Category Archives: life

Hopped Up on Diet Coke

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I ran some errands earlier today to pick up the missing dinner ingredients (goat cheese, sugar snap peas and chocolate covered strawberries – yum!) and in true Valentine’s Day style, I decided to treat myself to a scone and a movie. Both, were quite yummy.

Let me start by extolling the virtues of Portos. A year or so they opened up a second location in Burbank and boy-o has that made things easier. This is my go to bakery – when I want a fine dessert for a special occasion, Portos it is; when I want the world’s most perfect scone, Portos is my place; when I need treats for a bridal or baby shower, you better believe I’ll be getting my treats from Portos. And on those rare occasions when this gal is craving a potato ball (a potato-y ball of heaven is a more accurate description), Portos is where I head. Come to think of it, does anyone else even make that potato-y ball of heaven? Kind of makes you wonder why Jennifer Lopez had such a difficult time finding “piping hot cuban bread” in the greater LA area (side note: next time she should consider using a recording studio in Burbank or Glendale – both cities have a Portos!!)

From there I came home to drop off my chocolate-covered strawberries extraordinary and remembered that Music & Lyrics starts today. As a bit of a Hugh Grant fan, I also happen to be love both, the chickflick and chicklit genres. My hubby, not so much. So I figured what better than to head out to the matinée showing. Thanks to those extra long previews and pre-movie commercials I made it just in time. Unrelated to the topic of hand of course, but I can’t help but wonder, if anywhere else in the country actually get real commercials as part of the pre-movie experience?

Moving on…I think the movie was quite good. Yes, it had is predictable moments – but what chickflick doesn’t? I think the casting was perfect, and both Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant played their roles just as you’d have expected. There was just enough humor that you’d bust into the occasional giggle or chuckle. I was actually quite surprised that Hugh and Drew sang their own songs. I can’t imagine that either of them will have a career in the music business, but it was good enough to actually enjoy (there are song samples on the movie’s website.)

And of course, what late-30’s gal (aw hell, did I just admit that?!) can’t relate to Kristen Johnston’s 80’s fanatic character? I know I’ll be going crazy and singing right along when George Michael comes to town. There’s just something about the memories and music from the 80’s *sigh* my hubby just doesn’t get it. And ladies, I know for a fact that the George Michael tour schedule is in the works!!

But really, I’d recommend the movie. It’s definitely a well spent two hours. I can’t imagine that the guys would enjoy it nearly as much (a bit too much butt-wagging), but I’m sure they’d appreciate Haley Bennett and her Shakira-esque dance moves. (Note to Self: remember to purchase Hips Don’t Lie for the workout mix).

Now that I’m coming off my caffeine high, I think it’s time to get started on that Valentine’s dinner – pomegranate pork loin – yum! And let’s not forget the champagne. I guess tonight is yet another non-WW day. Aw hell, I just need to write this week off and start over again – not like we’ve never done that sort of thing before, right?

A Day in the Life of a WWer

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Well, today is by no means a typical day for someone on Weight Watchers. No, it’s more like a typical day for someone that has fallen off the Weight Watchers wagon *sigh*

I’ve noticed since starting back up on a low-dose birth control that mid-cycle I seem to get crazy hungry. I mean the crazy sort of hungry where you just eat everything in sight. Or in my case, you go grocery shopping and eat everything you impulsively purchased after first chowing down on some Wendy’s (at least it was the lower point, smaller sized stuff).

But you know, just because you pig out on diet food (and a little Ben & Jerry’s – hey, a pint is little!) doesn’t mean that it was any less of a pig out. Mind you, I’m making salad for dinner, but again, I’ve already exceeded what would surely be considered at least 2 days worth of points. So it’s not like that salad is saving me too much.

I’ve got to get back on track. I know I can do it. I can definitely exercise again (my leg is healing great!). I just seem to be lacking the motivation and focus. Dammit, I’ve got SXSW in a few weeks and I was truly hoping to be in a smaller size by then. I really have no excuse. And the constant need to compare myself to others that seem so much more motivated and on track – yeah, that needs to stop too.

I will get my focus and my drive back. I will! And I will stop comparing myself to others. I will!

Focus. Focus. FOCUS!

Photoshop is Not My Friend

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A good friend of mine wrote this amazing post about Living in a Magazine. In it, she challenged folks to post an absolutely, untouched, photo of something in your life.

