I know you thought I was done blogging about the weather

but I had to lament one last time. Apparently WI doesn't get Spring weather until summertime. We have had temperatures in the 50's a small handful of times. We have made it to the low 60's twice. But Monday, we had snow. And today it is back to the 40's. I mean seriously, I didn't think the weather was like this unless you were in Alaska! I am so tired of being cold. We have not been able to turn the heat off yet this year. And there are still no buds on trees, nor any flowers blooming. When will it end????????

Bryan says he doesn't like that he is the butt of all my blog jokes...

So today I figured I would play that role myself.

For those who know me well, it is no big surprise that I have gained a lot of weight (60 pounds to be exact) in the last 3 or 4 years. You may recall how hot I was at Malinda's wedding - I know I do! I had worked hard and had reached my ideal weight. I was determined to wear a bikini that summer (something I hadn't done since high school). Alas, although my weight was great, apparently having two kids moved too much stuff around and I never quite found a two-piece that really showed off my new figure. I did however find a really beautiful white suit in Italy. You never saw that one? Did you miss the "white suit in Italy" part? I know that Italians bare it all at the beach, but the store owner assured me it was doublelined - anyhow that's another blog entirely!! At any rate, I was looking and feeling great.

Skip to January after that summer. Again, for those who know me well, you also know that I have had bathroom issues since I was a child (3rd grade to be exact). So after suffering in silence for many years (while not understanding how others never felt like they wanted to strip naked and lay on the cold bathroom floor and die while going #2) I finally decided to tell my doctor about it. She was very understanding, telling me I had irritable bowel syndrome (which I now highly doubt was an accurate diagnosis). She put me on some medicine and I was cured!! Literally - within 2 weeks I was a normal pooper. So, the doctor gives you a diagnosis, puts you on medication, you feel better. The end, right? Not quite...

Skip to March of this year. I am lamenting to my family doctor (my new one here in Sheboygan) that I cannot get my weight under control. I explain how I have put on over 60 pounds in less than 4 years and that I had not changed my lifestyle in any great way - I still don't exercise and I still eat just about anything I want. I explained that I had tried so many diets at this point, and that my body just wasn't responding well to any of them. He really didn't do much but say the same old doctor fall-back response of "eat less and healthier, and exercise." But by the third time I was complaining to him (and with 6 months of weight data since he had been seeing me showing that I had gained yet another 5 or so pounds) he started to listen. Then he started reviewing my chart. Which is when he let me in on the A-ha moment. "Stephanie," he says, "the medication you are taking [and have been for the past few years] for IBS has side effects. One of which is weight gain (25 pounds per year for the average user)." I was stunned into total silence. Was he serious? My doctor never told me anything about weight gain. And I liked my medicine - I could finally poop right!! But, like any good patient, I went home and googled. And what did I find - you guessed it. He was totally right. Patients gained an average of 25 punds per year while taking this medication. At this point you may be thinking - problem solved, story over. But not quite.

I began discussing with Bryan what the doctor had told me. I admit that I was really pissed off that my "cure" had done this to me, but I was scared about not having it anymore - I remember "before" very well. I also talked some with my mom, who of course touted the same old, "You are way too young to be on a lifelong medication. Quit being such a hypochondriac and drink a glass of prune juice a day. You'll be fine." (Anyone who knows my mom well need not be reminded that she thinks all things are cureable by sheer willpower...) Eventually I decided that she was probably right. Even the doctor said he would help put me on a natural food program that should do the trick without any medication. Funny how my first doctor never mentioned this option!! So that is what I chose to do - go off the medication and begin to get my figure back. [As an aside, something else my first doctor never told me - coming off the medication would be pure hell. I have not nearly enough room here to list all the side effects. Suffice it to say that I am still suffering from some 3 weeks after the last dose!]

Ther is a lesson to this post: Always do your research!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am happy to report that I have lost 7 pounds in the three weeks that I have stopped the medicine. I am pooping almost fine - at least fine enough not to want the old drug again. And I hope that this [see picture below] is a thing of the past. So there, Bryan, now I am the butt of the joke, literally!!



[Yes, it did happen in public. Yes, I was mortified. Yes, I lost all sense of pride in my body. But, it has also helped me to stay the course, withdrawal symptoms and all.]So, wish me luck!

You know you're Stephanie Eads if...

Every friend you have spoken to within the last 5 years and all your family members (including your new husband) is tearing up your email to "See if you've heard", or to "Let you know" the New Kids on the Block are reuniting for a new album and tour!

I am so there!! I cannot wait. I feel 12 again - seriously that giddy. Today at work, all the ladies around my age were literally tittering with excitement. Meanwhile, all the ladies around my mom's age were reminiscing about their own daughter's fanatical behavior for the Fab 5 from Beantown.

Do you think it is inappropriate to drag your two pre-teens along to the show with you while waving an "I Love Joe" sign?

P.S. Mom, when I am there this weekend, I so have to get my NKOTB memorabilia out of your attic!!!!!!

Spring is Here!

Sort of...

