The night tomatoes became the center of my universe.

First off, when I spend money at a restaurant, I expect it to be as good, if not better than what I can make in my own kitchen. That being said:

There is nothing more exciting/terrifying about seeing Fried Green Tomatoes on a menu anywhere north of the Mason Dixon. Exciting, because I can't usually find them anywhere up this way. Terrifying, because I never know if they're going to turn out like mine, (not that great, half burnt, half mush) or the right way. As it turns out, I've found somewhere close that does it right.

Let me back up.

Rusty wanted Ice Cream and I was only slightly hungry when 'dinner time' reared its head. We talked out the options and ended up going to "The Treat." The chalkboard of specials was mostly ribs and other BBQ items, but there it was... "Green Fried Tomatoes."

I immediately started weighing my options, and debating on whether or not to order them. I was wondering if they were done right, would they be over or under cooked, or if I should even bother risking the disappointment. Rusty's blank stare and slight shake of the head made me aware of the fact that my pondering was out loud.

Sidenote: I had a lot of time to babble on about my decisions. We do love going to "The Treat" but the service is painfully slow. I do believe this has a lot to do with the kitchen making most everything as it is being ordered, and not so much to do with the waitstaff. This wait is even worse during peak hours. You've been warned!

I ordered my buffalo chicken wrap, and decided to take the plunge and order the tomatoes. What's the worst that could happen? Rusty ordered a peanut butter cup flurry for dinner. Sometimes, that's ok.

When the food arrived, I was initially happy that they looked right. I asked for a side of ranch just in case, and when that arrived, I now had two waitresses staring at me, intent on gauging my reaction to the plate. Apparently, they were just as excited/terrified as I was. I felt like I was a New York City food critic, tasting the special of a brand new restaurant on the first day it opened.

All of this, over 3 slices of tomato.

The taste test passed with flying colors. They were perfectly done, and not over seasoned. Browned, not burnt, and the right amount of crispy with the right amount of give. They definitely passed my test. I was half tempted to get another order, but they are fried, and my sandwich at lunch was on a grilled doughnut. That's another story for another day.

I assume that Rusty's flurry was good, because it was gone before I was done praising the tomatoes. I felt bad for my buffalo chicken wrap, as it had to take a backseat to the side dish spectacle. You did well, chicken wrap. You were tasty and spicy and smothered in bleu cheese just as you should have been, you just weren't the star of the show this time.

We had a good meal with a well executed side dish for $10 before tip. My taste buds and my wallet are pleased, and my husband is happy to have had ice cream for dinner. I'd say it was a good night.

A New Post from the Jobless Blogger

Yes, it's true, I forgot about blogging. I've been so busy lately and I feel like I'm chasing my tail. I was terminated on Friday, July 1st. Fired. Let go. The exact words were "Well, we were going to give you a raise, but after this e-mail... we've decided we're going to let you collect unemployment."

And that was it.

So I did what any normal person would do, and I went to the beach. Hey, it was already planned.

Hubby and I had an amazing time, and got to see some fireworks from a pretty cool spot right in the bay. Oh, how I adore being on/in the water. I was just saying to a new friend of mine today, the only thing I really enjoy about this time of year is the water (and fireworks, but I'll take fireworks any day). Lakes, pools, beaches, streams, rivers... you name it. Otherwise, give me snow and 30 degree weather.

Neither of us have been to the gym in a while and I can feel that I'm putting some of the weight I lost back on. We both need to get back there. I didn't feel like a total cow in my bathing suit this year though, so that was an accomplishment.

What else is going on.... Well, I got called that I'm actually singing the National Anthem for the Staten Island Yankees this year again, and apparently I'm going to audition for "The Voice" in a couple weeks. Sounds like a plan, I say. I'm waiting for a call back for a third interview for a new job, so in the meantime, I suppose I can let the talented side of me out to play for a bit. Heck, I even started writing another song while we were at the beach on the boat in the bay. The sky looked like cotton candy, and as many pictures as I took, not one could truly capture what I saw. It was amazing.

