Before we went on our cruise I ended up joining a new gym. My old one, Bally’s, got bought out by LA Fitness. I wasn’t that impressed, toured some other gyms, and found a local one I really like. It also came with some introductory private training! Most gyms, when you join them, do offer this. I just never did in these in the past . . . . I decided to take the plunge this time.

Well while we were on our cruise, it once again became apparent how out of shape I’ve gotten. We went to a beach one day, and I decided to swim out to one of those floating giant trampolines they had. Then I remembered why I dislike snorkeling . . . I can’t swim that well anymore because I’m so out of shape. On the way back to the beach I seriously began to wonder if I was going to make it. I did, of course. I did not want to be that person that had to be rescued by the lifeguards . . . that was for sure!

So we are taking advantage of those private training sessions, and if they go well maybe I’ll sign up for even more. I already had my first two (of four) and I have to say . . . holy hell did he kick my ass! After the first I was sore all weekend long. I hope after today’s I’ll be a little better. I’m also gunna start swimming too, so that next year I don’t have visions of having to be saved by a lifeguard . . . . unless of course Jake Gyllenhaal or Hugh Jackman is working that day

The winter knocked a bunch of branches down all over the place, which need to be picked up. Actually some are so large they need to be cut up first. I don’t know where I’ll put these things. My compost pile from last year did decompose some over the winter, but not enough. It’s probably going to get built up as big as it was before! Oh and it would seem something is living in it too . . . .

I never did get to the back side of our house last summer, so it’s still covered in ivy and all sorts of tree saplings are growing where they aren’t wanted. That will probably be this summers challenge.

I am totally going to grow topsy turvey tomatoes again, and I think I’ll add in peppers this year. I was not in love with the eggplant last year. I don’t like it THAT much and I still have some in my freezer (which I guess I should toss).

I think I’m going to plant a bunch of sunflowers in the garden area this year, they were pretty last year. As for out front, I’m being easy . . . I’m just going to get some pre-planted hanging baskets to put up!

Oh and another reason I’m ready for spring . . . grilling! I am ready to BBQ again and try some new recipes out on my grill. I also just bought a small smoker as well, so that should be fun.

SPRING! Get here NOW!

It was very easy to set up. Putting it on is easy, but the little computer thingy that keeps track of your workout is basically just sitting snuggly inside the rubber/elastic band you wear. Therefore when putting it on and taking it off, it has a tendency to slip out somewhat. You’ll want to be careful to make sure you don’t drop it (then do something bad like step on it!).

In contrast to what I originally posted, from assumptions, it doesn’t work based on your pulse rate. At $20 bucks I guess that was not gunna be feasible It basically has a motion sensor. However you really need to be shaking it or moving around to activate it. Simple walking won’t do. Power walking, swinging your arms a lot, will however make it work. So yes you can use it for walking! To make sure people don’t cheat though by just randomly shake it through the day, you have to do three minutes of continuous movement of the thing to get a credit bar to fill up.

More thoughts as I begin to use it!

The S2H Replay Watch, which costs a whole $20 bucks, really isn’t a watch per say. Though the website for it does say it tells time. You wear it while your working out and it tracks your cardio time, via your pulse I guess. Every time you reach 60 minutes of cardio, the watch gives you a code. You input the code into the website and it turns into points. You wrack up points and exchange them for gift cards or other prizes.

So wait, I can get free shit for working out basically? Sounds like a win to me! At $20 bucks, I figured it was worth a try. You can order them through their website S2H.com or Sears.com. I ordered mine last week and just got the email today that it shipped (so if you order one be patient). I’m very excited. I have finally been getting back to the gym, and I think this will just motivate me to keep it up and even go more. I just hope it works. I shall keep you posted!

P.S. If your not into cardio, they are working on a pedometer that is coming soon.

