I've put on some weight this past year, which is driving me crazy. Finally motivated by frustration, tight clothes, and the promise of a pretty new dress, I've been eating healthy the past few weeks. No more junk food, lots of fruits and veggies, the usual. The fact that it's Restaurant week (which is actually two weeks) has been counter-productive. Oh yeah, all the wine and sangria that one must indulge in to get thru New York's current heat wave is a major calorie-upper as well. Water, schmater - when it's 96 degrees and disgustingly humid, you have to drink sangria. So after three weeks of (semi) hard work, I weigh exactly the same. It's time to start moving.
So I decided to pick yoga back up.
I love yoga - it's relaxing and strenuous all at the same time. Your body loves it, and it's always nice to have a happy body. I haven't taken a class in about 6 months, even though I got this fabulous coupon book at the beginning of the year - basically like an Entertainment Guide - 2 classes at one studio, a week at another, etc. I decided it's time to make a dent in this book, besides the coupons I've given out to others.
Yesterday I looked online for a basic yoga class - something light to ease me back in. I looked at a number of websites, trying to find a class in the hour I had available between work and another Restaurant week reservation. Exhale had a class 5:30 -6:30 that mentioned pilates, and I signed right up.
Apparently I mixed up what I read on other websites with what I thought this class would entail.
I get there, take out my mat, and realize no one else has a mat. Sheepishly, I put it back away and get the equipment everyone else had - a 4 - 5" red rubber ball, hand weights, and a strap. Maybe it's yoga without mats? The instructor starts out with "Welcome to Core Fusion!"
Core Fusion is Pilates Aerobics ON CRACK. It's the most intense, strenuous class I've ever taken. EVER. We worked our legs, arms, butt & abs until they couldn't take anymore, until they were shaking so badly you were sure you couldn't last the 10 more reps the instructor just declared was next. The "break" between working each muscle group was 15 push-ups. At the end of the class I wobbled out like a big mound of Jello.
This is Exhale's description of the class: "Fusing the disciplines of core conditioning, Pilates, the Lotte Berk Method, interval cardio training, and yoga, this highly-acclaimed and publicized mind body experience incorporates 50 years of collective teacher expertise from co-founders Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp. Allowing you to work from the inside out, this transformational class consistently delivers results, including washboard abs, a tighter and higher backside, long, lean muscles, and an athletic, toned body."
A friend had taken this class for awhile, and told me it never gets easier. It's amazing how much they can squeeze in an hour. I hated and loved how it felt. While it was the complete opposite of the class I thought I had signed up for, I can't wait to go back. Once I stop feeling like Jello.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Twilight strikes again
This morning I got on the subway, and there was this guy around our age in a suit, taking up two seats with his legs wide open. I said, "Excuse me," he GLARED at me and moved over. There was a paper on the seat, so I asked him if it was his - he glared at me again like I was lower than low, and continued shopping for ties on his phone.
I dropped the newspaper on the floor, sat down, and thought about why this guy was so rude to me. Maybe it was a bad day? Maybe his girlfriend had just dropped him and he was anti-women? Maybe he really is that well endowed, and needed the extra room? But I decided it was that it was that he's a vampire and I'm like how Bella is to Edward - his specialty, or favorite type of human to drink from/kill. He had to look at me with disdain and stay away from me so he didn't suck my blood.
This is why I shouldn't read those books.
I dropped the newspaper on the floor, sat down, and thought about why this guy was so rude to me. Maybe it was a bad day? Maybe his girlfriend had just dropped him and he was anti-women? Maybe he really is that well endowed, and needed the extra room? But I decided it was that it was that he's a vampire and I'm like how Bella is to Edward - his specialty, or favorite type of human to drink from/kill. He had to look at me with disdain and stay away from me so he didn't suck my blood.
