Turtle Turtle

Ok, the storm outside is getting nasty!!  So I'm going to cut this a bit short.  Recently, we had some people not functioning at their best here in Wisconsin.  We had a female snapping turtle beat and left partially alive after she had wandered into a sand trap at a golf course to lay her eggs.  Seriously, what kind of person do you have to be to beat an innocent animal and just leave it to suffer?!? She died from the brutality of her wounds today. One of the blows to her shell was so bad, you could see her internal organs through the hole left! Now this could have just been some young kids thinking it might be fun, but seriously, their parents need to teach them a lesson about respecting all of God's creatures.  If it was an adult, then shame on them.  I'd be afraid that person was a psychopath!  Right now, the person(s) responsible are probably crapping their pants with how much publicity the incident has gotten. There's a $6,000 reward out for information on who might have done this terrible act of cruelty.  Ok, big booms of thunder and bright flashes of lightning tell me it is time to call it quits! 

Do you feel like a man/woman now that you've brutalized a creature a fraction of your size?

Terra Cotta

Well, I rain checked on the rain check.  I spent the weekend (Thursday night - Sunday afternoon) with a 6 week old baby and 2 crazy dogs.  I was exhausted!  The dogs woke up more in the middle of the night than the baby!!!!!!!  I also got horribly ill last night after my walk.  My entire torso started to cramp up and I had the worst headache ever.  I think it was partially from sleeping in a bed not my own and with 2 crazy dogs.  I still have not finished reading anything new.  I think I am broken...or maybe just super busy.  It is really hard to get something read when I'm spending the time I used to spend reading at the nursing home with grandpa. I'd much rather visit him than read.  I still love reading, the 10 or 15 minutes before I fall asleep just isn't enough time to get very far.  I am working on The Terra Cotta Dog.  It is a very interesting read, just limits on when I can read it.  Someday soon I'm going to go on a picnic and just spend time reading on my blanket in a park/field somewhere!  It'll be lovely!

What day is it anyway?

You know, one of these days I will get my days figured out!  It isn't like I fill in the date EVERY SINGLE DAY and tell everyone else a million times a day: "today is _____."  Seriously, I think this whole year I have been posting a "Say What Wednesday" post on Tuesday.  I guess I better test working on my calendar and day of the week skills :D  I guess I can't really be blamed too much, my calendar next to my desk (both of them) are still displaying APRIL!  I really need to get on switching that over.  I'm also getting a little sad with my calendar purchase earlier this year; the calendar of young and eligible princes.  Seriously, I think all of them after March get uglier and uglier.   There are a few exceptions, but the prince with the month of July, well, to put this nicely as possible, he looks like a NAZI.  That is as nice as I can put it.  He even looks a bit maniacally sinister in his photo.

I guess one thing that I did test out/try on a Tuesday recently has been the couch to 5k.  My friend and I go out and hit the pavement at least 2 times a week.  We really should be doing it every day, but that just isn't possible with both of our schedules.  The most we have covered in the 30 minutes is 2.5 miles.  It felt like a whole lot more, but Google maps tells me it is only 2.5 or 2.4 miles.  Today I mapped out a route that is 3.1 miles and a 5k = 5.103 (or something like that) miles.  So that will be our desired goal route from now on.

Don't Drink the Kool-Aid

So I have been hearing a lot about how yoga is "cultish" and anti-God (as in Jesus Christ and his Father and the Holy Spirit).  I have to say BS!  I came back from teacher training with a stronger relationship to God than I have had in a LONG TIME.  I've had a person say that it is related to Buddhism.  Well, yes, but it was developed under the religion of Hinduism.  In all honesty, yoga is it's own philosophy that can be adapted to any and all religions.  The physical aspect of yoga is only a small part of yoga the philosophy.  The main gist of yoga philosophy is the don't attach yourself to things, they are just objects (even this life), there is God at the center of all of us and the possibility of greatness when we connect to God and his purpose for us (all of us, even every thing on this planet is here by God's design), you don't need to worry about every one else's actions because they are that person's business and all you have to do is be conscious of your own actions and the fact that they have a ripple effect.  Honestly, I went into reading The Yoga Sutras to find something wrong with it; something that would make it not jive with the Bible or the God I grew up learning about.  Honestly, I came home looking for my Bible.  When you realize that God wants to be a part of you and has a purpose for you, your life has so much meaning.  And so does every other person's life.  So before you just pass off yoga as "anti-God" or cultish, try it for yourself.  There was a phase where a lot of people in yoga tried to replace God with "the universe," but they just are trying to find another name for God because they don't want there to be a God.  Then again, we all find idols that we place before our Lord and Savior.  So go educate yourself before you point the fingers.


Seriously, something that gives this much hope can only bring you a little closer to God and to being the person God wants you to be.  You are full of potential.  Believe it!

Rain Check

I watched two really great movies this weekend!  Yes, I was a bum and I spent enough time indoors to watch two movies. 

Charade was really cute and intense.  It's a mystery movie.  Ok, Seriously, I'm going to have to come back to these movies because I am so exhausted, I misspelled mystery and auto correct had to help me out.  That is not a good sign as my writing (getting sentences that actually make sense across) and my spelling goes down hill rapidly when I get this tired.  Anyways, I owe you a whole lot of talk on Charade, Liberal Arts, and back to Sassy Pants from like a month ago!

Passion Makes Up for Inexperience

So my internet is down, well, it is running super, super, super, duper slow!  It has been a long day and an interesting week.  Currently, I just have this happy feeling after doing yoga.  It's amazing how good you'll feel after an hour of yoga.  It's amazing how much better I feel after 5 minutes of child's pose.  It's 80 degrees in my apartment and I still feel blissfully happy. 

Relationships:  I know this guy; he's pretty easy to read.  I know it is his life's goal to be married and have kids.  I can feel that goal when he talks to me/looks at me.  It's a little intimidating.  I want to ask him if he likes me or if he just sees someone that can fill the slot.  You can convince yourself into love when you think you've found the "one" to fill the slot and are ready for that next big step in life.  Trust me, I convinced myself I was in love with a guy I now pretty much think is douchey.  He can be a good guy, but he's also an idiot.  I'm glad he found someone that makes him happy and he was able to marry and start a family.  Good for him - I am SO GLAD it wasn't me!  That relationship would have ended badly.

Health:  I am just very happy currently.  I guess it's just part of being to accept myself right where I am.  See what I want to become and make steps towards that person.  This sort of ties in with careers, but I sent out 20 resumes this Tuesday.  I am going for the job of my dreams.  Why not?!?  Passion makes up for inexperience!  I can send twenty out, twenty million out, I only need one that says yes.  And if all 20 say no, I'll send 20 more out.  I'm not going to stop going after my dreams!

Career:  I got offered a chance to teach the beginners class at the co-op today!  I'm excited to be offered a class.  A little not excited about the time: Saturday at 8am.  I'm not that much of a morning person.  That day is my day to sleep in and be lazy.  Not to mention, the perk of not working on a Friday is being able to leave Thursday night or Friday morning.    I'll think about it a little more.  Maybe see if that class might work at a different time, on a different day.  I also had to do the lovely job of cleaning dead bugs from light fixtures (on a 10 foot ladder).

Teacher, Teacher, Teach Me

Well tonight was pretty interesting!  I showed up to take a yoga class and ended up teaching it instead.  The regular teacher canceled last minute and when I showed up, they asked if I would teach.  YAY!  My heart was pounding at the beginning.  I know there were things I can improve on still, but it went well.  I just now realized that I totally forgot side plank on the opposite side.  We did it once, but not the second time.  Oops.  I didn't let myself get bogged down in "not being perfect" even though I knew the whole time I was being compared to Renee.  I just had us send our energy and happy thoughts out to her at the very end.  I'm happy my first class at the co-op was a surprise; I didn't have time to panic about being perfect and not having taught anyone since I passed my test.  Wow, I'm glad that first class with more than one person is behind me.  Now to let it go and come at the next class fresh!

