Because I am bored, I decided to steal this from someone's blog.
1) What is your salad dressing of choice? Ranch
2) What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Texas Road House
3) What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of? Mashed potatoes
4) What are your pizza toppings of choice? Italian Sausage and Pineapple
5) What do you like to put on your toast? Grape Jelly and Vegetable Oil (I call it butter but it isn't)
6) How many televisions are in your house? 3- but they are all my dad's
7) What color cell phone do you have? Grey/Black
8) Are you right-handed or left-handed? Left.
9) Have you ever had anything removed from your body? Yes, tonsils and wisdom teeth
10) The last heavy, item you lifted? Wookie. I like to pick her up and fake body slam her.
11) Have you ever been knocked unconscious? Not that I know of.
12) If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?Maybe the day, but not how.
13) If you could change your name, what would it be? I always wanted to go by my middle name when I was younger, but I'm comfortable with my name now.
14) Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? Depends on the bottle.
15) How many pairs of flip flops do you own? 2- one brown, one black
16) What’s your goal for the year? Save at least $25,000 between mine and A's paychecks
17) Last person you talked to? Wookie- oh wait, person would be A on Skype
18). Last person you hugged. Wookie, prior to that, I don't remember my last hug.
19) Favorite Season? Fall
20) Favorite Holiday? Halloween
21) Favorite day of the week: Mondays and Wednesdays right now because of Ceramics
22) Favorite Month? October- wedding, birthday, and halloween
23). First place you went this morning? back door to let Wookie outside.
24) What's the last movie you saw? A Very Brady Sequel was on TV today, and there really wasnt anything else on.
25) Do you smile often? Yes.
26) Do you always answer your phone? If someone actually calls me
27) It's four in the morning you get a text message, who is it? Maybe my brother after work if I had sent him something earlier in the day, or a friend in a different time zone.
28) If you could change your eye color what would it be? Green!
29) What flavor drink do you get at Sonic? I really like the DP but I'm trying to not drink cokes so lately its just powerade
30) Have you ever had a pet fish? No
31) Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night
32) What's on your wish list for your birthday? My husband to be home!
33) Can you do push ups? No
34) Can you do a chin up? Yes
35) Does the future make you more nervous or excited? Excited!!
36) Do you have any saved texts? No, but I had to look to know
37) Ever been in a car wreck? Yes
38) Do you have an accent? Apparently I do, even though I don't hear it
39) What is the last song to make you cry? No idea
40) Plans tonight? Hopefully finishing my quilt, working out, and watching the Buffy marathon on Chiller.
41) Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? Yes
42) Name 3 things you bought yesterday. Nothing, I didn't leave my house.
43) Have you ever been given roses? Never just roses, but I have gotten them in a bouquet with other flowers
44) Current hate right now? boredom and sore muscles
45) Met someone who changed your life? Yes!
46) How did you bring in the New Year? Went to my brother's house
47) What song represents you? I always thought it was Seven Years by Norah Jones or On My Own from Les Miserables
48) Name three people who might complete this? Probably just Holly or Tammie if anyone
49) What were you doing 12 AM last night? watching TV- but I cannot remember what I watched.
50) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? "Wookie! You're stealing my pillow!!"
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Insanity Day 2
So I repeat my whine that I am in such horrible shape from yesterday. Today, Day 2 was a 44 minute workout called Plyometric Cardio Circuit. I did pretty good, didn't survive the entire thing, but I did make it through 24 minutes. Its progress. Especially when I was already sweating and gasping for air after only the warm up.
The work out starts with jogging, then jumping jacks, high knees, butt kicks, the heisman, 1-2-3 (side stepping and doing the heisman), then mummy kicks. I must admit that the most difficult one for me to do is the 1-2-3. I am not coordinated enough for this movement. I nearly trip and fall everytime. It would actually be pretty funny to watch me attempt.
I'm getting better, this 60 day program may take me a little longer than 60 days to get the desired results, but at least I'm working on it. I'll keep y'all posted.
I do love the set up of these exercises. A timer to let you know how long until your next 30 second water break. A total time count down, and an instructor who actually speaks to the camera the way one would to an actual person.
I'm getting better, this 60 day program may take me a little longer than 60 days to get the desired results, but at least I'm working on it. I'll keep y'all posted.
