Whew!

OK, got my period. Must have been premenstrual eating disorder. Back on track today. My boss is out of town this week! Woohoo! PARTY! Not. That just means I have double work to do, except that I am writing in my blog instead of doing it.

I read something very inspirational recently. Did you know that Walt Disney was fired from a job for not being "creative enough" and then he had to claim bankruptcy twice before he built Disneyland? Wow! There is hope for me yet! My finances are always in shambles. I pay my bills on time and everything, but I have this incredible debt hanging over me that just won't go away no matter how many jobs I have. It's the spending thing. The more you make, the more you spend. I need to have someone just beat me over the head. Maybe Skwigg could help? Ha! All I'd have to do is sneak up on her, and POW! I wouldn't be able to spend for weeks! :)

I may be pregnant

I just ate a giant chocolate chip muffin from Costco with fat free butter and asteroids (spicy Cheeto balls), then washed it all down with a Corona. I found it generally tasty, but I'm still hungry. If I'm not pregnant, I think I may have other issues.

Sunday Pychosis

Holy crap. I just spent WAY too much money. I think I have a spending problem. Scrapbook stores are very dangerous for me. I am designing a journal cover, and the supplies I had to have cost triple what the actual journal did. Oh well. Then there are the clothes. Every time I lose, like, 5 pounds, it is an excuse to buy more clothes. Then, because I was so tired from shopping, I had to eat out. (of course). My evil boss at the restaurant brought in M&M's for us last night while we were working. She said we could have a handful every time we sold 100$. Apparently, I sold about $4000. So much for the 5 pounds.

If you don't mind a little comedic cussing and a raw sense of humor, I just peed my pants from rolling around on the floor laughing at the website (Dooce) I just found. Go to the "How to annoy me" section. I died. Also check out the "How to charm me" section, the very first entry on that one sent me into a fit of laughter where my stomach cramped so hard, I couldn't breathe. I admire people who can be that painfully honest. What a hoot!

Permission to NAP

I found the coolest thing today. They are called "Permission Cards" and they were created by a cool chick named Keri Smith. I clicked on the bowl, and I have permission to NAP!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

A Scary Thought

Apparently, my dream means that there is a conflict going on between my naughty and devious side, and my inner moral standards. Hmmmmm...THAT'S a scary thought.

My Dream

I am going to get personal today and tell you about my dream. I have been having very vivid and memorable dreams lately and I'm wondering what it all means. (If there are any dream analysts out there, please feel free to email me.)

I dreamed that my husband and I were police officers again. (It has been almost 10 years, and neither one of us has the desire to go back.) We were investigating the homicide of a woman, apparently a wife and mother. We knocked on the husband's door, and he let us in. We were also being "graded" by our superiors. This was a test for us or something, but it was real. The man was not acting like anything was wrong. He was acting like his wife was still alive. We looked around, talked to his weird son, and then left. We came back later to eat dinner, but we were actually trying to secretly investigate. The weird thing was, we were in uniform, but we did not have our guns. Some woman was there posing as his wife, and it was obvious that he had changed all the pictures in his house to her picture. All family members were there, and everyone was in on the lie. I went to the bathroom, and wiped out the bathroom garage can with Windex? Then, when I came out, the man came after me very violently swinging his fists. I ran away. Actually, I just ran around the house and told him to chill out. He did. We left. My husband and I smiled at each other because we now knew that the husband was the killer and we had probable cause to go back and arrest him. We had to go get our guns first, though. :)

My dreams usually NEVER make sense like this, most often they are nonsense. I have not watched any cop-type programs or movies lately, and I don't recall thinking about my time as a cop recently. Weird, huh?

Toilet Boy

One more post today and I'll shut up. I had to put this picture up. Louie is hilarious when I chase him down for his bath. Just don't look at my dirty toilet.

A Sign

I went to cheat and have a cigarette AND some pizza today, and this is what happened:

I lit the wrong end of the cigarette and choked and burned my finger. (For any of you who have done this know how toxic and disgusting this is.)

I went to take a big bite of pizza and all the toppings slid off onto my shirt.

If that isn't a sign, I don't know what is.

Just another little tidbit for you. I somehow channel surfed onto Fear Factor last night, which I never watch. (I hate reality shows, and the like.) They had 2 girls and 2 guys putting COW EYEBALLS in their mouth without hands, then popping the juice out of them into a glass until filled to a certain level, then DRINKING the eyeball juice. OK, YUCK. Who in the hell wants to watch that? They were only getting 50 thousand bucks, and that is only if they win! I wouldn't do that for a million! I like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, yes, but that is NOT REAL. I was so grossed out that I thought I was gonna barf up my chili. Those are some seriously macho women, I tell ya. I thought I was tough because I can lift more weight than most of the guys in the gym and I've jumped out of an airplane, but if I had to go anywhere near my mouth with cow eyeballs, suddenly all my tough-girlness would vanish into a sea of barf, and then I would probably do the "Oh, ick!" dance and spend an hour drinking and gargling mouthwash. I've even seen dead bodies when I interned for the police department. I handled THAT.

New Shoes

I bought new shoes yesterday. The heel on my old shoes broke off. I loved those shoes so much that I wore them until they fell off my feet, literally. My new shoes are shiny and hip, and they are GIVING ME BLISTERS. They are leather, but they need to be broken in. They are a good brand, cost me a fortune, and when I tried them on, they felt great, until today. I have a horrible time with new shoes, that is why I procrastinate buying new ones until it is absolutely critical. I am supposed to work at the restaurant tonight in them, but I think I may have to find another pair to wear until these ones have been worn a little more because I am walking like Frankenstein. The leather is stiff. Yikes, I didn't know I could write this much about a stupid pair of shoes.

It is raining like hell here, lots of flooding. Thankfully, I live on a hill. This sucks when it snows, though. OH! and I almost forgot to tell you! I purchased a "Leatherface" mask yesterday for Halloween. My husband is going to wear it and scare all the little kiddies in the neighborhood! Hehehe, I'm evil, aren't I? We are borrowing a chainsaw without a chain, too! OOOHHH the joy of seeing terrorized children, it will be like my own little haunted house. I'm not sure what I'm going to be yet. Leatherface's wife, I guess. I'll get my nails done and painted black, maybe wear an Elvira wig or something. I don't know.