Sutras

No, not the Kama sutra.  Sutras are like proverbs.  I just finished reading Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali BKS Iyengar.  It was a very interesting read and I'm glad I had a bit of a guide, both paper and mentor wise, otherwise I would have missed a lot.  To some it up: Be yourself, that is the purest form and to accept that person. You don't need objects or even others approval if you love yourself. It ties into "You can't control what someone else does to you, you can only control what you do in response."  I can't really go into too much more detail, it is just so good and more of a: read it and see how it applies to your life.  I'd suggest skipping the redundant preface parts.  I got more just from the actual sutras and the little explanation that Iyengar includes after them.  

Testing the Rhythm

Tonight I am going to work on my circadian rhythm.  This morning I woke up at 5:30 and refused to get up until at least 6.  I'm going to go to bed early and just try waking up early in the morning and having the energy to do things like my daily chores (ugh, dishes).  Really, at the end of the day, I really just feel like crashing with a good book.  Hopefully I will get a chance to test this theory out.  I'm headed off to my bed right now!  Maybe resetting the start of my circadian rhythm (moving my bed time up) will make me less sleepy during the day because it isn't so bad sleeping 10 to 5:30 as opposed to 11 to 5:30.  I can't seem to shake this stupid 5:30 wake up!  Well, off to zzzzzzzzzz!

I PASSED

Woot!  I passed my yoga teacher training!  Yay.  I didn't even get home until after 11pm on Sunday after leading my class.  It was amazing.  I really just let go and knew it wasn't the end of the world if I messed up!  I am really excited and still really nervous about going out there and teaching more than just one person at a time!  I also had a few other life firsts...well, one big one really, I got my first kiss while in Puerto Rico.  It was kind of awkward and right now I'm trying to decide if I miss the guy and his company or just kissing (in general, not specifically with him).  Hahaha.  Poor guy.  He really is a sweet heart and so similar to me, it's kind of scary. He has 5 dogs, a duck, and a snapping turtle.  He used to have 3 horses and some chickens/roosters too, but had to get rid of them.  It's like pet heaven there!

I love Tadasana, it's like a gymnast's celebration after sticking the landing.  It brings a smile to my face and I love how happy and excited this lady looks in this photo.

Some times

I'm not even quite sure what day it is.  Ugh - life gets a little weird sometimes. Sometimes I just want to run scared and sometimes I just want to cry.  Sometimes, child's pose is just the best place to go from there. 

Tired and Refreshed

Wow - I can't believe that it has already been 2 weeks since I left for Puerto Rico.  Crazy things have happened!  If it wasn't teacher training I went to, I'd swear it was 2 weeks of therapy!  Well worth every moment there.  I got to do some pretty amazing things and meet some pretty amazing people.  I can't say thank you enough to my teacher!

Backpack...No, not Dora's

Oh how I am sick of hearing about the Boston bombings.  Honestly, when I first heard about it I thought about some sick loner, not a terrorist.  Maybe it was just me trying to be hopeful and not wanting every little thing that happens in the world being considered an act of terror.  No one thought about terrorists (Islamic, let me clarify that) when the Oklahoma City bombing happened.  We didn't think that it was anything but a sick freak that figured out how to make a bomb with fertilizer.  We like to add "terrorist" to everything that causes fear.  I am not saying that the people caught aren't the ones responsible for the bombing in Boston or even that mistakes in the media aren't made.  Heck, Zoey Deschanel's name was put up under the suspect on one news programs.  This little link just makes you think about what is happening.  It reminds me of Hodgins on Bones and all of his conspiracy theories (he'd be all over the theories swirling around about the bombing).  I really hope that two innocent men weren't just used by the government or other forces with money to get what they want.  I wasn't any where near Boston, so I don't even begin to understand what happened.  While I see the reason you'd want to injure a vast amount of people, especially at a fitness event, to cause a lasting terror for people (losing a limb and potentially the ability to ever run again); I, however, don't understand why a terrorist organization wouldn't do something more.  It is just my opinion, but if I were a terrorist, I'd say "go big or go home."  Those lost in Boston are very tragic loses of life and, in some cases, limb(s), but it pales in comparison to 9/11 and even the Oklahoma City bombing.  Anyways, I am completely out of my depth when it comes to this stuff.  I'm not saying the information in the link is true or not, it is just an interesting perspective on the bombings, who is being blamed, and what happened as a result of the incident.  It looks to me like both of the men deemed suspects didn't have backpacks on that looked nearly full enough to be containing a pressure cooker, but pictures can be deceiving and even edited now (thanks technology).

May the Force be with You

I am tired and crabby.  This day has sucked!  It started out so nice with a 3 mile walk listening to all the birdies chirp.  Now it has ended with going to the doctor (after I was told to get in to see him since I pulled a stitch) and getting a band aid in addition to the news that my grandmother is not doing well and isn't expected to last long.  Seriously, I'm leaving the country in a week and I have nearly sliced off my finger and now have the news that someone very dear to me isn't going to last very long.  I'm waiting to wake up from these last couple days and find that this has all been a very bad dream.  Oh life, sometimes I think your forces are just against me!  Can we just give me a little more good news than bad every once in a while?  I know there are a whole lot of people who would rather see puppies playing and good things happening on the news for a change.  Through all this bad news I will try to see the good.  Note, I said "TRY."

Words Slaying

I finished 2, count 'em, 2, books this weekend.  I finished Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Why Do We Say It. They are both really interesting books.  I'm not going to write much on either of them since typing is a pain in the butt.  I will say Abraham Lincoln was a really interesting mix of fact and fiction.  I was; however, annoyed by the fact that the front story about a guy writing a book for the vampire Henry has no resolution at the end.  It was also confusing knowing who was talking at times.  I was left to wonder: is this Henry, the writer, or Abraham Lincoln?  The Why Do We Say It book is also very interesting.  I have mentioned the same problem with it from the beginning: some of the explanations don't really explain anything or they are so unbelievably out there OR I have heard more logical explanations than the ones provided.  They are both worth taking a look at; I'm just happy to say that I finished a book!  Yay!

Just a Little Bit of Stupid

So I was all worried about injuring myself prior to going for my yoga training.  Guess what I did!  I hurt myself. Like, hey idiot, put your finger in the hand held blender and accidentally hit the button.  Luckily, there was lots of cookie dough stuck to the blade and in the little cavity area.  This stupid incident has now taken away my right to say: "I've never had any broken bones or stitches."  I honestly can't believe this happened!  I know better than to stick my finger in there.  I guess I will just always have a scar on my finger to remind me not to do idiot things.  3 stitches and an hour and a half in the emergency room later - lesson learned!  I swear, I have gotten more clumsy/clutzy/accident prone in these last couple months than I have been in my whole life!  This was the second time in about 2 months that I had to go to urgent care/the ER to get care for a deep cut.  I hope this is my bodies way of getting all this stupid crap out of the way BEFORE I can no longer be on my parents insurance.  I got about 4 1/2 hours of sleep last night and then I got up and made my french toast bake, another (this time successful) batch of cookies, and some bath salts for my brother and sister-in-law.  Now, I am exhausted.  I watched a really cute movie called Sassy Pants.  I'll have to write more on it later - more to come when I have had more sleep and don't have a huge bandage that makes typing a pain in the tuckus. 

The "L" Word

Relationships:  Well, I am an auntie.  Life is pretty great!!!!  I cannot wait to see her this weekend.  I guess I've also managed to make someone fall in love with me.  At least that is what I have professed in a text message.  I'm not taking it too seriously; the last guy to put the "L" word in writing didn't mean it at all.  It is really ok, because I look back and am disgusted at what low hanging fruit I was willing to grab at.  I don't have that much against this poor guy, I just don't know him at all, nor am I attracted to him.  Boy, two years ago I had no prospects and now I have the "L" word being thrown around by a guy I only like as a friend.

