Dear Self,
- Interval training makes you VERY tired. Get more sleep and eat a little more protein so you don't feel so tired. Drink that coffee too, it will save you at 8:00am.
- Even if the scale says you haven't lost weight, if you're having trouble keeping your pants up you're making progress. Perhaps a belt would have been helpful today? Remember that tomorrow. You are not a plumber, you never want to be mistaken for one.
- Go back to the gym today. It will be worth it even if you feel like gouging out the eyes of the perky level 10 elliptical rider next to you. Just because she's adorable and never breaks a sweat doesn't mean she's better than you.
- The beach in Hawaii is just 41 days away.
That is all.
Intervals
Today I will try interval training. This will be a new experience for me. I usually just show up at the gym, putter along for my 30-60 minutes and leave. I get a little winded, I get a little sweaty and I get my heart rate up but that seems to be all that's changing so I decided it's time to try something new, time to step it up.
It's frustrating to go to the gym consistently, in addition to eating better, and not lose weight. So I did a little research and found that I need to build my lean muscle so my body will burn fat more efficiently. That's where this interval thing comes in.
So I'll go balls out on a machine for a few minutes, then go nice and slow for a few more minutes. I will repeat this over and over. This should cause me to lose weight. If I don't I think I may go after the elliptical machine or stationary bike with a hammer. I am not afraid to use the hammer. The staff at 24 Hour Fitness will have to escort me from the building. It can't be the first time someone has tried that right? Besides swinging that hammer must burn some calories!
I'm going to pretend that Bob and Jillian are yelling at me while I do my intense interval. I'm hoping that will motivate me.
Can you hear Jillian in your head? "Do it! Do it right or you'll do it again!" or Bob "Don't you hold on, run. Run!"
I'm hoping I don't look like Tracy when I'm on the machines.
If you don't watch The Biggest Loser you have no idea what I'm talking about, but if you do then you must agree that Tracy looks all crazy buggy while working out. She seriously looks possessed. Maybe I am a little biased, I've disliked her from the get go, but really she looks like her head might spin and spit green guck puke at any moment. If she wins this season I will be very displeased. I will just have to take comfort in the fact that I look better on a treadmill. At least I think I do. If I do not, just keep that to yourself okay?
I'm off to the gym! Toodles!
It's frustrating to go to the gym consistently, in addition to eating better, and not lose weight. So I did a little research and found that I need to build my lean muscle so my body will burn fat more efficiently. That's where this interval thing comes in.
So I'll go balls out on a machine for a few minutes, then go nice and slow for a few more minutes. I will repeat this over and over. This should cause me to lose weight. If I don't I think I may go after the elliptical machine or stationary bike with a hammer. I am not afraid to use the hammer. The staff at 24 Hour Fitness will have to escort me from the building. It can't be the first time someone has tried that right? Besides swinging that hammer must burn some calories!
I'm going to pretend that Bob and Jillian are yelling at me while I do my intense interval. I'm hoping that will motivate me.
Can you hear Jillian in your head? "Do it! Do it right or you'll do it again!" or Bob "Don't you hold on, run. Run!"
I'm hoping I don't look like Tracy when I'm on the machines.
If you don't watch The Biggest Loser you have no idea what I'm talking about, but if you do then you must agree that Tracy looks all crazy buggy while working out. She seriously looks possessed. Maybe I am a little biased, I've disliked her from the get go, but really she looks like her head might spin and spit green guck puke at any moment. If she wins this season I will be very displeased. I will just have to take comfort in the fact that I look better on a treadmill. At least I think I do. If I do not, just keep that to yourself okay?
I'm off to the gym! Toodles!
Remembering
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake. I was eleven then, a sixth grader at Rolling Hills Middle School. I was at home that evening, unwillingly. I'd wanted to go to a friends house, I had planned to ride my bike. My mom made me stay home. She was making dinner. Fish sticks. I was sitting on the love seat reading Death Be Not Proud waiting for the third game of the World Series to start. It was the Bay Bridge Series, my A's were up two games.
The shaking began at 5:04pm. It only lasted 15 seconds, but even now, in my mind it feels more like 5 minutes.
