A Goal Met, and A Wee-Little Rant

I officially started the 10K training yesterday.  I say official because I hadn't been running, just Shredding.  I should have started 8 weeks before the "race" and so I was a little concerned as to how I would do today.  Today was a 2.5 mile day, and I usually don't go that far when I jog/run/whatever.  When I was doing that "couch to 5k" thing, I would run according to time rather than distance.  So, I was a little nervous, but I was like, whatever, I gotta do it so I was just gonna try it.

Now, I feel I must thank Jillian AGAIN.  I did something I haven't done in a really long time, if ever.  This is kind of sad, but I'm excited so I thought I would say it.

I ran for one whole mile straight.

This has been a goal of mine since I started doing more athletic/work-out things.  I used to run track in middle school (one whole year!  woooo!), and my "event" was half mile.  Even then, when I was running DAILY and competing, I don't remember going a whole mile without stopping to walk for a bit.  And I was 12 years old!  You're supposed to be all crazy active and crap when you're 12!  So yesterday was a pretty awesome day for me.  Maybe it's a silly goal, but hey, it's MY goal and I reached it.  THEN, I did my 2.5 miles, and I kept up the pace we'd need to keep to finish in 90 minutes, like Mom wants to.  In general, WTG, me.

I've been watching/reading/listening to all this Kevin Smith stuff lately.  I love the Kev, as I have since I was 15 years old.  I know he's a big dude, and I know this is kind of a blown-out-of-proportion story, but holy crap, this is so embarrassing.  I wouldn't wish this kind of press on anyone, even someone I hate.  The other thing about this is, so I read the comments other people post on major news sites about this story.  THAT is the most terrifying part, because they are hate-filled rants about how all fat people need to die and they are disgusting and they should kill themselves for being so disgusting and good for Southwest for telling him he's gross.  That boggles my mind, because... that's a kind of hate I don't understand.  I want to say I can't believe it, but the sad part is I can.  This is one of those hot button issues that usually gets swept under the rug, but I seriously feel like there is a hatred of fat people here, which is weird because Americans ARE FAT.  We eat processed foods, and we're sedentary, if I can generalize.  This is why I work out, this is why I try to eat better.  I am habitually lazy (have been all my life!), and if it weren't for some excellent recessive genes, I would easily be one of those people that has a hard time and struggles with their weight, and that thought scares me because I don't want to become a "person of size" as Southwest calls them.  I'm not saying we should all be lazy and eat what we want and not worry about health issues and stuff; I'm just saying we shouldn't HATE people to the point of TELLING THEM TO DIE because they are overweight.  That is simply horrifying to me.

"Gus, don't be this crevice in my arm."

Didn't Shred yesterday, but I did shovel some ice and snow.  I'm definitely feeling it now in my back and shoulders.  I woke up this morning, and my arms were killing me.  I was so confused, until I started moving around more and realized what hurt and where.  At least it makes me feel slightly better about not Shredding.  I didn't this morning either, but that was because I wanted to have plenty of time to get to work in the tundra, and in order to Shred in the morning I HAVE to be started by 6:15 am or I don't have enough time.  Therefore, it'll be this afternoon.

I started Level 3, and while it is "no joke" as Jillian would say, it is also my favorite of all three levels.  I liked One, but I also felt like I mastered it pretty quickly.  Two pushed me further, but it is also a lot of plank work, and it hurt my hands more than I realized.  Three is a lot less work with the weights and a lot more resistance with your own body and strength.  There's a ton of knee work too, which makes me feel I need to get a knee brace due to an old embarrassing injury that I've ignored since I was about 13, but that's a story for another day.  And that day is called Never.

