The Good (Married) Life

Awhile back, one of my sisters had a Facebook status that said something along the lines of, "With so many men out there to date, why would a person want to settle down with just one?" My first thought was, "Lunatic. Who wants to deal with dating? It was a pain in the ass!" I still think that, but I had another thought yesterday that made me realize what it is about marriage that I think is so great. There are the obvious reasons: Being with the person you love for the rest of your life, having support (both emotional and financial), raising a family, etc. I believe all of those things, but there's something else.

There's a house that my husband and I pass everyday when I'm taking him to the park and ride. In their very long driveway is a tractor-trailer with the word "Hoss" attached in huge letters to the front. Whether it's the name of the truck or its driver, we're not sure. Either way, we've taken to following the story of Hoss. We imagine that's the driver's nickname, and when he's gone for long stretches at a time, we're sad for his wife and family. When he returns we're giddy with happiness, "Hoss is back!" Obviously we don't know these people, and have no idea what the story/situation is. However, it's become our "thing," something we talk about and find amusing and entertaining. Other people wouldn't get it.

And that's why marriage is so great. Having someone who knows all of your inside jokes, can understand why something's funny or sad or confusing just by hearing a word or seeing a particular facial expression. This person's got your back, and that's a nice feeling. I hope Hoss and his Mrs. Hoss feel the same way.

This Isn't Acting 101. Cut the Drama!

I've belonged to lots of mom/playgroups since having my first child. In every single one, there were constant eruptions of drama amongst the moms ("mama drama," as many of you call it). I'm tired of it. Why can't grown women get beyond the ridiculous junior high mentality that everyone's out to get them/leave them out/hurt their feelings and make their lives miserable? Additionally, why do you stay in a group where you hate the people running it and think that you're being treated unfairly?

I ask these questions as one of the organizer's of a wonderful group my kids and I participate in (where we've had very little drama until now). I'm one of three women who work our asses off to make the group fun, interesting, warm and welcoming. Yet, we have some members who think it's a great time to spread malicious gossip, manipulate other members, lie and pretty much make our lives as organizers miserable. Do they think we're doing this for money? Fame? No, we do this because we want to. We want a fun place for our families to get to know other families. To create our own village for raising our kids. It takes blood, sweat and tears to run something like this.

To those moms (both in my group and not in my group) who thrive on their drama-filled bullshit, I say...Get out. If you don't like the group and think we're a pack of backstabbing bitches, then leave. Start your own group and run it the way you want. Just watch your own back for the time that some of your members turn on you for no reason except their own sadistic enjoyment.

The World Does Not Revolve Around You

I used to work in social services, and have dealt with people at their worst. For the most part, my experience has shown people to be good hearted. They usually mean well and work hard to improve their situations. They care about others and make sacrifices to improve themselves. Then, there is that small percentage who are flaming assholes that need to be punched in the crotch. This is a memo to one such person.

Ever since I started going to the gym that I currently belong to, there has been a self-centered, oblivious, self-important bitch on one of the ellipticals. I loathe this woman with a passion, and she represents everything I hate about having to go to a gym in the first place. I belong to a community center facility, so there aren't 500 machines to grab. They have the rule that all gyms seem to use, that you can have a cardio machine for 30 minutes at a time, then must get off to give others a chance. This time of year it's packed with New Year's resolution crowds, and there's a good chance you might have to stand in line. This dumbass shows up, puts her water, towel and magazine on the elliptical, then proceeds to wander around the gym blabbing to people and doing everything EXCEPT workout.

Yes, she finds it acceptable to "save" a machine for herself while she goes on with her own personal social hour. This morning, she did it for 15 minutes (I was on a machine behind her, and timed it)!! None of the employees ever say a thing to her, and it infuriates me. Once she gets on the thing and starts her workout, she talks at full volume, bloviating about how important she is/her job is/her life is.

I'm contemplating a way to let her know what a fucking creep she is, because I think she honestly believes her behavior is just fine.

For The Love Of Cheez-Its, SLEEP!