Career/Health:  I'm getting super excited and nervous for yoga training.  I still have quite a bit of studying to do before I hit the mat to begin my 200 hours of training.  Eeck!  I also found out today, at my real job, that I will be responsible for dipsticks too.  Joy!

Now that you're in the world

I can't think of much to say today - I'm an auntie to a beautiful niece!  That is all I need to keep a smile plastered across my face for .... well, let's just say, a very long time!  I know it wasn't written with this in mind, but this song is for Finnley.  "I hope you don't mind, I put down in words how wonderful life is now that you're in the world."  I first heard this song when my nephew was still a baby and I felt the same way about him too!  Such a great day!  I can't wait to shower this new little bundle of niece with love this weekend.

Vampires

So I am almost finished with.... Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith.  Bet you weren't expecting that book!  It isn't like I have mentioned about 40 books that I have started and not finished as of yet.  I'm sort of cheating with this book.  It is an audio book and I have been listening to it a good amount while I clean and go for walks.  Tonight I got a wonderful hour long walk.  I even got to spend some time watching a beautiful sunset and watching/listening to all the wildlife.  A little black duck popped up pretty close to where I was, a hawk flew by, and there were the lovely sounds of a loon echoing across the lake. The sunset was indescribably beautiful, but I'll try:  soft yellowy rays streaking out from behind a few clouds to reflect off the lake.

Anyways,  I still am putzing along with a few of my other books.  I still have a long way until Avalon is finished.  I am happy to say though, that I will soon be finished with the Why We Say It book as well.  That book just makes my mind spin.  Sometimes I understand where they are coming from, sometimes I want to say BS, and sometimes I feel like the "answer" you get is a bit of a "dog chasing it's tail" (meaning, it uses a lot of words in a confusing manor and you just leave scratching your head).

I am currently making some applesauce.  I am trying it with half the amount of sugar and a bit more cinnamon.  I also had a bit of an inspired moment in the kitchen this last week.  I don't really have a recipe because I just added things to the bowl, but I made some killer "Almond Joy" cookies.  I started with a basic chocolate chip recipe and then I began to add things.  I had a bag of coconut flake on the counter and so I added a handful or two of coconut, a splash of almond milk, and about a tsp of almond extract.  This is how good they were: my little brother declared that he didn't like almond joys, so he wasn't going to eat any...until he ate about a dozen!

A Triumph for Love

Sometimes I don't know what is up with the world.  Today is Jackie Robinson day and the day my very first niece may come into the world; oh, wait, don't forget to make it tax day and add a bombing at the Boston Marathon!  Seriously?  As if the tax day wasn't enough!  I seriously wish the world could just take a chill pill.  It isn't really my personality, so I guess it don't come close to understanding, but how can there be people in the world that are just filled with so much hate?  Hate, hate, hate - I hate hate. It is good to get angry from time to time; then you let it go/work through it.  I rather remember this day as a day that love and compassion triumphed over hate, anger, and ignorance.  Love to those of Boston, especially the those that lost someone or a part of themselves.  Help these people to have the love around them to rise above the hate that was shown them. 

42

So my days were a bit off last week.  It was really hard to tell any of the days apart last week because it didn't stop raining!!!!!!!!!!!  Tomorrow starts another round of fun!  Yay.  It was a bit of a testing week too, this last week.  Some things had me about ready to walk out on everything.  I also woke up at 5am twice this weekend.  My time to sleep in and I'm being woken up by not pleasant-ness.  One of them was a text message professing love and "you're always on my mind."  Ugh - sometimes, I wonder why me?  Sometimes I just think I must be broken - most girls would probably find it romantic that guys would manage to get your number and text you for a date or a guy you like (as a friend) telling you that he thinks about you all the time, loves you, and thanks you for being you.  Oi!  *Face meet palm*

Enough about that.

Movie time! *On a side note, the MTV movie awards sucked.  Other than Vin Diesel looking fine and making me feel old, it could have been done away with completely.  I take that back, Rebel Wilson was funny and I loved the opening by the Pitch Perfect cast.   Now everything can be deleted.  Seriously, I can't believe Tom Hardy didn't win best villain. I haven't even seen the movie yet and I can tell you he was the better villain, mainly because I've seen the guy who won play his stupid little villain.  Not even close!  These young kids now days, they don't know what is good!*

I watched 42 today.  It was so amazing!  Here is my typical girl comment that I will get out of the way: OH MY GOODNESS, Chadwick Boseman (Jackie Robinson) is gorgeous!  Or maybe it is just because I like baseball guys...ok, enough of that.  It was just a phenomenal movie with a pretty spectacular cast: Lucas Black as Pee Wee (my FLASH), Ryan Merriman as Dixie Walker (he was from that Disney movie where he wins a high tech house and it goes a little crazy, you know which one I'm talking about), Harrison Ford (we all know him) as Branch Rickey, T.R. Knight as Harold Parrott (I knew I knew him, but it took until just now to realize that it was because he played Dr O'Malley on Grey's Anatomy), Chris Meloni as Deroucher (SVU), Alan Tudyk as a jerk of a manager for the Phillies (I like him much more as a recovering addict in 28 Days) and John McGinley as an announcer (it is so weird to see him in any roles where he isn't screaming at the Scrubs cast).  There were also a lot of other rather new actors that I haven't seen before.  Hamish Linklater, who played Ralph Branca, had one of the best exchanges with Jackie.  It went something like this: "Come shower with me...I mean us...wow, that came out wrong." Jesse Luken, who played Eddy Stanky, I could have kissed him!  He was the one who finally had the nerve to stand up to Alan Tudyk's asshole of a character.

Lucas Black (Pee Wee) and Chad Boseman (Jackie Robinson) showing people what kind of men they are.

The movie is just a phenomenal telling of the story of Jackie Robinson and the integration of baseball.  Go watch it and don't pay any attention to the fact that a bunch of idiots only gave it a 3 out of 5.  Those same idiots thought The Host deserved a higher rating.  Seriously people, we are going to pick a rather stupid alien love story over the true story of a man who had the guts to step up to the plate and be the first colored player.  Shame on you for giving The Host a higher rating.  Then again, why do we want kids to see a movie that might change their world view or expand their minds?!?  It isn't like we still have segregated proms in the South and who knows what else down there.  Ugh.  It makes me want to find the nearest man of color (even rainbow colored would do) and walk down the street holding hands.  That would probably just be my two sweet little brothers, but it still would probably raise all kinds of hell.  Seriously people, you need to get over it.  Shakespeare even had blacks and whites mixing back in the effing 16th Century (that was a long time ago). 

Soggy

So, I know April showers are supposed to bring May flowers; however, right now, all these April showers are only making me want to roll over and pull the covers over my head.  It seems like there has been nothing but a constant downpour since Monday morning.  Sure, it lightens up a bit from time to time, but not much.  Right now, I'm waiting to leave my parents' home because the rain is just pounding down.  I don't even want to attempt the 6 feet from the garage door to my car.  Not to mention, every one in the area, except for all those already awake, got a rather stormy alarm clock this morning.  There was a flash of lightening so bright I thought I had imagined it (and this was with blinds drawn and eyes closed) that was a followed by thunder so loud that it shook everything.  My bed shook, the wall hangings rattled, and the skies grumbled.   EVERYONE that I saw today asked about the thunder and if I had felt it too.  Yup, I did.  So please April showers, bring these May flowers real soon.  If it really is supposed to rain all week and potentially drop a mix of snow and rain on Friday, you owe us that much!

Scorpion Queen

I have decided it is a goal of mine to be able to do the scorpion pose by the end of the year.   I'm really rather excited about this challenge.  The last two mornings I have gotten my butt of of bed and started working on the moves to work up to the scorpion pose.  What can I say, I saw this pose in a book and I became obsessed with it.  Just look at that BAMF skill.
This is what scorpion looks like:

So until I am BAMF enough to pull this off, I've been doing forearm planks, dolphin pose, and single leg dolphin pose.  Surprisingly, it was already getting a little bit easier this morning.  That is just working on getting to the forearm stand.  Once I master that, then I can add the bend.

