Coundown

3 days until my last final is due!

4 days until Las Vegas!

11 days until graduation!

P.S. I am procrastinating so I don't have to study legislation, which is boring. I am trying to care, but it's hard.

Weekly Totals

As I type this I have a bit of a headache, presumably because I have caused some neck muscle to kink up. My low back can hardly believe it belongs to me, but I am persevering, and I dare say, it's working out OK. Hurray!

7 Day -Total
elliptical - 3.4 hours
jogging - 6 miles
walking - 8 miles
cycling - 10 miles

I think I may have lost a pound or two, but mostly I seem to be changing shape and building muscle. I'll take it. I am also eating a fair amount due to the stress of finals. Plus, I am heading to Las Vegas on Saturday, and I will not be eating well there, so I have to burn, baby, burn! I updated my workout mix today and made some very inspiring additions. Chris Brown's Forever and Rhianna's Don't Stop the Music are great for jogging!

Tomorrow I have my first final, and I am definitely less prepared than I have ever been. This semester has not really been about school for me, but the things I have been focusing on are going well, so I can't complain. WIsh me luck, cuz I am actually going to need it!

Exercisathon Week 1

Totals for week one of the exercisathon:

elliptical - 3 hours 30 minutes
miles jogged at epically slow pace - 3
miles walked - 8

Official Announcement

Do-do-do-doooooo! Announcing my new blog theme! Since I am only 3 weeks away from graduating, and 3.5 months into my personal makeover that I've told you nearly nothing about, I thought I would change the angle on my blog and journal to you instead of myself about my progress. I am a little neurotic and ADD about my makeover, so bear with me.

On January 6th I started my diet makeover, which continues on to this day. My roomie and I are both eating healthy, we make flax muffins, vegetable soup, and steel cut oats every week. We eat oranges and strawberries and salads chock full of vegetable so we won't get scurvy or other vitamin deficiencies. And I have basically eaten 1500 calories a day or less everyday (with a few exceptions).

Then in mid February I added in exercise, and lo and behold, my back is adapting! it makes me extremely happy. First it was just the elliptical trainer 3-4 times a week, then I started taking weekly bike rides at the river, and this week I started jogging. I bought beautiful running shoes that I LOVE, and took them for a spin today as I did my first bout of wind sprints to improve my fitness.

So far I have lost 20 pounds and two sizes. I have been in a bit of a slump over the past few weeks from the stress of school projects coming due, working two internships, but I've thrown the running in, and switched from counting Weight Watcher's points to counting calories. I just have to make it a few more weeks and them my Get Fit and Get Smart summer starts, when roomie and I will work out and study for the Bar all day every day. It's gonna be great.

My goal - 20 more pounds by the end of summer. Then re-assess. Kate is my role-model. I want to have a body just like hers...only mine.

Yes. Pretty moot, I'd say.

"Since we granted review the case has become moot. Truitt resigned his teaching position, relinquished his teaching credential pursuant to a criminal plea bargain, and subsequently died."

My Year of Personal Transformation

I didn't want to put anything officially down in writing until I passed some significant benchmark, but that happened today, so I might as well tell you all about my personal year of transformation I began starting this January 6th. It's been in the works for several months as I geared up and made time for what had to be done, but this January I started Weight Watcher's although I don't actually attend any meetings, began meditating everyday, and also began doing a few of my physical therapy exercises twice a day to get my back in shape. My goal is to weigh 125 by my birthday in August, be calm and strong for the Bar Exam this July, and be as happy with the outer me as I am with the inner me for the rest of my life. It was time to take control.

As of this morning I have dropped 16.2 pounds and officially weigh less than I did the other time I was successful at Weight Watchers. And unlike that time, it hasn't been a struggle, I feel good about continuing, and have a plan for getting where I want to be and maintaining it that is very doable. Also, Stephanie decided to do the point watching thing with me, and so we modified our diets and I am eating healthier than ever before, which feels great and makes it easier to be good. I weighed in this morning at 161.8 and have lost 3 1/4 inches in the past 3 weeks.

