It's been almost a week since my last post. Good thing this isn't my job!
I'm just trying to wrap my head around the fact that we're two days away from Thanksgiving. Where the heck did the year go?
It's strange to think that just 2 1/2 months ago I was talking to my dad on the phone, and now he's gone. My parents came to visit us in March, and I kept thinking how good Dad looked. Healthy and fit. He'd beaten his cancer, right? But I didn't know that no one on his team of doctors and specialists expected him to survive. That he hadn't beaten it, only bought himself more time.
But at least it was quality time! He got to spend time with all his grandkids, as well as family and friends. He kept writing. I know that if he had a choice in how he would have spent his last year on earth, he wouldn't have had it any other way. Well, aside from the CT scans and hospital visits.
My mom is on her way to South Carolina to spend Thanksgiving with my brother and his family at Clemson University, where my niece is a student. Then she'll be coming out here for Christmas. It'll be her first holiday season in more than 40 years without Dad, so it'll be hard. But at least she'll be with family.
Anyway, it's been quite a year. Today, I'm going to relax a bit. Take a few hours off. Well, as much as I can, with two little urchins running around, lol!
Happy thanksgiving, everyone!
(BTW, if you happen to be in Chicago this weekend [which I, unfortunately, am not], there's a big "Doctor Who" convention going on!)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Jennifer Garner, Don't Let Me Down!!!!
The always adorable JenGar has been appearing in some ads lately for a new Neutrogena nighttime moisturizer. Now, I'm a big fan of the Neutro, ever since I had a horrifying case of acne in my early 20's and used their basic cleanser to help make it go away. (I also LOVE their sesame body oil! Smells so good!)
Anyway, I was looking through a magazine, and they recommended this moisturizer because it's supposed to help you wake up looking well-rested, even if you aren't. I've noticed that lately i've been looking a bit, well, dead. And not sexy-"Twilight"-vampire-eternally 17-and- dewey-undead, just...dead. ( Like Night of the Living Dead. With about as much energy, though a different diet.) Last night, I even put on makeup before I taught my class. I almost NEVER wear makeup, but I didn't want to scare my clients.
It didn't help.
That's when I knew it was time to break out the big guns. So, on my way home after class, I stopped at the drugstore and dropped $30 on the moisturizer AND some new Biore nighttime eye cream, which purports to help one "appear more rested." I slathered both on before bed, popped an Advil PM (thank you, monthly cycle, for the gift of cramps AND insomnia!) and crawled under the covers, waiting for the magic to begin.
And was awoken, again, at 5:30 by a crying child.
I have to wonder if ANYTHING can help my 39 year-old, perpetually sleep-deprived skin from looking like it's been 6 feet under for a couple of months. I drink more water nowadays (which leads to more quality time in the bathroom), and that seems to help a bit. And my skin DOES look a bit less sallow this morning. But what I really need is 8 (or more) uninterrupted, glorious hours of sleep. Every night.
Which ain't gonna happen for a while.
So, in the meantime, I'll be relying on internal and external hydration and, gulp, makeup. Maybe just some mineral powder. Y'know, to hide the shadows (and the zits, courtesy, once more, of my monthly friend).
Anyway, I was looking through a magazine, and they recommended this moisturizer because it's supposed to help you wake up looking well-rested, even if you aren't. I've noticed that lately i've been looking a bit, well, dead. And not sexy-"Twilight"-vampire-eternally 17-and- dewey-undead, just...dead. ( Like Night of the Living Dead. With about as much energy, though a different diet.) Last night, I even put on makeup before I taught my class. I almost NEVER wear makeup, but I didn't want to scare my clients.
It didn't help.
That's when I knew it was time to break out the big guns. So, on my way home after class, I stopped at the drugstore and dropped $30 on the moisturizer AND some new Biore nighttime eye cream, which purports to help one "appear more rested." I slathered both on before bed, popped an Advil PM (thank you, monthly cycle, for the gift of cramps AND insomnia!) and crawled under the covers, waiting for the magic to begin.
And was awoken, again, at 5:30 by a crying child.
