Dear Nika (our dog):
If you do not stop pulling poopy diapers out of the garbage can and EATING THEM, I will release you to the wild. You are disgusting. Thank you.
Me
One of the traits of people with Asperger’s can be the ability to memorize large portions of things they watch. This is a trait Steven has in spades. Especially if it’s something he likes. He is now quite fond of Jim Gaffigan after hearing Hot Pockets. He has many of Jim’s bits memorized now. Especially the bit about bacon. Because Steven loves bacon. Every time we have bacon now, he says, “I want more!! More bacon!!”. My favorite now is how he’s incorporated the jokes into his video gaming. As he plays any game – Super Mario Bros, Kirby, Sonic – and he fights the bad guys, he now shouts, “Take that, Lipitor! I’m BACON!!” It’s hysterical, adorable and just a little creepy.
Today was Henry’s last day of school. They had 2 awards ceremony – 1 for the 1st & 2nd graders & a second for the 3rd-5th & the Life Skills class. We went to the later one and was absolutely shocked that it took an hour & a half. Three classes of 3rd graders & 2 each of 4th & 5th plus Henry’s class. It wouldn’t have taken so long, except the principal gave out the awards like this:
“Now for the math awards. For excellence in math in 3rd grade in Mr. Jones’ class: Matthew Smith!” clapclapclapclap “Also for excellence in math in 3rd grade from Mr. Jones’ class: Kathy Doe!” clapclapclapclap “From Ms. Liston’s 3rd grade class for excellence in math: Jim Brown!” clapclapclapclap
And on. And on. And on. And on. We thought we were going to die. After about an hour, Henry quit. He got up and left the room. Followed by his aide, Ms. Kim. They went to the motor room, never to return. Amusingly, about 10 minutes later, my patience ran out, too. However, I couldn’t just up & leave. Instead I spent almost a half hour feeling like I was going to claw my way out of my skin. If he had just done it like this, “Here are our students who received recognition for excellence in math” and then read a list of names. Applause at the end. We would have been out of there in about 40 minutes. Oh well. That’s okay.
I have been exercising, which is kicking my butt. I TiVoed a couple shows from FitTV – Total Body Sculpt with Gilead and Namaste Yoga. Yesterday, I did Total Body Sculpt and, other than the abs, I could do everything. I did what abs I could, but I couldn’t do them all. However, today, my legs hurt so much, I’m walking bow-legged. Today I tried to do the Namaste Yoga, thinking it was less harsh than Total Body Sculpt. It was, but I had to stop because my feet started cramping up so badly I couldn’t stand anymore. I have no idea what that was all about, but my insteps hurt SO BAD. I liked the yoga, though, so I hope my feet will let me do more. I’m going to record a pilates workout, a different yoga workout and Bollywood dance to see if any of those are doable for me.
A lovely nap this morning, my 30 minute Wii Fit workout, a scrumptious dinner of herb-baked salmon, green beans & rice and now sitting with Maggie watching my pretend celebrity boyfriend as the most delicious Captain Hook ever. I mean, seriously. If there’s a Hook that’s yummier than this, I don’t wanna know. It would make me swallow my tongue.
Anyway…..let me attempt to get my focus back. Wait…it’s the final fight scene. Dang, he’s good…
“A thimble…? How like a girl.” LOVE that line and his delivery of it.
Okay. 10 minutes later…
I love my Wii Fit. I have done 30 minutes every day since we got it. I love it. And I’m doing quite well. Between the exercise & the delcious Cooking Light meals I’ve been making, I’m already down NINE POUNDS. And, I know, I don’t want the weight to come off too fast, but, believe me, I’m eating just fine and not doing anything extreme. Plus, when you’re as heavy as I am, the weight falls off pretty fast at first. It’s getting ALL of it off that’s the real problem. It’s just really cool. I’m actually enjoying exercising. I’m not getting bored yet (which I always do) and it’s set up so nicely to keep things interesting and fun. It’s much more fun to do exercises if you’re getting feedback on them (am I doing this right? how many calories have I burned?) plus, turning them into a game rather than just a series of annoying repetitions is awesome. They’ve even got premade routines based on what you might want to work on, like Warm Up, Hips, Tummy, Figure, Balance, Arms, etc. that put together 3 different exercises into a 7-8 minute focused routine for you. No thinking required. I’ve been doing about 4 of those and then finishing up with the Basic Run or Rhythm Kung Fu or Island Cycling for a fun finish. I mean, I’m RUNNING. Not much, not fast, not hard, but I’m RUNNING. You’d be hard-pressed to come up with a monetary figure that would have forced my big ‘ole butt to run previous to this.
