Equality for All!

 

Way back in January 2012, I wrote this blog post about the Lovings. You'd have to be living in a box to not know what's going on in the Supreme Court this week. 

But if you are living in a box, here's a brief snippet from Yahoo News:

The court's first major examination of gay rights in 10 years begins Tuesday with a hearing on California's ban on same-sex marriage. On Wednesday, the justices will consider the federal law that prevents legally married gay couples from receiving a range of benefits afforded straight married Americans.

I believe in equality for all.  I believe in the right to pursue happiness.  I think by not allowing gay marriage, the United States is supporting a religiously-backed, flawed logic. 

In the 1960's in the South, there was a Civil Rights movement.  The black people who lived here didn't have equal rights, despite the fact that they were considered "free" men since the Emancipation Proclamation.  The Blacks fought for their rights to attend the same schools as the whites, to have the same rights, and to be able to drink from the same fountain.

I liken Gay Rights to the Civil Rights movement.  These are people who just want to live their life.  They want the same basic human rights that everyone else has, despite their sexual orientation!  They want to marry the people they love.  They want to have the same rights as heterosexual people, and why shouldn't they?  Because they love someone of the same sex?  Let me ask you, how does that in anyway hurt you?  It doesn't!!!  Gay marriage is about personal choice, but honestly most people I know who are gay say they are born that way and always knew they were different.

Most gay people I know are wonderful.  They're not pedophiles.  They're not out to change your Christian values.  They just want to live their life in the same way you and I do.  They want to make their OWN decisions about their future, and not be held back by a government who is currently denying them their basic rights to happiness. 

Stepping off my soapbox now. 

Running Again and Puzzle Mania

Yesterday, I decided to try running again.  My shin was feeling great: no pain at all.  I'd stopped doing high jumps at Taekwondo, and I basically babied it and iced the thing A LOT.  Well I went out and I ran 3.22 miles in 30 minutes 13 seconds.  I was so happy when I finished.  I want to do it again today.  I do think I need to look into new shoes or inserts, but I'll wait until April when I have more money to invest. 

This weekend, we've been struggling with the rain doldrums.  Number One was in the worse mood yesterday, and he was content to feel that way.  It made me wonder (as I often do), if happiness is a state of mind.  I am beginning to think more and more that it is.  If you want to be happy, then you have to make yourself feel that way.  Maybe that's a no brainer, but as someone who has suffered on and off from depression my whole life this seems like enlightenment to me.  I hate to see my son struggling with the same demons I've faced.  I know he will overcome them, because he has this incredible drive and motivation. 

Number Two and I have bonded over puzzles.  Seriously.  I absolutely LOVE puzzles.  Anyone in my family can tell you.  I used to spend a lot of time putting together 1,000 and 1,500 piece puzzles.  My parents once bought me a 3-D puzzle of a building.  I think it's the creativity in me, watching the pieces of color turn into something tangible.  Number Two loves them too.  He can help out with a 150 piece puzzle quite easily.  This weekend, we bought a set of 8 puzzles in a Mega Box!

They range from 150 to 500 pieces, so we're stepping it up a notch with him.  We put together the Lightning McQueen puzzle last night, and we'll work on another one today.  So much fun to share this joy with him, and I love that we can do it together. 

An Update for the Weary

This week has been busy and hectic, and I haven't been writing.  Writing at all is better than no writing at all. I've been slowly editing my first draft of my book.  I'm not ready to send it anywhere yet.  I've been slowly working on my second work, plus a short story that seems to be going nowhere fast.  The key word this week: slow. I'm thinking about entering some writing contests too, but I haven't quite gotten there.  I receive emails almost daily from Writer's Digest about some contest or other, and I think maybe it would be a good way to get some recognition making it easier to be published in the long run. So what have I been up to if I haven't been writing or working out or blogging:

Mostly I've been reading.  I'm trying to finish Cloud Atlas.  I absolutely love this book.  Second great book I've read in a row, after finishing Heart of Darkness last week.  Apparently the movie, Apocalypse Now, is based on Heart of Darkness (Oh how I love Wikipedia!).  I'd like to see it, as I never have.  I spent some time with a friend from Taekwondo trying to pull it up on his Netflix, but alas Wi-fi failed us.  There's so much riding on technology these days: such as your next good flick! 

