Born to Run

Yeah. Not so much, it seems. I did my first C25K workout yesterday, and holy shit, I thought I was going to die. For some reason, jogging is a lot more work than 60 minutes of cardio. I don't know why, but it felt different. Harder. Lots harder. I couldn't finish the first workout, but seriously, I'm okay with that. I'll just have to repeat a week, it looks like. I mean, damn folks, I'm lugging around 200 plus pounds. Just getting halfway through the run was an accomplishment.

Even so, I had a rather embarassing experience. Okay. It was humiliating. So Dave and I live out in the boonies in this really pretty, very quiet, laid-back subdivision. I chose a running path along this country road that winds through farms, ranches, and equestrian centers. Last night, I was huffing and puffing and just trying to keep my feet moving. This truckload of teenage boys, maybe 15 or 16, approaches, and of course, they slow down as the pass me. They rolled down their windows and started calling me names. And, of course, I just happened to be running in front of a pasture full of cows. Yeah. I totally got mooed at.

So there I am, crying and running down this road, and thinking, holy shit, I've worked SO hard to lose 24 pounds, and oh my god, I still have a eighty pounds to go. Even though I can tell a difference in the way I look, and my friends and family can tell a difference, to every one else, I'm still FAT. It was so demoralizing.

Dave was really sweet and supportive about the whole thing. He had that angry tick in his jaw. If we hadn't been expecting house guests any minute, I suspect he might have gone off to find the little ass clowns. I have a feeling he'll want to join me as his escort from now on, lol.

No, I'm not going to dwell on this. And, yes, I realize they were just punk ass jerks. Still, it hurts. I've decided to use it as motivation to get through these (for me) grueling workouts.

C25K Countdown

So I made a decision regarding the Couch to 5K program. I'd originally planned to start once I dropped 30 pounds. I'm down 24 pounds right now, and well, I just can't wait. I feel caged. I need to get out and move!

Tomorrow I'm picking up a pair of shoes, a watch, and an MP3 player of some kind. I plan to start running on Sunday morning. My new workout schedule will be:

Sunday: C25K
Monday: Cardio/Strength Training for 60-90
Tuesday: C25K
Wednesday: Cardio/Strength Training
Thursday: C25K
Friday: Off/Maybe C/S
Saturday: Off

Hopefully this will provide the change I need. Also, I'm curious to see how the scale will change...

Butternut Squash Fries...

Are AWESOME! Seriously, they are so tasty! Dave-O and I are trying to replace some of our less healthy foods with more healthy choices. I've been spending a lot of time on Hungry Girl for new recipe ideas. Last night, we tried the butternut squash fries paired with bbq pork sandwiches and cole slaw. Yummy! I think next week, we'll try making faux mashed potatoes.

I'm making progress on the novel. My writing pace has slowed these last few days because I feel funky. I'm not sure what's up with my body. My dreams are super effed up. I've been dizzy and thirsty. Food tastes funny. I had some weird ass sharp pain on my left side a few days back. Now it's a dull ache that's moved to the center of my lower tummy. If I had to guess, I'd assume it's another cyst or five. I'm cautiously ignoring it. If I spike a fever or start puking, I'm heading straight to the ER. No screwing around this time...

24

Went to see Get Smart on Saturday evening with Layna. I'd heard mixed reviews so I wasn't sure what to expect. I loved it. I haven't laughed that hard in quite a while. The "Chuck Norris with a BB gun" quip almost made me fall out of my chair. Too funny!

I realized I haven't done a weigh-in in a few weeks. No worries! I haven't fallen off the wagon. As of this morning, I'm down 24 pounds! On Saturday, I whined to Layna about reaching a weight loss plateau because my Friday weigh-in showed no gain or loss. This morning, I hop on the scale, and I was down 2 pounds. Where the hell did that weight go? I have no idea. I'm just happy it's gone, baby, gone.

Okay. Back to work. I really need to finish this novel. I have to find a new agent, and this book is the key. I hope. Maybe. Possibly.

Words to Live By

A friend sent me an awesome quote today. I've decided it shall be my new motto.

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says, "Oh shit! She's awake!"

368 And Counting

So Dave and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary a few days ago. We went the low-key route, a wonderful dinner and a movie. We could have boarded the dog and gone away for a few days, but we're determined to be debt free (except for the mortgage) in 15 months. It's rough some times when you want to run out and buy something super cool, but you get used to it after a while. It's worth the annoyance.

Speaking of annoyances... We decided to buy an elliptical machine instead of a treadmill. We went to Academy to pick one out, but out of the six or seven employees milling around, hands in pockets, making rude jokes, not a single one could be bothered to help us out. When Dave finally managed to snag one of the jerks, he informed us the elliptical machine we wanted was sold out. He didn't offer to order another one or show us a different model. He just walked away.

I was so pissed. We left. Screw them. We had the same experience at the second store we tried. Dave has some days off next week so I guess we'll have to try this again. You'd think with this economy, people would be more careful with their jobs. Jeez!

