Fellow Citizens:
As most of you know, I love food of all kinds and always try to sample a local dish when I travel. I'll only order room service (always the club sandwich) when I'm exhausted or stranded. I also like to try new cuisines at home and for the record the one food I'm not in love with is kimchi. For old time's sake, I'm throwing in some childhood memories.
Thai at Red Onion - New York
Ethiopian at Queen of Sheba - Dallas
Sushi at Sushi Zen - New York
Avocado/Mango Shrimp Salad at Nino's - New York
Mushroom Risotto - San Jose
Fletcher's Corny Dog - State Fair of Texas
Green Chili Enchiladas in Taos
Indian Fry Bread at the Taos Pueblos
Dirt at Chimayo
Papaya/Avocado Salad at The Ivy At the Shore - Santa Monica
French/Indonesian at Le Colonel - San Francisco
Wiener Schnitzel and Creamed Spinach at Berghoff’s - Chicago
Prime Rib BBQ at Kreuz Market - Lockhart, TX
Low Country Shrimp and Grits at 82 Queen - Charleston, SC
Dunkin Donuts Coffee - Hartford
Soft Pretzel - Yankee Stadium
Hennesey Martinis at Mickey Mantle’s - Central Park South
H & H Bagels - Manhattan
Fresh Apple Juice at the Alexis Hotel - Seattle
Dim Sum - Seattle’s China Town
Raw Bar Oysters at Blue Fin - Times Square
Beef Braciole (brijole) at Casa Bella in NY’s Little Italy (saw it on the Sopranos and just had to try it)
Cheese Steak in Philadelphia (OMG!)
Clams Oreganato on the Jersey Shore
Ice Cream Waffles on the Jersey Boardwalk - Point Pleasant
Steamed Mussels in Cherry Hill, NJ
Sushi at Morimoto in Philly
Crawfish at Ralph & Cacoo’s - Shreveport (I was encouraged to suck the head)
Shrimp Remoulade, Po’ boys, Beignets, and Nut Mix - NOLA
Oysters at Max’s - West Hartford, CT
Spicy BBQ with Coleslaw - Memphis
Lobster Taco and Crème Brulee at The Mansion on Turtle Creek
Scones, Clotted Cream and Tea - Edinburgh
Bangers, Beans and Toast - London (a tad greasy)
Vegetarian Indian at The Woodlands - London
Hot Chocolate and Pastries - Paris (best cocoa ever)
Jambon Beurre sandwiches – Paris
Croissants and Tea - Paris
Seafood at Table 31 - Philadelphia
Shabu Shabu - Orange County
Tequila with Sangrita - Guanajuato
Tortilla Soup - San Miguel de Allende
Seafood Paella at Columbia’s - St. Armand’s Circle
Mexican at La Fogata - San Antonio
Steak at Doe’s Eat Place - Greenville, MS
Amazing Sushi & Saki at Geisha - Upper East Side NYC (very narrow space)
Drinks at The Oasis - Austin, TX (beautiful view)
Chili & Spaghetti - Cincinnati
Cheese Curds, Chili, Cornbread and Beer at Dotty Dumpling’s - Madison, WI
Walleye Pike & Mashed Potatoes - St Paul, MN
Cuban Pork, Black beans and Rice - Miami
North Carolina Rendered Pork BBQ – outside of Raleigh NC
Biscuits and Country Ham at the Indigo Inn - Charleston
Miso Soup at Chinois - Las Vegas ($12!)
Margaritas and Egg Tacos - Cabo San Lucas
Clam Chowder & Fish - Burlington, VT
Japanese Baked Black Cod at Buddha's Belly - Santa Monica
Seared Tuna at Noe - Los Angeles
Coconut Shrimp - Monterey, CA
Chicken Cordon Bleu – Stevens Point, WI
Halibut Fish & Chips – Anchorage
Meatball Grinder - Hartford (My first ever grinder)
Cinnamon French Toast - Newport Beach
Seafood and Wine at Osetra’s - San Diego
Pizza in the Gaslamp District – San Diego
Spaghetti & Meatballs w/garlic bread at Battista’s Hole in The Wall – Las Vegas
Organic Vegetarian on the Erie Canal - Pittsford, NY
Breakfast at Del Monte Lodge - Rochester (awesome)
Organic Field Greens at The Parkway Grill - Pasadena, CA
Fish Tacos – Orange, CA
Paella at Palomino - Denver
BBQ at Arthur Bryant’s - Kansas City
Steak at Pierpont’s at Union Station – K.C.
Smoked Turkey & Sissy Sauce at Rudy's - Waco (my favorite stopping place between Dallas & Austin and you can get gas there, too!)