Oh, I like making challenges for myself!

Carrying Your Love with Me

I am so super tired.  If my internet had been working earlier like I'd hoped, I wouldn't be writing this right now.  I'm seriously like 5 seconds from falling asleep on my keyboard. 

Two things to talk about:

1.  Playing for Keeps:  Cute, but not worth it.  I love Gerard Butler and Katherine Zeta-Jones; their presence wasn't enough to redeem this bad movie.  I think Gerard may have taken the role just to pretend for a minute he played for the Celtics. Jessica Biel, I really haven't liked you as an actress, ever.  I didn't even like you in 7th Heaven.  This just made it more obvious that your acting really hasn't improved since you were on that show. 

Movie synopsis:  George (Gerard), a now retired soccer star, moves to Virginia to be close to his son.  George is having some tough financial times and he's trying his best to get into something he'll be good at: sports casting.  One day, at his son's soccer practice, he gets fed up with watching the kids just run around without any direction from their coach who is constantly on the phone.  All the ladies begin to take notice of the hunky, unattached Scotsman that has begun to coach their children.  While trying to get his life together, George has to overcome several distractions.  A chance for his dream puts him in a tight place:  choose a career or his son.  What will he choose?!?

2.  AMCAs:  Seriously, it was just bad.  Blake Shelton and the other guy hosting just had bad timing.  There was no flow to their banter.  It just came off as forced.  Not to mention, the awards are really very stupid to begin with; country has to have their own awards because otherwise they'd never win any music awards.  Sorry, that is what I feel.  I do like the occasionally country song and quite a bit of bluegrass and folk.  I swear they are the only genre of music to have their own awards.  It took about 30 minutes to get to the first award presentation.  It takes that long between awards because they have about four to hand out to begin with!  The first half hour was all performances; I only semi-enjoyed George Strait.  He seemed really pitchy and slightly off.  Alas, George Strait had my heart when I was 10; you don't forget that too soon.  I think I still have a tape of his floating around somewhere.  Also, what was up with having the lyrics on the screen behind the performers?  It's country, not rap. 

Yup, I owned the tape at one point if not still!

Haim-ing It Up

I bought some new music for the first time in a long time.  I think it was actually my first music purchase of the year!  I finally bought Haim's record instead of having to bring up youtube all the time.  They are really good.  I am super lucky to have gotten a chance to see them this last summer at the Dixon Stopover.  I would give you a taste but youtube is being a pain.  I can link you the video here.  The oldest sister - she is straight up raunchy.  You'll see what I mean when you watch the video.  She is stunning to watch perform; I was just kind of riveted.  Now I shall continue with work and cheering on the Brew Crew! 

Sleepy Hollow

I didn't finish reading anything - not even a newspaper article recently.  I am pathetic!  I did read about 20 more pages in my book club book.  I have about 150 pages still to go by this Thursday!  Eeck!   Right now I am trying to motivate myself to do some sort of workout; however, I am exhausted and feeling a bit stomach flu-ey.  Ick.  I just want to sleep.

Cause I Been Through the Flatland in a Car with No Name

Ahem - "internet" silence is over finally.  I had the most amazing time!  I spent way too much time in a car, but the views, hiking, horseback riding, and the chance to visit some family that I haven't seen in YEARS were all worth the pancake butt.  The saddle-sore began to compete with the pancake butt towards the end.  It was a fantastic time and I will for sure recommend a trip to The Inn at Riverbend.  The bed and breakfast is stunning: the view is unbeatable and the breakfast was mouthwateringly delicious.



At Glencoe Museum

We had a great time hiking to Cascade Falls and then riding through the wilderness at Winterfrost Farm in Radford.  Speaking of Radford, we met the awesomest guide at the Glencoe Museum in Radford. Glencoe was the first place we visited (after not sleeping for close to 30 hours) and Robert was such an amazing guide!  At the end, he offered for him and his wife to take us out to dinner some time while we were in town.  We never got around to it, which is sad, because he had some amazing stories to tell!


Cascade Falls

  We did get a chance to eat at The Bank and it is a really nice place.  The food is phenomenal and worth the pricey tag.  Heck, I probably would have eaten the honey butter by itself - it was THAT good.  The set up is a little awkward at first, but once you get to where you are eating, it has a very charming ambiance. They have framed photos of the town in the past and articles from the building's past as a bank: money bags, checks, deposit slips. The local brews and ingredients made the dinner a cultural experience as well.  I've also never been in a restaurant that was so nice that the chef came out to check on us and see how we were enjoying our meal.  Probably why I got caught patting my food baby by the waitress as she ducked into our alcove!  I'm really classy - heck, if you ate that 2 inch thick pork chop, you'd have had a food baby too!

Sunrise view from our room

 The drive from Virginia through Tennessee to Kentucky was forever long.  I know that might sound a little stupid, but that was the way we were told to go to get to my family in Kentucky.  I couldn't pass up an opportunity to see the boy that gave me my first hickey and peed on me at the same time (he was a baby, like days old, at the time).  I guess I can say I came back refreshed, happy, and a bit sore.  There was no time to watch anything new.  We watched part of Pride and Prejudice before passing out and I had watched a few episodes of Awkward while my travel companion napped.  The title is inspired by listening to America's Horse With No Name while driving through Illinois.  My co-pilot had mentioned the fact that we hadn't named our rental car; we then listed the names of our cars.  Our little Mazda2 never did get christened, so I changed the America lyrics to my own while driving through the Land of Lincoln.

Too Busy for Avalon

Busy, busy, busy!  I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  So, I'm still a slacker even though I spent 2 to 2 1/2 hours reading on Saturday.  I started a new book, The Mists of Avalon.  This is our newest book club book and it is approximately 900 pages.  We are going to go by the 4 books in the single book and make that last about 4 months of book club.  I wish I could write more, but this is it for now.  Radio silence until I return from Virginia.  Hopefully, rested and relaxed!

Boys and Girls No Strings Attached

I am currently watching Boys and Girls.  It is so late 90s/early 2000s.  It is ridiculous.  Oh Freddie Prince Jr - what would our lives have like without you!?!?

I did watch a really stupid movie this weekend.  No Strings Attached was so horrible, I can't believe my time was wasted for an ending that was beyond ridiculously stupid!  Seriously, it just went passed the point of being cutesy to the point of "ugh, I think I just vomited in my mouth a bit."  Anyways, the two main characters (don't ask me to remember their names, it was Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman) decide to make a deal to just have sex but they can't fall in love.  Barf, choke, gag through the copious sex to find out - oh, they are starting to have feelings for one another and have to break it off.  Blah, blah, blah....what is life without love?  Don't bother watching it.  You can watch A Walk to Remember and have a way better time and feel a lot better at the end. They make a similar pact, but it is regarding hanging out, not sex.

Brave New Path

Wow - between being busy and my internet being down, I have been horrible at blogging recently.

Relationships:  I honestly love my friends and family.  Sometimes it just pains me when I can see the disappointment on their faces.  I guess it isn't really disappointment as much as pity.  They want me to be happy and to them that means having me wrapped around a man.  I wouldn't honestly mind if I found a guy I liked.  I just haven't yet and I refuse to use people just to have a filler until I do find "the one."  My grandpa had a cheeky grin on his face as he told me his male attendant was "tall and handsome."  Oi.  I swear, between my grandpa and his roommate, I'll be a June bride.  haha.  My dad seemed slightly excited when he thought that my facebook post about having a "good night with Sam Weir" was about a date and not my staying home on a Saturday night watching a cheesy 1999/2000 tv show.  My brother told me the other day I needed to work on getting married.  I said: "Ok, what would you like me to do to fix the situation?"  To which he replied: "Well, the boy is supposed to make the move, so I suppose you just have to wait around some more."  I just giggled to myself.  I guess I should be happy so many people want to see me happily in love.

