...LIke Real People

In addition to being exhale day, it's also "take a break" from exercise day. The only kicking that will occur is when I kick up my feet to watch a movie.

On a recent flick night my friend, Lori, said that one of the reasons that she likes foreign flicks is because the people look like real people. Romantics Anonymous elicited that response along with responses of laughter et al.

I also enjoyed Sidewalls.

Whatever you do today, enjoy...

I Ate Your Chips or Stuff People Say to Me, VIII

I ate your chips. I knew you wouldn't mind.

Leanne (next door work neighbor) brought back a veggie burger for me from Local Harvest; they usually serve burgers with Billy Goat chips which I usually don't eat.

You look good. Your skin is so clear and you look like you've been dipped in chocolate.

Lori, my friend

Lori With One of Many Animals She Has Befriended

She has been dipped in chocolate.

Michael, a yoga teacher sitting nearby in a coffee shop*

So, tell me, what's up with you? Yaddayaddayadda...You look cute. Yaddayaddayadda

Lisa, fellow climber

One route at a time.

Patti to me after I voiced my frustration with getting off to a rocky climbing start.

Patti Standing On Top of the Bouldering World

Nubian Princess...

Jackie, a climber, to me. She had a hard time remembering my name and said that she would just call me Nubian Princess. I had no objections.

I'll tell ya, one mistake that I see people make a lot is being too far away from the wall.

Brent's friend's comment on lead belaying after Brent asked me about the lead climbing class.

Leah: Are you still doing yoga?

Me: Yeah, I'll probably try Bikram next.

Leah: That's not good for your body. Pause... You can go outside (it was around 100 degrees this day) and do yoga.

Leah Lead Climbing Some 5.11b Situation

You're totally ready for lead climbing. Later...Your technique is good.

Jessica

Jessica Showing Her Usual Tenacity On A Route

If I had a choice between jumping out of a plane and rock climbing then, maybe, I would choose rocking climbing.

Janine

*Sitting at a middle table with Michael on the left and an older couple on the right, I was fully embarrassed at this point. I guess exercise and cleaner eating are agreeing with me???

When The Student Is Ready

Having worked my abs yesterday, it made perfect sense that we did ab-related postures during yoga class; that's just the way my life works.

It took me a while to settle down too but I totally enjoyed the lion pose. We did the Mountain pose modification with tongues hanging out like Michael Jordan when we roared.



During corpse pose, the instructor talked about feeling the benefits of yoga and how we were in the perfect position for relaxation. Yeah, I ruminated on that comment and plan to get in the perfect position often.

After yoga, I went with my friend Lori to get baked falafel. As we enjoyed our dinner, we got chatted up by a yoga teacher (Michael) who was reading the Anatomy of Hatha Yoga. I may or may not go to one of his Hatha classes and he may or may not go rock climbing with me.

I swung by Whole Paycheck after dinner looking for spelt flour and I honestly didn't know there were so many flours: coconut, amaranth, soy and arrowroot...

I also needed tahini but left the $8.00 + jar of organic tahini on the shelf. I know an international store where I can get it for much less.



Line of the night by way of Michael from his yoga teacher:

Americans like to work out -- not work in.

Refreshers

I went to my first official yoga class, Gentle Yoga. I got there late because I had to go through a maze to find the room. I hate arriving late. The teacher asked me, of course, if it was my first time there then went on with his lecture about how yoga is not a competition as I took my place near the back.

Deeper into the class, I'm in a pretty impressive split, trying to keep my arms straight and thinking about the misleading title of the class as I'm feeling that some of the poses are not too gentle at all.

I did love arching my back, lifting my arms and taking a big ol' deep breath. So refreshing.

About thirty minutes into the class, my friend Lori asked if the class ended at 6 or 6:30. I mouthed 6:30 and wanted to add welcome to my world -- the one where you start clock-watching about 15 minutes into an hour long class.

After yoga, Lori, Opal and I went to grab coffee at the St. Louis Bread Company. I was tempted to get a salad but was glad that I had left my money elsewhere. By the way, thanks Opal for treating us to coffee.

As we were sitting down, Lori told me that I looked good, my skin was clear etc. I was going to say something about how my stomach is huge and how I've chunked up of late but I closed my mouth before I opened it because some things are more important than a number on a scale.

I drove home, changed clothes, made a sandwich then headed out to swim. I've been looking forward to swimming since going to the pool on Sunday only to find it closed for Mother's Day.

