Name That Character!

C'mon, show your age and lack of a social life as a youngster.

Holy Stairwell, Batman!

So, as you know, I am doing Weight Watchers. I have lost two pounds since Monday. Two more pounds and I will be back where I started on my weight loss ticker. Then, hopefully, my ticker will go down.

So since I have had very little time to exercise away from work, I decided to exercise while at work. I work on the tenth floor. I thought if I walked upstairs to the tenth floor every morning, down ten flights to get the mail and back up, and then back down to get to my car, that would give me a small workout. Not a lot but more than I am getting by taking the elevator.

This morning I took the elevator to the lobby and asked the security guard if I could re-enter on the 10th floor from the stairwell. He said "no" but that I could re-enter on Floor 9 and then ride the elevator up one floor. So when it was time to get the mail, I walked down ten flights of stairs to the lobby. I was pretty tired and already huffing a bit. That shows you how bad of shape I am in. I used to be able to walk 3 miles without breaking much of a sweat. I started back up towards Floor 9. When I got there, it said "Re-entry" (See photo), but the door was LOCKED!!!! I was having trouble catching my breath, my knees were shaking, and I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest.

So for the next few minutes, I had to drag, repeat, literally drag my ass all the way up to the 15th floor. I swear, someone almost found me lying on the floor of that stairwell; I came that close to passing out.

I seriously doubt I could have made it one more floor. I guess it was good that our building does not have a 13th floor. That is probably what saved my life!

"The Queen is the only person who can put on a tiara with one hand, while walking down stairs.” - Princess Margaret

Watching My Weight

Okay, the ticker counter hasn't moved. Well, until last week. Now it should read five pounds heavier. I stuck to South Beach until 20 lbs down; then I just stalled.

Today I am starting Weight Watchers. I have always heard great things about it. In fact, I lost quite a bit on Richard Simmons' food mover years ago. It is based on the points system. My problem is as soon as I lose my weight, I forget to weigh and take off running with the food! If I commit myself to weighing every couple of days, I don't let it get away from me.

So here's to my first time on Weight Watchers! Wish me luck! If any of you WW peeps have any suggestions or links that you like regarding WW, please let me know. I have already printed record sheets (weekly) to keep track of my points. As with any lifestyle change in eating, you have to plan ahead for your meals. That is one of the toughest parts for me.

Today I am eating: Breakfast - one egg, two slices of turkey bacon; Lunch - half sandwich with whole wheat bread, slice of deli turkey and slice of fat free American cheese plus 1/2 cup strawberries with Splenda; Dinner - half a steak with 1/2 baked potato with Smart Balance
Morning Snack: 3 Lance wheat/cheese crackers; Afternoon Snack: Activia Lite peach Total is 23.5 points out of 24.

I am hungry already! LOL

My exercise goal is for every night that I am home to do thirty minutes on the Wii or 30 minutes on the treadmill or bicycle. So far I think I will be home 5 nights out of 7. Hopefully, you will see my ticker go back down and my Wii will switch me back to "overweight" instead of "obese."

Good Times!

Forbidden Love

Nothing says "forbidden love" like the story of Maria and Captain Von Trapp. It's funny, but in real life, their characteristics were in reverse. The captain was more shy and quiet; Maria was more assertive and outspoken. J and I have also reversed personality traits since college. She was once the shy, quiet girl; I was more outgoing.

Our relationship was always forbidden, so I can really identify with Julie Andrews' character, Maria, in The Sound of Music. She had to keep her love hidden from the world because she was to become a nun. I had to keep my love for J hidden from the world because it was "wrong." No one ever actually said it in words, other than my mother warning me when I was about 12 that there are "some girls who try to kiss other girls." I don't ever remembering anyone in the church saying it was wrong. I just knew by the way they acted around homosexual couples that the subject was taboo in our home. At age 17, I fought my feelings for J like crazy for several months, but I felt like Maria in the gazebo when she finally kissed me. That was all it took. She had my heart from then on.

The best part of the movie for me is when the Captain holds Maria in the gazebo and they sing this simple song of just a few lines. I bawl every time. I even tear up just thinking about it. So to you, my love, J, here's to "Something Good."

Perhaps I had a wicked childhood

Perhaps I had a miserbale youth

But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past

There must have been a moment of truth.

For here you are, standing there, loving me

Whether or not you should

So somewhere in my youth or childhood

I must have done something good.

Nothing comes from nothing

Nothing ever could

So somewhere in my youth or childhood

I must have done something good.

Pizza Time

Pizza's on his way. J and I are going to stay in and watch The OCD Project tonight. It's the finale! Can't wait!

