Back in the Saddle

So if you are friends with me on facebook and saw my status last week, you know what I did on Saturday...

And for those of you who aren't may facebook friends, or if you didn't see my status...well...I'll tell you...

Last Saturday...

I became certified...

to be...

a...

SPIN INSTRUCTOR!!!

Woo hoo!

Go me...

I think it is the perfect way to celebrate my fitness. I mean, after all, going from being the fat chick who couldn't climb the stairs without losing my breath to the chick who can make everyone in the class lose their breath...

Well, you know, that's just the bomb!

So there you have it.

I can now force my friends to come to my spin class and listen to my crazy music while I make them suffer and sweat.

I think that makes me an awesome friend...

I gotta give a shout-out to a few people who helped me get here...

First and foremost...my Dimples....my sweet Dimples who got me fit enough to do it!

And Trainer Girl...who told me, after I accidently taught a spin class, that I should REALLY teach a spin class.

And JayVee...who told me when the class was and told me I needed to sign up for it and do it!

And J'taime Jamie who always inspires me and supports me!

And AngelAmy who has had my back since high school...and who kindly checked up on me after to make sure I hadn't died and that she still had a friend...

And...oh, I need a good name for this friend...I could call him the Spin King since he teaches spin at the top gym in LA, but he's better than that...and I have known him my whole life...and he inspires me a lot (he inspired the blog "Freedom 90")...so I have to call him...oh heck, he gets a stupid name because he has known me for too long...

TomTom...there ya go...and darling you know who you are...and I am doing a double name because he has twin sons!

So TomTom was my inspiration...and I can't wait to go to LA and take his class! And meet his family...and he's just the best and handsomest guy...so having him support me means the world!

So thank you to my team that got me to want to be back in the saddle all the time!

So I got a little lost on my way to Kingwood for the class but I eventually managed to find my way thanks to my iPhone...so that is one more thank you...thank you to whoever invented the iPhone and the map app!

I get to the YMCA where the instructor certification class is and I see this really cute gal walking in with a spin instructor manual. She asks if I know where to go and I said "no" but assure her we will find it together. We chat a bit and introduce ourselves...her name is...well, I'm gonna call her Spin Angel cause she and I met in spin class and she is also a Pi Phi like me...

So we walk into the class and the instructor calls Spin Angel's first name...and then she says her last name.

The same last name belonging to my brother's best friend...

Bingo...

Small world connection made...it is not a name like "Smith" or "Jones"...

So I ask her if she is married to the bro's bestie and sure enough...

Bingo...

It's a small world after all....(oh, I promise not to name a blog after THAT song)...

So we instantly connect and are excited that we get to do this together!

So class starts and we spend an hour learning how to set up the bikes.

I wish I was joking...

Then we spend an hour and half on the bikes...it was a pretty fun ride but I was ready to get off!!!!

We broke for lunch and did some classroom work. The best part was when we discussed music...cause you know me and my music.

So now I have several members of the class emailing me for music suggestions and playlists...

Woo hoo....

Go me....

Class time ends and we go back for one last awesome ride...one hour...

So needless to say I was one tired little princess after that. I said goodbye to my new friend Spin Angel and I am so glad to have her in my life...

but after that...

I wanted alcohol...and a shower...and my bed....

in that order...

I have my priorities and alcohol comes before the shower...

But no....I had still had a football scrimmage to try my best to blast my way to...so I changed clothes and headed back to my part of town to watch The Cutest Boy in the World (TCBITW) hit and tackle people...and he even got to run with the ball!

Woo hoo...

Go TCBITW!

So Saturday was a great day...I got to prove to myself that I could turn my life around and no longer be the fat chick that got out of breath just walking and I got to watch my son show me and remind me that determination is what you need...because he is a lot smaller than a lot of the boys he goes up against...but he hits em hard and knocks em down...and he doesn't let them stop him...

So I'm not gonna let anything stop me...

So come and take my class (when i finally start teaching)

If

You

Dare

Inspiration Song: "Back in the Saddle" by Aerosmith...because back in the saddle is where I like to be...and because I have had one guy offer to let me teach at his gym...and he used to play that song at the start of every spin class when he taught...

Bye Darlings...get back in the saddle and don't let anything stop you!

Love Hurts

So you are looking at that blog title and wondering...

"Is her divorce going badly?"

"Is she regretting her divorce?"

"Does she have someone new in her life that has already broken her heart?"

"Is she missing Oprah so badly that she is in pain?"

The answers are:
no
no
no
and yes...

But what I am REALLY referring to is not my past, present, or future love life or lack thereof, or my terrible sadness over the end of the Oprah show...

and thank goodness for once I am not talking about the great pain dished out by teenage children...

No, I'm talking about my other love life...

My fitness life

Because right now I am in some good old-fashioned I worked my behind off pain...and the scale is not making me happy.

I did spin class 3 days in a row so right now my left knee is letting me know that it is not exactly happy with me...too bad because I plan to spin tomorrow so I hope Advil takes care of it.

And my glutes...do you really want to hear about my glutes?

Well, your gonna...

Cause they hurt...

JayVee and J'taime Jamie dished out some awesome classes this weekend...lots of climbs, lots of jumps, and lots of speed work on the bike.

GOOD calorie burns...

GOOD glute burns...

I thought about sitting on ice packs but I'm not quite that bad off.

And I did body pump 2 days in a row...not recommended but I couldn't help myself...so my chest is in pain from all that pumping...too bad that I can't do enough chest presses to fix what the plastic surgeon is going to need to fix...

So Advil is my drug of choice...I think I will chase it with a bit of wine...you can't do that with Tylenol.

Now about that scale...I'm about ready to throw it out.

I started the week about where I have been living these days...and then it jumped down to a new low...and a real happy place for me...

But just as suddenly it jumped back up...to a not-so-happy place.

Damn...

I don't get it...

And I am terribly frustrated.

I think it is the carbs.

Because I have allowed myself to have a few more carbs...especially the forbidden ones like chips, etc. a little more often these days.

I have decided that I'm ready to transition to a not-so-strict diet because at some point I'm going to need to live my life. And I plan to do so with tortilla chips...and pita chips...and vodka...and beer.

Now the vodka has always been a part of my "I'm having this no matter what you say, Dimples" plan...but I usually avoid beer.

Except for during the summer.

And I found a new beer, thanks to Trainer Girl, that is my new obsession.

It has the best name ever:

MOOSE DROOL

It's made in Montana. That explains the name.

It's a dark beer that has a faintly chocolate and coffee flavor to it.

Yummy...

There is a local bar/restaurant that has tons of beers on tap that serves it. And I found it bottled at Specs. I plan to have it around a lot...

Cause it's some good stuff...

Trainer Girl and I went out on Saturday to the place that serves it.

We decided to tick of Dimples by inviting his girlfriend to join us.

I thought about nicknaming her "Dimples Girl" but she truly deserves her own special name.

She is hot...I mean this girl is as gorgeous as my Dimples is. And she is an engineer.

Did I mention she is hot?

So I'm going to call her Hottie Girl...cause she is...

So me, Trainer Girl (who is also quite hot I might add) and Hottie Girl went out for some Moose Drool the other night and we dished about men...and about poor Dimples.

Bless his heart...all I can say is that he is very lucky to have 3 women who think he is the bomb...and at least one of us loves him at all times...it just depends on WHAT time it is that we do or do not love him.

I love him 23 hours a day...it's the hour that he trains me that the love is questionable.

Hottie Girl loves him all the time...but then again, she is supposed to...she's his girl...

And Trainer girl is on about the same schedule as me...

I was afraid he was going to kill me for corrupting his girlfriend but peace is reigning...

for now...

we'll see what he does when he trains me next time...I might get really punished...

I don't think it was the going out for Moose Drool that might make him mad...it was the shoe shopping BEFORE going out. We each walked out of DSW with a new pair of fierce heels...

and that, my friends, is how you start out an awesome night!

Some day I guess I will write a blog and tell you I have a new man in my life...some day...but not right now...

Right now I have a son, and ex, and a trainer...that's about all I can handle.

But if you want to hear about shoes...or glute pain...well, you have come to the right place.

Inspiration Song: "Love Hurts" by Nazareth...cause right now I hurt...and JayVee served up a wicked climb on the bike to it today...

Bye Darlings...get your hurt on...in a good way...go and exercise!

I Like It

Wow...I haven't blogged for a while...really didn't have much to say...not much to say now...

Life goes on...busy boring daily tasks...some more fun than others...

So when I don't have much to say I usually do a silly blog...so here's one for you.

I call this:

I LIKE IT...

I like it when people don't recognize me anymore because I have lost so much weight (115 pounds and counting)

I like it when people I have known for years don't recognize me...

I like it when my own trainer confuses me for another client (briefly)...he's doing good at resculpting me...who needs a scalpel...

I like it when I hear from a friend that another friend told her how great I am looking (weight-wise...)

I like it when I have to dial down my weight on my heart monitor

I like it when a friend tells me her son says I look beautiful...or really pretty...

I like it when the new coach says I smell good ('cause he's cute...and I certainly hope I smell better than the 14 year old boys he is coaching)...

I like it when I put on a skirt that fit great 3 weeks ago and it is loose now...

I like it when I can buy Cheetos for my kids and not even care to open the bag and taste one...

I like it when I have the unexpected pleasure of running into friends when I am meeting another friend for lunch and it turns into a party...

I like it when I get on my bike (not the spin bike) and manage to ride...but only after I took a little spill because I have clips and not pedals...but I like the clips...

I like it when the scale slides down and I know my hard work has paid off...

I like it that I can shop at regular stores (not plus size)

I like it when my son, daughter, and her boyfriend go to dinner and we laugh ourselves silly...

I like it when I get up and do my early walk and have a little peace and quiet time with just me and my music...

I like it when I can get a group of friends together and we do something besides eat---we work out!!!! With the best trainer ever...

I like it that I found the best trainer (ever!) to help me...and that he has the patience of a saint...because he needs it with me...I really love him for what he has done for me...

I like it that I can do better pushups than I saw the 8th grade boys doing yesterday...thought about getting down and showing them but then realized that they would then decide that they needed to say "drop and give me 20" when they saw me...

I like it that I can do 20 pushups like a REAL woman (and not on my knees) when I struggled to do 10 (on knees) just a few months ago...

