Biggest Loser- Blogger Edition- Week 2

Well, this week was full of fail.  Serious fail.

That's the number. And I'm unhappy with it.

But I realized something.  I'm making health part of my plan, but not weight loss.  D'oh!

So, my plan for the week.

1. A minimum of 9000 steps a day.  It's noon, and I already have almost 7000, so that shouldn't be hard today.  It also means that I need to work out this weekend!
2. Water.  I've been dehydrated, so I've obviously been slacking.
3. Having a healthy sweet snack around.  Like strawberries or something.  I'm going for unhealthy stuff.  I want to have something on hand to stop the craving!
4. Weight loss goal:  177 pounds by next Wednesday (February 6th)

In other news, work is crazy.... which is driving me to drink!

Random Facts About Me!

~ I have issue watching shows, mainly comedies, where a character is going to mess us horribly... They don't realize it, but the audience knows. Seriously, this cuts out most Ben Stiller movies and episodes of 1600 Penn

~ I love margaritas, but hate extra calories, so I mix my drinks with Diet Sprite. Yes, I made a margarita spritzer.

~ I'm enough of a light weight for that to mess me up.

~ unlike most women my vice isn't shoes. It's purses.

~ I've avoided using the yoga class groupon because taking class at a strange place terrifies me.

~ The main thing that terrifies me is that I'll be I appropriately dressed.

~ I eat the same thing for breakfast most mornings: oat meal

~ I've gained 5 pounds since Christmas. I'm terrified to step on the scale.

~ the more stressed I am, the less I want to clean my house. Since my office manager went on leave the house has become a mess!

~ I have a reoccurring dream about driving off a bridge. With the sudden storm, and ice, this weekend... That put a big crimp in my weekend plans

~ I know this was a good decision, because I'm not wracked with guilt about missing the party. Generally when I talk myself out of things because Social Anxiety reared it's head I'm sick with guilt the next day.

~I left early from work on Friday. 75% of the reason was to actually get the spreadsheet done. 25% was the impending storm. Such a good decision, it turns out!

~ I'm not ashamed that I record at least 2 shows a night.

~ Many of these shows are guilty pleasures.

SNOW!!!!

Today is Friday.  Thank the lord!

I made arrangements to work from home this afternoon.  I had a large, important spreadsheet to get together, and couldn't seem to get it done AT work.  So I left at 2.

In the way home, I made a stop at the liquor store to get a bottle of pre-mixed Margarita.

Booze in hand, I left for home.  The sky was grey.  Flakes swirled in the air.  I could see the storm in the distance, cold and steely.

I got in, and got to work.  I called the Spousal Equivalent and made dinner plans.

He called back ten minutes later, saying that he's not making stops on the way home.  It was then that I looked outside:

Yes, that's snow.  It was only an inch deep, but the kids all over the apartment complex were out enjoying it.

I took Misty out to make some yellow snow, then came in to make coffee.

Now, all I need is the SE home, and I can settle in for the night.

In lieu of anything original...

2 passages from Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert

Number 1:

‘You don’t want to go cherry-picking a religion.’
Which is a sentiment that I completely respect expect for the fact that I totally disagree. I think you have every right to cherry-pick when it comes to moving your spirit and finding peace in God. I think you are free to search for any metaphor which will take you across the worldly divide whenever you need to be transported or comforted. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s the history of mankind’s search for holiness. (Eat Pray Love, page 297)

and Number 2:

Traditionally, I have responded to the transcendent mystics of all religions.  I have always responded with breathless excitement to anyone who has ever said that God does not live in dogmatic  scripture or in a distant throne in the sky, but instead abides very close to us indeed- much closer than we can imagine, breathing right through our own hearts.  I respond with gratitude to anyone who has ever voyaged to the center of that heart, and who has returned to the world with a report for the rest of us that God is an experience of supreme love.  In every religious tradition on earth, there have always been mystical saints and transcendents who report exactly this experience.  Unfortunately many of them have ended up arrested and killed.  Still, I think very highly of them.  