A few weeks ago I decided I was going to try and take up the elliptical trainer again, since getting to 125 through diet alone was going to be a huge struggle. Since I have been walking nearly every day ever since I got Titan last year, and since I had already lost some weight, my body decided it could handle this, which is wonderful since I love the elliptical machine and it's helping me be pro-active about getting the weight down more quickly. This week I also rode my bike to Chipotle with Stephanie to get her free burrito. It was my first bike outing in well over 15 years. I am planning to do it regularly and hope to get a road bike (inspired by our awesome Tour of CA experience) and become a cyclist, at least on the weekends. Additionally, I plan to learn how to roller blade with the dogs this summer to give me an alternative exercise and to make it easier to tire Titan out quickly once I start working. Finally, I am planning to move Amadeus here, finally, this May after I graduate. I have even figured out how to do all of this while working next year, assuming, of course, that I find a job.

So, from here on out I will keep you informed on my progress as a way to stay honest and motivated. I'd say wish me luck, but I know this is all about dedication, persistence, and hard work.

This week:
Elliptical trainer 4 times for a total of 135 minutes
Cycling 1 time for 50 minutes
Dog walking 5 times for a total of 165 minutes
Total: 350 minutes or 5 hours, 50 minutes

Vivre Le Tour!

Stephanie and I just got back from chasing the Amgen Tour of California. We only missed one of the 8 stages, and had awesome, amazing, unbelievable experiences everyday. The tour started with a short individual time trial in Palo Alto. We were pulled to keep padestrians out of the team car area so they wouldn't be flattened, and as our reward, we were both given ride-alongs on motorcycles behind riders on the course. I rode behind Bobby Julich on CSC, and Stephanie rode behind someone we don't know, but she did get to see Jens Voight at the light asking the driver how to get to the start. Hurray! People pay serious money for this type of opportunity, but we got it just because we are awesome, at least I assume that's why.

Stage 2 started in Sausalito and ended in Santa Rosa where we were course marshalls. I was a super-star volunteer sign-in person in the morning, and then we guarded a cross-walk. As our reward we got to see George Hincappie slowly pedaling within 5 feet of us (unfortunately after a fall). We screamed enthusiastically, but he was too tired to propose to Stephanie just then. We also bought awesome polar fleece jackets because we were freezing to death. I also bought my second Levi Leipheimer shirt, much to the amusement of the woman running the booth.

Stage 3 started in Santa Rosa and ended in Sacramento, where Stephanie was on the medical team and got to escort a rider from his team area to the anti-doping van after the race. I ditched my job because they moved me so far away, and instead made friends near the finish line with several lovely folks, one of whom was kind enough to hold my umbrella for me so my camera wouldn't get wet. I kept everyone updated with the play-by-play available via my iphone. It was damp, but worth it when Tom Boonen sprinted to the stage win. So cute! That night we went to Chipotle, the sponsor of team Slipstream, where we got the autographs of Tyler Ferrar (the then yellow jersey holder) and his teammate, David Miller, who is adorable and British. Courtney won a jersey in the raffle, and Stephanie won a Felt Cruiser and free burritos for a year. She still isn't sure which prize is better. All in all, it was an awesome day.

We missed stage 3, which took the riders from Modesto to San Jose over Mt. Hamilton. It was a brutal day, and many riders abandoned due to exhaustion and the flu, which was racing through the peloton. Tyler Ferrar, the leader, was among its victims and we had to say good bye. Levi came in second after following Robert Gesink over the mountains and graciously allowing him to claim the stage win. I heart Levi!

Stage 4 signaled the start of our mini-road trip. With the car cleaned (just in case a cyclist needed a ride somewhere) and our windows covered with writing to build comradary along the way, we left at dawn to make it to San Luis Obispo in time to work the finish. We made it despite the car's sketchy directions telling us to cut through someone's yard and down a cliff, through an Indian reservation, and on a road so windy Stephanie got sick while driving it. For the riders, it was much worse. It was the most horrible day of the race, and according to Levi, the worst day he's ever spent on a bike. It rained ALL day, and as they headed down the coast on Highway 1, they faced 40 mph headwinds. We lost several more riders, one from hypothermia, but our favorites made it. Dominic Rollin, a Canadian, broke away and pounded his way to the finish, which was very emotional for him given the difficulties of the day. We know it was emotional for him because we were literally INCHES away from him in our security posts. Georgie brushed up against us as he passed, and Levi was also there in all his short, bald, adorable glory. (I heart Levi!) We also discovered the adorableness of Scott Nydam from BMC. So, so cool!!!!!!!!