Let’s see, what to blog about? I’m trying to be good about my diet and fitness again. I’m down two pounds, and I’m finally back at the gym. I actually just started back today after 2+ weeks of not going because of that nasty cold I caught right after the cruise. I’m sure though it helped with those 2 pounds, but I fortunately got off the ship weighing about the same as I got on. Amazing I know!

The snow is FINALLY starting to melt. I can now walk the dogs further than 10 feet from the house. Our driveway had been a giant sheet of ice all week. NOT fun, especially with two little dogs who think they are sled dogs pulling me their master. No mush, stop! I almost fell far too many times this week.

However as our current snow melts, it looks like we may be blessed with more this week. They are calling for a Nor’Eastern at the end of this week, and should it hit land and not go out to sea, we might be in big trouble. These are the storms which resulted in the 2 foot blizzards we had last winter. Who am I kidding, I still love the snow, so bring it on. The doggies love the snow too

If you haven’t checked out my Tumblr blog, it’s linked to the left in the side bar right under the Blogs header – which comes after the photo of moi. I’m having a lot of fun with it, but it’s mostly just photos I post from my phone. Still, I’m loving it. I’m also still trying to find a theme for it I like, so don’t be surprised if it changes style a lot.

I’m still on the fence about Twitter. I actually did get my first Twitter name back finally. I can integrate it both into the Tumblr blog as well as the side bar here like I used to. I just haven’t bit the bullet and jumped back in. I’m still trying to be good, not wanting it to take over my life again like it did

So the Christmas from hell has come and gone. If I’m to celebrate Christmas next year there will have to be changes. #1 is that John will be coming down to Virginia with me on Christmas Eve to spend Christmas with my family. In 9 (or coming up on 9, I’m too tired to count) years we have never done a Christmas together. I have always gone home to Virginia, he has always had to go to his sisters and take his mother. However every year it becomes more and more of a “have to” rather than a “want to” for him . . . and I hear about it! Each year he seems to become more and more irritated that he’s stuck with his sister’s husband’s family . . . who mind you wouldn’t welcome me should I choose to stay here . . . which is why I don’t. After he became Scrooge and Marley incarnate this year, I told him he had a whole year to tell his sister and mother he was not coming next year, and they had a whole year to figure out who would drive his mom to his sister’s house. I am serious too . . . why the hell do you want to be unhappy on Christmas? It SUCKS!

Gift wise, I did have a good Christmas. But as any good Xtian will tell you, gifts are not what this holiday is about . . . . (then again they also go postal if the clerks at the stores they spend money at for gifts wish them “Happy Holidays”). But I digress, you can clearly get awesome gifts but still have Jesusmas spoiled. As I was asked in my shoutbox, I got some good loot I got a keyboard for my iPad, which now replaces my laptop for traveling. I got some good games (okay 2 I bought for myself). John got me this fun mini-cupcake maker, oh and he bought us this giant ass HD LCD TV! We have both been in awe over it . . . . I think him more than me thanks to “Twilight” movies airing this weekend.

For New Years all the plans were insane this year. Didn’t know who was doing what, who wanted to come over, who wanted to go where. It ended up a last minute thing and in the end myself, John and my friend Kaitlyn just went to Holihans for dinner then watched Ryan SeaCrap and other stuff at home. The fact that John’s brother just TOLD US he was coming down New Years Eve also put a crimp in plans, cause that was a bedroom taken up that could have gone to friends. I’ll just shut my mouth on this issue . . . .

We now fly out to Florida in a week for our cruise, which I am so not prepared for at all. I have so much work to do this week it’s not funny, and I know it’s not all getting done. I’m used to having to work on vacation at this point, I’ve done it every year as is. It will just be finding the time to sneak off to the library or something to work

I am also not to happy that I’m going on vacation big as a house! I never lost the weight I had hoped to, and I while a lot of that is because of too much fast crap food, I’m sure stress had a lot to do with it too. My commuting schedule this fall was just too much, and I’m glad I told University M that I could not work there in the spring. Nothing against them, I just had too much I was supposed to do and I didn’t realize how much time it would suck up. I am going back next fall, when I’m scheduled to teach 4 classes between University R and M. I’m probably going to be a nutcase then too, but it’s along ways away Well really not that long . . . . Ack!

