tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22775940786284344962024-03-12T23:52:16.388-07:00Climbing Out of the Lard PitFabbity Fab Confessions of How I Lost ItARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-47790486777293315722015-03-25T10:14:00.003-07:002015-03-25T10:14:55.572-07:00Hiking and wardrobe malfunctions...Earlier this week, I went out on a hike.....<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sytereitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/so-embarrassed-567181366x76856718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://sytereitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/so-embarrassed-567181366x76856718.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from: http://sytereitz.com/2014/07/embarrassing-women/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I didn't get very far.<br />
<br />
Why?????<br />
<br />
Ummmm.... Let's just say I didn't want people to see more of my toosh than I wanted them to.<br />
<br />
*sigh*<br />
<br />
Yeah. I had a hole in my pants. BUT! I didn't let that stop me from doing something interesting and fun (for me, at least).<br />
<br />
I was out at Pea Ridge National Military Park, which is a Civil War site. (The Union won that battle. WOO HOO!!) I decided to go on a search.<br />
<br />
To explain, I did something new. Something.... well, a little uncomfortable for me. I made a video. Yup. Now keep in mind that I don't even like pictures of me right now so video is that uncomfortableness times a <i>gazillion</i>!!!<br />
<br />
But, here it is. Be kind.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XBLn-TEQymk/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XBLn-TEQymk?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-55201512771485752572015-03-19T15:20:00.002-07:002015-03-19T15:22:09.450-07:00Beginning again....<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://eatsleepplaybeaufort.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/BEGIN_AGAIN-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://eatsleepplaybeaufort.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/BEGIN_AGAIN-2.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture from: http://eatsleepplaybeaufort.com/begin-again/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">How many times is this?? One?? Two?? Three hundred and twenty five?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Eh - the number doesn't matter. All that matters is that I'm starting again. And that I'm determined to make it stick this time around. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Did I really start this blog 5+ years ago? Seriously? I feel like Oprah when she said, "I can't believe I am still talking about my weight!" Not in the fact that weight is supposedly a newsworthy topic, but that that the struggle has continued so many years later!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm not saying that I'm going to have it all figured out. To be honest, I will probably trip and fall.... a lot. A lot, a lot. But as I've always said (and stolen from somewhere/someone else), if it isn't hard, it isn't worth doing. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Right?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">No really, I need convincing. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">:)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So in the spirit of convincing myself, here are:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy67Gwzhem6-Kb3K9jHRo0TFpQDoy2TPkbbOyqBsDl5cvb-giry4fvkEdZSVVj8W_yK81iYl9o7fBswUK3JRrhowjBwbjw_ztUp7RJPSrNPw0gBL8xPD6jk-4J4Sii_eqLWdQl5CoGoWI/s1600/TopTen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy67Gwzhem6-Kb3K9jHRo0TFpQDoy2TPkbbOyqBsDl5cvb-giry4fvkEdZSVVj8W_yK81iYl9o7fBswUK3JRrhowjBwbjw_ztUp7RJPSrNPw0gBL8xPD6jk-4J4Sii_eqLWdQl5CoGoWI/s1600/TopTen.jpg" height="45" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #76a5af;">1.</span> </b></span>Because of this before and after:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99UxSOEqCHcjzR00pW9y-NNvKzURQLxU55UUlC0v9KjN0UorPt9D9hPpRwTvLNJ5hcfxf1W21gTmv1UiNmaMR2i3lonmr2HEdOup2OjT5e1KH1yZmiUVtadLcoo2MTUXqh3it3liGe6M/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99UxSOEqCHcjzR00pW9y-NNvKzURQLxU55UUlC0v9KjN0UorPt9D9hPpRwTvLNJ5hcfxf1W21gTmv1UiNmaMR2i3lonmr2HEdOup2OjT5e1KH1yZmiUVtadLcoo2MTUXqh3it3liGe6M/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That's right boys and girls. The black shirt is something I would have worn to work out back in the day. The white shirt is what I fit into now. My old shirt wouldn't even cover one breast nowadays. *sigh* Man, that's depressing.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Positivity! I have it. :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. </b></span></span>Because I really need to have the horrible decision of
choosing which guy I want to date. Who will it be? Henry Cavill? Tom
Hiddleston? Tom Welling? Chris Evans? (Sadly, Chris Hemsworth, Hugh
Jackman, etc. are all happily married. Damnit.)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5rlKSu-uDDdemigVC5XHs5lCTtVAXYJvPeiTz34GvC4hShC7uVJOTwb7yug6xvXRb9GqGeVWueHSwTRvlTVMf0HO6i7wDvk4_eFf7FfJy6DZsVy_Bz4ykCNZhK_SxltvP_01rL8ihqQ/s1600/hotmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5rlKSu-uDDdemigVC5XHs5lCTtVAXYJvPeiTz34GvC4hShC7uVJOTwb7yug6xvXRb9GqGeVWueHSwTRvlTVMf0HO6i7wDvk4_eFf7FfJy6DZsVy_Bz4ykCNZhK_SxltvP_01rL8ihqQ/s1600/hotmen.jpg" height="219" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's okay boys. Really. You are all great. But I just have to go with the guy who is right for me.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. </b></span></span>Because I would
like to hike the Grand Canyon without inadvertently killing myself.
(Sidenote: Accidentally keeling over is a bad, bad thing.)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://firstyear.gwublogs.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2013/12/GC_Adventure-Break.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://firstyear.gwublogs.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2013/12/GC_Adventure-Break.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Image from: http://vernlife.gwublogs.com/2013/12/02/gw-trails-adventure-breaks/</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> (Sidenote #2: The person in the picture is definitely NOT ME.)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">4.</span> </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Health factors are going to become an issue. They kinda already are. (See blog: <a href="http://climbingoutofthelardpit.blogspot.com/2010/04/holy-sballs-moments-part-1.html">Holy S***balls Moments Part 1</a>.)</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><b>5.</b></span> <span style="font-size: small;">I like my spine. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><b>6.</b></span> <span style="font-size: small;">I ... What? Oh you want an explanation of #5? Okay.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><b>5 cont'd.</b></span> <span style="font-size: small;">I had an issue with inflammation of the cartilage that sits between the sternum and the ribs. The doctor took a chest x-ray just to make sure there wasn't anything else going on. The conversation went something like this.</span></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Doctor:</b> Everything looks pretty good. I do see some wear on your spine, but nothing else. It seems...</span></span><br /><b>Me:</b> Wait wait wait... can you go back to the spine thing?<br /><b>Doctor:</b> Oh.. well, there's some wear there, but it's typical for someone with large breasts to have the kind of wear.<br /><b>Me:</b> Are you saying that my <i>breasts</i> are eroding <i>MY SPINE?!?!?!</i><b><br />Doctor:</b> Well... yes, but like I said, it's normal to see that.<br /><b>Me:</b> I like my spine the way it is thank you very much<span style="font-size: small;">!</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sooooo... yeah.... I want my spine to stay the way it is.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><b>6.</b></span> <span style="font-size: small;">Two words: boob sweat.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, it's a thing.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">7.</span></b></span> It would be easier to paint my toenails.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">8.</span></b></span> Halloween costumes become AWESOME.</span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://rileahvanderbilt.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://rileahvanderbilt.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Image from: http://rileahvanderbilt.com/2013/09/wonder-woman/</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Also in this thread of reason: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- MUCH cuter underwear</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- MUCH less expensive bras</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">9.</span></b></span> More flexibility for....... ummm........ more flexibility. *insert angel's halo here*</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">10.</span></b></span> </span></span>I don't like for me to see me like this. It makes for a lot of missed opportunities. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So there ya have it!! My top ten reasons for losing weight. Do you have any to add??</span></div>
ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-33957292367494977542014-10-02T19:33:00.000-07:002014-10-02T19:34:02.215-07:00Career fairs, employers, and me... OH MY!As I near the end of my duration here in Masters-of-Engineering-ville, I went to a career fair in hopes that I would find the company I was meant to work at. I got a new outfit, curled my hair the way that gets me the most compliments, had my CV ready... I felt good.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://correspondentsdiary.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/selena-gomez-in-a-hot-business-suit.jpg?w=645&h=815" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://correspondentsdiary.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/selena-gomez-in-a-hot-business-suit.jpg?w=645&h=815" height="320" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo linked from:<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://correspondentsdiary.wordpress.com/tag/career-women</span>/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I walked in, all confident-like. The girl in front of me was a young, pretty thing. She was an engineering version of Olivia Pope. The svelte body, killer suit, but with long blond hair, curled so elegantly to the middle of her back. We both headed up the stairs, while a young man from one of the companies was coming down the stairs. Wouldn't you know it. He stopped the young woman and <br />
said to say that she should come by their table.<br />
<br />
So, obviously, being right behind her, he would say the same thing to me right?<br />
<br />
Wrong.<br />
<br />
He looked right at me and said nothing.<br />
<br />
Such is my life. It isn't the first time. At my last employer, it was made painfully obvious that what they <i>really </i>valued wasn't how you did your job, but how you looked. Aside from comments directed at me, another instructor in the department got an award at the monthly faculty meeting for weight loss.<br />
<br />
It has become completely evident that I have a bias against me. And really, it isn't anyone's fault but my own. I wasn't always this way. But the last decade+, I let my bosses, co-workers, etc. dictate to me how my life should be run. For the last decade+, all I've done is work. I stopped doing everything I felt was fun. (With the exception of hanging with friends whenever I could.) And over the years, the pounds just packed on.<br />
<br />
And on.<br />
<br />
And on.<br />
<br />
And yesterday, it became clear that my weight has affected every single aspect of my life. Not just the active (or rather my now inactive) part, or the relationship part, but the professional part as well. Frankly? I'm quite tired of it.<br />
<br />
But I know it that even though I'm tired of it, that doesn't mean that *POOF*, I'll magically be able to change things. But that doesn't mean that I'm not going to try!! And if I fall down, I'll pick myself right back up and keep going. Right? :) Details to come......ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-28079621696166005352014-06-11T20:45:00.000-07:002014-06-11T20:45:13.914-07:00Getting the flub out on the trail….<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzk2-Dw67d3TULXi_svJOgg0s68SfZvvBln9XyrfNfZ2eaI0Cc_Gm53YdHWFUmZ2h3lpmTtTbMmJBFnSmXR-6FJuldfnDqzB7Sf5TzLmDXcqXUwt8oibDosYbknLrGyPs1Hz2Tuuz1kIE/s1600/IMG_0756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzk2-Dw67d3TULXi_svJOgg0s68SfZvvBln9XyrfNfZ2eaI0Cc_Gm53YdHWFUmZ2h3lpmTtTbMmJBFnSmXR-6FJuldfnDqzB7Sf5TzLmDXcqXUwt8oibDosYbknLrGyPs1Hz2Tuuz1kIE/s1600/IMG_0756.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pea Ridge National Military Park 5/28/14 <br />
Photo Rights: Julie D. Chittenden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's a question for you guys….<br />
<br />
You know when you<i> </i>finally (and I do mean <i>finally</i>) get in a groove where you feel like you are your old self, where you crave being outdoors, in nature, and being active? Why is it that that's when nature decides to pee on your parade??<br />
<br />
No really, mother nature <i>peed on my parade</i>. i.e. It has rained for like two weeks. And I have been sitting like a lump of lard since then. Albeit, that would be my fault entirely. I could have been doing something active. I just didn't. Even dancing naked around my apartment would have been better than what I did the last two weeks. Not that I dance naked around my apartment.<br />
<br />
No really. I don't. All it would take is one glimpse at myself in the mirror and I would a) sob violently while questioning my life choices, b) re-inact the truffle shuffle scene from the <i>Goonies</i>, or c) make me go catatonic for at least 2 hours.<br />
<br />
But really, I just took the garbage out to the dumpster and my legs said, "Dude. This is the most we have done in two weeks! What the hell??? Go run around the block. No? Okay - do 10 flights of stairs at least. AH! DO SOMETHING!!!"<br />
.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqr8ZEH-NgYh1siceNxx4e5pBIF1nRXgYqD8WRQ7wIhH9FhHTFccxsFnKJ39rvH4GhaoqTIo1MyHQ6FSiiKZe8-60g21O7BdqbIZzUDNAmf8QdQoRl45A9MRSwPowrgMptHobyL2XUpI8/s1600/IMG_0773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqr8ZEH-NgYh1siceNxx4e5pBIF1nRXgYqD8WRQ7wIhH9FhHTFccxsFnKJ39rvH4GhaoqTIo1MyHQ6FSiiKZe8-60g21O7BdqbIZzUDNAmf8QdQoRl45A9MRSwPowrgMptHobyL2XUpI8/s1600/IMG_0773.jpg" height="320" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pea Ridge National Military Park 5/28/14<br />Photo Rights: Julie D. Chittenden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
.<br />
.<br />
As I sit in front of my computer and type a blog.<br />
<br />
Oh! OH! And what the hell is with the tick population this summer?! It's as if the cold weather this winter/spring actually HELPED the little *bleep*ers.<br />
<br />
/end rant<br />
<br />
Be that as it may, I am making a list of hikes that I want to do this summer. And, by jove, I will do it!!<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
As I sit in front of my computer and type a blog. <br />
<br />
<br />ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-74707547746208439092014-01-31T15:58:00.001-08:002014-01-31T15:58:26.545-08:00Turning 30-10 and feeling a new start....I know. I KNOW!!! You don't have to yell at me. I'm aware that I haven't been around for a while. Okay, for years.<br />
<br />
I'M SORRY!! I really am. And I promise I'll be better.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ultimateecards.com/images/image-e11c53aa12dbaaaae44829b19322e964-sorry-card-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.ultimateecards.com/images/image-e11c53aa12dbaaaae44829b19322e964-sorry-card-008.jpg" height="284" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: <a href="http://www.ultimateecards.com/image/856-sorry-card">http://www.ultimateecards.com/image/856-sorry-card</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now, where was I?? Oh yeah, last time I showed up, I was living in Florida with a new position at Embry-Riddle. Unfortunately, I'm not there anymore. Where am I, you ask? What thrilling and exciting thing am I doing??<br />
<br />
Well, being the masochist that I am, I'm back in school.<br />
Yeah. I know.<br />
<br />
I decided to go back to school to get a degree in mechanical engineering, which, hopefully, will allow me to become gainfully employed doing something cool that will pay me a decent salary. Yup, I live in fantasy land. I'm aware.<br />
<br />
So here's the deal.<br />
<br />
In the light of my desire to be brutally honest with you guys, yes, I've gained a bunch of weight back. It doesn't mean it will <i>stay</i>, but I feel the need to be upfront about it. It's kind of like FA - Fats Anonymous. The first step is admitting you have a problem. "My name is Jules, and I just had <i>three</i> Skinny Cow Chocolate Truffle bars. I couldn't help it. Have you had them?? It's like chocolate-y heroin!" I really didn't have three just now. But I <i>might </i>have at some point in my past.<br />
... or several points...<br />
... or a lot of points....<br />
<br />
That's besides the fact!!! Moving on!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedDhFqmlYw2wQeKuPLTEX2qnhq-ArFO-uszoP7HEjMAUqxqiDOhmIVVnWFjAgVO9Fa6Or2VLVSOvKQ4Ci1LjyEIMoFm04lxBinjZA3da0UJDzY0ZVpJTVh_CIyGtAfW-heWVzRcNsuk1P/s400/Holy_you+are+40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedDhFqmlYw2wQeKuPLTEX2qnhq-ArFO-uszoP7HEjMAUqxqiDOhmIVVnWFjAgVO9Fa6Or2VLVSOvKQ4Ci1LjyEIMoFm04lxBinjZA3da0UJDzY0ZVpJTVh_CIyGtAfW-heWVzRcNsuk1P/s400/Holy_you+are+40.jpg" height="308" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: <a href="http://stampingwithannieb.blogspot.com/2012/06/cfc56-sweet-spot.html">http://stampingwithannieb.blogspot.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The other big thing that has happened is that I turned 40 last October. Or as my mother said, I turned 30-10. While I had a great birthday weekend with friends in New Orleans, I have to admit, this birthday kind of wigged me out. What does this mean? My metabolism becomes nonexistent? Men suddenly have no use for me? I accidentally pee a little bit when I sneeze?? WHAT HAPPENS?!?!<br />
<br />
I'll tell you what I hope happens. I hope that this is my f***ing decade, that's what! I hope that my 40s are the best of my life as of yet! Heck yeah!<br />
<br />
That's what happens.<br />
<br />
Right????<br />
<br />
<br />
Catch you in the next blog post!!! Have a great weekend and I hope you come back. :)ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-72274875531829188222011-09-25T19:07:00.000-07:002011-09-25T19:08:56.592-07:00Reunions... *insert sigh here*First of all.... thank you for giving me an outlet to procrastinate some of the work I have to do.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3uB6A3HW47KaOs48XyUxds6AzXaD7lBJQfE8EqQjEQWc8ACTOJmD6cbCnz5OLyCZfUldS0CrVSbE3R_OSFg91heuIof0EHfK82dEOdP_OIBhdL26Hp0zkADJY6j66bIE8vZhnT7WDrs/s1600/reunioniwillattendmyclassreunion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3uB6A3HW47KaOs48XyUxds6AzXaD7lBJQfE8EqQjEQWc8ACTOJmD6cbCnz5OLyCZfUldS0CrVSbE3R_OSFg91heuIof0EHfK82dEOdP_OIBhdL26Hp0zkADJY6j66bIE8vZhnT7WDrs/s320/reunioniwillattendmyclassreunion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Okay. I'm just going to spit it out. This weekend I... I am going......<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">I am going to my 20 year high school reunion.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
OKAY!! I'll say it louder. I am going to my 20 year high school reunion.<br />
<br />
I have to say that it has been a little nerve wracking leading up to this thing. I mean, I wanted to have my hot, rockin' body. But.... *looks down*<br />
<br />
*sigh*<br />
<br />
