So, another month has come and (is almost) gone. I'm still going to the gym after work everyday... well, almost everyday. I've kind of been slacking off in that department. I did manage to make it to the gym at least two days a week for every week except the one that Joe was in Iowa. I skipped that week entirely. My dogs needed me more than my ass needed the elliptical. I still haven't seen any huge reduction in the numbers on the scale but I am noticing little changes here and there in my body. Some areas are tighter than they used to be, so that's good.
I have encountered a new "gym personality" that I wanted to share with you all. Since I've been going to the gym for 4 months now I can usually spot the new people mixed in with the regulars. Well, there is a new girl that's been coming to the gym for a couple of weeks now. Let me just say, I applaud anyone for coming to the gym. That shit is an accomplishment, believe me. However, don't take your first step into the gym and automatically proclaim yourself an expert. I'm trying very hard not to be mean here but you can tell by looking at this girl that it's been a while since she's been to the gym. Again, good for her for getting in there, I'm just saying.
So, my first encounter with this girl was in the locker room. She came in with a friend and they were talking, very loudly, on the other side of the lockers. The "unqualified expert" was telling her friend that they'd take it easy and if her friend needed to stop she could, blah, blah, blah. The friend was just like, "ok, I know", like shut up and leave me alone kind of thing. I don't like to make eye contact with people usually so I just gave the girl a side glance and was surprised to see what this "expert" looked like. It just didn't look like she was someone who should've been giving the advice.
My next encounter with the "expert" was a few days later. I was on the elliptical and there was a girl next to me. Well the "expert" girl comes up and starts talking to my next elliptical neighbor. Now, you already know how annoying I find that, but whatever. I have my ear buds in and have the music pumping and I can still hear her side of the whole conversation. She's telling the girl next to me how it's so great that she's coming to the gym and that one day she'll have flat abs like her. Uh, huh?! I swear you guys, I almost laughed out loud right in her face. I seriously had to stifle my smile. The girl next to me really didn't say anything and was just trying to get back into her work out. Let me just say, the girl's abs are not flat.
The most recent encounter is what has brought on the headline of this blog. I was on the elliptical, minding my own business when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her step out of the locker room. I'm telling you, I was shocked. This bitch was wearing spandex pants and a tiny spandex tank top and just prancing along like she was Ms. Fitness America or something. I'd like to use a description that I learned years ago from a friend's dad because, I believe, it's the most accurate description of the effect those spandex pants were having on this lady's legs. It looked like a garbage bag full of squirrels running around in there. Just bad. And all the while she's telling her friend how to work out. I've got a lesson for her, leave the spandex home!
You know, I've never understood the self-confidence that some women have. I've seen very large women out and about at Wal-Mart in short shorts or tight jeans and they are just owning that look. I'll usually only go out in public in Bermuda shorts and I'm half the size of some of these ladies. I just don't know where it comes from. I think it's great to have high self esteem, just have a mirror too.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The Domino Effect
I hate to be rushed in the morning. I like to take my time and ease into the day so that I leave the house in a good mood and arrive at work fresh and prepared to start my day. Unfortunately, things don't always work out that way. Here's a little story about The Domino Effect:
Your morning is crazy, you can't seem to get out of your own way, you're running around like a maniac trying to gather everything you need for the day. You get out the door but somehow forget to take anything out of the freezer for dinner.
You get home, you're famished, you're searching for something to make for dinner that doesn't need to be thawed and is quick and easy to prepare. You him and haw over your choices because nothing sounds good. Finally, after reaching the hunger equivalent of the peak of Mt. Everest, you decide to go out to eat.
You get to the restaurant and by this time you're so hungry that you forgo all the "healthy" options on the menu and go for the greasiest, cheesiest, most sauce covered, delicious thing on the menu and devour it in about six seconds flat. You feel nice and happy until you stand up and waddle your way to the car. You get home and are so bloated and feel so gross in the aftermath of your feast that instead of packing up a healthy lunch and picking out your outfit for the next day, you lay on the couch in a semi-coma watching bad reality TV.
You sleep horrible that night because you're so bloated and gassy and have terrible heartburn. You wake up feeling almost as bad as when you went to bed. You stumble around in the morning, your brain still clogged with the grease from last night's supper, only to find that you now have to pick out something to wear to work in the dark so you don't wake your sleeping spouse. Of course you feel fat and disgusting in everything you put on because you're still holding onto the ghost of dinner past. You get pissed, throw on the baggiest dress or pair of pants you can find, slop your hair into a pony tail, cover up your dark circles with some concealer and head to the kitchen for some coffee.