Also, at work I've been quite busy the last couple of days.  I didn't get home until almost 6:00 last night.  All hopes I had of an evening run were squashed, when I sat on the couch with an Amber Ale and I could not force my body to move.  It took all I had to walk up the stairs and read to the kids, much less eat, although Hubby did make some incredible enchiladas.

Speaking of kids, Number One was allergy tested yesterday.  It's about time!  He has dust mite allergies, tree pollen and grass.  Dust mites!  This is bad news for Hubby and me who are notoriously bad cleaners.  Have you ever looked at how much dust mite covers cost?  Gees!  So now Number One is on Flonase and a daily pill for his allergies.  Maybe this will rid him of his almost constant sore throats and headaches.  Here's hoping.  We'll probably wait to invest in dust mite covers until Number Two has been tested (next week).  We already know from experience that Number Two is allergic to cats and dogs, so we'll just wait for his back to light up like a Christmas Tree!!!

Running, I didn't have a good, witty lead in to this subject as it is getting me down.  My running days might be numbered. I want to do a 5K in April, and in fact I've already commited to doing one.  Taekwondo is on a short break this weekend, so I'll see how a few good runs feel on my leg.  I haven't run since last week, and my leg feels great.  I just keep reinjurying it every.time.I.run, and I've had some people (MY DAD) tell me that I should quit running and start cycling.  My answer to that, oh so maturely, is, "I don't wann!"  I love the way running makes me feel.  I love the accomplishment.  I've done the cycling thing before (in college), and I liked it but running just makes me feel different: liberated, free, like I'm flying.  I can't exactly explain the feeling, but it's wonderful. 

I'm sorry if there are misspellings in this edition.  For some reason Blogger Spellcheck has decided it's time to quit, even though I'm not done writing.  Not thinking there will be a weight loss or exercise edition this week, as I've been too busy eating Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream, thus not following my own advice!!!

Gymnastics and Smurfs = Great Weekend!

I haven't written in four days, because this weekend was busy and I just had more important things to do, like enjoy my life!  Seriously, what a glorious weekend!  I couldn't ask for a better one.  I love 'Bama in the Spring time...except the allergies of course. 

Most of you who connect with me on Facebook know that Number One came in 2nd at the Alabama State Men's Gymnastics' Meet!  I was super proud.  He had a goal, and he achieved it.  All week long he said, "I'm going to place in the top three, in at least one event, and he did!  That's my boy!  So SO proud of him.

On Sunday, we went to my Mom and Dad's house to enjoy the 70 degree weather.  We had a bonfire with all of the fallen branches on my parent's land, and the boys roasted their hot dogs over the fire, as well as s'mores.  Before we left to go over there, Number Two kept saying, "I can't wait to eat Smurfs!"  Hubby and I laughed about that all day, and we've now decided to call S'mores Smurfs instead...on a permanent basis.  Who doesn't love to eat little blue men? 

 

 

Here Number Two is running from the fire.  He actually was not scared, believe it or not.  He was running to go get a plate for his hot dog!

 

Darling Daughter was not too fond of the fire.  She would have run like this, but she walked away from me so fast saying, "I want to go home," that I didn't get a photo of her!  My sweet niece cajoled her back, and we stood far enough away that she was not scared.  Here she and I are, feeling a little bit better about the situation!

 

 

 

What a fun, beautiful weekend.  I wish every weekend could be as good, filled with joy, fun and family!

 

 





Adventures in Pee and Poop

You know the absolute worst part of being a parent?  No, it's not the guilt you feel over every single tiny mistake, or the fact that maybe you're ruining your kid's self-esteem, or better yet you're turning your kid into a jerk.  No, it's none of those things.  It's potty training. 

Potty training is a nightmare, and I think somewhere in the back of my mind I wonder why I didn't stop at one kid when the first one was so hard to train. 

Here's a little history of potty training, thus far in our family:

Son Number One, awww...wasn't he cute?

Hard to believe he's now 8.  He'll hate me for posting this one day, when he's old enough. The photo above was taken shortly after potty training success.  Here's how potty training went with him.

His daycare told us, maybe the minute after he turned 2, that they were ready to potty train.  Bring on the pull-ups!  Pull-ups are the worst invention ever, because a) they are more expensive than diapers and b) they make your kid think he/she is a big kid while he/she is still pissing in their pants!  Number One wasn't having any of this potty training business.  No thank you!  So we tried all the tricks.  Number One is the first, so of course he's the guinea pig for the others.  Poor thing. 

