Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Love me or leave me. A word to the wise: this has MY personal views in it.

So, sometime in the night I woke up not having been able to sleep really well. I got a message from a [now former] friend of mine on facebook asking me to stop eating at Chick-Fil-A because of their anti-gay agenda.

Now, as many of you who've known me for years, you know I am neither prejudice, nor homophobic in any way. My personal opinion is that I think everyone should be allowed to marry whomever they want to. If you want to be miserable as the straight people, feel free.


So, let's begin shall we? I want to put a disclaimer in here, so that all who dare to say anything bad against me, just beware... these are my VIEWS and MY VIEWS alone. I would never want to shove these down your throat hence the warning when I posted the blog in the first place. Also, if you do not share my views that is fine with me. I will love you no less because of it, and I will continue to hold our friendships dearly to my heart no matter what.


You're about to read my views on hot topics within the world of politics. I may or may not elaborate on why I chose to take the side of what I did, and if you decide that I am no longer friend-worthy to you, then I am sorry you will be losing a very intelligent, loving, caring piece of your life.


Abortion: I am pro-choice. not just for rapes, but for the idiots that get themselves knocked up. Why? Because I'm not the one who has to live with that blood on my hands. If you want to be irresponsible and get knocked up, then you should have to also suffer the mental and sometimes physical retaliations of an abortion, should you choose to have one.

 Affirmative Action: ((Definition: refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group "in areas of employment, education, and business", usually justified as countering the effects of a history of discrimination.)) Well, I have to say I am probably more PRO-AA than I am ANTI. And that is because this tends to take on policies that are outdated and not current with the world we live in. And so to discriminate based on anything, race, creed, religion, orientation, is wrong on many accounts.

Taxes: Everyone is in a huff about this one, so I won't say much. But as someone who dutifully pays her taxes and is above the poverty line, I think some changes need to be made, and the scales balanced out.

Death Penalty: I am PRO death penalty. So much so I think a firing squad should be welcomed in every state. If you're going to do the crime, you'll do the time, and sometimes you will be put to death. Why should someone get a tiny needle injection after brutally raping, murdering, and dismembering someone's wife and family? Highly unfair.

Education: Let's all take a step back. We need to get back to basics. Stop focusing on testing, and go back to TEACHING. Yes, education needs more money. But we also need less stupid people breeding and holding back those who effectively parent their children.

Environment: Green house gases! Global warming! Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo (ghost sound). Yeah.... Let's just recycle more? I have seen leaps and bounds in my short time here in this planet, and I have hope for the future.

Euthanasia (Right to Die): Yes. Just, YES. If someone wants to die, let them die. Let them sign a paper that says the doctor is not responsible, and let them go.

First Amendment, Free Speech, & the Internet: 1) Yes. Speak your opinion. I will listen, except when it impedes my life. 2) Yes, speak it, blog it, protest it, however you see fit, just don't interrupt the life around you. 3) the internet is a whole new universe, and therefore should be policed accordingly.

Gay Rights: I'm all for the LGBT community having the same rights as I have. Like I said before, let them be as miserable in their marriage as many straight couples are today. Let them fight the SS office to claim their dead husband's money. Let them be subjected to DCF visits and counseling with no prejudice. I want them to have it all. and I'm serious.

Guns: I am PRO-GUNS. Suck it up! There is no such thing as a dangerous gun, only the person behind the trigger. But you can say the same about an airplane, a car, a bottle of bleach and ammonia. Anything can be a weapon, a gun is just a more effective one. I have a limitation of course, and I think guns should be outlawed in high-crime areas. Not just the people who are felons being restricted, but if you live within a high-crime neighborhood you should be banned from guns.

Health Care: Give it away. We should be like Canada.

Immigration: I'm all for it. Let them come here, after all it's what the British did to the Indians. Let them take our jobs and our education and our welfare. This is a free land, and we should welcome all those who seek opportunity and freedom!

Jobs: Sometimes you just have to spend more to make more. Keep buying, people, and the jobs will come!

Military, War, & Veterans: We need to thank each and every person who has served in our armed services. And then because we were too chicken to go ourselves, we need to take care of them. We need more veteran services, and healthcare, but mostly, we need more UNDERSTANDING and COMPASSION for those who are mentally and/or physically affected.

 Women: I think the scales are unbalanced here also. I make less because I have more emotion in my decision making? Maybe we should have a female president SOONER rather than LATER, so we can bring some compassion back into the world, instead of it being cut-throat politics. Vagina power!!

