10/27/2018 - Motivation

Do you want to know great motivation to stick to a diet when all you've been wanting to do lately is eat?  Buy a house with a pool!  We close on November 26th (If all goes according to plan) and we move in on November 30th.  I will be wearing a bathing suit all summer long and I definitely want to feel comfortable in it!!

Here are a few pictures of our new home.  I can't wait to move in!!

We are going to live up north, just south of Platte City.  My commute to work will be about 35 minutes.  I had a check list and a short commute was on the check list, but it turned out everything else on my check list was more important.  When we saw this house we new it was the one.  Right now, the fence backs up to the pool area.  We are going to push it back a bit so that we will have a larger yard for the dog and for the grandkids to play in without going out of the fence.

It's my dream house.  We couldn't get an inn, but yes, I think this might be a better plan.  I have a job I love at the ACLU Kansas that I plan on doing for the rest of my working life (which will probably be most of the rest of my life), and we have found a beautiful home with an oasis for a back yard.  I've always wanted a back yard oasis!  Here it is.  And it has a beautiful home with a gorgeous kitchen to go with it.

We feel so fortunate!  The previous owner owns a company that does high end pools, landscaping and stone work.  He did all of the landscaping for this house and all of the upgrades inside, including the stonework on and around the fireplaces, the stone floor in the downstairs bathroom, the granite countertops in the kitchen and the stone facing in the wet bar.  He really did gorgeous work.

And it really is motivating to know that backyard will be ours.  I will feel confident and healthy as I am playing in the pool!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe we will see you there!

Now - to sell this house!!

Have a great weekend.  I know we will be busy with chores!!

10/20/18: Here we go again!

I have had a lot of trouble accepting the fact that I have gained a lot of weight and I need to do something about it.  Obviously, I know I have gained a lot of weight, but actually accepting this fact and taking action to do something about it is something I have been avoiding.  Avoiding by not looking in the mirror, avoiding by limiting the number of people I am socializing with, avoiding by hiding behind more food.

I hate admitting to myself that this is a problem that I will fight for the rest of my life.  I want to solve the problem and move on.  It just isn't working out that way.

I refuse to give up, though.  I will fight it.

Today, in about an hour, Lauren, my personal trainer from before I left for New Hampshire will be here.  She hasn't seen me yet but I told her how bad of shape I am in.  I am so self conscious about this.

First steps.  I have been looking forward to my first session with Lauren since the day we made the appointment.  I explained to her a long time ago that staying in shape (having a reasonable diet and a reasonable exercise routine) is one area of my life in which I need consistent help.  I have not been able to do this alone, even when I am in shape, I can't stay in shape without help.  For some reason, this makes me feel ashamed.  I feel like I should just be able to do this.  I know what to do, I know what to eat, I know how to exercise; but it has never been something I can do, consistently, without help. But when I have help, when I have a "rent-a-friend," I have the strength to do this thing.  I knew months ago that it would help me to call Lauren, but I wasn't working and couldn't justify the cost.  I started my new job a month ago, this is one of the things that I am going to pay for with my salary.

I wasn't planning on blogging again.  I thought I was done with this.  But as I was waiting for Lauren to arrive all of a sudden I had the urge to put this out there.  I guess it's my way of owning the fact that I have to start this process all over again.  Sad, but true.  Here we go.

This isn't about looking good, this is about feeling good.  I am in a lot of pain.  My feet and knees hurt.  I am uncomfortable.  I need to lose weight to be healthy and feel good.

It's not all doom and gloom.  I love my new job.  I am the Finance Director of the ACLU of Kansas.  It is an amazing organization that does incredibly good work.  I work with a dozen smart and caring people.  What a wonderful place to call home.  Jack and I have decided to stay in Kansas City, so we are looking for a new house, our forever house.  If I can't have an inn, then I can have my dream house!!  One of the things I am looking for is a back yard oasis.  I have always wanted a back yard that is my little escape from the rest of the world.  We found a house on realtor.com that has a gorgeous backyard, including a swimming pool.  We plan to go see it with our realtor later today or one evening this week.  I hope I like the house as much as I love the back yard!

Our puppy, Starbuck, has been a wonderful new addition to our family.  It's hard to believe she has only been with us 6 months.  She has most definitely won our hearts.  She's playful, loving, and smart.  One of the criteria for the new house is a yard for the pup!!

I need to go squeeze myself into a jogging bra.  Ugh.

Talk to you later.

Roberta

1/17/2018: Thank you!

I enjoyed reading all of the comments about the properties I listed yesterday.  I was a little surprised by the responses.  The biggest surprise was that the O-Bar-O Cabins Property on the Florida River wasn't more of a favorite.  China Clipper Inn appears to be the favorite, so far, with the Apple Orchard Inn close behind and the Abineau Lodge coming in third.  The O-Bar-O Cabins and the Kelly Place Inn were a distant 4th and 5th.  We spent a little more time researching Ouray (the home of the China Clipper Inn) last night, including its proximity to the nearest real grocery store.  The answer to that question is it is about a 45 minute drive to Montrose, which is the closest decent sized town.  That's not too bad, but it is a real drive, so we would have to be careful about making our grocery lists!!  Probably my biggest concern about Ouray is that the town is so small, with a population of 1000 in 2010.  There is a lot to do in the area, though, and tourism is vibrant in the area.  It is a real possibility.