First, we tried putting cheerios in the potty.  Um--whoever came up with that idea didn't think of a few things.  Potty is where pee and poop go, not cheerios!!!  A two year old is constantly eating and cheerios are the snack of choice, so instead of the pee going into the ring of cheerios, the hand goes into the potty, fetches the cheerios and eats them.  DISGUSTING!  Onto another suggestion: the sticker chart.

Number One is not like other kids.  Stickers just don't do it for him, and they never have.  He could have cared less about getting a sticker. 

In the end, we moved the potty chair into the living room, and he sat on it bare-bummed for a few months while watching Diego or Dora or some equally WONDERFUL children's show.  He'd occasionally go by accident, and we'd be all proud, and he's get some treat.  But what worked, you may ask?  Waiting until he was ready.  The weekend of his 3rd birthday we put him in underwear.  Out went the pull-ups.  He had two accidents, and then never had another one.  Voila.  None of the other tricks seemed to work.

And then came Son Number Two. 

If I could put a halo on his head I would.  I was dreading potty training with Number Two after our many unsuccessful attempts with Number One.  But this kid just did it all by himself, by the time he was 2 years old.

I noticed, and I told Hubby, that Number Two seemed dry at night. We put him in underwear, maybe a month after Darling Daughter was born.  He has had ONE daytime accident since in THREE years!  We made the poor kid wear pull-ups at night for about six months after he day trained, because we were fully convinced he was not night trained despite the fact that he'd wake up dry every morning.  He didn't mind though, because they had Lightning McQueen on them! 

Finally took him out of the night time pull-up, and guess what? No accidents.  Easiest potty training adventure thus far.  Ughh--if only they all could be the same (but seriously, what fun would that be?)

Then came Darling Daughter.  Everyone said, "Oh, girls are so easy to potty train.  Just wait.  She'll be peeing on the potty at 18 months."  Sometimes I wonder why I ever listen to people.

Sure, she's cute, and she's sweet, and she's spoiled rotten:

But, I'm beginning to wonder if she's ever going to be potty trained.  She's going on three, and so far she's interested in actually SITTING on the potty, for like a split second, and then she says, "All done," and wants to wash her hands.

I'm starting to think she's a little OCD too, because she wants to wash her hands ALL THE TIME!  She also has to put the cover to the potty down every time she goes, no exceptions.  She's so funny.  Oh, and did I say every time she goes?  I meant to say every time she PRETENDS to go! 

We've had some poop success, believe it or not.  She seems to know when she wants to poop, which is odd as that usually comes last.  We've also had some poop accidents, and let me tell you those are not pretty!

She seems to love sitting on the potty.  She wants to sit on every potty everywhere we go.  She just doesn't want to go.  She LOVES stickers, unlike her look-alike brother, but they don't seem to work for this.  I guess if I'm learning from Number One, then I just need to wait until she's ready and stop rushing her.  Some days it feels like she's never going to potty train, but I know that's not true and in a few years I'll be looking back on this post and laughing and wondering how my baby grew up so quickly.



Weight Loss Tips #17: Exercise is Essential

Wow I can't believe I've done 17 of these little weight loss editions.  Crazy!  Okay: onto the good stuff.

Remember, way back in the beginning, like edition 2 of my weight loss tips.  Okay, you have the visual picture now, good.  I said that weight loss is a lifestyle change and not the D word!  This is so true.  If you're changing your lifestyle to become healthier, then exercise should be incorporated in your life.  Exercise helps you burn off any extra calories you've eaten, it helps give you energy, and most importantly (to me at least) it lifts your mood. 

One of the things I hate to hear the most is people who say, "But I have no time to exercise."  It is simply not true.  If I can fit it into my schedule with work, Number One's gymnastic schedule, three kids, and a husband, plus trying to write and publish a book on the side, then you can definitely fit it into yours.  It may mean getting up a few minutes earlier, it may be doing short, simple exercises throughout the day, but any type of exercise is better than none. 

Let's get started, shall we?