We stayed the night in Buellton (pronounced like mule), the home of Split Pea Andersons and not much else. We watched the end of the day's stage on TV and then passed out so we would be rested for the next stage in Solvang. Solvang is only minutes from Buellton and is the most adoreable little Danish town in the heart of beautiful horse and wine country. We got our assignments, which turned out to be in the perfect picture taking location, and set up camp. Fabian Cancellara, Georgie, and Levi all passed us while warming up but I was too slow to snap most of their pictures. However, I did manage to get them on their actual runs on this 15-mile individual time trial. Levi needed to do well to keep his lead, but up against Cancellara and David Miller, it seemed unlikely he would prevail. HOWEVER, he came in the fastest, 20+ seconds ahead of Miller and 40+ seconds ahead of Cancellara to retain the yellow jersey. We stalked him in the green-tent area we learned about while working San Luis Obispo, and I snapped a few nice pictures before heading on to Santa Barbara. Oh, and I bought my third Levi/Astana t-shirt. I heart Levi!

Santa Barbara was the start of Stage 5 and Stephanie was signed up to be a course marshall. While signing in, Brent, our security buddy, spotted us and told us we should request to be security in the remaining stages and tell people we were requested. Really?! So we filled our positions for the start and then decided to see if we could make it Santa Clarita for the finish, since they are much cooler. We ran into a team High Road bus that honked at us when the driver saw our High Road flag. We then found a Rock Racing Caddie which I aggressively followed to Santa Clarita, since we had no idea where to go, even though Stephanie bought every map the gas station had to offer. When we found Brent, he told us we could work and then gave us awesome spots where all the riders pass and then hang out before being called to the podium. He even fibbed a bit to the other volunteers as to why we "needed" to be back there. Levi sat there signing millions of things for the VIP people and finally acknowledged the screaming people behind me by showing them his photo face. I don't think he really enjoys the celebrity part of being a winner, but he's so damn adorable. Riders came in and out and I discovered who Levi's swanee is (I have no idea how to spell it, but it's like his slave in French). I want her job. She toats his crap around and gets him where he needs to go on time, and even lays out his belongings in his suitcase so he doesn't have to fuss around in the tent. Oh, to be a fly in that tent! At the end, John, another security guy, grabbed water bottles of two of the riders and gave them to us, and Brent told us to be sure and work for him the next day. Hurray!

Before leaving town we went to the "Rock the Bike" party to get the autographs of High Road riders, including Georgie. We got there super early and refused to leave the spot to rest, and were rewarded when one of the Giant reps gave us chairs and actually argued with another rep to make sure we got to go first even if store reps came to cut in line. It was a good thing too because it started to rain and we had a long way to go. We stared at all the riders when they arrived, watched them eat burritos (Mmmm. Burritos!), and then got their autographs and split, so that we could spend the night in our ghetto motel in Pasadena. Cheap is not a good thing in Pasadena. Our room had nasties in the bathroom, wall paper torn from the wall, a hole in another wall, and was generally not pleasant to stay in. It was totally the type of place where people get murdered in the movies, where meth addicts go to party, and where people check in at 4:00 am. Ick!

We survived just fine but got the heck out of there as soon as we could so we could spend hours at the Rose Bowl waiting for Brent to show up and give us work to do. We killed time, chatted with vedors, who now recognized us, and were even greeted with some recognition by Bob Rolls, a cycling telecastor who is some what of a celebrity in his own right. Eventually we decided to go hand out near the podium, helped ourselves behind the rail and proceeded to shew others out like we owned the place. What snobs we are. It wasn't long before Elliot, another of our official tour employee friends, let this guy on crutches in to sit with us, and he became out new friend for the day. SInce he was cute and nice to us, we helped him find a good spot, and Stephanie even got him an Astana feed bag and water bottle from the green-room tent after the race.

May I just say that working in the back of the stage at the final stage of the Tour (which involved displacing 9 other legitimate security volunteers) was AWESOME! There was madness, riders everywhere, their families, their swanees, their bikes, their managers, absolutely everyone was wedged into this tiny space and we were sooo close. Plus, right at the finish they sent us to the fence where we watched Georgie win the stage with no one in our way, completely ignorant of the rain. So, so great. Stephanie and I switched back and forth a few times because my spot was a little better, and at the end, we both got the giant fabric stickers they put on the winner's jerseys for our favorites teams, water bottles, fruit cups, etc.