Happy New Year . . . . 2012 will be here before we know it . . . .

The asylum was a state school for children and run from 1908 to 1987(ish) before a lawsuit shut it down do to horrible conditions and abuse the children endured for years. The reopening of it for a haunted house, of course, caused great controversy. Many people in the town where it was felt it was horrible because of what went on there, even suing to try and stop it. They lost though. The place is also a well known haunted location. You can find tons of stuff on youtube about it, as well as various clips from ghost hunting shows that have gone there.

Last night I went out with friends to a local club. It was so much fun, but I am hurting today! I also now have to start my diet and fitness routine and be good about it. I have a little over 2 months to try and lose about 20 pounds. Ack!

I dressed up as a REAL Housewife of New Jersey. I threw the costume together last minute. It was an old wig I had, costume jewelry and then a leopard print snuggie

….. Okay so basically I had intended to write out all that has been going on and stressing me out, but it’s too much, it will come off as too whiny, and you don’t need to hear it all. Basically same shit different day . . . dissertation writing stress, living off saving stress, upcoming going back to work stress . . . add in the insane heat waves this summer which have just been migraine inducing as well as sitting around and gaining back way too much weight . . . yes I’m a barrel of laughs right now. There is also vacation stress, as whether we go on a vacation in January is yet again up to me. Part of me knows I’ll need a break come January (and I did have a great time last year), the other part of me knows I don’t want that on my credit card bill right now. I’ve been monitoring prices and right now they are going UP, so here is hoping they go back DOWN later on. Oh and then there is John having to work to 9-10pm every other night as well, so I never see him anymore.

So basically all this stress ends up leading to me breaking down and/or blowing up . . . and this last time I went and destroyed all my social networks. I deleted Twitter, Facebook as well as all the check-in apps like Gowalla and Foursquare too.

In part, I realized if I’m gunna be nuts online and vent on these places, I don’t need complete strangers knowing I’m nuts. Twitter/Facebook (because it’s easy to link them) are just too easy to go to and post a quick rant. The blog still takes time . . . signing in, writing the post, proofing it, etc . . . Twitter/Facebook it’s basically just bitch’n'go really. I decided 1) I don’t need to just be using these things as a bitch fest, cause nobody wants to read that and 2) I have way too many people on them I have no idea who they are, so they don’t need to know my private biz-nass.

So I just went on a deletion frenzy I guess I should have just deleted people off my lists . . . but somehow at the time I thought this was easier. I know people loved the twitter feed on the blog, but the problem is for it to work properly with the blog, your twitter account needs to be open. That means anyone can sign up and follow you, and unless you take the time to go in and block them . . . they know your biznass. Also for many people Twitter has seems to lost its appeal. The people I got on there to start following don’t use it as much anymore, and most of the updates I see anymore are people spamming 10 news article/links every hour.

As for Facebook . . . well before Twitter/iPhone I never really updated my facebook much. It was too much trouble. I also just approved anyone who asked to be my friend, even if I didn’t really know them, so now I have 300 friends and probably only can really identify who 50 of them are . . . 25 of which I’ve probably actually met in real life.

While my twitter (and 4square etc) accounts got irretrievably deleted, I did save Facebook from utter destruction. I just have too many childhood and obscure friends I’ll never be able to find again on there (though I’m an easy google if they need to find me, the benefit of years of the soap page). So at some point my Facebook will be back. However I’ve decided I need to take a hatchet to my Facebook. I need to go through my friends list and if I don’t recognize the name – - – DELETE! I also need to make lists of trusted friends and general friends, so I can decide who sees what. I need to learn to deny people’s friends requests if I don’t know who they are, and not be afraid to delete/block people – which so far I’ve never done to anyone. However if I’m posting sensitive and personal stuff, I don’t want strangers seeing it!