This is why I shouldn't read those books.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Man Booker Prize: AFotW
"Merry Christmas to Me!" this year was a MoMa membership and a ton of books. I usually look at lists posted here and there to get an idea of what's new and great. Not the best seller list - no judgement, but I seem to prefer books not on that list. And, thanks to Google, I stumbled upon the Man Booker List. It looked like an intriguing group of books, most I hadn't heard of. Ta-dah - New goal for the year is to read all of 2008's list. Why 2008 instead of 2009? 2008's list is cheaper.
The first foray is A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz. Critics compared Toltz's first novel to A Confederacy of Dunces - a book I have mixed feelings about. I can't stand Ignatius J. Reilly, and I am constantly disgusted while reading about his antics, and his valve problems. At the same time, I loved reading about those same antics, valve problems and all, and couldn't put the damn book down. It's an amazingly well written novel that brings joy & disgust all at the same time. So I figured AFotW would at the least be intriguing and, hopefully, well written.
It was! It is! I enjoyed the story but the writing is what makes this book. The sentences, the concepts strung together are awesome. I can't wait to read the rest of the Man Booker list, and feel like I've stumbled upon a plethera of potentially amazing books - yay! Below are my favorite quotes from AFotW:
- The moment seemed endless, but it was probably only half that.
- As I passed through the gates, the blistered hands of nostalgia gave my heart a good squeeze and I realized you miss shit times as well as good times, because at the end of the day what you're really missing is just time itself.
- No, why air every ugly, negative, loopy, idiotic thought that floats through the head? That's why when you're standing by the harbor, and your lover says, in a tender embrace, "What are you thinking about?" you don't respond, "That I hate people and I wish they'd fall down and never get up." I'm telling you. You just can't say it. I don't know much about women, but I do know that.
- The interior of the Sydney casino looks as if Vegas had an illegitimate child with Liberace's underpants, and that child fell down a staircase and hit its head on the edge of a spade.
- "Because you're like a son to me" "No, I'm not. We're more like distant cousins secretly checking each other out."
- I'd already made two attempts at seeing her, and both times I'd come off looking pathetic. The first time I returned a bra that belonged to her that she'd left in my hut, and the second time I returned a bra belonging to her that I'd actually bought that morning in a department store.
- Occasionally we gave each other looks that said, "Things are out of our hands but we have to do something, and this knowing look is it."
- Your father doesn't know how to cuddle, that's all. He only uses one arm!"
- His worldview seemd to be something like "This place sucks. Let's refurbish."
- Or about how if you listen closely, you discover that people aren't really ever FOR something but instead are just opposed to its opposite.
The first foray is A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz. Critics compared Toltz's first novel to A Confederacy of Dunces - a book I have mixed feelings about. I can't stand Ignatius J. Reilly, and I am constantly disgusted while reading about his antics, and his valve problems. At the same time, I loved reading about those same antics, valve problems and all, and couldn't put the damn book down. It's an amazingly well written novel that brings joy & disgust all at the same time. So I figured AFotW would at the least be intriguing and, hopefully, well written.
It was! It is! I enjoyed the story but the writing is what makes this book. The sentences, the concepts strung together are awesome. I can't wait to read the rest of the Man Booker list, and feel like I've stumbled upon a plethera of potentially amazing books - yay! Below are my favorite quotes from AFotW:
- The moment seemed endless, but it was probably only half that.
- As I passed through the gates, the blistered hands of nostalgia gave my heart a good squeeze and I realized you miss shit times as well as good times, because at the end of the day what you're really missing is just time itself.
- No, why air every ugly, negative, loopy, idiotic thought that floats through the head? That's why when you're standing by the harbor, and your lover says, in a tender embrace, "What are you thinking about?" you don't respond, "That I hate people and I wish they'd fall down and never get up." I'm telling you. You just can't say it. I don't know much about women, but I do know that.
- The interior of the Sydney casino looks as if Vegas had an illegitimate child with Liberace's underpants, and that child fell down a staircase and hit its head on the edge of a spade.