I like it when my knee isn't killing me...but right now it does...

I like it when Glee gives me new music...but not Justin Bieber songs...

I like it that it is now Lacrosse season and I can take outside pictures where I do much better...

I like it that I went to a 50th anniversary party for 2 people who still truly love each other...

I love it that GOTTSON's basketball team is inching closer to the championship...and that GOTT is having to juggle basketball and baseball at the same time...

I like it when my sweet kitty cuddles up next to me in bed and keeps me warm...but not when my big sweet kitty stomps on me because he is jealous...

I like it when I can put my arms around a friend, tell her I love her and that it will be ok and that it was just what she needed at that moment...because she has done that for me...

I like it that I have Athenagal as my co-chair for a big project and that she is far more organized (and stylish!) than I am...

I like it when I can make a goal and reach it...not just weight, but fitness...

I like it when I am brave enough to try something new...even if I don't like it...

I like it when friends say inspiring things to me...like this from my gorgeous Bulletgirl:
Weightloss is a forever going battle because even though at some point we don't live to eat, we must still eat to live. The journey isn't a "straight Shot". Infact it is a stairway that we at times go up running two flights at a time, and others we find that we do a quadruple back flip. Every meal is (eventually) a choice. A struggle we learn in time to combat. Still, my struggle with my weight continues , even after loosing ninety something pounds. At 135 I find that i still beat myself up because i am not 127. ..the truth is mama, we don't have to be perfect, we just have to be human!!!!

isn't that great!!!!!!!!! Love her...good words to remember...

I like it when my trainer tweets awesome motivation...or when he blogs and it is always what I need to hear...

I like it when I get dimples (a smile) from my Dimples (trainer) when I am working out and doing good...

I like it when I can push back my plate and there is still food on it...

I like it that I can shop in my own closet...and that I have learned to throw some things out...

I like it when I'm ready to throw in the towel at spin class and the next song comes on and gets me going again...

I like it when the Amazing Katherine keeps me going in class...

I like it when JayVee teaches spin and plays my favorite stuff...same with J'taime Jamie...

I like it that I once told a man to stop doing something and let me handle it and now he helps me (that would be Dimples...)

I like it that I have 4 lacrosse coaches basically ready to throw rose petals in my path because I have taken care of getting them what they need for their teams...I need to remind them that I like pink lillies....

I like it that I write this blog and you read it...

Inspiration Song: "I Like It" by Enrique Iglesias...fun to spin to...

Bye Darlings...I like it that you take the time to read my musings...

Head Games

Sometimes I think the only real obstacle to losing this weight (other than my screwed up knee) is my head...

Because, as I have said before, I let myself get in my own way.

It's a head game, this weight loss...

First, you have to get it in your head that you WANT to do it...and this is for anything...weight loss, fitness, getting rid of bad habits, training to do something like a triathalon, etc.

Then you have to get it in your head you CAN do it. You can't let yourself stand in your own way.

I know I blog endlessly about how much I love my trainer Dimples and my "J-girls" (instructors at my health club) but I cannot say enough about how much it helps me when they motivate me.

Dimples is always telling me that I CAN do something...or I CAN do a few more...or to at least try something. But so often just when I am about to get in my own way with something, he says the RIGHT something to me to keep me going.

And now he sends "tweets" (yes, I finally am learning about Twitter thanks to my Dimples). It's a good way for him to keep in touch of his bootcamp clients but also to send motivating and positive messages to his clients and followers.

Messages like this (remember twitter limits you to 140 characters so you have to use shorthand):

U must believe absolutely that u're not only capable of achieving your desired goal, but also that it's only a matter of time before you do

I'm keeping that on my phone...to look at when I need it...because I often need it.

You can follow him on twitter too if you want...just sign up for:
@jessetraining

So today I did a 90 minute spin class AFTER I did the new launch of Body Pump 76.

I was a bit intimidated about it...until I realized that last Friday after the one icicle shut down Houston that I gave myself a spin class that lasted over 90 minutes.

But I almost let my head stand in my way...I almost told myself I couldn't do it.

Thankfully my knee did NOT tell me I couldn't do it!

It was 2:35 minutes of exercise...

I got through it...piece of cake...which helped me resist the piece of cake that I really really really wanted to eat at GOTTPARENTS 50TH Anniversary party (woo-hoo...50 years of wedded bliss to an amazing couple with amazing kids and grandkids...love love love them...).

I wanted that cake. It looked good. My stomach said "yes, yes, yes" but thankfully this time the game going on in my head was a good one and my head said "no no no". And I told GOTTESS to keep me away from it.

GOTTSISTERS didn't recognize me...they haven't seen me since last spring...one of them said "you looked familiar but I didn't think it was you"...

love that...
love her for saying it...

For some people that would feel awful, but to my thinking, it is great. I'm happy that I look different.

So I was watching Oprah the other day (duh...when do I NOT watch Oprah?)and she had Jennifer Hudson on.

Jennifer Hudson has gone from a size 16 to a 6. She's lost 85 pounds. She looks amazing.

I've lost more weight but I've had (and still have) more to lose.

She's always been beautiful.

As I looked at her I tried to be honest with myself and see if I thought she was really more beautiful because she is thinner...or am I just trained to think so because that is what is accepted as pretty---thin.

I decided that to my eyes, and my head, she is NOT MORE beautiful...she just looks good...and healthy...and happy.

She talked about how it really plays with your head when you lose the weight. How she walks into stores and picks up things that are the wrong size because they are TOO BIG for her.

Now that is a head game I also play...

When I walked into Victoria's Secret for the first time in 8+ years a few weeks ago I had to talk myself into it the whole way through the mall. And I was afraid I was going to go in there and be told that nothing would fit so I should try Lane Bryant. And I was afraid that I was going to find that I looked like a fool.

But I didn't...and I have a drawer full of new undergarments to prove it.

I was at my favorite store "Lucy" a few weeks ago...I grabbed some pants in in XL and the girl helping me said "no, you need a large...that will be too big".

When I went into the dressing room and the pants fit, I cried.

In my head, I am still a plus-sized girl.

But my body is not...

It's a head game...and I could totally relate to what Jennifer was saying to Oprah about it.

She (Jennifer) also said that she loves trying on new clothes and wearing her new clothes. I can relate to that too...I can't believe I actually fantasize about some of my skirts...that I can actually wear them. I started going through my clothes the other day and realized that I better TRY things on because my brain was saying "no way" but the zipper would go up and my body would say "way...".

Today, after the LONG workout, I met my Aunt Jane (the BEST PERSON IN THE WOLRD) and her friend CAT (Cute and Tiny) for lunch. They had a gift for me.

Jane had taken the photos she took of us (and me) on top of the hill I climbed at our camp reunion. You know...the 218 steps...

For those of you who did not read that blog ("Climb Every Mountain"), I'll give you the 10 second explanation:
When I once couldn't catch my breath after going up 24 steps with a teacher friend I realized that I needed to change my life. So I did. So 6 months later when I climbed 218 steps and didn't DIE, it felt like a big big big deal.

When we got to the top of the hill we prayed and took photos. So Jane gave me the photos today in a frame. To remind me of what I have and will still accomplish.

I cried with joy from the love and beauty of the gift.

Like I said, she is the best person in the world...

and that might be one of the most amazing gifts I have ever received...

And I'm putting it on my nightstand...not because I look good in the photos (in fact, I look awful...no make-up and still around 230 pounds), but rather to remind me what I have done and what I can do.

It's like the tweets I get from Dimples...little reminders to my brain that I can do what I have set out to do.

Now one game I play in my head that will probably only ever be in my head and not reality is a fantasy...and that is ok...fantasies are good! They help move us forward. You all know mine:
Oprah invites me to be on her show to tell how I have lost weight and blogged about it and she gives me a Vera Wang gown to wear because I once met Vera and told her I wanted to wear one of her gowns when I lose weight...

That little fantasy is a head game that is all for fun...but it helps motivate me too...

because...

I don't want to stand in my own way:
to finish an exercise in training
to do a long spin class
to try something new with Dimples
to try on new clothes in a smaller size
to walk into a store that intimidates me
to put on something I haven't worn in 9 years
to dress to show off my hard work
to wear my mom's Vera Wang dress and rock it

Because the only thing stopping me is in my head...not my body...

It's all head games...and I am pretty good at those kinds of games (physical games...notsomuch)...

in fact, I usually win...

I think I'm gonna win this one...like my Dimples says: "it's just a matter of time"...

Inspiration Song: JayVee served up Foreigner's "Head Games" today in the 90 minute master class for spin...it was the perfect song at the 80 minute mark...she's so amazing...

Bye Darlings...win your head game...

Just Push Play

So I had my MRI today.

I think I am becoming a pro at them.

When the guy doing the test asked what was wrong with my left knee (he could see the scars from the surgeries on the right knee) I told him:

"My left knee got jealous that my right knee has gotten all the attention so now it wants equal time..."

Then I went on to explain how I was an idiot for running...

Mind you I sandwiched the MRI between J'taime Jamie's spin class and a workout with my poor darling Dimples who although he was sick and about to cough up a lung still found a way to come out and train me.

He (Dimples) took it easy on me until we know what is going on with the knee. I figure what is done is done...

We played with some new toys today. He made some bands that he wraps around a tree limb and I grab the handles and do various exercises with them (similar to TRX bands).

I also bought a stability ball for us to play with. I refrained from buying a pink one (I thought Dimples might look stupid chasing it around).

He blew it (the stability ball) up yesterday. I had fun bouncing around on it.

Today I got to do push ups, sit-ups and pull-ups on it...I like bouncing around better.

It reminds me of a hippity-hop...remember them?

Once I went to Lake Austin Spa. I went with a group of very fun girlfriends. We took a stability ball class.

The balls at the spa had, for lack of a better word (and Dimples loved this), "teats" on it...you know some long rubber prongs.

They were for keeping the balls from rolling around...nowadays the balls just roll, but this was about 10 years ago when it was a new thing.

So me and the girlfriends go into the room for the class.

The room is darkened. Enya music is playing.

Soothing environment.

I'm not sure which one of us did it first (probably me), but we jumped on the balls, grapped the rubber "teats" (whatever) and began to hop around like we were on hippity hops.

We had a blast.

We worked up a bit of a sweat.

We were bouncing around like 4 year olds.

