Pilates

I've been getting really into Pilates. Pilates is a strength training method that helps improve your core (stomach and related "middle" muscles) and other things too. I've only done mat classes because I'm a little too intimidated by the Reformer machine, but I'm in love. It takes an amazing amount of control - the picture above looks easy, but it's tough to ensure your hips are stacked on top of each other, your abs are pulled in tight, your butt is tucked in, your rib cage is lifted off the mat, and THEN doing the motion where you raise your top leg (don't move your hips!) and use your obliques to curl up.

Anyway I enjoy it. Apparently the founder Joseph Pilates said "You will feel better in 10 sessions, look better in 20 sessions, and have a completely new body in 30 sessions." I'm at 11 sessions right now, and it's true that I feel a lot better. Can't wait to get to that magic #30 and have a new body! Well, with my body, it's going to take longer than 30, but hopefully I'm well on my way.

I think for every 30 sessions I attend, I'll treat myself to a Reformer package. That's my motivation to keep going, and maybe it'll be a little extra boost to keep my form and try more advanced variations of the moves.

Spring!

Ozzie really enjoys being outside now that the weather is nice. So do we. But he celebrates by finding sticks and chewing them up. I hope our neighbors don't mind the random piles of stick debris.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Downtown

I've missed traveling to new cities, figuring out how to get around, discovering new things. That may be why this mini-vacation is doing a world of good.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Happy Anniversary Babe

Unintentional Funnies

I'm sort of a hypocrite. Although I hate that people clearly disrespect the office of the President, I can't help but laugh at some of the jokes. Bush really did say funny things, and Obama really does make funny faces. This one made me laugh.

Girls Are Evil

I was going through old files at work and found this hilarious proof that someone in IT gave me a long time ago.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Fingers Crossed?

I don't usually care about my horoscope, because it normally says stuff like "You are weird - avoid crying on the 3rd." But it's still fun to read and make fun of. I was googling horoscopes tonight and I found a good one on AstrologyZone.

It's fairly long, but I liked this part:
With Uranus so prominent this month, I would be remiss if I didn't warn you that at times your finances will be volatile. I cannot see all your planets in your natal chart, so we have to proceed carefully. This would certainly not be the month to take a big financial risk - follow a conservative course. You will see breakthroughs, but it will be up to you to follow them up and make them work for you. The universe will be behind you all the way, which is a very new and different condition. Until now, the planets have been little gremlins, setting up an obstacle course, hoping you'd trip over your shoe laces. You fell over a few times, but by George, if you watch your step, you won't fall again. You've learned a lot and far better days lie ahead! 

Man, it feels like I've been in an obstacle course lately. Anything that suggests the universe will be behind me sounds like a welcome change. Apparently April is going to suck again and it won't get better til July, but I'm going to have lots of money and sex until then, so I guess there are tradeoffs to everything. 


Now I have a mental picture of evil little gremlin-planets, grinning diabolically while they arrange themselves into tires and monkey bars, with a rope hanging over a giant sun wall. No wonder it's been crazy lately.