In the end, what I have come to believe about God is simple.  It’s like this-  I used to have this really great dog.  She came from the pound.  She was a mixture of about ten different breeds, but seemed to have inherited the finest features of them all.  She was brown.  When people asked me, “What kind of dog is that?”  I would always give the same answer:  “She’s a brown dog.”  Similarly, when the question is raised, “What kind of God do you believe in?” my answer is easy: “I believe in a magnificent God.” (Eat Pray Love, Page 25-26)

Bunheads Recap: I'll Be Your Meyer Lansky

The Episode begins with Michelle and Fanny prepping for a meeting with.... The accountant!  *cue ominous music*

In their defense, the guy was SSOOO clueless as to how to explain what they needed in terms they'd understand.

Well, Fanny and Michelle own a large piece of property, and somehow are finding themselves in business with Truely's sister...

Though, I think they should convert an out-building on the property into Sparkles.

Meanwhile, Melanie has rage issues, and Cozette thinks she should be a derby girl.  Heck yeah, is what the Spousal Equivalent said to that.

And it looks like things are to a head with Sasha and her family.  The house is packed, and Sasha is in denial.  Her mom, being self centered, is frustrated   (Though Sasha should have told her that she was back in town after Joffrey).  She goes to Michelle for help and guidance  something that Michelle is scared to give. it's clear that to Sasha, Michelle is the parent that she needs.

And the episodes ends with this, which is stunning.

Biggest Loser- Blogger Edition- Week 1

Well, I can't say much....

I started the week at 179 pounds, and ended at 178... a loss of 1 pound.  I know I can do better.

Let's's see about my goals?

1.) Try to get 10,000 steps a day, but don't settle for anything less than 7500

Well, Except for yesterday (I was rather ill, and laying down)  and today (I admit, I was watching the Inauguration) I was around the 7000 mark each day.  This week, I shoot for 8000

2.) Vegetables.  Seriously, if I get more veggies in a meal, I won't want to snack as much!

I did pretty good on that!  I could do better, though

3.) Exercise every morning, even on the weekends

Fail... Every day but yesterday and today....

4.) Water.  Drinks it!  lots of it!

I actually managed to do that!  Go me!

And back to the Inauguration for a minute....  I got teary at this part:

We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths – that all of us are created equal – is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth. 

Mentioning women's right, African American civil rights and Gay rights in one sentence... beautiful!

It is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began.  For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts.  Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well

Two of my causes, equal rights for women and the LGBT community in one swoop.

I'm sure there are people at Fox news fuming about this already.

So, to sum up:

• Obama's a cool dude
• I need to get off my fat ass on the weekends
• Salad needs to make an appearance at my house again
• More steps
• Less snacks (I have few of them in the house, thankfully)

Look at me being all productive!

I was left to my own devices this afternoon, so I decided to be productive.

I got my butt out the door, and stopped at some dollar stores.  I was shopping for cheap fabric storage baskets and fabric hanging shelves.  I had decided to organize my clothes!  I took a hard look at myself and realized a few things.  1.) I will live in yoga pants in given the chance (I was gifted with MANY pairs of hand-me-down yoga pants recently), and the drawer they live in is already full.  and 2.) I never hang up the work pants I'm currently wearing this season.  I cycle through them too quickly (And wash after every other wearing, I'll admit).  So I got the fabric storage bin for the yoga pants (to live on the bottom of my closet), and the hanging fabric shelves so I can fold my work pants and keep them in the closet.

I then went to Target and Trader Joe's.  I got Vegetable Pad Thai for lunch (I was JUST saying to myself that I wanted Pad Thai!), and the ingredients for homemade BBQ chicken pizza and homemade Chipotle Burrito Bowls.

Actually, both of those dinner will feature Dinosaur Bar-B-Q sauces quite heavily. The pizza will be topped with Dinosaur BBQ Sensuous Slathering Sauce.  The chicken for the Burrito Bowls will be marinated in Mojito Marinade.

So at this point the overwhelming majority of the clothes laying around my house have found homes.  And now, I'm going to do dance my ass off with Just Dance 4.

Stress.... I haz it....

So, as we know, I'm doing 2 people's jobs right now.

On top of that, in October I forgot to forward email to people... which is making problems for everyone now.

And I feel sick about it.

But... I can't beat myself up about it.  Because I a.) don't have the time to beat myself and b.) I don't have the energy.