- "Because you're like a son to me" "No, I'm not. We're more like distant cousins secretly checking each other out."
- I'd already made two attempts at seeing her, and both times I'd come off looking pathetic. The first time I returned a bra that belonged to her that she'd left in my hut, and the second time I returned a bra belonging to her that I'd actually bought that morning in a department store.
- Occasionally we gave each other looks that said, "Things are out of our hands but we have to do something, and this knowing look is it."
- Your father doesn't know how to cuddle, that's all. He only uses one arm!"
- His worldview seemd to be something like "This place sucks. Let's refurbish."
- Or about how if you listen closely, you discover that people aren't really ever FOR something but instead are just opposed to its opposite.
Monday, November 23, 2009
False Gods
There is a good church! And it’s in New York! Miracles really do happen.
From the sarcastic tone above, you can probably discern I don’t quite love the idea of church again, yet. The yet on the end of that sentence is a very new addition, and an interesting one. My boyfriend goes to church, and occasionally, I invite myself along. It was very emotional the first time I attended, especially during worship (singing the hymns & praise songs) – it surprised me how uncomfortable I was, how quickly old emotions rushed to the surface. I haven’t been in a Christian church (besides my few experiences w/ St. Patrick’s) since 2002 or 2003. The same feelings came back, along with the doubt & distrust that is mixed in, and usually prevails.
The first time I went was to see what this part of the boy’s life was about. I’ve gone back since to hear the pastor talk. This guy is smart, logical, and has a sense of humor – and he’s a pastor! He talks to the congregation like they’re adults, uses real life situations to help you understand, and – my favorite part – uses sources other than the Bible to support the point he’s sharing with us. It is incredibly frustrating to have someone stand behind an alter/podium, speak down to me, and declare that’s the way it is – all because the Bible said so. For those who are more on the doubters side than the believers, we need the additional references – we need to see additional support to believe/agree/understand the topic/subject.
Another reason it’s good I keep going is because I’m thinking about religion again. Religion, and my feelings regarding it, has been on the backburner for a number of years now, and I figured it was probably a good thing to start thinking about, start looking into again.
Last night’s service touched on suffering, and false gods. A main point was that when you have false gods, you put your hopes/ambitions toward them, and when they collapse, as they inevitably do, you end up floundering, trying to get your feet back under you, but the anchor you were using is gone, so it’s difficult.
I have false gods. I have tons and tons of them.
All my efforts are put into my family, job, relationships, hair, outfits, diets, Gonzaga’s basketball team, learning, knitting, etc. And it’s true – when things crash & burn, or don’t work out as planned, I get upset, watch When Harry Met Sally, and flounder about, until I find something else to focus that part of my efforts on, or a new goal for that same subject.
All of this isn’t news, and everyone’s heard this theory a gazillion times. My false gods and my reactions when things go awry isn’t remotely surprising.
What is news is that while listening to this sensible, smart man discuss this topic, I had a desire to push aside this repetitive pattern and go to God. Make him my anchor for the first time as an adult, and see what it’s like, compared to my teenage experience.
Of course, as soon as this desire popped into my head, I mulled over it for about 30 seconds, then pushed it back down – that’s a big thought, leading to big, complicated decisions much more difficult than deciding which hairstyle to wear, or which book to read next. But it is still there, waiting for more reflection.
From the sarcastic tone above, you can probably discern I don’t quite love the idea of church again, yet. The yet on the end of that sentence is a very new addition, and an interesting one. My boyfriend goes to church, and occasionally, I invite myself along. It was very emotional the first time I attended, especially during worship (singing the hymns & praise songs) – it surprised me how uncomfortable I was, how quickly old emotions rushed to the surface. I haven’t been in a Christian church (besides my few experiences w/ St. Patrick’s) since 2002 or 2003. The same feelings came back, along with the doubt & distrust that is mixed in, and usually prevails.