Today we hit 36 degrees and it was sunny. The thaw out is in full swing! We have actually uncovered the limbs that we cut off our Christmas tree to put it in the stand (the night we set them out for the trash guys to pick them up it snowed something like 10" and they have been frozen solid ever since)! Hopefully the trash guys will get them this week. We have also uncovered tons of trash in our yard. The wind here is unbelievable, so you never know what will come blowing onto your property. Then, the snow entombs it for the season. I spent a good hour picking all the junk up out of our yard. The only problem is that we still don't have a yard yet, so I was completely covered in mud. I am not sure my shoes are salvagable!!

Bryan's main "spring" task was to replace the mailbox. You may remember that the plow finally took it out. For a while we were able to prop the mailbox in the snow and that worked ok. But, now that we are thawing out, there isn't a tall enough pile of snow to prop it in. The mailman hasn't left us our mail in about 3 days now, so we couldn't put it off any further. You would think this would be a simple project, but trust me, it wasn't! First we had to get the old post out. Since the ground is still frozen solid, we had to use several gallons of hot water around the base to thaw the dirt enough that we could scoop it away from the post. It took a LONG time! Then, Bryan had to use his many tools to [basically unscrew] remove the post from the base in the concrete. At any rate, the removal process was a tedious one. Enter new mailbox - I let Bryan have his way and get one of those Rubbermaid, hideous beasts of a mailbox (what do I care, I'm moving)! He did the install completely on his own, but it did include pouring more concrete...why, I don't know. I think he just wanted to play with concrete. I didn't want to point this out, but I think he just concreted over the tons of bulbs we planted there in the fall!! So much for the beautiful flowers around the mailbox this spring.The sucker is in and not going anywhere. And since it is that plasticy material, I think it will be able to withstand both the snow and the plow. Only one downfall - it is completely crooked. Bryan had the level out and was driving by trying to make sure it was the perfect height for getting the mail from your car, but apparently he forgot to make sure it was square to the curb. When I did point that out (come on, I can't hold everything in) he said he did it on purpose because the road curved a little and the mailman would appreciate it! Was he serious?!?!?! But again, who cares - I'm moving!!

Ah, the spring outdoor projects begin!

You think you have problems??

Mom can't decide whether to stay or move. Aunt Jeanne has TV troubles. Mindy has no idea how to care for an orchid. Well, I have bigger problems...


Did you see it? My big problem?? Here is a close-up in case you missed it:


He can understand compensation problems all over the world, yet not grasp the concept that thick, white athletic socks are not to be worn with loafers!!

Ok - so I know I am obsessed with the weather,

but, really that is all that I have! I mean come on, no malls or other noteworthy stores, one theater (that is totally overpriced, so we go rarely), no good chain restaurants, and no friends. So really, all we have to break the monotony is the weather. And boy is it crazy.

Today, our high was -6, with a windchill of cold as shit. There was an advisory today for "blowing snow" - I had no idea what that meant. Now I do. Apparently, since this is such a flat, barren landscape, there is nothing to break the wind when it blows. And boy does it blow! Since there is so much snow on the ground and the wind is so strong, the visibility was like, 0, and then the snow was sticking and immediately freezing on the finally almost back to normal roads. What a mess!!

Tonight they are calling for much the same, with a few flurries. But tomorrow afternoon to evening, another snow advisory! They are calling for another 4-8 inches!! Can you believe it? I have never seen anything like this in my life! We may even get to squeak another snow day out of this...

Everyone keeps saying this is the worst winter they have had in years. Is it just our bad luck? I am telling you, my southern blood can barely take this cold! But I do love the snow!!

Snow Day Number 2!!

Well, we got another snow day today. We knew we were in for a big storm - it was far reaching all the way from Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas on up. It began at 6:00 Tuesday evening and is due to end tonight (Wednesday) at midnight. The snowfall total is not in yet, but I have heard 14-18". The reason we actually got off of school is because the snow was coming so fast (and blowing around so hard) that the plows could not keep up with it. I imagine they will get the roads cleared tonight and all will return to normal tomorrow.

Casualties of snow storms at the Bennett/Jackson's:

The trash has not been taken out in three weeks - our pickup day has happened to fall on the blizzard days each time!

The mailbox is completely buried after today's storm. Since Bryan is out of the country, I guess I will have to dig it out tomorrow morning before work. :(

The driveway is piled high and our snow plower we hired has not come by. Since Bryan is out of the country, I guess I will have to shovel it myself tomorrow - NOT! I guess I will have to drive up and down the driveway several times to pack it down to a driveable surface. Let me warn you, however, that this is not a Wisconsin advisable tactic as then the packed slush will turn to ice which will then cause a huge mess and can only be plowed by a professional.

My patio furniture (new this fall - too late in the season to actually use it, but at a great bargain!) is now completely covered by the snow drifts (for the 3 time this season). One chair has actually blown somewhere into the yard, so once the snow melts some, I guess I will have to brave the frozen tundra to retrieve it.


On another note, I suppose my family in Michigan probably had a snow day today due to the same storm. Not sure how much snow they got, but...

My family in St. Louis is probably also digging themselves out.

I saw where my family in Nashville had to battle Tornadoes.

All I can say is what a storm!!!