And then the instructor walked in...

She laughed and claimed that NO ONE, absolutely NO ONE had bounced around on the balls like that until us...

I think she asked if we were drunk.

When we returned again she said "here comes trouble...".

The spa was wonderful, the food was incredible (for spa food), the spa treatments were the bomb, but nothing beat those few minutes that we abandoned our adult selves and became children again bouncing on the balls and laughing until we were crying.

Sometimes, you just need to be a kid.

I turn into a kid a lot during my workouts but I have a feeling that the stability ball will turn me into a toddler.

Maybe that is why I like my workouts with Dimples so much...we play...

He pushes me but he does it in a fun, playful way. He gets my heartrate up and gets me burning the calories but we have a lot of fun while we do it. I think that is what keeps me coming back...that I have fun.

Spin class is the same way. I love my instructors...they are the sweetest...but it is also all about the fun music and we all laugh and have fun while the class is going on.

I love the bootcamp that Dimples does for me and my mama friends. We laugh so much that sometimes he has a hard time getting us to pay attention and work. But we do. And I'm so proud of my Warrior Princess C who continues to celebrate her year of kicking cancer by working out with us. I'm proud of all my bootcamp mamas because we all have our own reasons to be there...and we get to have fun doing it.

Dimples played basketball last week as his workout. He said he really loves to play it and it is a great workout for him...more fun than just running 3 miles.

We are going to ride bikes next week as part of our workout. It will be fun to try something different...I'm tempted to add a bell and a flower basket to my bike like I had when I was 10...except that I don't think they will fit...and I have clips instead of pedals so if I crash that basket will explode.

But that is what a workout should be...it should be fun. And sometimes you have to find a way to play while you get your heartrate up.

I spent a few months doing nothing more than the elliptical. I burned calories and worked on my cardio fitness.

I didn't hate it, but I can't say that it was fun.

When I walk into JayVee or J'taime Jamie or Spinderella's spin classes, I have a blast...I have fun...and if I have the Amazing Katherine next to me I have fun AND a cheerleader.

And when I am with Dimples...be it personal training or bootcamp, I have a blast...and the time passes so quickly.

I guess what I am saying here with all of this "play" is that if you are looking to get started on doing something for yourself, find something FUN that you enjoy doing so you will do it.

Maybe it is tennis...maybe it is basketball...maybe it is riding your bike...maybe is is pilates class...maybe it is karate...but find something that you ENJOY doing...something that will keep you coming back for more.

For me it is spinning and Dimples...that is my form of play.

And I might just have to take that stability ball around the park for a spin...just gotta find a way to hold onto it while I hop...

Inspiration Song: "Just Push Play" by Aerosmith. Because you can just push play and have some fun...or just push play on your iPod and get moving...

Bye Darlings...stop reading this and go out and play!

Pop Music

I have over 2800 songs in my iTunes library...not all of them are on my iPhone (iPod), but most of them are.

I like music...

I have all kinds of music:
Rock (classic mostly)
pop
alternative (mostly pop-alt)
Musicals/Broadway
movie soundtracks
a little country (but not much)
dance tracks
a few classical selections
some "old school" R&B (think Earth, Wind, & Fire)

I make a lot of playlists...I like to just start up the iPod and have a set of songs to listen to.

Ke$ha Barbie spends hours and hours making playlists and listening to music. She probably has 100 playlists.

Mine are not that extensive...

She gets her love of music from me. I got my love of music from both of my parents...but probably mostly from my father.

I started her music education early...including the whole episode I blogged about before when she thought a record album was a "big black cd".

Once she was singing a song...it was a Beyonce/Destiny's Child song...

Bootylicious

so there she is in the backseat of my suburban singing "Bootylicious" and saying how much she loves Beyonce (I do too...) and I hear the sample in the song of Stevie Nick's "Edge of 17".

She (Ke$ha Barbie) says she loves that Beyonce song...especially the "music part".

She was referring to the sample of "Edge of 17".

I literally pulled over and stopped the car.

Dug out a cd...

shoved it into the cd player

and reminded her that as great as Beyonce was...

Stevie was first.

And she did it better.

And then a few years later the Dixie Chicks sang "Landslide". I had to give her a lesson again that...

Stevie was first.

And did it better.

Ke$ha Barbie and I don't agree on all of our music...but we probably have about 30-40% of our libraries in common.

I taught her classic rock...Frampton, Eagles, Aerosmith, Led Zepplin, Fleetwood Mac.

She taught me: Muse, Julian Casablancas, Arcade Fire, Jimmy Eat World, Phoenix.

I played the Beatles for her. Took her (and The Cutest Boy in the World) to see "Beatles LOVE" at the Mirage in Las Vegas. She has almost all of Lennon/McCartney's songs on her iPod now...

We only disagree on who we like better...I'm on "Team Paul" and she is "John" all the way...

But we both agree that George Harrison was the cutest of them and the most soulful.

As to Ringo...

no real opinion there.

But he has some fun stuff too...

I always feel a little victory when I discover a song or band before her. Like today when I told her that I had already downloaded "Houdini" by Foster the People...she hadn't even heard it yet.

Yesssssssssssssss....

And I also feel a little victory when she says things like:
The Eagles really had great harmony
Steve Miller is awesome
Frampton was a guitar god

and she has enough sense to think that Justin Bieber is the lamest excuse for a pop star EVER and that the Jonas Brothers are a blemish on the music industry.

My blog
My Opinion

Of course I am a woman who shamelessly has Barry Manilow on her iPod and is happy about it.

And I have a helluva lot of disco too...not all of it "good" disco (I can hear you all saying "is there such a thing as GOOD disco?").

By "good" I mean: Bee Gees, KC & the Sunshine Band, and Donna Summer

and then you have the old school R&B stuff that was almost disco-like...Brothers Johnson (I challenge you NOT to dance when you hear "Stomp"), S.O.S. Band ("Take your Time, do it right), GAP Band, and some of the stuff that Earth, Wind and Fire did (September).

Ke$ha Barbie does not like ANY of that...but then again I hate Vampire Weekend and the Arctic Monkeys so I guess we are even.

I give music to JayVee, J'taime Jamie all the time...they indulge me and play my stuff during spin class. My latest obessions are with a mash-up of Teenage Dream (Katie Perry) and Get Outta My Way (Kylie) or the new Taio Cruz song (Higher). And JayVee always throws in some classic rock for us too...

I once said I would put some playlists on this blog...stuff to get you moving and grooving. I couldn't decide whether to go with a theme (like Disco or 80's) but settled on a good mix that hopefully most of you have on your iPod...I'll do some "theme" ones another day.

These are all good for cardio work...use the beat (rhythm)to set your pace. I won't use anything "scary" or too offbeat (so no Evanescence---although "Bring me to Life" is awesome to warm-up with---or anything too in to the alternative zone).

Warm-up:
"Genie in a Bottle" Christina Aguilera
"Speed of Sound" Coldplay

Go fast:
"September" Earth Wind & Fire

Hard Climb (high tension)
"Where You Going Now?" Damn Yankees

Interval (fast and slow):
"I'm Still Standing" Elton John

Steady pace...but quick:
"Train in Vain" Clash
"Ready to Start" Arcade Fire

Climb again:
"4 Minutes" Madonna

Interval:
"Raise your Glass" Pink

Steady but quick:
"Take it Off" or "We R who we R" Ke$ha\
"Viva la Vida" Coldplay

interval:
"Club Can't Handle Me" FloRida
"Thnks for the Mmrs" Fall Out Boy

Climb:
"Waiting for You" or "Kiss from a Rose" Seal

Quick:
"Teenage Dream" Katy Perry (try and find the Kylie mash-up)
"Panic Switch" Silversun Pickups
"Get Outta My Way" Kylie Minogue

interval:
"I just Want to Run" The Downtown Fiction

Cool Down:
"Drops of Jupiter" Train

So there are some ideas of some music for you to use whether you spin, walk, run, or do the elliptical or arc trainer.

I've got disco lists, pop-alt lists, classic rock, etc. so if you don't like what you see, send me a message and I'll find you something you like.

The main idea is to MOVE...and if you use a beat, you will move better.

Wouldn't you rather hear Train than the ladies on the View anyway? Turn off the tv and turn on your music and get moving...

Inspiration Song: "Pop Music" by M...Spinderella gave us a dose of it this morning and even though my glutes were screaming by the end of it, it was fun to spin to...

Bye Darlings...let the music play....

Viva la Vida

Viva la Vida...live the life!

Are you living the life or Living la vida Loca? (crazy life)

I can relate to the la vida loca...that is me 90% of the time...but today I'm talking about living the GOOD life...the life we all want to live...

Yesterday my girlfriends Athenagal and Chauchacha taught a great art history lesson to the 7th grade class...Romantisism and Realism...and the first painting discussed was Delacroix's "Liberty Leading the People".

They showed the kids the Coldplay video of "Viva la Vida"...where Chris Martin (lead singer) wanders about in king's robes carrying a copy of that painting.

As I heard the song over and over (for each class) I was reminded:
1) how much I love that song
2) how much I love Coldplay's music
3) what a great statement viva la vida is...live the life...

And I love that painting...

After the art lesson we met Dimples for a workout and had a great time...perfect weather, fun friends, awesome trainer...and we laughed a lot. You can't burn 400 calories in a better way...

that is surely Viva la Vida...

Right now I feel that I am pretty close to living my best life. I still have some issues to work out...things I am not going to blog about because even though I am pretty much an open book here there are things that I do need to keep private...but for the most part, I'm living the life I want/hope/dream about.

My children are healthy and happy...they amaze me every day and I am blessed that I get to be called "Mom" and not just "Anice"...

I have wonderful friends...really wonderful and supportive friends

I am healthy...I'm almost at a healthy weight...I am healthy "inside" with my cholesterol, sugar levels, etc.

I am fit...I can run...I can spin...I can lift weights...I work out...

I have a great gig with GOTT and TTG...I get to work with people I love and how awesome is that...and the kids...oh, I don't have enough good words for the kids and my love for them...

I have Dimples (lucky me!)...and JayVee...and Spinderella...and J'taime Jamie...

I have the possibility of getting my teaching certificate...something I would really like to do...

I have this blog as a creative outlet...

But still no Oprah...but there is hope!

