Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Cats Like Water?

My kitten has taken to drinking out of the dog's water dish which is more like a kiddy pool for the kitten. It's so big and high off the ground that he has to stand on his back feet and put his front feet into the water to get any on his tongue. So I didn't think anything of it when he came into the kitchen with his face and front paws so dripping wet he kept sprinkling me with droplets.

But later I was sitting on the couch and I turned around to find him wading and splashing in the water dish. He kinda looked like he was getting ready to pee in it so I grabbed him out of the dish. There was water everywhere. All over the wall. All over the floor. All over the kitten.

All that water gave me a great idea. "Shadow (his unofficial name) must have been in the water dish getting wet because he feels dirty and wants a bath." So I took him over to the kitchen sink and proceeded to thoroughly soak him and then lather him with dish soap. He really didn't seem to mind any of this until I went to rinse him off again. Yowza!

Friday, August 26, 2005

Apology Unacceptable

Am I the only person that apologizes even when I didn't do anything wrong? Today I walked around the corner into a solid looking angry woman who grunted when we met. I said "Ooo...Excuse me." She said, "Uh-huh."

As I was walking away I thought "Why did I excuse myself? She was on my side of the hallway."

Thursday, August 25, 2005

One More Thing

Hmmm...I hesitate to admit this but I was watching a rerun of Everybody Loves Raymond about Debra during PMS last night to pass the time until Veronica Mars started. When the show ended I was left feeling confused and conflicted.

Albeit she got a bit out of control and irate, but I couldn't help but think that her frustration was justified. I realize that they have arranged it so that he works and she takes care of the house and the kids, but come on! That doesn't mean that he can't put his dirty underwear in the hamper instead of on the kitchen floor, which was one of the reasons she was angry.

I know this is just a TV show, but I also know that these situations take place in real life. How do I know you ask? Because they happen at our house all the time. Granted we have no such arrangement. We both work so it is a little different, but the concept is similar.

For instance, I asked my fiance to vacuum the floor the other day and he did it (except he didn't do the stairs, but I'm trying to let that go). So I said thank you. The fact that I have to ask him to do such things, however is kinda frustrating in and of itself. I know he did chores when he was growing up and he can tell the difference between a clean house and a dirty one.

But the topic that I chose to discuss with him was the lack of "thank yous" I get for doing domestic chores. Particularly because the night before I had gone grocery shopping and made two entrees for him to take in his lunches or eat for dinners as well as chocolate cupcakes. Anytime I notice that he has done something domestic I try to say thank you, except for maybe when he empties the dishwasher. Maybe because it happens so frequently.

Anyway, my point is that in my mind he doesn't thank me because his understanding is that these are my responsibilities because I am the woman. However, I thank him because he, being a man, doesn't "have" to do these things. I understand where these ideals come from, but I can't help but think they are antiquated. If we are modern enough to live together before being married aren't we modern enough to be in a relationship that respects that we both work equal hours, we both dirty the house and we are both able to clean it?

Are You Kidding Me?

I found myself highly irritated last night when I had to wait for Veronica Mars to start. I know this is silly. Normally I would be so desperate, but for some reason it was the only thing I could think of that I wanted to do apart from going to sleep. So having to wait until 9pm for the show to even start was not my idea of a good evening.

However, the real kicker was that the reason I had to wait was that UPN has scheduled
R U the Girl? with T-boz and Chili at 8pm. Ugh! Not another reality show about girls back stabbing each other to get to the top of the charts.

It seems to me that teenage girls would be far better served by watching a show that teaches them to stand up for themselves and for other people and to not let other people's opinions hold you back from pursuing your passions. Not to mention the other lessons on morality and community.

Designated Drivers

While waiting impatiently for Veronica Mars to start last night I saw the "You Drink. You Drive. You Lose." commercial a few times. I personally like this commercial and have found it conversation worthy on more than one occasion.

For those of you who haven't seen the commercial I will briefly summarize it. Three different drivers pull up to police officers in various situations and confess that they have been drinking and should not be driving. Then the narrator comes on to say that this never happens in real life so the only way to stop drunk driving is to crack down. So no matter who you are, if you drink and drive you will get busted. I find this message to be highly effective.