Ribs, Beans and Dirty Rice – Marksville, LA
Fish Aladdin at Mazen’s – Lake Charles, LA
Chocolate Pie at Piccadilly - Alexandria, LA
BBQ Sandwich - Monroe, LA (so good on a cold and rainy night)
Gumbo at the Tutwiler – Birmingham, AL
Steak at Char - Jackson, MS
Quail at Navajo Grill - Fredericksburg, TX
Sausages and Schnitzel at Various Biergartens - Fredericksburg, TX (I once fed Schnitzel to a feral kitten until Andy made me stop)
Birthday Dinner at Anthony’s in the Catalinas – Tucson, AZ (Thanks, Joe)
Boston Haddock at Green Onion - Syracuse, NY
Tortilla Soup at Reata - Alpine, TX
Oaxacan-style Tamales - Austin, TX
Apple Streusel at The Faust Hotel - New Braunfels, TX
Seafood Tower Appetizer at Upstream - Charlotte, NC
Gourmet Turkey & Avocado Sandwich at Dean & Deluca's - Charlotte ($9, but worth it!)
Lobster Bisque at Scott's - Jack London Square Oakland
Chicken Burrito at Tito's – San Leandro, CA (best burrito)
Round Rock Donuts - Round Rock, TX (best donuts ever)
Tapioca Pudding and Sticky Rice and Mango at Thai Chili - Las Colinas
Apple Fritters at Applewood's - Oklahoma City
Grouper Sandwich – Long Boat Key, FL
Pomme Frites at Chez Nous – San Francisco
Asparagus Soup at Davis & Main - Richmond, VA
Margaritas at Las Brisas - Laguna Beach, CA (oh, the view)
German Food with All the Kids at Oma's Haus - New Braunfels, TX
Egg Cream at Katz's Deli - NYC
Eggs Benedict at Old Pecan Street Cafe - Austin, TX (Aaron's Birthday)
Pesto at Il Fornello – Toronto
French, Greek, Chinese, Indian & Swiss - Toronto
Italian, Seafood – Vancouver
Spanish/Cuban – Morristown, NJ (lots of garlic)
Cheesecake – Marina Del Rey
Southern Breakfast at B & B – Vicksburg, MS
Lemon Bars & Tea – Vicksburg, MS
Lunch Buffet at the Lakeland Country Club - Lakeland, FL
Blue Corn Chicken Enchiladas with Green Tomatillo Sauce at Chuy's - Austin, TX
Halloween Breakfast at Kerbey Lane Cafe - Austin, TX (our waiter was the spitting image of PeeWee Herman)
Tons of Meat at Fogo De Chao - Dallas (Aaron's Birthday when one of the gaucho waiters kept hitting on Aaron)
Shish-Kabobs – Camping (Jamie & I built the camp fire)
Post Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner – Beaver’s Bend, OK (with Tim & Cassie -Andy cooked the bird upside down in a paper bag)
Dinner & Dancing at Edelweiss – Fort Worth
Lunch at the Salado Inn - Salado, TX (Granny & Aaron)
Dinners at The Elite Cafe - on the circle Waco, TX (our usual stopping place on the way to the river)
What is That? A Large Hunk of Cheese at Old San Francisco Steak House - Austin (Granny & Aaron on Granny's first ever trip to the Capitol)
Root Beer in Mini Frosted Mugs at A & W - Fort Worth
Ice Cream at Ashburn’s – Fort Worth (chocolate chip - my fave)
Banana Splits & Grilled Cheese at Ridglea Drug – Fort Worth
Ice Cream at O'Leary's - Fort Worth
Hot Fudge Sundaes - Kip's Big Boy - Fort Worth
16th Birthday Dinner - Kensington Club & Side of Shrooms at Steak-n-Ale - Fort Worth (I love you Aunt Nan!)
Green Burritos at Taco USA – San Angelo
BBQ sandwiches at Penguin’s Point – San Angelo
Chicken Fried Steak at Zentner’s – San Angelo
Chocolate Glazed Donuts - San Angelo (We were allowed to go off campus during H.S. Creative Writing class)
Steak Finger Basket and Dipped Cone at DQ – Fort Worth (my fave as a little kid)
Fri Lunch - Tacos & Margarita at Tupinambas - Dallas
Lunch Plate at Jim's Pinto Bean Palace of Dallas
Vegetable Plate at Dixie House - Dallas
Cheeseburger & Fries at Club Schmitz - Dallas
Chicken Salad at Snuffers - Dallas (famous for their cheese fries but the salad was better)
Sweet & Sour Chicken at Joy Inn – Dallas (got stuck in a flood once on NW Hwy just trying to get there!)