That's just not happening. I will be extremely excited to see my friends again. But I am very self conscious about the way I look. I feel like I have to excuse it. However, I will <i>try</i> to not be conscious of it while I am there. After all, I have some great achievements. How is it that I can have my life together in other areas but I am self conscious about my weight?<br />
<br />
Do/did you guys have any qualms going into a high school reunion?ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-17903963374340568442011-09-24T19:19:00.000-07:002011-09-25T19:09:17.890-07:00Sooooooo..... a year and *cough cough* pounds later.....<div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://commonsenseatheism.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/sorry-puppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://commonsenseatheism.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/sorry-puppy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Alright. I know.<br />
<br />
It's been a year. I'm aware.<br />
<br />
I'M SORRY!! Really. Really. Sorry.<br />
<br />
I won't make a list of excuses but I'll fill you in on what has been going on with me this last year.<br />
<br />
For those of you who saw my posts about my kitty, she ended up dying in October last year. I had her for 17.5 years of her 19 year life. So it was, needless to say, very sad. I did adopt a cat from the local Animal Control Authority in Feb. I went there to just look. Just look!!! And what happens? I adopt one. But she's adorable. It was a good decision.<br />
<br />
Then, in April, my puppy dog died very suddenly. He was my buddy boy. He was just shy of 13 years old. And I miss him lots and lots and lots. Okay, I'm changing subject since talking about this makes me sad.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">BUT!!! On a big life change note! I moved from California to Florida. I KNOW! Quite the move. I came out here to take a visiting professor job at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. (Hopefully it will turn into something more permanent.) I'm really loving the job so this is a good thing! However - to get here, I had to drive across country.</div><div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLIcVG8yDFQWHoeEgSzSF98Duh__ekVRCJz8GejIyCerufiyJKuclgk8wZ2hp8cDF0pUTK5mR11Y9AVSX-RA3GorhFn9r8dyoNav0rJEYWJuFlaZPCnUqIzGy1alTOI9mkFcV9QOuSRI/s1600/IMG_0705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLIcVG8yDFQWHoeEgSzSF98Duh__ekVRCJz8GejIyCerufiyJKuclgk8wZ2hp8cDF0pUTK5mR11Y9AVSX-RA3GorhFn9r8dyoNav0rJEYWJuFlaZPCnUqIzGy1alTOI9mkFcV9QOuSRI/s320/IMG_0705.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wyoming close to the Utah border. </td></tr>
</tbody></table> I did take some pictures on the way. Instead of taking the southern route through Arizona, New Mexico, etc. I went the northern route so I could go through Colorado. My friend, Katie, agreed to come with me on my road trip. There were some extremely picturesque parts of the drive.<br />
<br />
(I didn't take pictures through Kansas. Because... well, there wasn't anything to take pictures of.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4TwptUPyqYjOi5NzZphRcK4JU91xkHQ7djulC4sA5n04ldhdM0gf2i8QJ_4yhQ7Ca5I8p0dHXPJRfkSaqUb0y8U68hwDf4gRF8daY6AkkM74BJCPiJqZ0S32ETVPqQlcqsgIxNRcWZY/s1600/IMG_0725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4TwptUPyqYjOi5NzZphRcK4JU91xkHQ7djulC4sA5n04ldhdM0gf2i8QJ_4yhQ7Ca5I8p0dHXPJRfkSaqUb0y8U68hwDf4gRF8daY6AkkM74BJCPiJqZ0S32ETVPqQlcqsgIxNRcWZY/s320/IMG_0725.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elvis' Boyhood Home in Tupelo, MS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After stopping at my hometown, we headed on towards Florida. On the way, we passed through Tupelo, MS. We thought it was a good idea and decided to stop by Elvis' old boyhood home. I thought my apartment had been small? That was NOTHING to this small two room house.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMKn64-DwOyRIugRHf5ppCvNrNrfnmN1VrseilfU7l6qB-x2hwlE3vZAMRpfrfZEBDCEOwFnFpEfIsf68JGzURmfkHY6W5PsIHRQIAm3jsbfAJqpdVUpyad3hWYzdXDJNkzWZyVIg_wg/s1600/IMG_0734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMKn64-DwOyRIugRHf5ppCvNrNrfnmN1VrseilfU7l6qB-x2hwlE3vZAMRpfrfZEBDCEOwFnFpEfIsf68JGzURmfkHY6W5PsIHRQIAm3jsbfAJqpdVUpyad3hWYzdXDJNkzWZyVIg_wg/s200/IMG_0734.JPG" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Magic Kingdom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>When we finally got to Florida, Katie and I went to DisneyWorld. I wanted to thank her for being cooped up in the car for so long! (And for her doing the driving through Kansas. Which deserves more than just a trip to DisneyWorld.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjKV5bKrBG2imX1gj0N8MrIHHFNoTnhMyWayZDwoamkfP2Cdpb23A9Mz3CkQO9Ga4VhseESKoWiU0Xcy9cPnF283IATGD74raBKt-qnure5JdnfvFK8-jqjojjSu4G2eJQPSgQYG13Fw/s1600/IMG_0756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjKV5bKrBG2imX1gj0N8MrIHHFNoTnhMyWayZDwoamkfP2Cdpb23A9Mz3CkQO9Ga4VhseESKoWiU0Xcy9cPnF283IATGD74raBKt-qnure5JdnfvFK8-jqjojjSu4G2eJQPSgQYG13Fw/s320/IMG_0756.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post STS-135 Launch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And the BEST thing about getting out here to Florida: I got to see STS-135 launch!!!! (I'm a space geek so this is a big deal for me.) I can't believe that I had never seen a shuttle launch before. But this was the most amazing thing I have EVER seen.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflF9uRwNzkFq1ZK061iaW3uvf1sNzdPc_oCMoYq1-wSRNn548Nw_INBgl9SlqcmwWBqfolU-WvP1CSWLQkaUVI0JyaJn1fHXC4NWuPaoAWQtExxl1Bkd9-sLqVj9oCB_KoIl265tjTww/s1600/IMG_0798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflF9uRwNzkFq1ZK061iaW3uvf1sNzdPc_oCMoYq1-wSRNn548Nw_INBgl9SlqcmwWBqfolU-WvP1CSWLQkaUVI0JyaJn1fHXC4NWuPaoAWQtExxl1Bkd9-sLqVj9oCB_KoIl265tjTww/s320/IMG_0798.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlantis after Landing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I got see see Atlantis come home and give my love to her. Yes, I'm aware that it is an inanimate object. But she seems real to me!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Being so close to the space coast just adds to the coolness factor of living here. I do love it. Well, with the exception of the humidity. Holy heckfire! What is with this humidity?!?! I like my job. And while I am working... a lot.... I'm still managing to find time to have some "me" time. I even got a trainer at a local gym!!<br />
<br />
So here comes the confession.... with all of this crap that went on.... I gained weight back. A lot of it really. I'm trying very hard to get back on the wagon. Getting the eating back on track, getting exercise in. (Oh - which is hard because I now have a stress fracture in my foot. But it's healing.)<br />
<br />
Cross your fingers for me! And I'll be back here soon. PROMISE! (And I mean it!)ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-71038146685220353692010-09-02T23:29:00.000-07:002010-09-02T23:29:01.851-07:00I'm sorry!!!Okay, I made a video. YES! I know! And to top it off, I come across as if I'm a squirrel... on speed. No really. I do. But I wanted to do it to make sure you guys know that I'm serious about being sorry that I haven't been around.<br />
<br />
I have so much more respect for vloggers now.<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YaKoxYVc3mo?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YaKoxYVc3mo?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center>ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-11933140329973742072010-07-16T18:52:00.000-07:002010-07-16T18:52:24.791-07:00Day 117 - PhillyD and Project Lose an Olsen Twin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs086.snc3/15348_221351070860_611065860_4550388_603529_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs086.snc3/15348_221351070860_611065860_4550388_603529_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Phillip DeFranco has a new project. For those who don't know who Philly D is, he's a celeb on YouTube. That's a picture of him with his girlfriend on the right. I know what you are thinking, "How did he get a girlfriend like that?!" I think it's the being funny thing. Works every time. Anyway! I always watch his videos because they make me laugh. Of course, I could find it funny because I'm warped and a little demented. Now you are probably thinking, "Gee, that's great. Get to the point." Well, okay! Geez. Patience is a virtue. ;)<br />
<br />
His new project is a weight loss project entitled "Project Lose an Olsen Twin." First of all, I find that really funny because really - an Olsen twin weighs MUCH less than most of us need to lose. I mean, I can lose 2 or even 3 Olsen twins I think.<br />
<br />
I went off topic again. POINT IS! He mentioned his weight... and it was close to mine. And he's freakin' 6'0"!!!!! I'm...... ummmm.... not that tall.<br />
<br />
Has that ever happened to you guys? Someone mentions their weight, and you think "Oh my god... that's how much I weigh. And he's tall/muscular/professional athlete." CASE IN POINT! I looked up some athletes. Ones that weigh close to me. We have Jeremy Hoornstra, a freakin' power lifter.<br />
<br />