And there you have it. Those are my views. Please, do not debate with me or try to change my mind. I am pretty confident in my opinions. They may not be the "RIGHT" ones, but that's the thing. There is NO RIGHT and NO WRONG. There is only opinion. And what's sad is people are fighting and killing each other based on those beliefs when it's so wrong to do so. If you are pro-life, that's AWESOME. I hope that you have a valid reason for it, and I will value any input you have. But you won't change my mind. Do you think homosexuals are an abomination based on your religion? Well, I can't say I blame you, as religion is just that, a set of beliefs. And I will respect your religion if you respect my LGBT friends. When you stop doing that, I will squash you!


When did we stop looking at ourselves as people and only focus on what we believe in? There's so much more to me. I have intelligence, compassion, honesty, and a knack for telling good one-liners. Nowhere on our friendship application did I have to answer or defend my views, and neither did you... so why are you holding it against me? Bigotry on all sides is what is bringing this country down. The hippies had something right, I must say. Not the crazy ones, but the ones who loved everyone and hugged trees and smoked pot all day long. Yeah. those guys.



Tomato Update!

Just a quickie here! I was supposed to update this yesterday, and although I took the picture, I was running late for work so I had no time to update! :-O

So here it is, my little tomato plant. I don't see much of a height difference, however I noticed a few more sprouts coming from the stalk than I did last week. So I must be doing something right! :)


I really can't wait for the day I get to pluck a juicy tomato from this plant and eat it. I will be swelling with pride for sure!!! :) :)

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Couch to 5K, Week 1 Workout 1

Brisk five-minute warm-up walk.
Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging
and 90 seconds of walking
for a total of 20 minutes.


Let me just start off by facepalming myself. I didn't take any paper or anything with me, and ended up alternating my "run"/walk for 35 minutes! No wonder I'm tired!!

That being said, let's move on.

My husband came with me last night. Which was pretty awesome. He didn't start the program, but he came for a walk with me and I ended up leaving him behind around the first half-mile. When I got close to the 1 1/2 mile mark I did turn around and headed back to him, so all in all not only did I overkill and successfully complete Week 1 Workout 1 of the challenge, it made me do almost 2 1/2 miles as my distance. AWESOME!

When I first started, I thought "Maybe this won't be so bad. I mean a minute goes by so quick, I won't even realize I'm running!" ..... Yeah. No.

After the first three sets, I started to hyperventilate. After all, I was not only out of my comfort zone, but I realized just how unfit I really am. I pushed through, and although this wasn't a fast-paced run (I guess it was closer to a jog? But it was faster than a walk..) I definitely stuck to the 60/90 ratio. By the time 32 minutes rolled around (which included my 5min walk), I decided it was good enough, because I thought it was supposed to be for 30 minutes total, not 20.

I am thankful I had Mr. Clippy with me. Music definitely helped me out a lot and kept me from focusing on the time and let me enjoy running, even if just a teeny tiny bit. I recommend if you're an iPod user to get the podcast called the "CLUBcast". It's different DJs who mix in clubs, and the music flows nicely. It has some music I don't care for (rap), but sometimes they mix so you can't even hear the words.... it's a nice distraction overall. And the podcast is free, and they last from 35-55 minutes each. (The other one I subscribe to, the "JogTunes Indie Podcast" has music that's unfamiliar to me, so I'm not as partial to it.....)

I had to come home and ice my knee after that. The cho-pat strap kept most of the swelling at bay, and the Sauconys I'm wearing are nice and cushion-y, so that helped too. But when I removed the strap the swelling started to show more. I iced my knee for about 10 minutes, than took a hot shower (which turned into a lukewarm shower in about 2 minutes) to cool off.

As of this morning, this is still some swelling leftover, but I guess I can make it through work today. At least I have tomorrow off!

Overall reaction to this program: Optimistic
Hungover feeling: Refreshed, yet achy
:-)


I can't win, I can't reign
I will never win this game
Without you, without you
I am lost, I am vain,
I will never be the same
Without you, without you

I won't run, I won't fly
I will never make it by
Without you, without you
I can't rest, I can't fight
All I need is you and I,
Without you, without you
-"Without You", David Guetta

Friday, July 20, 2012

Jump Rope, Rollercoaster, Whatever you call it, it's no fun

What a fuckin week. Pardon my language, but I feel entitled to using it after this week. And the week's not even over yet!!! I still have to survive work today, AND tomorrow. Let's just jump right in, shall we?

Down: I stopped exercising. Where I was about to type "I have no idea why" I will fill in with this: I'm lazy and fat. It hurt. I got tired easily. Despite all of the positive effects I felt (increased energy, increased self esteem), I just stopped. And now I feel like a train wreck. I probably look like one too. I have no energy at all now, because I'm not creating energy. My husband doesn't understand why I'm tired at 8 o'clock when I don't have an extremely energy-heavy job (I'm a supervisor for a department store, I pretty much just walk around all day), but I don't have the gusto to tell him it's cuz I stopped exercising and started up with my old bad eating habits.

