past weekend, Anne, Shawn and I went to the LifeLight Music Festival in Sioux Falls, SD. It was Anne's first time and my second time. It was an amazing time, listening to so many different groups, all playing positive Christian music. Sunday night, the NewsBoys played to a crowd of over 100,000 people, all sitting (or standing) in an open field. It was amazing. We are definitely going back next year, hopefully with more people!!!
The week after we got back from the motorcycle rally, Anne and I went to her family reunion. What was surprising was that Shawn and Shay wanted to go with us!! Then, the day before we would leave, Shane called and wanted to come along too. My boys and Anne's girls (and the rest of her family) got along much, much better than we had expected (or even hoped for!!)
Shannon and Dave (and Julia) are doing quite well. Julia is growing up so quickly!! They went camping for the first time this summer, with Julia that is. The trip went very well. They are getting ready for the arrival of their second in early November. My mom will be coming to stay with them and help Shannon for a while after the baby is born.
Shawn is now in school at York College in York, Ne. He has this year and next year to finish up. I moved him and his stuff there in mid August He was pretty excited to be going and living on his own away from home. He is in an apartment with 3 other guys from the school and is doing pretty well.
Shane spent the month of July in the Mohave Desert with his Army Reserve unit, training. He has learned to drink his coffee black now, just like his grandma and grandpa, but not like dad. I still like mine with cream and sugar! His unit is preparing to go overseas early next year. He will be gone for a year or so.
Shay is finishing up some classes at school this semester and will hopefully have everything finished by Christmas. He still wants to go into the Army early next year, my fingers are crossed. He is enjoying himself learning to ride the motorcycle I bought and fixed up this summer. It is a 1981 Yamaha Virago 750. Not a real big bike and a good one to learn on initially. He really likes going out on rides with me, and with me and Anne sometimes. This summer, he talked me into letting him get a dog, so now we have 2 black labs running around the house!!! I didn't realize till later that I will be taking care of the two dogs while he and Shane are doing their Army tours. Oh well, the things we do for our kids :)
Last month, I lost my job at the hospital. I had mislabeled a patients specimen a second time in a year and the work rules state that twice in a year is grounds for dismissal. I am currently looking for work. I will keep you informed on my status. I am currently pursuing a few leads.
Now for a little about Anne. She is my age, born in February, divorced about 9 years. She has 3 children, 2 girls and a boy. Her children range in age from 27 (Jessica) to 23 (Mike) to 22 (Carol). Right now her two girls live with her and her son lives in Chicago. We are going to be living here in my house after the wedding, and her girls will be renting her house from us. She works for Ford Motor Credit Company. She has 2 brothers and families along with her mother all living here in the Omaha area. They are all happy for us. I hope you can all meet Anne soon.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Another Update
Well, here it is, another 2 weeks have gone by. Where does the time go??? At my last Weight Watchers meeting, I lost 2.4 lbs. So now my total weight loss is 31 lbs!!! When I started, I didn't think it would be possible to lose this much so quickly (and effortlessly!!), now it looks like I could be down in the 220's by the official start of summer. Well, barely, but still in the 220's. All I can say is that is really pays to watch WHAT you eat as well as HOW MUCH you eat. I am not saying that Weight Watchers is for everyone, but it has certainly worked for me!!!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
More News
Well, here it is May 12th and I haven't blogged since the 29th. Kinda sounds like me, doesn't it? Over the past 2 weeks I have lost more weight. My total weight loss so far since the end of Jan is 28.6 lbs!!! I am well on my way toward my goal of getting down to around 220 by summer, only 21 more lbs to get there!!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Personal News
Hey everyone,
Enough of the Weight Watchers program, now for some family news.
Shannon and Dave are expecting their second child now. The due date is Nov 12, which should make the holidays interesting this year. Not sure what everyone's Christmas plans are this year since my mother-in-law passed away right after New Years. Guess it depends on weather and the health of the children (grandchildren).
Shawn is almost finished with another year of school. Bellevue University recently went to trimesters, so he will be out towards the end of May. Next August, he will be starting school at York College in York, Ne. York is about 1-1/2 hours west of Omaha. He says he is going because their education program is better than BU, but I think a girl is involved in that decision. Recently, he introduced his girlfriend to us over a dinner. She is from Kansas and is currently going to York College, she will be a sophomore next term.
Shane is still in Chicago. He is working and trying to fix things up so he can finish his schooling. There is some sort of fee problem he is still dealing with. He is doing well in the Army Reserves, so far he has done only his weekend drills. I imagine his one week stint will be coming up shortly. Not sure if his unit will be going overseas next year or not.
Shay is less than a month from Graduation from High School. The last one to finish HS!!! His future plans do not include College at this time. He is signed up to enter the Army full time, and leaves for Basic Training (in Georgia!!) on July 14th. One week before his 18th birthday. Hope he doesn't get razzed too much during basic. We will be celebrating his birthday before he leaves. In between graduation and basic, he wants to get a job doing lifeguarding at the city pools. He took a lifeguard training course recently and now just needs to fill out an application. He is looking forward to this summer a lot. We just need to prod him to get through these next 4 weeks!!!