Or how about, Adrian Peterson, a running back for the Vikings, who last year wanted to <i>get up to</i> 230 pounds. (At 6'1".) Not only that but the coach said "Well, you know what, 230 is awful big." Yeah. Thanks. BUT IT GETS WORSE! One of the comments to the story was "230 lbs sounds like Al Roker in cleats." *starts sobbing* Really??? REALLY?!<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong... I don't want to be 100 pounds at 5'4". I want to be healthy and beautiful. When I went to look for examples of celebrities that didn't look anorexic, sadly, I didn't find huge numbers of choices. Although, here are a couple of women whom I completely admire for their intelligence, abilities, and accomplishments. And they just happen to be absolutely beautiful.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.askmen.com/photos/drew-barrymore/19774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.askmen.com/photos/drew-barrymore/19774.jpg" width="130" /> </a></div>Drew Barrymore - This woman has overcome a lot to become the woman she is today. She's enormously talented and driven. She isn't a cookie cutter, anorexic looking actress. She, like the rest of us, has fluctuated in her weight, but if I may say - at any weight, she is lovely. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.timeinc.net/instyle/images/2009/oscars/022209_winslet_200X400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img2.timeinc.net/instyle/images/2009/oscars/022209_winslet_200X400.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>Kate Winslet - I adore Kate Winslet. I think she is a spectacular actress. Again, hugely talented and accomplished. She has been very outspoken about the fact that she is a real woman with real curves. In fact, she has threatened to sue tabloids who have said she is seeing a diet doctor. In a <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20011635_1232956,00.html">People article</a> addressing the situation, she has said,<br />
<br />
<blockquote>"I will continue to say what I feel about this issue of women being thin and emaciated. It's just out of control," she said Sunday. "I know I'm a role model to young women. It's a role that I take very, very seriously and I would never want anyone to ever think I was a hypocrite in doing something like going to a diet doctor, for goodness sake. I mean, it's really, really ridiculous." </blockquote><blockquote>In 2005, Winslet told PEOPLE for the annual Most Beautiful issue, "I know that I have a real woman's figure. It's nice that it's acknowledge and appreciated that I don't conform. I don't starve myself."</blockquote>Kate, you are absolutely stunning. I wish I could look a tenth of how beautiful you are. (Yes, I'm speaking as if Kate Winslet is actually reading this. It's my dream world! Don't mess with my dream!)<br />
<br />
<br />
Hmmmm.... did I just get up on my soap box?? I think I did.<br />
<br />
I'm sorry. *steps down*<br />
<br />
My point is - - I really don't want to weigh the same as a running back or a weight lifter. I would prefer to be healthy and beautiful. I'll get there. Really. I will. :)ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-89847183369828010002010-07-15T01:35:00.000-07:002010-07-15T01:36:25.093-07:00Day 115 - LHA Weigh In - and Holy Cow I'm Alive!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Today was weigh-in day for LHA. And thank goodness!!! I maintained these last couple of weeks. And let me tell you, it is a <i>miracle</i>! We are talking 1980's Olympic Hockey Team level of miracle.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
Alright... I <i>might</i> be overstating the miracle nature of things.<br />
<br />
But the fact of the matter is that it really is astonishing that I haven't gained weight over the last couple of weeks. My exercise has been limited to dog walking. Eating... do I have to admit this? Really? Okay. I ate fast food. I ate from In-N-Out even. The land of One-Meal-Can-Have-Enough-Calories-For-the-Whole-Week. It's true. And sleep... wait... what's sleep again? I have only a vague recollection of it.... hmmmm....... sounds good though.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://tponz.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/stress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://tponz.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/stress.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In my defense: I was writing a proposal for to fund a project I hope to do. Talk about <i>stress</i>. This was the first proposal where I was the principal investigator - the one in charge. YIKES! But I got it done and it is in for review. Cross your fingers everyone and put good vibes out there for me okay? I'd like to have a job past this year. :)<br />
<br />
Writing that thing was stressful and time consuming. In short... HORRIBLE!! I didn't want to cook or exercise or anything. But it's done ... but the next proposal is looming.<br />
<br />
Despite all of that, I did take my dog on a long walk yesterday, which he enjoyed thoroughly. Tonight, I played softball. I feel like I'm on a roll here. <br />
<br />
I hope that everyone had a great couple of weeks and that things are going swimmingly! Happy Wednesday everyone!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Picture from <a href="http://tponz.files.wordpress.com/">http://tponz.files.wordpress.com</a></span>ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-47922655072799620142010-07-07T21:08:00.000-07:002010-07-07T21:08:43.688-07:00Day 98??? - Losing track of days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRfOIol3c1FCMYsm4r-pDLcyofJdNNpG_T1egu0GMoWPR43LWnKq1GvqaIA8NhuFvgAb9P_Y8kxwqDVPY-R1oVWbA5GR27rOtb2KKrHlNPx3JX24DyiHX57W7OP3f2epjCjVjf2nOX1k/s1600/IMG_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRfOIol3c1FCMYsm4r-pDLcyofJdNNpG_T1egu0GMoWPR43LWnKq1GvqaIA8NhuFvgAb9P_Y8kxwqDVPY-R1oVWbA5GR27rOtb2KKrHlNPx3JX24DyiHX57W7OP3f2epjCjVjf2nOX1k/s320/IMG_0273.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Have you ever had one of those days???? You know those days... the ones where you have strawberries and whipped cream.... only without the strawberries. And you don't exactly put the whipped cream in a bowl. In fact, you kind of just... well, squirt it right in your mouth??<br />
<br />
Okay. That has been my week. My proposal is due on Friday. So the next couple days I will remain MIA. Sorry about that. My current stress level: 10 fingernails sans nail polish, followed by one nail that is considerable shorter now, 9 more fingernails that are scared s**tless that they will have the same fate. This followed by dinner at In-N-Out. YES!!! I SAID IT!!<br />
<br />
I had dinner at In-N-Out!!!!!! I'm horrible. I'm a horrible, horrible person.<br />
<br />
I will be back to my usual self (hopefully) Friday... maybe Saturday... well.... maybe Sunday depending on how much time I need to recoup. ha ha<br />
<br />
Have a great rest of the week everyone!ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-2209593913827475402010-07-04T13:10:00.000-07:002010-07-15T01:37:43.482-07:00July 4 - Reading the Declaration<a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/document/images/declarationscanbig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/document/images/declarationscanbig.jpg" width="260" /></a>I know I haven't posted in a while. I'm in the middle of proposal h-e-double hockey sticks. But I wanted to share one small little thing.<br />
<br />
Okay. For me, a big thing.<br />
<br />
Every fourth of July, I sit down and read the Declaration of Independence. I won't bore you with my interpretation or my thoughts/feelings on the matter. I just felt like I should share this with my friends here. While over the last 200+ years, we have, at times, convoluted our rights and liberties to a point that is, sometimes, scary, reading it reminds me of where we came from and what we were about. At least back in 1776. <br />
<br />
That... and it is some spectacular writing.<br />
From <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/document/index.htm">USHistory.org</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center> <br />
<br />
<div class="decl" id="decla"><div align="center" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">I</span><span style="font-size: medium;">N</span><span style="font-size: large;"> CONGRESS, J</span><span style="font-size: medium;">ULY 4, 1776</span></div><div align="center" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The unanimous Declaration</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">of the thirteen united</span> <span style="font-size: medium;">States of America</span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a name='more'></a><br />
</span></div><img alt="W" height="90" src="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/document/images/w.gif" style="text-align: left;" width="125" />hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.</li>
</ul><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://teachingamericanhistory.org/images/trumbull-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://teachingamericanhistory.org/images/trumbull-large.jpg" width="400" /></a>— <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/hancock.htm">John Hancock</a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">New Hampshire:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/bartlett.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/bartlett.htm">Josiah Bartlett</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/whipple.htm">William Whipple</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/thornton.htm">Matthew Thornton</a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Massachusetts:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/hancock.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/hancock.htm">John Hancock</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/adams_s.htm">Samuel Adams</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/adams_j.htm">John Adams</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/paine.htm">Robert Treat Paine</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/gerry.htm">Elbridge Gerry</a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Rhode Island:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/hopkins.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/hopkins.htm">Stephen Hopkins</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/ellery.htm">William Ellery</a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Connecticut:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/sherman.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/sherman.htm">Roger Sherman</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/huntington.htm">Samuel Huntington</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/williams.htm">William Williams</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/wolcott.htm">Oliver Wolcott</a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">New York:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/floyd.