Up: The tomato plant I bought on Monday is still alive!! This is a small plus, as I tend to kill every plant I touch!!

Down: As mentioned above, I started with my bad eating habits again. I overeat at breakfast, which as filling as it is makes me sluggish for the day. My lunches have been coming later and later at work due to construction so I'll eat at say... 8 AM and not eat again until 2 or 3 PM. Sometimes 4 PM. Then I'll come home and eat dinner, which is protein heavy, around 6:30/7 and then be immediately tired.

Up: Construction at work is almost done! It **should** have been done yesterday but for whatever reason the construction guys were 24 hours behind schedule. But right now and since Monday we've had our check-out lines all messed up because they hadn't built the wait lines yet, so maybe today (since today is the 24 hour post-scheduled date) it will be done when I go in at 1. I can only hope that today we have a correct check out. The customers are driving me nuts!

Down: I feel so fat. With the stoppage of exercising and not looking at what I'm eating, I feel like a pig, I'm sure I've gained at least 5 or so pounds back, and I just can't find an inspiration to get back on it. I literally am throwing myself a pity party right now, tears and all, because I WANT to be in shape, but I can't BEAR how hard it is for me!! I know, it's hard for everyone, I know I'm not the only person who struggles with this, but what do I do when I have no hope for myself?

I'm so angry right now. I'm also not surprised my husband hasn't set up the boxing stand we bought him for his birthday (which was the end of June). So of course I'm a little upset my that too. I want to punch something. Maybe I'll send him a message to get that set up today, and then I can beat something when I get home.


Ain't gonna waste my hate
Ain't gonna waste my hate on you
I think I'll keep it for myself
Ain't gonna give no more
Ain't got the time to help you score
I think it's time you pleased yourself
Yourself
-"Wasting My Hate", Metallica

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Mu-mu-mu-myyyyyy Tomato!

Just a quicky here this lovely Tuesday morning! I bought a baby tomato plant yesterday, and have high hopes that because it's bigger than the herbs I tried growing (that died) that I'll have a harder time killing it! (Obviously I'm not planning on killing it, these things just happen to me..)

So, here's my little guy, in a pot I've had forever, accompanied with a wormie moisture sensor thingy!


It's some sort of hybrid breed, but it says it'll grow tomatoes a little smaller than what a beefsteak tomato is, so that's good. :-)


I hope to make this a Tuesday occurrence, where I post a pic of my growing plant. I'll set a reminder on my phone to do it.

Anyway, Happy Tuesday everyone! Instead of my normal song lyric, I thought I'd share with you a YouTube video that makes my heart happy! (Dave Grohl & Josh Homme... YUM!)



Monday, July 16, 2012

Who do YOU want to BE??

So, on Thursday and Friday I [FINALLY!!] did my check-out dives for my Open-Water Certification. I can now officially dive up to 60' in open waters! YAYY!!!

Now, for an unexpected surprise and gift!! I had only met the instructor that was overseeing these dives a few days prior. His name is Lee, and he is a very experienced diver and a person who just seems to have done it all. He ended up riding with my mother and I up to the lake, and we had some decent conversations for the 2-hour drives (both ways) each day. (4 trips total).

I won't bore you with the specifics of the rants we had (About how rock from his day varied from rock of my day.. he's in his early 50's, me my mid-20's.) but when I brought up that I wanted to run a marathon as part of my bucket list, he gave me some awesome advice.

Here is a paraphrased blurb from him:

"You can't just work out to 'get healthy', you have to have a goal. If your sole purpose in the gym is to lose weight or get healthy, you're going to fail. It's nothing against you, or that you're doing something wrong, it's just human nature. Who REALLY enjoys being on a treadmill or elliptical for the sake of being on one? No one. The girl you see who'd rather get teeth pulled than finish her run on a treadmill has no place to be; she has no ending, no specific goal. Now, when you look next to her and see the guy with the gleam of determination in his eye, he's running as part of his training for an upcoming 5K. You can see that every bead of sweat is empowerment. Every muscle ache he'll feel is building his confidence. That is what I want you to take away from your training, Julie. Don't just start running to run. Don't start running with the hopes of one day running a marathon. Start running as if that marathon is next week. That doesn't mean to overexert yourself or hurt yourself, but it means you gotta focus on an end result and not focus on the process."



Now is that inspiration or what?