Crazydogmama's Movie Reviews

Miss me? Ok, it is time to start doing movie reviews. I watch TONS of movies. Not just at the theatre, but I get movies every week from Netflix. I don't watch a whole lot of regular television, just a couple of sitcoms. I consider myself a movie-watching pro. I like some stupid movies, and I like some great movies, but I know the difference between the two and I'll give you my honest opinion. Here goes:

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Remake 2003)
I must admit, I LOVED IT! Is it going to win an academy award? No. Does it have stellar acting? No. BUT, what a fun ride! Lots of gross stuff, lots of running and screaming, and it wasn't "stupid" like most horror movies over the last decade have been. The acting wasn't actually that bad, just not the best I've ever seen. I wanted the good guys to get away. (Not usual for me.) The picked-up-on-the-side-of-the-road girl dilemma was a great touch. Some really good cinematography on that one. My husband and I held hands during the movie, and yes, he liked it too. They could have done better, yes, but I will be buying the DVD when it comes out. Some other favorite horror movies (and thrillers) of mine: Texas Chainsaw Massacre (original), Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Silence of the Lambs, Poltergeist, The Exorcist, Aliens 2, The Thing (remake).
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Cabin Fever
What a disappointment. I was excited to see this one, but it was lame as hell. Too predictable, not scary, and not enough originality. REALLY BAD acting. The gross parts were even fakey. I wanted all the characters to die. They were irritating. Oh well.
Rating: 1 star out of 5

House of 1000 Corpses
Also disappointing. Rob Zombie could have done better. The DVD has some great stuff on it, however. I will probably buy the DVD just for the intro and the extra features. I wrote in a previous blog entry about this. The killings weren't original, it wasn't scary, and the ending blew. It did have some good lines and a few good moments, though. The characters were great, very memorable. I wanted the bad guys to win in this movie, they were more fun.
Rating: 2 1/2 stars out of 5

Identity
I love John Cusack, so I had to see this movie. It wasn't bad. It was interesting to watch, and the plot twist was original and unpredictable. I didn't like it enough to buy it, but I enjoyed going to see it.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Thirteen
Acting was really good in this one. The fact that it was based on a true story (one of the actors was the real-life girl whose story it is) made it enjoyable. I would never have believed it otherwise. Makes you not want to be a parent. I recommend the movie for a rental.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 5

Igby Goes Down
I watched this movie a week ago, and I couldn't tell you what it was about. Some disturbed guy, or something. Not memorable, just weird. Good soundtrack.
Rating: 1 star out of 5

Adaptation
Not for everyone, but I liked it. Good acting, but the storyline was odd. Nicholas Cage plays a very different part in this one. I think he should stick to movies like "Raising Arizona".
Rating: 3 stars out of 5

That's it for now, more to come later.

Busy Day Ahead

The audit is FINALLY over! We didn't do so well, but it wasn't as bad as I originally thought it was going to be. Whew! Wednesday sucked bigtime. I was so exhausted and overwhelmed. I did smoke a little *sigh*, but I did AWESOME this week (for me). Maybe cold turkey will work next week. ;) Diet is going pretty well, I'm eating my tenderloin beef, Granny-Smith apple with peanut butter, and water right now. Getting ready for my training session at 1. THEN, and THENNNN, I'm going to see Texas Chainsaw! I'm dragging Jim to it at 3. I haven't been this excited for a movie since Signs. I think there is something wrong with me. No one else is excited that I know, and I'm getting those "You are psycho" looks today. Oh well, that really isn't anything new. After the movie, I am going to a "Stampin' Up" party to make holiday cards. So, SEE, I'm kinda normal, right? I guess, though, doing those two things in the same day make me look like a split personality or something. ANYWAY, I will do some movie reviews in the next blog post (whether you want me to or not) so stay tuned. CrazyDogMama the movie critic is off to work.

They're all gone!

No more cigarettes. Gone. Holy crap. The only thing keeping me going right now is the fact that I got on the stupid scale this morning and I was down 3 pounds from last week. Yay! I gotta keep my mind on progress.

While I was in the shower this morning, Louie stuck his head in and started licking my leg. After the terror of wondering what the hell that was, I was delighted by the gesture. It's like he knows what I am going through. Louie is usually the macho, independent type, but when I am stressed, or sad or upset in any way, he is so cuddly and affectionate.

Found a Good Idea!

It may sound a little cheesy, but I like it! I read about this idea this morning: to list 10 things I'm thankful for really fast. (Thank you Keri and Penelope.) Here goes:

1. That I can play on the internet while I'm at work.
2. Fall weather.
3. The looks my doggies give me when I am talking to them.
4. My husband and his sense of humor.
5. My digital camera.
6. Lexapro.
7. That my parents live close and like to be around me.
8. That everyone I know is rooting for me and my desire to become a freelance writer.
9. That I can eat steak on my diet (it is a bodybuilder's diet).
10. That I can go to the gym on my lunch break instead of in the morning or at night.

Whew! There are so many things, it was hard to narrow it down.

Oh, and for any other horror fanatics out there, the remake of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre comes out Friday!!! I am so excited! Cabin Fever sucked, or as my husband said, "wallowed in lameness". The TCM remake will be better (I hope) than that movie, but nothing can compare to the original. I will let you know.

The Challenge is On!!!

As I write this morning, I have food all around me. I have my 1/2 cup of old-fashioned oatmeal with Splenda, my 5 egg whites with low-carb salsa and my 1/2 cup of fat-free yogurt (strawberry!). My boss just came into my office and said "Looks like dinner, not breakfast!" Yeah, yeah, yeah. You guys can make fun all you want. I am going to have a "10" week. My trainer has me rate my week between 1 and 10. 10 being eating/working out like a champ with no cheating, and 1 is lost total control and ate everything in sight. My weeks have been bordering on 3's lately. I want to not only win this challenge I'm doing, but I want to get my head back on straight. The smoking thing is going OK, today I will officially run out of cigarettes. My husband is going to attempt to quit with me, so this might get a little ugly. When I'm feeling stressed and cranky at home, my plan is to get the boxing gloves on and go wail on the punching bag. Hopefully I will make it to the garage and not start wailing on Jim. :) Wish me luck!

The Weekend is Here!

