November 8, 2011

I enjoy taking photos of the moon.  It’s a challenge to get a great shot, but when I get one, it’s very satisfying.  I feel like I’ve accomplished something awesome, even if it’s just something small.

I’m always shooting for the moon, so to speak.  Most of the time I miss, but at least I try.  I admire myself for that.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

I’d like to wish a very Happy Anniversary to Amy and Mason, who celebrate four years together today.  Congratulations!

Table Centerpiece from Amy and Mason's Wedding

Ford 1930 Prices

I was sifting through some old newspapers last night and came across this nifty little ad for a Ford dealership in Stevens Point, Wisconsin:

1930 PRICES
Pheaton $440
Roadster $435
Sport Roadster (With rumble, seat) $470
Standard Coupe $500
Sport Coupe $530
Tudor Sedan $500
Club Fordor $600
Standard Fordor $625
Cabriolet $645
Town Sedan $670
Deluxe Panel Delivery $350
Roadster Pick-up (Open cab) $430
With closed cab $460
1 1/2 ton Truck chassis with closed cab $610
1 1/2 ton truck, closed cab and stake body $575

(All 1 1/2 ton trucks equipped with 32×6 tires in rear and four speed transmission).

All Prices F. O. B. Detroit

STEVENS POINT
MOTOR CO.

Always Open

309 Strongs Avenue
Phone 82

A little inflation calculator satisfied my curiosity.  The top of the line model listed here, the Ford Town Sedan, had a price tag of a whopping $670 in 1930.  In today’s market, that would cost approximately $9,100.  Now I don’t know about you, but I think it would be really nice to own the top of the line vehicle for just $9,100 in 2011.  The cars I am looking at don’t come with price tags less than FIVE TIMES that amount.

What a difference 81 years can make!  Another cute thing to note about this ad: “Phone 82!”

As an addition to my original post describing the Concerts I had been to, here are all the shows I’ve seen since that time.  I’ve slowed down a bit on my concert-going experiences, but every now and then I still get out there to see one.

• 5/23/2009    No Doubt / Paramore / The Sounds
• 10/18/2009    Stone Temple Pilots
• 8/10/2010    Weird Al Yankovic
• 9/15/2010    Paramore/Tegan & Sara/New Found Glory/Kadawatha
• 1/16/2011    Air Supply
• 3/10/2011    Huey Lewis and the News
• 7/23/2011    Soundgarden / Marrs Volta
• 8/3/2011    Katy Perry
• 10/14/2011    Evanescence / Pretty Wreckless / Rival Sons
• 10/16/2011    Billy Idol  (scheduled for tomorrow!)

Here is a list of the different artists and bands I have seen perform live over the years – many of them multiple times.

1. .38 Special
2. 3 Doors Down
3. Abandoned Pools
4. Aerosmith (2x)
5. Air Supply (2x)
6. Akon
7. Alanis Morrisette
8. Alter Bridge
9. Annie Lennox
10. Beach Boys (3x)
11. Billy Gibbons (2006 Billboard Music Awards)
12. Billy Idol
13. Billy Joel
14. Black Eyed Peas
15. Blue Man Group (Complex Tour & Megastar 2.0)
16. Cheap Trick
17. Cher
18. Chevelle
19. Chicago (2x)
20. Choke 66
21. Chris Isaak
22. Cirque du Soleil Delirium
23. Counting Crows
24. Cyndi Lauper (2x)
25. Daughtry
26. Def Leppard
27. Depeche Mode
28. Dogs Eye View
29. Earth Wind & Fire
30. Elton John (2x)
31. Eric Clapton
32. Evanescence
33. Faith No More
34. Fergie
35. Genesis
36. George Michael (3x)
37. Godsmack
38. Go-Go’s
39. Gwen Stefani (4x)
40. Heart
41. Huey Lewis & The News (3x)
42. Janet Jackson (2x)
43. Joe Myers
44. John Mellencamp
45. Joss Stone
46. Kadawatha
47. Katy Perry
48. Kenny G
49. Kevin Eubanks & The Tonight Show Band (x2)
50. Kid Rock (2006 Billboard Music Awards)
51. KISS
52. Korn
53. Lacuna Coil
54. Lady Sovereign
55. Lenny Kravitz
56. Live
57. Ludacris (2006 Billboard Music Awards)
58. Luscious Jackson
59. Madonna (2x)
60. Marrs Volta
61. Mary J. Blige (2006 Billboard Music Awards)
62. Mase (on The Tonight Show, 2004)
63. Melissa Etheridge
64. Metallica
65. Michael Bolton (on The Tonight Show, 2006)
66. Motley Crew
67. New Found Glory
68. Nickelback (2x)
69. Nitza
70. No Doubt
71. Paramore (2x)
72. Pearl Jam
73. Pharrell (2006 Billboard Music Awards)
74. Phil Collins
75. Pink
76. Pretty Wreckless
77. Puddle of Mudd
78. R. E. M.
79. Red Hot Chili Peppers
80. Rival Sons
81. Rob Thomas
82. Rob Zombie (2x)
83. Robert Plant
84. Robyn
85. Rod Stewart
86. Sarah McLachlan
87. Shinedown (2x)
88. Smashing Pumpkins
89. Soundgarden
90. Stabbing Westward
91. Stone Temple Pilots (2x)
92. Tegan & Sara
93. The Fray (2006 Billboard Music Awards)
94. The Sounds
95. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
96. Toni Braxton
97. Tori Amos
98. Trapt
99. Video Games Live
100. Wallflowers
101. Weird Al Yankovic (2x)
102. White Stripes
103. Young Jeezy (2006 Billboard Music Awards)

Flowers From Andrew

Flowers from Andrew

Andrew bought me flowers earlier this week.  Aren’t they pretty?  They brightened up the bathroom quite nicely.  It was very sweet to walk in there every day and see them smiling back at me.  They really got me through a rough week.

My progress from my 33rd birthday to my 34th birthday

I started Weight Watchers one year ago today on September 20, 2010 with no idea what to expect.  The results have been nothing short of a miracle.

My entire life has been changed for the better.

Before I started, I could barely put on my shoes.  My knees hurt, my back hurt, and it was difficult to sleep.  I was sweating nonstop, even at rest.  I couldn’t bend over to pet the kitties.  I was on all kinds of medication for blood pressure and other health issues.

I forced myself to eat healthy and follow the plan, and the weight started falling off.  Slowly, I got in the routine of walking 5 minutes per day, and then 10 minutes, and then 15 minutes.  When I began my elliptical machine routine, I could only do 4 minutes before I was gasping for air.  I was so proud the day I actually made it 10,000 steps on my pedometer!

Today, I can jog for 15 minutes.  I can walk for an hour without breaking much of a sweat.  I can even do 45 minutes on the elliptical machine following one of the workout routines.

It took a long time to get where I am now, but here I am.

Two months into the program, I was already down 22 pounds.  I lost my first 30 pounds within 3 months on Weight Watchers.  It practically melted off.  By five months, I had lost 43 pounds.  It took me the next month to lose another 7 pounds, as it became a little more challenging.  Then, I hit ONE-derland on May 29th!  My first 50 pounds were gone!

My doctor’s pride was evident as she followed along with me through my journey, watching me every step of the way.  Eventually, she was able to slowly take me off of all my medications because my health improved so dramatically.

As summer 2011 began, I purposely took a break from the plan to make sure I could maintain the weight loss.  I weighed 200 pounds at the beginning of the summer, and by the end I weighed 198.  I call that successful maintenance, for sure!  I wanted to give myself a little break so I wouldn’t give up the program.  I have learned what my limits are in terms of portions and I know what I can eat to maintain a healthy weight, without strictly tracking points every day.

Now I’m back on the plan and actively working toward my next goal: 175 by February 1.  I am so excited!  For our 10th wedding anniversary on February 2, 2012 I will weigh less than I did when we got married (200 lbs)!  I’m shooting for 175 because I haven’t been that “skinny” since my sophomore year in college back in 1997 when I met Andrew.

It’s going to be great to celebrate our 10th anniversary healthier and more vibrant than when we met 15 years prior!

Learning how to shoot a .22 pistol

I don’t like guns.  Let’s just get that out of the way first, shall we?  I think Andrew was very surprised when I told him I wanted to go to Shooter’s World.

Those who know me best will recognize that I like to learn about things.  I have a curious nature, and I like to understand how everything works.  If you ask my DaD, he’ll tell you that I used to follow him around the house trying to help me fix stuff all the time when I was a toddler.  The drawer faces in the kitchen, the furnace and stove pilots, the washing machine cylinders… Those were all fair game for me to tinker with.

Loading a .22 pistol

I wanted to learn how to shoot a gun because it’s not something I am familiar with at all.  I’ve never held a real gun before.  I was (and still am) afraid of them.  In an effort to face the fear and to get some point of reference (pun intended), I went to Shooter’s World for some instruction on Friday for Ladies’ Night.

The staff members were very friendly and walked me through the entire process, from how to safely load the firearm, handle it, aim it, shoot it and safely unload it.  The range time and the gun rental were free for the first hour.  All I had to buy was a box of ammunition and a target.

It only took an hour, and now I have a much greater appreciation for the contestants on Top Shot!  I can officially cross this experience off my list of things to try before I die.

What’s on your list of things to try?  What is preventing you from doing it?

My little brother Noah is seven years old.  He sent me a birthday card this year that is truly the best gift ever.

Hi Jessack Happy Birthday Love Noah

My DaD included a note which explains:

Jess,

Noah says that while the Pteranodon flies overhead you (in the orange jumpsuit) help Noah hoist the crystal of friendship to spawn the heart-shaped gem of happiness to kick-off Noah’s ultimate half-pipe demonstrations and celebration for your birthday!  I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Love,

DaD

PS – Noah learned how to skateboard a few days ago!

Ty September Birthday Bear

Today is my birthday.  I absolutely love birthdays.  To me, this is my day to celebrate my life and all the wonderful things that have happened to me along the way.  I dream of all the things to come, and of all the great adventures I will be privileged enough to experience in the future.  To me, every day is a gift.  You can’t return it, so you may as well enjoy it and get the most out of every one.

Thank you to each and every one of my family and friends for being a part of my life.  Thank you to my readers for stopping by and for experiencing my writings.  Thank you so much!

My birthday wish is for each of you to have another year of amazing experiences and personal growth.  Live a little.  Laugh a lot.  Love your life.  You’re worth it.

Cheers!

My Ty Birthday Bears Collection