But, in your haze from the night before, you forgot to set the coffee timer. Now you have approximately two minutes to get out the door so you won't be late for work. You don't have time to make coffee or grab a healthy breakfast so you rush out the door hungry, bloated, caffeine deficient, looking like hell, and in a terrible mood. It's only then that you realize you have once again forgotten to take something out for dinner.
And the cycle continues...
Your morning is crazy, you can't seem to get out of your own way, you're running around like a maniac trying to gather everything you need for the day. You get out the door but somehow forget to take anything out of the freezer for dinner.
You get home, you're famished, you're searching for something to make for dinner that doesn't need to be thawed and is quick and easy to prepare. You him and haw over your choices because nothing sounds good. Finally, after reaching the hunger equivalent of the peak of Mt. Everest, you decide to go out to eat.
You get to the restaurant and by this time you're so hungry that you forgo all the "healthy" options on the menu and go for the greasiest, cheesiest, most sauce covered, delicious thing on the menu and devour it in about six seconds flat. You feel nice and happy until you stand up and waddle your way to the car. You get home and are so bloated and feel so gross in the aftermath of your feast that instead of packing up a healthy lunch and picking out your outfit for the next day, you lay on the couch in a semi-coma watching bad reality TV.
You sleep horrible that night because you're so bloated and gassy and have terrible heartburn. You wake up feeling almost as bad as when you went to bed. You stumble around in the morning, your brain still clogged with the grease from last night's supper, only to find that you now have to pick out something to wear to work in the dark so you don't wake your sleeping spouse. Of course you feel fat and disgusting in everything you put on because you're still holding onto the ghost of dinner past. You get pissed, throw on the baggiest dress or pair of pants you can find, slop your hair into a pony tail, cover up your dark circles with some concealer and head to the kitchen for some coffee.
But, in your haze from the night before, you forgot to set the coffee timer. Now you have approximately two minutes to get out the door so you won't be late for work. You don't have time to make coffee or grab a healthy breakfast so you rush out the door hungry, bloated, caffeine deficient, looking like hell, and in a terrible mood. It's only then that you realize you have once again forgotten to take something out for dinner.
And the cycle continues...
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Here comes the sun
This is just a thought more than a full blog but it's something I realized the other day. I know I've posted here numerous times about my love for sunrises. Being that I go to work so early I've become quite a sunrise connoisseur. I think that all sunrises are beautiful but there are some that are just extra special. I've been thinking about what separates a beautiful sunrise from the ones that just take your breath away and I think I finally know the answer. Clouds.
When there are clouds in the sky, the sunlight bounces off them and creates beautiful shadows and gorgeous shades of pinks and oranges and blues. The rays shine down like spotlights out of the clouds and the sky behind them seems like it was painted on. The clouds take so many different shapes from big and fluffy to thin hot pink ribbons to big blankets that look like waves in the sky. I love the days when there are clouds in the sky and I can pick out the new intricacies of that day's sunrise.
Then this week it dawned on me. Just like the clouds make each sunrise different and unique and interesting and beautiful, clouds can have the same effect on people. The challenges and pain and moments that we experience during our lives are our clouds and they are what make us beautiful and interesting and unique. Without the clouds we'd still be nice but the clouds just make us that much better.
I think learning from our own experiences and not being afraid to try new things or challenge what we know or feel pain is what makes us who we are. Some days our skies are cloudier than others but on that day when your sunrise breaks through the clouds and you're all hot pink and glorious, that's a beautiful thing.
When there are clouds in the sky, the sunlight bounces off them and creates beautiful shadows and gorgeous shades of pinks and oranges and blues. The rays shine down like spotlights out of the clouds and the sky behind them seems like it was painted on. The clouds take so many different shapes from big and fluffy to thin hot pink ribbons to big blankets that look like waves in the sky. I love the days when there are clouds in the sky and I can pick out the new intricacies of that day's sunrise.
Then this week it dawned on me. Just like the clouds make each sunrise different and unique and interesting and beautiful, clouds can have the same effect on people. The challenges and pain and moments that we experience during our lives are our clouds and they are what make us beautiful and interesting and unique. Without the clouds we'd still be nice but the clouds just make us that much better.