The first time I went was to see what this part of the boy’s life was about. I’ve gone back since to hear the pastor talk. This guy is smart, logical, and has a sense of humor – and he’s a pastor! He talks to the congregation like they’re adults, uses real life situations to help you understand, and – my favorite part – uses sources other than the Bible to support the point he’s sharing with us. It is incredibly frustrating to have someone stand behind an alter/podium, speak down to me, and declare that’s the way it is – all because the Bible said so. For those who are more on the doubters side than the believers, we need the additional references – we need to see additional support to believe/agree/understand the topic/subject.
Another reason it’s good I keep going is because I’m thinking about religion again. Religion, and my feelings regarding it, has been on the backburner for a number of years now, and I figured it was probably a good thing to start thinking about, start looking into again.
Last night’s service touched on suffering, and false gods. A main point was that when you have false gods, you put your hopes/ambitions toward them, and when they collapse, as they inevitably do, you end up floundering, trying to get your feet back under you, but the anchor you were using is gone, so it’s difficult.
I have false gods. I have tons and tons of them.
All my efforts are put into my family, job, relationships, hair, outfits, diets, Gonzaga’s basketball team, learning, knitting, etc. And it’s true – when things crash & burn, or don’t work out as planned, I get upset, watch When Harry Met Sally, and flounder about, until I find something else to focus that part of my efforts on, or a new goal for that same subject.
All of this isn’t news, and everyone’s heard this theory a gazillion times. My false gods and my reactions when things go awry isn’t remotely surprising.
What is news is that while listening to this sensible, smart man discuss this topic, I had a desire to push aside this repetitive pattern and go to God. Make him my anchor for the first time as an adult, and see what it’s like, compared to my teenage experience.
Of course, as soon as this desire popped into my head, I mulled over it for about 30 seconds, then pushed it back down – that’s a big thought, leading to big, complicated decisions much more difficult than deciding which hairstyle to wear, or which book to read next. But it is still there, waiting for more reflection.
Monday, August 10, 2009
I want to be a Yogi (Yogini?) - something like that
I decided i should start taking yoga classes. I have had the mat, videos, and books for years, and have used these items from time to time with varying degrees of dedication, but have never taken an actual class before. And I've always liked the idea of being one of those people who go to yoga - they're more centered, zen-ish, and bendier than me (which isn't hard considering I can't touch my toes). So I asked a woman at my work, who is basically a yogi, where's a good place to go. She tells me about this great studio in Union Square (a location I like), above
First I had to really think about if I wanted to start doing this. I mean, it costs money, I'm already quite busy, and I truly hate working out. I like yoga videos occasionally, but even gyms w/ yoga classes are too ugh - I just hate it. Add spending money to do something I can’t stand, and you can see why I don't exercise! So I kept the email, and just looked at it once in a while. Once or twice I even clicked on the website. The opening photo had a girl doing a position that did not look pleasant, but her hair was in pigtails. I like pigtails.
In June I decided I wanted to be Lolita for Halloween this year. My friends and I saw someone rock this costume last year. She had a 50's style swimsuit, big hat, red heart-shaped sunglasses, and was sucking on a lollipop. I loved it - I wanted to run into the bathroom w/ her and exchange costumes so I could stare at people seductively from behind red heart-shaped sunglasses. I refrained, mostly because I don't think the rest of the bar wanted to see me in a 50's bikini.
I now had motivation for yoga. I want to be Lolita next year for Halloween and wear a bikini in a bar all night.
So first I had to find my yoga clothes. I decided I wasn’t going to spend more money on workout clothes so I had to dig through my closet and find my two workout outfits. That took awhile. Then I decided I needed a bag for my yoga mat – I can’t just carry the mat, that’s ludicrous. And I can’t buy one – remember, I’m spending a minimal amount of money on this new venture. So I found a pattern to knit a yoga bag. (and yes, I used yarn I already had, so no additional costs there).