Insanity Day 1
So tonight I decided I have had enough with being lazy and out of shape. Plus A comes home for 2 weeks in July and I don't want him to run screaming in the other directions because I have gotten someone fluffy. Almost 2 years ago A bought the Insanity 60 day workout series, and prior to our wedding I worked out a tad to it. Completely out of order, I just picked the workout I wanted to do and was done with it.
Tonight I attempted to start the workout in the correct fashion, beginning with the Fit Test and following the recommended order of discs. Tonight I also failed at completing the Fit Test. Of the 8 exercises that you complete for 60 seconds each, I accomplished the first 4 before I thought I was going to die.
As of right now my Day 1 FitTest Results are as follows:
1. Switch Kick- 392. Power Jacks- 40
3. Power Knees- 47
4. Power Jumps- 22
5. Globe Jumps- 06. Suicide Jumps- 0
7. Pushup Jacks- 0
8. Low Plank Oblique- 0I know that this is horrible, but I will continue with the workouts and go from here, in 2 weeks, even if the number of exercises 1-4 I complete stay the same, if I am able to make it through those without dying and do anything for 5-8 I know I will have improved.
My family will tell you that I am in great shape, that I have no reason to worry about my weight or tone, but that is just ridiculous. Everyone can stand to be in better shape, and I do not want to get to the point where everyone notices 100 yards away that I can stand to lose a few before taking steps to change it. I will actually post a picture of my Day 1 Self and hopefully in 60 days we will all see an improvement. I am hoping that by making all of y'all witnesses to this process it will force me to work at it. I am not the best person at sticking with something if I am not being held accountable. So if you see me slacking (not posting at least an affirmation daily about my pain) then please feel free to get on my case.And by the way, in the picture facing the camera, no- those are not the outline of nicely sculpted abs, they are creases. But they are deceptive if you are far away..
Sunday, February 20, 2011
A True Apocalypse
I do believe though that we as humans will eventually lead to our own apocalyptic fate. As seemingly impossible and unrealistic as they may be, movies like 28 Days (Weeks) Later and even the Resident Evil movies are truly the most probable depictions of what could come. Not because I think the dead will suddenly walk and decide to eat our brains, but simply because they are the results of human interference with gene development. I'm not misinformed about the wonderful advances to our existence that comes from the manipulation of genes, but I am also aware of the risks involved. Changing just one tiny aspect of a gene can turn a good protein into a poison, so whats to say that one misstep wouldn't turn normal, healthy people into primal, apathetic sociopaths? I guess I really just don't have very much faith in the "good intentions" of our society, and not just the United States but the world society. 
Does anyone truly doubt that as we, as the human race, are moving closer to the end of our world? I'm not suggesting an end of the world as we see in movies like The Day After Tomorrow, 2012, Dawn (Day) of the Dead, or even Zombieland. I do not believe that a random asteroid will plummet to earth creating massive disturbances or that we will experience freak weather patterns that will drop our temperatures until we are frozen mid breath.
Is anyone really naive enough to believe that anyone else, any "higher" government official is actually looking out for your well being? The government, including every elected official, is simply an employee of a very large, unrestricted business that is in the business of making money and keeping power. I do believe that it was established with initial philanthropic motives, but even then with all the restrictions to it, it was still an elitest establishment. To get into government, one must have money. People with money are not like the majority of us who live paycheck to paycheck, praying that we don't lose our jobs and in turn our homes and cars and ability to feed our families. 
Its funny that preparing for the seemingly unrealistic "zombie" apocalypse is easier than preparing for a life in the real world. I know how to take care of my family in such a "society." I know that should something happen, my husband and I would be able to survive and take care of our own- no matter where we are at the time. I know that I could protect the ones I love and that the "enemy" would be far easier to recognize and fight instead of the confusing and undefeatable corporate policy that truly dictates all aspects of our lives.
I have primary, secondary, and even tertiary plans for what needs to be done in case of some type of massive fall out or government collapse. I just wonder what will happen to the very government dependent people who have no idea how to take care of anything themselves. Without television, computers, repairmen, telephones, and always having someone to cook and deliver food to them. What happens to those people who have never learned how to survive without the joys of electricity, running water, and all the modern conveniences that have crippled us as a people. Honestly, it doesn't bother me to think of this. It doesn't scare me to remember that such an event will determine who is left, who can survive and who carry on.The Downfall of Our Society
A Teacher Worth Keeping
There have been many issues in the news lately regarding our nation's educational system. I have always looked at teaching as an ideal career for myself, but with the regulations and new policies being implemented in the last decade, I am not so sure anymore. I know that people always been saying "well when I was younger" since the beginning of time, but I know that things have changed dramatically since I was a child.