I have half an hour of work... then I can go home.  And try to shake this off.

But what I want is this:

and this:

and some of this:

My Soapbox.. I'll only be a minute

So Facebook has ERUPTED in anti-Obama, Anti-gun control pictures.  People are threatening armed rebellion.  All because of the 23 executive orders.

Have they read them?   Probably not.  Because in fact, the 23 Executive Orders aren't 23 ways to pry guns from cold dead hands.  They are more of an action plan.

I found them here.

1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.
2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system.
3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.
4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks.
5. Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.
6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.
7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.
8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).
9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.
10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement.
11. Nominate an ATF director.
12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations.
13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.
14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.
15. Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies
16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.
17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.
18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers.
19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.
20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover.
21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.
22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.
23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.

Heck, number 18 is what the NRA wanted.

I'm thrilled that there is more emphasis on mental health in there.  I completely believe that as a nation we are severely lacking in affordable mental health services.  (Which I've been told by friends can be double, if not triple other routine medical costs).

It doesn't look like the administration wants to take guns, it looks like these are in place to make existing laws work better.

But I know some won't be happy.

I'll end it with this.  A democracy is being informed on the issues, and voting on them.  If your guys loses, you then work to get your guy in office the next time.  Being a cry baby is threatening rebellion when you don't like what the guy in office is doing.  Heck, I don't see the pro-choice or pro-marriage equality people threatening armed rebellion in states that are fighting against those causes.

But then again, I've long said that many times those that are in power act like kindergartners in a sand box.

Oh gracious... I've become a Mayhem Commercial!

Yes... the longer winter's gone on, the heavier I've gotten.

I'd post the weight, but it embarrasses me.  Seriously!

So I went up and joined this:

More about it here.

So, instead of eating a cake because the weight depressed me, I'm doing something about it!

1. Try to get 10,000 steps a day, but don't settle for anything less than 7500
2. Vegetables.  Seriously, if I get more veggies in a meal, I won't want to snack as much!
3. Exercise every morning, even on the weekends
4. Water.  Drinks it!  lots of it!

I've been a slacker when it comes to moving on the weekends.  And this needs to stop!  I mean, I have 2 fitness games for the WiiU, HuluPlus which has PLENTY of workouts.  I also picked up a Groupon for 1 month of unlimited yoga classes at Zenya Yoga studio.  Hopefully soon I can go and start that.  (Though when I go to talk to someone there.. they seem to be closed...)

But seriously.... I'm going to work for the numbers decreasing, not increasing!

Sunday night unfun

It's after dinner, and the dog and I were walking to the back of the house, to get cool (it take over 2 hours to dry every load of wash. I seriously need a drying rack!

Misty and I are walking down the hall.....

....when I see a bug. A huge. Black. Bug. The kind I see once a year or such.

I scream, a loud, bloodcurdling scream, and proceed to run around the house looking like Shaggy running from a ghost.  I then grab the dog (who didn't save me from the bug, she just sniffed it) and stand in the kitchen, screeching for the Spousal Equivalent to kill it.

Thankfully the bug was dumb. And walked into the trap, which was the SE's foot. It was squished. The SE took out the trash (and the bug guts).

And I burst into tears.

I need ice cream now. Thankfully we have some. 20 minutes until the Golden Globe red carpet!

Bunheads recap

Tonight's episode breaks down what this show really is, three sets of people and their intersecting lives.

Michelle

Here she is, in all her broken glory. She's a back up dancer for an awful magician, and living on Talia's couch. She's clearly unhappy, and stuck in her misery.

Fanny

She's lost. Completely lost. She's not teaching. She needs a change and simply can't figure out what it is.

The girls

They are apart. Bo's babysitting. Melanie is taking care of her grandfather. Ginny's selling houses for her mom. Sasha is supposed to be at the Joffrey. They were at a loss without the school. And Fanny. And Michelle.

Thankfully, it's Fanny that realizes this. She goes to Henderson to get Michelle. Michelle is convinced that things are broken. Fanny won't let her go; she's family now.

In the end, they need each other. And the kids need them.

And don't worry... Fanny will deal with the parents.