I think the reason I can't seem to tackle an exercise program is that I really have no current or immediate goal. Yes, I want to run to improve my knees, to lose weight, to get healthy... but what does that mean to me? When I drop my 50lbs, will I stop? I hope not, but without a specific goal in mind, where do I go from there? Forrest Gump may be the only man who can just "feel like running", but I'm not that kinda gal. I need end results, expectations, and guidelines. This couch to 5k program I'm trying to start seems like such a chore I can't even begin day 1.

This is how hoarding begins with people, I imagine. They have these great ideas that seem so easy in their head. So they start buying clothes to fill that void, because it gives them a temporary happiness, or they start bidding on china dolls because they think having the best collection will entitle them to something, but nothing ever becomes of it. They don't strive for something outside of their home, and so the buildup begins.

So, I have to ask myself, and you all.....

Who Do YOU Want To BE????


 Do you need to be a 5K runner? Do you need to be a marathoner? A mountain cyclist? A competitive swimmer? WHAT DRIVES YOU??!!!?!?!? 



I have been doing some soul-searching, and I really can't decide what I want to do. Not super-long-term anyway. But, I took Lee's advice to heart and instead of running to get fit, I'm going to run to start training for my first 5k. I haven't decided to which 5k I'll join, but I can always either: A- find one in a comfortable near-future, or B- make one up and make it a family event. Maybe I'll create my own 5k event at a local park? Or- I'll start with the smaller walk that the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society holds for their Light The Night event that my work partners with. That'll be coming up in November. I think that is a good starting point!

Anyway, what I want all of you to take away from this is that you should make sure you have a specific goal set in your mind when you're exercising. Otherwise, you'll feel like it's more of a punishment, your mind will start to drag its feet, and you'll be less willing to keep it up. If you don't have a goal, then set one! Even if it's not "race-related", set a goal. If you're a new runner like me, set some small milestones that show progress and also determination. My first goal will be to run for a whole minute without slowing down. That isa huge milestone for a blubber-butt like myself. :)


Now, to leave you with some lyrics. :-)


We can never go home
We no longer have one
I'll help you carry the load
I'll carry you in my arms
The kiss of the snow
The crescent (crashing) moon above us
Our blood is cold
And we're alone
But I'm alone with you

Help me to carry the fire
We will keep it alight together
Help me to carry the fire
It will light our way forever

-"No Sound But The Wind", Editors

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Inspiration for some Perspiration!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, a fellow blogger had posted about wanting some new signs for her fridge. Now, while everyone thinks of the not-so-original "Fatty fatty 2x4..." sign, I thought instead of insults, why not something more inspiring!!?!?!?

So, in honor of my fellow bloganista, I give you- inspiration!














I found most of these on pintrest, although the ones with the Aristotle quote are ones I made up to have as my desktop background... I hope you enjoy!


look me in the eye and tell me you don't find me attractive
look me in the heart and tell me that you wont go
look me in the eye and promise no love is like our love
look me in the heart and unbreak broken it wont happen

its love that leaves and breaks
the seal of always thinking you would be
real happy and healthy strong and calm
where does the good go
where does the good go
-"Where does the good go?" - Tegan & Sara

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Recipe!

Hey Y'all! Happy post-4th of July!

I hope everyone's calories stayed in control! Mine did not, however, I was in the pool ALL AFTERNOON playing volleyball and just swimming around, so that burn helped keep my food intake down.

Anyway, on to today's blog. It's a quickie, but a good one! It's a NEW RECIPE!!

I found this on Taste of Home's website, and did a little adjusting, but just a little. I made these in the evening on the 3rd for the BBQ we had yesterday.

My only advice would be to try and buy at least 10 extra tomatoes, as some will end up breaking when you scoop out the insides... it just happens! And if you manage not to, then you have a post-recipe snack! :)

Cucumber-Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
(25m prep time, 48 servings)

Ingredients:
**48 cherry tomatoes
**6oz garden veggie cream cheese, softened
**3 tbs light mayo w/ olive oil
**1/2c finely chopped peeled cucumber
**1 1/2 tbs finely chopped green onion
**2 tsp minced fresh dill
**pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. Cut a thin slice off the top of each tomato. Scoop out pulp carefully with butter knife. Turn upside down on paper towel to dry inside.
2. In small bowl, combine cream cheese and mayo until smooth. Stir in cucumber, dill, and onion. Spoon into tomatoes.
3. Refrigerate until serving

1 Tomato is approx 25 calories. I had some leftover filling which I used on discs of cucumber left over also. Like nachos with dip on them!! :)

This is the picture of mine, mid-creation. :) ENJOY!!






No I can't slow down
I can't hold back
Though you know I wish I could
No there ain't no rest for the wicked
Until we close our eyes for good

-"Ain't No Rest For The Wicked", Cage the Elephant