1. Exercise FIVE times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes a day:  FIVE TIMES.  Are you trying to kill me, you might be saying.  First of all, the 30 minutes is a total.  You can do 3 10 minute exercises throughout the day.  You don't have to do it all at once.  And this is your goal, so you may need to build up to this, incorporating exercise into your day one or two days at a time, and then adding in a couple more days.
2. Interval Exercises: Interval training is BEST for weight loss.  Interval training is where you go hard for a few minutes, then easy, then hard again.  I HATE interval training.  Let me say that again: I HATE it, but it works and it is great for your body. This is also good news for those people who say they don't have time, because you can do interval training in 10 minute bursts! 
3. Find an Exercise that You Love: To me this is essential.  When I found Taekwondo, I knew I would be able to stick with it. I love the atmosphere, the people, the built-in accountability, and I love the sport.  If you find an exercise you love, then you are much more prone to stick with it.   
4. Track Your Exercise:  There are 5,000 tracking tools out there, and I know I've done a list before.  Endomondo is what I'm currently using, but there is Runkeeper, Nike+, Gyminee, MapMyRun.  A lot of these have the word "run" in them, but they do track other exercises as well.  Sometimes it helps to see the visual of how much you've exercised recently.  I'll give you an example, here's a chart of my exercise over the last couple of weeks:

Unfortunately, the legend didn't populate, but the beigy pink is martial arts (what I do most).  The green is running (was taking a break because of my leg), the purple is walking and the light pink is dancing.  What a cool way to track your workouts!  I love Endomondo. 

Remember: the more you move the more calories you'll burn, the more you'll lose weight and incorporate a healthy lifestyle into your life. 

CHECK OUT LAST WEEK'S EDITION RIGHT HERE!!!

 

 

 

Enjoying the Weather

It was one of those beautiful weekends, you know, the kind you hope will never end.  The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky, and highs in the 70s...PERFECT!  The only thing that could have made it better would have been the lack of pollen.  Alabama is a pollen-coated universe in the Spring time!

The boys and Darling Daughter spent almost all of the weekend outside, jumping on the trampoline, stepping on spiky weeds in our backyard--OUCH, and playing, playing, playing.  There is nothing like enjoying a nice, mild day, outside. 

Last night after dinner, Hubby and I enjoyed a beer outside as we watched the kids play.  I remembered that this is why I like Spring Forward: that after work it's plenty light go do other things, like take a walk, or a run, or simply enjoy frolicking around and picking flowers like a little kid!

I took an exercise break this weekend.  My leg hurt and was swollen after Taekwondo on Friday night.  Son Number One and I were supposed to do the Five Points of Life run on Saturday morning (only 1.2 miles), but we were both feeling under the weather and did not go.  I am hoping this injury will get better, so I can build up to my 3 miles again and do a 5K.  I looked at my Endomondo history, and I think I just overdid it last week.  I exercised every single day.  Oh well.  I'm going to try to run again on Wednesday, so we'll see how it goes.  Today, it'll rain, and that's okay with me because I'll be inside the whole day: working!

Running: On the Mend

I've been altering my workout schedule some this week, trying to get in some running to build up again.  I decided after my shin hurt  when I ran 1/2 mile that I needed to build back up (like I had to do when I first started running).

This week, I went for two runs, and I can tell that the lack of running for a week has thrown off my pace. I'm going too fast, and I know I won't be able to maintain the speeds when I do my 5K in April. 

On Tuesday, I ran 1.10 miles in 8 minutes 58 seconds.  Ok, I really don't think I did that.  I think the GPS on the app I use (Endomondo) was messed up.  But, I looked at the time when I began and when I ended and I'm pretty sure I ran an 8 minute mile or maybe 8 minute 30 second mile.  I stopped, because I started feeling a twitching in my shin, and I was worried about overdoing it. 

Yesterday was a beautiful day.  The sun was shining, high in the 50's. Oh if only every day could be that glorious!  I decided to go for a run in the park at lunch.  I tracked 2.05 miles in 17 minutes 2 seconds.  This time the GPS was pretty much spot-on, so now I know I am running too fast.  The good news is, my shin did not hurt at all!  I have been religious about icing it lately, and I know this is helping a lot.  Now, on the other hand, the muscles around my Achilles tendon ached almost the entire run, but I think that was from doing Latin Funk the night before!

Running Goals for this Upcoming Week:

• Get in at least 3 Runs
• Build up to 3 miles or more
• Pace myself (try to do a 10 min./mile for longer distance)
• If the shin is feeling okay: do a long run -- 45 minutes

Hopefully I can achieve these goals.  I'm feeling a little puny at the moment, and I'm hoping I'm not getting the gunk that seems to be floating around my office...and my house.