Last night was Psych night, which is one of my favorite shows.  It's got that murder mystery angle, and it's pretty much the silliest thing I've ever watched.  That includes Scrubs AND Boy Meets World.  Its silliness is part of its charm, and it is also geared towards people who love obscure pop culture references and quotable phrases.  My favorite things from last night (if I'm not allowed to use lyrics from the opening scene song, Steve Perry classic "Strung Out") were Gus referring to himself as the Vault of Secrets, him telling Shawn that he couldn't help him "Period.  Suck it.", the Simon Baker reference (Psych constantly adds little bits of mockery in almost every episode about the CBS show "The Mentalist" which is a less silly rip-off), AND the entire conversation between Shawn, Gus, and the falsely accused inmate.  Shawn called Gus by his real name (no silly nicknames!) and he told him not to be the "iiiiiiih" in "wait for iiiiiiiiiit."  In order to understand any of that, you probably have to watch the show.  Therefore... sorry!

Finally, is it Feb 28th yet?  No?  Let me know when it gets here, okay?  C'mon Vegas!  I wanna see Fat Elvis and possibly something featuring Cirque du Soleil.

Blah blah blah, snow snow snow.

Have I mentioned I'm over it?  Well, here it is one more time: OVER IT.  I did appreciate a 3 day weekend, though.  It gave me time to really gain some Angel momentum.  I'm into Season Four now, and I love it because ANGELUS is back.  You can tell the difference between Angel & Angelus because Angel is sad and mopey, and Angelus is a huge ass who wears eyeliner and leather pants.  Plus, Angelus will occasionally speak in a very terrible Irish accent.  Woo.  It's kind of like how you can tell when Buffy isn't Buffy because her hair is crimped.  I kid you not.

Many power outages around the area this weekend.  We are lucky because we live in a more centralized and populated area of the county, so our power was never out for long.  It was simply annoying- it would go out, come back, go out, come back, blah blah blah.  However, TWICE, it went out while I was doing my Shred.  WTF?  The first time, I had literally just started, so I made up my own Shred.  I mean, it's 3 minutes strength (30 sec core exercise, 1 min legs & arms), 2 minutes cardio (two different exercises, 30 seconds and alternate), 1 minute abs, repeat twice.  So... I did a pretty good job, probably somewhere between a Level 1 and a Level 2.  I worked my abs too much, because now they are super sore.  And so again this morning, I was in the middle of Circuit 2, and I was feeling pretty good, when BANG.  Power out AGAIN.  And this time, I had to go to work!  I definitely needed a shower.  So, i tried to finish that circuit and make up another one, finished cleaning off my car, and when I came back in?  Power on.  UUUUUGH.  It's just annoying.

I need to officially start training for this 10K.  With the massive amounts of ice and snow in this town, I get nervous about going to our "workout room" at work because there is lots of snow all around the building and I feel wussy.  However, I need to just suck it up and do it.  I want to be able to get through this race with a good time, and I want to be strong enough to inspire my mom to keep up with me.  I think it's important for us to do this together.  Very awesome bonding.

20 days til Vegas.  PLEASE GO BY AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, you 20 days.  I want to be here.

[insert witty and punny title here]

Lost last night.  Whoa and meh.  A couple of things I liked, a couple I didn't, and some I just didn't care about.  I'm kind of ready for questions to be answered rather than more questions be introduced.  I am quite confused about Sayid's resurrection, but we'll see, I guess.  Also, the revelation that John Locke = Evil Man in Black from last season's finale was not a big WOW moment for me, because that's the only logical explanation as to who he could be.  Don't really know how I feel about it yet, but I can tell you this- I loved seeing Bernard & Rose together, even though it made me so sad.  They won't get their happy life together, because she's sick.  On the island, at least they were together with Vincent and stuff.

I looked up a 10K training program, since I've got like 8 weeks to go and I should have been training for it.  I took a page out of Amber's book and I'm following a slightly modified Hal Higdon schedule.  I'm still doing the Shred, but I'm kind of doing it my own way.  I'm not worrying about missing days so much (as long as there are just a few here or there, not like every other day or anything), but if I feel terrible, I'm not doing it.  I did Shred this morning, despite the fact that I had a sinus-y headache, but the cool thing is that working out made it go away.  Awesome sauce.  However, my plan is to continue with the Shred at least until Vegas, which is the end of the month.  I also found out that my awesome friend Erin will be in Richmond to celebrate her 30th birthday the same weekend as the 10K!  So, hooray for bonus celebrations and hooray for not having to travel to Richmond for an extra weekend :)

