Laundry

So this is probably the last time that I am going to blog for a bit. I am wrapping up the summer, & all of a sudden I have several things that I have yet to do. I am leaving for vacation on Friday, & am trying to get all of the laundry done that I have put off doing the past 8 weeks. I promised myself that I would finish it before leaving for South Carolina.
I think I must have some OCD tendencies or something. I have enough panties and sheets to last lifetime (welp, obviously 6 weeks worth or I wouldn't have this overwhelming amount of laundry.) I think to myself, "self, that is crazy that you have enough items to keep yourself from doing laundry." It's not that I don't enjoy doing laundry, I do. I just seem to have put myself in a viscious cycle where all of a sudden I have too many items & the whole experience seems overwhelming. However, no matter how hard the pressure is, I will NOT go out & buy more......I will fiinsh today......it's that drying that takes up all of the time!!!!!

What I'm listening to......."Wolverine"/Sufjan Stevens

Hair of the Dog

"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, it is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver." ~Jack Handey

So summer is the time of the year when I probably tend to drink more then I would any other time of the year. I think that there are many events in the summer that lend themselves to drinking. (ie: no work the next day so I can nurse a hangover, concerts, Derby, July 4th, birthdays, pool time, humidity, vacation, baseball, daylight savings time, sitting out on decks, etc) My sister and I have started the habit of going out for a couple of drinks on Thursdays (probably much to my brother-in-law's disappointment that his sister-in-law is such a bad influence on her sister)
However, now that I am trying to stay on this diet, I am not supposed to drink. My sister seems disappointed in my behavior & insistence on not being overindulgent. Thank God I am not going to be on this dieet plan forever--for summer would just not be the same!!

What I'm listening to......."Tiger in My Tank"/Eels (Hadn't really listened to them before. His voice really sounds a lot like Beck)

Motivated

So this week I have a lot of energy again all of a sudden. I swear that energy is so cyclical with me. I am all sorts of motivated again today. I think it all started when I went to class this morning & the instructor said something about a current event & I was totally unaware of what she was talking about. I think my thoughts then went to the fact that I have been a little out of touch with reality & had no idea that Japan was our ally & China was North Korea's--& how it was that I didn't know something as trivial as this when I have the tv on a lot in the summer evenings. I think I have had too much time watching cable (A&E, HOME garden & TLC)& not enough time thinking about the world around me. Therefore, I think that I why I have so many blogs today. Additionally, I am tring to break my record of 11 blogs in 1 day.....hee hee

I think that this thought process was just enhanced by the fact that I happened to stop off at Big Lots and saw some of the school stuff coming out. I didn't fight the urge of getting a new pocket day planner & already started writing up a couple of "to- do lists" before leaving for vacation. I cannot help that I am a dayplanner whore. It's not that I really do anything that's on the list after it's written down, but I am not likely to forget it when I really do need to get some of the stuff done.


What I'm listening to......."Off the Record"/My Morning Jacket

Summer Habits

So I seem to have got some summer habits throughout the last couple of weeks. I will remember the Summer of 2006 as doing some of the following:
1)Drinking my chai tea every morning
This treat has taken the place of coffee. I started it out in an effort to stay away from caffeine (I got decaffeinated) but to no avail. I bought a Kroger brand that is fabulous & totally liquid sunshine, morning, noon, and night.

2)Listening to the Raconteurs
This seems to be creeping up on more playlists recently. I guess it's because I like the White Stripes so much. In fact, the White Stripes was the last concert that I went to last fall. Howeevr, they are a lot different that The White Stripes. At any rate, I am somehow addicted to them presently.

3)Having more than 3 layaways simeltaneously at Wal-Mart
So I have succumbed to this whole "wear a different exercise outfit every time that I workout." Yeah, it's a bit girlie I know. However, Wal Mart is the only place that has a layway program where you don't have to pay a fee to put stuff on layaway. My aerobics group is an exclusive group that seem to have an endless supply of cute outfits to wear. Normally I would not fall for this type of tomfoolery, but Wal Mart also happens to be right across the street from the gym & they have somne cute work out wear...

4)Seeing how many playlists that I can possibly make on the ipod
I refrain from making such playlists for every mood that I possibly have. There is no need to have a "pissed b/c I am poor" or "lonely Friday night" list. Yeah, I have the regulars like "Chilling," "going out" and cleaning house-- but I also have some more obscure stuff like "nightmoves", "college classics", "Comedians Live", "This American Life episodes" and have even planned ahead for when I don't have time to download "Christmas Music".

What I'm listening to......."Juicy"/Better than Ezra

Summer Reading 2

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. ~James Bryce

So in case you cannot tell, I am making up for some lost time on this blog thing. I have not spent as much time with it as I would have liked, but whattya do? I guess it would help if I had a job where I was in front of a computer more, but I didn't end up temping so I am back at square one at trying to make some time for it. I guess that I have been spending too much time reading. In fact, I am not only gonna take a break from the pool, but I am planning on taking a reading break as well. However, here are the titles that I plan on reading on my vacation & will end my summer reading list:
1)Barbara Kingsolver Omnibus
This was a book that was totally "more bang for the buck" because there are three novels in it for 5 bucks. This is the author of "The Poisonwood Bible" (back when I was on the Oprah Reading List circuit.

2) The Corrections
This is a story of a dysfunctional family & goes into different vignettes throughout the book about each one of the characters in the story & their relation to family.

3)The Giver
I read this one a long time ago when I was a kid, but I am going to use it as a read aloud fro my class so I wanted to read it again. Ordinarily, I don't have the attention span to read something agin or watch a movie twice--but this is a pretty quick read & the only book that I have right now that fits perfectly in my purse.....all my other ones are too big.