I did, however, notice that while the message might have stuck with me it may not apply to me because the drivers were all men. Incidentally, the police were also all men. I couldn't help but wonder if National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did this on purpose, because statistically most drunk drivers are males.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Going On Two Weeks

I'm going on two weeks of working out at my new gym and I'm lovin' it. Granted it's not easy to get myself up and out of bed at 5am, but once I'm movin' it's worth it.

The trickiest part has been getting my sleep schedule down. Until today I've been waking up, working out, going home getting ready for work, and then catching the Max only to fall asleep as soon as I can find a seat. Then I hunt for coffee first thing when I get to the office (decaf, but still...this is a new habit for me). After lunch I run to the Sundry store to by a diet soda to help me make it through the slump. I usually fall asleep again on the ride home. Then I get home and run around until 11pm.

But it's after 10am and I haven't had to make a coffee run yet. I didn't fall asleep on the max. I've hardly even yawned. What's my secret? Beer. It's true. I drank one beer last night over the period of an hour so when 10pm rolled around I was ready to hit the hay. Just relaxed enough to fall asleep and not wake up again until my alarm went off at 4:50am. I slept so well I practically bounded out of bed.

Had I imbibed more than one, I probably would have been dragging so I think the key is moderation. One is enough to help me relax and sleep well without feeling drained the next day.

P.S. I may be imagining things, but I swear my abs feel like they're getting more toned. Yay!

Thursday, August 18, 2005

It's Like Murder She Wrote

Ok. It's official. Veronica Mars on UPN is my new most favorite TV show. She's like the Angela Lansbury of the 21st century. She's cute and witty and just a touch bitter. Sure the show is probably geared for teenagers--she wanders around her high school halls snapping pictures and solving crimes, for heaven's sake--but I can't help it. I love it.

Last night I was glued to the TV for the entire hour. No getting up at commercial breaks to do the dishes or sweep the floor. I stayed. I didn't want to miss a minute.

Each episode involves it's own petty crime that takes place at the school, but also through each episode we watch as Veronica hunts down her best friends murderer, which resulted in her father losing his job, her mother running away and her friends turning their backs on her. But she's scrappy and she just keeps digging.

Fortunately for me there is always a little romance that weasels it's way into the episodes to keep hopeless saps like me hooked. Speaking of...Oh my gosh can any one else believe that she kissed Logan last night?

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Lack of Thought

It feels as though it's been a while since I've had any thoughts deeper than "How do I trim my waist for my wedding?" and "What should I name my new kitty?" Truthfully this is kinda nice. Usually my mind feels like it's going a thousand miles a minute questioning everything.

This is not to say that I haven't exposed myself to thoughtful material. Thanks to book club and some friendly suggestions by a coworker.

I recently finished Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I definitely recommend this read if you like books about other cultures. It tackles life in the country of Nigeria comparing the affluent to the less fortunate, while tackling the clash between traditional religious beliefs with those of the Catholic missionaries and the different interpretations of both. Among many other topics of course.

I also read Being Committed by Anne Maxted which was a quick girly read that tackles the topics of emotional intimacy in a fun and endearing way.

I'm currently reading Freakonomics. I'll tell you what I think when I finish it.

Friday, August 12, 2005

New Member of the Family



I am pleased to welcome the unnamed kitty above to our family. Bailey (the dog), on the other hand, is not sure what to make of it as you can see.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

First Day at School

Ok...So it's not really school, but today was my first day of SuperSet and boy did I get my butt kicked. I can best describe it as a combination of step aerobics, free weights and circuit training. All muscle groups are worked in intervals of 3 minutes. All of this left me purple and sweaty and sprawled on my step about 30 minutes in to the workout. You'll be happy to know that I rested briefly and got back into the rhythm in time to work on my triceps and my abs and finish out the class with some grace.

I have to hand it to the 3 other ladies who are at least as old as my mom if not older who barely broke a sweat. Needless to say...I'll be pacing myself at the next class on Saturday. It occurred to me after the class that this is exactly what I need...Something to make me actually exert myself. A couple more months of this and I should hardly recognize myself. I can't wait to be buff for the wedding.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

The Other Half

The other half of the hesitation that I neglected to mention yesterday is the lurking question floating in my conscious "does it really matter?" Does the way I look or the percent of fat on my body really matter in the long run? Does it help me develop more fulfilling relationships, advance further in my career or enjoy my free time more? According to Sean the fitness counselor I spoke with last night it does. And I'm not totally sure why, but I'm inclined to believe him.