Before we knew it, the space cleared out and people began to take things apart. We hopped in our car and made it home in a mere 5 1/2 hours including two fairly lengthy stops. Go us! Now all I have to do it figure out how to get the paint of my car windows and how we are going to make it without cycling until July.

P.S. I heart Levi!!!

Fascism in America?

Here's an interesting statute in the Education Code of Washington state.

Disqualification for failure to emphasize patriotism — Penalty.

(1) No person, whose certificate or permit authorizing him or her to teach in the common schools of this state has been revoked due to his or her failure to endeavor to impress on the minds of his or her pupils the principles of patriotism, or to train them up to the true comprehension of the rights, duty and dignity of American citizenship, shall be permitted to teach in any common school in this state.

(2) Any person teaching in any school in violation of this section, and any school director knowingly permitting any person to teach in any school in violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Oops.

In trying to extend the record time so we wouldn't miss the end of the Superbowl, I managed to shorten the time so that we missed the last two minutes of the Superbowl, the part where the Giants made history. Oops.

Obama-So-and-So!!!

If Edwards mentions little Sally who died from cancer one more time I will scream. Whoever writes his speeches needs to get a smack-down. There is only so much time you can dedicate to an anecdote before we start to wonder if you know there are well over 300 million other Americans out there. Edwards crossed the line several states ago.

I am more in love with Barack Obama as our next president than ever, and South Carolina has convinced me a win is still very much a possibility. I am on the look-out for a new running mate.

Come-back of the week:

"We are up against conventional thinking that says your ability to lead as president comes from longevity in Washington or proximity to the White House. But we know that real leadership is about candor, and judgment, and the ability to rally Americans from all walks of life around a common purpose — a higher purpose."

Obama-Edwards 2008!!!

I am SOoooooooo excited that Obama just won the Iowa primary!!!!!! New Hampshire is next Tuesday, so everyone pay attention and cross your fingers, but only if you want what I want...Thanks.

Homecoming

After eight days in Hawaii we returned home today just in time for Christmas. When we came in the house, I was so excited to see my dogs too, because Stephanie dropped them off yesterday....and then I saw the note, written on a paper towel, that said, "Dasy scape...sorry, could not find her..." Ahhhhhhhh! So I completely flipped out, made sure Titan was here, and then ran out front and started calling for Daisy. We found Arturo and found out she'd only been gone for a few hours, so it seemed more likely she would still be within yelling distance. We called and called and drove to the neighbor's. Then Dad went in to get a flashlight and I went up to the arena and called and called some more. Then I came to the bottom of the arena and called and called, and then I heard her collar and my very excited dog came running up from God-knows-where. She yelped with excitement when I hugged her and I cried because I was so relieved she wasn't dead somewhere. Then she jumped in circles and ran around, clearly oblivious to the fact that I had nearly had a heart attack. We went inside and announced the good news, and then she ate a huge dinner and drank a ton of water. Phew! And then I found out that I don't have to call in again for jury duty until Wednesday night, so I am free for Christmas...with both my dogs! Hurray!!!

The Grinch

My roommate is very opposed to Christmas. OK, she's not actually opposed the the Holiday, just the fact that people want to celebrate it for more than 2 days a year, in other ways besides seeing an annual performance of the Nutcracker ballet and watching Rudolf's Christmas Story on TV. She growls when she hears Christmas music at the mall, scoffs at trees decorated with nontraditional items, and mumbles under her breath if she sees a tree lot open before Thanksgiving...the weekend before. "Who buys a tree now!?" she wants to know. "Most people put them up around Thanksgiving," I say. She stares at me with a mixture of incredulity and contempt for "those" people. Then she is silent. he HATES mall crowds doing their Christmas shopping. Bah Humbug!