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/floyd.htm">William Floyd</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/livingston_p.htm">Philip Livingston</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/lewis.htm">Francis Lewis</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/morris_l.htm">Lewis Morris</a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">New Jersey:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/stockton.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/stockton.htm">Richard Stockton</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/witherspoon.htm">John Witherspoon</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/hopkinson.htm">Francis Hopkinson</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/hart.htm">John Hart</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/clark.htm">Abraham Clark</a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Pennsylvania:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/morris_r.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/morris_r.htm">Robert Morris</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/rush.htm">Benjamin Rush</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/franklin.htm">Benjamin Franklin</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/morton.htm">John Morton</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/clymer.htm">George Clymer</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/smith.htm">James Smith</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/taylor.htm">George Taylor</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/wilson.htm">James Wilson</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/ross.htm">George Ross</a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Delaware:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/rodney.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/rodney.htm">Caesar Rodney</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/read.htm">George Read</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/mckean.htm">Thomas McKean</a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Maryland:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/chase.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/chase.htm">Samuel Chase</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/paca.htm">William Paca</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/stone.htm">Thomas Stone</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/carroll.htm">Charles Carroll of Carrollton</a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Virginia:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/wythe.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/wythe.htm">George Wythe</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/rhlee.htm">Richard Henry Lee</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/jefferson.htm">Thomas Jefferson</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/harrison.htm">Benjamin Harrison</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/nelson.htm">Thomas Nelson, Jr.</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/fllee.htm">Francis Lightfoot Lee</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/braxton.htm">Carter Braxton</a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">North Carolina:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/hooper.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/hooper.htm">William Hooper</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/hewes.htm">Joseph Hewes</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/penn.htm">John Penn</a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">South Carolina:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/rutledge.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/rutledge.htm">Edward Rutledge</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/heyward.htm">Thomas Heyward, Jr.</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/lynch.htm">Thomas Lynch, Jr.</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/middleton.htm">Arthur Middleton</a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Georgia:</b></div></div></center><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/gwinnett.htm">Button Gwinnett</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/hall.htm">Lyman Hall</a>, <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/signers/walton.htm">George Walton</a> </div>ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-87681496151676222722010-06-26T20:55:00.000-07:002015-03-18T17:06:40.324-07:00Day 87 - One more thing to add to my 'Do No Eat' listAnd what might that be Jules?? You ask.<br />
<br />
Well, good reader, let me tell you which food is added to my "Do Not Eat Because You Obviously Can't Control Yourself and Eat It Until You Have To Lie on the Couch and Wish for a Stomach Transplant" List...<br />
<br />
PUGLIESE BREAD!!<br />
<br />
That's right ladies and gentlemen. I made the mistake of picking up another loaf because I had TONS of that pesto left over. *chirp chirp* Ummm.... Okay, I had <i>some</i> tomato pesto left over. And I'm here to tell you...<br />
<br />
IT'S THE DEVIL!!! RUN!!! RUN FAR, FAR AWAY!!! SAVE YOURSELVES!!!<br />
<br />
Where's Dean and Sam when you need them? (Supernatural fans will get that one.)<br />
<br />
So I tried to get rid of it.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
No really. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpMfDZ1EFwjyFuCe4o5F7Yo4CypXFy6UiZItGEReFlJE0IpjC_Rhv4Z2MR123NretfWlue7SfJp-z2XLQmSqqj2F3jDXfvK8639ZWoQfDBwV5dFL498lYip0vV6sDytYz4xx1IAbCSr4/s1600/IMG_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpMfDZ1EFwjyFuCe4o5F7Yo4CypXFy6UiZItGEReFlJE0IpjC_Rhv4Z2MR123NretfWlue7SfJp-z2XLQmSqqj2F3jDXfvK8639ZWoQfDBwV5dFL498lYip0vV6sDytYz4xx1IAbCSr4/s320/IMG_0240.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I tried to throw it away. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwT9fHmtUFnhpoV4v0yRLfLeoDvA899d_UfWrZVOE3IdzzioqTDexY8LowBp5QHIwpJHAoKcrdc3YYBf0wx8fp5WLsP_aOl4pDUt_3zycN3K8ipgHb7msa7YLqKvREqNpPXM2vZ6rLvSY/s1600/IMG_0241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwT9fHmtUFnhpoV4v0yRLfLeoDvA899d_UfWrZVOE3IdzzioqTDexY8LowBp5QHIwpJHAoKcrdc3YYBf0wx8fp5WLsP_aOl4pDUt_3zycN3K8ipgHb7msa7YLqKvREqNpPXM2vZ6rLvSY/s320/IMG_0241.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But it came back.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKemLcI8fHjiS4-ne0nmv7_Se5YZ-WEb22znudGObo9Q0ecIGEvtmmi54nusB5c7moGK2Km6qHodLMlGKtZFw7DwH6edJ6A37c7LYnK2ILHVNKrvLxBOY1AhxNVLouBLuPFfrjIowqYOk/s1600/IMG_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKemLcI8fHjiS4-ne0nmv7_Se5YZ-WEb22znudGObo9Q0ecIGEvtmmi54nusB5c7moGK2Km6qHodLMlGKtZFw7DwH6edJ6A37c7LYnK2ILHVNKrvLxBOY1AhxNVLouBLuPFfrjIowqYOk/s320/IMG_0242.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
So I stabbed it. </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
<br /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9V4v0TZ6InhN84nyZqo30mkrSURsQJTpRY-ocuMsFtL2Ty9E7-Gr5djTVlzi-W5GZA3y4cqXXWkFw5FhprWuwzTZizqjJv9FIE86Gq7VPfqYPEp8unnX7cJP1lApvIDRj95ZHfWcpuxQ/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9V4v0TZ6InhN84nyZqo30mkrSURsQJTpRY-ocuMsFtL2Ty9E7-Gr5djTVlzi-W5GZA3y4cqXXWkFw5FhprWuwzTZizqjJv9FIE86Gq7VPfqYPEp8unnX7cJP1lApvIDRj95ZHfWcpuxQ/s320/IMG_0243.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It didn't work. So I stabbed it a few more times.<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6XjzAg4vksQPpSOzhKDGWaafj2wX_H6vH5CeV2heCpbHlt3iles_jAarCr4ZO1hc-CP3nTtRNrUEBTMh9Ya0-sZ1v45CiFLG5zmySUiy8q6bfDnWn1qa0esH7Xxp4KQrKELGa_IExZc/s1600/IMG_0244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6XjzAg4vksQPpSOzhKDGWaafj2wX_H6vH5CeV2heCpbHlt3iles_jAarCr4ZO1hc-CP3nTtRNrUEBTMh9Ya0-sZ1v45CiFLG5zmySUiy8q6bfDnWn1qa0esH7Xxp4KQrKELGa_IExZc/s320/IMG_0244.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Finally, I figured blunt force trauma would do the trick.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I won. </div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aXv8IGmLFf9xuXbmdelNIRUK2FGQRhqQ_KLnQHzD8bAwoz9vZUsnJ-2xF2q6vtF2u09R4SX0s0VgddCUuIsOvtgAAFDhqkG75o1mXLkWSaWXgcPHv3B5NS6FW5KrBNI6HN2mBSuBY30/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aXv8IGmLFf9xuXbmdelNIRUK2FGQRhqQ_KLnQHzD8bAwoz9vZUsnJ-2xF2q6vtF2u09R4SX0s0VgddCUuIsOvtgAAFDhqkG75o1mXLkWSaWXgcPHv3B5NS6FW5KrBNI6HN2mBSuBY30/s320/IMG_0245.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-82143261733439980542010-06-25T19:40:00.000-07:002010-06-25T19:40:32.300-07:00Day 86 - I have a confession to make.This week was a good weigh in. It made me very happy. Except.... see.... Yesterday, I decided to make the tomato pesto that I love. And put it on bread. So I had some.<br />
<br />
Okay.<br />
<br />
Maybe I had a lot.<br />
<br />
AHEM!!<br />
<br />