Health:  I'm working and working.  I seem to have hit a plateau, but I'm continuing at working out 6 times a week.  Hopefully I'll have a 6 pack to rival my brothers soon - oh, I can hope.  They are both on "diets" right now.  They make me laugh.  They won't split a cupcake with me even though I'll have to do a hard workout session to burn half of it off and they could burn the calories off just by chewing it.  Ugh!

Career:  There is a lot going on at work recently.  We are adding some new stuff to our business and I'm a bit stressed about how it is all going to work and how much extra work is going to be put on me because of said changes.  I'm so happy I'm going on vacation next week - yay!  Hitting up a state I have never been to before: Hello Virginia!  I am also really excited/nervous about doing yoga teacher training this May! I'm constantly plagued by self-doubt and I'm freaking out that I might just suck terribly!  I have to remind myself that this is something that I love and want to share with other people.  I want to be a tour guide/travel host/yogi/writer/baker/a peon at TOMS shoes/and a helper to those in need (I feel like I may end up like Josephine Baker with a 'tribe' of adopted kids).  Here is to dreams and heading down a new path - "tread new ground" and may I be brave enough to do it always!

Inside Voice

There were so many things I wanted to write about tonight.  I just got so derailed.  I even had something to write about last night; however, the internet decided not to work last night.  I am writing this from my parents' place since I had to come over and have my mother sign my sister up for the color run.  I started helping with homework and now I'm tired and drawing a blank.  I just need sleep.  Hopefully, it will be blissful, undisturbed sleep.  I've decided I'm just going to start responding to all the things the guys downstairs say that is loud enough for me to hear.  This morning, one said: "Oh my God, oh wow, OH MY GOD."  To which I responded: "Was it really all that good?"  Later I heard one of them saying: "No, It's ok.  I'm fine."  It only made my sassy remarks all the more funny!  This was after a night of listening to them titter like pre-teens at a slumber party until 1am.  Seriously?!?  Go to bed...or learn what an "inside voice" is and how to utilize it properly!

Slacker

I have been such a slacker this year when it comes to reading.  I just don't have time anymore.  I used to read on my lunch and prior to going to bed.  Now, I spend my lunch with my grandfather and shoveling food in as fast as I can before having to rush back to work.  At night, I typically fall into bed and pass out, and that is usually because I have already stayed up way passed when I should have already gone to bed.  On the weekends I'm lucky if I can even begin to look at a book - I have been that busy lately.  I think I may get some time to read tonight before I am just pass out.  I had a goal of reading 45 books this year...I'm thinking it isn't going to happen.  Although, it is a possibility that once the weather gets a little nicer I can do a whole lot more walking and listening to audiobooks. Here is to meeting my goal of getting to 45 books this year and not being such a slacker!

The Rebound

Last weekend, I had my lazy weekend and I just bummed it.  I ended up finding a new show to love and a really funny movie.  The tv show, surprise, was a Discovery Channel Investigates show called: Who the &!*$/ Did I Marry?  It is a very interesting show.  One of the episodes that really pissed me off was this one where a lady had married a Cuban exile.  After a couple of years, he defected back to Cuba and helped lead an attack on a group of people that help Cuban exiles in their escape.  He turned out to be a spy and a jerk!  He went on national tv and said the thing he missed most about the US was his car.  His wife just gave it away after that; I, however, would have had cameras rolling as I demolished the thing and then sent that over to Cuba.  She was obviously way more mature than I am about the situation.  It is crazy how you can be deceived so much by the one person in the world you thought you knew the most.

I also watched a Catherine Zeta-Jones movie.  I absolutely LOVE Catherine Zeta-Jones!  So, I had to watch an episode.  It also has Justin Bartha in it; he is adorable.  The movie is about Sandy (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a suburban house wife that is obsessed with sports.  One day while doing the normal routine, she finds video of her husband cheating on her at their son's birthday party (the son wanted the video for show and tell and while burning a copy she noticed something in the background..oops).  She decides to move into the city, get a job, and become the woman she somehow got derailed from being.  She ends up hiring the guy, Aram (Justin Bartha), who works at the coffee shop below her apartment as a nanny.  He helps her move on from her broken marriage in more ways than one, while her and her kids help him move passed his fraudulent, dissolved marriage (duped by a girl looking for a green card).  As the relationship develops more, more reasons begin to crop up about why they shouldn't be together.  Whether they work it out or not it up to you to figure out by watching!   It is a cutesy little movie that will have you rolling on the floor laughing.  Some parts get ridiculously cheesy, but it does have some redeeming qualities.  Here is a small taste.

Disco and Dragons to the Death

The only thing to discuss tonight:

WHY DID THEY ONLY MAKE 18 EPISODES OF FREAKS AND GEEKS!?!?!?!?!?!

:(

It was so good; even if the titles were getting a bit ridiculous (Moshing and Noshing is just one example of many that turned out like that).  WHAT HAPPENED WITH LINDSEY AND NICK?!?  Are her parents going to flip when she isn't at the summit?

Youtube has been stupid the last couple of days and I haven't been able to put any videos into my blog recently, so I'll just have to leave you with a small clue as to how it all ended....... for - ever.

Graphing CWX

I have like a perma-smile on my face from watching Freaks and Geeks.  It is just the best show EVER! 

Tonight, I went home to do some laundry and ended up doing linear equations with my little brother.  I haven't had to do math since I was a junior in high school.  It really does just come back right away though.  Oh, how I miss graph paper!  Oi - I am such a nerd for just admitting to that.  I miss it.  I think I need to bust out an old math text book and do a few problems just for the hell of it.  It really freaked me out that my brother's whole textbook is on his iPad - and it doesn't have the answers to the odd questions in the back of the book!  I don't think I could have passed some sections of math had it not been for the answers in the back of the book telling me my original attempt was far off.  That and my dreams always were the place my brain figured out math problems that stumped me.

I have another product review to do as well.  I had to upgrade some of my workout gear lately.  One of those things was a workout bra.  Along with yoga, I started picking up running.  I haven't really been running all winter because of the deadly conditions of the roads and sidewalks.  I'd prefer not to die while working out; or, at the very least, not break something.  Anyways, I had heard about the CWX sports bra...we all saw the hilarious ad.  I decided to get myself a nice sports bra for when I am working out.  The sizing took a little bit of work and I had to send it back.  I finally got a size that fits; however, there doesn't seem to be enough fabric surrounding the clasps they have in the back.  I get poked constantly in the back by the hooks.  The size could probably be adjust a little bit, but everwhere seems to fit like a glove except the hooks seemingly wanting to dig into my back flesh.  It holds me together like you would not believe; it honestly is fantastic for hoping around like a crazoid.  I just can't stand the hooks digging into my back all the time.  I'll use this bra for now, but I don't think I'll try this style again.  I can't honestly say it was worth the $58 plus shipping.  I have another sports bra (not exactly for high intensity workouts) that is divine.  I swear if it weren't practically a breast plate, it would be the only bra I'd ever wear.  It supports and it honestly feels like you are wearing nothing.  It is heaven! (minus the fact that you can't wear anything other than turtlenecks and sweaters while wearing it).

Those hooks in the back just dig into me for some reason.

Bill Me

I was having too much fun watching episode upon episode of Freaks and Geeks.  OMG, I am totally in love with Bill at this moment in time.  I know that he doesn't get any better with age, but he is a freaking adorable kid.  I miss this show, I'm so sad it got canceled.  Especially since Jason Segel is so ADORABLE in this role as Nick.  He is so ridiculous. Exhibit A ... just watch it.



Bill - I love you!

If you've never ever watched an episode of this show...do it NOW!  You will not regret it.

I am through the Os of my "Why We Say It" book.  Off to bed...if I can force myself to turn off Freaks and Geeks.

Let's Talk About Sex/Love?

So, the last couple of days have pretty much been rants, and I'm gonna follow it up with another rant.  As my trial "special" brownies bake (I tried making mint chip, caramel pretzel, and tropical).  Umm, YUM! 