The audit is still not over, but I have a reprieve until Tuesday. Gotta work at the restaurant Fri and Sat, but at least I get to sleep in. Louie and Maggie miss their momma when she is working too much. My coordinated husband fell off the loading dock at work this week and hurt his back, so now I have a whiny little boy at home too. When men are sick or hurt, they are impossible. ANYWAY, I was rocking back and forth in the corner yesterday, mumbling things.

Here is a picture of Maggie (a.k.a. MAGALOPE) doing her "jumping" thing.

STRESS-O-RAMA

Yes, it is stress-factor-four around here. Not only am I running around for the audit I told you about in the last post, but my trainer has informed me that to win this contest I am entering, it is imperative to quit smoking. Smoking apparently messes up your metabolism. Crap. I knew it messed up your lungs, but YOUR METABOLISM TOO? Double-crap. Guess I gotta quit. I was completely bitched out by two trainers, actually, because they smelled smoke on me. (I guess no one knew previously.) I have quit before, but I always seem to go back to it because I love to smoke. See, eating healthy is easier because I get to HAVE bad food once in a while, but with the no-smoking thing, I NEVER get to have a cigarette again. Oh my. Crazydogmama will be cranky for a bit. WATCH OUT.

It's going to be a fun week. NOT.

So, I get to work this morning ready for a nice, normal week, nothing hectic. Yeah, right. My boss tells me that we have an FDA audit on Thursday. SURPRISE! FDA audits are about as much fun as sticking toothpicks up your fingernails. They are very stressful because the FDA can shut a company down. Without getting into the specifics of what I do (it will bore you to death) I can just say this, don't expect a whole lot of posting this week. Ugghh. I will be working OT because of the audit, and on top of that, I am scheduled to work all weekend at the restaurant. I am also starting a new challenge, instead of BFL, I am doing a MAXFORMATION through Max Muscle. That is where my trainer works. So much for relaxing, huh? Make way for SUPER- CRAZYDOGMAMA.

The kids are home and Dogmama is happy!

 

All went well at the vet. Doggy teeth are sparkly. I really like the whole "groggy" thing, they are so mellow! They are normally so spazzy, so it is nice. I took a picture of them when we got home. Here are the dopey doggies.

I'm Nervous

Louie and Maggie are going in for their dentals on Friday. Anytime they have to be anesthetized I get real nervous and panicky. They will have fresh breath again, though! It is also going to cost a fortune. I swear, I will never get ahead in my finances, there is always something pay for! It is Murphy's law that if you get extra money set aside, something will break, blow up or need cleaning. Just for fun, take a look at those choppers!

Makes you wanna buy a puppy, huh?

 

This is little Maggie-girl when she was 10 weeks old on the very first day we brought her home. Look at that full tummy! Puppies are the cutest things ever in the history of the world.

 

Trains, Automobiles and Coffee

I woke up late today by ten minutes. My work clothes were in the dryer and all wrinkly. Jim was in a hurry too, so we were bumping into each other and growling. The dogs sat quietly and watched us, probably snickering to themselves. Jim left before me and called me on the cell phone to say the fucking train was in the way and going very slow. By the time I got to the railroad tracks, the train was completely stopped. I live in an area where you must cross the railroad tracks to get out of town, unless you take the freeway. Well, the freeway was, of course, backed up to the moon, and there were many angry travelers. I knew I was going to be late for work. This did not stop me from getting my coffee at Starbucks. I was already 20 minutes late, what's another 5 minutes? So here I come, waltzing into the office almost a half hour late, holding my coffee. Oh well. What are ya gonna do?

Doggy Porn

Louie looooves his belly scratched. 

Good Story

There is a short story by Karawynn Long that I really like. It's called "Discovering Water".  If you can find it, it's worth a read.

More Random Cheryl Facts

I can't think of anything to write about today so I thought I could do part 2 of "The Real Cheryl". Not too exciting, I know, but when I look back on my ramblings 10 years from now, it will be fun to see if I've changed any. So, here goes:

I can't decide what my favorite color is. Sometimes it is green, sometimes it is purple.

My lucky number is 7 and I don't care if that is 10 billion other people's lucky number too.

I hate talking on the phone to people I hardly know, and avoid it at all costs. I would much rather email.

I would rather lift weights than do cardio.

If I had my way, I would be nocturnal. Up all night, sleep in the day. I get my best work done (cleaning, writing, etc.) after midnight and before 5 am.

Spiders scare the hell out of me, but I could sit in a pit of snakes and not flinch.

I hate people who think they are better than other people. I tell them we are all screwed, get over yourself.

My favorite thing to do with my husband is to go to a cafe either really late at night or really early in the morning and drink coffee, smoke and talk about good times, goals and silly things.

I never take a "quick" shower - 20 minutes minimum.

A face only a crazydogmama could love.

Isn't he a handsome boy, my Louie?  

Just a bunch of random nonsense today.

I saw the movie "Thirteen" recently. It was actually very well done, I was impressed. Makes me want to never have children.

I have been experiencing this extreme fatigue thing lately. I just can't seem to get enough sleep. Don't know what the problem is, and I hate going to the doctor.

I'm reading a new book, too. It's called "The Honk and Holler Opening Soon" by Billie Letts. She is also the author of "Where the Heart is" which I loved. So far, the book is great. Any book that starts off with the rescue of an injured dog gets my vote.

That is all for now.

Look what I made!

I made some pretty little bookmarks! How domestic and girlie of me!

Food!

Here is a picture of a meal I am proud of. I baked Copper River salmon in a roasted walnut glaze and put it over buckwheat soba noodles tossed in a little olive oil, soy sauce and sesame seeds. Asparagus is tossed in as well. It was yuuuummmmy. I came up with it myself! I must give credit where credit is due, however. Skwigg came up with the whole "putting pictures of your food on your webpage" idea. I think it is a great idea!

Miffed

OK, so when did groceries get so freaking expensive? I spent $200 at the store yesterday and didn't get hardly ANYTHING! Just barely enough for 1 week of groceries for 2 people! Then, I go to the gas station. My bill is double what it usually is to fill up my tank. Let's not even talk about cigarettes. I need to quit. $40 a carton,YIPES! No wonder I'm broke. Dog food is even more expensive. It is CRAZY! OK, enough complaining. At least I have a job (or two, or three). They had Halloween decorations at the store yesterday. Time flies, doesn't it?

