Detroit Diva

The Oscars are tonight and I have to say I'm just not all that interested.  I'll probably watch some of it but for the most part, there isn't a movie, actor, or actress that I really rooting for to win.  Kind of a boring year even with Chris Rock as host.

I woke up a week ago yesterday feeling as I do most mornings, which is healthy, and about 2 hours later crawled into bed with some combo chest cold/flu thing. 3 days later I crawled out of bed and to the couch and 2 days after that I crawled to work.  Here it is 8 days later and the body aches and chills are gone but I'm still feeling more tired than ususal and my chest is still a little congested.  If you haven't had this yet I hope it misses you. It worked its way through my department at work and there is constant coughing and some of my co-workers are still so wiped out from it that they're sleeping on their lunch time. I haven't seen this many people sick in a long time. It's time for spring!

I am so bummed.  Swedish household goods giant, Ikea, has been trying to build a store in the Detroit area for about 5 years now and keep meeting with resistance.  First, they were told the colors of their building, blue and yellow, were too bright for the area.  I really think it was some Michigan State fan who didn't like a building painted University of Michigan colors. Now, the company that owns the land next to where Ikea was going to put a new store has decided they don't want to sell land to Ikea for a parking lot - so, no Ikea.  I want Ikea! Oh yeah, we can't get an Ikea but there certainly isn't any problem when Wal-Mart wants to come to town. Apparently an ugly blue and gray building is ok but hell if we're having yellow in our town.

Check out PovertyBarn.  Love the play on words.  Visiting PovertyBarn reminded me about the Gates in Central Park done by Christo and his wife, Jeanne-Claude- I really want to see them but New York is too far a drive.

Ok, I may have a problem.  Last week, I gained a pound and if the scale today is any indication, I’ve gained a pound this week as well.  I’ve stayed within my Weight Watchers point range but I have eaten more brown rice, wheat bread, and pasta than I usually do in an attempt to add more whole grains to my diet. In addition, I’ve exercised my ass off.  This has been my workout schedule for last week and this one –

Sun  –  Step aerobics

Mon –  Rest day

Tues –  Pilates – am – short version

            Step aerobics – pm

Weds – Pilates – am –short version

            Walk – lunch

            Weights – pm

Thurs – Pilates – am – short version

            Step aerobics – pm

Fri –     Pilates – am – short version

            Walk – lunch

            Weights – pm

Sat -     Pilates – long version

So, why the weight gain?  Am I eating too many carbs or am I gaining muscle? I’m trying to think positively and not go into panic mode. I know that I am still doing what I need to do so I’m trying not to get frustrated.  Here’s my plan for next week – cut back on the rice, pasta, and bread and see if I end up with a weight loss.  If so, I guess that will tell me what I need to know – cut back on the carbs.  If not, well, I’ll have to figure out what I need to change.  I’m pretty sure that exercise is not the issue but who knows – the government will probably come with something stating that we now need to exercise 4 hours a day to lose weight.

The Republicans are once again trying to do away with the very thing that makes this country great, namely that pesky Freedom thing.  Here's the latest from some idiot in Ohio who has decided that Colleges are a little to free in what they teach -  the Academic Bill of Rights.  Did you catch that -  if we throw in Bill of Rights the people in stupidland will think it's a good thing and give us their blessing.

I think I may have mentioned my love of Moby before so it will come as no surprise that I am quite excited that he has a new album coming out, called hotel.  Itunes has the first single, Beautiful, from the album available for download onto your mp3.  If Beautiful is any indication, this is going to be a great album.  I am currently sending Moby telepathic messages like - "Come to Detroit, Moby. Call me - ya know the number.  What do you mean, No, you don't. Hello, Moby? Moby?" Apparently Moby's powers of telekinesis need some work but since he's a musical genius, I'll let it pass for now.

Did you watch the Grammy’s Sunday night? Explain to me, how, with all that supposed musical talent, the show can be so damn boring? I almost fell asleep during U2’s performance – could they have slowed that song down anymore? Don’t even get me started on J Lo and husband number 12 – despite Queen Latifah’s prediction, no one talked about that overwrought number around the water cooler Monday morning. Then there was the old geezer fest known as the tribute to Southern Rock. Yikes!  Speaking of scary southern things – let’s talk Loretta Lynn. Umm, Loretta, Little Bo Peep called, she’d like her dress back. No, her date wasn’t Michael Jackson – that was Jack White of the White Stripes, who either wants to be Michael or has some Tim Burton Nightmare Before Xmas thing going – it’s hard to tell.

There were some highlights though – Green Day. They rocked.  Other highlights included . . . uh, yeah, ok, Green Day.

I think I may have mentioned that Kris and I are using Marathoning for Mortals by John “The Penguin” Bingham as our training guide for the 1/2 Marathon.  In the last chapter that I read, he talks about how important rest days are and that once people get into working out that they often find it hard to take rest days but that it was crucial to take them.  Well, when I read that, I scoffed, yes, scoffed. I thought – are you kidding me? I look forward to rest days. Well, I had a scheduled rest day, after 9 straight days of working out, and damn if it wasn’t hard to not work out.  I felt really restless – me, the fat (although getting less fat every day. Hey, I think I should have my own show and instead of Fat Actress, we could call it Fat Librarian. Do you think Hollywood would go for it? ), former couch potato did not want to rest. Yikes, what has happened to me? Over 5 straight months of exercise, eating healthy, and general well-being and I, dare I say it, am actually enjoying working out.  Mmmm, don’t know what to say about that other than I feel good and I’m seeing results so I’m very motivated and that 1/2 marathon is something I’m really excited about.

My sister, Kris, started at the beginning of January to train for the 1/2 Marathon that we are doing in October and not only is she up to 3 miles, 5 days a week, but she lost 9lbs in 5 weeks. She is actually disappointed by the 9lbs she wanted to lose at least 10. Hey Kris, we don't allow negative thinking here only positive! 9lbs is great!  Happy Birthday, btw!