Let the Editing Begin

Yesterday, I started the editing process.  It is a HUGE step in the right direction.  It's also a HUGE job, and I felt slightly overwhelmed reading through my work and wondering who the heck wrote it.  That's the way I'm supposed to feel so I can make the necessary changes, right?

After this, I need to work on a query letter and let about 400 people read it so I can make sure it looks its best.  Send to agents who are soliciting new authors. Then just wait for the rejection letters to roll in...and if I'm lucky, an acceptance. 

I did a little bit of reading about query letters yesterday and about rejection slips.  I also perused some contests coming up, and I'm debating writing a short story for one or two of them.  Short stories aren't my thing: novels are, but I think short stories are a good way to get recognized and maybe if I submit enough of them I could win a contest or two to add some experience to my query letter.

Speaking of experience: I have none.  I wasn't on the newspaper in high school, not an English major, never really wrote for anyone but myself until this year.  This is all new to me, and it is still slightly overwhelming.  I'm proud of my work though, and I DO want other people to read what I wrote. 

I started the short story yesterday, about a little girl coping with Alopecia Areata for the first time.  This sounds familiar, right?  Writing about this is somewhat cathartic for me, and even though the little girl in the story is not me, I had some of the same fears and thoughts that she did when I first started losing my hair.  I struggled with accepting myself, and honestly some days I still do.  But I think the story will be good because it comes from my heart.  I have the general idea in my head and now it's just a question of how to par it down to 6,000 words.  Six thousand words is awfully small, especially when you're used to writing novels and not short stories. 

Weight Loss Tips #16: Motivation!

Did someone say the "M" word?  If you haven't figured it out already, these weight loss tips are just as much of a reminder for me, as they are tips for you.  And lately, I've been having trouble with motivation.  I think it's because I moved away from my routine, in which my daily habits had dug themselves in, and now it's hard to get back to a motivated spot. 

So for today, I thought I'd give you all some great tips to motivate you to exercise and to eat right.  Maybe, I'll follow a few of these myself and get moving.  Packing my bag to run at lunch RIGHT now...(or not exactly right now, because I'm blogging right now but you know what I mean!).

Tips for Motivating Yourself to Exercise: 

• Time for You:  I'm putting this as # 1 on the list, because for me this is #1.  The #1 reason I want to go for a run is time for myself: not for kids, not to listen to my boss, husband, PTA Mom, Gym Mom, etc.  It's built-in time for myself, where I can go out and listen to music and be by myself, or do a TKD class with friends. 

• The Way It Makes You Feel:  Every time I ho hum about exercising I forget about how I feel afterwards. I'll be starting a run, and these thoughts cross my mind: "Why the heck am I doing this?  This sucks.  I hate running!," but by the time I finish I always feel refreshed, amazing, and I can't wait to go for another run (OK--to be fair, I can't wait to go when my shin isn't killing me!). 

• Reward Yourself: Especially when you're first getting started with any exercise regime.  If  you have kids, then you know ALL about the reward system: Sit on the potty and I'll give you a sticker, clean up your room for a week and you'll get an allowance, eat all your vegetables and I'll give you dessert.  Heck, if you have a job you know about rewards: sit in a cubicle for 40 hours a week and you'll get a paycheck!  Often times, when I exercise in the morning I reward myself with my cup of coffee when I get back, or a nap in the afternoon.  Do something to thank yourself for getting up and moving. 

• Reaching a Goal:  You all know I'm goal oriented, and there is NOTHING better than setting a goal and reaching it.  I'm going to run a 5K.  When I accomplish that goal I know I will feel great.  Goals are motivating.  Set some and motivate yourself!

Now that we have some good ideas for motivating yourself to exercise, what about eating healthy?

• Partner Up: I've said this about a 100 times, but having an accountability partner helps greatly.  I have one in my good friend, Miranda Grace, and also now in my husband who I've dragged over to the dark side of healthy eating and fitness over the last few years!  Having someone to brag to when you lose weight and to turn to when you have a rotten day helps motivate you.  They can offer encouragement, and in turn you can offer it back to them.  I think having an accountability partner is the single most important motivation factor when you're trying to eat healthy and eat less.

• Remember What Eating Healthy Feels Like:  If you have taken a binge of unhealthy eating for a day or two years, then try to remember what eating healthy feels like.  Overall, when you cut out the fried food, the overeating, etc. your body will feel so much better.  Try to remember that feeling and strive to feel that way again. 