10 Things to do when you're broke.

1. Make your 5$ Venti Mocha Frappuccino's at home instead of going to Starbucks.

 
2. Go out to lunch with your co-workers and give THEM a check for your part of the meal while they pay on their credit card. In my experience, they wait forever to cash checks, especially when everyone has direct deposit and no need to go the bank ever.

 
3. Play with your pets. They will never invite you to do something you can't afford.

 
4. Organize something. Your office, your bookshelf, your digital pictures, etc.

 
5. Take a nap.

 
6. Make a crazy Christmas list.

 
7. Draw something and put it on the refrigerator, whether you are an artist or not.

 
8. Come up with a new exercise. I came up with leg extensions while sitting at my desk with a heavy hole punch between my feet.

 
9. Look at all the food you have in your house. Figure out a new recipe from it, and make your spouse try it first. Do not tell them you are experimenting. Come up with a name for your recipe and act like you know what you are doing. If you drop some of it on the floor, and the dogs won't eat it, throw it away and go to your parent's house for dinner.

 
10. Ask your friends if they have any books that they like that you could borrow. Reciprocate.

Waking Up

Not quite awake yet, my typing may reflect this. I could have very easily stayed in my nice warm, cozy bed this morning. Maybe get up and have a little coffee, get online, then go back to bed. Unfortunately, though, I am sitting in my cold, windowless office. What will today bring? I have no idea. I took a different route to work today thinking it would be a nice change of pace. It wasn't. I was 5 minutes late because of traffic I'm not used to. Sometimes things don't need to change. :) Well, I am going to cut it short right now because the marbles in my head are still rolling around. Need more caffeine.

Its raining, its pouring!

Yay! I love the rain. I love the grey and gloom. The sun can be fun, and I love warm summer nights, but fall is my very favorite time of year. There is just something about curling up in a soft warm blanket on the couch next to the window with a crisp breeze and the smell of fresh rain. It is a great time to get caught up on my reading and my mocha-drinking. (Not that I ever let those things slide too much.) My husband complains about the dark when you get up, dark when you come home thing, but I really enjoy it. I like driving in the dark. I don't get depressed by gloomy weather; I actually feel energized! It is so nice to go workout and not feel like I'm going to die from heat exhaustion. I hope it rains all weekend!

It is the anniversary of "911" for the US today. I don't want to dwell too much on it, but I do want to say that I am proud to be an American, and that day will forever be in my memory. It took me a day and a half before I cried after the tragedy, but when I did, I really did. Last year on the anniversary, the business complex I work in had a "pay your respects to the flag" moment on the hour the first plane hit. I cried then too during the moment of silence. It was very moving. I fully support what the President has done and is doing. There is no need for "hate" mail, it is my freedom to feel that way and to express it!

I'm so excited!

I really have to see the new movie coming out called "Cabin Fever". Its right up my alley! A flesh eating virus and lots of gore! I won't be able to see it Friday because I have a whole slew of people coming over to scrapbook until midnight. I'll have to see it Saturday during the day before I have to work at the restaurant. Oh, what fun! I'll get to ruin all my guest's appetites by talking about it!

The Countdown

We have finally decided on a long-needed vacation. Walt Disney World! Neither of us have been there, and Disneyland is not ideal right now. So to Orlando we go, but not until late April early May. I now have something to research online! (I love little online research projects.) Now, for my fit goals. I feel I must lose some more inches before this trip in order to not keel over and want to die after all the walking I will have to do. For those of you who have not been on a Disney trip before, it is definitely something you want to be "prepared" for, or your feet will look like raw meat at the end of the day, and you will want to sleep for a week. I could lose quite a bit of weight before then! You also must think of all those pictures that will be taken! Here is a picture that was taken in December of 2001 on one of our Disneyland trips. This is Jim and Pooh.

Pictures with My Trainer

I got pictures taken with my trainer this weekend. It was the end of my first 12-week challenge with her, and so we took comparison pictures, fun pictures, measurements and weight. I was really excited about my progress and my finishing stats until I looked at the pictures of me next to her. Now, I know we are supposed to focus on our own improvements, of which mine were great, but I couldn't help but be a little depressed that I still made 3 of her in the pictures. I have thought about putting the pictures on my blog, but I need to get over the initial shock of body-realization first. Bare with me.

Haven't got a minivan yet, can't quite afford the one I want yet. I am devastated over the fatality at Disneyland this past weekend. Another horrible tragedy! And of all places! This also happened on Friday, the same day of the fatal car accident I got behind. Bad day. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is my second favorite ride! Now, Space Mountain AND Thunder Mt. are closed, not to reopen this year! I won't ever feel completely relaxed on that ride now. Even though Disneyland has only had 10 fatalities since its opening in 1955, it seems things are getting worse quickly with all the cutbacks they have been doing. Disneyland is going downhill in my opinion. And I'm MAD about it!!!

Woohoo!

I'm down 3 pounds and lost some more inches! Visiting my trainer today wasn't depressing like I thought it was going to be! My metabolism must be higher because I have been eating like CRAP lately. Even my husband is on my case. (He says if I'm going to pay for a personal trainer I have to do what she says. I hate it when he makes sense.) I took out one of my inspirational books and my Muscle Media magazine that just came today and decided to kick it up a notch and get back on track. My trainer had me doing some Thai Chi punches today, and whoa, that gets the heartrate up in a quick hurry. I took kickboxing for a while and LOVED it, but I had to choose between a trainer and kickboxing for my checkbook's sake. I think what also got me thinking again was the fact that I was behind a horrific fatality car crash this morning on the way to my workout. Instead of being an insensitive twit and thinking "Now I'm going to be late", I thought about how precious life really is and how it can all end in a split second. I wondered if there were children orphaned and how the families of the crash victims would be feeling today. We all take our lives for granted too much, don't we? Oh poor me this, and poor me that. I called my mom on my cell phone as I took the detour. I asked her about her day and told her I loved her. Too bad it took an awful tragedy to get me to do that this morning.

Who are all y'all?

I checked my stats today, and to my pleasant surprise there were quite a few hits onto this blog! That is exciting and scary at the same time! So, this is what I want to know who is my audience? What are you interested in? Will you be returning? Email me and tell me about yourself.