Speaking of the show, I've been hangin' out a lot at my other blog. Drop by and check it out. The link is to the right>>>>>

Not much has been going on. Went to a lousy interview on Friday. I KNOW I didn't get that one. Oh, well...

Thought we had a bad virus on the computer. I think it's fixed now (crossing fingers here). Lovin' my Blackberry more each day. Game night tomorrow night at church. Not sure if we're going. High school reunion Saturday night - DEFINITELY not attending! I will never go to another one after they embarrassed me at my 10th by putting me on stage with another girl who had had some major cosmetic help and said that we were the most changed. I had just had a c-section three weeks before and was still a blimp. I hear the reunions are different now; just not sure I want to find out.

I was a bit depressed this week because my daughter didn't bring me back anything from Uganda, not even a blade of grass. Oh, well, that's her passive aggressiveness for you!

Gotta run!

Pretty Moms

I love looking at J, especially when she doesn't know it. Sometimes I am staring at her, and she looks at me with a frustrated expression and asks, "What?"

Here is a typical conversation:

Me: "You are so pretty. You look like your mother."

She nods her head "no."

Me: "Don't you think you look like your mother?"

Her: "Yes."

Me: "Don't you think your mother is pretty?"

Her: "Yes."

Me: "Well, then?"

Her: "Everyone thinks their mother is pretty."

Hmmm. Does everyone think their mother is pretty? My mom's picture with my dad is above. I always wanted to look like her, not my dad. Of course, I look like my dad. My mom has Cherokee Indian in her, the darker skin and high cheek bones. She has perfect teeth. My brother looks like my mom, but has my dad's crooked teeth but good eyesight and is almost completely bald (that's also from my mother's side). My mother has very thin hair, so I am glad I got my thick head of hair from my dad. I inherited her terrible eyesight and my dad's bad teeth.

I have my dad's tall height and mannerisms, especially the way I use my hands and fingers. But everyone says I laugh like my mom and sometimes from another room they cannot tell which one of us is laughing.

What physical traits did you inherit from your biological parents, and do you think your mom is/was pretty? I tend to think mine is. She's almost 73, by the way! I hope I look that good if I make it to that age!

Wordless Wednesday on Thursday

My New Love

I bought these for the office just so I could try them. Yum! I limit myself to two each day. Every since J and I went to the rodeo carnival, caramel is my new favorite thing! I hear that Milky Way now has a new caramel candy bar. Thought Milky Ways already had caramel in them? What other caramel delights do you recommend I try?

Written In The Stars

Below are the lyrics to the song Written in the Stars by Westlife. Listen to the words, J. They are for you and me.

I am a hopeless romantic. I love romantic dinners, unexpected flowers. And love letters, oh, God, how I love love letters! Tomorrow J is taking me out on a lunch date, and it got me to thinking about romantic stories. The above story is one of my favorites - Rocky and Adrian.

If you have never seen a Rocky movie, may I suggest Rocky I, Rocky II, and the last movie, Rocky Balboa. I am not into boxing at all, but the story of Rocky and Adrian is so moving, I can get through the boxing parts, which there aren't that many of. One of my favorite scenes is at the end of a fight, Rocky is looking through the crowd for Adrian. People are running up into the ring, screaming at him, pushing, trying to get to him, but all Rocky can think about is finding his beloved Adrian. He is shouting, "Adrian! Adrian!" And she is running through the thick soup of the crowd, screaming, "Rocky! Rocky!" Oh, man, I get chills just thinking of it.

And when he screams at the animals in the zoo, "Hey! I'm getting married!"

My favorite scene is from the final movie, Rocky Balboa. I searched and searched for it on You Tube, but couldn't find it. It is when Rocky breaks down in front of Paulie about how much he misses Adrian and he cries. Seeing Sylvester Stallone crying like that, wow, it almost makes me believe that Rocky and Adrian were real people. It makes me think how I would feel if I ever lost my beautiful J. I don't think I could go on.

Anyway, here ya go, J, Written in the Stars:

Stay with me

Don't fall asleep too soon

The angels can wait for a moment

Come real close

Forget the world outside

Tonight we're alone

It's finally you and I

It wasn't meant to feel like this

Not without you

Cos when I look at my life

How the pieces fall into place

It just wouldn't rhyme without you

When I see how my path

Seems to end up before your face

The state of my heart

The place where we are

Was written in the stars

Don't be afraid

I'll be right by your side

Through the laughter and pain

Together we're bound to fly

I wasn't meant to love like this

Not without you

Cos when I look at my life

How the pieces fall into place

It just wouldn't rhyme without you

When I see how my path

Seems to end up before your face

The state of my heart

The place where we are

Was written in the stars

I made a few mistakes, yeah

Like sometimes we do

Been through lot of heartache

But I made it back to you

Cos when I look at my life

How the pieces fall into place

It just wouldn't rhyme without you

And when I see how my path

Seems to end up before your face

The state of my heart

The place where we are

Was written in the stars

I love ya, Baby.