In addition, Steven and Maggie are enjoying it as well. Steven’s getting a big kick out of all of it – just running and cycling and boxing and kung-fuing to his heart’s content. I actually have to tell him to stop so he doesn’t overdo it. He’s lost almost 3 pounds already. Maggie is doing great, too. She wants to focus on the fun balance exercises which aren’t hard, so I’m trying to encourage her to do more of the actual exercises that will help her body. She’s started doing some of the routines, too. I can’t remember how much she’s lost, but she’s down as well. I see nothing but positivity resulting from this. Even if we don’t “get skinny”, which I probably won’t, because I’m not built like that, it will rock to be more healthy, more active and less manatee-like.
In lighter news, Steven has made a decision about his future. After much consideration, he will be moving to Seaside Heights, NJ to join the cast of Jersey Shore. He will become a “guido” and attempt to take over the world with hair gel, light sabers and Bionicles. My prediction? That, at eight years old, he will be smarter, more capable and less horrifying than all the castmembers put together. He’s got the ‘tude goin’ and that “yeah, I’m better than you” rockin’. He’s gonna have to work on his tan, though.
You spammers, you. You know who you are. Out there writing exactly enough in a comment to attempt to get past my comment moderation/spam filter so my blog will link back to your stupidness. I HATE you. You have annoyed me so much. Every day, I get comment moderation notification for 6-10 comments and, with each one, I get all happy that someone has read my blog and thought it worthy of comment. Then I realize the comment was on an entry from a while ago and it’s filled with such intriguing and insightful comments as:
This is such a heartwarming story it’s great howm families can be so close to each other
or
Congratulations Christy, and jubilations I want the world to know da da da da da daaaaa
or the eloquently worded
It is always great to share the innovative ideas with others on our demand.That is the main way for the people to know about the good types of techniques to equip it. It will really gives the crucial moments for others to know about it. It is a great passion for the people to select the great categories of the stories on the requirements of using it.
I don’t know what’s more insulting – that someone (or somebot) would think I’d approve that comment or that they even think those qualify as sentences. Whatever the deal is – STOP IT. So, I installed an extra anti-spam dealyjob for comments that hopefully will eliminate some of it. I’m sorry to make your experience as an actual reader of this blog (and hopefully, a commenter) more annoying, but there it is.
Enough of that. What I really want to talk about is my new Wii Fit. I bought it for our anniversary – sort of a combo present for both of us. Oh, yeah, the 7th was our 15th anniversary. So that’s cool. Since both of us really need to lose weight and get more fit, it seemed like a really good present. Kind of a “let’s do something so we don’t die on one another in 10 years” kind of gift. I signed up on it right away and have done 2 days worth already – plus the 2 days over at my mom’s. Now, I’m no fitness expert. All you have to do is look at me to know that. But I’m pretty impressed by the quantity and variety of exercise options available on Wii Fit Plus. At first, the aerobics exercises looked stupid, but I didn’t realize how hula hooping can tire you out when you’re out of shape. What I’ve done so far is try to do 30 minutes every time & mix it up with different things. Yesterday, I went everything on the aerobics menu except for the long run. I was really sweating by the end of it! Today I did the top line of yoga, some strength exercises, both hula hoops, basic step and then did Kung Fu and the Island bike ride under Training Plus. Thirty minutes and MAN do my legs ache now. The only problem I’m having is that, because you have to use the balance board without shoes, my feet are hurting. I’m assuming that will improve with time. I’ve got a high instep and running or stepping a lot without shoes makes it cramp.
Now the fun part. When you first sign up on Wii Fit, you have to enter all your information and have the balance board measure you, calculating your BMI, weight, Wii Fit age by testing your balance capabilities and comparing it to your age, weight, etc. Here’s what’s funny. I don’t know who made this decision regarding the script of the Wii Fit, but this makes me laugh hard. When you’re doing all this body measuring stuff and the training, the program tells you to wait to step on the board. Then it tells you to step on. And, in a high-pitched, cartoony voice, the board says:
“OH!”