If you've ever had something traumatic like that happen maybe you know what I mean when I say that it really was in slow motion. In those 15 seconds I jumped over the love seat, ran to the kitchen where my mother was we both held onto each other and the door frame we had taken shelter in. I clearly remember seeing the cupboard doors shaking open and closed, the dishes rattling on their shelves. I remember watching the light on the ceiling blink off and on before it went off for good. I remember my mom saying "this is the big one". And then it was silent, for just a moment before people started to move again, started to leave their apartments. But then the silence came again. There was no power, no radio, no t.v., no phone. There was nothing. Darkness came quickly that night and because we had no power and lived at the bottom of a three story building we left to go stay with friends in San Jose. I remember driving along Winchester Blvd. in complete dark. A very strange occurrence in a city that large. Even the Winchester Mystery House sat dark and empty. Eerie is the best way to describe that dark, and people, unsure what to do with themselves stood out on streets, talking to neighbors, watching the sky, waiting for aftershocks.
It was twenty years ago but it is one of my clearest memories. It's so clear I can see it run in my head as if I'm watching a movie.
Prior to 1989 earthquakes had always been fun. Now I only consider them fun if they are less than 4.0, and even then they make my heart race until I know it's not another big one.
I always mark today with some sort of remembrance. Sometimes just a quiet moment at 5:04pm, sometimes I read old articles and seek out photos, sometimes I make a list of all the things I need for an earthquake kit (yes we need them even in Oregon!). Today I thought I'd type a blog and put my memories in a semi permanent place. There are many more memories as the quake lasted for weeks in our lives. We didn't have power for six days and I missed school for a few as well. I never had a snow day in California, but I had a few Quake days. For days we wondered if our friends were safe, there was no way to know unless we drove to their houses. We were so wrapped up in all of it that I don't remember the fall of the Berlin Wall which occurred on November 9th 1989. For years I couldn't understand why I didn't remember any of that, it seemed like it would have been a rather significant thing to watch and witness on t.v. and in the classroom, and yet I had no recollection of any of it. Just a few years ago I finally looked up the dates.
Twenty years have passed. Seems a little unreal. Here's a few pictures...
By the way, my A's won the series, they sweep it in four games. It was awesome!
The shaking began at 5:04pm. It only lasted 15 seconds, but even now, in my mind it feels more like 5 minutes.
If you've ever had something traumatic like that happen maybe you know what I mean when I say that it really was in slow motion. In those 15 seconds I jumped over the love seat, ran to the kitchen where my mother was we both held onto each other and the door frame we had taken shelter in. I clearly remember seeing the cupboard doors shaking open and closed, the dishes rattling on their shelves. I remember watching the light on the ceiling blink off and on before it went off for good. I remember my mom saying "this is the big one". And then it was silent, for just a moment before people started to move again, started to leave their apartments. But then the silence came again. There was no power, no radio, no t.v., no phone. There was nothing. Darkness came quickly that night and because we had no power and lived at the bottom of a three story building we left to go stay with friends in San Jose. I remember driving along Winchester Blvd. in complete dark. A very strange occurrence in a city that large. Even the Winchester Mystery House sat dark and empty. Eerie is the best way to describe that dark, and people, unsure what to do with themselves stood out on streets, talking to neighbors, watching the sky, waiting for aftershocks.
It was twenty years ago but it is one of my clearest memories. It's so clear I can see it run in my head as if I'm watching a movie.
Prior to 1989 earthquakes had always been fun. Now I only consider them fun if they are less than 4.0, and even then they make my heart race until I know it's not another big one.
I always mark today with some sort of remembrance. Sometimes just a quiet moment at 5:04pm, sometimes I read old articles and seek out photos, sometimes I make a list of all the things I need for an earthquake kit (yes we need them even in Oregon!). Today I thought I'd type a blog and put my memories in a semi permanent place. There are many more memories as the quake lasted for weeks in our lives. We didn't have power for six days and I missed school for a few as well. I never had a snow day in California, but I had a few Quake days. For days we wondered if our friends were safe, there was no way to know unless we drove to their houses. We were so wrapped up in all of it that I don't remember the fall of the Berlin Wall which occurred on November 9th 1989. For years I couldn't understand why I didn't remember any of that, it seemed like it would have been a rather significant thing to watch and witness on t.v. and in the classroom, and yet I had no recollection of any of it. Just a few years ago I finally looked up the dates.