I have to wonder if ANYTHING can help my 39 year-old, perpetually sleep-deprived skin from looking like it's been 6 feet under for a couple of months. I drink more water nowadays (which leads to more quality time in the bathroom), and that seems to help a bit. And my skin DOES look a bit less sallow this morning. But what I really need is 8 (or more) uninterrupted, glorious hours of sleep. Every night.
Which ain't gonna happen for a while.
So, in the meantime, I'll be relying on internal and external hydration and, gulp, makeup. Maybe just some mineral powder. Y'know, to hide the shadows (and the zits, courtesy, once more, of my monthly friend).
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
More Rantings!
Why do guys drop the weights on the weight floor at the gym? Is it for show, or are they really that tired? I understand the whole lift-to-fatigue thing, but... really?
At the JCC I teach my classes in the main studio. Which is right under the weight room. Let me tell ya, it's kinda hard to get clients to relax and focus when they feel like the ceiling is going to cave in on them at any second, followed by a 50-pound weight and a roid-raging male. One night we had an earthquake, except no one knew for the first few seconds 'cause we thought it was the guys dropping their weights.
I also do private trainings on the weight room floor at another gym. We have a Reformer set up in the corner. Normally it's quite nice, because it's in the morning and many of the folks there are older. But on Monday we had a guy in his 20's who just kept grunting and dropping, grunting and dropping. I could see my clients cringeing, and eventually one of the other trainers had a word with him, but it was a bit frustrating.
I realize that people pay their dues and have the right to work out whenever and (mostly) however they want, and I guess this is one of those annoying gym behavior things that Charlotte blogged about a few months ago. But I must admit that it BUGS THE CRAP OUTTA ME, lol!
Anyway, on a much lighter (no pun intended-no, really!) and happier note, we had a party for my daughter on Friday, and it was really fun. I also fell asleep at 9:30. At my house. During a party.
The old gray mare ain't what she used to be.
And I donated my hair last week. 10 inches. It's now just above my shoulders, and I feel about 6 pounds lighter. 'Course, I look like Bozo the Clown, but that's beside the point. It FEELS good, darnit!
OK, done ranting for now. I'm gonna go lie on the couch and recover from all this grousing.
At the JCC I teach my classes in the main studio. Which is right under the weight room. Let me tell ya, it's kinda hard to get clients to relax and focus when they feel like the ceiling is going to cave in on them at any second, followed by a 50-pound weight and a roid-raging male. One night we had an earthquake, except no one knew for the first few seconds 'cause we thought it was the guys dropping their weights.
I also do private trainings on the weight room floor at another gym. We have a Reformer set up in the corner. Normally it's quite nice, because it's in the morning and many of the folks there are older. But on Monday we had a guy in his 20's who just kept grunting and dropping, grunting and dropping. I could see my clients cringeing, and eventually one of the other trainers had a word with him, but it was a bit frustrating.
I realize that people pay their dues and have the right to work out whenever and (mostly) however they want, and I guess this is one of those annoying gym behavior things that Charlotte blogged about a few months ago. But I must admit that it BUGS THE CRAP OUTTA ME, lol!
Anyway, on a much lighter (no pun intended-no, really!) and happier note, we had a party for my daughter on Friday, and it was really fun. I also fell asleep at 9:30. At my house. During a party.
The old gray mare ain't what she used to be.
And I donated my hair last week. 10 inches. It's now just above my shoulders, and I feel about 6 pounds lighter. 'Course, I look like Bozo the Clown, but that's beside the point. It FEELS good, darnit!
OK, done ranting for now. I'm gonna go lie on the couch and recover from all this grousing.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Rantings of a PMS-ing Female.
I can't really handle most reality TV, other than "Dancing With the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance." (Hmm....theme?) I know "Top Chef" debuts tonight, and everyone I know is pretty darn excited, but I was just watching a rerun from a previous season, and had to turn it off after a few minutes. 'Cause I've got enough stress in my life, I don't need to live it vicariously through people on TV!
Actually, there was a great article in the paper today that explained the difference between "reality" and "unscripted" television: "If you feel like a voyeur, need to take a shower, or worry about the sorry state of humankind after watching it, that's reality television. If you were entertained without abject, crippling shame or if you learned something - even if it came while watching guys blow stuff up on 'Mythbusters' - then it's probably an acceptable form of unscripted television."