At this point, I did get a few comments about procrastination, and my avoidance of attending classes. I protested my true need for a bag and inability to bend into crazy positions without one, finished said bag, and ran out of reasons to not go.
So I’m attending classes! And enjoying it – I have favorite teachers, favorite positions, etc. While I have to admit I’m often the comic relief of the class while trying to “find my center”, it is actually enjoyable. I’ll provide details on that last sentence soon. And hopefully while in my 50’s style bikini.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Self-Realization
Over the weekend, I learned something about myself. You know those times when you react to something small, and realize that's how you always react to similar situations (big or small), and wham, a character trait you never knew you had is suddenly there before your eyes? That you're THAT type of person?
Well, that happened to me. Something happened, I reacted, and realized what that meant about my personality. This surprised me, I thought it over, and decided to blog about it.
Trouble is, I can't recall what it was! Must have been quite the realization, huh?
Well, that happened to me. Something happened, I reacted, and realized what that meant about my personality. This surprised me, I thought it over, and decided to blog about it.
Trouble is, I can't recall what it was! Must have been quite the realization, huh?
Friday, July 24, 2009
Worlds Colliding
I had this idea probably 6 years ago, while emailing my BFF instead of working, about the next Harry Potter book that was coming out shortly. We were debating all the possibilities of what the next book could entail, what would happen, etc, etc. This was our idea of What Would Happen Next:
Harry will meet Voldemort and they'll fight, and Voldemort will suddenly declare that Snape was Harry's father - Snape always loved Lily and had tempted her away from James for a short bit, but she went back to James, even though he was not the father of her child. Harry will run off, scared and confused to the swampy Degabond System (same planet the Weasley's live on) and there Dumbledore will teach Harry more about the force, and show him the way.
Then Ron & Hermoine would get together, because Hermoine is the smart, magical one, and Han So-, I mean Ron is the humerous one. The Weasley twins hang out w/ them occasionally, making odd sounds, and Ron's response is always "You said it, Chewy".
Harry will be tempted by the Dark Side, in an attempt to bring his mother back, but will have learned enough magic and knowledge to know that path leads to no good. He'll be angry at Snape, but try to convince him Voldemort is evil, and not the person to follow. Snape will appreciate the effort, and say so, which'll fix Harry's father issues, and he'll never be conflicted again. Snape will also tell him that Harry & Hermoine are twins, seperated at birth, with Hermoine hidden in a Muggle family.
Ron & Hermoine will have lots of babies who are funny AND fabulous at magic - they'll look like Ewoks, rule the world, and amuse people w/ stories of their parents and their parent's friends who saved the world way back in the day from the clutches of Darth Vader.
Harry will meet Voldemort and they'll fight, and Voldemort will suddenly declare that Snape was Harry's father - Snape always loved Lily and had tempted her away from James for a short bit, but she went back to James, even though he was not the father of her child. Harry will run off, scared and confused to the swampy Degabond System (same planet the Weasley's live on) and there Dumbledore will teach Harry more about the force, and show him the way.
Then Ron & Hermoine would get together, because Hermoine is the smart, magical one, and Han So-, I mean Ron is the humerous one. The Weasley twins hang out w/ them occasionally, making odd sounds, and Ron's response is always "You said it, Chewy".
Harry will be tempted by the Dark Side, in an attempt to bring his mother back, but will have learned enough magic and knowledge to know that path leads to no good. He'll be angry at Snape, but try to convince him Voldemort is evil, and not the person to follow. Snape will appreciate the effort, and say so, which'll fix Harry's father issues, and he'll never be conflicted again. Snape will also tell him that Harry & Hermoine are twins, seperated at birth, with Hermoine hidden in a Muggle family.
Ron & Hermoine will have lots of babies who are funny AND fabulous at magic - they'll look like Ewoks, rule the world, and amuse people w/ stories of their parents and their parent's friends who saved the world way back in the day from the clutches of Darth Vader.
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