I might as well be completely upfront here. I started with a loaf of pugliese bread. And this is what was left:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3EgUoM7FPeSPeeFCSyFO3T0sSwrbFZnf6jcLzu2xu63vNgmEXtNEQxEZQpY5V-NQ6FXfwL5ICOSUY3fInxZh48ZN3j6vXTPTsVBUArVQVtNOqj4CxAiJfnVOaSkhootFI3aWYptBRns/s1600/IMG_0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3EgUoM7FPeSPeeFCSyFO3T0sSwrbFZnf6jcLzu2xu63vNgmEXtNEQxEZQpY5V-NQ6FXfwL5ICOSUY3fInxZh48ZN3j6vXTPTsVBUArVQVtNOqj4CxAiJfnVOaSkhootFI3aWYptBRns/s320/IMG_0228.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*sigh* Yes... I ate almost all of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I promise that I will not do that the rest of the week. Ummmmmm.... I promise I will <i>try</i> to not to do that the rest of the week. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the kitty cat front... Her numbers weren't great when we checked yesterday morning. I got to keep her home but last night was <i>tough.</i> It was my first time doing subcutaneous fluids on her. She did really well, just laying there while I did it. But man! Talk about stressful and nerve racking! (Is that redundant?) I've given animals shots before, but this is different. 1) The needle is HUGE. 2) You have an IV back pumping fluid in. It makes this pocket of fluid. ICK. But we go through it. Seriously though... it was hard to get through. Between that and her meds... it was a tough night. I'm taking her back to check her numbers tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But it's the weekend so YAY!!! I have no idea what my plans are. Anyone have any good ideas??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope everyone has a great weekend!</div>ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-22962196988323773602010-06-23T20:01:00.000-07:002010-06-23T20:01:58.068-07:00Day 84 - LHA Weigh In Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mde-art.com/art-blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/gesture-drawing-acrylic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.mde-art.com/art-blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/gesture-drawing-acrylic.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today was weigh in day for </span><a href="http://mlhas-challenge.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My Long Hot Active Summer</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This week's loss: 2.7 pounds!!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">WOO HOO!! *does a little happy dance*</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ha ha ha. But really. I haven't had really great numbers recently. So I'm pretty happy about that 2.7 pounds. I didn't get as much exercise in as I wanted. But that's about to change.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">See... I mentioned before that I had medical stuff going on. Well, I had started a medication. And it made me hurt all over. Muscles that I didn't even know I had ached. It made my heart pound and all sorts of crap. NOT to mention, it shot my triglycerides through the roof. My last blood test had it at over 300! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So this week, not only was I off the medication, but I had to cut sugar out of my diet. I even cut it out of my <i>coffee</i>! HOLY BEJEEZIES! I WHAT?!?! Yes, that's right. I cut it out of my coffee. It was a harry situation. Really, I was on the verge of hari kari. But if it dropped my triglycerides by 170 points? I'll deal. :)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So that is now one of my goals. Over at LHA, we came up with 4 booster goals to keep. Mine are:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1. To keep the refined sugar out of my diet. Only in my coffee. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2. Get some form of exercise at least 5 days a week.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">3. Make sure I get my daily water requirements EVERY DAY.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">4. Learn to cook 3 healthy meals. (Anyone have any?!?!?!)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So what are yours? Have an awesome day!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">P.S. I put the picture on here because 1) I think it looks cool and 2) you can almost see the movement in the body in this painting. And that's what I need to be doing. Moving my body. Later taters!</span></span></div>ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-14528496987623636192010-06-22T20:06:00.000-07:002010-06-22T20:06:30.314-07:00Day 83 - I've got a theory.... it could be bunnies!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5wSdp4xz0fyuxNeL8RC6YXKR7xdS4KITeu__7iH4Q9mseqapP5H5ysRN9wKgH2_k2S09NrS1pQcwgYNJNfZh3RmjDdnEfd3TFG4lbGbKGX9luvF2xDa5B3Av68ZkBQFD77VGtkWhIk0/s1600/Photo+53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5wSdp4xz0fyuxNeL8RC6YXKR7xdS4KITeu__7iH4Q9mseqapP5H5ysRN9wKgH2_k2S09NrS1pQcwgYNJNfZh3RmjDdnEfd3TFG4lbGbKGX9luvF2xDa5B3Av68ZkBQFD77VGtkWhIk0/s320/Photo+53.jpg" /></a></div>Buffy must have beaten back the evil of the Hellmouth for now. I've had a decent day. Yay me! Enough for me to do the Numfar Dance of Joy. (Yes, the Dance of Joy entails patting yourself on the head.)<br />
<br />
I had to stay up last night ... or rather stay up all night... to work on a proposal. It's not fun. But if I want to have a job next year, it must be done! I sent it off to my boss this morning, bright and early. So automatically, I feel like I've gotten things accomplished today. That's enough to make ya happy.<br />
<br />
I took Izzy, my kitty, back to the vet, trying to recoup her numbers. But she's acting a little pep-ier. So I'm taking that as a relatively good sign.<br />
<br />
And seeing as how I hadn't really slept... at all... I went home. I really did intend to get some work done. .....<br />
Hey.<br />
What are you laughing about?<br />
I WAS!<br />
But the pillow beside me. Right there. Tempting me. Taunting me. Begging me to lie my head down just for a second. One little second.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
Approximately 4 hours later....<br />
I know. <br />
So after a trip to Starbucks (sugar-free I might add), Target, and the vet's, I'm chilling out at home.<br />
<br />
Remember the video I posted on my blog a few days ago from the Shaytards? Well, I was watching his video today and he brought up a point that I think we should definitely think about. Now, Shay had made a goal to do 100 miles on the treadmill before the end of the month. But he fell behind because, well, life does get in the way. Spending hours upon hours on exercise is hard on the lifestyle, family time, and well, just your mental attitude. So he adapted his goal to doing 3.5 miles on the treadmill every day until the end of the month.<br />
<br />
This is what I want to discuss. So many times, we have a certain goal. For some reason, be it loss of time for yourself, your family, your work, or just getting burnt out, we can't achieve our short term goals. And I think that's okay! It's better to adapt your goals to something that you feel is more realistic than to get to the burned out stage and quit completely. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEDFauAeuS8kEiEYvR88CpzRdOjO_vkayddIwizWPiSNcHJqu-mj4gKYMLgFSFpS3BAUHgOP1M2iup1bdI8KU3c0s0myvstHTAc0fZL8YO0ZEScw_6YWOmCakXnCYnmwFNlrc7Kj8AQ/s1600/wonder-women%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEDFauAeuS8kEiEYvR88CpzRdOjO_vkayddIwizWPiSNcHJqu-mj4gKYMLgFSFpS3BAUHgOP1M2iup1bdI8KU3c0s0myvstHTAc0fZL8YO0ZEScw_6YWOmCakXnCYnmwFNlrc7Kj8AQ/s320/wonder-women%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></div>But we have this almost obsession with achieving goals, and when we don't, we want to just quit. But it's important for us, and that includes me, to realize that we aren't Wonder Woman. (Or Super Man for the guys. Although, Wonder Woman could SO kick Super Man's butt. DON'T ARGUE WITH ME! Plus she had those really cool bracelets.) And we will have times that we will need to alter our plan to suit our goals and our lives.<br />
<br />
I'm probably preaching to the choir, but I felt that I should remind myself of this fact too.<br />
<br />
Hope everyone is having a great day! Tomorrow: weigh in!ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-37064472058898788902010-06-21T17:40:00.000-07:002010-06-21T17:40:52.470-07:00Day 82 - I think I live on the Hellmouth...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://joelamoroney.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/buffy7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://joelamoroney.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/buffy7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Maybe it's the fact that I have been watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer lately... a lot lately... but I think I may live on the Hellmouth. I need a Scooby Gang. And some stakes.... and some eye of newt... whatever they used. I'm a chemist... and as Willow said "Chemistry is a lot like witchcraft. Only less newt." (And for those people freaking out right now, no, I am not a witch. It's a show. ;)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">ANYWAY, things have been going... that's about it. The problem is, my cat has gotten really sick. I know, it really seems weird that I get so upset about my cat. She's almost 19 and bound to get sick, but my dog and cat have been more supportive to me than most people. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I had to take her to the emergency vet Saturday night. I haven't slept much, or exercised much. But I haven't overeaten, which is a sure sign that I'm overly stressed. Because if I'm not hungry?? That's a big ol' OH NO! Usually, I'm thinking, "Where are the chips and salsa?? Oh and the cookies! Need cookies!" ha ha ha But for now, my kitty is doing okay. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But in the progress department, I'm eating healthy and not speeding over to McDonald's and ordering a large sized meal. See???? PROGRESS!! :) *does a little happy dance*</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So cross your fingers that Buffy gets here and shuts down the evil Hellmouth that I'm living on! :)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Oh, and here's a picture of my doggie and kitty chilling on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">my</span> their bed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjRRdJMUU9C-9YthwYtccRpNufrA3yvbDnAHbFm7A6C9PfWx7f9IhdvJhTGXZSFi197NT0uThAFoYLnRNugHNXXWxTVOBrtbCGuW_iArqxLRihPoewJiIC8jCI-JCXjH6nxcsU-lSVA8/s1600/IMG_0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjRRdJMUU9C-9YthwYtccRpNufrA3yvbDnAHbFm7A6C9PfWx7f9IhdvJhTGXZSFi197NT0uThAFoYLnRNugHNXXWxTVOBrtbCGuW_iArqxLRihPoewJiIC8jCI-JCXjH6nxcsU-lSVA8/s320/IMG_0130.JPG" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-21599151478121589692010-06-17T13:07:00.000-07:002010-06-19T13:48:48.871-07:00Day 78 - LHA Update and Odds and Ends<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">Hi everyone!! As you all know, I'm doing the Long Hot Active Summer challenge. Because I'm crazy. And stupid. Just kidding. It's actually pretty cool in my opinion! And this week, I thought I did pretty dang well! 420 minutes of exercise. WOO HOO! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">You know how you have this good feeling about where you are. You don't give the scale the evil eye because you have a feeling it will be a good number. And then....... I stepped on the damn scale.