That made me laugh, even in my state of nearly uncnotollable, PMS-induced rage.
Yes, it's That Time Of The Month Again. A time when humanity can do no right. When dogs are the best people I know. When my face resembles Orion's belt, and I can't wear a regular belt to save my life, 'cause I'm bloated out to HERE.
And the damn phone keeps ringing, and when I answer it, whoever's on the line HANGS UP!!!! OVER AND OVER AND OVER!!!! I'm thinking I should call the phone company and let them know, 'cause it's been going on for quite a while now.
The other day a guy called and he had the wrong number. He said "You sound nice. What's your name?" And I said "Take care, buh-bye" and hung up. And I'm kinda glad he didn't call today, because I probably would have reached through the phoine line and strangled him with his own intestines.
Suffice to say, my mind and emotions are in a jumble. Today was my first day off in a week and a half, and I've been running around like that headless chicken, only not as quietly. I took a Pilates workshop over the weekend, which was AMAZING and wonderful, but I kept catching glimpses of myself in the mirror and despairing over the weight I've put on in the past 2 years.
Oy.
I've been beating myself up for quite a while over my weight. The thing is, I just don't feel "right" in my body! It's very disturbing. I can easily accept others' weight, whatever that is, but my weight just feels so wrong! So what do I do? I eat a ton of pizza tonight. I'm trying to tell myself that it's OK, but it just has that awful bingey feeling I used to get when I was Bulimic. I didn't eat nearly as much tonight as I did back then, but still, I just feel yucky.
Hmm. I may need to put a call in to my therapist.
Actually, there was a great article in the paper today that explained the difference between "reality" and "unscripted" television: "If you feel like a voyeur, need to take a shower, or worry about the sorry state of humankind after watching it, that's reality television. If you were entertained without abject, crippling shame or if you learned something - even if it came while watching guys blow stuff up on 'Mythbusters' - then it's probably an acceptable form of unscripted television."
That made me laugh, even in my state of nearly uncnotollable, PMS-induced rage.
Yes, it's That Time Of The Month Again. A time when humanity can do no right. When dogs are the best people I know. When my face resembles Orion's belt, and I can't wear a regular belt to save my life, 'cause I'm bloated out to HERE.
And the damn phone keeps ringing, and when I answer it, whoever's on the line HANGS UP!!!! OVER AND OVER AND OVER!!!! I'm thinking I should call the phone company and let them know, 'cause it's been going on for quite a while now.
The other day a guy called and he had the wrong number. He said "You sound nice. What's your name?" And I said "Take care, buh-bye" and hung up. And I'm kinda glad he didn't call today, because I probably would have reached through the phoine line and strangled him with his own intestines.
Suffice to say, my mind and emotions are in a jumble. Today was my first day off in a week and a half, and I've been running around like that headless chicken, only not as quietly. I took a Pilates workshop over the weekend, which was AMAZING and wonderful, but I kept catching glimpses of myself in the mirror and despairing over the weight I've put on in the past 2 years.
Oy.
I've been beating myself up for quite a while over my weight. The thing is, I just don't feel "right" in my body! It's very disturbing. I can easily accept others' weight, whatever that is, but my weight just feels so wrong! So what do I do? I eat a ton of pizza tonight. I'm trying to tell myself that it's OK, but it just has that awful bingey feeling I used to get when I was Bulimic. I didn't eat nearly as much tonight as I did back then, but still, I just feel yucky.
Hmm. I may need to put a call in to my therapist.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Need Some Advice
Is there anyone reading this who has any food intolerances? Celiac disease? I'm thinking I may have a gluten and dairy intolerance. Not an allergy, per se, but I'm trying to cut down on the amount of wheat, dairy, etc. to see if it helps. I'd appreciate any words of wisdom you may have. Thanks!!!!
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!