As it stands my life is good. I have a comfortable home, a fantastic fiance, a wonderful variety of friends, supportive parents, an adorable dog, an eye-opening book club, a newly started creative writing club, and a challenging (but not too stressful) job. I'm busy but not too busy. In fact, most parts of my life seem to be well balanced. And yet something seems to be off still and I can only think that it is this nagging desire to get in shape.

I guess we'll see, eh? I did go ahead and take the plunge yesterday so I'm already for my first SuperSet class tomorrow at 5:30 am. And I ordered "Small Changes, Big Results" from the library yesterday too. So as I continue to get in shape I'll keep you posted as to if it changes the my overall satisfaction with my life.

P.S. Paige, I'm looking forward to a tennis match and after we play we can go swimming in our pool. :)

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Food for Thought

Sometimes I can't say what I am thinking and then I find a writer who says it for me. Thank you BBC. This exact scenario is what is holding me back from joining a gym. And yet...I may just take the plunge anyway.

Read at your leisure.

Joining the Club

I'm one of those people who has always wanted someone else's body. I've tried Atkins, LA Weightloss and Weight Watchers. I've tried running 5k races and doing yoga at 105F. I've even resorted to lifting weights in the clubhouse at my apartment complex. Now I realize that none of these will make me grow 3" or turn my hair blonde. It has occurred to me that I am stuck with what I've got. And truthfully I don't think it's all that bad. It just needs a little work.

So I'm thinking about joining a gym. Actually I've been thinking about joining a gym for a while, but with all the fees (the enrollment fee, the processing fee, dues) it is not a decision I've taken lightly.

On one hand, it seems to me that if I really wanted to get in shape badly enough I would have done it by now. What's wrong with the little gym at complex? Isn't the nature park good enough for a cardio workout? But on the other hand neither of these seem to be cutting the mustard. So maybe I do need something more. Maybe I need the place to go, maybe I need the training, maybe I need the camaraderie of a workout buddy or the coaching of a group-x class instructor.

Perhaps this will be another failed attempt, but maybe not. Maybe this time...I'll get the combination right. Although my first instinct is always to ask for perfection, my true desire is to find balance and health. I want to feel good about my body. I want to feel strong and energetic. I want to create a lifestyle of activity. I want to make goals and actually reach them this time. Oh...And I want to look hawt on my wedding day! Wish me luck.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Survival of the fittest

Ok. So I know go for lengths of time without blogging, but eventually I come back, usually after no more than a couple of weeks. But I've put links to a few people's sites on my blog who never update and eventually I give up on them. Is that so wrong? At what point is it ok to cut their link off?

I just hacked a couple today, which i would have loved to see keep writing, but they were giving me nothing. So sad.

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

I Did It!

For those of you who have been around long enough, you might remember that my blog was founded with much trepidation. I'm not a techy and I know that that fact in many blogger minds makes my blog useless and unorthodox, but that's beside the point. The real point is that I overcame my fear of unknown technology and learned how to blog. And I liked it.

Today I followed suit, by helping myself find the answer to a question concerning Outlook 2003. I looked and looked through the drop down menus for the option I wanted and I just couldn't find it. Normally I would have given up and asked IT to help me, but not today. Today I did what they do when they don't know the answer to one of my questions. I looked it up in the help section. And I found the answer and I solved my own issue. Yay for me! I am once again a woman of independent means.

Monday, August 01, 2005

Official Overreactor

o·ver·re·ac, intr.v. o·ver·re·act·ed, o·ver·re·act·ing, o·ver·re·acts
To react with unnecessary or inappropriate force, emotional display, or violence.

It's official. I'm an overreactor. I'm sulky and childish when i don't get my own way. Example: Yesterday was beautiful and sunny and all I really wanted was to go to the beach, but that wasn't happening so I was willing to settle for the pool. The plan was to go the grocery store, rearrange the garage and then go swimming. In my mind we'd be pool side by 3pm at the latest. Turns out we didn't get there until 9pm.

So when my fiance suggested going to the pool and we got into our swim suits and then he stopped to play on the computer for I few minutes I was livid. I sulked on the couch for a few minutes until i couldn't take it anymore and I stomped up the stairs, past him in the hall and changed back into my regular clothes.

Eventually he coaxed me back into my bathing suit and down to the pool. I knew I was being a child, but I really wanted to be angry at him. To make him pay for making me wait. Wow! That's really loving isn't it? Not!