Anyways...the bachelor topic at work this week was about how whiny and desperate the one girl looked as she dissed the guy for telling her all of these lovey-dovey things and then not picking her. Someone said: "duh, you were in the one-on-one suite, he wanted ass."  Another person said: "She is just making herself look bad, she should have just shut up.  I think she has some issues."  While I understand where they are coming from, I find it disgusting.  I feel sorry for the girl and I applaud her at the same time for calling him on his lies.  A) the one-on-one suite disgusts me and B) just because you are horny, doesn't mean you get the right to mess with some one's emotions.  I made it known that I found it absolutely disgusting that there is such a thing as a "one-on-one" room which is basically for "getting to know each other better" *achem, sex.  I was immediately told that that is the way of the world.  It may be the way the world works and probably the reason we have people with porn and sex additions and the inability to remain faithful.  If the way the world works is like the bachelor/bachelorette, this is the way it would be: it is perfectly alright to declare your love in exchange for sex and the next night, say the same thing to some other person for the same reason.  No wonder people cheat, have affairs, get divorced, and spend astronomical amounts on pornography: WE THINK IT IS NORMAL!  I don't think anyone should have to worry about if their partner is sneaking around, doubt the sincerity of some one's declaration of love because someone else have already cheapened the word, if the person they love would rather spend their time watching someone else on a screen or around a pole than being at home with them (even doing the wild thing), or worse yet, taking everything you hold dear and smashing it to pieces when you realized the one thing you thought was real in the world was all just an illusion.  People need to realize the world isn't all about them.  Life gets messy when you let other people in, especially when you let your heart open up to them.  It isn't a fairy tale love story; it is hard work and dedication to the one person you committed yourself to in a relationship.  Most of all, don't believe the lies that "this is the way the world works."  You do NOT have to accept that as a universal truth.  People may call you naive (or say that you have issues), but someone worth waiting to hear those words from (someone who says it without hope of anything in return) is better than hearing a million different hollow voices saying: I love you (all so their pleasures are satisfied).

Testing Out Stranger Danger

I was feeling testy today.  And the bad sort of testy. (lol - I have such a dirty mind.  That last sentence just made my mind go to a dark place).  I mean all the bad weather had me feeling somewhere between grumpy and giddy.  To start, we were supposed to have about 5" of snow by morning.  I woke up at 7 and it wasn't even snowing, neither had it snowed during the night.  I thought: "5 inches, they said, 5 inches my ass" (again, mind just went into the gutter - tonight is apparently not a higher level thinking night).  I turned around 5 seconds later and the snow is coming down like crazy...it has just stopped within the last hour.  I then proceeded to leave the house with my snow boots, I realized once I got to my car that I had left the dress shoes I was going to wear at work next to the door.   Almost no one came in today.  When I had gone home for lunch, I ended up putting on the dress shoes that were sitting by the door out of habit.  Needless to say, my feet realized, about the time they hit the 5-6" of snow, that I had forgotten my boots this time around.  Ugh. I then got to come home to finishing my state taxes.  I am getting less than $20 back from the state.  Woohoo.  It pretty much wasn't worth me wasting the time to figure it out, print it out, and mail it in to the government.  Stupid. To make matters worse, while looking for articles on Mercola.com, I came across and article about a 15 year old boy that developed a cheap and simple test for detecting pancreatic, lung, and ovarian cancer.  It made me feel highly NOT productive.  I know that grammar is wrong; however, I feel like a dunce when I think about  the amazing thing this kid has accomplished and his voice hasn't even dropped yet. 

I do have to say there were a few light moments during the day.  While shovelling in the snow, the pristine white snow falling made me think of "snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelash."  Thus began a little hum fest while shovelling the front walk clear.  I also did a creeper thing today.  I noticed a mother, leaving my building, about to walk her two kids to school in the nasty snow this morning.  I stopped them and offered a ride (I drive right passed the school every day) and I was privileged to meet Maria, Maria, and Jose.  I felt a little like "Stranger Danger" since there mother was with them.  I feel a little badly that the mom had to still walk home in the snow after I dropped them all off at the school.   I also got in an hour worth of yoga.  That always makes me happier and calmer. 

What's New Powerful Lady

I cannot even begin to say how much time I just wasted checking a twitter feed.  It only makes me realize I will NEVER get an instagram or a twitter account.  People get into the DUMBEST fights or say the stupidest things on there.  Not that I don't get plenty of freeform to make an ass of my self here on my blog or on my facebook; I just don't need to add two additional forums for idiot things to come out of my mouth.  I laughed, but at the same time, I hung my head in shame to see someone comment on an instagramed photo of someone standing with the First Lady and her kids: "Is that your family?"  Seriously, I hope that person did not vote this last election!  No wonder our country is in shambles, we have people who don't even recognize members of the Presidential family. ugh. :(   Please, go read a book or watch a PBS documentary (both are free), although even they have sunk so low as to have Ryan Seacrest narrate a documentary.  *Hangs head in shame*

 

Speaking of books, I finished Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull.  It was a very interesting look at famous women throughout history and how their lives changed the world; whether for the better, or worse.  I found it extremely interesting that both Marie Antoinette and Catherine the Great were both female leaders that cared about the oppression and poor treatment of peasants; however, both of their reigns of power led directly to the bloody revolutions of their countries.  It was also impressive to see (and I do love the musical) how the government of Argentina collapsed after Eva's death (another female leader concerned with the needs of the impoverished).

I kind of want to travel to Buenos Aires just so I can sing this song when I get there :D

Fitting In

Yikes, I just finished my federal taxes.  I'm about halfway done with my state taxes as well.  I just need to go to bed now though.  I have been so busy since last week Tuesday.  I had gone straight from work to cleaning the apartment.  All of the drifting snow made the usual 40 minute drive an hour long.  I also had baby showers and shopping.  I had to grocery shop for mom and me.  I also had to do some clothes shopping.  I need some new bras but just ended up walking out of the store I went in; the girl who measured me had NO idea what she was doing.  She measured me at 33" below and then didn't move the tape measure up, she just moved the ends and measured 41".  She tells me she measured me at a 38C.  I almost laughed in her face.  If those were honestly my measurements, I'd be close to a 34G. I was nice though and I let her bring me some bras in a 38C size; however, I was linking the furthest clasp and finally not have the "sling shot" ability.  Not to mention, my boobs were spilling out over the cups - getting that nasty quad boob look.  I'm going to have to go in by myself.  I can tell by my measurements (that I did correctly myself) that I belong in a size closer to 34 or a 36DDD.  Oi - no wonder so many women are in the wrong bra size!  I sincerely recommend reading: Busted: The Fab Foundations Guide to Bras that Fit, Flatter, and Feel Fantastic by Ali Cudby.  It will honestly change your life!  I know it changed my life. 

Pillow Talk

I think the only thing I am testing tonight is pillow softness.  I am so exhausted and a snow storm kept me from doing half the stuff I had to do today. 

Nerdy Postmistress

I just started reading The Postmistress by Sarah Blake. I really am enjoying the storyline; however, I want to hurt the person who edited her book.  If that person were my editor, they'd now be out of a job.  I would be MORTIFIED if I had a book go to print and become a NY Times Best Seller and it have such stupid errors.  If there is a new moon rising over the city, that means there will be NO moonlight glinting off the chrome bumpers.  Also, if the scene before people are complaining about a guy in town leaving his curtains open and his lights on at night (Germans might see it) and the Post Office flag pole drawing attention to the coastal town's position, why are there people with their front porch lights on?  SO CONFUSED!  I have been putting sticky notes on all the parts that make no sense (in addition, of course, to all my favorite parts).  I can't wait until book club and I can rip this book a new one!  I also started in on a book about famous women in history.  It is a very interesting read!  I may just finish it before I finish The Postmistress.