Speaking of said awesome friend, she made me this totally bitchin' hat that I super love.  I have been looking for a hat that looks like this for about... well, to be honest, probably since I was in high school.  It's got that old school 1920's feel to it, like a cloche, and it's pretty much the coolest.  I wore it all around the house yesterday, and I wanted to wear it to work today, but with the crappy crap weather, I decided against it.  Plus, I've been wearing my LL Bean "Holy Crap It's Snow-pocalypse Cold Outside" coat to work, and it would not look as good with it.  Either way, check it out below!!

Love ya, hat!

The sun is out!  Melt that snow!  Melt that snow!  We need to make room for the next foot or more that supposed to be coming this weekend.  (Or, as my brother called it, Snowmageddon 2010: Snow Looking Back)  Siiiiiiiiigh...

Grammy... Awards?

The Grammys were on last night, and I had no urge to watch it.  Whatsoever.  I have previously stated that I love award shows, but this love does not extend to the Grammys.  I think they are kind of pointless and nonsensical at this point.  I don't feel that they truly honor the people who should be honored.  It's not even a veiled popularity contest; it's just boring.  However, I ended up watching them due to unexpected but welcome houseguests, and we needed something to entertain ourselves.

There were about 400 performances last night, ranging from a song about jeans by the Zac Boring Beardy Brown Band to something so bizarre by Capt. Jamie Foxx Crunch that I don't even know what to say about it.  Beyonce sang Alanis and grabbed her non-balls surrounded by Rhythm Nation, Gaga and Elton were pretty normal, Roberta Flack wore a Bedazzled neck brace, Dave Matthews did a spastic happy dance that reminded me why I love Dave Matthews, The BEP love Target and Black Jack Dealers In Space, Bon Jovi phoned it in, and Swifty + Stevie = off key.  However, I saw about 4 awards given out.  Why even bother to masquerade as an award show when the majority of it is NOT awards?  If you want it to be lots of performances, give out the awards offscreen, and have the winners perform a week later.  This is just ridiculous at this point.

I also noticed that nothing very original or particularly good won awards.  Nothing innovative, nothing that made me say, "wow, good choice."  In fact, when the Zac Brown Band beat MGMT, Silversun Pickups, and The Ting Tings as Best New Artist, I kind of wanted to stop watching all together.  Um... what?  Have these people HEARD Ocacular Spectacular?  Are we listening to the same albums?  Just... wow.  In general, watching the Grammys made me sad for the state of music affairs in this nation.

Though, I do like Taylor Swift.

I've missed another day on the 30 Day Shred due to oversleeping (whoops!), and with said guests last night I didn't get up this morning, but my plan is to hit it when I get home from work.  I've lost more weight (yaaay!), and I still swear I look skinnier, and therefore I still like doing it.  Plus, I only have about 10 days left, so there's no point in quitting when I've gotten this far.  I am getting a LOT better at walkout push-ups, I still hate anterior raises of any kind, I weirdly like all forms of crunches, and I am still terrified of Jillian.  I will probably go back to treadmilling it once this is done, since I have that 10K to think about (see previous entry to donate to my page!), but hopefully this Shred will have kicked up my endurance, despite the fact that I haven't run in a long while.  Eek, nervous.

I'm sick of snow and coldness.  Come on, Vegas.

30 Day Shred- Day I'm Not Telling

Why am I not telling?  Well, maybe because it's supposed to be Day 18 when I skipped two days recently (the day after the anniversary because I was so full from Melting Pot that I thought I might explode and another day earlier this week because I slept terribly).  Those of you keeping count at home will do the math and say it's Day 16, and you'd be correct.  I feel guilty about it all day when I miss a day.  What I find to be interesting is that when I skipped the day, especially on the day where I had a terrible night's sleep, I felt physically awful all day.  My body didn't feel right, I had hardly any energy, and it was kind of tough to get through the day.  So, for the past few days, I've made myself get out of bed and do it, and then I feel great for the rest of the day.  The thing I notice the most is the energy level.  I know it's basic body science and this is common knowledge, but it's still cool to see actually happen.