Today is my little girl's 5th birthday!!!!!!!!!! It's kinda hard to believe, seeing as my son had just turned 5 when we moved here 2 years ago, and she wasn't even 3. Wow. She was born just after 10:00 pm in Burbank, CA. I'd had trouble pushing her out because a) the epidural had worn off (YOUCH!), b) the umbilical cord was wrapped around her wrist (unlike my son, who had the cord wrapped around his NECK!), and c) my OB-GYN kept mentioning the full Beaver moon. I thought she was talking about me, seeing as I was lying on a table with my legs in stirrups and was naked from the waist down. But it turns out she was referring to the November moon, as that's what it's referred to as. (Grammar?)
So anyway, I was laughing really hard. It may also have been that the supplemental oxygen they were giving me was making me loopy (or loopier than usual), but it struck me as really funny.
Eventually I calmed down and, 40 minutes later, was holding my little patootie in my arms. So here we are, 5 years later, and she's in kindergarten.
Wow.
So anyway, I was laughing really hard. It may also have been that the supplemental oxygen they were giving me was making me loopy (or loopier than usual), but it struck me as really funny.
Eventually I calmed down and, 40 minutes later, was holding my little patootie in my arms. So here we are, 5 years later, and she's in kindergarten.
Wow.
Monday, November 3, 2008
OMG! YouTube!!!
If you go to YouTube and type in "One West Waikiki Intro" you'll get to see the opening credits of a series my husband was on back in the early 90's. He was all of 23 at the time, and they gave him bangs!! So cute!!!! He's the 4th actor credited.
Check it out!!!!!!!!!!
Check it out!!!!!!!!!!
On This Monday Before Election Day, I'd Just Like to Say...
...AAAAAAAUUUUUUUGHGHGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shut up!!!! Shutupshutupshutupshutupshutup!!!!!!!!!!!! Stop calling me! Stop sending me emails/sending me flyers/sticking flyers on my door/ inundating the airwaves with CAMPAIGN ADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I GET IT, OK??!!
WE ALL GET IT!!!!!!
I'm voting. I know how and for whom I'm going to vote. I'll be there bright and early tomorrow morning, I'll punch the holes, or X the boxes, or punch out the chads, or WHATEVER, get my sticker, and wear it proudly.
SO STOP BUGGIN' ME, MAN!
Look, I realize this is politics. I know that A LOT of money has been spent to encourage us to vote one way or another. I realize what is at stake. I also realize that many people are still undecided, and that voter turnout has been notoriously low over the past 15 years or so. (But probably not this year.)
But this election has been going on for nearly 2 years!!!! Most election years are tough (for me), but this has been INSANE!!! I, for one, dispise election ads. I hate the sound-bite coverage. I prefer to try and make up my own mind. I strongly believe that everyone who can vote should vote, and I love that people are passionate about their candidates and their causes. But the inundation that happens at this time is just ANNOYING!!!!!
And our remote is broken, so I don't even have a mute button! WAH!!!
Let me say this: I'm a fairly anxious person (I know, SHOCKING!). I can't watch basketball because I get nervous. I don't watch debates because they make me cringe in fear. For the past few years I've only read novels with happy endings because I can't handle things that don't end well. I'm on anti-anxiety medication, fer cryin' out loud!!!!!!
There are people and issues in this campaign that make me VERY nervous. The more I pay attention to it, the more nervous I get. And this is a very close election. There are no guarantees.
I also can't stand to see people being treated badly. Again, I know it's politics, and these days it's part of the game, but the negative campaigns and character assasinations make me a bit ill. And angry. I hate how each side demonizes the other. Because, despite what the politicians tell us, whether we're liberal, conservative, independent, libertarian, green party, or whatever, we are none of us EVIL. We're all just trying to get along.
At times like this I have to remind myself of what we do in tough times. After Katrina, it was the regular folk who volunteered, who got there first, who handed out the much-needed water and food. Same with this hurricane season. And no one was at the door asking the volunteers whether they were voting for Obama or McCain, and turning them away if they gave the "wrong" answer.
I guess I'm lucky. I'll come right out and say that I'm pretty liberal. But many of my family members are quite conservative. And we not only love each other, we like and respect each other. I grew up with friends from all over the political and religious spectrum, and they taught me that love trumps pretty much everything, even politics. It's the people in my life who hold some different beliefs who remind me that we are all human, and we all deserve respect.