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">1/2 a pound?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! *insert lots of cussing here*</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"></span>But it is half a pound. I have to stay positive. I do think that there might be something going on medically that might be screwing things up. I'll keep you posted.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">Now, I don't know how many of you are as addicted to YouTube as I am. But there's one family who vlogs on YouTube that I find funny and completely adorable. That would be ShayCarl (also known as Shaytard) and his family. They go by Shaytard, Mommytard, Sontard, Princesstard, Babytard, and now have a little baby (name still up in the air as either Rocktard or Brothertard). Shay is starting back on his fitness/diet routine. I thought I would include his video on my blog because a) he's really funny and b) I think we can all relate! (Direct Link: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fYNWQh8ncQ">ShayCarl and his treadmill</a>)</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9fYNWQh8ncQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9fYNWQh8ncQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></center></div></span></span></span>ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-83510277890815449772010-06-15T20:12:00.000-07:002010-06-15T20:12:06.815-07:00Day 76 - Note to the unwise (ME)... aka The Work Shoes from HellHello all!! First, I feel I should mention that for the next few weeks, I will be blogging a bit more sporadically. See... there's this pesky proposal thing. It's how I get my salary. And since I don't want to be jobless... and therefore homeless... I have to write these proposals. I hate that part of my job. I really do.<br />
<br />
That being said. Today, I decided to go for a walk with a couple of my coworkers. I hadn't planned on it. I didn't even have clothes or shoes to change into. But hey - my shoes are okay to walk in. Or. So. I. Thought.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://apps.hhbrown.com/HHBImages/WEB/300%20pxl/Carolina/CA423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="http://apps.hhbrown.com/HHBImages/WEB/300%20pxl/Carolina/CA423.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I had on my work shoes. The ones I wear when I'm in the lab. You would think "Oh, well, they are broken in. I'll be okay." But after mile 1???? <br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">HOLY MOTHER*BLEEP*IN' OWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><br />
</span><br />
Yeah. I'm in pain right now. But hey - I did the full 3 1/2 - 4 miles. Yay me. And by the way, they get heavier as you go. By the time I got to the end, it felt like these shoes had become two toddlers that had latched onto my legs and I was dragging them, dead weight and all, down the road. I'll put it to you this way... on the last little bit, I tripped on those little reflector things that are glued to the road. Yup. And those things are <i>maybe</i> an inch off the ground. I'm just graceful like that.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow: weigh in day for LHA. See you guys then! Byeeeeeee!<br />
<br />
<br />
And just because I found this really funny and wanted to make you laugh:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/funny-pictures-kittens-squish-brother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/funny-pictures-kittens-squish-brother.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-36439955229547706332010-06-07T13:22:00.000-07:002010-06-07T13:22:30.058-07:00Day 69 - Taking a moment from science writing...Thank goodness! Have I mentioned how much I hate to write science publications??? If not, let's just say that I'd rather jab my very sharp, very pointy, mechanical pencil in my eye than to write a science paper or proposal. I'll let that image sink in for a second.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
<br />
Now that I have that out of the way...<br />
<br />
I read an article today that really kind of annoyed me: <a href="http://www.everydayhealth.com/weight/busting-the-muscle-weighs-more-than-fat-myth.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthDietandNutrition_20100607">Does Muscle Weigh More Than Fat?</a> Now, I get their point that a pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat. A pound is a pound is a pound. But what annoyed me is that Laura Stusek, fitness coordinator for Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah, made it seem that we say this as an excuse for our scales going up instead of down.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fugly.com/media/IMAGES/Strange/Weight_Lifting_Hamster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://www.fugly.com/media/IMAGES/Strange/Weight_Lifting_Hamster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The fact is, the same amount of <i>volume</i> of muscle is going to weigh more than the same <i>volume</i> of fat. In other words, if you lose a volume of fat, and gain the same volume of muscle, you are going to weight more. Period. End of story. I don't use the saying as an excuse, and I don't think that other people do either.<br />
<br />
However, I think that the point of the article is that we shouldn't be scared of gaining muscle because the scale might go up. The fact of the matter is, <b>having more muscle means you burn more calories</b>. And that means less fat. And that, is a fantastic thing. It means, more energy, more fat burning, more everything really. So don't be afraid to pick up those weights!<br />
<br />
She also makes the point that you should look at how you are feeling, and how your clothes are fitting, and I totally agree. Absolutely. And I think her major issue was that because we are scale obsessed, we are scared that adding muscle is going to make the scale go up.<br />
<br />
And besides, if the hamster can do it, I guess we can too. :)<br />
So there's my two cents for the day. Have a fun Monday!ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-52250324544887894002010-05-28T02:57:00.000-07:002010-05-28T02:58:35.956-07:00Day 57 - New workouts! Guaranteed to train you to seduce your man, or beat him up!I came across this article about workouts that are different and work your body in different ways. I had to comment on it because it has one of my absolute favorites in the list! :) In this blog entry, I'm giving my opinion of these workouts, but for all of the information, read the full article <a href="http://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness-pictures/10-hot-workouts.aspx">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.agoramedia.com/everydayhealth/gcms/photogallery_best_workouts_02_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.agoramedia.com/everydayhealth/gcms/photogallery_best_workouts_02_full.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />
1) <b>Sports Drills</b> - Ever want the body of Gabi Reese? Maybe Anna Kournikova? This drills are designed to improve your skill in certain sports. While they are generally for certain athletes, some gyms offer classes or training for individuals who just want a different workout.<br />
<br />
<div>2) <b>Boxing</b> - I love boxing. Not only do you learn how to kick some as.... ummm.. butt, you get a great workout. Trust me, when you do 2-minute rounds of bob-and-weave/hook combos, the next day your abs will be <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">hating</span> loving you. Really. :) </div><div><br />
</div><div>3) <b>Boot Camp</b> - Some of you may have already tried this workout. I have to say I haven't done this. Not since I was in Air Force ROTC in college. And that was about *cough* *mumbled number* years ago. But I will say this, if it is anything like actual military boot camp?? It's a really awesome workout.</div><div><br />
</div><div>4) <b>Kettlebell Lifting</b> - I'm going to be honest. I have never tried kettlebells. The closest I have gotten to them is watching the contestants on The Biggest Loser sweating and groaning with them. Maybe my problem is from watching Jillian kill them... hmmmmmm.... *rubs chin*</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/pow-mixed-martial-arts/assets_c/2009/10/krav_maga_gun-thumb-300x400-26368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/pow-mixed-martial-arts/assets_c/2009/10/krav_maga_gun-thumb-300x400-26368.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div>5) <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">KRAV MAGA</span> </b>- Can you tell which is my favorite?? In fact, I had to put a different picture on here because the one in the article was kind of wimpy. (I got this picture from an <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/pow-mixed-martial-arts/2009/10/krav-maga-instructor-training---notes-from-north-carolina.html">article</a> at chicagonow.com. Krav is a great, and addictive, workout. It is the Israeli form of self-defense/fighting. And let me just tell you - - after a tough day at work? It's therapeutic to go to a class and punch, hit, kick, etc. on a bag. And women, don't worry, the techniques were specifically formed to be applicable for both men and women. I have to say it is very satisfying to be paired up with the new guy who says "I don't want to hurt you," which would then be proceeded by you kicking their tooshes. *insert evil grin here* Moving on!</div><div><br />
</div><div>6) <b>Muay Thai Kickboxing</b> - Again, a <i>really</i> great workout. It is similar to Krav in that it is physically intense, uses muscles you didn't know you had, and trains you to be mentally prepared. I have taken classes in this as well, and it is really incredible. One thing I can add, in most martial arts classes, you are using what has been called "bursting energy." Meaning you go from 0 to 100 in one second. You will go at very high intensity for a short time, and then have a period of rest. In fact, since this kind of workout is so different than endurance training, marathon runners and other endurance athletes have a hard time with it. Makes me feel good actually. :)</div><div><br />