I have completely fallen off the wagon. I haven't worked out in several days, and my eating is less than poor. I had a Venti Mocha Frappuccino (whip-less) this morning for breakfast, then a zone bar for a snack, then PIZZA for lunch. Why I had a DIET coke with that cracks me up. It is not a free day. I have to weigh-in, get photos taken and get measured tomorrow with my trainer. I am going to have to come clean about my effort. The last time I did that a few weeks back, the results were so-so. No weight loss (or gain), but I did lose a smidge in inches. As a result, I have been tired, irritable and non-productive. Time to find some motivation!

The Real Cheryl

OK. Where is it appropriate to ramble on about yourself? 1.) Therapy. 2.) An Interview. 3.) A Blog. So, I have decided to post random and trivial facts about myself. Why I have decided to pick these particular facts will remain a mystery to us all. Does it make me vain and self-centered? Probably. Do I care? No. Not really. I love reading other people's blogs too, I think reading blogs are a great way to broaden our horizons, learn stuff and see things from someone else's point of view. It also kills time. There are a few rules before you start reading. Please try not to get offended by anything I say, I am a freak like everyone else, and I have many quirks and issues. Also, remember, this is a BLOG, this is just for FUN. Here goes:

I check my bank account balance EVERY day. Sometimes more than once. I am extremely anal-retentive about my account, and if my checkbook doesn't balance, it is a vendetta until it does. I have been known to call my husband ON the golf course on his cell phone to inquire about a debit. I have been told this is not such a good idea, so I stopped doing that. I have never bounced a check. (Knock on wood!)

I was born blonde, and I will stay blonde. I don't care what it takes.

I think my dogs are the greatest dogs ever, even though they are Tasmanian devil-dogs. I hate cats. No, I will NOT like your cat. Everyone says I will like their cat, that their cat is different. I promise you, I won't. Kittens are cute, though. All baby animals are cute. Human babies, not always.

I love to lay or sit down in the SHOWER. Not a bath, a shower. I also love warm summer rain, the real thing, AND the movie!

I am obviously a hopeless internet junkie. I should be working.

I prefer Cream of Wheat or Oatmeal to any dry cereal, with exception to Captain Crunch with Crunch Berries.

I HAVE to have teriyaki on my steak, unless it is very gourmet.

I generally don't eat candy or popcorn, although I like Junior Mints and Reses Peanut Butter Cups if I go to the movies.

I live for Frappuccino's and mochas.

I smoke like a chimney, but I rarely drink.

I love the holidays. I like hearing Christmas songs 3 months before Christmas, and I love snow. I become a silly little girl in the snow. I will get up in the middle of the night to check to see if it is snowing, and then if it is, I get giddy and wake everyone up. The same silly girl appears at Disneyland. I have many Christmas CDs and DVDs. Rudolph and Charlie Brown being my favorites. (I also have "The Official Disneyland Album" and actually listen to it in my car. My husband does too.) I also like cooking Thanksgiving Dinner. I want to try and go Thanksgiving-gourmet someday - but my family would probably go ballistic. Ironically, I have no kids.

I am an adrenaline-junkie. I love theme parks, skydiving, snow skiing, waterskiing, driving muscle cars - pretty much anything that gives me that "adrenaline" high.



One of my eyes is a little smaller than the other one.

I love to laugh. Who doesn't?

My scrapbooking/stamping stuff probably adds up to more than the price of my car, and my car is a 2001.

I drink milk with pizza and my favorite pizza is pepperoni, green pepper and jalapeño.

I live in the Seattle area, and I LOVE the rain! I can only handle the hot sun if my butt is planted next to a pool with a margarita.

I like the way my dogs smell. (Not after they roll in poop, though)

I believe that if my house is vacuumed, it looks better than if it is dusted and scrubbed. I have a thing about clean and spot-free carpet. If I buy another house, it must have brand-new carpet.

I could eat Italian food every single day, not just pasta, but ALL kinds of Italian food. I am very picky about quality, though. Il Bacio is my favorite Italian restaurant.

I love to workout (especially with weights) and eat healthy (most of the time), but if I could get away with smoking while running on the treadmill, I would.

Last but not least, I think Jesus is cool.

I'll post more later, I'm tired of typing.

A Picture of Moi

 

OK, here it is. I don't like pictures of myself, generally, but I thought it would help readers who don't know me to put a face with the insanity. I like this picture because for some reason the angle, or the lighting, or something makes me look thinner than I actually am. The picture was taken awhile ago, though. I know it looks funny. I took a self-portrait to test my new digital camera. Check out the cleavage! (That was unintentional, I am fairly conservative normally.) Currently, I am reading "Succulent Wild Woman" by Sark. It is wonderful! It is inspiring me to finish writing an article I'm working on. I love silly, inspirational and colorful books. My interests go all over the place. When I go to Borders and buy books, CDs and DVDs all at the same time, I get really funny looks. For example, the other day I bought a gory horror movie on DVD, a colorful little blank journal, an alternative music CD, the Succulent Wild Woman book and a golf book for my husband. The cashier didn't say a word, but I saw his face crinkle a little when he was ringing up my purchase. It was one of those "these must all be gifts for different people" looks. I wanted to laugh. But instead, I went and had a protein shake and sang loudly to my new CD in the car.

Pictures, Finally!

Here is Louie; a.k.a Loudog, Lou, Loubear, Mr. Lou-man, Boo-Bear & Boo.  

And here is Maggie; a.k.a Magadog, Magalope(she's a jumper), Mag, Magpie &Mags.

Time to Regroup

I have had many wonderful ideas lately for photos, articles and journal entries. The problem is, though, that I have not made time to write any of them down. I have done 2 double-shifts in a row and working much OT. I am working over the weekend as well as having a garage sale, getting the dogs groomed and looking for a minivan to buy. The time has come for a minivan. I do not have children (my stepson doesn't live with us) but it would be easier with the dogs and all my craft supplies. Someday, when I can afford to get a laptop, I will be a little traveling photo/writing shop!