I've also been able to recommend this to tons of people, one of which specifically asked about the program rather than me complaining about being tired and sore.  I think she's awesome and she can do it, and I'll probably give her my blog link so she can read my updates about the 30 Day Shred.  If you're reading this, Hi Shiri!  If not, then there's no reason for me to leave you a greeting in my post, IS THERE?

I bought a scale as well to help with tracking.  The weight I posted earlier is from the scale at my parents' house, and all the weights I'll post from here on out will be from my own scale.  That being said, I've lost 2 pounds!  It doesn't seem like much, but it's all in the rounding.  145 rounds up.  143 rounds DOWN.  I've also lost about 2 inches off the waist as of this morning, and my arms actually have some definition!  That is a first for this pasty girl.  I've always been thin, but I've never really been muscular, especially in the upper body.  I used to get pretty smokin' leg workouts in high school from all the marching (don't make fun, that mess works), but the clarinet isn't the heaviest instrument ever.

That paragraph took a nerdy turn.

Finally, I've signed up for the Ukrop's Monument Ave 10K in March.  I think I might be a crazy person, but my mom wants to do it, and I'm running with her so we can push each other to keep going.  I'm also raising money for the VCU Massey Cancer Center.  If you'd like to donate, the link to my site is here.  I'm doing this to honor my grandpa and hope that the money I raise will help other people like him and families like ours.  It's going to be a hard battle for me to get through this race, and I'm DEFINITELY not expecting to win ANYTHING, but I know I'll be able to do it.

I made it through my two seasons of Angel, just waiting on the 3rd one to come in so I can continue.  Psych started again last night, and I'm thankful to have something to entertain my Wednesdays again now that Glee isn't back until April.  However, LOST IS BACK in 6 days.  Oh, Lost, how I miss you.  How sad I will be without you.  How I hope you explain that friggin' Smoke Monster.

Seriously, what the crap are you?

30 Day Shred- Day 9

It's been over a week, and I'm still doing this craziness, so that's good.  I'm seeing results, so that's why I keep going.  I haven't weighed myself, but I know I have lost some inches.  How?  Because I'm wearing a pair of pants at work today that, though they fit me months ago, they were so uncomfortable that I couldn't button them.  Today, snug as a bug in a... pair of well-fitting pants.  My clothes pretty much all fit better.  I find that I have more energy.  It's nice.

Today is also officially mine and Jack's two year wedding anniversary.  Two years ago today, at this very moment, I was watching my bridesmaids get their hair did and thinking about how great it was to wake up to Full House that morning and wondering if it was going to snow.  (Spoiler alert: it did.)  Apparently, two years is traditionally the Cotton anniversary.  I should get Jack some Q-Tips.

Golden Globes! I love Award Season!

With the Golden Globe Awards airing on Sunday, I would like to commemorate this occasion by actually posting some predictions on who I think will win in the TV categories and why.  I would do the movies too, but since I watch more TV, I feel I am more of an expert in it than movies.  Without further ado, here goes.  (Props to Ken Tucker of EW for typing all this up so I could copy and paste it from him.)

!- BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
a. BIG LOVE
b. DEXTER
c. HOUSE
d. MAD MEN
e. TRUE BLOOD
I don't want to diss TB, which I love, but Mad Men had an impressive season this year.  Dexter could be a sleeper, but I think the men of Sterling Cooper (Draper & Pryce) will be victorious.
UPDATE- This was a tough category to predict, and now I feel smart :)

X- BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
a. GLENN CLOSE, DAMAGES
b. JANUARY JONES, MAD MEN
c. JULIANNA MARGULIES, THE GOOD WIFE
d. ANNA PAQUIN, TRUE BLOOD
e. KYRA SEDGWICK, THE CLOSER
I'm going a little rogue on this one, and I'd love to see some Julianna or Anna love, but I'm going with Glenn.  She will not be ignored.  (Sorry, had to.)
UPDATE- I ask for it, I got it!  Yay, former Nurse Hathaway!

!- BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
a. SIMON BAKER, THE MENTALIST
b. MICHAEL C. HALL, DEXTER
c. JON HAMM, MAD MEN
d. HUGH LAURIE, HOUSE
e. BILL PAXTON, BIG LOVE
I do not watch Dexter (yet...), but I hear amazing things about it, especially this past season.  Bonus: I love MCH from Six Feet Under, so that's part of the reason I pick him.
UPDATE- Oh my GOSH, I don't know how to feel about him wearing that cap.  It's breaking my heart...

!- BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
a. 30 ROCK
b. ENTOURAGE
c. GLEE
d. MODERN FAMILY
e. THE OFFICE
This one's just for me.  I heart you, Glee, with a red hot, obsessive passion.
UPDATE- Yaaaay!!

X- BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
a. TONI COLLETTE, UNITED STATES OF TARA
b. COURTENEY COX, COUGAR TOWN
c. EDIE FALCO, NURSE JACKIE
d. TINA FEY, 30 ROCK
e. LEA MICHELE, GLEE
There is a reason everyone loves her.  Heck, I don't even watch 30 Rock (please don't start with me...), but I love Tina.  It may be because I am often told I remind people of her, even when I'm not wearing my glasses.  It beats a Lisa Loeb comparison...
UPDATE- Crap, I knew I should've gone with my b'day buddy, Toni.

!- BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
a. ALEC BALDWIN, 30 ROCK
b. STEVE CARELL, THE OFFICE
c. DAVID DUCHOVNY, CALIFORNICATION
d. THOMAS JANE, HUNG
e. MATTHEW MORRISON, GLEE
Again, there is a reason everyone loves him.  He's funny.  He's got that straight man shtick down.
UPDATE- His acceptance speech was my favorite.

!- BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a. GEORGIA O’KEEFFE
b. GREY GARDENS
c. INTO THE STORM
d. LITTLE DORRIT
e. TAKING CHANCE
Edies are crazy.  Watch the documentary.  It should be big again, since Hoarders has taken the world by storm.
UPDATE- Everybody loves a Hoarder.

X- BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a. JOAN ALLEN, GEORGIA O’KEEFFE
b. DREW BARRYMORE, GREY GARDENS
c. JESSICA LANGE, GREY GARDENS
d. ANNA PAQUIN, THE COURAGEOUS HEART OF IRENA SENDLER
e. SIGOURNEY WEAVER, PRAYERS FOR BOBBY
Jessica took home the Emmy over Drew.  I call it again.
UPDATE- Whoops?  WTG, Drew.

X- BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a. KEVIN BACON, TAKING CHANCE
b. KENNETH BRANAGH, WALLANDER: ONE STEP BEHIND
c. CHIWETEL EJIOFOR, ENDGAME
d. BRENDAN GLEESON, INTO THE STORM
e. JEREMY IRONS, GEORGIA O’KEEFFE
1. I like Brendan Gleeson, especially as Mad-Eye Moody. 2. When he won his Emmy, they played "Into the Storm," which I also played in high school. 3. I think it would be funny to hear the song again.
UPDATE- I love the Baconator.  I also like that Kyra was sincerely happy for him too!

X- BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a. JANE ADAMS, HUNG
b. ROSE BYRNE, DAMAGES
c. JANE LYNCH, GLEE
d. JANET McTEER, INTO THE STORM
e. CHLOË SEVIGNY, BIG LOVE
Jane Lynch is incredible.  Her delivery is impeccable.  Her timing is amazing.  She is a pitch-perfect villain in a show where the characters constantly burst into song.  She deserves more than this.
UPDATE- I am so upset!  Sue does not C it this way...

!- BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a. MICHAEL EMERSON, LOST
b. NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
c. WILLIAM HURT, DAMAGES
d. JOHN LITHGOW, DEXTER
e. JEREMY PIVEN, ENTOURAGE
AS MUCH AS IT PAINS ME to not pick NPH because I friggin' love him and I want all the awards ever to be given to him, John Lithgow is scaaaa-ry.  Mostly, as long as it's not Piven's, I'm pretty much pleased.
UPDATE- Woo!