Now for me. With Shay leaving home on the 14th of July and Shawn leaving for college around the 20th of August, I will be on my own with just Max to keep me company. At least that is what I thought earlier this year. I am seeing a woman now. Her name is Ann, and we have a very special relationship. From the first time we met in person (Valentine's Day), we both felt we had a special connection We have lots of things in common, from our love of the Packers to riding motorcycles. She doesn't have one but she loves riding on the back of mine. We are getting pretty serious now, we are planning on getting married next year. The time/date is still up in the air. Shawn and Shay have met her already, I am not really sure how they feel about her. They seem to like her. This next month, with graduation picnics planned, Shannon, Shane and mom will be meeting her too. Nothing would make me happier than having my children accept Ann as a friend. She is in NO WAY trying to be a replacement for Lee at all, and I would not have her try to do that. She just wants to become friends with my children (and grandchildren), like she wants me to become friends with her 3 grown children.
The Saturday after Shay leaves for Army Basic, we are leaving for a trip to a motorcycle rally in Billings, Montana. We will be traveling about 900 miles there and 900 miles back, not including whatever riding we do during the rally. It will be a fun trip, we plan to travel about 300 miles or so a day there and back. Then, on Labor Day weekend, we are planning a trip to LifeLight Festival in South Dakota. It will be me, Ann, Shawn and Sarah (Shawn's girlfriend). It will be Ann and Sarah's first time to the festival, as last year was my first time, and they are excited to go after we have talked about it to them.
Enough of the Weight Watchers program, now for some family news.
Shannon and Dave are expecting their second child now. The due date is Nov 12, which should make the holidays interesting this year. Not sure what everyone's Christmas plans are this year since my mother-in-law passed away right after New Years. Guess it depends on weather and the health of the children (grandchildren).
Shawn is almost finished with another year of school. Bellevue University recently went to trimesters, so he will be out towards the end of May. Next August, he will be starting school at York College in York, Ne. York is about 1-1/2 hours west of Omaha. He says he is going because their education program is better than BU, but I think a girl is involved in that decision. Recently, he introduced his girlfriend to us over a dinner. She is from Kansas and is currently going to York College, she will be a sophomore next term.
Shane is still in Chicago. He is working and trying to fix things up so he can finish his schooling. There is some sort of fee problem he is still dealing with. He is doing well in the Army Reserves, so far he has done only his weekend drills. I imagine his one week stint will be coming up shortly. Not sure if his unit will be going overseas next year or not.
Shay is less than a month from Graduation from High School. The last one to finish HS!!! His future plans do not include College at this time. He is signed up to enter the Army full time, and leaves for Basic Training (in Georgia!!) on July 14th. One week before his 18th birthday. Hope he doesn't get razzed too much during basic. We will be celebrating his birthday before he leaves. In between graduation and basic, he wants to get a job doing lifeguarding at the city pools. He took a lifeguard training course recently and now just needs to fill out an application. He is looking forward to this summer a lot. We just need to prod him to get through these next 4 weeks!!!
Now for me. With Shay leaving home on the 14th of July and Shawn leaving for college around the 20th of August, I will be on my own with just Max to keep me company. At least that is what I thought earlier this year. I am seeing a woman now. Her name is Ann, and we have a very special relationship. From the first time we met in person (Valentine's Day), we both felt we had a special connection We have lots of things in common, from our love of the Packers to riding motorcycles. She doesn't have one but she loves riding on the back of mine. We are getting pretty serious now, we are planning on getting married next year. The time/date is still up in the air. Shawn and Shay have met her already, I am not really sure how they feel about her. They seem to like her. This next month, with graduation picnics planned, Shannon, Shane and mom will be meeting her too. Nothing would make me happier than having my children accept Ann as a friend. She is in NO WAY trying to be a replacement for Lee at all, and I would not have her try to do that. She just wants to become friends with my children (and grandchildren), like she wants me to become friends with her 3 grown children.
The Saturday after Shay leaves for Army Basic, we are leaving for a trip to a motorcycle rally in Billings, Montana. We will be traveling about 900 miles there and 900 miles back, not including whatever riding we do during the rally. It will be a fun trip, we plan to travel about 300 miles or so a day there and back. Then, on Labor Day weekend, we are planning a trip to LifeLight Festival in South Dakota. It will be me, Ann, Shawn and Sarah (Shawn's girlfriend). It will be Ann and Sarah's first time to the festival, as last year was my first time, and they are excited to go after we have talked about it to them.
Weight Watchers Update
Wow!! Just looked at when I posted last and didn't realize how long it has been. I won't bore you with the week-to-week details except that as of last week I lost a total of 26.2 lbs!!! I have lost 10% of my starting weight. Yesterday, I had gained 0.4 lbs back, but with the total weight loss my goal of 220 by summer seems more attainable now. And my ultimate goal of getting down to around 180 seems doable for the year. Time will tell. Just need to keep eating sensibly and exercise more.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Week 9
Good news on Tuesday - I lost another 2.8 lbs, bringing my total since Jan 27 to 22 lbs. I am 5lbs away from 10% weight loss, which I thought would be near impossible to achieve. Now it looks like I may reach that before this 12 week session is over in 2 weeks. There is a new session starting up in April and I think I may go to that also. I think the group support is helpful, the information is definitely a benefit to me. I just need to keep plugging away at it little by little.
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