</div><div>7) <b>Fusion Dance</b> - Okay, I have never tried this, but it seems incredibly cool. To me, the name 'fusion dance' seemed like a new weird type of dancing that I didn't think I would be into. However!! I was proved wrong. What it means is that they have fused several dance styles into one class. In a class, you may learn to salsa, or waltz, or do ballet, etc. Sounds pretty cool huh? And if you ever become famous and make it to <i>Dancing with the Stars</i>, you will already have a leg up.</div><div><br />
</div><div>8) <b>Bikram Yoga</b> - For more information, see the article. I am already wanting to get into yoga to increase my core strength and flexibility. But adding heat is supposed to increase circulation and help your joints. Like I said, I don't know anything about it, so I'll refrain from giving judgement.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.agoramedia.com/everydayhealth/gcms/photogallery_best_workouts_10_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.agoramedia.com/everydayhealth/gcms/photogallery_best_workouts_10_full.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div>9) <b>Belly Dancing</b> - Okay, this just seems really cool and/or fun. I looks like you would work your abs a TON. Even those pesky lateral abs. And hey -- if you want to practice in front of the hubby/fiance/boyfriend? I'm sure they won't mind. *insert evil laugh here*</div><div><br />
</div><div>10) <b>Exotic Dancing</b> - Now, let's make sure that we have this clear. They are suggesting pole dancing <i>classes</i>. Not going out and pole dancing at a bar. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Just sayin'. But man, have you ever seen what those women can do with a pole?? Holy crap. I'd kill myself. But it seems incredibly cool. And again - I'm sure that the man in your life <i>might</i> allow you to practice for him. Just don't let him install a pole in the bedroom. It won't match the bedding. (Maybe. Although I haven't seen your bedding. I'm just making a guess.)</div><div><br />
</div><div>So there ya go! If you guys try any of these, and love... or loathe... them, let me know! What do you guys think? Are you going to try any of these?</div>ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-26601542271668322502010-05-27T03:02:00.000-07:002010-05-27T03:08:40.773-07:00Day 56 - I'm back! And does it really take 21 days to change a habit???<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I am finally feeling fairly good. So I'm hoping I'm back to normal. *knock knock* Unfortunately, it wasn't a flu type of sick so the scale wasn't great. BUT -- I did lose 1.4 pounds. Not <i>too</i> bad considering I couldn't exercise and my eating wasn't on point.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bettaplan.com/images/21Days.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bettaplan.com/images/21Days.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Can we talk about something?? You know how people say that it takes 21 days to form a habit? Is that really true? I came across an article about this titled <a href="http://www.spring.org.uk/2009/09/how-long-to-form-a-habit.php">How Long to Form a Habit?</a> (Appropriately titled don't you think?) I haven't fact checked the article, but did you know that the 21 days comes from a surgeon that noticed that it took amputees 21 days to get used to having lost a limb. (I don't know to what extent. I mean, who gets 100% over losing a limb??)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">They tested different habits and noticed that there was variation. It could take between 18 and 254 days to form a habit. Because lets face it, forming a habit to drink water will take much less time than to form a habit to run 10 miles a day. (I think the 10 miles a day would take me approximately 2656 days. Just sayin'.) </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My other question is: What happens if you have an off day? Or .. ummmm... several off days. Like I <i>might</i> have had the last few days? Okay... last week or two? Does that mean that my good habits are broken now? I'm hoping not, but I have a history of sliding back to bad habits once my good habits are broken. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/sports/photos/2008/05/09/gymnastics-beam-essentials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/sports/photos/2008/05/09/gymnastics-beam-essentials.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Case in point: When I was slightly younger... several years younger..... OKAY! Lots and lots younger, I was a gymnast. I wanted to get better so my trainers have me several exercises to do every day. Nothing really big. Push-ups, sit-ups, etc. And I did them religiously. I even kept a journal of my exercises. And then, one day, I thought, "You know, I've been doing these for a while. And I'm tired tonight. One night off isn't going to kill me." And thus ended my nightly exercises.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">One point that eases my mind somewhat, according to the above article? I'm in the clear. One missed day won't cause you to fall off the wagon. WOO HOO! So I guess the lesson is, KEEP ON TRUCKIN'!!<br />
<br />
P.S. Contrary to my overactive imagination may tell you, I never looked like that picture when I was a gymnast.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Image 1 from http://www.bettaplan.com/)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Image 2 from http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2008/05/09/f-olympics-gymbeam-essentials.html) </span></div></span></span></span></div>ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-79351020437992435032010-05-17T00:20:00.000-07:002010-05-17T00:20:23.153-07:00Day 47 - Being sick sure puts a damper on blogging!Hey blog buddies! First of all, let me apologize for the absence on my blog. I got really, really sick this last week+. So I apologize for my lack of posting.<br />
<br />
Now, for my LHA - I had only lost 1 pound, but since I actually hadn't been able to exercise like I should, it doesn't really surprise me. We'll see about this week, although, I'm expecting another iffy number. Cross your fingers! I can't <i>wait</i> to get back on target!<br />
<br />
I'm going to wrap this up for now. But I wanted to touch base with everyone and let you guys know that I am, in fact, still here. :) Ta ta for now!ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-91255346058745884822010-05-08T17:33:00.000-07:002010-05-08T17:39:48.810-07:00Day 38 - How did that work exactly...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/funny-pictures-fat-cat-wants-an-elevator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/funny-pictures-fat-cat-wants-an-elevator.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I'm going to admit, I didn't do any exercise yesterday. What can I say? It was a crazy busy day and I didn't get done until late last night. (I'm not excusing it in anyway - I was just a slacker.)<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>So it was a lazy kind of day. Then I got ready for bed. You know.... wash the face, brush and floss the teeth, put on the jammies, and curl up in bed. All nice and snuggly and non-move-y. </div><div><br />
</div><div>And then... I woke up this morning.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Now I ask you. How the hell does one pull a muscle during the night? When one is asleep?! Seriously guys. I pulled a butt/hip muscle in my sleep. How does that work exactly?? But it actually feels better when moving around so no ixnay on the xerciseeay. But it begs the question - how can one pull a muscle when one isn't moving. </div><div><br />
</div><div>HEY!! Maybe I was sleep-exercising! Can I put down an hour on my LHA challenge?? :D</div><div>No? Damnit. Okay.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Have a good weekend guys!</div><div><br />
</div>ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277594078628434496.post-27278797818262670602010-05-07T00:05:00.000-07:002010-05-07T00:05:49.659-07:00Day 36 - 3...2...1... PAINI did my cardio on my freshly fixed elliptical. WOO HOO!!<br />
<br />
For those who don't know, I have an elliptical with an adjustable stride length. It had been stuck on the 13" stride length which works your quads more. But tonight... tonight, I got to use the 18" stride length. Oh! It felt so good. Kind of. Except that the muscles in my legs weren't happy. I think the conversation went something like this:<br />
<br />
Legs: Oh. Wait a minute. Ow. OW. <b>OW!!!!</b> What the hell?<br />
Me: It's called the elliptical. It's good for you. Trust me.<br />
Legs: Trust you my a$$. Literally.<br />
Me: No really. You'll thank me for it someday.<br />
Legs: Did your parents say that to you? Did you believe them when they said it?<br />
Me: Hmmmm. You have a point.<br />
Legs: Damn straight! Now get off this damn thing!<br />
Me: Nope. See, I'm doing this challenge.<br />
Legs: Challenge? What the hell kind of challenge? And why did you involve me??<br />
Me: First of all, do you really have to curse? Second, the challenge requires me to exercise. So you'll just have to suck it up.<br />
Legs: First, hell yes I have to curse! Wait!!! Don't turn up the resistance! Are you trying to kill me?? And second, who's idea was it to do the challenge?<br />
Me: Hey - if you want to blame someone, blame <a href="http://jonesweightlossjourney.blogspot.com/">Lisa</a> and <a href="http://exquisite-christine.blogspot.com/">Christine</a>. They started it!<br />
Legs: As soon as we can walk without feeling like Jello, we will! You can bet on it!<br />
<br />
And then, I went on to do about 40 minutes of cardio. My legs still hate me. I think I'll just have to apologize in the morning when they are speaking to me again.<br />
<br />
Wait. Am I really talking about talking to my legs? I need some sleep.ARJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223195619723333418noreply@blogger.com6