Today I achieved a personal goal...I did a 75 minute spin class. As I told Dimples it was "a piece of cake"...I'm sure he is happy that I thought the class was a piece of cake and didn't EAT a piece of cake.

The class was fun and I'm happy to say that I was pretty pumped that I lasted all the way through and still had some energy left...

Because...

I had to sit through hours and hours of middle school boy's state wrestling championships.

UGH!

Alas, The Cutest Boy in the World did not place or get a medal but he made a valiant effort at it and the boys he lost to were bigger and older than him. But he took them the distance and his coach was pleased with how well he did.

We had one boy win a state title and several other boys who placed 2-6.

I'm very proud of them!

But I'm so tired of sitting...so very tired of sitting.

Who ever thought you could be tired of sitting?

I sat there and watched our boys fight it out with other boys.

While wearing leotards (called a singlet)...

and longed for football season...

because I "get" football...sorta...although Dimples still has to explain most of it to me...and I understand what is going on on the field even if I don't know what all the positions are.

Wrestling is still a mystery to me...one sport I'm not sure I'm ever going to "get".

But my son likes it, so I will be supportive and sit and watch endless hours of it and pray that he stays safe. Today one boy on our team may have broken an ankle and I watched a boy from another team tear his ACL (or at least it pretty much look like he tore his ACL...poor kid).

I used to fear the injuries from football but now I understand that my son is safe with all that padding. I'm not saying he won't be hurt, but he is less likely to do so with shoulder pads on. It's a life I understand.

Wrestling is a life I am still figuring out...and I hate the demands to remain at a certain weight and all the physical contact.

The weight thing really gets me because as much as I am working to lose weight, I find it hard to put my 12 year old boy on a diet to make a weight class and feel good about it. And some of those wrestlers do extreme things to drop the weight...running in plastic suits, sweatboxes, steam showers, not drinking water...

no...

that is not the life I want for my son...

so he can wrestle but we aren't doing the crazy stuff...

because I want to Viva la Vida...not Viva la vida loca...

and that, my friends is what I call "loca"...crazy...

I'm crazy enough...I don't need to add to the crazy.

Inspiration Song: "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay. Gorgeous song...love the music...

Bye Darlings...Viva la Vida...

Welcome to the Jungle

Guns N' Roses

J'taime Jamie gave us Guns N' Roses and 2 Britney Spears songs today in spin class. I liked the Britney---after all, I gave those songs to her...the rest of the class liked the G-N-R...

I like that song too...although I like Paradise City and Sweet Child O'Mine a little better.

So when my friend Dollface suggested it for a blog title I just had to do it...I'm still running my little "contest" but this one seemed to be a no-brainer.

After spin I had a workout with Dimples...we discovered our park had been almost flooded but we made it work...and then I headed to school for some prep work for our Art a la Carte lesson tomorrow.

Have I bored you to death yet?

So now I am making butternut squash soup (recipe on the bottom in case you dont want to look for it in "Hungry Like a Wolf" blog...

I decided that I would peel and chop up my squash vs. buying it already peeled and diced.

I do not recommend my plan.

I almost ended up in the ER...

Cutting up the squash just to try and peel it was tricky enough...it almost slid off the countertop. So then I get it into managable chunks and can't find my vegetable peeler.

So I use a knife.

Not a good plan.

That almost resulted in some gouges in my fingers and my thumb being cut off.

Most of the way through the first squash I found the peeler...

Thank you, kitchen fairy!

So I chop up the first squash and dive into the second.

This time I have the peeler.

They can be dangerous too...

And for some reason the squash got a little "slimier" so it was hard to hold.

But then I got that squash diced and mission accomplished!

Tossed it with some olive oil, sea salt, and cinnamon and put it in to roast.

There is an easier way...2 easier ways:

1) buy it peeled and diced---this is my choice from now on

or

2) slice it in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, lightly oil it and bake it cut side down until it is soft. Let cool and scoop out.

Why didn't I do "plan 2" with the squash?

And for some strange reason I have this film on my fingers now that I cannot get off...I've tried a scrub, I've tried olive oil, I've tried dish soap...

on the other hand I think I may have discovered a really great natural skin-tightener that I might be able to market as "facelift from a plant"...

So now that I have (hopefully) amused you with my tale of dangerous cooking, I'll get to the "jungle" part of this story.

I've never been to a jungle unless you count the fake one at Disney World...or Middle School (that is a very very scary jungle).

I've been in "the bush" when my brother and Sister-in-Love (that is what I have renamed her...not Sister in Law but Sister in Love because she is my sister through love...my love for her!)...

Anyhoo...

They lived in South Africa and we went to visit them. My kids were in 2nd grade and Pre-K. It was the trip of a lifetime.

We went to a game park and saw lions eating after a kill, zebra running wild, and my brother had a giraffe that thought he was the family pet.

I feared the Black Mambas (deadly snakes) and loved watching the weaver birds in the tree that they all built nests in.

Those weaver birds are pretty smart little birds...at least the females are. The males build the nests...show it to the little wife bird...if she likes it, she moves in. If she doesn't, she rejects it and makes him make her a new home.

I like that...

We spent 4 weeks in South Africa. I hated to leave...it is a remarkable country.

We spent most of our time at my brother and SIL's home about 3 hours north of Johanessburg. We also went in to Johannesburg to shop and enjoy the city.

Something exciting ALMOST happened there...I say "almost" because the exciting thing didn't actually happen but it ALMOST happened...

Because...

OPRAH WAS THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My mom, Ke$ha Barbie and I walked into a shoe store. The girls working there noticed we were American. They asked if we knew Oprah.

I said: "No, I don't personally know her but I know who she is and want to meet her".

Then they told us we had just missed her by like 3 minutes.

I went running all over the Sandton Mall trying to locate her. I just wanted to SEE her...I wanted to be in her proximity.

I still cannot explain to you my fascination and obsession with her, but there it is...

I chased her all over a South African Mall.

I could have been shopping but I was looking for Oprah...oh, and I had a prety delicious lamb shwarma in the food court...we thought she might be there.

When we returned to the states, Oprah had a television special about her trip there.

She was deeply affected by her trip there. So were we.

It is a beautiful country with beautiful people. I never felt unsafe although I know there is crime there. Johannesburg is like any big city...you have to know where to go and where to be.

We stayed in the Sandton area (think nice residential)...we avoided Soweto (a terrible sad slum).

We shopped in the flea market and bought treasures. I bought bowls made by women who used telephone wire to make the bowls. They are beautiful. I have a wine opener that is a tusk from a wart hog. I have beautiful wooden bowls. I have beaded salad tongs. Treasures...

The best part of the trip...finding out SIL was pregnant with my nephew.

We also drove down to the coast. My brother decided we needed to take our lives into our hands and experience South Africa's version of real-life "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" called the Prince Alfred Pass.

Don't. Ever. Do. It.

It was horrific.

First, you are driving in some mountains like, oh say...Arizona. No problem. Just remember to drive on the LEFT side of the road.

Then you ascend into the mountains and it becomes very alpine...I kept thinking Heidi was going to pop up. It is what I imagine Norway or Sweden are like. Beautiful...

I was mildly terrified when I saw some cars in the valley...cars that had fallen off the road. Not a cool feeling.

so we are driving this winding pass...or rather my husband is driving. And the roads are narrow. And they hug the mountain.

And Mr. "I am the best driver" forgets what side of the road to drive on and we almost crash into another car...or into the side of the mountain...or down the cliff.

I really needed a drink after that.

Sadly it was hours away...

Needless to say we did NOT take that pass back when we returned to my brother and SIL's house...

Once we got to Plettenburg Bay (our destination)we met up with some friends of my brother and SIL's.

It was incredible to meet them...because the wife's father was one of my foather's dearest friends and I was once-upon-a-time supposed to stay with her (her name is Cathy) when we were in high school. I was to go to South AFrica, stay with Cathy and then go to her family's game lodge. But apertheid was in full swing and it became dangerous so I didn't get to go.

So 18 years later I finally got to meet Cathy...and we stood in her yard and cried with joy. There is a long story to how my brother became her friend but the shorthand version is that my SIL's dad (who is from Dallas) met Cathy's husband, brought my brother and SIL to meet him and Cathy and Cathy said her dad was good friends with a man from Texas...who turned out to be my father.

Fate...perfect fate...

I loved our time in Plettenburg Bay and with Cathy. My brother had always told me she was just like me with a South African accent. It is true. She and I finished each other's sentences. I long to see her again.

Leaving South Africa was hard...it was a wonderful country, we learned a lot...and we were flying coach....LONG TRIP...

Ke$ha Barbie sat on the floor of the airport terminal and declared she would not leave South African soil...

I pointed out that she was on the 2nd floor and had left the soil 10 minutes before when she got on the escalator.

While we were there we had incredible experiences...meeting friends, having a chance to feed and pet elephants, chasing Oprah...

But we had a really great "ah-ha" moment that I will never forget...

Ke$ha Barbie and The Cutest Boy in the World very much wanted a Nintendo Game Cube. They wanted Santa to bring it. Santa brought their gifts to our house in Houston...not South AFrica where I would have to pack them...

So Ke$ha Barbie was wondering aloud, on Christmas Day, as we were traveling south to Plettenberg Bay, if Santa had brought her the game cube.

At that moment we were passing a shanty town.

I asked SIL to pull over...

and pointed out to Ke$ha Barbie that those people didn't have phones, or tv, or bathrooms...and she shouldn't worry about a game cube when she was in this incredible country.

South Africa has no middle class...we would be wealthy there. I mean, we had a steak dinner for all 9 of us in a first class restaurant and our bill, including all the wine we drank and HUGE steaks...was less than $200.

We had pizza with beer and drinks for $11...and Ke$ha Barbie had pasta and juice...

So when I tell you that those people are poor...I MEAN POOR...

Oprah said something on her special that I have never forgotten.

She said that she and her staff took polaroids of the kids in one of the shanty towns they went to. The children did not believe that the photos were of themselves.

Because they had not ever clearly seen their own faces.

No one had a mirror....

So they didn't know what their own face really looked like.

Wow...

We learned so much there...I long to return...

even if I have to convince myself that a black mamba will not get me or my children...

I've got more stories but this blog is already as long as a novel so I will sign off and return my brain to Houston...and dream of Africa...