Yesterday I ate a fortune cookie, and the fortune said "You will dine in many exotic places". Now, although I don't believe in fortunetelling cookies, this got me thinking. I have never been anywhere. My traveling consists of Washington, Oregon and California. I went to Idaho and Canada when I was little, but I don't remember it so it doesn't count. I have just driven through Oregon. So, basically, just Washington and California. Pretty sad, huh? My dad works for United Airlines, which makes it even sadder. My husband and I have discussed taking a road trip (hence the minivan-buying) next spring to GUESS WHERE? Yes, Disneyland in CALIFORNIA. I really need to regroup and expand my horizons. I think it will help my writing. Yeah! That's it! I need to travel and go on vacation to help my future career! Great justification! I think I will waltz into my boss's office and tell him! Now, where to go?

Crampy but Happy

OK, so I am a little "crampy" today. It is part of life (as a woman, anyway) but there are miracle drugs such as Aleve to make everything right in the world. My word for the day is "Wish". If I were to take the advice of my word of the day, I would wish for contentment. Not money (although that would be nice), not world peace (which would also be nice, but unrealistic) but contentment. Contentment with my job, contentment with my body, contentment with all the things in my life. I am fairly content now, especially happy in my marriage (9 years today! Happy Anniversary to me!). I thank God for the things in my life, but I always feel a little unsettled. Maybe it is because I am not taking enough risks. Maybe it is because I am in a bit of a rut. I don't always stand up for what I believe in (I get a little complacent sometimes) and I am not pursuing my dream of self-employment as a writer/artist/photographer hard enough. I get so scared of leaving my comfort zone that I do not move forward. I play with my camera, I write in my blog, I keep two journals (one food journal, one personal journal) and I scrapbook, but I do not really do what it takes to succeed. What do I need to do? I need to give it 100%. My fitness goals, my dream job goals - I need to give it 100%. The first step is: What is 100%? That is my task for today. What is my 100%?

A day of meals.

OK, for those who have expressed interest, here is an example of one of my meal days, and please don't scream, hide your eyes and then laugh hysterically if you are one of the yahoo group BFLers:

6:30am - meal 1 - Chocolate protein shake with glutamine, banana. Some form of coffee (either cappuccino or brew) - separate from the shake. Vitamins.
8:30am - meal 2 - Zone bar or Detour bar, ostrich stick
10:30am - meal 3 - egg whites with red, orange, & green pepper and white onion. Topped with salsa and Udo's oil. Strawberries with Splenda. 2 thermogenics (I use Maxlean or betalean)
12:30pm - meal 4 - 5oz of Chicken or tenderloin with Fat Free cream cheese rolled in 2 La Tortilla Factory wheat low-carb tortillas (the small ones). Cup of broccoli or zucchini.
3:00pm - meal 5 - strawberry/banana whey protein smoothie with lechtin, barley, minerals and glutamine. 2 more thermogenics.
6:00pm - meal 6 - Atlantic salmon (barbecued) with lemon pepper and oil, asparagus and either a yam or a sweet potato.
9:00pm - meal 7 - egg whites with broccoli. (Sometimes I forget to get this meal in)

That is approximately 2050 calories and a ratio of 40% protein, 40% carbs and 20% fats (the good fats).
I work out 5 to 6 times a week for about 45 minutes each session. I do High intensity interval training (HIIT). 3 cardio days and 2 to 3 weight training days. I do not mix cardio and weight training, but sometimes I wait tables on weight training days and that is almost like cardio. I have lost almost 30 pounds in 14 weeks and lost many inches. (I'll put the exact inches on an entry in the future). I have lost about 3% body fat. There are lots of people who do much better than that, but that is MY personal best so far. I do have cheat meals and/or a cheat day depending on how I am feeling that week. Occasionally, I have an unscheduled cheat - like a mocha Frappuccino! MMMM. I don't worry about it a whole lot, I just keep going. Never give up!

Holy Heavy Plates, Batman!

As you may have read in one of my previous blog entries, I work in a restaurant part time as a server. It is quite amusing to work in a restaurant, and YES "The Restaurant" reality show is fairly accurate on how a restaurant runs. There are many colorful personalities, and there is much DRAMA. There is no such thing as a restaurant employee who does not possess a life of mega-drama. It cracked me up the other night when our sweet little hostess/busser girl comes busting into the kitchen with a huge pile of plates in her arms exclaiming "HOLY HEAVY PLATES, BATMAN!". You had to be there, I guess, but it really was funny. I have worked in restaurants my whole working life (16 years) in some form or another. I have bussed, hosted, done bookkeeping, served, cocktailed, a little bartending and room service. I have seen it ALL. and I have even met some famous people. It is great money FAST, and it helps buy all those little extras like DVDs, CDs, books, craft supplies and tickets to Disneyland. It is also very social, and it keeps your heart rate up. It can be really interesting to do a 6-hour run-your-ass-off busy night after a hellacious workout. By the end of the night my legs are a rubbery mass of flesh, and I usually can barely get up the two whole steps to my front door. When I wake up in the morning, I have to hold the walls to get to the bathroom because walking becomes nearly impossible. I have a wonderful chiropractor, though, who takes very good care of me, and keeps me upright.

Soorrrreee.

OOhhh, I am sooo sore. My trainer had me do a full body workout on Friday. (To test my endurance). Every exercise was 1 full minute (seems like an hour) with no rest until after the 4th minute. Then, a minute and a half rest - then another full four minutes - continue, continue, continue. She had me do this crazy ab exercise thing where I lay on my back with my legs and arms straight up in the air towards the ceiling, then I have to transfer this big, huge rubber ball back and forth (without dropping it) between my arms and legs without moving them more than a couple of inches. It is hell just trying to keep my arms and legs up in the air, let alone trying to pass something back and forth. I also did lots of squat-like exercises, so my thighs feel like they are going to die, and every movement is a major issue. Watching me try to get up and down off the toilet would be quite amusing, I'm sure. I have a little bit of a headache I'm so sore! I also fell down on one of my knees Friday night onto hard tile at the restaurant I work at. There was water on the floor, and I slipped. So, on top of all that, my knee hurts too. Ugghh. The bright side is that I'm getting all ripped under all my fat! Someday, when all the fat has melted off because of my amazing metabolism, my sculpted muscles will awe the world! Ha!

Shopping, Shopping, Shopping!