Now I’m not too proud to admit that I’m a bit of a slob and I’ve take quite a few pictures around my house which offers evidence of my slobbishness, even if I can’t seem to find them in my damn Flickr account (though, let’s be honest, my hubby is really the slob here, not I!) Come to think of it, I’ve also post pictures of myself looking less than fantastic, but I think she makes some very valid points.

On that note, I’ll post a picture I was quite proud of just a week or so ago. Though it’s a honest self-portrait taken immediately after I brushed my teeth and washed my face, I’m just tickled pink that my face is finally thinning out! And feel free to notice the untouched mess in the background. I’m nothing if not honest – LOL

Just Call Me Ms. Little Old Fuddy Duddy

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Well, it’s Grammy weekend here in sunny (okay, in hazy) Los Angeles and I have decided that I’m just getting old *sigh* For the past couple of days, we’ve been living the high life. Well, not the really high life, but you know, an LA sort of high life.

Thursday we get to attend the Blacked Eyed Peas’ PeaPod even at the Avalon. Their last fundraiser at the Avalon was awesome. I was so starstruck be everyone we got to see. I was *this* close to Scarlett Johanson and Molly Simms. I saw Paris and Nicki and some Backstreet Boys. I saw Naveen Andrews from Lost. It was a non-stop party. This year, not so much. The only celebs we saw were the performers backstage (Herbie Hancock, the BEPs, Slash, Macy Gray, and probably more still that I just didn’t recognize). Outside of the BEP’s performances and the free alcohol (I had one drink) it really wasn’t all that exciting and it was damn long night.

Friday we had a music website launch party to go to. For me, someone new to this whole industry sort of thing I was pretty darn excited. More excited still because it was going to be held at the Viper Room. I mean, come on, the legendary Viper Room, just imagine how kickass this thing was going to be. Only it wasn’t.

Sadly, it was, well, the Viper Room. It was dark. It was crowded. The music was loud. So yeah, it felt just like the Viper Room on every other time I’d been there. Let’s remember, this was a launch party. I was looking for celebrities. Hell, I was looking for food. Neither were to be had. Granted, it was an open bar, but eh, I’m just too old to care about unlimited alcohol, especially when I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. What a let down.

Saturday we celebrated a good friend’s birthday at her favorite restaurant, Lawry’s in Beverly Hills. Prime rib, hell, legendary prime rib – yum! Eh, it was okay. It was a bit too cool for my tastes and it was smothered in au jus, mashed potatoes and creamed corn. I’ve had better experiences in less crowded restaurants where I wasn’t rushed to eat my (pricey) meal. But the important part, the company was great!

After our rushed dinner we headed back to our friend’s house and sat out on the (heated) deck to enjoy a couple of drinks (I mentioned this is Los Angeles, right?) while we decide where to head out next. As phase two of the Grammy weekend experience, we head out over to the Bel Age hotel bar (where we ended last night after dinner as well) to be regaled with stories from the White House and international trips by the birthday girl and her co-worker.

From there she gets called to attend the Roots’ private party at the Key Club. By now it’s midnight or so and I’m exhausted. The poor pupster hasn’t yet eaten dinner and it’s been 8 or 9 hours since he was last let out. But our names were put on the list, so we head on over. We go through the “celebrity entrance,” pick up our snazzy, VIP wrist bands and head on up to the lounge. Man, it is insanely crowded and every where you stand you’re in someone’s way. This is SO not my scene. So again I’m thinking, private, crowded, It-people filled party, with free alcohol. And again I’m thinking, free alcohol does not always a good time make. Once more this weekend, I’m thinking “damn, I’m too old to care about shit like this any more.”

We leave shortly after, dragging the birthday girl with us. I felt bad to cut her night out short, but again, I was just thinking about the poor little pupster, and the fact that I wasn’t having fun. On the home she asks us if we want to go to the William Morris, post-Grammy party tonight. She tells us it will be a fun time. And while I’m tempted (I love to at least see the celebs) to at least stop by tonight, I really have no desire to get all dolled up and head out for yet another late night just for some free drinks. Do you see a pattern here?

The only thing I’m dying to get out of this Grammy weekend is to see the Police perform tonight and to get those Police tour dates tomorrow! Otherwise, I’m really just feeling too old to even care about all this crap. So yeah, feel free to call me Ms. Little Old Fuddy Duddy.

Color Me Embarrassed

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I finally got around to picking up and vacuuming the house. Keep in mind, we’re in a smallish two bedroom apartment, so there’s not really all that much to clean up. Sadly, I just hate housecleaning so I tend to always keep it way, way down the bottom of the to-do list.