I think learning from our own experiences and not being afraid to try new things or challenge what we know or feel pain is what makes us who we are. Some days our skies are cloudier than others but on that day when your sunrise breaks through the clouds and you're all hot pink and glorious, that's a beautiful thing.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Remembering Dad
I'm really sad about the recent sudden death of Tim Russert at only 58 years old. He was the moderator on Meet The Press and was a regular Today show contributor. While I never watched Meet The Press, I always used to catch him on the Today show. He was always very smart and fair and non judgemental about politics but there was something about him that just made him very likable. He had written a book about his relationship with his father called "Big Russ and Me" and another follow up book "Wisdom of our Fathers" and the interviews he did on the Today show discussing those books were some of my favorite. He was such a genuine person and really loved his family and loved being a father so much. In one recent interview Matt Lauer brought up that Tim's son, Luke, was getting ready to graduate from college and instead of saying, "I'm very proud of him", Tim Russert said, "I'm so proud to be his dad". I just thought that was the nicest thing he could say. Even though I will never know him as more than someone that I saw on TV, I'm sure he will be very missed.
The news of Tim Russert's death is, I'm sure, very hard for his family but I think it is even more difficult that his death came just a couple of days before Father's Day. My relationship with my dad has been very rocky, to say the least. I feel like we have become much closer in recent years but there was a long period of time that my dad hardly even spoke to me. Those times were really hard for me to understand and to cope with. I don't know how a parent can turn their back on a child even if they don't like the choices that child has made. Its still your child and you should love her no matter what. I'll never forget that abandonment by my dad but I'm learning to forgive it.
As I said, the relationship between my dad and me has gotten much better throughout the years and even though he doesn't say it very often, I know he loves me. He has a different way of showing that he loves and cares for me. He goes out of his way to help Joe and me with the projects around our house and any time we need anything he is more than willing to help us out. Showing his love that way is nice but sometimes hearing the actual words is even nicer.
I guess the point of my rambling today is just to remind all of you that today is Father's Day and even though we sometimes don't understand the ways of our father's it is still a day to remember your dad and to thank him for all he's done for you. Being that my dad will be 58 this year, the untimely death of Tim Russert just reminded me a little more that my dad won't be around forever and that I need to forgive the past and do as much as I can now to strengthen our relationship.
Happy Father's Day to all!
The news of Tim Russert's death is, I'm sure, very hard for his family but I think it is even more difficult that his death came just a couple of days before Father's Day. My relationship with my dad has been very rocky, to say the least. I feel like we have become much closer in recent years but there was a long period of time that my dad hardly even spoke to me. Those times were really hard for me to understand and to cope with. I don't know how a parent can turn their back on a child even if they don't like the choices that child has made. Its still your child and you should love her no matter what. I'll never forget that abandonment by my dad but I'm learning to forgive it.
As I said, the relationship between my dad and me has gotten much better throughout the years and even though he doesn't say it very often, I know he loves me. He has a different way of showing that he loves and cares for me. He goes out of his way to help Joe and me with the projects around our house and any time we need anything he is more than willing to help us out. Showing his love that way is nice but sometimes hearing the actual words is even nicer.
I guess the point of my rambling today is just to remind all of you that today is Father's Day and even though we sometimes don't understand the ways of our father's it is still a day to remember your dad and to thank him for all he's done for you. Being that my dad will be 58 this year, the untimely death of Tim Russert just reminded me a little more that my dad won't be around forever and that I need to forgive the past and do as much as I can now to strengthen our relationship.
Happy Father's Day to all!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
I want it all, and I want it now
I've been feeling the urge lately to shop. Not just to go and pick up a t-shirt or two but to full-on break the bank. I've been out a couple of times over the last month or so and got a few things for summer but I still want more. I don't know if that little bit of shopping just opened the flood gates to make me want to spend or what. It's ridiculous though and really consumes my mind. I've been "window" shopping online a lot lately and it seems like every store I visit has cuter stuff than the one before. And it's work clothes and casual clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry, accessories... everything!
It kind of scares me that I want to shop so badly. I'm afraid I'm going to turn into a junkie. I don't have the money to do the kind of shopping that I want to do and I certainly don't want to put it on my credit cards. I've been in that dark hole of credit card debt before and I definitely don't want to go back. My logical self tells me that I should just buy a little at a time and only buy the things that I really love or really need but the crazy part of me tells me that I should just buy everything and that I'll feel better when I do.