My parents never negotiated with us when we were children, they never begged or pleaded with us to do what they told us. Punishments were actually punishments instead of a 30 second concern. While growing up, I do know that I hated our disciplines, but that is how it should be. We did receive spankings, had our mouths washed out with soap- both bar and liquid, bed without dinner, bed super early, time outs, etc... Today, so many people do not discipline their children- they have televisions in their bedrooms, multiple gaming systems, outrageous amounts of toys which maybe receive an hour of use before they want something else. This was not how I was raised. It was such an amazing day when we would get to pick out A new toy. Usually for me, it was Barbie, or Barbie clothing. At Christmas we did receive a few toys, but primarily we received practical gifts, like clothing, coats, shoes, etc... I know some women, and no offense to single moms by any means, who feel the need to buy their children (under the age of 3) $500 worth of TOYS for Christmas when they complain constantly that they are so broke. It seems to me that that much money for a 1-2 year old child is such a waste. They grow so quickly that they do not keep those toys for more than 3 months before they are already looking for something new.
Since most of my readers do have children, please tell me if this is not a ridiculous decision for people to make? I am not saying that it is all single mothers, but this is actually a specific example of one person that I know who literally spent that amount of money this year, as well as last year and the little boy doesn't turn 3 until June. I do know about wanting so spoil your children, A and I spoil our "surrogate baby" G and he is only 1 1/2 years old. He is the son of our best friends and we have enjoyed being able to spoil him, BUT we are not spending $500 for holidays/birthdays and neither are his parents.
Anyways, back to the educational system, although inter-familiar relationships does play a major part in how our schools are shaped. Children who have no responsibilities at home translate that behavior into their school life. The fact that students can no longer fail or receive a zero in school is only setting our children up for the idea that life has no set rules to follow. They do not have to do the work when it is required, but are constantly being given every opportunity to try again. I am not saying that people and children should be given one chance to do something and do it perfectly, but there has to be an accountability system established. Children are lazy when it comes to school work, this is nothing new. The issue comes from parents not forcing their children to do their work, not checking the work, or simply helping to the point of doing the work for the child.
My father was the worst (through the eyes of a child) person to ask for help on homework. I wanted him to simply tell me the answer and then move on. This was not how it worked in our house. If I asked him what 2x3 was, he would ask me what that meant, how would you solve it, how else can you write this, etc... I would have to teach him what I learned in school before he would "help" me. I realized later on that by making me "teach" him, I was reinforcing what I knew and could more easily solve the problem.
I took a break from writing this the other day, and last night on the way out to the lake with my father we discussed these issues that I've been having with the education system and parenting styles that we witness. He did make me realize something very important about parenting styles- they do not always effect children equally. My mother was the youngest of 4 children, one of which I never had the opportunity to know since he passed away 2 weeks before I turned 1. Although I never got to know my uncle, I've always heard that he and my mother were very similar in their personalities; very family-sentric. My mother was the most selfless person I know, everything she did was for the betterment of her family, friends, and especially through her work- complete strangers. Although they were all raised under the same roof, with the same expectations and disciplines, the differences between the four of those people could not be wider. Entitlement versus diligence, long term planning versus immediate gratification, strong family ties versus "fair weather friends" mentality. Its amazing that the similarities end so close to the top of the list of personal characteristics.
My parents worked for everything they received, even if others looked at them as being given handouts. Mowing my grandparents' lawn and doing work around their house to "pay" for all of their help. Its funny how much some of my mom's siblings thought that we were just given so much from my grandparents. I remember helping them out with gardening, cleaning, cooking, laundry, lawn work, etc... Thats what we did. It was never a chore to do it, thats how we were raised, to help other people out. I may have never cleaned my room voluntarily (or even very well involuntarily) but I was always willing to help my friends out cleaning their rooms- I'm still this way.
As if the universe KNEW I was writing this blog tonight... I received an email on facebook tonight epitomizing said differences among siblings. Beyond the passive aggressiveness of the email I really cannot figure out the point. And can someone please explain "yeowww!" to me. This was the subject and I don't know if it is a "meow" or what.