A Drug For Pregnant Women To Prevent Lesbian Babies

What is this world coming to? If you'd like to read this article click here. Makes me sick. First they tell us we are chosing this lifestyle, then they tell us they can control our sexual orientation. People need to get their heads out of their butts and stop playing God.

July 5th

Today I get to do my favorite thing, grocery shop. NOT! I hate it; I abhor it! The only thing I despise more is cleaning ceiling fans. I like to go with J, though, so she doesn't have to do it alone; although I suspect we get it done more quickly when we each do it alone.

I got a free app for my Blackberry. It's a grocery list. I thought it would take the ho-hum out of grocery shopping. Last week J said it took too long because she can't see the list when I have the Blackberry in my hand. And it is difficult manipulating groceries in your hands when you are desperately trying to keep from dropping your Blackberry on the store's tile floor. The other night I dreamt my cell phone blew up. Must be from all the Sudoku I am playing.

After shopping, we are going to Office Depot for some ink and some supplies for my writing students. I told you I'm working with homeless teens, right? Then we are going to go somewhere for a real hamburger. I wish we could find a place that had Sangria wine coolers like Grin's, my favorite hamburger place in San Marcos.

Trying to finish reading Wicked before I have to take it back to the library tomorrow. I used to be such a fast reader, one book in two or three days. Now it takes me forever.

This morning I have been writing to Drudge Report to tell them about a spelling error in one of their articles. Yes, I admit it, I read Drudge Report. Don't agree on a lot of it; but, hey, that is where I found out about MJ's death last year. They update the page minute by minute. The non-political stories are usually the only ones I read.

I have also been turning in resumes this morning. Guess what? I have been writing to Montessori schools. Yep. We went to a party the other day and two of my ex-students were there. The ole teaching bug stung me. I am hoping the sting passes and no one replies to my resume, but teaching teenagers is nothing compared to teaching a small child the excitement of learning to read and multiply numbers. I really do miss it.

Thanks to Robin over at The Other Mother , I now know of two schools in the area that are gay friendly. My fear has always been if I am ever outed at a school, I would lose my job or create utter chaos for the school.

I only have four days to work this week. My boss is leaving town Wednesday. Wednesday and Thursday my other boss will only be there in the mornings, and I am hoping that he takes the day off on Friday. I have about 250 journal writing prompts I need to type onto labels for my writing students. Plus, I am hoping to get an interview with a head hunter some time this week.

Don't forget to pass my new blog, Around and Around to your friends who have OCD. I don't have any followers yet and am feeling a little, well, obsessed about it!

Chow

Wordless Wednesday

Hooray for Angelina Jolie!

Here is an excerpt taken from a recent Vanity Fair interview of Angelina Jolie talking about her first born biological daughter, Shiloh...

The star also confirms that she's not at all bothered by her daughter's current tomboy style, which is inspired by her hero worship of her big brothers Maddox and Pax. Shiloh dresses "like a little dude," notes Jolie. "Shiloh, we feel, has Montenegro style. It's how people dress there. She likes tracksuits, she likes (regular) suits," Angelina explains. "She likes to dress like a boy. She wants to be a boy. So we had to cut her hair. She likes to wear boys' everything. She thinks she's one of the brothers."

What a refreshing thought, let your child be who they are! You go, mama!

My Dream

Last night I dreamt that I paid my daughter's new math tutor with a check from our joint checking account. Seeing mine and J's name on the check, he sent me a note back that said, "You are living in sin." I wrote him a reply - "You, sir, are confusing love with hate."

The Potato Story

My 93-yr-old grandmother is having trouble with pain in the bottoms of her feet. A friend of hers suggested that she sleep with a potato at the bottom of the bed between the sheets. It's said to help with foot and leg pain. So a few weeks ago, Grandma started sleeping with a raw potato.

After a few days, there was no improvement in her pain, so just in case, she added a bar of soap to her bedcovers, swiped by my mother from a hotel. My mother made a special trip over to her apartment to bring it to her as this was important! I, too, began sleeping with a bar of soap tucked between my feet, as the internet did suggest it was helpful with leg cramps and restless leg syndrome, the latter of which I experience frequently. Grandma also decided to put her potato in the refrigerator during the day to make it last longer.

One night last week, my grandmother settled into her bed and noticed that the potato was not there. She got up, looked around the bed, on the floor, under the bed, and in the refrigerator. No potato AND no soap, either. Then she remembered that the housekeeper had come that day and had changed the bedsheets.