My astrological sign is Taurus and I embody that sign through and through. My ruling planet is Venus who, according to my astrology book, just happens to be the Roman goddess of beauty, the arts, pleasure, and emotions. In astrology, Venus's influence leans toward a love of luxury. Yeah, so I've pretty much been bred to crave luxuries. Get this: "Taurus is the sign of property and money. Its natives put a high regard on collecting possessions and are known to cling to what is theirs." What the hell?! Its in my astrological DNA to crave shopping.
I truly believe that if I were to win the lottery that I would be one of those dumb fools you see on TV that won the lottery and are broke ten years later. I think that I would be a spendaholic. If the only thing holding me back from not shopping to my heart's content is not having enough money, winning the lottery would solve my problem. I think that I could shop everyday and just be completely happy with that lifestyle. I'm sure I'd end up with more stuff than I could ever wear and stuff that I didn't even like that much but I think I'd be happy just knowing that I had it if I ever wanted to wear it.
I don't know what to do to squelch my cravings. Lord knows I don't need to turn to food! Maybe I just need to stay away from malls... and the Internet... and magazines... and TV. Ok, I guess I'll be living with the Amish for a couple of months. Seriously though, how do I make the urge go away? Oh, and I've tried looking at all the clothes in my closet and putting them together in new and different ways already. That worked for a couple of weeks. Now I'm out of options.
Ugh... I guess there are worse problems that a person can have other than an addiction to shopping. I should probably go hide my crack pipe, er, I mean credit card before it's too late.
It kind of scares me that I want to shop so badly. I'm afraid I'm going to turn into a junkie. I don't have the money to do the kind of shopping that I want to do and I certainly don't want to put it on my credit cards. I've been in that dark hole of credit card debt before and I definitely don't want to go back. My logical self tells me that I should just buy a little at a time and only buy the things that I really love or really need but the crazy part of me tells me that I should just buy everything and that I'll feel better when I do.
My astrological sign is Taurus and I embody that sign through and through. My ruling planet is Venus who, according to my astrology book, just happens to be the Roman goddess of beauty, the arts, pleasure, and emotions. In astrology, Venus's influence leans toward a love of luxury. Yeah, so I've pretty much been bred to crave luxuries. Get this: "Taurus is the sign of property and money. Its natives put a high regard on collecting possessions and are known to cling to what is theirs." What the hell?! Its in my astrological DNA to crave shopping.
I truly believe that if I were to win the lottery that I would be one of those dumb fools you see on TV that won the lottery and are broke ten years later. I think that I would be a spendaholic. If the only thing holding me back from not shopping to my heart's content is not having enough money, winning the lottery would solve my problem. I think that I could shop everyday and just be completely happy with that lifestyle. I'm sure I'd end up with more stuff than I could ever wear and stuff that I didn't even like that much but I think I'd be happy just knowing that I had it if I ever wanted to wear it.
I don't know what to do to squelch my cravings. Lord knows I don't need to turn to food! Maybe I just need to stay away from malls... and the Internet... and magazines... and TV. Ok, I guess I'll be living with the Amish for a couple of months. Seriously though, how do I make the urge go away? Oh, and I've tried looking at all the clothes in my closet and putting them together in new and different ways already. That worked for a couple of weeks. Now I'm out of options.
Ugh... I guess there are worse problems that a person can have other than an addiction to shopping. I should probably go hide my crack pipe, er, I mean credit card before it's too late.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
A second chance
Well, I took my mom to see Sex and the City this afternoon and I am so glad I did. Not only did my mom really enjoy the movie but I had a complete change of heart from my first review. I don't know if it was a better time of day for me or the fact that I was in flip flops instead of 4 inch heels, or a more comfortable theater, or that I wasn't coming down off a buzz but the movie was FANTASTIC!! I truly enjoyed it the second time around.
So to any of you that saw it the first time and were let down I beg of you to give it a second chance. I think you'll really be surprised at how much more you'll like it. Carrie gave Big a second chance (and a third and a fourth...) so we all owe it to them to give the movie another chance too!
So to any of you that saw it the first time and were let down I beg of you to give it a second chance. I think you'll really be surprised at how much more you'll like it. Carrie gave Big a second chance (and a third and a fourth...) so we all owe it to them to give the movie another chance too!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Let's take a moment
Whew! I'm exhausted today. I hosted a baby shower for my friend this morning and I am tired! Parties always wear me out. All the set up and anticipation and then schmoozing with all the guests, and then the clean up... it really takes it out of me. I've been on the couch recuperating for a couple of hours. The party was a success though and that's really the most important thing. I'm really looking forward to some time off from party planning though. In the past two years I've hosted 3 baby showers, one bridal shower, helped with two first birthday parties and a wedding. Tricia needs a break!