Twenty years have passed. Seems a little unreal. Here's a few pictures...
The Bay Bridge, also the reason I no longer feel comfortable with bridges in general.
A street grate in Los Gatos, the next city over from my hometown and the same city my middle school was in.
Jose Canseco and fellow ballplayers on the field at Candlestick Park after the quake. Check out the outfit on Ms. Canseco!
By the way, my A's won the series, they sweep it in four games. It was awesome!
Hallelujah!
It's the little things right? They make bad days brighter, bad weeks bearable, bad years...okay bad years are hard to deal with, but sometimes little things make all the difference. Case and point:
#1 - This week we said to ourselves "I wonder if we can turn the temp up on the water heater? It really doesn't heat so well when it's cold out, would be nice to have a steaming hot shower when it's 40° " So Scott took a look, moved a dial and we were able to, and the result is a blissfully hot, steamy shower. I had no idea a super hot shower could make me so happy, and I'm so sad it took us this many years to think to turn the temp up on the water heater! I'm married to a contractor after all! Love you honey! Thanks for turning the temp up! Hallelujah!
#2 - I have been going to the gym like a crazy lady lately. I'm committed to my fitness, more so than I ever have been as an adult. Still I haven't been losing much weight despite spending oodles of time on the treadmill, bike, and elliptical machine. Despite this sad state of affairs I decided, after a lovely co-worker said it looked like I'd lost weight, that I might try a little experiment tonight. So I dug in a pile of long forgotten clothes, pulled out a brand new pair of GAP jeans that have been sitting patiently since Christmas of 2007, and eyeballed them. I held them up a few times. Compared their thighs to mine and wrinkled my nose at them. Then I just went for it and tried them on, and low and behold they fit! They fit really well! I've been waiting to wear those jeans for almost two years?!?! Can I get a hallelujah?
So take that 2009! You may have tried to beat me to a pulp, but I have a hot steamy shower now and I fit in my brand new (old) jeans! That means it's just a matter of time until I fit in my bikinis again! That's right 2009, even though you broke my ankle, I am getting skinny again!
And Andy, my dear faithful reader/commenter, I'd love to do a "Weaker Meeker" challenge with you! When shall we start? What are the parameters? I can't wait to kick your butt! :)
#1 - This week we said to ourselves "I wonder if we can turn the temp up on the water heater? It really doesn't heat so well when it's cold out, would be nice to have a steaming hot shower when it's 40° " So Scott took a look, moved a dial and we were able to, and the result is a blissfully hot, steamy shower. I had no idea a super hot shower could make me so happy, and I'm so sad it took us this many years to think to turn the temp up on the water heater! I'm married to a contractor after all! Love you honey! Thanks for turning the temp up! Hallelujah!
#2 - I have been going to the gym like a crazy lady lately. I'm committed to my fitness, more so than I ever have been as an adult. Still I haven't been losing much weight despite spending oodles of time on the treadmill, bike, and elliptical machine. Despite this sad state of affairs I decided, after a lovely co-worker said it looked like I'd lost weight, that I might try a little experiment tonight. So I dug in a pile of long forgotten clothes, pulled out a brand new pair of GAP jeans that have been sitting patiently since Christmas of 2007, and eyeballed them. I held them up a few times. Compared their thighs to mine and wrinkled my nose at them. Then I just went for it and tried them on, and low and behold they fit! They fit really well! I've been waiting to wear those jeans for almost two years?!?! Can I get a hallelujah?
So take that 2009! You may have tried to beat me to a pulp, but I have a hot steamy shower now and I fit in my brand new (old) jeans! That means it's just a matter of time until I fit in my bikinis again! That's right 2009, even though you broke my ankle, I am getting skinny again!
And Andy, my dear faithful reader/commenter, I'd love to do a "Weaker Meeker" challenge with you! When shall we start? What are the parameters? I can't wait to kick your butt! :)
Random Letters
Dear Panda Express,
I need to ask that you please file bankruptcy and go out of business completely. The doors to your establishment must close immediately as my little brain and big tummy are no match for your Orange Chicken. Really PE, I drive by your little restaurant of crack, not even intending to slow down just a little, and then suddenly my car has flipped a u-turn, parked itself in one of your parking spaces and shut itself off. And who am I to argue with a car? She could run me over!