• Health Benefits:  Think of the health benefits of eating better.  Living longer, lower cholesterol, healthier teeth and bones.  Use these thoughts to motivate you. 

• Enjoy a Splurge: In moderation!  Like I've said before, splurging in moderation is okay.  You can have a bowl of ice cream occasionally!  Just don't make it an every night treat. 

 

Check Out the Last Weight Loss Tips-->Right Here!

Baby Steps: Working Towards Injury Free

I attempted to run this morning.  I guess I woke up thinking that I would knock off 3 miles with no problem, and maybe my unrealistic expectations are what prevented me.  I could have kept going.  I could have walked for a few miles, but I was disappointed.  I did .42 miles in 5 minutes 20 seconds.  That's a whooping 12 minute 35 second mile, and I didn't even go a mile before my shin started hurting. 

It didn't start hurting badly, but I was afraid to push it.  It finally feels mostly better, and I don't want to re injure myself.  I just need to baby my way back into the sport.  Now I'm sitting in the blue recliner, that used to belong to my grandfather (Gipop), and icing the sucker, hoping it will feel completely better overnight. 

Tomorrow, I'm planning on going 1 mile. I know 1 mile was do-able, even today, but I freaked when I started feeling the least bit of pain.  There's always tomorrow.  I'll have to go to Taekwondo tonight to get my exercise, as 5 minutes 20 seconds is NOT enough! 

In the meantime, I'm trying to find some good ideas for my weight loss post, as it's been a few weeks since I've posted an edition.  Bear with me.  I'll try to blog one this week now that my computer is in tip-top shape again (or mostly, at least). 

I spent the weekend mostly stuck behind a book.  I finished Underworld by Don DeLillo, and I recommend it to anyone who's willing to commit to reading an 827 page book that takes a little bit of thought processing.  Now I'm reading Amsterdam by Ian McEwan.  It's short.  I'll finish it today, maybe even after I finish this post, but I have firmly decided that I'm not a McEwan fan.  His subject matter is interesting, but his delivery is boring, or his characters, or something about his writing:  BORING.  And it could be that my mind is still engrossed in all the little nuances of Underworld.  The book wasn't perfect, but sometimes when you finish a book that you're absorbed in, totally interested in, it's almost like a grieving process at the end.  You feel like the character's lives have come to an end, and it's hard to move onto a new book, a different writing style, and new characters.  

My Dad also celebrated his birthday this weekend, and my Mom came down for the party, taking a break from the twins.  It was so nice to have us all together, with my brother and his kids: talking and talking, eating, drinking, and just having a great time.  I really enjoy our time when we're all together, even if my boys were hyped up by the end!

Whine or Wine or Wino Whining

I'm still downloading data.  I swear, this is taking forever.  I wish I had backed up every single thing on my computer WAY before it needed to be backed up.  I'm having trouble with the videos, and I don't want to lose the precious moments of Darling Daughter learning how to walk or cramming cake into her face, or Number One's school presentation, or Number Two talking to me about nothing at all in particular.  I need to find some disks and burn them, so they don't get lost.

I'm having a hard time with motivation this week.  I'm not sure why.  I had intentions of waking up early yesterday and going for a run.  I wanted to see how my leg felt, but I talked myself out of it.  Then, I thought, "Well, I'll just go at lunch," but Number Two was sick, so I didn't go.  I didn't go after sunset either.  I'll Taekwondo today, so that will be my exercise, and I guess I'll see how running goes on Sunday when I have more time to talk myself back into doing it. Lately, I've hated getting started and I think it's because I'm afraid of the pain. 

I did do something though. I got back on MyFitnessPal.  My weight crept up, slowly, while I traveled almost the whole month of February.  I knew it would: eating out is not good for weight loss and neither is drinking.  So, I logged back onto MyFitnessPal to try to take off the tenish pounds I've put on in the last month.  It's always easier to keep it off than to try to lose it again.  Logging back on made me realize: a) how much I really was overeating because the first day on there I was SO hungry and b) alcohol REALLY needs to be limited if you're trying to lose weight, unless you just want a liquid lunch, which sometimes, really, I'm not so opposed to!

So my goals for the upcoming week are:

• Attempt a run to see how it feels
• Log into MFP every day to track food
• Write and Revise (once the computer is fixed--this weekend hopefully)
• Finish reading Underworld, which shouldn't be a problem as I only have about 100 pages left.