Now, occasionally, it will say, “Great!”, but mostly it exclaims, “OH!” In alarm, discomfort and panic. I’m hoping this is not exclusive to me and my family (since it happens for me, Maggie & Steven). But I fully expect it to, one day, let out a Elmo-ish “HOLY CRAP!” when I step on. Apparently, it is not on the Wii Fit’s agenda to make you feel all snuggly about yourself. It wants you to be as alarmed and panicked about your weight as it is. :hee:
After you’ve entered your information, it then measures you. And, depending on your weight/BMI, a little thermometer-like scale on the left lifts up to tell you whether you’re underweight, ideal, overweight or obese. Looks like this (and no, this isn’t mine)
See the little blue line & arrow showing where this guy fits on the scale? That thing rises to wherever you fall. Mine? Raced to the top and burst through, leaving a trail of “obese” red blood droplets pouring out the top. Happy me. I knew it, though, so it wasn’t much of a shock. If you’re obese, like I am, your little Mii character plumps up like a Ball Park frank, reminding you what a chubby sausage you actually are. No fantasy here. When you’re done, it takes you to tell your Wii Fit Age, which I’m not sure how they calculate, because at my mom’s, I got 51. My first day at home, I got 36. Today, I got 44. Apparently, I am ageless – like a whispering wind or a stand of pine trees. What’s hysterical is that your Mii stands on a stage in a spotlight as a drum roll precedes the reveal of your Wii Fit age – when a Tetris-style huge number falls on your head. If your age is good, your Mii jumps up & down with happiness. If not, your Mii’s head falls and shakes in despair. Hysterical.
We also love the little music piece that plays after a game if you don’t do so well. Your Mii gets all sad & despondent and this melancholy music plays. Maggie & I started singing to it:
“You faaaaaail, you faiiiiiil….you’re baaaaaad at this gaaaaame. Don’t tryyyyyy, just go hooooome……you are baaaaad and you faaaaaail….”
It’s so funny.
Also – when you pick your personal trainer (who does strength training & yoga with you), you will be creepily alarmed by this animated person who talks to you WITHOUT MOVING THEIR MOUTH. It alarms me, I tell you.
But I’m doing it. Plus….OH, PLUS!! Get this: I have cooked EVERY NIGHT THIS WEEK. Healthy recipes from Cooking Light. We did roast chicken with potatoes & squash, tuna noodle casserole, fettuccine Alfredo with bacon, chicken fried rice and spaghetti. And none of the first 4 meals had more than 400 calories per serving. Does that rock or what?? I have to say, I really, really hate all this. I hate exercising, I hate eating healthily, I hate cooking. It would be nice if fitness was like on the Sims – just one good workout and you’re back in shape. But, since I guess I don’t wanna die, I’d better do this.
I like having a Wii. For years and years, we insisted we would never having a gaming system in our home. It’s too distracting and, for an addictive personality like me, troublesome. I decided it stays in our bedroom unless we want to play Rock Band (because I don’t want a drum kit in my bedroom). That way I control who uses it, when and for how long. I got an account at GameFly (a Netflix-like game rental thing) and am awaiting my first actual games. Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine and Resident Evil 4. I have such diverse tastes, don’t I?
This was right after a big storm passed over. About an hour before dusk, the sky was filled with color and huge, impressive clouds. I love when it’s like this – all pink and blue and purple. It’s almost like God’s showing off, y’know?
I also liked the way the basketball court looked. Empty, wet, shining – looks a little abandoned, but not really. Plus, I love the line of pine trees behind it. There are several big hawks that nest in those trees and occasionally we’ll see them swooping in & out of the trees, looking for mice & chipmunks and other foodstuffs.
(And, yes, I know it says “WORDLESS Wednesday”. But….I needed to add words, okay?
I now have all my blog entries from LJ on up here. All nearly 4 years of my blogging finally in one place. I didn’t remember that I’d been doing this that long. They’re all over there under Archives if you have a couple days with nothing to do.
I finally got sick. Nothing big, thank goodness. It felt like it was going to turn into a big, raging flu, but it seems to be holding steady at “raging cold”. Which is okay. We’re supposed to go to a Super Bowl party tomorrow, so hopefully my headache & snotty sinuses will have eased.
I guess my hair isn’t as horrifying as I previously thought. It definitely needs the finishing touch of a professional, but I didn’t ruin it as badly as I thought. Thankfully, hair grows, so I can’t complain too much. Therefore, ignore my ranting whining Utterz.
I keep forgetting to post about my weight stuff. I’m down a total of 16 pounds. Which, YAY! I started with my UncleTrainer on Tuesday and he got me on a weight training regimen. Like I said to him after we did the first one, it’s amazingly different than anything I’ve done before in that I am feeling my muscles working and it’s definitely an effort, but I’m not finished & feeling nauseous & like I want to die as I have previously. Which, of course, increases my desire to do it again. So, I did it Tuesday & Thursday. I didn’t do it today because of the headache & all, but maybe tomorrow. I hope. Gotta get in the habit of doing it every other day. Now if I can just squelch my desire to eat SunChips till I can’t move, I’d be rocking.
New kit up in the store!! Mango Tango is its name – Melly gets the credit for it. I loved the name because it describes the colors, but also because it’s so close to Ted Nugent’s “Wango Tango” and the kit has a hot rock feel, I think, so it works. Anytime I can give some props to the Motor City Madman, I’m all over it. :hee:
