Yesterday, at around 1:00 pm, I texted my manager.  No way was I going to give any ground for her to "forget" that I need a run this weekend.  Friday's paycheck was abysmal and next paycheck will have $0.00 because of her mistake last weekend.  She texted back yes, in the affirmative of my question about getting a run.

Well, 6:00 pm comes around and I still haven't received anything so I texted her again - informing her of last paycheck's amount and next paycheck's amount -- which will be nothing. She said she sent one at 3:30. I never received it and obviously she never sent it, cause magically, 2 texts showed up with the same run.  I was disappointed I was going out today/Saturday, let's get this thing rolling, but I wasn't disappointed that it's a minimum 3 day run with the occasional prospect of detention time. 

Mapleton, Illinois.  And looking at the weather stats? It's freaking cold up there!  26 degrees up there right now, feels like 15.  And going down to 6 degree tonight.  I know, some people think that's a warm summer's day, I'm not one of those people.  Fortunately, I do not have to unload the trailer at that place and I can stay indoors where it's nice and toasty. Detention or not, it's a good run with decent pay.  I could conceivably get back in time for a short trip somewhere, doubt it tho.  Not the way loads are being handed out right now.  I'll be lucky if I don't have to sit 2 days when I get back.

Looks like I'm going to miss that storm that is sweeping across the nation up there, thankfully.  Snowing today in that entire region but by the time I get up there, the roads should be clear. 

Oh well, another day off.  I love off time, but not when my finances are being affected by too much of it. 

Smoked some lovely pork ribs yesterday.  I really love smoking meats and have gotten pretty good at it now.  Smoke for 3 hours or so, then put pats of butter on top of the meat, wrap it up in foil or red butcher paper made specifically for smoking and either put it back in the smoker or just throw it in the oven for the rest of the cooking.  Purists will continue to leave it in the smoker, even tho the meat is receiving no smoke. It's just easier to set the oven at whatever temp - depending on how much time you have - and finish out in there.  I didn't have much time available so I set it at 325. Around dinner time, the ribs came out perfect.  Pulled back up the bones, softy, tender and juicy.  Delicious smoked flavor with the perfect seasonings. 

No smoking ambitions today, it's my version of cold outside coupled with wind and I have no desire to freeze.  Now, I could build a pit fire and deal with the cold, but I really just feel like staying in doors today.  I'l have plenty of time out in cold, potentially icy road conditions coming up, a day hibernating is not a bad thing  Plus I'm thinking to rearrange my room. 

I don't like where I have my dresser and I want to move it to another location which I think will make it blend into the design of the room much nicer.  I kind of regret buying all those framed pictures the other day in light of my paycheck situation. They are all hung perfectly and no taking them back tho lol.  I also bought a nice little stand for my Keurig machine in the bathroom, tho if I move the dresser, I should be able to build the stand and put it where the dresser was along with another piece of furniture - of which I don't particular like but right now is not a good time to go furniture shopping. I also want a new futon and replace this old thing.  That's about $160 plus shipping and tax - again - not a good time.  I could, of course, put it on a credit card and not delve into my checking account.

Could but won't.  My Christmas balances have been transferred over to my Citi card at a much lower rate, I intend on paying that off in the next couple of months - if - work picks up or at least holds out to what I'm doing now.  Anything less and I'll have decisions to make.  As it stands, I've put in some applications and there may be decisions to make anyway. 

Results of just 2 workouts have been amazing.  Enough so that it absolutely motivates me to keep pumping that iron.  It was the inevitable second phase of the diet.  I dunno if I'm just not going to lose any more weight or if I'm at a "new" ideal weight or what, but I'm stuck at 202 pounds.  199 pounds - which would have been a nice milestone to hit - has been elusive.  I'm basically 15 to 20 pounds off from where I wanted to be.  The only thing I can think of to do now is just really cut back on caloric intake.  Maybe 1000 per day range. 

___________

Well, new set of Ketosis strips. Finally back into full fledged ketosis.  Not really sure what threw me out, but it seems it takes quite a while to get fully back into it. 

And with that, I think I'll get busy doing some cleaning and rearranging in my room. 

G'day.