The next day she went down to the housekeeper's room, found her housekeeper, and asked her, "Have you seen my potato?" The housekeeper gave her a very strange look. "The potato was in my bed," Grandma said, "along with a bar of soap." She began explaining to the puzzled woman, who I'm sure thought Grandma had lost all of her sense, that she slept with a potato and a bar of soap at night to help her with her foot pain. "No," the woman had not seen the potato or the soap.

So back to her apartment Grandma went and looked again in the clean sheets, under and around the bed on the floor, scratching her head. No potato, and as an afterthought, no soap.

The next day there was a knock at her door. The housekeeper, laughing out loud, was standing there with the potato and soap in hand. She had found them in the wash.

You would think I would have learned from Grandma's story, but our housekeeper found my bar of soap in our bedcovers on Friday. She no doubt layed it down on the cedar chest in total confusion. The difference is, I was not there to explain why so I am sure she is stumped and telling her friends how the tenant in Apt. # blank sleeps with a bar of soap. Oh, well, at least it wasn't a potato.

To My Baby

I Want To Make You Close Your Eyes lyrics

Girl I've been waitin on this long hard day to get over
So i can rest my head right here on your shoulder
I just wanna lay here and feel you breathe
Listen to the rhythm of your heartbeat
And see where it leads...

We're wide awake but girl I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes
And say my name like only you can say it and hold me tight
All I need is only you and me alone tonight
I wanna make you close your eyes...oh yeah...

You can make me work for it girl if you want to
Just leave a trail for me to follow you into the bedroom
And if you need a little bit of help from me
Babe there's not a button that I cant reach
Lets see where it leads

We're wide awake but girl I wanna make you close your eyes
And say my name like only you can say it and hold me tight
All I need is only you and me alone tonight
I wanna make you close your eyes

I wanna take you somewhere...out there...
'Til the world fades out of sight

We're wide awake but girl I wanna make you close your eyes
And say my name like only you can say it and hold me tight... just hold me tight
All I need is only you and me alone tonight
Yeah.. I wanna make you close your eyes...oh

I wanna make you close your eyes...oh
Girl... I wanna make you close your eyes

Pride Float

After almost two years, I still can't figure out how to drag a damn photograph around the page. LOL I click, it highlights, and I drag, but nothing happens.

Anyway, out of order, here are the pictures of our float. There will be two brides and two grooms. Witnesses will sit on the pews. There will be angels "fluttering" around the float, throwing beads.

Wish I could see how it looked in the parade. Hopefully, someone will send me a pic so I can post it.

Uh-Oh

Guess what? The parade isn't until 8:45 P.M.!! Now what excuse am I gonna use?

Pride Weekend

Well, the Pride Parade is Saturday, and I am taking a baby step towards it. Saturday morning I am going to ATTEMPT to get up early -- okay, J, I am trying to make a commitment here -- to go to the church and help decorate our Pride float. Then I have conveniently made plans to go have lunch with my grandmother to escape from riding on the float or being a wheel watcher. They must have ten wheel watchers in order to participate. I am sure they will get them without me.

I totally understand the idea of the parade, but I do have problems with it. First, I cannot handle all the flamboyant, gay men and drag queens; it's just not my thing. And anything sexually provocative, again, not my thing. If it was just a fun, uplifting parade to make awareness of the resources for the gay community, I wouldn't have a problem participating at all. I just can't be around that. I'm not interested in looking at anyone else like that except J. These behaviors just don't represent who I am. Can't we just go straight to the float judging and skip everything else?

And I just can't see it, me, on a float in the Pride Parade, with my angel wings on, throwing beads to the spectators, my face plastered on local or national T.V. for my family and all the world to see. My mother would absolutely fall over dead from a heart attack, I just know it.

Also, while I understand being proud of who you are, J and I don't advertise our lifestyle to others. I don't like being put in a certain category of people. I am simply a person. I don't feel that I need a parade to be proud of who I love. I don't need a parade because I'm white. I don't need a parade because I have OCD. I don't need a parade because I was abused as a kid. I don't need a parade because my left foot is turned inward. Why should I need a parade because I'm gay? I just don't. A protest, yes, I can finally see myself participating in one. But a parade, I'm not there yet.

So this year, I will hopefully help decorate the float and have some pictures for you all to see tomorrow. That said, I sincerely hope that those of you participating in your festivities this weekend have a grand time. And I especially want to say to Jess and Tina "Congratulations!" I would have DEFINITELY broken out of my comfort zone to have gone to your Pride and ceremony if I could have! I wish you many happy years together!