OK, eventhough I am totally broke, I have been buying myself lots of stuff. I work really hard and I deserve it, right? I pay my bills on time, I save money, and yes, I spend money when I should be fixing up the house. I have lost between 25 and 30 pounds now, and we have almost recovered from my husband's unemployment earlier in the year. Sooooo, shopping spree justification! I bought myself a set of toerings, 2 anklets, a book "Beautiful Bodies" and some eyelets, eyelet tools and cardstock from Stampin' Up. I also got some stuff from the craft store. Now I need a bigger purse (basically a big black bag from Target) and some new hair products. I love Aveda products, but I have a new interest in L'Occitane products, they are supposed to be really good for dry, naturally curly long hair with frizz issues. (Me!) I don't have human kids (don't know if I want them) so I figure it's OK to be a little self-involved at the moment. I have an anniversary coming up (9 years!) so I will have to buy something for my husband soon. Hmmm, maybe there is a DVD I (I mean HE) wants?

House of Freaks

So, I get home from work yesterday and let the dogs out to go potty. Louie decides to run over and get his red rubber frisbee and run around the yard with it. He suddenly has the urge to pee. He drops the frisbee and pees. What he doesn't know, is that he is actually peeing IN his frisbee. When he finishes, he goes to pick the frisbee back up to play and realizes there is pee in it. He sniffs, then backs away. He looks up at me perplexed, almost like it is somehow my fault. Meanwhile, Maggie is busy eating the yard. (I had just poured her food in her bowl, but the poopy/weedy grass is obviously more appetizing.) She then starts running around the yard barking at nothing. She stops. She projectile vomits green stuff. MMMM. Louie is now walking around trying to find something to do because his frisbee is icked-out. "Ooohhh, aaahhhh, I'll roll in this green stuff here, it looks fresh!" Yes, he rolled in Maggie surprise. You have to keep in mind here that my dinner is almost done, and I have lost my appetite. Louie decides the frisbee really isn't that bad and tries to take it in the house. Thank God I saw this and stopped him.

Monday, Monday

OK, I'm not cranky today. It is Monday, and I'm tired, but I'm OK. I get in those moods every once in awhile, and you just have to back up, turn around, and run. I have to say, though, I have it pretty good. I'm just really busy and some days I need to take it down a gear and rest. My husband did a good job of being lovey-dovey with me over the weekend, he even scrapbooked with me. Every time I got testy, he would get all cute and stuff and ruin my horrible mood. I got to spend time with my mom and dad, too, and they were being all nice and lovey, so I didn't stand a chance. Why is it, though, that I can get 6 hours of sleep on the weekend and wake up and be fine and happy, but then when I get 6 hours of sleep and have to go to work, I feel like a truck ran over me? It must be mental, but truly the physical part eludes me. I mean, I really feel tired today, but if you said, "Let's go skiing!" I would suddenly have a rush of energy and feel like Super-girl. It's not right, I tell ya. Oh, and by the way, HEY BLOGGER-MAKER PEOPLE, GET PRO-BLOGGER WORKING SO THAT I CAN UPLOAD PHOTOS AND STUFF! The upgrade has been down forever, and I want it! I WANT IT NOW DAMN IT! Does anyone out there know a good protein shake/healthy coffee drink/pick-me-up kinda thing for breakfast that might help me with this zombie thing I've got going on? If you do, email me your recipe. I tried Cappuccino Myoplex with extra coffee in it, but it was kinda gross. I'm not sure how to tweak it. Oh, and I tried "Ostrim" Ostrich sticks - YUM! 96% fat free with lots of protein - great with a piece of fruit!

Fun Icky stuff

Watched "House of 1000 Corpses". I rented the DVD that just came out. For those of you who know me, I love horror films. I'm picky, though, so most of them are not good enough. This one was a little disappointing. Rob Zombie could have done a whole lot better. I must say, though, "Captain Spaulding" was a hoot. The intro to the DVD (you know, the screen with the options on it like 'play movie', 'deleted scenes', etc.) well, it was HYSTERICAL. It was the best part of the whole movie. That guy slew me! (No pun intended.) Rent it just to watch that. There is no blood or killing or anything in that part, for those of you weak-tummy people. It is just funny. In a twisted sort of way. ;) I can't wait for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake coming out in theatres in October! Although, they will probably cookie-cutter-candy-coat it for the masses. Oh well, I'll still go see it. Texas Chainsaw Massacre II is still my all-time favorite. There is nothing better than mixing good gore and great humor in the same film!

Cranky

I am cranky today. Everyone is pissing me off at work, I'm tired, I hate my job, I worked too much over the weekend and didn't get to do anything fun, I want chocolate and can't have it, I don't feel like working out, I didn't lose my 2 pounds last week, I lost very little in inches over the last 2 weeks, I have to get a filling tomorrow, It's Monday, I have to work overtime this week, I don't want to work 3 jobs anymore, I'm broke, I don't have anymore vacation until December, I'm feeling sorry for myself, I'm feeling ugly, I'm sick of watching everyone around me get everything they want without working hard for it and damn it, they are messing up Disneyland! I have issues. Apparently, my happy pills are not working today. Waaaaahhhh, whiiiiiiine, waaaaah. Do not tell me that I am only focusing on the negative, or that I need to change my outlook on life and be thankful for what I have. If you do, I will hurt you. and no, I am not on my period. Not even close.

Storms and Measurements

We had a great thunder and lightning storm last night. I love storms! Louie and Maggie aren't usually bothered by it, but last night they hid in their crates. I took the day off yesterday to scrapbook with some friends, and it was a much-needed day off. Even though I didn't eat 100% healthy yesterday, I did get in 7 meals. I didn't get to the gym, though, so I am all out-of-sorts. I have to get measurements taken this Friday and I'm all freaked out that I haven't lost any inches because of all the Frappuccino-drinking and bread-eating. I have had quite a few compliments on my weight loss, but I'm really panicked. The scale hasn't moved much this week (either way) but inches are a whole other story. This whole accountability thing with my trainer keeps me on track MOST of the time!