I figured that since I could see the piles of cat hair that it’s been to long. So I call the dog into the bedroom and close the door. I pull out the Dyson (all hail the mighty Dyson!) and off I go. I was done with all 4 rooms and the bathroom in about 10 or so minutes. But man, I managed to damn near FILL the entire canister with dirt and debris!

How sad is that? What sort of stay at home wife am I? Apparently, the type that rarely gets around to cooking and cleaning *sigh*

How embarrassing 😮 Lucky for me my husband doesn’t seem to notice this fault all too much.

Call Me a Wuss – But Damn it Hurt!

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Well, I couldn’t take it. The leg actually turned squishy. It was beyond gross and it hurt like a MoFo. The pain was so bad that I finally went to the ER late last night. We headed over around 2:00AM and we stayed there for a little over an hour. But of course I know that even though I’m in pain, I’m still pretty much fine and would always be the low man on the totem pole. I finally told the hubby that we could go home and I’d just power through it. Thank you Vicodin and Naproxin!

I got up early to see the my doctor even though it looked much better this morning. Much of the swelling had gone down and the pain wasn’t nearly as shooting and stabbing as it was last night. She told me that she didn’t think it was more than topical abrasion and to just ice it on and off every 20 minutes and sent me over to Xray just to be safe.

Wouldn’t you know that once I started the icing it it felt much better? A friend explained that the ice helps to give the pain receptors something else to focus on (and helps with the swelling). So with another Vicodin and another Naproxin, I was finally able to sleep. But even now, at the end of the day I have to say I feel even better.

The body is such an amazing thing.

How Not to Walk the Dog: A Life Lesson

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So I thought I’d take advantage of this beautiful weather and take Griff out for a walk. I had my poop bags, my red, blinking light on Griff, my This American Life and what I thought was a flashlight (turns out the battery was dead). About a 1/4 of the way into my walk, where I finally get some sidewalks, just crossing over the LA River, I fall…BAM!

I am NOT a graceful klutz by any means and keep in mind, I’m deep in thought listening to the story on TAL (it was a good one, too). Down I go, right onto my knees and shins and up go my arms. I roll over hugging my legs, owing up a storm. Griff, mind you, is just wondering why we stopped.

I’m too much of a wimp to continue on, but I’m a tad bit too focused to at least get in a 30 minute workout, so I head home the longish way, back through the park, in the dark, where I probably shouldn’t be, hurt or not. I’m safely home (after having to retrieve the extra key since I managed to lock myself out as well – go figure!).

I can’t bring myself to wash my leg though. It’s throbbing and burning and well, it just hurts. A lot. I guess I’ll go take a bath and wash it that way instead. But man, this sucks.


Ouchie!

Who’s on Second?

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Do you remember your first? You know, the first. I was a sophmore in college and my roommate was gone for the weekend – as was much of the entire campus. For some reason, I remember hanging out in the common room and the next thing I know, there’s some guy up there with me. How we ever ended up back in my room drinking, I’ve no idea. But oh well.

I can’t say that the entire experience was even worth remembering, but then again, that’s why I chose to pop with a stranger (feel free to judge away). I figured it wouldn’t be special, so therefore, my follow up experiences would be much better. Strangely, though it was years later, I really don’t recall who my second was.

In my defense I know it was either Military PrickBoy or BigTime PrickBoy. Now before you cast your stone of judgement yet again, know that I had what my young adult self would consider relationships with both of the aforementioned PrickBoys. Sadly, they just both turned out to be major Pricks and kind of just blend together. Ahh, the joy of young love.

But really, almost everyone remembers their first time, but how many actually remember their second?

Still More of What I’ve Learned Today…

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do not try to open a package of string cheese if you’ve just put on hand lotion.  And piggybacking on that thought, don’t try to open anything with a screw top after putting on hand lotion either – though that was a lesson learned that’s sadly been ongoing for me for the past 6 or so months.  What can I say, if I didn’t write these rules down for all to learn from, I just might forget (again).

What I Learned Today…

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They say that the key to staying young is to learn something new every day.  Well, today I learned NOT to walk on a treadmill barefoot.  Really, even if it’s only for 30 minutes.  Even if it’s just so you can feel good about yourself for working out while on vacation.  But in particular, don’t walk on a treadmill while it’s inclined, while barefoot.

Don’t ask me why or how I know this to be truth.  Just listen to my sage advice.

Me, I need to go pop some blisters now…