Inspiration Song: "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N'Roses...because J'taime Jamie played it in spin class and Dollface suggested it would be a good blog...

Bye Darlings...don't get lost in your own jungle...and count your blessings...

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup:

Roast your squash...either peel and dice it into 1" chunks (or buy it that way at Costco) or cut in half, scoop out seeds, lightly oil and bake and cool and scoop out pulp.

Put the chunks (or pulp) in batches in your blender or food processor and puree. Thin with vegetable stock or chicken stock.

transer puree to a pan...add chicken stock or veggie stock to thin out to soup (chowder) consistency. You can also add some cream, half and half, fat free half and half, or milk (lowfat or fat free is better for you).

Season with curry powder (hot or mild), cinnamon, and a pinch of salt (or to taste).

Heat and serve...

I read a recipe where you bake some apples and puree them in...gonna try that next time!

Notorious

I had really planned to write this blog yesterday but it seems that my husband decided this week to make me and the house come undone by re-arranging the study...which meant no internet for a while and things are a big old miss around here...more than usual. He tends to do these things without really consulting me...like if it is a good time to destroy the house...

So if you read my previous blog, "Come Undone" all the way to the end you know that I achieved 2 goals this week:
I'm under 200 pounds
and
My weight loss total is now at 100 pounds

And here is another awesome thing...I watched "The Biggest Loser" this week and I am thrilled to say that for the first time in like, forever, I weigh less than any of the contestants!!!!

Now all of that should be rather horrifying to most of you...because the fact that I am just now under 200 pounds after losing 100 shows you just how fat I was. Depressing, really...

I mean, I don't have a friend among you that needs to lose anywhere near that much weight.

And even more depressing...I didn't need to be at such a sad state like the one I was in. I should have gotten hold of myself LONG before that scale was almost at the 300 mark. I should have fixed it before 250...before 200...

But you see, it really gets easier to NOT do it the heavier you are. You figure that you are so far gone what is a little more. And then you basically give up.

Losing weight and getting fit is hard. And I think that goes for whether you have 5 pounds or 50 or 150 to lose. Because lazy is EASIER. And losing 5 pounds at 298 is so much easier than losing 5 pounds when you weigh 130...so it is all relative. You have to change things about yourself that aren't always easy to do.

You might have to:
1) adjust your schedule so you can exercise
2) cook more
3) grocery shop more
4) cut out junk food
5) spend more $ on meals (because lean protein is more $$$)
6) pack a lunch
7) get up earlier
8) skip the chips and salsa
9) sweat

But look at it THIS way:
1) you make time for yourself...because you deserve it! So if you need to take an hour to go to the gym, or find someone to pick up your kids so you can attend a class or bootcamp, aren't you worth it?

2)ok, cooking more isn't always fun but it will save you money over going out to eat or buying processed food. In the long run it is in investment in yourself and your wallet because you aren't paying for someone else to do the work...AND you get control of every ingredient (and how much oil and salt) is in your food. Read my "Hungry Like a Wolf" blog for some tips on saving time in the kitchen and good recipes.

3)grocery shopping more can be a positive because you will be putting healthier food into your body (instead of eating out) and pushing that cart burns calories...so does lugging it into the house and putting it away.

4)no one needs to eat junk food...this one is easy...and yes, I do love me some Lays Potato chips but they leave me feeling bloated, greasy and full of salt...now I like to munch on veggies and fruit or healthy crackers (and before the divirticulitis, I ate nuts). No one EVER needs to eat a Twinkie...

5)lean protein will cost more to eat than the cheap stuff...so yes, salmon will cost you more than a chicken nugget but you get so many benefits from the GOOD foods you put in your body...on the other hand, chicken and turkey are CHEAP so you can go pretty far with them. The "Hungry" blog will give you more information on how to incorporate some good lean protein in a yummy way...

6)packing a lunch saves you money and calories...so if you work, plan for it and you will be better off in the long run...or go to Fit Food and bring that. The "Hungry" blog will give tips on great things to pack for lunch that will make you the envy of your co-workers...

7)getting up earlier to exercise IS a pain in the neck, and I HATE to do it, especially this "run/walk 30 minutes before eating" business Dimples has me doing...but it is working so I just drag my butt out of bed and do it...and I try to go to bed earlier...David Letterman isn't all that interesting anyway...

8)chips and salsa can equal almost as many calories as your dinner in a Mexican food place. It's not the salsa...it's the fried chips. Some places serve baked (just ask) or skip it...it won't hurt you...and tell them to just not bring the chips and you won't be tempted.

9)Sweat is beautiful. Jay-Vee and I are going to make t-shirts that say that. I'll let you know when we take orders. Sweat says you are working hard. I sweat buckets when I workout (poor Dimples...thank goodness he can handle it)...if you aren't breaking a sweat, you aren't trying...

Right there are some of the things that have helped me lose weight...I got over being grossed out by sweating buckets, I cook more, I have found a way to love salmon, I put myself as a priority in my life.

Today I got up at 6:30 and went for a run/walk and then followed that with Body Pump for an hour and an hour of spinning (thank goodness for the Amazing Katherine cheerleading me through all 7 minutes of "Money for Nothing" or I might have passed out on the bike!). I tried to do mat Pilates for a bit but I am still having trouble finding my love for it---but I'm not giving up! And since J'taime Jamie teaches it, I will keep trying it. It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning and I burned over 800 calories doing it.

I've become rather notorious at the gym as the formerly really fat chick...and that is ok...a few women have told me that I have inspired them...that is ok too...because they will go on and inspire someone else! I'm just paying it forward.

The sad thing is that we are getting ready to start a "Biggest Loser" challenge of our own and I so could have totally OWNED that contest...I would have been a big-time winner...

But you know what? That's ok that I have done the bulk of my loss before the challenge...it will motivate me to work even harder AND maybe what I have done will inspire someone who is as big as I was to realize that THEY can do it too...and THAT will make me a winner---if I get just one fat chick or guy to realize that she/he can lose 100 pounds without pills or surgery too.

Dimples wants me to take some photos as I progress. I told him I TAKE photos, not model for them...but he says it will motivate me and show me how positively I have progressed. I'll do it for him...but not because I want to. I might make Coach Cuteness take the photos for me so at least I have a shot at looking decent...Dimples wants me in gym clothes (really? now you KNOW how much I love him if I will do that) and Cuteness will have to be sure that he gets me at my best angle (which is me NOT being in the photo). I am a notoriously bad subject in pictures...I just don't photograph well...

Right now I have to say that it has been hard to do this but not as hard as I thought it would be. I've had a lot of help and support along the way. I still have some more weight to lose but I feel like someone who is looking at a road map and I see where I left from and I see my destination---my destination is getting closer and I am enjoying all the sights along the way...I'm in no hurry to rush by everything...slow and steady will get me there just the same.

It took me 10 months to lose the 100 pounds. Not bad...not bad at all...

So thank you friends, thank you Dimples, thank you JayVee, thank you J'taime Julie, thank you Fitness Goddess, thank you Spinderella, and thank you Fit Foods.

If you haven't read the "Hungry Like a Wolf" blog, read it for tips on what to cook and how I eat...just posted it.

Now if I can just get Oprah to read this blog and invite me on her show and give me the Vera Wang gown...I will be notorious for sure!

Inspiration Song: "Notorious" by Duran Duran. Because I am a bit notorious for being a loud mouth...

Bye Darlings...read the Hungry Like a Wolf blog if you haven't already...

Come Undone

I tried to write this blog last night but for some reason my blogger site wouldn't let me write anything...that was super frustrating. i didn't come undone, but it was frustrating and annoying to say the least.

But I'm glad I had a bit more time...because some things have happened that have made this blog come together a bit better.

So yesterday I did ALMOST come undone with some other things...

For those of you who are not familiar, my "job" is not a PAID job but I think of it as a REAL job just the same. I work with my friend GOTT (God of the Theater...drama teacher extraordinaire and the best damn choir director anywhere and my soul brother)and my friend TTG (Theater Tech God...my sweet funny friend who is also like a brother to me) and my friend Musical Muse (Musica director---I don't know how she plays plays plays that piano...she is amazing and beautiful). I costume the kids for the shows we do and help find props and just assist in general. I do this for free. I do this for love. And I love what I do...and I love my friends that I work with...

When you get paid in hugs and kisses from kids, well, that kind of salary is impossible to find...

Anyway...

So yesterday GOTT starts the process of casting our spring 8th grade musical. It is the highlight of their year and most of these kids have been looking forward to this for years. The kids knew before the holiday break what show we were doing and most have been learning the music and watching videos...

We were going to do "Peter Pan" (not the Disney version, the REAL stage musical).

I say "were" because we were going to do it.

So GOTT has the kids start auditioning...and then time is up in class. Barely scratched the surface. So the kids leave and Musical Muse goes to check her email while GOTT and TTG and I discuss production issues.

Musical Muse returns with a big frown on her face...she is was waving a sheet of paper.

In order to present a performance of a lisenced show, you have to buy and pay for the rights. We did that.

But the company that issues the rights pulled them...no more Peter Pan. Seems a tour is coming through and no how, no way we can do it.

The paper she was waving was the email informing her that the rights had been pulled. She called the company but they said "uh-uh"...basically it was like the thumbed their nose at us and said "too bad, so sad...".

I very nearly came undone. I don't know how GOTT kept his cool...he has been prepping this and working on it for weeks. When he does a show he puts in hours and hours of work getting the scripts ready, blocking things, figuring out WHEN he needs to block things, figuring out what the kids will read in the script to audition, etc.

I've been working on this...I've even purchased a few things for the show...guess they will go into a box until we get to do it...

This was a lot of work....down the drain.

I told him "we need to re-boot. God shut a door...but He has opened a window...go through the window...we will do something better".

We threw around some ideas and he settled on "Annie"...it will be great.

Because our un-doing will probably lead to greater things...

After that bit of excitement I moved on to my workout with Dimples...he is undoing my usual way of doing things...and I can happily report it is working. I so luv luv luv him...even if I am in pain pain pain when we are done...

I spent the evening watching the wrestling team and taking photos and then came home to discover that blogger would let me sign in but not compose anything...so I went to bed.

This morning I got up and ran a mile...2nd day in a row...little over a mile in fact...I thought when Dimples told me to try it I would come undone having to get up at least 30 minutes (really more like 45) earlier but I'm trying it...