Chili Cheeseburger at Keller's Drive In - Dallas
New Year's Eve Dinner at Taj Mahal - Dallas
The Palm Beach at Highland Park Pharmacy - Dallas
The Graciela - La Margarita - Irving (I gained several pounds one year from eating this once a week)
World's Largest Burrito - same La Margarita (Aaron actually took a picture of it - it was so huge)
Yellowtail Heaven at Blue Fish - Las Colinas
BBQ Sliders at the Porch - Dallas
Mini Burgers and Fat Tire at Ruby Tuesday's - Martinsburg, WV
New Year's Eve Dinner at Il Sorrento - Dallas (with Eva from Germany)
Hibachi at Jinbeh's - Las Colinas (nephew Alex, a toddler, plastered sticky rice on his face - priceless)
Canned Pears - Canoeing on the Brazos (Food always taste better in the wilderness, even if it is dropped in the dirt)
Garlic Bread & House Salad Dressing at Italian Garden - Irving
El Patio Mexican TV Dinner (my choice for Friday night dinner when the parents went out)
Daily Lunch Special at Via Real - Las Colinas
Ginger Shrimp - Empress of China
Blue Corn Enchiladas with Sweet Corn Cake at Blue Mesa - Dallas
Granny's Tea Cakes - Mosheim, TX
Granny's Sloppin' Chocolate - Fort Worth
Granny's Martha Washington Candies - Fort Worth
Granny's Peanut Butter & Saltines Wrapped In Wax Paper - Fort Worth
Vegetables from PaPa's Garden - Mosheim, TX
Aunt Ernestine's Mississippi Mud Cake - Hot Springs, AK
Mema's Homemade Peach Ice Cream - Fort Worth
Grannin's Venison - Fort Worth
Mom's Corned Beef Hash & Potatoes - San Angelo
Mom's Stew - Fort Worth (with canned VegAll!)
Mom's Potato Pancakes - Fort Worth
Jan's Volcano Potatoes & Swiss Steak - Fort Worth
Jan's Cabbage Rolls - Oklahoma City
Mom's Beanie-Weenie Casserole - San Angelo
Mom's Potato Salad - Irving
Mom's Cornbread Dressing - Irving
Aunt Jo's Fudge - Fort Worth (Annual Christmas Party at the Holiday Inn)
Ma's Spice Cake
Daddy's Venison Summer Sausage - Hamilton, TX
Lisa's Mom's Vermicelli Pasta - Fort Worth
Pizza with My Friends at Crystals - Fort Worth and Shakey's - San Angelo
Pat's Mom's Fresh Green Beans & New Potatoes - Fort Worth
Pat and Daddy's Red Beans & Tacos - Fort Worth
Leon's Mom's Chocolate Pie - Farmersville
Bev's Deviled Eggs - Irving
Granny Warren's Black-Eyed Peas
Meg's 5 Cup Salad - Fort Worth
Lori's Chocolate Coffee Cake - Highland Village
Susan's Christmas Cookies - Dallas
Italian Creme Cake from Kathleen's Art Cafe - Dallas
Sandy's Coca-Cola Cake for My Birthday - Irving
Andy and Aaron's Thomas Jefferson Recipes - Thanksgiving
Andy's Baked Radishes
Opa's Strawberry & Spinach Salad
16th Anniversary Hot Dogs at the Ballpark at Arlington
My Pralines
Aaron's Bread
Andy's Mexican Inspired Christmas Brunch - Irving
Andy's Cerviche and Fish Vera Cruz
Andy's Shrimp Creole (my birthday dinner)
Andy's Smoked Turkey with Candle - My 40th Birthday Turkey - Irving
Sunday Brunch at The Omni - Las Colinas (Granny's first ever brunch & mimosa - hilarious!)
Anniversary Dinner at Arcodoro Pomodoro (Sardinian) - Dallas
Cherry Slushes at Sonic - Uvalde, TX (Totally fun with Laura, Melissa & Ashley - our girl trip to Uvalde from Rio Frio)
Birthday Cake with Trick Candles - Irving, TX (a mini Mount St. Helens)
Mini Plates at Willi's - Healdsburg, CA (great orange-chili calamari and the most awesome spinach salad)
Pink Lemonade & Rum at the Drive-In - San Angelo
Dr. Pepper & Nacho Cheese Doritos - My Entire Diet Senior Year
The World's Largest Salad Bar at Mother Tuckers (in the early 80s when Salad Bars were all the rage)
My Attempt at Italian - Caesar Salad, Stuffed Shells with Marinara & Garlic Bread - all from scratch for Andy's Birthday (with recipes from Dom Deluise's Cookbook "Eat This!")
Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Salad & Green Beans - Andy's Traditional Annual Birthday Dinner
Dallas' Best Brunch - Breadwinners and La Duni
CitizenB
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Try Not To Laugh While Doing Reverse Sit-Ups
Fellow Citizens:
So last night I decided to google ways to get out of doing push-ups and sit-ups. I found several alternatives…one being a “reverse” sit-up. I demonstrated for the A’s and they were totally unimpressed that I could sit on the floor and lean back into a supine position.
Me: “That was good, don’t you think?”
The A’s: “That movement required no effort and worked zero muscles” with a lot of head shaking and motions like we’re speechless.
I kept trying to impress them with anything but a sit-up.
Also, my goal by the end of the week is to do a complete, standard sit up while simultaneously drinking a glass of prune juice (see 6. below.) That’ll show ‘em!
If I can pull it off I’ll demonstrate at ya-ya (but with beer).
From wikiHow:
How to Get Around Doing Basic Sit Ups
Most of us search for ways to tone up our abdominal area. However, a lot of us can't or don't want to do basic sit ups, for various reasons. Here are a few alternative exercises that are very effective in tightening the abdominal area.
Steps
1. Use your furniture. Simply sit up straight on an ottoman and hook your toes underneath a chair in your living room. Lie straight back across the ottoman. Then, slowly bring yourself back up to a sitting position. Do as many repetitions as you think you can.
2. Lie on your bed . Lie back, place your arms to your sides, and lift your legs (keeping both legs together) in a pointing straight up position. Then slowly bring them down. When your legs are about 2-3 inches from the bed, hold them there for 1-2 minutes. Then lower the legs and relax. Do as many reps as you can. Note: If you have problems sleeping, it is not recommended to use your bed for activities other than sleep. See How to Fall Asleep for details.
3. Do scissor cuts. Keeping your legs and arms in the same position on the bed, lift your legs and cross one over the other. Just work at your own pace and do what you feel you can.
4. Multitask. While cleaning up the kitchen or doing chores, try to remember to tighten your stomach muscles and then let them relax. This tip works great for your rear-end, as well. Add a little bending and stretching into your daily activities whenever you can.
5. Climb stairs. This can be great for your stomach, as well as other parts of your body. If you'd like, you could buy or have someone make a step-master for you.
6. Eat a high-fiber diet, with healthy and moderate amounts of food. This will help to keep your body in good condition, and make it receptive to workouts. A small amount of apple cider vinegar added to a cup of prune juice may be good to try.
7. Exercise when you can. Use a bike or exercise bike regularly--it will help to tighten your abdominal area and improve your overall health.
8. Stand up while doing the sit up motion. Be sure to keep your back straight and maintain your posture. Alternate your angle of attack to work different muscles, even going so far as to do the sit up backwards.
Tips
· Stay faithful to whatever route you take.
· Any exercise is better than none at all.
· Some of the exercises listed are easier on a person's back than the traditional sit-up.
· Having an exercise bike can help you to exercise even when the weather is not nice outside.
· Be sure to record your exercise activity. It's highly recommended that you use a calendar with large spaces to write in. Keep it hanging in the room where you have your exercise equipment or where you exercise. When recording exercise activities, use abbreviations, such as "EB" for exercise bike.
· Save your calendars. This way, you can look back, from year to year, to see how long that you stuck with it. Hopefully, you will be amazed with yourself and very pleased.
· If sit-ups are too hard for you and you start to feel serious pain after doing situps, do some crunches instead. (a crunch is not as effective as a situp though)
Warnings
· Don't be too hard on yourself. You'll enjoy exercising more if you don't drive yourself into the ground.
· Don't set unrealistic goals for yourself, such as trying to look like a certain celebrity or supermodel.
CitizenB
So last night I decided to google ways to get out of doing push-ups and sit-ups. I found several alternatives…one being a “reverse” sit-up. I demonstrated for the A’s and they were totally unimpressed that I could sit on the floor and lean back into a supine position.
Me: “That was good, don’t you think?”
The A’s: “That movement required no effort and worked zero muscles” with a lot of head shaking and motions like we’re speechless.
I kept trying to impress them with anything but a sit-up.
Also, my goal by the end of the week is to do a complete, standard sit up while simultaneously drinking a glass of prune juice (see 6. below.) That’ll show ‘em!
If I can pull it off I’ll demonstrate at ya-ya (but with beer).