Oh, and I had quite a giggle today. A friend of Dave's is getting married in August. We received the invitation a few days ago so I decided to go ahead and browse their registries. I like to pick out a gift early when there are lots of cool choices. Anywho. I'm looking through their listing on BB&B and I notice there are multiple entries of items. Two coffee pots, four sets of tongs, two tea kettles, four omelet pans, two can openers, etc. I started laughing as I realized what must have happened. No doubt the bride made the mistake of allowing the groom to carry his own scanning gun. I can just picture him trailing along behind her and pointing the gun at random items while she's carefully choosing the best pieces for their new home.

Boys! Sigh.

Tim Russert & Pink Shoes

Wow. Tim Russert died on Friday. I am shocked. Speechless. Seriously. I loved Tim Russert. I loved Meet the Press. I think he took over Meet the Press in the early nineties. I was in, like, elementary school then and just discovering my love all things political. His tiny little dry erase board during the 2000 Presidential election is burned into my memory.

He is--well, was--one of the few journalists I trusted to ask the hard questions. He was tenacious, engaging, and always fair. He also wrote some great books. His wife is an amazingly talented writer for Vanity Fair. His kid just graduated from college. What a horrible tragedy running up to Father's Day! I really feel bad for his family.

Sunday mornings just won't be the same anymore...

As for the pink shoes, well, check out this pic: Pink Pumps & Sailors Return.


Personally, I think it's a gorgeous picture. It's evocative, it's sassy, and it speaks to the excitement and anxiety of a woman awaiting the return of her sailor husband. Everyone I've showed the pic to sees exactly what I see. Unfortunately, the readers of the paper where the pic was originally run along with an article about the return of the Harry S. Truman carrier felt the pic was "trashy" and "cheap."

Yeah. I know. What the hell? What is wrong with a woman or man dressing up for their returning spouse/partner/lover? Shoot, if Dave's gone for more than two days in a row, I always make sure I hop in the shower, get those legs smooth, and slip on some cute undies. He's my husband. I miss him. I want him to know that I care for him. Obviously, any spouse of a military member is going to feel that longing a thousand times fold.

If you're interested, check out the SB blog. They have an awesome post on the kerfuffle and hundreds of comments from military spouses, authors, and readers. And, yes, people always ask if that is THE Nora Roberts commenting on the SB blog. Yeppers. That's La Nora. She's surprisingly down-to-earth in her internet presence.

All right. I'm out. I won't blog this weekend. Our anniversary is coming up, and we've decided to celebrate a few days early. We've also decided to take the plunge, so to speak. Here's to flirting with danger!

Klaus

Bosley goes through squeaky toys like my brothers and I used to go through boxes of Swiss Cake Rolls. (OMG. The sugar high memories!) Dave and I chose this garish orange goldfish that looks exactly like Klaus from Family Guy. Before we bought Klaus, I gave him a few experimental squeezes. Within the bustling confines of PetSmart, it didn't sound so bad.

Well, guess what? Here in the relatively quiet confines of our house, it sounds like the most unholy wheezing, squeaking, guffawing possessed goldfish this side of Hell. Because of it's shape, Klaus double squeaks, one a normal mid-range dog toy squeak and the other a high-pitched, nails on a chalkboard screech reminiscent of my younger sis' banshee shrieks. (I love Tricia, I really do, but omg, when you get her wound up, her voice escalates into a range not normally accessible by humans. Seriously.)

Normally, I don't mind too much about Bosley's annoying toys. With those Great Dane jaws, he can tear up a toy in no time. Unfortunately, Klaus is one of those next-generation super durable silicone toys. I'm beginning to lose hope. I don't think I'll ever be free of Klaus. I've decided to be proactive. I'm about to activate the Google-fu to locate a set of background silencing earphones.

Oh, and just a quick quote that killed me. I so heart Perez Hilton. This is just too funny not to pass along.

"A lot of people like to fool you and say you're not smart if you never went to college, but common sense rules over everything. That's what I learned from selling crack." ~Snoop in Esquire magazine.

20

Hella busy week so I haven't had time to blog. Good news on the weight front though. As of this morning, I'm down 20 pounds. 20 pounds! Whee!!!

Since this way my first milestone goal, I rewarded myself with new workout clothes and a few books. I really, really wanted to binge on powdered donuts, nachos, and a pint (or two) of Blue Bell, but I decided it would be a waste of progress. Sick, huh? I decided that for our one year anniversary next week, I'm eating whatever the heck I feel like all day. You know, yummies like cake and pasta and maybe even a leaded Dr. Pepper. Oh, that's right. The good stuff.

I'm also thinking about pushing up the schedule of C25K. I'd wanted to start after 30 pounds of weight loss, but I may start as early as next week. I'm getting so bored. I need to get out of this house and move!

Speaking of moving, I need to get my butt in gear and finish a chapter or two before bed. I'm so behind...

Hopefully I'll have something witty or entertaining to blog about tomorrow. Hopefully.