I think that one of the (many) truly great things about this country is our diversity, along with our freedom to express ourselves. Sometimes I have to remind myself that embracing the unknown, the unfamiliar, or that which is different, while scary, is so worth it. I would have missed out on some amazing relationships if I'd let politics get in the way.
Wow. I'd originally meant this to be a light, humorous post. Hmm. Oh well!
I GET IT, OK??!!
WE ALL GET IT!!!!!!
I'm voting. I know how and for whom I'm going to vote. I'll be there bright and early tomorrow morning, I'll punch the holes, or X the boxes, or punch out the chads, or WHATEVER, get my sticker, and wear it proudly.
SO STOP BUGGIN' ME, MAN!
Look, I realize this is politics. I know that A LOT of money has been spent to encourage us to vote one way or another. I realize what is at stake. I also realize that many people are still undecided, and that voter turnout has been notoriously low over the past 15 years or so. (But probably not this year.)
But this election has been going on for nearly 2 years!!!! Most election years are tough (for me), but this has been INSANE!!! I, for one, dispise election ads. I hate the sound-bite coverage. I prefer to try and make up my own mind. I strongly believe that everyone who can vote should vote, and I love that people are passionate about their candidates and their causes. But the inundation that happens at this time is just ANNOYING!!!!!
And our remote is broken, so I don't even have a mute button! WAH!!!
Let me say this: I'm a fairly anxious person (I know, SHOCKING!). I can't watch basketball because I get nervous. I don't watch debates because they make me cringe in fear. For the past few years I've only read novels with happy endings because I can't handle things that don't end well. I'm on anti-anxiety medication, fer cryin' out loud!!!!!!
There are people and issues in this campaign that make me VERY nervous. The more I pay attention to it, the more nervous I get. And this is a very close election. There are no guarantees.
I also can't stand to see people being treated badly. Again, I know it's politics, and these days it's part of the game, but the negative campaigns and character assasinations make me a bit ill. And angry. I hate how each side demonizes the other. Because, despite what the politicians tell us, whether we're liberal, conservative, independent, libertarian, green party, or whatever, we are none of us EVIL. We're all just trying to get along.
At times like this I have to remind myself of what we do in tough times. After Katrina, it was the regular folk who volunteered, who got there first, who handed out the much-needed water and food. Same with this hurricane season. And no one was at the door asking the volunteers whether they were voting for Obama or McCain, and turning them away if they gave the "wrong" answer.
I guess I'm lucky. I'll come right out and say that I'm pretty liberal. But many of my family members are quite conservative. And we not only love each other, we like and respect each other. I grew up with friends from all over the political and religious spectrum, and they taught me that love trumps pretty much everything, even politics. It's the people in my life who hold some different beliefs who remind me that we are all human, and we all deserve respect.
I think that one of the (many) truly great things about this country is our diversity, along with our freedom to express ourselves. Sometimes I have to remind myself that embracing the unknown, the unfamiliar, or that which is different, while scary, is so worth it. I would have missed out on some amazing relationships if I'd let politics get in the way.
Wow. I'd originally meant this to be a light, humorous post. Hmm. Oh well!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
It's the Little Things
I was just reading Meg Cabot's blog about how she accepted a dare from a fellow author to dress up as a fairy for Halloween and go out in public (apparently she's got a fairy phobia). You can read all about it on her website, but suffice to say she had a great time AND got carded at a bar!
A couple of years ago, when we still lived in L.A., I was at the grocery store (sans kids, who were waiting in the car with Hubby) and I was buying some wine for a recipe (no, really!), and I got carded. I rushed right out to the car and squealed all about it. It was very exciting!
I also heard a story once from my grandfather about how he and his friends took another friend out for lunch on his 72nd birthday. They ordered a round of drinks, and the waiter asked the birthday boy for his I.D. It totally made his day!
Tonight we had to trim my daughter's fingernails which, believe me, is a lot harder than it sounds! It takes both of us, and still she squirms and kicks and screams and cries. My son was nearby, and at one point he came over to move my husband's hand away from the clippers! He also came over and gave her a big hug, afterwards. He's SO SWEET!!!!!!!! (A few days ago, at school, one of his classmates dribbled yogurt on her hand, so he got up to get a napkin and cleaned her hand! Isn't he adorable???!!!!!!!)