From wikiHow:
How to Get Around Doing Basic Sit Ups
Most of us search for ways to tone up our abdominal area. However, a lot of us can't or don't want to do basic sit ups, for various reasons. Here are a few alternative exercises that are very effective in tightening the abdominal area.
Steps
1. Use your furniture. Simply sit up straight on an ottoman and hook your toes underneath a chair in your living room. Lie straight back across the ottoman. Then, slowly bring yourself back up to a sitting position. Do as many repetitions as you think you can.
2. Lie on your bed . Lie back, place your arms to your sides, and lift your legs (keeping both legs together) in a pointing straight up position. Then slowly bring them down. When your legs are about 2-3 inches from the bed, hold them there for 1-2 minutes. Then lower the legs and relax. Do as many reps as you can. Note: If you have problems sleeping, it is not recommended to use your bed for activities other than sleep. See How to Fall Asleep for details.
3. Do scissor cuts. Keeping your legs and arms in the same position on the bed, lift your legs and cross one over the other. Just work at your own pace and do what you feel you can.
4. Multitask. While cleaning up the kitchen or doing chores, try to remember to tighten your stomach muscles and then let them relax. This tip works great for your rear-end, as well. Add a little bending and stretching into your daily activities whenever you can.
5. Climb stairs. This can be great for your stomach, as well as other parts of your body. If you'd like, you could buy or have someone make a step-master for you.
6. Eat a high-fiber diet, with healthy and moderate amounts of food. This will help to keep your body in good condition, and make it receptive to workouts. A small amount of apple cider vinegar added to a cup of prune juice may be good to try.
7. Exercise when you can. Use a bike or exercise bike regularly--it will help to tighten your abdominal area and improve your overall health.
8. Stand up while doing the sit up motion. Be sure to keep your back straight and maintain your posture. Alternate your angle of attack to work different muscles, even going so far as to do the sit up backwards.
Tips
· Stay faithful to whatever route you take.
· Any exercise is better than none at all.
· Some of the exercises listed are easier on a person's back than the traditional sit-up.
· Having an exercise bike can help you to exercise even when the weather is not nice outside.
· Be sure to record your exercise activity. It's highly recommended that you use a calendar with large spaces to write in. Keep it hanging in the room where you have your exercise equipment or where you exercise. When recording exercise activities, use abbreviations, such as "EB" for exercise bike.
· Save your calendars. This way, you can look back, from year to year, to see how long that you stuck with it. Hopefully, you will be amazed with yourself and very pleased.
· If sit-ups are too hard for you and you start to feel serious pain after doing situps, do some crunches instead. (a crunch is not as effective as a situp though)
Warnings
· Don't be too hard on yourself. You'll enjoy exercising more if you don't drive yourself into the ground.
· Don't set unrealistic goals for yourself, such as trying to look like a certain celebrity or supermodel.
CitizenB
Disappearing Cake
Fellow Citizens:
Below is a post-script to my boot camp/health challenge e-mail yesterday. Also, last night I googled ways to get out of doing push-ups and sit-ups. I found several alternatives. I was showing Andy my moves and we laughed so hard that my eyes were burning from the tears and mascara.
I have to add something to my report. I knew boot camp was coming Monday morning so I decided to eat something bad for dessert Sun night. I thought…hmm…what should I eat that I’ll be missing for a while?
I was at the grocery store to buy water and toilet paper and decided to head over to the bakery (which I normally avoid like the plague as not to give in to temptation). It came to me…I LOVE CAKE…chocolate cake. I decided to get one of those individual servings and torture the A’s by eating it right in front of them while refusing to share. My last act of defiance!
I get home, unload the groceries and guess what? No cake. Checked the receipt…yep, I paid $2.69 for disappearing cake. Double-checked the trunk of the car and not there. I decided it was a conspiracy. The A’s must have gotten to the supermarket checker and sack boy and/or this is yet another example of really poor Tom Thumb customer service. They failed to sack my magazine one time and another time I got some poor little man’s salami (he was in line in front of me).
I was too humiliated to go back for my cake and took it as a SIGN. No more cake for me.
CitizenB
Below is a post-script to my boot camp/health challenge e-mail yesterday. Also, last night I googled ways to get out of doing push-ups and sit-ups. I found several alternatives. I was showing Andy my moves and we laughed so hard that my eyes were burning from the tears and mascara.
I have to add something to my report. I knew boot camp was coming Monday morning so I decided to eat something bad for dessert Sun night. I thought…hmm…what should I eat that I’ll be missing for a while?