As far as 30DS goes, I'm feeling pretty good.  I swear I look thinner, but mostly I think my perception of myself has changed.  I feel thinner, therefore I am.  I hate getting up early, and I hate side lunges with shoulder raises, and sometimes I want to leap through the TV and punch Jillian in her FACE, but it's working.  Right now, I want to begrudgingly thank her.  On Day 30, I will probably want to run to her house and thank her in person.

UPDATE- 6-11!  Which means, more than 50%!  In my head, success!  And good grief, the Golden Globes are so awkward!

Day 3

So... remember yesterday how I said that those ladies who had to grip the stair rail so they didn't fall were crazy?  I take it back!  I had to do the same thing when I left work yesterday and at home as well.  Stairs are not my friend.  However, if I feel like this after 3 days, it must be working.

I feel like it is, too.  I LOOK skinnier.  My abs look more defined.  To me, my face looks skinnier.  I feel like I've already lost an inch.  That is probably impossible, but it feels like I did.  I was thinking about my previous entry, and while I won't post a pic of me (though I'm thinking of posting one at 10, 20, and 30 days), I will tell you that when I started this, these were my stats:
-Weight 145
-Height 5'5" (I'm guessing this won't change...)
-Waist about 33 inches
-Hips about 40 inches

So... we'll see how this goes.  Ugh, I'm already embarrassed.  Knowing this is out there will surely help me keep going.

30DS Day 2

I've read all these reviews of the Shred, and these women claim that they can't move after they do the first day, that it hurts to roll over in bed, that they physically grip the stair rail for fear of falling because their legs can't hold them.  I didn't feel like that.  My legs felt sore, but it was that good kind of sore, if that makes sense.

What a difference a day makes.

My arms are totally killing me.  I know the reason behind this, though.  You're supposed to do the strength training with hand weights, and I didn't yesterday because they were in the same room with the dog and I didn't feel like getting her all riled up at 6 am.  So now, my arms are like totally meh, which should make today interesting.  My calves and thighs are pretty dang sore still.

BUT I made it through 2 whole days without quitting.  I'm counting it in the little victories for now.

Angel on TNT is wearing a bright yellow and white striped shirt.  Um... what happens in the next two seasons that Angel would wear anything besides BLACK?  Or perhaps a dark charcoal GREY?  I'm intrigued...

seriously... what in the world?

Update: decided to wear my boots with heels to work today.  might decide to punch myself in the face for it later.  good gravy, calves feel crazy.  that almost rhymes.

Ring, Ring, Ring.

Telephone's on Threat Level CRAZY today, so I'll keep this brief.

Because I need motivation and because it seems like the thing to do these days, I'm planning on starting the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred on Monday, and I'll be blogging about it.  I hope to do a daily entry, BUT... we'll see how that goes.  From all I've read, even if you don't "lose" weight, you gain muscle, strength, and endurance.  Those are three things I'm okay with.  I'm watching what I eat more, and I'm tracking my calorie intake on the iPhone app Lose It!  It's kind of disturbing to physically see how many calories you can stack up in a day.

I also like that I have a little scale on my menu.

All else is pretty well.  Love my new Buffy comics still.  Love my Keel's Simple Diary.  It's a pre-printed diary with all these random questions and ways to describe your day, so it's not like your typical journal.  I would recommend getting one if you feel like have a random keepsake of your daily minutiae.  Excited for the weekend for Savannah's 1st birthday, shopping with my moms, and Girls Christmas Make-up Day.  This will be my last hurrah before the Shred.

Random tidbit- the Tuesday after next is mine and Jack's 2 year anniversary.  I cannot, CANNOT believe it's been that long.  It seems like it was just yesterday and also like I've always been with him.  Kind of the best feeling ever, really.

Bump that to Threat Level Holy Monkeys.  Must dash.  As the Canadians say, peace oot.