Crazy Weekend

Wow, I have to go back to work to relax. I am pooped from the weekend. My shoulders are so sore from my workouts. My trainer has really been working my upper arms, and I can feel muscles! Yay! I made my husband feel my new muscles. I tried those "Zone Perfect" bars this weekend. I had the peanut butter chocolate one, and it was really good. Too good. Something must be wrong with them. Yep. Too much sugar. (12g) They have 16g protein, 7g fat and 20g carbs, which isn't too bad, but the 12g of sugar kills it. In a pinch, though, it is better than a chocolate chip cookie. They taste better than Cliff bars, also, which I think are gross, and Cliff bars have 23g of sugar! Woo! Way too much! So that is my critique of the day. I am listening to an old Pearl Jam CD, thinking of my college years when grunge was in. I live in the Seattle area and went to college at the University of Washington (UW) so I was right in the middle of the "Seattle Sound" in the early nineties. I even met Layne Staley of "Alice in Chains" before he died. I remember when the movie "Singles" came out, I was so proud. Yes, I did hang out in those great coffee shops in Seattle before Starbucks hit the big-time. This makes me feel so old. Time to go shopping and make myself feel better!

Working on my day off and the dream car.

I'm doing overtime today at my day job, then I am going to the gym with my trainer, then I am getting Louie his rabies shot, then I am having 8 people over at my house for a night of scrapbooking. (I am a consultant for scrapbooking materials). So, basically, I am working my little tail off today when I should be sleeping and eating my cheat meals. Maybe I'll make some good money and buy myself something! I saw my dream car today. A 1967 Camaro. I have wanted this car since I was about 14 years old. I know it's a guy's classic muscle car and all that, but I *love* them. The roar of the engine, taking those corners, being able to go uphill without people honking at me, it is my dream car. Call me nutty, but I want it. It is not practical, butI am going to see if I can test drive it today.

Dentists and Dog Poop

Ugghh, I gotta go to the dentist today for a cleaning. This is the only time I brush my teeth with a vengeance. I brush and floss of course, but not usually with fervor. The good thing is that I get to leave work early! I think I must have brain damage or something because I get excited to leave work for *any* reason, even if it is for a dental visit, surgery, or whatever. It's not work! Anyways, more awake today; took my thermogenic.

Maggie pooped on the floor this morning. She hasn't done this for a while! She knows better, and I had JUST let her outside. I was so mad. The funny part was, Louie tattled on her. I was getting ready for work in the bathroom and Louie came running to me, and started pawing my leg like the house was on fire. I know what this means. Maggie doesn't let me know when she has to go, and if she has an accident, she runs into her crate knowing she will get yelled at. Louie wants me to know that it wasn't him, and that I need to pick it up. Louie's way of letting me know HE has to go potty is to stand between my legs and lean to one side. How he came up with this is a mystery to me, and how I figured out what it means is even more mind boggling. So, when he paws my leg, I know it is a Maggie-poop accident. After I yelled at Maggie and gave her a time-out in her crate, Louie sprawled out in the hallway looking might proud of himself. My dogs. Worse than siblings.

Sleepy

When my alarm went off this morning the first thing that went through my head was "You've got to be kidding". It felt like I never went to sleep. My eyes are feeling heavy today. I did not have time to stop at Starbucks for a coffee, and I can't stand the stuff we make at work. I am getting ready to have some sliced turkey on dark rye here at 7:40 in the morning. I always get strange looks. I've been eating a little too much bread lately. I need to knock it off. I meant to make some wild rice and bake some chicken for the week, but I have been avoiding turning the stove on during our little heat wave here. We have no air conditioning in our house except for a little one in our bedroom and office. It is cardio day, and I am not looking forward to it because I will be so sweaty afterwards. I also have to do a "double" today. I have a second job, and work 10.5 hours at my day job, then go work another 4 or 5 hours at my second evening job. Then, as if that weren't enough, I have an hour commute home. The stupid thing is, I'm still broke all the time.

Later that day.

This is fuuunnnnn. I can't wait to upgrade so that I can include pictures. I'll never get any work done! Had a co-worker just bring me a Grande Mocha Frappuccino. Oooh, bad, but yet so good! I have been on a major Frappuccino kick lately, which is not a good thing when you are trying to be fit. It is 90 degrees here today with mega humidity. I was absolutely soaked after the gym! I found the only gym in this state without air conditioning. I am 31 years old for anyone who is interested. I am listening to Train "Calling All Angels" right now. I really like that song. I also like the Michelle Branch song "Are you Happy Now?" which is not usually the kind of music I listen to. I never used to listen to mainstream pop, but you know, some of the new artists are pretty good! I also like The Dave Matthews Band and David Gray. That's enough for now. Is anybody reading this? Probably not. I will enjoy looking back on it myself, though. I'm big on nostalgia.

A brand new blog!

Hello, CrazyDogMama here. I have decided to publish my daily insanity in a blog. First, why "CrazyDogMama"? Well, I am the human mama of two Cairn Terriers (like Toto) named Louie and Maggie, who are my kids, and I tend to be a bit crazy. I have an obsession with working out, eating healthy and photography. I am not an expert in any of these fields, but I do waste a lot of time doing/learning about them. I am an avid scrapbooker and am currently gathering pictures of my "Body for Life" (BFL) challenge for a scrapbook I am making of my progress. Now, of course, I can ramble on daily about it in my blog. I just finished an upper body workout on my lunch break at work. I am now drinking my "Muscle Milk". In a few hours I will be eating tuna on dark rye.

My current reading includes "Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl" and "God Save the Sweet Potato Queens". My husband goes along graciously with all of this, and I in turn, go along with his golf obsession. I don't golf myself; it is not exciting enough for me. I am an adrenaline junkie. Over the last 8 years I gained a whole lot of weight and have not been able to do my adrenaline junkie activities like snow skiing and jumping out of airplanes, so that is where my fitness obsession comes in. I WILL be ripped by next May, even if it kills me! I eat constantly (5-7 meals a day) and workout 6 days a week - HARD! Or at least I try. I have 2 cheat meals per week, in the same day. Some people have an all-day free day, which is great, and what I do when I am doing BFL, but right now I am trying to limit it to two meals a week at the advice of my trainer. These two meals could consist of an entire pizza or an entire package of Oreos, mind you. I have lost a little over 20 pounds so far in 9 weeks. I have lost almost 2% in body fat. In the past, I have not been good at this. I usually give up. NOT THIS TIME. I am on a mission.

Today, I am looking into a photography class. I love digital photography, but I also want to learn how to do regular photography. I am into black and white, although I am just starting that.

I have one other obsession. Disneyland. My husband and I are big kids who love Disneyland. I am so bummed that Space Mountain will be closed for 2 years! It is my favorite ride, ever! We are planning our next trip for 2005.

Interested in anything I have to say? Email me at crazydogmama@gmail.com.