I was at the grocery store to buy water and toilet paper and decided to head over to the bakery (which I normally avoid like the plague as not to give in to temptation). It came to me…I LOVE CAKE…chocolate cake. I decided to get one of those individual servings and torture the A’s by eating it right in front of them while refusing to share. My last act of defiance!
I get home, unload the groceries and guess what? No cake. Checked the receipt…yep, I paid $2.69 for disappearing cake. Double-checked the trunk of the car and not there. I decided it was a conspiracy. The A’s must have gotten to the supermarket checker and sack boy and/or this is yet another example of really poor Tom Thumb customer service. They failed to sack my magazine one time and another time I got some poor little man’s salami (he was in line in front of me).
I was too humiliated to go back for my cake and took it as a SIGN. No more cake for me.
CitizenB
Monday, August 25, 2008
Ya Ya Health Challenge
Fellow Citizens:
Okay so it’s been brutally hot, I’ve been on airplanes and in hotels for a couple of months, and being the neurotic person I am…I fell off my own “Ya-Ya Health Challenge” wagon. Remember that long-ago (6 months has nearly passed) proposal for the ya-yas to get healthy? What was I thinking?
The good news is that I got back on today. It was kind of by force, but I did get back on. Andy and Aaron staged an intervention (oh, how the tables have turned) last night (we love you but you’re chunky, weak, in a rut, puffy etc.) and I was warned if I wasn’t out of bed for the 6:00 a.m. health assessment that a bull horn would be used. Yes, we own a bull horn.
So I’m up at 6:02 a.m. Aaron’s waiting in the kitchen in drill sergeant stance. (Andy got to sleep until 7:00 I guess because he’s “healthier” and his cholesterol is like one point lower than mine…) I’m allowed to sit and drink one cup of coffee until 6:15. I’m then ordered to weigh-in and actually give my weight - a figure normally kept between me and the doctor’s office. Me: “Most of that is water weight, you know.” Aaron: “Whatever.” He reports he will keep the weight stat confidential. I’m sure he already posted it on his myspace page. I’m then told to measure my waist and biceps. Me: “Biceps? I don’t have one.”
Also, Aaron is obviously a guy because he didn’t even think about a hip or thigh measurement. I didn’t offer. I would have given “ankle” if he asked. Of note, my ankles and the part of the arm where the biceps go are fairly skinny.
Next up: how many push ups and sit ups can I do? At 6:30 a.m.? The answer: 3 “modified” or girl push-ups (Aaron recorded “0” or zero) and 20 “crunches” (Aaron recorded another “0” or a big, fat zero). Girl can’t catch a break with the modifications. He then sighed “This is much worse than I expected.”
I’m then served a thick protein shake (in an orange juice glass! And after I refuse to make it myself!) and told that I can use the internet for a few minutes but only to recapture my user id and password on weightwatchers.com. Done (and I did sneak a peek at addictomatic.com).
There’s more. 30 minutes on the treadmill with more of an incline that I’m comfortable with. (Of course I’ll burn more calories this way but I’m in no condition to climb Mt. Everest – or even the big hill at the end of the street - just yet.) I managed to handle 3.5 at 3.5 mph for 31.30 minutes in a hot garage. Pretty wimpy, but there was sweat involved. It’s a start.
I could have gone longer on the treadmill but I had orders to be out the door by 8:30 today (and no later than 8:00 from now on). I’m not allowed to check my work e-mail at home…this causes too much sitting around and zoning out (true). It’s all about being productive in every aspect of my life!
I’ve used a lot of words like “forced” and “ordered” but you all know that I wouldn’t do any of these things if I didn’t want to. It’s called absolute stubbornness. We all need coaching on occasion. I’ll be on my own soon…Aaron starts back on a regular schedule at UD at 6:00 a.m. on Fri. (Thank goodness!)
Also, remember the “shoe fund” where I get paid $1 for every 30 minutes of exercise? Currently there is enough money to buy a pair of flip flops, but give me three more weeks, and I might be able to afford a nice pair of Wal-mart house shoes to kick around at ya-ya!
For all you ya-yas and over 40s out there, don’t give up. An inner athlete exists in all of us (even if it’s a Serbian discus-thrower.) Love you bunches,
CitizenB
Warning. Hideous "Before" Picture to follow. This is how I looked at 6:00 a.m. and with horribly swollen lymph glands (cleared up by massive doses of antibiotics.)
Fellow Citizens:
Okay so it’s been brutally hot, I’ve been on airplanes and in hotels for a couple of months, and being the neurotic person I am…I fell off my own “Ya-Ya Health Challenge” wagon. Remember that long-ago (6 months has nearly passed) proposal for the ya-yas to get healthy? What was I thinking?