On the upside, my blog has gotten a lot more attention without Facebook and Twitter

PS Monster Mania this weekend! So I should be having some fun

I can also apparently download ALL my previous blog entries into it. We haven’t tried that yet, we wanted to see if posting went okay first. If it works though, it will be a handy way to have a solid back-up of the blog in a format other than the MySQL database wordpress stores them in.

The weather lately has been wonderful. I just hope the nasty rain and cold stay away Well obviously we need rain, but not days of flooding rain! In spite of the lovely weather, I spent most of the weekend with a migraine. I know where it came from, I volunteered to do some manual labor in the sun on Friday at school. The next day . . . migraine! Aside from feeling crappy, I am now behind on work. Story of my life lately!

Speaking of school, I am teaching in the fall and next spring most likely. I was told the prospects of keeping me around look fairly good right now. Fingers crossed! I have my conference at the end of this month, and am entertaining submitting an abstract to another local conference that happens in May. Fortunately I can and will use the same paper, with some minor tweaking The dissertation will finally be finished and defended this summer. It’s dragged on long enough, and by fall I expect to be working a lot and it just needs to be done.

In a little over a month I head out to visit my friend Heidi. Unfortunately we have become a fat-ass! I was shocked and horrified when I stepped on the scale this morning. I have not been exercising enough lately with working so much, and I’ve been drinking too many non-diet cokes for caffeine boosts at work, as well as grabbing too much fast food cause it’s quick and easy. None of this is good considering we are doing some water parks. Me in a bathing suit like this? GASP! It’s diet time again and I now have to be serious. I also picked up a copy of EA More Active, the sequel their personal training Wii game. I liked the original well enough, aside from the fact it was such a lunge nazi. Lunge lunge lunge! I got sick of always lunging. I’m hoping the sequel is better, I’ll give it a go tomorrow morning to see if it revs me up.

The doggies have also been getting their exercise as of late. I’ve been taking them to the enclosed field next to us to run around sans leashes and play Frisbee. They get pooped out pretty quick though. They are as out of shape as I am Enjoy some photos I took of them today, as well as one of Little Bunny Poo Poo, who is now a little over a year old.

I had bought EA Active Sports back in June, but got sick shortly after starting it, then the boot camp started, and well I didn’t use it as much as I should have. It has a 30 day fit challenge, which as the name suggests, you are supposed to use it every day for 30 days. It does let you slack off a few days, but only a few. I have to reset mine at this point since I failed it I think I’m going to use it and maybe report back on my progress with it. We’ll see how well it does. While running last year gave me a weight loss, I wasn’t as toned as I’d like to have been. We’ll see if this can achieve that.

For those who have the Wii Fit and maybe bored with it, give this game a try. The exercises and routines I feel are much better (but it doesn’t have Yoga if that is your thing). The music is great, and the exercises for the most part are a lot of fun as they mix games in with the exercises. You can use prebuilt routines or make your own, and they string together nicely. So unlike Wii Fit you aren’t taking a few minutes between exercises to choose something new. After 30 minutes with EA Active, you will be tired, and the next day you will be sore!

For those who like Wii Fit just fine (or are into Yoga), a new Wii Fit Plus disc comes out this fall, which is more customizable apparently, allowing you to string exercises together and make routines.

Okay, I think that’s all I have to blog about right now.

Post Note: The EA Active Sports comes with a very light “resistance band” which is actually just a pilates type body band. You can pick up a whole kit of light-medium-heavy bands on Amazon for about 20 bucks, or just get medium and heavy bands for about 12 each at TarJay (along with a workout DVD). If you find the band the game comes with too easy (which I did) it’s worth it to get a heavier band. Do NOT get the rubber tubing workout bands though, as those come with specific handle attachments and do NOT play well at all with the Wii controllers. Trust me on this one! Get the pilates body bands and simply put them in the handles that come with the EA Active game.