I can't think of much else to say at the moment, mostly because I'm avoiding giving my piece of social commentary on the Casey Anthony trial and everything else going on in the world. Maybe I'll get to that tomorrow.

And now, inspired by a different Casey: A Picture!

That's all for now...

And in the middle of week two, a fighter emerges...

Alright.

I'm sold on this gym/running/C25k/exercise/losing weight thing going on in my life right now. So sold that I nearly doubled the time that is on my plan for this week. My mother is worried about my knee/back/health/heart/everything and I know she loves me, and that is why she is worried, but I'm really feeling good.

I was worried about all of that too until I realized one thing: Exercise is doing good things for my body. I've already dipped under the 230lb mark. I haven't seen that weight for a few years. I haven't EVER run like this in my life. Aside from my Jazzercise days, I don't think I've gotten my heart rate up to target in years either.

I don't use an inhaler anymore.

I'm bound and determined to get under 200. I weighed nearly 260lbs nine months ago tomorrow. Probably more than that, but I didn't want to get on the scale to show it. Now, I'm fitting back into clothes that I haven't worn, AND I'm not *just* fitting into them. I'm comfortable in them. It is a truly great feeling. It hasn't been easy at all, but most of the best things in life aren't easy to begin with.

Something changed last week, though. We completed Week 1 of the C25k two weeks ago, and then we both got sick. Knock down, drag out, go to bed at 6pm and not eat dinner sick. It was horrid. No energy and no way we were going to the gym. In the past, it probably would have been like pulling teeth to get me back there. I would have had excuse after excuse.... but like I said... something changed.

I was anxious to get back. Anxious to start week 2. I was looking forward to exercising. I seem to always look forward to it now. I keep my soundtrack rotating motivational pushing kinds of songs and I look forward to the mixes that I throw together. I'm looking forward to a body that doesn't go directly to the plus size section when clothes shopping, and its a great feeling.

Being sick felt like I had a murky blob in my body. It felt like we had just pushed through this great week of exercise and then something took over and brought us down so that we wouldn't continue. Let me tell you this: that murky blob got its butt kicked yesterday and today, and if it ever thinks about coming back, the same thing will happen.

Makes me that much stronger...
Makes me work a little bit harder...
Makes me that much wiser...
So thanks for making me a fighter...

What's so special about today?

February 14th.

A day of first dates, marriage proposals, wedding anniversaries, births, deaths, and a day to remember to love your significant other.

Wait. Whoah. Slow your roll there...

Isn't that every day? Don't those things happen every day of the week? What makes the 14th of February so special??? I could go into the history of Valentine's day, the Valentines Day Massacre, Hallmark, Hershey's, Whitman's Samplers... But I won't. I've found my very own reason that February 14th is special.

Today, Rusty and I started the Couch to 5k Running plan. Basically it takes you from... wait for it...

The couch....

to...

Running a 5k!

I'll let that one sink in for a second.

It's not a fast process, and if you find it too hard, you repeat the week that gave you trouble. Also, its a free program. You don't have to sign up, you don't have to pay money, you just have to be able to read, be able to run, and be determined.

Granted at this point, I should feel like crap, right?. My legs hurt, my lungs are a little constricted, but all in all, I'm OK. It's amazing to me that I didn't even need my inhaler. I alternated 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes, following a 5 minute warm-up walk. I'm still ALIVE! We're both still alive! (yes, this is an accomplishment)

So now, we're looking for 5k's in the May timeframe to solidify the agreement. Here's hoping we can find something close that falls on a weekend that suits. Talk about a special day to make a special agreement!

But hear this, followers and creepers:

WE WILL do this, WE WILL finish this, and WE WILL be held accountable!!!

MAN that sounds GOOD!

Now, I'm off to bed. That is, as long as there are no more fire sirens... the whiskers have taken a liking to 'singing' along with them (read: yowwwwwlinnnng)

GOOD NIGHT! :D

Baba Yetu and The Smoothie Song

Anyone else out there have a battle song?? You know, the motivational beat with the lyrics that just make you want to take down anything in the way of achieving your goals??

I start with this:

Baba Yetu... If you'd like the translation, it's the Lords Prayer in Swahili.

And I follow with this:

Mmm... Smoothies...

Anyway...

I have a list of these psych up battle songs, and most of them make it onto my Gym playlist. Thank goodness for that, because tonight it was war! My inner Jillian Michaels against my inner Queen Latifah. Now that's a match-up that gets real ugly, real fast.

We got to the gym tonight and I took a second to read a sign on the wall that reads:

We're not here to kiss your butt, but to kick it if that's what you need.

Oh yeah.

That is what I need. I pushed through a mile on the treadmill and then did the unthinkable, 7 miles on a recumbent bike. My butt was numb. My thighs were rocks, and I felt...... GREAT. What an odd situation... I go in not wanting to work out, feeling like poo. Blare a little fight music, turn up the notch on the motivation and I come out feeling 110%.

If this kind of butt kicking is going to make me feel that good, I want more. Plain and simple.

PS....

I'm sorely disappointed with Ms. Aguilera.

PPS...

Bless you, Peppers. LOL

Tossing my cookies? I think not!

I really need to make this Blog more of a daily thing.

I generated quite a buzz on my facebook page last night, when I questioned my decision to buy cookies. Now, we all know that the hubby and I are on a quest to lose weight. Another thing we all know about, is our budget. I spent $2 on a pack of chocolate chip cookies. Considering my options, I got the most for my money, and was pleased with my purchase. What I didn't expect is how much I wanted those cookies because....drumroll...

They were there, looking at me.

I think, just maybe, the cookies are good friends with that can of soup from the other day. This time I yeilded... I had three chocolate chip cookies, knowing that a 'full serving' is five. I felt pleased with my decision to have less than a serving...pleased, until I went back to my computer and saw 17 notifications. All of them were friends commenting about what I should do with the cookies that I bought and were now staring at me. Half of you wanted me to toss my cookies! (ha ha ha) Seriously? I just spent $2 on them to throw them away? I THINK NOT! I may as well have eaten the $2. Given it to the whiskers to play with. Flushed it down the drain. Wiped my... um... tears? with it. Why in the world should I throw the cookies away?

Then, it dawned on me. How many times to people buy something as a reward, and then end up eating the whole package because they've starved themselves on a diet? Its a classic situation! I'm going to watch what I eat. No snacks, no cookies, no sweets. If you seriously decide to go that route with your diet, you're bound to crash and burn, and yes, eat a whole package of cookies. Its a classic situation, and I know that my friends were just looking out for me. But I'm ok, really. If I ration the cookies I'll get more over the course of the next week or so, and I'm ok with that.

(I should add that a year ago, those cookies would have been gone in the car on the way home. But I won't.)

So, thank you, friends for looking out for me, and thank you other friends that told me to just eat them. I love you all, equally.

Talking soup...

I have identified a problem that I need to fix. I brought a sandwich and a can of soup to work today. I made the sandwich for lunch (yes, I make mine 'fresh' right before I eat it) and was not hungry for the soup. This is fine, I thought to myself, I'll have something for tomorrow.

But now, 3 hours later, I'm staring at the soup can. I want soup. Its not even the good, homemade Italian Wedding Soup that we made this weekend. Its Campbells Tomato... Condensed. I want it. It's looking at me... saying "Come get me!" And I almost gave in! ...Almost!

Then I had to ask myself: Are you REALLY hungry? Do you REALLY need that soup right now? Can it wait? No, No, and Yes. I only want that soup because it is looking at me. I want that soup because I can see it. I want to eat it because it is THERE. BAD BAD BAD BAD! Remember I said I could start a bad habit in the blink of an eye? Yeah... done.

"But... I'm creamy tomatoey goodness in a can!"

I don't care, soup. I'm not going to do it.

We started at Planet Fitness last night and I think I'm in love. They have one of those nifty 30 minute Express workout areas where you get to work each part of your body, alternating with steps. Oh! And I don't have to do reps with soup cans anymore, as that is worked into the workout. I also won't have to benchpress the cat again. I'm sure the cat is OK with this.

I digress...I guess the point is, I'm noticing my eating habits can be a bit... well.. impulsive. I'm making a body resolution RIGHTNOW. If I find myself going to get something to eat just because it is there, I'm going to make a nice hot cup of tea or get a glass of water... Something... but I'm not going to eat.

"But... what about me?"

Its ok, soup. I'll deal with you tomorrow at lunchtime.

OK OK OK

It seems like I've missed a few days- Ok, I HAVE missed a few days. I honestly didn't think anyone would 'miss me' but a few friends gently reminded me that I haven't posted, and they do, actually, READ my blog. Heavens to Betsy! I better get a-bloggin'!

Ok, so this whole daily challenge thing has gone back to just one challenge a day with me. Well, with the exception of the 10 curls a day. I'm trying to make it a habit, but I understand that it can't be unless I do it 30 consecutive days... whatever. Textbook definition my butt, its a habit. Rusty and I also actually, for real for real, joined Planet Fitness. I'm proud of us. I'll be prouder when I see the weight going bye bye :P Its about time we hold ourselves to a higher standard. Right? Right.

It was a long, miserable weekend for us, for reasons that I'm not going into in public. I found myself in a familiar predicament where I knew that I had to do several things, but "I didn't feel like it." Don't get me wrong. It's ok to entertain that feeling once in a while, but, since we're talking about habits, don't make it one. I'm calling shennanigans on the 'textbook' definition of habit anyway. I can start a bad habit in the blink of an eye. Doesn't take me 30 days.... just sayin.

Anyway. So there I was, not wanting to do anything. I don't want to make dinner. I don't want to do the dishes. I dont want to move. I just want to watch TV. So guess what I did???

I made dinner.

I washed the dishes.

I moved.

....and I still watched TV, but the point is, I realized the path I was about to go down and I did an about face. If I could do that every time I feel like I'm going down the wrong path, I'd be golden. In fact, I'd like to find all of the "wrong paths" and put up warning signs... "PATH CLOSED, WRONG ONE!" Hah. There's only one problem with that. What's wrong for me, may not be wrong for you. Or him. Or her. Or anyone. It would be really wrong of me to go blow our savings account on an iPad or a new TV, but maybe that's not necessisarily the 'wrong thing' for someone else. Sure, there's a debate about consumerism and debt in America in there somewhere, but I'm not getting into that. Not right now.
Right now, I think Rusty and I have managed to identify most of the "Wrong Paths" in our lives and are doing our best to stay off of them.

Sidenote: I really don't like the Steelers. I'm having a PartyLite Party, and several of my "confirmed friends" have cancelled because the Steelers are playing on saturday. COME ON. They're not going to win... don't make me say I told you so. (Yes, I realize that if they do win I'll have to retract that.)

Moving on. Today's challenge ticked me off. I'm supposed to put a box on the floor, wad up a piece of paper that was ready to be thrown away anyway, and practice my 'hoop skills' with it. What? It also said to get my co-workers involved. 1) My boss can't hit the broad side of a barn with a tank, so he's out. 2) Encouraging non-productivity in the workplace isn't very 'productive' at all. 3) I missed. LOL

So there you have it. Don't call it a comeback. :)

Until next time....

Ok, time to catch up.