The good news is that I got back on today. It was kind of by force, but I did get back on. Andy and Aaron staged an intervention (oh, how the tables have turned) last night (we love you but you’re chunky, weak, in a rut, puffy etc.) and I was warned if I wasn’t out of bed for the 6:00 a.m. health assessment that a bull horn would be used. Yes, we own a bull horn.
So I’m up at 6:02 a.m. Aaron’s waiting in the kitchen in drill sergeant stance. (Andy got to sleep until 7:00 I guess because he’s “healthier” and his cholesterol is like one point lower than mine…) I’m allowed to sit and drink one cup of coffee until 6:15. I’m then ordered to weigh-in and actually give my weight - a figure normally kept between me and the doctor’s office. Me: “Most of that is water weight, you know.” Aaron: “Whatever.” He reports he will keep the weight stat confidential. I’m sure he already posted it on his myspace page. I’m then told to measure my waist and biceps. Me: “Biceps? I don’t have one.”
Also, Aaron is obviously a guy because he didn’t even think about a hip or thigh measurement. I didn’t offer. I would have given “ankle” if he asked. Of note, my ankles and the part of the arm where the biceps go are fairly skinny.
Next up: how many push ups and sit ups can I do? At 6:30 a.m.? The answer: 3 “modified” or girl push-ups (Aaron recorded “0” or zero) and 20 “crunches” (Aaron recorded another “0” or a big, fat zero). Girl can’t catch a break with the modifications. He then sighed “This is much worse than I expected.”
I’m then served a thick protein shake (in an orange juice glass! And after I refuse to make it myself!) and told that I can use the internet for a few minutes but only to recapture my user id and password on weightwatchers.com. Done (and I did sneak a peek at addictomatic.com).
There’s more. 30 minutes on the treadmill with more of an incline that I’m comfortable with. (Of course I’ll burn more calories this way but I’m in no condition to climb Mt. Everest – or even the big hill at the end of the street - just yet.) I managed to handle 3.5 at 3.5 mph for 31.30 minutes in a hot garage. Pretty wimpy, but there was sweat involved. It’s a start.
I could have gone longer on the treadmill but I had orders to be out the door by 8:30 today (and no later than 8:00 from now on). I’m not allowed to check my work e-mail at home…this causes too much sitting around and zoning out (true). It’s all about being productive in every aspect of my life!
I’ve used a lot of words like “forced” and “ordered” but you all know that I wouldn’t do any of these things if I didn’t want to. It’s called absolute stubbornness. We all need coaching on occasion. I’ll be on my own soon…Aaron starts back on a regular schedule at UD at 6:00 a.m. on Fri. (Thank goodness!)
Also, remember the “shoe fund” where I get paid $1 for every 30 minutes of exercise? Currently there is enough money to buy a pair of flip flops, but give me three more weeks, and I might be able to afford a nice pair of Wal-mart house shoes to kick around at ya-ya!
For all you ya-yas and over 40s out there, don’t give up. An inner athlete exists in all of us (even if it’s a Serbian discus-thrower.) Love you bunches,
CitizenB
Warning. Hideous "Before" Picture to follow. This is how I looked at 6:00 a.m. and with horribly swollen lymph glands (cleared up by massive doses of antibiotics.)
Fellow Citizens:
Sunday, July 20, 2008
My Cat's One Shot at Fame
Fellow Citizens:
The other day, Andy announced that his crew was preparing to shoot an advertisement for a brand of potentially poisonous cat treats made in China. His client was looking for 5 playful cats to be photographed in all kinds of cute positions.
Andy suggested that Marshall (our 7 year old cat) audition. My reply was “Are you kidding?” Marshall is an anti-social cat and only enjoys playing with pencils in the middle of my desk while I’m trying to work. Plus, he’s a killer. Andy’s response was that Marshall’s physique (lean and athletic…very Cat GQ) was perfect for the part. Also, the chosen cats are paid $75.00 per hour. Me: “$75 an hour? Why didn’t you say so?”
On Thursday Andy came home without notice and announced “It’s time. Where’s Marshall?” I replied “I don’t know…he could be anywhere including under the deck removing the head of a half-dead bird.” We found him sleeping peacefully in a chair. Andy scooped him up and dropped him in the carrier. Marshall was dazed and confused and probably thought “I’m not puking all over the house so why am I going to the vet?”
As Andy was hurrying out the door with carrier in hand, I’m spurting out warnings like “he needs to wake up!”, “he needs to be brushed!”, “he’s not ready!”, “don’t lose him!!”…
Andy: “There’s no time for brushing and if he gets the part he’ll go through make-up.”