This can not continue and I feel that you closing will be much easier than retraining my car to park at Salad Express instead. And yes PE I know Salad Express doesn't actually exist, but it should. Perhaps you could start that up after you close up your current shop? Think about that will ya?
Signed,
Chinese Food is my Crack
Dear Vacation,
Why have you become so elusive my dear old friend? We've had so many good times I simply can't understand your complete lack of involvement in my life now. Have I done something to anger you? Please let me know so I can fix it because I am in some real need of some Vacation in my life.
I'd prefer to see you in Hawaii, or maybe Europe, but I would take Disneyland or even Hood River at this point. We could have some quality time talking about how great you are, how much I love you, how you make working worth it. I'd give you my full attention and we could even go on adventures. I've just got to get you back in my life. I am more sane when I've spent time with you. I'm nicer to people too. You want me to be nice to people don't you?
Just last week I flipped someone off while driving. I never do that Vacation. Never. Sure I use my horn from time to time, but I NEVER flip people off. I also rolled my eyes at a pregnant lady who was complaining about morning sickness. I'm absolutely sure it does suck, and in retrospect I feel very bad for her, but Vacation in that moment I wanted to smack her, and since violence towards pregnant ladies is frowned upon I just turned so she couldn't see me and rolled my eyes. This behavior can't continue.
I NEED you! Please say you'll let me visit? I don't have any money so it's got to be a free visit, but I promise I'll give you my all when I'm there.
Love ya to pieces,
Desperately seeing R & R
Dear Birds at Work,
I know you've been eating the grapes. I can tell because your purple poop is on the hood of my car.
You and I both know you're not supposed to be eating the grapes. I know they are tasty little bird sized treats, but they are for wine, not bird bellies. You must stop until harvest is over. When the picking is done you can have the left overs. For now, all gorging on the little green and purple balls is off limits. Go find a worm.
In regards to pooping on my car... CEASE and DESIST! I don't make messes on your mode of transportation. Leave mine alone. Gretta doesn't deserve your purple poop. If you continue to act with disregard to my request I will seek legal action. I know you don't want to go to court over this, so just get your act together.
Signed,
Bird Hunter in Training
I need to ask that you please file bankruptcy and go out of business completely. The doors to your establishment must close immediately as my little brain and big tummy are no match for your Orange Chicken. Really PE, I drive by your little restaurant of crack, not even intending to slow down just a little, and then suddenly my car has flipped a u-turn, parked itself in one of your parking spaces and shut itself off. And who am I to argue with a car? She could run me over!
This can not continue and I feel that you closing will be much easier than retraining my car to park at Salad Express instead. And yes PE I know Salad Express doesn't actually exist, but it should. Perhaps you could start that up after you close up your current shop? Think about that will ya?
Signed,
Chinese Food is my Crack
Dear Vacation,
Why have you become so elusive my dear old friend? We've had so many good times I simply can't understand your complete lack of involvement in my life now. Have I done something to anger you? Please let me know so I can fix it because I am in some real need of some Vacation in my life.
I'd prefer to see you in Hawaii, or maybe Europe, but I would take Disneyland or even Hood River at this point. We could have some quality time talking about how great you are, how much I love you, how you make working worth it. I'd give you my full attention and we could even go on adventures. I've just got to get you back in my life. I am more sane when I've spent time with you. I'm nicer to people too. You want me to be nice to people don't you?
Just last week I flipped someone off while driving. I never do that Vacation. Never. Sure I use my horn from time to time, but I NEVER flip people off. I also rolled my eyes at a pregnant lady who was complaining about morning sickness. I'm absolutely sure it does suck, and in retrospect I feel very bad for her, but Vacation in that moment I wanted to smack her, and since violence towards pregnant ladies is frowned upon I just turned so she couldn't see me and rolled my eyes. This behavior can't continue.
I NEED you! Please say you'll let me visit? I don't have any money so it's got to be a free visit, but I promise I'll give you my all when I'm there.