Alright, so I shall address yesterday's challenge first, since I didn't delve into it last night. Yesterday's challenge was to "Turn a negative into a positive." I think I struggled with this so much, because there was so much negative in my life until recently that I didn't know what to pick. However, seeing as how I'm compounding these challenges the best I can, I'm sure I can find the positive in just about everything negative that I'm willing to share with cyberspace. I decided that my negative that I was turning into a positive was the amount of debt that we still have. Its looking at us and ready to eat us alive if we let it go again. It is terrifying, to say the least.

But turning that around, I'm going to 'take the easy way out' of this one, and say that our positive is what we have learned about budgeting and spending and not just spending because the money looks like it is there. If you have 600 in your checking account, and you cut a rent check for 600, you no longer have ANYTHING in your checking account. Doesn't matter if the check cleared yet or not, you can't spend it. NO. Hard a$$ lesson to learn there, but we're both doing so much better with it so I know we've learned something.

So there, that's yesterday's negative into a positive.

To compound, I had to find something today that was a negative and turn that into a positive. My negative? I'm still fat. Making it positive? I'm aware of it, and I'm working to make a change, and THAT is a step ahead of a lot of people in my same position. I'm feeling good.

So now... Today's challenge was 'stupid simple' (to use a term I've coined at work....) "Share a healthy breakfast idea"

NOW we're talking. Take a few egg whites, scramble them up with a handful of precooked spinach (That you've done yourself with EVOO and garlic) and a little mozzarella (low moisture, part skim.) and pour it into the pan. Cook until firm and VOILA! Healthy breakfast. At least, thats healthier than my husband's #1 choice for breakfast: Sausage Gravy over Biscuits. That's another story for another day.

So lets recap:

1) Instead of 10 reps, I bench pressed my cat 100 times. Believe me, that was harder than you think) - DONE

2) Skipping the bucket list - OK

3) Negative into a positive - DONE x2

4) Share a healthy breakfast idea - DONE!

Tomorrow will be my 5th day in a row... I'm calling this a winning streak... and hey look, thats positive too!

Fourth Post, Short Post

Today's challenge was a toughie for me. However at this very moment my eyelids are falling shut and I don't know if I can get into it right now... Double post tomorrow....

Good night

Sharing the bucket list and fighting through the mountain.

Ok, So today started off fairly sour... Woke up around the time I should be GETTING to work. Someone told me it was the Festival of Sleep today, but I don't think that's one of my paid vacations. Frantic morning, but a stop to check the email gave me my next "Daily Challenge." I was to share 5 things on my bucket list.

Great. There are so many things I want to do before I die, how to I pick just five??? I suppose it wasn't really a question about the TOP 5, but still, which to share with the general public???

So here they are: Kiss my husband on a gondola in Venice, Own a house free and clear, See the Northern Lights, Ride the Maid of the Mist, Visit the cliffs of Ireland.

Those are the five I'm making public. I suppose my quest to compound each daily challenge should include 5 more things tomorrow, but I may give myself a pass on this one. If I made a list of 5 things every day, it's quite possible I would have more than I can do in a lifetime by February.

So...

Daily Challenge

1) 10 Reps - DONE

2) Share 5 items on the bucket list - DONE

On another note, we paid off another debt today. Again, early. Take that, LIFE. I think about what we went through, and I see what others are going through at this very moment and there is no comparison of any sort. Each of us fights our own 'flavor' of battle. Some are sweet, and some are sour. We are all warriors, and at some point, we will fight the worst battle of our lives. For some its just starting, others have already gone through it, but until the end of our days, we will have no idea which battle was 'the big one.'

I'm not living in fear of it any more. Was this whole thing our "Big One?" Or, is there something lurking around the corner that will try to knock us down again. If it happens, it happens. I'm confident that I have been blessed with the kind of family and friends that will allow us to fight through it. I refuse to go around the mountain. We've got to climb it, or bust through the center.

If you constantly live in fear of the possibilities that life could either hand you or throw at you, how do you live at all? Before anything can happen in your life, it has to go through HIS hands, and HE will not give you more than you can handle.