Solved: Extreme Cleaning

I guess I must clarify that the blog Two Cents is a continuation of Informed Decisions are to Blame.  I also didn't watch a single thing this weekend.  I didn't even watch the Oscars.  I spent at least 16+ hours of my weekend helping clean and move my aunt out of her apartment.  If I were a professional organizer, I'd have pulled a load in this weekend.  Instead, all I got was a few meals and a some sore hips and knees.  My sister and I plowed into the bacon tonight.  It was so good with the French toast.  I was also so hungry that I probably could have eaten my weight in bacon and not felt sorry.  I've scrubbed and dubbed so much this weekend I barely have skin left on a few of my fingers.  And I can't say I didn't watch anything.  I think I watched about 3 hours of Solved: Extreme Forensics while working on a puzzle I started a long time ago.  I went from having a few pieces together to having a few pieces left to finish.  All the murder solving just made me have some slightly weird dreams.  It was very interesting to see the ingenuity of the 5'4", 100lbs woman that killed and dismembered her 6'6", 300lbs boyfriend:  she poisoned him with morphine and then wrapped him and tied him in a tarp before trailing the rope out the front door, through the trailer she was going to use to dismember and transport his body, to her truck's trailer hitch.  She then just drove the truck until his body was in the trailer.  CRAZY - both smart and incredibly disgusting.  I can't believe that someone that poisoned would be brave enough to actually dismember the body.  Ugh.  I was really creeped out by a murder that happened in the boonies of Minnesota.  The creepy dude burned the girl he kidnapped until there were just bone fragments left.  *shudder* The saddest episode was about a 12 year old girl that was raped and murdered in the late 40s/early 50s (I can't remember for sure).  One of her classmates was convicted and sentenced to die for the crime.  The government decided to commute his sentence to life in prison.  He was paroled at 24 but had to wait until just a few years ago for science to catch up enough to help him prove that he was innocent of the crime.  Unfortunately, that means that poor kid spent the majority of his life with the sigma of rapist and murderer while the real criminal was free.

Don't Wait Too Long

Relationships: Oh - I finally was able to go back and visit my gramps this week.  He got moved into the unassisted dining room and had to new table mates today.  I chatted it up with the new cohorts and they quickly warmed to me.  They did offer their opinion on my unmarried and childless state: "Honey, don't wait too long.  It only gets harder."  Oh men in their mid-70s.  Life is so much more different than when you were young and married and having babies by 18/19.  They totally made my day.  They even suggested I play hookie and stay for the accordion show that was going on that afternoon.  When they left, grandpa told me that they would have never talked to him if I hadn't been there.  I told him: "It's just your first day at this table with them, it takes some people a while to warm up and be chatty."  He makes me smile!

Health:  Yay - almost completely cold free.  Just a little bit of sniffles.  I'm getting a little anxious and excited: I am approaching a 30lbs weight loss.  I'm pretty excited.  Having lost 25lbs I'm already "skinnier" and much healthier than I was throughout my entire high school career.  I wonder if I'll do something big for my 30lbs mark..I'm already going to Virginia and I may be taking off 2 whole weeks in April. 

Career:  Two weeks off in April brings me to my next big thing.  The last two weeks in April my yoga teacher is offering her teacher training.  I really want to do this!  I need to do a little bit of thinking and planning, but I think I might just do it.

Two Cents

Right now I am too tired to come up with a rant.

However, two things come to my mind that I feel need to be addressed.

My dad disagreed with me about the tattoo issue.  Football players are more universal than musicians.  My dad doesn't listen to Chris Brown, but he does watch football.  I am calling a BS on my dad.  The dude loves baseball more than football; duh, Baseball is a universal bit of Americana.  Everyone knows baseball practically = America.  So my dad loves baseball and the Brewers.  Not ONCE have I heard him talk about Corey Hart, or Prince Fielder (*tear, he isn't a Brewer anymore), or Kameron Loe being a bad role model to kids.   Frankly, he just doesn't really care about the artwork on any of the baseball players.  It could also be that their uniforms cover the majority of their skin, but it doesn't meant that it isn't there or can be seen when they aren't on the field.  There is a whole gallery of the Brewers showing off their tattoos - boy are some of them bad!  But hey, it was their choice.  If they regret it later, that is their problem.  Get over it - people get tattoos.  If you don't like them, don't get tattoos.  Simple as that.
End of story.

Secondly, I'm surprised that so many people like the Bachelor or the Bachelorette.  Seriously?  It is modern day, legal, cock-fighting.  I want to know if those girls would seriously act that way around a guy if she didn't have about 15-20 other girls she was contending with to "get a rose."  Call me a femi-nazi if you'd like, but I can't stand to see women make idiots of themselves on tv.  For what?  That dude you probably won't give a flying leap about 2 minutes after the camera has stopped rolling; or worse yet, you are the one in love and he is the one going, "well, it was nice knowing ya - see ya!"  My co-workers like to watch it and some of the patients come in and they talk about it every time I see them.  I get told not to take the show too seriously, it is just fun.  It isn't fun.  It is degrading to watch, brain cells atrophy, and I feel being a woman has gotten just a little bit more ridiculous. Is that the kind of behaviour we want our young women mimicing? I am so glad my sister doesn't watch that show.  I'd have to have a serious talk with her if she did.
The part I caught this week, as I was flipping through channels, went like this: 
Girl: (instructing guy in a super high/giggly voice through physical/boot camp-esq drills) Drop and give me twenty. (sits on guy's back)
Give me another sit up.
Boy: (Kissing girl on every sit up)
Girl: (giggly...then stern) Give me another kiss.  Kiss me harder!
*Turns channel to Bones before vomiting occurs. I rather watch a smart female scientist solve crimes than a woman titter and giggle in an attempt to seduce a man into liking her more than the other girls.

Boon-Docked

Recently, I have been trying to find a way to bring my Boondock Saints shirt out of hiding.  It is a little sad when my poor Boondock Saints shirt has been relegated to the bottom of my drawer.  I love my Boondock Saints! I just can't seem to find a place that seems appropriate anymore.  Not to mention people going crazy with the shootings lately - a shirt with two guys holding guns is kinda bad/insensitive.  I wish people would just stop being idiots with guns.  Take Oscar Pistorius, for example, your story sounds just like that: a story.  Do you think I believe that you went back to the bed to get your gun and didn't happen to notice your girlfriend wasn't in it?  You were too scared to turn on the lights but you didn't worry about shouting to your girlfriend to call the cops?  She didn't respond once to all the shouting you were doing?  I'm pretty sure at even my foggiest/dreamiest/my-eyes-are-still-shut-I-just-got-up-to-pee state, I'd tell my boyfriend to stop yelling, "I'm just taking a piss!" At what point did shooting the closed door of the toilet seem like a good idea?  If that sounds like a good idea to anyone, you should never have a gun!  What if the "intruder" had snatched your girlfriend and dragged her into the toilet as a hostage?  Or heaven forbid, THERE WAS NO INTRUDER and therefore, no need to protect yourself with a gun.  This is why we seem to focused on gun laws when we should be looking at our money situation.  Seriously, don't just shoot anything that moves and scares you.  This is the 21st century, not the Middle Ages or even the mid-1800s when sometimes your nearest neighbor wasn't for miles around.  Most of us have a cell phone a hands breadth away, call 911!  If you can scare a bear off by making lots of noise and making yourself as large as possible, what makes you think an intruder needs to be shot in order to be stopped?  Fire your gun in the air if need be - but do we really need to live in a society where a kid can't sneak back into his own house, a kid can't walk down the street and simply reach into his pocket, and now, apparently, we have to worry about being shot for simply getting up to pee in the middle of the night.

Darn straight, I wore my Boondock Saints shirt to yoga.  Peace, love, yoga and Boondock Saints.  They all mix together! Not to mention, I then went and voted.  I got a few stares, but it was more for my knee high argyle socks and my crop yoga pants.  Oh well, someone has to look pimp in this frigid weather!