We hope to add additional properties to our potentials list prior to our March road trip.  If you have suggestions for towns or specific properties in Colorado or anywhere in the 4 corners region, let me know.  An inn doesn't have to be "for sale" to be for sale; so all leads are welcome!

I'm still sugar free.  I'm not loving it, I'd rather be able to eat whatever the hell I want to eat, but life just doesn't work that way.  At the end of the day, I'd rather be healthy for the long run then eat sweets right now.

I've got books to do, so I'm going to sign off for now.  Have a great day.

1/16/17: Still Sugar Free and sneak peak at properties we are beginning to look at.

I know I haven't put up a blog post in the last few days, but I want to reassure you that I am still sugar free.  Yes, I have thought about eating sweets, already this morning I have had to tell myself no about 20 times.  I don't know if it is getting easier or not.  Perhaps it is getting easier, only because I've been sugar free for about a week and I don't want to "blow it."  I still have consistent cravings and I am eating a little more than I should if my goal is to lose weight.  Sometimes when the sugar cravings get intense I will eat some nuts or some wheat free crackers (Mary's Gone Crackers) with hummus.  I need to reduce/eliminate this snacking if I want to lose weight, which I do.  One step at a time.

My body feels better, both because of the elimination of sugar from my diet and the weight lifting.  I'm less creaky and sore and I am getting stronger.  I am beginning to recover from the abuse of the last 12 months.  The fact of the matter is that it hurt to be on my feet for 14+ hours a day, almost every day.  That was one of the lessons I learned from my experience as an innkeeper.  We need to buy an inn that can afford a small staff.  I can handle being on my feet 8 hours a day, but I think any more than that is too much, for the long haul.

In case you are interested, we currently have 5 properties on our radar screen.  They are, in no particular order:

Kelly Place Bed and Breakfast in Cortez Colorado.  kellyplace.com
Summary:  11 guest rooms, 6 of which are in the main lodge and the remaining rooms are in cabins.  There is also a camping area for tents and RVs.  The property includes 37 acres and owners quarters.

Pros:  11 rooms + camping; beautiful scenery; large conference room; strong cash flow
Cons:  Perhaps a little too remote, closest town is Cortez, which isn't much of a town; rattle snakes; furnishings need to be upgraded; haven't seen photos of owners' quarter or kitchen yet.

Photos of Kelly Place Bed & Breakfast:

Duplex cabin

Courtyard

Deck on deluxe Cabin

Meeting room

Courtyard at night

Office/Check in

Property from nearby hill

Apple Orchard Inn, Durango, CO:  appleorchardinn.com
Summary:  10 rooms, 4 in main house and 6 cottages, just north of Durango in Hermosa.

Pros:  The property is adorable, but from some reviews it appears as if it may need some renovation/deferred maintenance performed.  Property is not listed for sale, but the owner responded to our solicitation letter favorably.  Beautiful grounds, with pond and lawn.  Close to Durango, CO, in the little town of Hermosa.

Cons:  May need some significant improvements.  Not sure of the current condition of the property.

Photos of the Apple Orchard Inn:

1st Cabin

2nd Cabin 

3rd Cabin

Room in Main House

Cabin porch

outside of a cabin, they are all identical

Lodge room

Lodge room

Cabin

Abineau Lodge, abineaulodge.com, south of Flagstaff, AZ.

Summary:  Potential for 10 guest rooms, all with private baths.  Currently only renting 3 guest rooms because current owners both have full time jobs.  1.7 acres.  Next door is 3 bedroom 2 bath house that could be purchased separately, as owners' quarters.  Backs up to ponderosa pine forest.  Has café, currently serving breakfast to public on weekend mornings.

Pros:  A little bit of land, only about 7 miles from Flagstaff.  Separate owners' quarters.  Professional kitchen.  Beautiful dining room & lounge.

Cons:  Currently only renting 3 rooms, would have to bring other rooms on line (we don't know yet if they are furnished) and increase advertising to start filling the inn.  Furniture needs to be upgraded.

Wedding banquet

Front of lodge

budget twin room

dining room

dining room

queen room

outdoor wedding

lodge

back of lodge

wine bar

For more photos:
https://www.trulia.com/property/3053679789-1080-Mountainaire-Rd-Flagstaff-AZ-86005

O-Bar-O Cabins
https://durango-colorado-cabins.com/cabins/

Summary:  7 acres, 9 cabins with owners quarters on Florida River.  North of Durango, CO.

Pros:  Gorgeous property right on river; individual cabins with kitchens and decks; land; growth potential

Cons:  Concerned about potential of river flooding and damaging buildings; no common areas/dining room; not a bed and breakfast, just cabin rental; all cabins have full kitchens, concerned about upkeep and cleaning costs; very remote.

China Clipper Inn

http://www.chinaclipperinn.com/index.html

Ouray, CO

Summary:  Classic Bed & Breakfast.  13 guest rooms, 5 with fireplaces, 3 with hot tubs.

Pros:  13 rooms, this is the size inn we are looking for; newer construction, well appointed.  Have not seen pictures of the dining room, kitchen, or owners quarters yet.

Cons:  In the middle of town (albeit a very small town), no land.

front porch of inn

living room/library

guest room porch

guest room sitting area

luxury room bath tub

guest room porch

guest room sitting area

We are continuing to work to identify properties for me to visit during my road trip in March.  It's all very exciting.  I miss being an innkeeper and I am looking forward to finding our inn.  Perhaps we will be in our own place by the end of the year!