Why won't you kids let us sleep? Are you trying to kill your mommy and daddy? Don't you know that depriving us of a great night's rest makes us cranky, irritable, fat, angry, short-tempered, stupid and homicidal?

Food Obsession

After taking a break from counting points during the holidays (and while I was sick for 3 weeks), I'm back to journaling my food and making sure I stay within my points range of 28 (plus my extra 35 weekly and activity points). I remember when I first started Weight Watchers and had a ton of points, it wasn't ever an issue. I ate and ate, and my weight fell off like crazy. I swear, dropping into the 20s has been incredibly challenging, and it's been a never ending battle with the same 4 pounds over and over and over. So, I'm back to counting today, as Fridays are my weigh-in day.

I've worked out nearly everyday since Jan. 1. I'm back to running, training for a Shamrock Run 5K in March...my legs and hips are SO SORE from the increased running, but I'm meeting a physical challenge I never thought I could. I've been doing a ton of yoga and loving it. It really helps with the running soreness. I've been fitting some short and intense rebounding workouts (mini trampoline) on the weekends, as well.

I definitely HAVE to workout, along with my careful eating, in order to lose weight. While WW doesn't require exercise as part of the program, I need it.

So, here I am entering all of my meals and snacks into eTools all day long. I only have 5pts left for dinner, a common issue...It being Friday night, I'll dip into extra points or activity points for some wine tonight. Going off program and then returning brings that obsession with food that you get when you first start a weight loss program, as well. I can't stop thinking about food: What will I eat? What has only a few points? Is it time to eat? I'm SOOOOOO hungry, even though I just ate!

Aargh, I know I just need to give my body a couple of days to remember that it's not going to starve, that being hungry isn't an emergency, and to just relax and go with the flow of counting points, but I just wish I'd stayed on program to begin with.

100 Books in 2010 Challenge

I've signed up for this challenge, and you should too!

I'll keep my list on the lower, right-hand side of this blog.

A New Year, A New Start

I lost 34lbs last year. I worked hard for the first 6 months or so, then sort of gave up. I kept losing and gaining the same 4lbs over and over and over, and got tired of dealing with it. It frustrates me now, because I'd be so much closer to my goal if I'd just kept counting points and faithfully working out. Luckily, I didn't really do any damage to myself-I maintained the same weight, more or less, but it's so much harder to get back on that weightloss wagon than it is to just stay on it to begin with. I ended the year being horribly sick for several weeks, enough so that I couldn't run without breaking into fits of coughing. I'm pretty sure I hurked up a few pieces of my lungs. I ate just a little too much, I drank just a little too much, and sat around. I tried to keep doing yoga, since it didn't make me hack and hack, but it's not such a great calorie burner.

I'm getting back to good health, and we've bought some exercise equipment...a pull-up and dip station, an urban rebounder. If I ever get a treadmill for home, I can quit the stupid gym completely (I'm not really a social exerciser).

I think that waiting for New Year's to decide to change our lives is ridiculous, but I'm thinking of this as a new start. Here are the things I'm resolving to do in 2010:

1. Get back to tracking points and logging my food.

2. Following this workout schedule: M-run and upper body strength; Tu-yoga; W-run and lower body strength; Th-yoga; F-run and abs. Sat/Sun will be rebounding (either one day or both), since it's a short and intense workout.

3. Spend more time intereacting with the kids and less time pretending to listen to them while hanging out on the computer.

4. Lean a new hobby..something, anything. Knitting perhaps?

5. Find a volunteer position.

6. Remember to take my vitamins!

I'm off to a decent start so far, I've gotten a workout in every day since the 1st. I've taken a multi and my calcium. I've sent some inquiries out about volunteer jobs. However, I'm sitting here typing while the kids watch a DVD, so there's one I need to focus on. Hard.

The playgroup's off to an awesome start already, with January and February calendars nearly full already. I've missed hanging out with those ladies, and while I love the holidays, I'm glad to have our schedule back to normal.