I ran, went to school to be supportive when GOTT told the kids what happened, and then I went to J'taime Jamie's amazing spin class. It was great and the music was awesome and she played...

Andy Gibb...

You know, I was going to marry Andy Gibb...yes, I was! I had a plan...I was going to go to a concert, he would see me and would fall instantly in love with me...at least that is what I thought with my 13-year-old brain. I kissed his picture every night...him in his tight white pants and open red shirt.

He. Was. Hot.

In fact, I'm getting a little sweaty just thinking about him right now...and I am sad that he is gone and died so young...

I would have saved him from all of that cocaine if he had just wanted to marry me like I planned...

I had other crushes...Peter Frampton...Shawn Cassidy...David Cassidy...Parker Stevenson...but I was never a Leif Garrett kind of girl.

I came home from spin and plopped down to watch the "Oprah Show" I had DVR'd since I had to miss watching it yesterday...

And, guess who was on...

Peter freaking Frampton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and

Shawn "I still got cute dimples" Cassidy...

WOW!

The Backstreet Boys and Jackie Jackson were also on but they never had my heart the way Peter and Shawn did...

Oh my my...

I forgot we have all gotten old...

Shawn is thicker and middle aged but seems like a genuinely nice guy. Peter has lost those luscious locks of his that he threw about so fetchingly in his youth.

Once I got to kiss his plane...yes, I kissed it because that was as close as I could come to kissing him. I flew to Houston in my dad's small plane and parked at the same hanger was Peter's very large jet. It had his name on the side. I couldn't get the door of our plane open fast enough. My father laughed until he cried as I joyfully ran across the tarmac screaming:

"PPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!"

He wasn't on the plane...

I just kept screaming anyway.

I just about came undone with the joy of being close to ANYTHING that was remotely related to Peter Frampton.

He. Was. Hot.

And you know what? Depite the lack of hair and age...the guy can still play guitar like nobody's business and is a genuine rock star and can still sing "Baby I love your way" in a very sexxxxxxy manner.

I would have come undone if I had been in Oprah's audience.

I would have cried and screamed "PPPPPEEEEETTTTEEEERRRR!!!!!!!!!".

and sung along to every song...

This afternoon I had another session with Dimples...I achieved a resolution/goal...we broke the 400 calorie burn mark. We were both pretty happy about...he almost undid me at one point when I looked at him with sweat dripping off me and said "I'm not sure I can do it" and he said "yes, you can..." and so I did...

Because you see, today was a GOOD day...today:
we found a great show and the kids are happy...
I reconnected with my love for my teen idols...
I ran about 1.25 miles...
I had a great spin workout...
I burned 400 calories with Dimples and had fun every minute of it...

And...

And...

And...

And...

(is the anticipation getting to you?)

And...

And...

I've now gone under 200 and I have lost 100 pounds...

I am so blogging about that tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Inspiration Song: "Come Undone" by Duran Duran...because it is Duran Duran week...and because they often caused me to come undone when I watched them on MTV...Simon and the boys were so pretty...

Bye Darlings...it's ok to come undone...once in a while...

All I Know

So 2010 is coming to a close...just one day left...

This, for me, has been a big year of change...change in my body, change in my health, change in my outlook, change in what I think I can do, change in what I KNOW I can do.

In the 10 months I have spent changing, I have learned a few things...and many are things I should have learned long ago.

So what have I learned?

I'll share it with you...not because I am some sort of health or weight-loss guru, but maybe there is something in what I have learned that you can use for your own life.

And I know a lot of us set resolutions this time of year, so this might just help one or two of you get there...

My body can do more than my mind thinks it can.

The first time I stepped on to the elliptical machine I thought there was no way I could last 10 minutes. But I shut my brain off and went for an hour. The first time I stepped back into a spin class I thought I would only make it for 15 minutes---I did the whole class. Again, it was not letting my brain tell me that I was done. Today when I didn't think I could run one more step pulling my trainer along, he told me I could do it and I did...he constantly tells me "mind over matter" but what he is REALLY saying is that I just need to let my body do what it can and not let my thinking get in the way. My body is far more capable than what I give it credit for.

Nothing tastes as good as thin...or healthy...

Today I wanted a cookie. I wanted ice cream. I wanted a lot of bad things. But then I remembered how hard I worked with Dimples and realized it wasn't worth it. Because as tasty as the cookie is, it wasn't worth 10 minutes of hard work with Dimples when I could eat an apple instead.

I honestly do not miss french fries and hamburgers and Cane's chicken but I do miss Fuzzy's pizza.

So if I cheat...I eat the Fuzzy's. Because I don't miss the other stuff and so why do it. Lesson to others: if there is a food you really love, cheat with that, have a love affair with that...don't cheat with a food that is a "fling"...if you don't love it, don't do it. I also cheat with Crave Cupcakes...I have had a 2-year relationship with their Strawberry cupcakes (and I cheat on the strawberry ones with the candy bar ones) so if I am offered one and I have been a good girl, I eat it. I've had exactly 3 in the last 10 months...not bad...not bad at all...

I love wine. I am not cheating with wine...and a few glasses a week will not hurt me and might even be good for me.

Just read my "Red Red Wine" blog...it says it all. Best 150 calories of my day sometimes...

You will work harder and more efficiently if you wear a heart monitor.

You can spend $50-$150 on one. Buy the one that fits your budget and wear it every time you work out. Dimples had me buy a "Polar" one. I like mine because it has a recording feature so I can record each session and it will keep track of how many minutes I have worked out and calories burned. It is particularly useful because I can show him (Dimples) what I have done when I am not working with him. It pushes me harder...and it makes him push me harder.

Don't believe the calorie's burned amounts on the machines at the gym.

They lie.
Wear a heart monitor. It doesn't lie.
One of the trainers at the Racquet Club pointed out to me that you can turn the treadmill on and it will start a calorie count even if you don't step on it...wow...

The only way to lose weight is to eat less and better quality food and exercise.

That's it. No magic pills. No "easy button". You just have to eat right and move your body.
It's simple math---you have to put in less calories and put out (burn) more calories.
And no, you can't go for a 45 minute walk and then eat a plate of enchiladas and expect to lose any weight.

If you put off going to the gym, you won't go...

I find that unless I plan and know I am going at a later time (like meeting Dimples at 2:30 or going to Body Pump at 6:00 pm), I could easily procrastinate myself out of a workout. If you don't work, drop the kids off and go straight to the gym or your workout. If you work, put your gym bag in your car and go straight there---if you go home you will be distracted and not go.

You have to figure out what kind of exercise you like so you will do it.

I hate to run...I am still trying to find my love for it. I told Dimples today that I didn't think I was ever going to like running and he said "ok, but it gets your heart rate up and we are only doing it for a few minutes" and that made it all better. Because I don't want to run for 45 minutes but I WILL SPIN for 45 minutes without argument. So you find what you like. Try different classes, try different machines. I don't like the treadmill but I DO like the Arc Trainer and the elliptical. I don't like Pilates but I DO like spin and Body Pump. I have friends who HATE Body Pump and love the machines at the club...I hate the weight machines and I hate doing them. Different strokes...

So find what you like and do that. Vary it up so you don't get bored. But if you hate the treadmill and that is all you do, you will never enjoy your workout. Try everything...think of the gym as a buffet and give it all a taste.

But you need to try something more than once...

Maybe what you didn't like about spin or Pilates was the instructor, not the class. There are spin instructors who I adore as people but can't stand their spin classes. And I love J'taime Jamie's Body Pump and Spin classes but Pilates I can take or leave...I only take it when she or JayVee teach and if I really feel like it. So if you take a class and don't enjoy it...try it at least one more time with a different instructor or different time of day (maybe doing Pilates in the afternoon won't work for you but in the morning you would enjoy the stretch).

I did not like the Arc Trainer the first time I tried it, but I kept after it and started with 10 minutes and added 5 minutes every few days and soon it became my one-hour cardio workout. I do the treadmill all the time and I still hate it...but I do it.

Vary your intensity if you are using a cardio machine.

Dimples has me change the incline and speed constantly on the treadmill. He told me to do the same with the othe machines. So mix it up...go hard and fast for a minute or two and then back off a bit. Keep your heartrate up and challenged.

If you read or watch tv while working out, you aren't working hard enough...

Wear your heart monitor...try 1/2 your workout reading your magazine or watching "The View" (although Joy Behar does get my heart and blood pressure going). Then turn it off or close the magazine/book/eReader and go at it. You will work harder without the distraction. Try it...more than once...see if I am right. If you can do all your workouts reading "People" or watching "The Today Show" and work as hard as you do without it, I will take you to lunch...but you have to do it more than once and use the heart monitor to prove it. I know I am right about this one...

The exception to that: music...

I know, I know...I am a music freak. I love my music. Heck, my blogs are all named for songs! But...whether you realize it or not, if you play music your body will want to move to the beat. You WILL speed up during faster songs. On the slow songs, put on all the tension you can (if you are on a cardio machine) and climb hard. If you are running or walking, try and go double time to the beat.

The other exception to that...video spin

Spinderella plays videos for us when we spin...but we don't listen to it, we listen to music and she gives us a good hard beat to ride to and tells us how fast and hard to go. So while we watch "Mamma Mia" we ride hard and fast to music the whole time. It works...

Get a trainer...

I know, I totally love my Dimples. He's awesome. I told him so today. But working out with him is fun and he told me today he has fun too. I am a handful so I guess he has to enjoy it or he would fire me as a client. But I don't just love and adore him because he is sweet and those dimples are more than a little cute (he is a pretty pretty man), I love and adore him because he is so good at keeping me moving and working and having fun while doing it. I had to try a few trainers before I found my fit...and he fits me. He might not be for everyone, but it totally works for me and my OCD and ADD. Watch the trainers at your gym while they work with clients...talk to them when they are not busy. Find a fit...do you want a gentle lamb or a drill sargeant? There is no right answer except that you find who works for you. This also applies to group exercise instructors (see above). I have my girls I love love love...and I take all their classes because I like their style and music choices and how they pace their classes.