4)The Reader
I haven't started this one yet, but it looks pretty good love story.

5)The Patchwork Planet
A story about a thirtysomething guy that doesn't really fit in to society's norms & his struggle for acceptance. Yeah, perhaps a little familiar? I have read Ann Tyler before & I won't have to think too hard while reading this one, which is probably good because I plan on partaking a few adult cocktails since our beachhouse will have it's own pool..........

What I'm listening to right now....."First Day of My Life"/Bright Eyes

Aerobics

The word aerobics came about when the gym instructors got together and said, "If we're going to charge $10 an hour, we can't call it jumping up and down." ~Rita Rudner

Yesterday was a good day. When I woke up I went to Starbuck's & treated myself to some coffee. I then moseyed over to Half Price Books. I love that place. Now my summer reading is complete. (I will save my titles for another blog entry.)No more buying books. I have enough to last me the next 3 weeks until school starts up....

Anyway, I had intended in going to the gym to make proper use of the caffeine rush, but it ended up being cancelled due to instructor illness. I can't say that I really minded. In fact, I was kinda grateful to just hang out on the treadmill for a bit& listen to the ipod. However, I realized that this is really pretty short-lived entertainment so I moved on to the exercise bike & started on one of the books that I had just purchased. I won't make mention of the book that I got (it was clearanced. Otherwise, I wouldn't have even paid half price for it.)Let's just say that it was a self-help book that was right at the aisle where you go to pay. I found it how ironic that I went to lengths to make sure that I covered up the title at all times so that no one else at the gym knew what I was reading. I had to giggle a bit at the irony of hiding a self-help book at a place that is basically a self-help establishment. Sometimes I will even go as far as to cover up what article I am in reading when a new Cosmopolitan comes in & I peruse through it at the treadmill like, "How to have a great Orgasm", "How top make your man Scream for More", or "How to Look Good in a Bathing Suit Even Though Your Too fat to be wearing one out in Public".
Ahhhhh the gym..... Are there enough good things to say about it? No wonder those gym rats are such weirdos, I would be too if I had to constantly conceal my identity.....hee hee

What I'm Listening to......."Always On Your Side"/Sheryl Crow & Sting

Rest is not idleness

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. ~John Lubbock

Saturday I went to Heather's pool. Believe it or not, I have decided that I am kinda over the sun until vacation.(the last week of July--in 2 wks) My skin feels super dry (regardless of moisturizing) & I am starting to realize that my precious time is dwindling. Therefore, I am going to stay out of the sun until then. Anyway, after that I met up with dad to go to dinner. We went to a new place downtown that he had heard about. Then we went to go see Prates of the Carribean, but of course it was sold out. Therefore, much to dad's dissappointment we went to see The Devil Wears Prada. It was ok, but nothing to write home about.

What I'm listening to......."First In flight"/Blackalicious

Bats Game

A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz. ~Humphrey Bogart

I hadn't been down to the ballpark since I went for Thunder for a game so I met mom down there Friday. I was fully prepared & ate before I came so I would not be hungry. As long as I kept talking to mom I didn't tend to think about all of the wonderful things that I think that a baseball game has to offer. Screw the game, I'm talking beer, bologna sandwiches and nachos. Hey, let's not forget about the hot dogs and ice cream either. While I didn't partake in any of these extravagancies, I did enjoy a diet coke & conversation from mom..
Yeah, better not go back until I lam off the diet......I have no willpower. Goods thing I ate before I went is all I gotta say.

What I'm listening to......."Heard 'e, Say/"Kanye West

Competition with myself

A diet is the penalty we pay for exceeding the feed limit. ~Author Unknown

So there is a Summer Shape Up Program at my gym. It has sparked some motivation, as there is a competition for those that complete 50 classes before Labor Day. If you complete the 50 classes, then you get 3 months for free. I am wanting to extend my membership but find during the school year that I am unable to get there more than twice a week. Therefore, it is making me feel better about that $39 I am spending a month. However, there is a bit of a problem. There is really only 2 more available weeks that I will be able to try to get most of these classes in. There are 2 weeks before I go on vacation with my family, so I am trying to pack at least 3 classes in a day. I am even going as far as going to the other Gold's Gym location is order to successfully complete the program. Therefore, this shape up has become my life since I started last week (the day after July 4th)My goal at the beginning of the summer was to lose at least 20 lbs over break. I am anticipating that this will happen & the competition is making it easier to not want to eat. I am hoping for the best. It has been a total commmittment, but I realize that it's only a couple of weeks & I tend to wait until the last minute anyway. I will kepp ya posted............
What I'm listening to......."I Turn my camera On"/Spoon

Holiday World

Went to Holiday World with the fam. Had a great time except that the new eroller coaster was shut down for the day. Bummer! Oh well! We had a good time, despite the fact that it was a scorcher outside. George, Jaosn & I wenbt on all of the coasters & took Natalie along on some of the rides. She really seemed to like the bumper boats. One of the best parts was that you got to go to these "Pepsi Oasis" plaecd all over the park & got to drink as much as you want. I always appreciate plaecs that have Gatorade as a fountain drink option, & it was orange flavor, nonetheless. Can a girl get any more lucky??

Heather's B-day

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. ~Marion C. Garretty

For my sister's b-day we went downtown. The kids have never been to Hard Rock Cafe so we took them downtown to Fourth Steet Live. We hung out the day at the pool so the kids were fairly tired anyway (as was I) but we managed to have a great time & then listen to the music afterwards outside for a little while. My sister will be 30 next year. That is too weird!

Then, the following night, I took Heather out by myself. We were happy to have a girl's night out, even happier thaqt there were drink specials downtown & we didn't have to spend a lot of money. We ended to evening with a Taco Bell run.....it was a girl's night out.....it just had to be done.