That is what I believe, and that is how I'm aiming to live my life from now on.

Until tomorrow...

1.2.11, part deux...

Hah! I did make one accomplishment for today.

I joined MeYou Health's Daily challenge. (http://www.meyouhealth.com/challenge)

Basically, every day at 7am, I get an e-mail with the daily challenge for the day.

Today's challenge? Lift a full bottle of water, soup can, or dumbbell 10 times with one arm. Repeat with other arm.

I don't know if you're supposed to do it this way or not, But I think I can attempt to add each challenge on to the previous day's challenge. So tomorrow I'll start with the Water Bottle, and add whatever is next.

Checklist 2011:

1) 10 Reps with a soup can, water bottle, or dumbell with both arms. - Done!

1.2.11

Ok, day number 2 is officially that. Number 2. Literally stayed up all night last night (Read: I napped for an hour) learning how to knit special stitches and crochet different patterns etc. Rusty was up too. Somewhere around 7am we had breakfast and then did the unthinkable. We went to bed.

Ah, the life of a sumo wrestler. NOT. I was up around 1, him, around 3. It's now 10pm and we're both shot. I think I ate lunch or dinner, but I can't really remember, hence, number 2.

If you haven't caught the reference yet, this day has gone to CRAP.

Nothing got done, I don't think I passed 1000 steps today, let alone 10k. Alas, my spirits shall not be broken! Every day we wake up is another chance to roll towards the finish line, no matter how far you've gone backwards the day before.

Gotta keep pushing forward.

1.1.11

Alright. I keep trying to start a blog... to come up with something witty... to write something profound. As it turns out, I can't do any of that crap. So here we go anyway. 1.1.11. Brand new start, brand new year, brand new blog.

I can't say that 2010 was the most horrible year ever. High points of joy, low points of pain, mid points of the mediocre... We've all had them. This time last year, I was excited. Ecstatic, even. This time last year, I had only a few short days before I went to Tennessee and recorded my first "Professional" album. I also knew that once I was home from doing that, I was getting married. All in January! Then February rolled around, and we had that insane snow storm, and we went to DC for a little 'mini-moon' because we really didn't have enough $$ to go on a "Honeymoon."

We knew we had a 'few' issues with money, but we paid the bills, and those we couldn't pay we made sure we told whoever was owed the money that it would be coming, and we paid what we could 'afford to pay' at that time.

Please note the use of quotes here, I'm using them to fill you in on our perception.

However, the morning of June 2nd, we got a rude horrible awakening. Both cars. Repo. Same Day. I don't feel like going into much more detail in this post, but those of you that know the story know how it all played out.

So June 2nd started a revolution in our lives. We were no longer going to spend money because it was there. We got on a budget, we started paying off debt, and then, crazy enough, I started losing weight.

See, as it turns out, stress makes you fat. There's no way to sugar coat it. Stress = FAT. Now, I'm already heavy. Chubby. Fluffy, if you will. But the next thing I know, I'm down 10 pounds... then 15, then 20. I'm up to about 30 pounds lost in SIX MONTHS.

I feel the need for a disclaimer stating that I do not endorse or condone the repo of all of your vehicles to lose weight. Its not the best option out there, kids. Don't try this at home.

Now here we are 7 months later, and I find myself excited again. Rusty and I got Pedometers for Christmas (thanks Mom and Dad) and now all four of us find ourselves in an (epic)battle to see how many steps we all have. Planet Fitness is opening in a few days here in town, and (with the approval of our accountant, aka my Mom) we are joining. If we can stay on a monetary budget, we can stay on a workout schedule.

I don't think I have ever had this much determination about losing weight and getting in shape, but I'm going to do my best to not let it fizzle out. Rusty and I have a LOT of support this go round.

At this moment I weigh 231lbs, and I'm ready to change that.

Happy New Year to all of us.