Love ya to pieces,
Desperately seeing R & R
Dear Birds at Work,
I know you've been eating the grapes. I can tell because your purple poop is on the hood of my car.
You and I both know you're not supposed to be eating the grapes. I know they are tasty little bird sized treats, but they are for wine, not bird bellies. You must stop until harvest is over. When the picking is done you can have the left overs. For now, all gorging on the little green and purple balls is off limits. Go find a worm.
In regards to pooping on my car... CEASE and DESIST! I don't make messes on your mode of transportation. Leave mine alone. Gretta doesn't deserve your purple poop. If you continue to act with disregard to my request I will seek legal action. I know you don't want to go to court over this, so just get your act together.
Signed,
Bird Hunter in Training
Beach Bound
Headed to the beach tomorrow for the long weekend. Could not have come at a better time. We both need to recuperate and regain some sanity. Can't wait to play some board games and watch the rain fall. I'll post another blog after we return and I feel a bit more grounded. It very obvious at work that a full moon has occurred this week! Seriously, it's been crazy!
Hope you all have a wonderful labor day!
Hope you all have a wonderful labor day!
Back in the sadle!
I did it. I went to the gym today. It felt good to have my ass kicked by the elliptical machine. I will probably hurt a bit tomorrow but I'll go back.
It was hard today, my ankle is very achy as we've had some rain today so the pressure in the air makes it hurt. But I decided my new motto is "I can. I will." I popped a few ibuprofen to help with the swelling and got on the machine.
I absolutely LOVE the new gym. It's pretty, light and bright, and it was empty at 4:45?? Weird! I can only assume that's because beat the 5pm crowd and the gym is not near a large business complex? I'm hoping it was not a fluke.
We had a lovely visit with Scott's older brother this last weekend. He flew in for a few days between shows. He is a Prop Master (is that the right title Andy?) for Broadway shows. He was in between shows and decided to visit. We went to the Adult Soapbox Derby Race on Mt. Tabor. It's a pretty crazy event though I understand it has gotten a little less crazy in the last few years. Just imagine grown men and women racing down an extinct volcano (yes we have a volcano cinder come within our city limits!) in hand made "cars". Some are super fancy and fast, some are just plain funny, some you wonder how on earth they will make it down the hill in one piece. It was a hoot and we had a good time on a perfect summer day.
This weekend is Hood to Coast where crazy runner people run from Mt. Hood - another volcano that is technically active but only has a 3-7% chance of eruption - to the coast. That's 197 miles, broken into 36 legs and each runner has to do at least three of those legs. It's for crazy people. Like Charity! She will be running this year, as well at a few other friends. I may try to catch a glimpse of them if they have legs in Portland proper.
So that's that. Back to the gym tomorrow!
It was hard today, my ankle is very achy as we've had some rain today so the pressure in the air makes it hurt. But I decided my new motto is "I can. I will." I popped a few ibuprofen to help with the swelling and got on the machine.
I absolutely LOVE the new gym. It's pretty, light and bright, and it was empty at 4:45?? Weird! I can only assume that's because beat the 5pm crowd and the gym is not near a large business complex? I'm hoping it was not a fluke.
We had a lovely visit with Scott's older brother this last weekend. He flew in for a few days between shows. He is a Prop Master (is that the right title Andy?) for Broadway shows. He was in between shows and decided to visit. We went to the Adult Soapbox Derby Race on Mt. Tabor. It's a pretty crazy event though I understand it has gotten a little less crazy in the last few years. Just imagine grown men and women racing down an extinct volcano (yes we have a volcano cinder come within our city limits!) in hand made "cars". Some are super fancy and fast, some are just plain funny, some you wonder how on earth they will make it down the hill in one piece. It was a hoot and we had a good time on a perfect summer day.
This weekend is Hood to Coast where crazy runner people run from Mt. Hood - another volcano that is technically active but only has a 3-7% chance of eruption - to the coast. That's 197 miles, broken into 36 legs and each runner has to do at least three of those legs. It's for crazy people. Like Charity! She will be running this year, as well at a few other friends. I may try to catch a glimpse of them if they have legs in Portland proper.
So that's that. Back to the gym tomorrow!
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