Case for the Mondays

Well, I had every intention of writing last night.  I thought about it several times.  Then, the next thing I knew, I was cuddled in my bed, listening to the Mormons talking, and thought: "I didn't blog! Oops."  It was too late to even think about getting up and starting a blog.

I think my body has suddenly become food intolerant.  Every thing but carbs and peanut butter make my guts into a rumbly tumbly.  Ick.  All afternoon I felt like crap! This week needs to be over already!

Anyways.   I watched Captain America for the first time.  It was kind of cheesy beyond cheesy.  I just couldn't get into it.  It was too clipped and awkward, like a bunch of little bits thrown together that make a whole, yet somehow just leave you scratching your head!  Yay - left open for a sequel...that doesn't need to be made.
Quick, the plot: Skinny boy gets beefed up with science experiment to make his body as remarkable as his bravery, becomes a PR plot tool (Captain America) not a weapon to end WWII, runs away from PR/bond tour to rescue the captured troops (including his best friend), Captain America is given his own team to do missions, all of which include taking down scary guy (Red Skull) who has been amassing super powerful weapons and lots of followers...did I mention that Red Skull was the first test subject of the serum that made Captain America so strong/super human.  Not to mention - Capt. America's best friend doesn't make it back from a mission and he has fallen in love.  In the end, he is forced to make a tough decision to save New York City from imminent destruction!
And I'm over it.

Guess what else I finally got over: The Pink Carnation.  This book was steamier than all the other books put together!  It was still pretty interesting, but the majority of this one was sexual. The first novel in this series is about the end of the Purple Gentian's reign as Britain's most beloved spy and the beginnings of the Pink Carnation.  Not too much other detail to get into - Eloise, the present day researcher has managed to get her hands onto manuscripts that will help her with the discovery of the Pink Carnations identity and an important part of her dissertation.

Now, I'm onto The Postmistress by Sarah Blake.  It is pretty interesting so far.  Off to go read some before heading to bed!

I also want to leave you with a laugh.  This video has me DYING laughing: odd hand gestures, way too much baby oil, awkward dance moves, bad clothing/hair styling choices, and every type of island race you can possibly put onto one island!  Just enjoy a Monday laugh and know that tomorrow is one step closer to Friday!

Valentine

I am very tired again.  I think it is due to a complete lack of enough calories to keep me running (thanks loss of appetite), a cold, and several days of working close to 10 hours.  So tired.  Grammar and spelling, beware.  I sent someone a text the other day while I was really tired; not once, but TWO TIMES I spelled 'crazy' like this: carzy.  It was not a proud moment.  Oh well.

Relationships: I finally got in to see my grandpa again today.  I haven't been able to see him these last few days because I've been ill or working straight through visiting hours.  I stopped by just to peek in and give him his Valentine.  I ended up spending my whole lunch break with him; which was fine, I still wasn't very hungry.  I forced myself to eat one of the power bars we sell so I wouldn't collapse during our busy afternoon.  I got to see my boy this week - after a whole week of missing him!  One of our patients brings in his dog.  I love seeing Brett, he makes my DAY!  Then it takes about 3 lint roller sheets to get rid of all of his hair.

Health: ick. cold and flu double whammy! I am excited to say that I re-did my measurements.  The fattest part of me is now what the skinniest part of me used to be - heck yes!  And while I do love my legs being so wickedly in shape (I lost another 1/2" off each of my thighs), I wish I'd lose inches off my stomach and waist!

Career: Sometimes, I enjoy my job.  Sometimes, I can't wait for the weekend!

Past Aggressive

I'm tired tonight.  I've been putting in long days at work while fighting off whatever it is that is going through my system. I also apparently need to address my passive aggressive tendencies.  I know it.  I admit I have a problem.  Now to find ways to deal with it.  OMG - I just typed that and my downstairs neighbor just started playing the piano.  Time to go test it out.

Be-you-tiful

Well - no cinnamon rolls tonight.  I could  not get comfortable last night. I went from hot to cold and back again.  I tossed and I turned.  The only position that felt comfortable was on my stomach and I get headaches from sleeping on my stomach.  It's a visious cycle. 

I for sure am not getting to those cinnamon rolls.  I can't wait for an opinion piece, so I'll skip to Wednesday's "Say What"-ever I want blog.  Today at work we got the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition.  I hate that thing.  I especially hate when girls say they are looking at it for the swimsuits.  Really?!?  Some of the girls aren't even WEARING ONE!
 I admit that I am a person that has always struggled with body image.  Still do and probably will forever.  I don't think my mother has a good self-esteem and she wasn't able to teach her daughters how to love themselves.  I love this image I saw the other day on the Girl's on the Run facebook page.  It had Kate Winslet saying how she had never heard any of the women in her life say that they were proud of their bodies and how she makes sure to teach her daughter how to appreciate her body for what it is, not isn't. 

I wish we had more role models like Kate Winslet who say: I don't have "perfect" boobs.  I can completely understand because I don't either.  I look more like "balogna Barb" in Pitch Perfect to be honest.  I'm a little sad this girl was mocked for her different body.  It is extremely awkward with her going braless, but I give this girl kodos because she will probably be forever known as the girl with bologna tits.  I know, I know - overshare!  Heck, if this blog post makes one girl feel a little less like: "omg, I'm a freak because I'm the only one with a body like this!" -I did what I had hoped to do.

We wonder why girls in our country deal with such low self-esteem.  It is because we see girls with Kate Upton's not typical body praised so openly and we realize that we can't compare to these beautiful women.  Our boyfriends, male bosses, brothers, and male friends look at these girls and I'm sure are a little disappointed when they don't get those massive jugs, perfect cleavage, and amazing asses in real life.  I have to learn to let go of hating these women for their amazing bodies.  I need to change my image of me and my beauty.  It is a lot to overcome when you've had your mother tell you: "You don't look that great, let's be honest.  I wouldn't want you going around with rose colored glasses." 
I need to "breath in love and breath out jealousy; breath in peace and breath out insecurity."  - Renee knew exactly what I needed to hear at that moment.  Yoga with her and my other teachers have made me appreciate my body for all the wonderful things it can do, not just fitting into the body norms of the moment.  I shouldn't have to feel that I would be considered beautiful if only I'd been born around the time of the Renaissance.  Heck, if I'd been a few decades earlier, I'd probably have been considered too skinny!  Marilyn Monroe wasn't Kate Upton sized.  She had great undergarments and killer curves to her not size zero body.


PS: Yes, that is Marilyn's wide booty. 
 

So here is to the Tina Feys and Kate Winslets who are wickedly gorgeous telling us that not everyone is going to have the "perfect" body and that is ok. Ok, better than just ok; it's great to have a body that you are proud of! Tina's observations also make it so obvious how ridiculous beauty standards are; really, we are trying to meet those standards just with our body shapes!  That's not even counting having to dress it nicely in all the latest fashions and apply perfect makeup that is perfectly framed by spectaculate hair.  So maybe this still is a Testy Tuesday and all of us women just have to look in the mirror and say: "I am beautiful" along with all the amazing things your body does for you.  Say it until it sinks in and we can deal with the Kate Uptons of the world and their perfect bodies on display because our bodies do so much more than create a shelf of perfect breasts or a pair of tight cheeks!

I can say I'm grateful for a body that still moves. I can run, walk, skip.  It just powered through an amazing session of yoga that left my legs a little jiggly by the end.  Despite the slight cold I have, I'm healthy.  I have teeth that are healthy and well cared for - which is a perfect accesory for the smile I typically have plastered across my face. My feet keep me well founded when I'm doing yoga and running or trying something like surfing! I am beautiful because I am me and there is only one like me out there. 
*Now seems like a good time to put on Beautiful by Xtina and sing it for all it's worth!*

An exciting side note: My review of Samatahiti finally got posted on TripAdvisor.  Check it out and don't laugh at my grammatical error.  Remember I was typing that thing up with one finger out of action.  Come on, who doesn't want to surf and do yoga in such an amazing place with such amazing people?!?