About an hour later, Andy and Marshall return from the photo studio. He bombed the audition.
First, he wouldn’t leave the carrier and actually burrowed under the towel. Andy pried him out but Marshall kept returning to the carrier with his face planted firmly in the corner. He refused eye contact. Andy finally put the carrier away and Marshall proceeded to flatten himself and slink along the floor as if in combat. No amount of feather dusters or other photographer tricks worked. At last, he crawled under the paper back-drop and growled. Yes, growled like the wild animal he is.
Friday. Andy reports that all but three local cats (mostly employee pets) totally blew their auditions. It seems there was a pattern with growling under the back-drop.
The locals that pulled it off were playful but are questionable for “the look.” The client wants more cats so now they are bringing in professionals from L.A. Union cats with screen actor guild cards and handlers. Cost? $15,000! They also require one day of rest when they get to Dallas (and sardine-flavored green M&Ms at the hotel). Aaron (in Opa-esque fashion): “Oh, give me a break” and “For $15,000, I’ll go find a litter of playful kittens near a dumpster.”
Then it dawned on me. “Why wasn’t I given the chance to be Marshall’s handler?” I could have worked a little stage-motherly magic (with hidden cat nip). Andy’s “chop-chop-chop” surely didn’t help matters.
There’s more. I found out that not only are they casting for cats but for real people “mother-types” to play with the cats. Me: “Why didn’t I get a chance to audition for the cat’s mother?” Andy: “We needed attractive thirty-somethings.” Ouch. Aaron: “Mom, I would cast you.” Me: “Shut up, Aaron.”
Obviously Marshall and I don’t meet the clients’ needs but if there is ever a client out there that needs a martini-drinking cat, we’ll nail it. Marshall loves olives and I could join him for happy hour.
Andy suggested that Marshall (our 7 year old cat) audition. My reply was “Are you kidding?” Marshall is an anti-social cat and only enjoys playing with pencils in the middle of my desk while I’m trying to work. Plus, he’s a killer. Andy’s response was that Marshall’s physique (lean and athletic…very Cat GQ) was perfect for the part. Also, the chosen cats are paid $75.00 per hour. Me: “$75 an hour? Why didn’t you say so?”
On Thursday Andy came home without notice and announced “It’s time. Where’s Marshall?” I replied “I don’t know…he could be anywhere including under the deck removing the head of a half-dead bird.” We found him sleeping peacefully in a chair. Andy scooped him up and dropped him in the carrier. Marshall was dazed and confused and probably thought “I’m not puking all over the house so why am I going to the vet?”
As Andy was hurrying out the door with carrier in hand, I’m spurting out warnings like “he needs to wake up!”, “he needs to be brushed!”, “he’s not ready!”, “don’t lose him!!”…
Andy: “There’s no time for brushing and if he gets the part he’ll go through make-up.”
About an hour later, Andy and Marshall return from the photo studio. He bombed the audition.
First, he wouldn’t leave the carrier and actually burrowed under the towel. Andy pried him out but Marshall kept returning to the carrier with his face planted firmly in the corner. He refused eye contact. Andy finally put the carrier away and Marshall proceeded to flatten himself and slink along the floor as if in combat. No amount of feather dusters or other photographer tricks worked. At last, he crawled under the paper back-drop and growled. Yes, growled like the wild animal he is.
Friday. Andy reports that all but three local cats (mostly employee pets) totally blew their auditions. It seems there was a pattern with growling under the back-drop.
The locals that pulled it off were playful but are questionable for “the look.” The client wants more cats so now they are bringing in professionals from L.A. Union cats with screen actor guild cards and handlers. Cost? $15,000! They also require one day of rest when they get to Dallas (and sardine-flavored green M&Ms at the hotel). Aaron (in Opa-esque fashion): “Oh, give me a break” and “For $15,000, I’ll go find a litter of playful kittens near a dumpster.”
Then it dawned on me. “Why wasn’t I given the chance to be Marshall’s handler?” I could have worked a little stage-motherly magic (with hidden cat nip). Andy’s “chop-chop-chop” surely didn’t help matters.
There’s more. I found out that not only are they casting for cats but for real people “mother-types” to play with the cats. Me: “Why didn’t I get a chance to audition for the cat’s mother?” Andy: “We needed attractive thirty-somethings.” Ouch. Aaron: “Mom, I would cast you.” Me: “Shut up, Aaron.”
Obviously Marshall and I don’t meet the clients’ needs but if there is ever a client out there that needs a martini-drinking cat, we’ll nail it. Marshall loves olives and I could join him for happy hour.
CitizenB
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