So why hire a trainer? Because you WILL work harder. Or at least hire one a few times to get you started. But if you find a fit, you will WANT to work with your trainer. Do what your pocketbook will let you. For me, it is a priority so I give up other stuff to have my Dimples time. And he is sooooooooo worth it. Not just 'cause he's pretty to look at...but it doesn't hurt...But mostly it is because he works me harder than I do myself and he is making me stronger and healthier with each workout. Yes, I <3 my Dimples each time I put on a smaller top or someone says "you are really looking good"...just in the time I have worked with him my body has changed a lot even if my weight hasn't made a huge leap...but it will... Ice works.

If you hurt, apply ice. It helps. Sore muscles might keep you from working out...so I ice my sore muscles and it makes a difference. When I don't, I hurt.

Advil works.

Advil and wine work extra good...

Hot baths work.

Put in some epsom salts. Pour glass of wine and bring to tub with you (no glass glasses...be safe!). Soak. Repeat often...

Drink water.

Do I need to explain that one? I didn't think so...

Take a day off...but don't take a week off...

I have to talk myself into days off. Dimples has to order me to take days off. But you don't want your body to break down so you have to let it rest. But if you take too much time off, you get out of the habit...

Set Goals.

But don't set unrealistic goals. Dimples reminds me all the time that they pyramids were not built in a day so I can't expect all this to change overnight. So we take it slowly. I set small goals. I have a big goal but I focus on the little ones. So don't say "I will lose 10 pounds by February"...say "I will lose 10 pounds. I will lose 2-4 pounds in January and then the rest...".

Reward yourself.

Not with food. Reward yourself when you reach goals with GOOD things...a new outfit, a handbag, A massage or pedicure. A new haircut. Treat your body with the reward...make yourself look as good as you feel.

Wear comfortable clothes when you workout or train.

That means find some stuff that doesn't bind, itch, or ride up on you. If you aren't comfortable, you will be distracted.

Make yourself and your health a priority.

I ignored myself and my health for 5 years. I let myself go. I took care of everyone else but myself. Now I still take care of others (that is how I snagged Dimples and you all know how much I love working with the kids at the middle school...that is my passion), but I make time for myself. I am lucky, my job at the school is not a real job but something I volunteer to do so I can go in, do what I need to do and leave...and GOTT and TTG push me out the door when I tell them I have a spin class...they are uber supportive (lucky me!)and I know that I do better at helping them because I feel better.

YOU deserve to take time to make yourself feel better and healthy. Do it. Just do it.

Well, for now that is about all I know...well, not really, and I don't know all that much but these are some things I have learned along this road I am on.

And now my contacts are driving me nuts so I am going to end this blog and go take them out!!!!!!

Inspiration Song: "All I Know" by Art Garfunkel. Yes, Art Garfunkel. It is a beautiful song that I have always loved. He sings it beautifully...no one does it better. I love you and that's all I know...

Bye Darlings...let me know what you know...I love to share!

Breath of Heaven

So here is my Christmas blog...just a day late...because yesterday I was spending time with family and friends (who are practically family).

We had an easy Christmas this year...the kids wanted to pick out their own gifts and didn't want much so we "adopted" a family and shared our blessings with someone less fortunate than us. It felt good to do that and I have my friend Dy-no-mite Dawn to thank for finding us a family to gift...

Although I'm not sure the mother of those children was thanking me yesterday when her daughter opened up the "Sing-a-ma-jigs" I bought.

Most. Annoying. Toy. Ever.

Even beats out Tickle-Me Elmo.

If you are unfamiliar, and you are lucky if you are, Sing-a-ma-jigs are stuffed creatures (?)...not an animal, not a person, some sort of doll thing...and when you press their belly they open their mouths and sing. Annoyingly.

and they were singing in the bag while I had them in the car...ugh!

According to my Aunt Gayle, who has the coolest job ever because she works in Hollywood for the Jimmy Kimmel Show, Jimmy had some on his desk that he kept playing with. I missed those shows...thankfully...but I usually watch.

So, please "Mama of the Children I bought Gifts For"...forgive me for the sing-a-ma-jigs...your child asked for them!

My son wanted Xbox games (duh!) and my daughter wanted tickets to a concert and a keyboard (that thankfully has earphones that plug in so I don't have to hear her compositions...).

That's all...

I wanted a number to appear on the scale.

It didn't.

Santa must have me on the "naughty" list...must have been for causing the fight at the party.

I have complained, bitterly and via text, to Dimples about that situation. I should offer to start paying his texting bills because we have been running them up with him having to play therapist to his very discouraged client. He stays positive with me...thank goodness he does really know how to speak "Woman"...and he told me to just relax and "ride the tide" and enjoy the rest of my holiday and we will switch it up and hit it hard after the new year.

The problem is, I'm not sure how much harder I can hit it...and I told him so. I told him short of tying myself to him 24/7 (that would make it interesting when he coaches...or goes home to the girlfriend), I'm not sure what more we can do to get me off of my plateau.

I suggested to him that maybe I could give up wine.

Or only drink it on days that end in "d-a-y"...

He liked that (the joke...not that I'm not giving up wine...because he knows I won't)

But yesterday, despite the scale staying stuck, was a pretty good day. We got up leisurely (although I do miss getting woken up by excited children ready to see what Santa brought), I made breakfast (cinnamon rolls for them, Fit Food for me), and got to cooking a turkey for my extended family.

It was an amazing turkey...recipe at the bottom of the blog...you MUST try it...

I took the perfect turkey over to my Aunt Jane's house and had a great lunch with Jane, my aunts and uncle, and some family friends and my grandma. It was a great lunch. And everything was delicious. CAT (my aunt's friend who I call Cute and Tiny)made the most delicious mix of roasted veggies. She has promised me the recipe to share...sooooooo good.

My uncle baked me some cookies...I ate one because they were amazing...and he baked them...and I went for a run before lunch so I deserved one!

After lunch and family time we headed over to our friends the Q's house. We have celebrated Christmas Night at the Q's for the last 10 years or so. It is always the best way to close out Christmas. I love them like family...and we stayed so long I almost fell asleep on the couch!

so while I was wallowing about in a bit of pity about my non-weight loss while on my run yesterday, I had some time to think about Christmas Day...and Jesus' birth...and Mary...

Mary...a young woman who must have been frightened when visited by an Angel and told she was to have a child. How scary must that have been? And Joseph, her husband, who faithfully stood by her...

So here is this young woman who is heavily pregnant who leaves her home and has to travel...by DONKEY...to another place only to find that there is no place for her to stay. And to give birth.

So she ends up in a stable...a stable...

I grew up around stables...not a place you want to deliver a baby in...

I found myself uncomfortable behind the wheel of my car during my last weeks of pregnancy so I cannot fathom what riding a donkey while 39 weeks pregnant would feel like. I can't imagine riding a donkey at all...

I had my children in a nice, clean hospital. I had my kids at the old Rosewood Hospital where I was just about the only woman to give birth each time. I had the full attention of the nurses. In fact, when I went back 4 years later to have The Cutest Boy in the World (after having Ke$ha Barbie there) all the nurses remembered me and many were the same women. I had GREAT attention and care.

Mary delivered her beautiful son with only the help of Joseph...

I had a fabulous doctor each time. With Ke$ha Barbie I had Dr. Oscar Dalton---only the greatest ob/gyn in Houston. He treated me like his daughter. He was the sweetest man ever. I cried my eyes out when he retired from obstetrics before I had The Cutest Boy in the World...so he handed me over to Dr. Kathy Gabel (yes, real names because she is so so so great) and I had the BEST time with her. She was like having your best girlfriend as your doctor.

So I had great doctors and nurses and poor Mary had donkeys and sheep...

I had an epidural each time...poor Mary had nothing...

I could not have been as brave as Mary. And to know that she was bringing forth the Son of God had to be a mighty scary and wonderous feeling that I cannot wrap my brain around.

As I ran I contemplated this...and realized that God asks us to do things He knows we can do. He knew Mary was the right woman to bring forth his son.

And to a way way way lesser degree, He knows that I can do this...I can get myself back to where I need to be with my health and body. I can do it with His help, with Dimples help, with Spinderella, Jay-Vee and J'taime Julie, and with my friends encouragment.

I just need to lean on Him a little more...and take some burden off Dimples (poor baby...his fingers must be tired from texting me soothing words).

And as I ran, and prayed that I could make it back to the house, I felt the air rush into my lungs (cold air!) and I felt Him help me breathe.

Breath of Heaven...

Inspiration Song: "Breath of Heaven" by Amy Grant. My favorite Christmas song. Always makes me cry. We always have an 8th grade girl sing it during "Lessons and Carols" and I end up bawling...

Bye Darlings...take Dimples advice "just breathe"...

Turkey recipe...because turkey is good for you, not just at Thanksgiving...

Here is how to make the MOST delicious, fabulous, moist, healthy turkey...

Buy a fresh turkey. The store brand is perfect. I always buy an HEB brand. Be sure it has not had any liquid injected or added (like a Butterball).

I brine my turkey. I have made brines and purchased brines. I bought brine from Sur la Table that was really good but my favorite is the brine from Williams-Sonoma. It is delicious.

Follow the recipe for the brine. If you use the Williams-Sonoma one, do the apple cider...it makes it really good. Brine for 24 hours. Rinse brine off well (inside and out) and pat bird dry.

For a 10-15 pound bird (double this for bigger):
one onion (sweet if you can find it), quartered
one apple (large red) quartered
2 cinnamon sticks
1 cup water
put in microwave safe bowl and cook on high for 5 minutes.

Drain water.

Put apples, onion, and cinnamon in the cavity of the bird. Add 3-5 sprigs rosemary and 6 large fresh sage leaves.

Rub some softened butter all over the bird...or canola oil. Just enough to make it slippery. Do not salt...the brine did that for you.

cover the bird in cheesecloth. Pour chicken stock all over the cheesecloth. Melt 2 sticks of butter and poor that over the cheesecloth.

Tent with foil.

Put the bird into a 500 degree oven and cook 30 minutes and then turn the heat down to 350 degrees. Baste every 30 minutes. Add more stock if you need it.

I can't give you times because it is based on weight and your oven, but I advise checking the temperature with a thermometer and going by that...and remember that the bird will continue to cook a bit when removed from the oven.

I uncover the bird the last 20 minutes or so to brown. I baste the bird while it rests a minimum of 30 minutes and tent it.