I know I talk pretty incessantly on my blog about feeling old or getting old but I've just been experiencing so many scenarios that apply that I have to share them with you. Last Sunday evening Joe and I were channel surfing trying to find something to watch when we happened upon the MTV Movie Awards. That in itself was funny to us because when we were young it was a show that we'd never miss. We'd anticipate it and remind ourselves that we had to watch. Now, we didn't even know it was on. We watched a little bit of the show and were kind of surprised at far out of the loop we are. Several times we looked at each other in disbelief going, "is this really cool now". I thought I had a pretty firm grip on what is in and who the hot bands are and who the hot new actors were.
When I was a teenager and irritated with my parents for not understanding how important certain things were to me I always said that when I grew up and had children that I would try to remember what it was like and would try to be more understanding. Well, I haven't even had the kids and I already don't remember what it was like. Either that, or things have changed so much since then that I just completely don't understand what it's like. Back then people were all up in arms over guys wearing their pants with their underwear showing. Now the guys are wearing their pants tighter than the girls, they're flat ironing their hair and even wearing guyliner. Back when I was young, we called those guys freaks. Now they're cool. And are girls these days seriously looking up to the Pussycat Dolls as role models? If so, we're in some trouble! They are pretty much just strippers with microphones.
I guess that's just how it goes though. Our parents didn't understand what was cool to us and thought when we wore socks with our Birkenstock sandals that we looked kind of dumb. I'm sure their parents didn't understand what was cool to them. I'm sure that we won't understand what is cool to our kids when they get there. Do people just forget what it is like to be young, do they change the way they view things as they get older, or does the world just change that much that they lose touch with what is "in"?
I think I've gotten past the pressure to be "cool" but I'd still like to be able to keep up with what is relevant now a days. I think ultimately I don't want to be one of those women who is still rocking the same hair and clothes from when she was 20. I definitely don't want to look like some 19 year old starlet from MTV in skinny jeans and greasy, Ashley Simpson (excuse me, Ashley Simpson-Wentz) looking hair and if I ever saw Joe in guyliner I think I'd shit myself. I just want to look like a cool 29 year old me with some memory of what it's like to be 16 and misunderstood.
I know I talk pretty incessantly on my blog about feeling old or getting old but I've just been experiencing so many scenarios that apply that I have to share them with you. Last Sunday evening Joe and I were channel surfing trying to find something to watch when we happened upon the MTV Movie Awards. That in itself was funny to us because when we were young it was a show that we'd never miss. We'd anticipate it and remind ourselves that we had to watch. Now, we didn't even know it was on. We watched a little bit of the show and were kind of surprised at far out of the loop we are. Several times we looked at each other in disbelief going, "is this really cool now". I thought I had a pretty firm grip on what is in and who the hot bands are and who the hot new actors were.
When I was a teenager and irritated with my parents for not understanding how important certain things were to me I always said that when I grew up and had children that I would try to remember what it was like and would try to be more understanding. Well, I haven't even had the kids and I already don't remember what it was like. Either that, or things have changed so much since then that I just completely don't understand what it's like. Back then people were all up in arms over guys wearing their pants with their underwear showing. Now the guys are wearing their pants tighter than the girls, they're flat ironing their hair and even wearing guyliner. Back when I was young, we called those guys freaks. Now they're cool. And are girls these days seriously looking up to the Pussycat Dolls as role models? If so, we're in some trouble! They are pretty much just strippers with microphones.
I guess that's just how it goes though. Our parents didn't understand what was cool to us and thought when we wore socks with our Birkenstock sandals that we looked kind of dumb. I'm sure their parents didn't understand what was cool to them. I'm sure that we won't understand what is cool to our kids when they get there. Do people just forget what it is like to be young, do they change the way they view things as they get older, or does the world just change that much that they lose touch with what is "in"?
I think I've gotten past the pressure to be "cool" but I'd still like to be able to keep up with what is relevant now a days. I think ultimately I don't want to be one of those women who is still rocking the same hair and clothes from when she was 20. I definitely don't want to look like some 19 year old starlet from MTV in skinny jeans and greasy, Ashley Simpson (excuse me, Ashley Simpson-Wentz) looking hair and if I ever saw Joe in guyliner I think I'd shit myself. I just want to look like a cool 29 year old me with some memory of what it's like to be 16 and misunderstood.
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