Then, last night, we went to a Halloween party at my SIL's house. My daughter pulled herself up onto a stool by the counter where the cake was and started to help herself. We all saw it and "Awwed!" which scared her. So I cut her a slice, she sat in her grandma's lap, and ate her cake in peace.
The two of them are so freakin' cute I almost can't handle it sometimes!
(I'm trying to post a photo of them in their Halloween costumes. He was a pirate and she was Dora the Explorer.)
So then today I was at the pet supply store to get our dog's special prescrition dog food (for her UTIs), ear powder (for her ear infection), and Glucosamine (for her arthritis...this poor dog!!!!!!) and I felt a nudge on my leg. I look down, and there's a boxer, who had picked up the scent of our mutt. Boxers are one of my favorite breeds, so of course I had to pet her and tell her how sweet and beautiful she is. And I had to look at the cats they have available for adoption, even though we can't adopt one 'cause my husband and his entire family are allergic, which means the kids have a chance of being allergic as well, so I'm reduced to stalking the neighbors' cats and staring at the ones in the pet supply store.
Finally, Hubby and I watched "27 Dresses" while we ate sushi. When the movie first came out I thought it looked kinda dumb, even though James Marsden is in it and I like him. But it was actually pretty cute, with a lot of funny moments in it, which was a nice surprise. Then we saw a preview for "Quantum of Solace," and I think we're gonna hafta actually go to a movie theater and see it, 'cause I don't want to have wait for it to come on cable! ESPECIALLY since there isn't a new full season of "Doctor Who" until 2010!!!! I gotta have my hot British men quota met!
It's the little things in life that mean so much, after all.
A couple of years ago, when we still lived in L.A., I was at the grocery store (sans kids, who were waiting in the car with Hubby) and I was buying some wine for a recipe (no, really!), and I got carded. I rushed right out to the car and squealed all about it. It was very exciting!
I also heard a story once from my grandfather about how he and his friends took another friend out for lunch on his 72nd birthday. They ordered a round of drinks, and the waiter asked the birthday boy for his I.D. It totally made his day!
Tonight we had to trim my daughter's fingernails which, believe me, is a lot harder than it sounds! It takes both of us, and still she squirms and kicks and screams and cries. My son was nearby, and at one point he came over to move my husband's hand away from the clippers! He also came over and gave her a big hug, afterwards. He's SO SWEET!!!!!!!! (A few days ago, at school, one of his classmates dribbled yogurt on her hand, so he got up to get a napkin and cleaned her hand! Isn't he adorable???!!!!!!!)
Then, last night, we went to a Halloween party at my SIL's house. My daughter pulled herself up onto a stool by the counter where the cake was and started to help herself. We all saw it and "Awwed!" which scared her. So I cut her a slice, she sat in her grandma's lap, and ate her cake in peace.
The two of them are so freakin' cute I almost can't handle it sometimes!
(I'm trying to post a photo of them in their Halloween costumes. He was a pirate and she was Dora the Explorer.)
So then today I was at the pet supply store to get our dog's special prescrition dog food (for her UTIs), ear powder (for her ear infection), and Glucosamine (for her arthritis...this poor dog!!!!!!) and I felt a nudge on my leg. I look down, and there's a boxer, who had picked up the scent of our mutt. Boxers are one of my favorite breeds, so of course I had to pet her and tell her how sweet and beautiful she is. And I had to look at the cats they have available for adoption, even though we can't adopt one 'cause my husband and his entire family are allergic, which means the kids have a chance of being allergic as well, so I'm reduced to stalking the neighbors' cats and staring at the ones in the pet supply store.
Finally, Hubby and I watched "27 Dresses" while we ate sushi. When the movie first came out I thought it looked kinda dumb, even though James Marsden is in it and I like him. But it was actually pretty cute, with a lot of funny moments in it, which was a nice surprise. Then we saw a preview for "Quantum of Solace," and I think we're gonna hafta actually go to a movie theater and see it, 'cause I don't want to have wait for it to come on cable! ESPECIALLY since there isn't a new full season of "Doctor Who" until 2010!!!! I gotta have my hot British men quota met!
It's the little things in life that mean so much, after all.
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