There have been many issues in the news lately regarding our nation's educational system. I have always looked at teaching as an ideal career for myself, but with the regulations and new policies being implemented in the last decade, I am not so sure anymore. I know that people always been saying "well when I was younger" since the beginning of time, but I know that things have changed dramatically since I was a child.
My parents never negotiated with us when we were children, they never begged or pleaded with us to do what they told us. Punishments were actually punishments instead of a 30 second concern. While growing up, I do know that I hated our disciplines, but that is how it should be. We did receive spankings, had our mouths washed out with soap- both bar and liquid, bed without dinner, bed super early, time outs, etc... Today, so many people do not discipline their children- they have televisions in their bedrooms, multiple gaming systems, outrageous amounts of toys which maybe receive an hour of use before they want something else. This was not how I was raised. It was such an amazing day when we would get to pick out A new toy. Usually for me, it was Barbie, or Barbie clothing. At Christmas we did receive a few toys, but primarily we received practical gifts, like clothing, coats, shoes, etc... I know some women, and no offense to single moms by any means, who feel the need to buy their children (under the age of 3) $500 worth of TOYS for Christmas when they complain constantly that they are so broke. It seems to me that that much money for a 1-2 year old child is such a waste. They grow so quickly that they do not keep those toys for more than 3 months before they are already looking for something new.
Since most of my readers do have children, please tell me if this is not a ridiculous decision for people to make? I am not saying that it is all single mothers, but this is actually a specific example of one person that I know who literally spent that amount of money this year, as well as last year and the little boy doesn't turn 3 until June. I do know about wanting so spoil your children, A and I spoil our "surrogate baby" G and he is only 1 1/2 years old. He is the son of our best friends and we have enjoyed being able to spoil him, BUT we are not spending $500 for holidays/birthdays and neither are his parents.
Anyways, back to the educational system, although inter-familiar relationships does play a major part in how our schools are shaped. Children who have no responsibilities at home translate that behavior into their school life. The fact that students can no longer fail or receive a zero in school is only setting our children up for the idea that life has no set rules to follow. They do not have to do the work when it is required, but are constantly being given every opportunity to try again. I am not saying that people and children should be given one chance to do something and do it perfectly, but there has to be an accountability system established. Children are lazy when it comes to school work, this is nothing new. The issue comes from parents not forcing their children to do their work, not checking the work, or simply helping to the point of doing the work for the child.
My father was the worst (through the eyes of a child) person to ask for help on homework. I wanted him to simply tell me the answer and then move on. This was not how it worked in our house. If I asked him what 2x3 was, he would ask me what that meant, how would you solve it, how else can you write this, etc... I would have to teach him what I learned in school before he would "help" me. I realized later on that by making me "teach" him, I was reinforcing what I knew and could more easily solve the problem.
I took a break from writing this the other day, and last night on the way out to the lake with my father we discussed these issues that I've been having with the education system and parenting styles that we witness. He did make me realize something very important about parenting styles- they do not always effect children equally. My mother was the youngest of 4 children, one of which I never had the opportunity to know since he passed away 2 weeks before I turned 1. Although I never got to know my uncle, I've always heard that he and my mother were very similar in their personalities; very family-sentric. My mother was the most selfless person I know, everything she did was for the betterment of her family, friends, and especially through her work- complete strangers. Although they were all raised under the same roof, with the same expectations and disciplines, the differences between the four of those people could not be wider. Entitlement versus diligence, long term planning versus immediate gratification, strong family ties versus "fair weather friends" mentality. Its amazing that the similarities end so close to the top of the list of personal characteristics.
My parents worked for everything they received, even if others looked at them as being given handouts. Mowing my grandparents' lawn and doing work around their house to "pay" for all of their help. Its funny how much some of my mom's siblings thought that we were just given so much from my grandparents. I remember helping them out with gardening, cleaning, cooking, laundry, lawn work, etc... Thats what we did. It was never a chore to do it, thats how we were raised, to help other people out. I may have never cleaned my room voluntarily (or even very well involuntarily) but I was always willing to help my friends out cleaning their rooms- I'm still this way.
As if the universe KNEW I was writing this blog tonight... I received an email on facebook tonight epitomizing said differences among siblings. Beyond the passive aggressiveness of the email I really cannot figure out the point. And can someone please explain "yeowww!" to me. This was the subject and I don't know if it is a "meow" or what.
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