Everyone declared it the best turkey ever yesterday. I agree. Even my precious Mommy never produced a bird quite that good...except for the wild one that my dad shot that ate chilipetins...that bird was amazing.

Crazy Beautiful Life

"Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death"---Mame Dennis

That might just be THE BEST (or at least ONE OF THE BEST) lines ever spoken in a movie. As I started to type this blog I was watching the incomparable Rosalind Russell portraying Mame Dennis in the movie "Auntie Mame" which is one of my all-time favorite movies. There is not another movie that can make me laugh and cry as much as that one does.

But that line has a lot of truth in it...most of us don't even go up to the banquet...we just sit and starve ourselves of experiences. And we do it (starve ourselves of life experiences) out of fear, laziness, bad prioritizing, distraction, over-scheduling, ignorance, and/or lack of motivation to just TRY something.

I want to go to the banquet...and I want to try everything...and I don't mean food...

The last few days I have done my level best to experience "crazy" and I don't mean at the mall...I'm avoiding that at all costs.

No, I'm just talking about everyday, garden-variety crazy...

Let's start with Thursday.

I had a great spin class with J'taime Jamie and then an awesome workout with Coach Dimples. I know, 2 workouts in one day may seem crazy, but it's really more like doing some cardio and then your weight workout so it's not THAT crazy. I call it my "two-a-days"...after all, I am working with a football coach. After my Dimples time I dashed out to get a haircut from my French/Spanish hairdresser who I shall just call by his name because I can't come up anything better...Fernando. Isn't that the most perfect name for a French Spaniard that is gorgeous?

Fernando and I have been together for over 21 years. We have lasted longer than many marriages (including one of his). We have survived divorces (his), re-marriages (his), miscarriages (mine), deaths of friends and family (both of us), children trauma (both of us). We have grown up and grown middle-aged together. When I first became his client his hair was longer than mine...not anymore..

So Fernando cuts my hair and then after drying it he whips out the curling iron and starts to turn me into a vision of a fat Victoria's Secret model. I told him I was headed to church...I swear I think he thought I said "club". So I showed up at "Lessons and Carols" at the church looking a bit like a woman who was looking for a dance partner. Oh well, the 14 year old girls loved it...

After "Lessons..." I went with GOTT and his family to see a production of...well, I won't say because, sadly, it was pretty dreadful. It is a show that is dear to GOTT and I but this particular production brought me to tears---and not in a good way. Because the director totally ruined the show...he ruined a beautiful show with a beautiful message. At least the actors looked like they were having fun...

And then I came home to the teenage party...crazy Thursday...

Friday amped up the crazy...

Christmas Breakfast for the middle school and Lessons and Carols at my son's school was on board for the morning. The crazy hair was still curly so I just left it and rolled with it. I helped GOTT and TTG with the Lessons and Carols (basically a church service where we sing carols and the story of Jesus' birth is told). I got to play stage manager on Stage left and wore a headset so I cold hear GOTT booming through with instructions like God from above. GOTT likes to talk into the headset throughout the shows so I got a running commentary and his instructions to the light board operator and spotlight boys along with enjoying songs like "Breath of Heaven"...confusing to say the least...after saying "Merry Christmas" to our friends at school and having lunch, my boys left to go hunting and I hit the gym after conferring with Dimples as to whether I needed a day off...I didn't so I went...

But that wasn't the crazy part of the day.

Crazy came later...

I had 2 parties to go to that night. For someone who NEVER has a social life, having 2 things to do the same night was a bit of a thrill...and frustrating as I didn't want to miss a moment of either party.

First up was an all-girls affair at MizLiz's house. GREAT party. GREAT fun. GREAT group of girls. Hard to tear myself away. I was so excited to be invited to hang with that fun group of girls that I was happy to hear that next year she and the hostesses of the other party were going to confer before setting dates so that she and the rest of us can fully enjoy BOTH parties!

So after a little champagne, lamb chops, and gossip I head to the C&B's party held at the C's house. GREAT party. GREAT fun. Got to see all my friends. Everyone looked gorgeous and I do mean gorgeous! And I got to see some friends I don't get to see all the time (shout out to my girlfriend PB who I just discovered is also a South Texas Chica...no wonder I love her so...) and it was pretty nice to slink around the party in something cute instead of a tent.

I was rocking a couture dress...from TARGET. (Tar-zhay if you please...).

All yours for $29...

I avoided the crazy at that party by declining to sip Goldshlagger from the ice sculpture. There was no way that was going to work out for me. Didn't want to mess up the $29 dress. Plus it was time to move on to Diet Coke...

Crazy happened after I left...

I went outside to the valet to get my car. My feet were KILLING me in my stilleto boots (I had them on all day except for gym time) and it was midnight so Cinderella was ready to leave the ball. You know, because of the shoes...and Fairy Godmother's magic only lasts so long. Plus I had a teenager home and her curfew was earlier than mine...

So I'm waiting for my car and my friend's husband comes out to get their car and we start talking about working out, excercise,the Racquet Club, spin class, my weight loss etc. This is a man I have known for about 6 years...very sweet guy. So we are talking and laughing and I don't really notice the guy or guys also waiting for cars. I'm just talking to my friend. My car comes and I hug him goodbye and tell him to wish his wife a Merry Christmas and get in my car and go home.

I'm home about 20 minutes (boots OFF! false eyelashes OFF! makeup OFF!) and I get a call from the house where the party is. I start thinking I must have left something there or something must have dropped out of my purse because why else would someone call at 12:25 at night? I answer the phone and my friend K informs me that I caused a fight.

A fight?

How did I cause a fight? I was gone from the party...

But it seems that some bozo waiting for his car while my friend and I were talking decided after I left that he thought my friend was bothering me.

Bothering me?

We were talking about WORKING OUT and laughing about it...we are FRIENDS.

But the other guy was drunk and decided to make something out of it. Apparently, he thought he was defending my honor...against a man who was asking me how I can stand to be on the arc trainer for more than 5 minutes.

Maybe he (the drunk) hates running on the treadmill as much as I do and felt the need to say something...LOL...

Or maybe, and this is the part I hate, it was because my friend is of a different culture that this guy decided to get ugly with him. And if that is it, may the guy burn...because my friends are my people...it has nothing to do with culture, religion, sexual preference, or sex of the person---I am blind to the oustide of people but only care about the inside of people and their hearts. But sadly that is the theory of at least one witness/bystander as to why the guy got so hot with my friend. I think it was called "Jack Daniels" or maybe "Johnnie Walker"...

But in any case he got ugly with my friend and punches were thrown.

I looked ok that night but not enought to start a ballroom brawl.

My friend was fine and the drunk got taken home by someone else and now I have a very silly story to tell.

And THAT my friends is CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY...

Saturday came and went with little to no crazy...I worked out, I had lunch with a former student, I had a blast taking photos of my friend Jay Vee and her wonderful family, and I had a great dinner with my friend Tiny Dy-no-mite and her husband who took us out for a great meal and conversation. Don't you love a good day?

But here is the BEST part of my day...I jumped on the scale and I HAD TO MOVE THE BIG BAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!! I was under 200. I weighed myself 7 times (ok, I guess that is CRAZY). I jumped off and on that scale 7 times. I weighed myself again after working out. I texted Dimples and professed my undying love for him and the damn hill and the black rubberband and promised to be a good girl and drag his cute ass up that hill endlessly. He was super proud of me. I told him "who needs Santa when I have you"...

I'll confess when I looked at the scale...I cried...

So since Saturday was (relatively---except for the weighing myself a bajillion times) crazy free I guess I thought I needed to double the crazy for today. But today's crazy is all me...all me and my doing and my OCD...

Crazy #1:

I got on the scale this morning. Dimples told me not to do this but I am compelled by my OCD to weigh myself every day...sometimes more than once. I was back over 200. In a big way. Like 3 pounds. So how did I gain 5 pounds in one day? I know know know that I didn't screw up the scale yesterday when it went down, but today's number made me cry---again. I haven't confessed this to Dimples because I know I will get a (sweetly given) lecture---remember, he's good at talking "woman" these days. But really, does the scale have to screw with my emotions so much? I know I shouldn't let it, but it does...

Crazy #2:

I got to the gym, set myself up a spin bike, got my towels and water, was strapping on my cycle shoes and I discover that I have left my heart monitor at home. I consider just jumping on the bike and going but my OCD got the better of me and I knew I couldn't do the workout without the heart monitor. So I went home to get it. Yes, I was totally ready to get on the bike...the iPod was even going, but no heart monitor meant I didn't know how hard I was working so I went home to get it. Problem was, I was out of gas so I had to gas up before going home. That little adventure cost me 20 minutes. How OCD is that? That I would do all of that just to be sure I could tell how hard I was working? Really? Really...

And then I spent 75 minutes on the spin bike and did weights...because of the scale thing...that makes #2 double crazy...

Crazy #3:

I called my friend K back to make sure I wasn't drunk or dreaming the fight story...I wasn't (drunk or dreaming)...it really happened...not sure whether to be ashamed, embarrassed, or think it is funny as hell...

Crazy #4:

I got on the treadmill and ran...even though I am not supposed to. Shhhh...don't tell Dimples! I only did 1/2 mile...but I might sneak back on it tomorrow...the crazy part is that I WANTED to run, even with my knee. Even crazier...it doesn't hurt...actually since it didn't hurt Dimples won't mind...and he will expect me to do more running on Tuesday when we train. He showed up last week and informed me that a better use of my time, when I beat him to the park, would be for me to run or walk fast around the track to get my heartrate up instead of checking my email. Since I like being "teacher's pet" I guess I will be running when he arrives next time. Again, I don't know why I am so compliant with that man...oh yes...he is helping me change my body...that's why...

Crazy #5:

My daughter had dinner with me tonight. In a restaurant. With her boyfriend...

Yes, Ke$ha Barbie eating with me in public with her boyfriend is crazy...and beautiful...

I had more crazy today---shopping at Target, Toys R Us, and Best By (for a family we have "adopted" for Xmas), and I almost got hit by 3 cars as I walked across the parking lot.

Yes, it was a crazy day...

I hope yours was much much saner...but given the time of year, I doubt it...

Inspiration Song: "Crazy Beatiful Life" by Ke$ha...I love her music, even if she constantly sings about getting drunk...it is fun to run/workout/spin to...

Bye Darlings...embrace the crazy...it's better than fighting it...