The episode made me happy. (Especially the hug from Sasha at the end)

Dream House (Updated)

After watching Downton Abbey, and seeing Matthew and Mary argue over where they wanted to live and all...  got me thinking...

What would my dream house be?

Well.... I have levels to that answer

Basic Level

• At least a bath and a half.  (Ever have the stomach flu run through the house and only have 1 toilet?  not pretty)
• A door that leads out to the outside, not a hallway
• A back door that leads to an enclosed area big enough for a grill
• 3 bedrooms

Middle Level

• All of the above plus:
• A little yard, with a deck
• Maybe a 4th bedroom

Top level

• The other stuff plus:
• A basement... or another big room.. A Game room.  A room that would have a wet bar, a table and chairs for table top gaming, plus a TV and the Wii U games.
• Incredibly energy efficient everything.  Like, solar panels, and the works.  I want to be environmentally friendly in a laugh-at-your-small-utility-bill sort of way.

See?  Not TOO much!  And my dream is actually attainable!

Oh, my happy place!!

Last night was the return of both Once Upon a Time and Downton Abbey!  Tonight is the return of Bunheads and Switched at Birth!

Thought, I decided that after watching formal dinner after formal dinner, I need to watch this show with wine, cheese and crackers.

Last night also the return of the Biggest Loser.  Honestly the Biggest Loser is a great workout motivator like Hoarders is a great housecleaning motivator.  (Well, for me it is)

So I got up and did a work out, I also promised the pup a long walk when I got home.  I looked at the workouts from last week, and planned the workouts for the rest of the week.  When I get home, I'll look at my food choices.  (My sweets this week:  clementine oranges!)

This morning's snack was a small thing of Greek Yogurt, and low-fat granola.  Hopefully that can delay lunch until well after noon.  I know I struggle with late day snacking.

Ok, back to work!

Resolutions and crap....

Today is my last day of vacation. It's also the second day of the new year! I'm keeping my resolutions short:

1. Track my food and points. I'm not paying for Weight Watchers anymore, but I found that I do better when I track food

2. 10,000 steps a day. My fitbit tracks it. I need to do it. Working out to my new game, AND wearing the fitbit while working out will be a great start!

(Notice these two are basically "eat less and move more"?)

3. FlyLady. When my house is in order, my brain is in better order, and I don't snack as much.

And now.... To let my stomach settle before I work out! Then onto that FlyLady chore list!

Les Miserables: A spoiler-filled review (UPDATED)

We all know that this is the movie that I've been waiting for since I did this:

(There's a few moments of me in the video.  Can you find me?  I'm one of the dancers during the Bring Him Home solo... with a half gown ut perm.  Not my finest hour.)

Yes, it's been a while....

SO, now I've seen the movie twice... and I have thoughts:

Disclaimer:  I know this show WELL.  Like... REALLY Well....

• In the realm of nit-picky:  There were bits of songs missing.  No bits from important songs... but bits of songs that I like (A Little Fall of Rain, Dog Eats Dog, Beggars at he Feast).  I can understand the cuts.. but I would have LOVED to see what Sasha baron Cohen would have done on those numbers
• There were lines changed, which is to be expected.  But man.... can we have things rhyme.  It makes me twitch!
• EXTREME CLOSEUPS!!!!!!  I admired teeth this time around.  Any closer and we can examine nose-hair and pores.
• There were plot changes.  No major ones... but I suspect that the changes come from gathering material from the book.
• Visually, this movie was AMAZING!!
• The finale was supposed feature Fantine and Eponine singing and leading Jean Valjean to heaven.... well... we only got Fantine.  And I'm ok with that.  The story comes down to 2 people that make a HUGE impact on Jean Valjean's life:  Fantine and the Bishop.  I'm ok with no Eponine.
• Javert pinning the medal on Gavroche?  Made me sob.
• By the way... that kid that plays Gavroche?  Are we sure he's just a kid?  Because he was WAY too mature!  

Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway were AMAZING.  Seriously!  Eddie Redmayne surprised me.  I didn't know he could sing!  Russel Crowe and Amanda Seyfried were ok.... But I wish there was a bigger part for Aaron Tveit.   I heart him!

Watching this today, I decided that if there were to be a remake a My Fair Lady, Anne Hathaway should play Eliza Doolittle.  Who is with me?