We bought a little tinsel tree for our place a few weeks ago, mind you, and this didn't really strike her as premature, I suppose because it's not biodegradeable. She wanted it, and was the first to ask if we were getting one this year...back in October, so it's not like she wasn't thinking about Christmas, but quite frankly, I am afraid to bring the tree out of the garage before Christmas Eve. I might be killed. I am also terrified of playing Christmas music, something I normally do from the day after Thanksgiving until the end of Winter Break in January. I heart Christmas...so much so that by mid October I'm getting excited because I associate everything Fall with impending Christmas. The cold air, the rustling of leaves, cool, clear mornings, Halloween and Turkey Day, A Christmas Carol on TV...they're all just preludes to the BIG ONE! It's prime time HGTV watching time for me as they have specials on cool gift ideas and specials on the best decorated houses inside and out. In fact, Christmas day may be my LEAST favorite day of the Christmas holiday because it becomes unavoidably obvious that it's all about to end. The Music, the lights, eggnog lattes, gone. My shoulders droop at the very thought. I've never had a particularly great New Years, so Christmas is the end for me. Then I'm just cold and wet for 3-4 more months, wishing Daylight Savings Time would start and summer would come.

My roommate hates Daylight Savings Time too, but that's another story.

Liberal Bias

I think the Republicans might be right about that liberal bias in the media. Apparently, this is the best photo Yahoo could find of our president for their big news story today.

Or maybe he just looks that stupid all the time.

Damn you, Amber!

For my birthday this year, my friend sent me three books from a series she'd read about vampire love. Now, I figured they'd be fun to read, but it wasn't really my preferred genre so I've been passing them by everyday in my bookshelf for months, until Friday night, that is, when I picked up the first one, Twilight... and now I am all finished. It was the best freakin' high school romance ever, and the vampires only made it better. I am now in love with Edward too! And I can hardly wait to get back to my house (I'm at my parent's for the weekend) to read the next book. This is just what I needed prior to finals. I'm all weird inspired to find the perfect guy now, because that's what a vampire book should do to you, right? NO! They're scary and want to suck you dry and leave you there, but noooooo, Edward's family is so good, and nice, and Edward is so, well, perfect! And Bella is hilariously self-deprecating. What will I do when I finish all three and have to wait until next August/September for the fourth to come out?! I hate series. Why can't they wait until they've written the whole set before they publish them? At least Stephenie Meyer looks young, so I don't have to worry about her dying before she gets to the end. When will he give in and make Bella a vampire?! Ahhhhhhhhh! It's killing me.

Professor: "You'll note that equity is rather emotional."

we spent a significant amount oftime surfing on Wikipedia in class today, and the professor got very excited when he discovered that all the equitable maxims were listed there.

1 Equity regards as done that which ought to be done.
2 Equity will not suffer a wrong to be without a remedy
3 Equity delights in equality
4 Equity regards substance rather than form
5 One who seeks equity must do equity
6 Equity aids the vigilant, not those who slumber on their rights
7 Equity imputes an intent to fulfill an obligation
8 Equity acts in personam.
9 Equity abhors a forfeiture
10 Equity does not require an idle gesture
11 One who comes into equity must come with clean hands
12 Equity delights to do justice and not by halves
13 Equity will take jurisdiction to avoid a multiplicity of suits
14 Equity follows the law
15 Equity will not aid a volunteer
16 Between equal equities the law will prevail
17 Between equal equities the first in order of time shall prevail
18 Equity will not complete an imperfect gift
19 Equity will not allow a statute to be used as a cloak for fraud
20 Equity will not allow a trust to fail for want of a trustee

A message from our Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security

"Illegal migrants really degrade the environment. I've seen pictures of human waste, garbage, discarded bottles and other human artifact in pristine areas," Chertoff said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "And believe me, that is the worst thing you can do to the environment."

Other scary bits from the news:

"...of Republicans, 22 percent, do not support the top candidates or fall into the undecided category. Among Democrats, 12 percent have not locked in on a person to back."

-- Gee, what the hell is everyone doing? The election is only 14 months away and 34% of us don't even know who we're voting for yet!

Which is apparently a good thing because "Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says he still might run for president if supporters will pledge $30 million by November."

What's the point though, really, because he could never win with only 34% of us behind him?

"Filmed over 40 days during April and May in a movie-set ghost town in the high desert just south of Santa Fe, N.M., "Kid Nation" gathered 40 children ages 8 to 15 and gave them the task of organizing and running their own lives."

-- Lord of the Flies reality TV, anyone?

And, yet another reason to move to Canada: Dollar at 30-year low vs. Canada dollar

Our Eloquent President

"All of us in America want there to be, you know, fairness when it comes to justice."

Kitties!!!

Meet Luna Lovegood


Nymphadora Tonks (B & W) and Sirius Black (B)


and Remus Lupin (our newest!)