I got in 13 laps, floated, hit the shower and headed home. I popped in my D'Angelo CD and pressed the moonroof's retract button. As I listened to Dreaming Eyes, it made me think about Aretha Franklin's Day Dreaming. There was a segment on Franklin on CBS Sunday Morning. I didn't realize that Franklin wrote that song about a member of the Temptations. She was really in love with him, as you can tell by the lyrics, but he was intimidated by her. Too bad.

I drove home tonight but I was really leaping in my mind.

Nightnight y'all...

The Ahhh Days

I wondered out loud to Hazira if business was slow for our acupuncturist since he's having a special this month.

She thought it was just a routine business decision but did elaborate and say that people generally feel better around this time since the birds are singing, the sun is shining and they feel, overall, less "jadna," a Bosnian word that implies physiological poorness.

Good point, Hazira. I just realized that I'm also feeling less in need of bodywork.

And speaking of the sun, OMG, it's not raining in St. Louis and the tornadic weather has quieted down. Really, I saw raindrops on my windshield a few days ago and I was thinking not again.



***

Hazira and I watched a weird French flick Happily Ever After. I'm about to move to Hazira's side of the fence where she prefers Hollywood flicks. A lot of foreign films drop you unceremoniously so I should not have been surprised with the way that Happily Ever After ended.

After the movie, I got on the computer for a spell and someone popped up on instant chat. It was Hazira's niece (Bela) and it was cool to chat with her because I don't see her as often as I used to. Bela sent me a link for a very cool video showcasing two Zagreb cellists.



***

I got my mom a card that says wow is mom upside down. Happy Mother's Day to all of the WOW moms -- the rest of you know who you are...

And, as my friend Lori said when she gifted me with Shea butter, bath salts etc., make every day a SPAhhh day.

Breath-taking Antagonism

You Can Heal Your Life is suggested reading in Happiness for Dummies and my friend, Hazira, has a version of this book, Heal Your Body so it was already on my radar.

When I went to visit Lori, another friend, the book was on the countertop and we started looking through it together.

I had gone to retrieve You Can Heal Your Life from the library when I almost busted my kneecap. Ironic, ain't it?

I decided to request You Can...because Lori and I had such a fun time looking through the little blue book (Heal Your Body) portion of it.

I was gonna read the whole book but, alas, my interest was mainly with the blue book portion of it.

What had Lori and I laughing?

Problem:

Eczema

Probable Cause:

Breath-taking antagonism. Mental eruptions.

New Thought Pattern:

Harmony and peace, love and joy surround me and indwell me. I am safe and secure.


* * *


Disclosure: I'm not much for affirmations of this sort but I still found the probable causes interesting.


* * *


Problem:

Alcoholism

Probable Cause:

"What's the use?" Feeling of futility, guilt, inadequacy. Self-rejection.

New Thought Pattern:

I live in the now. Each moment is new. I choose to see my self-worth. I love and approve of myself.

* * *


Problem:

Blackheads

Probable Cause:

Small outbursts of anger.

New Thought Pattern:

I calm my thoughts and I am serene.


* * *

Problem:

Vomiting

Probable Cause:

Violent rejection of new ideas. Fear of the new.

New Thought Pattern:

I digest life safely and joyously. Only good comes to me and through me.

* * *

I actually have something that I cannot heal right now. I started feeling off on Sunday and it's been downhill since then. I've been mostly horizontal, headachy and enduring chills (Mental contraction, pulling away and in. Desire to retreat. "Leave me alone."). My eyeballs even hurt. I can't remember the last time that I was sick like this and I'm hoping whatever my body is trying to shake off will make its exit soon. I can't take too much more of aching.

(More) Stuff People Say To Me

We all have something going on. I just try to keep my face off the floor., Onetime play mother that I unexpectedly ran into.

It's always good. If it's not good, I'll make it good., A colleague

My friend (Lori): Why do you have a bottle of cooking wine in your bedroom?

Me: Because it didn't make it to the pantry????????

Cousin: Are you still working out seven days a week?

Me: I rest on Friday.

Cousin: So this has become a way of life?

Me: Yes.

Bosnian one: I feel bad that you are not taking anything (sweet).

Bosnian two: See what you're doing to these Bosnians?

You got them in and that's what counts.

Swimming lane neighbor about my 20 slow laps.

I was waiting for you., Lifeguard

The last time I had seen the guard, my quiet entrance made her jump about three feet in the air.

Anonymous: I had a therapeutic massage.

Me: Silent but wondering about the emphasis on therapeutic...

Colleague: I would love to take a couple of weeks off.

Me: What would you do?

Colleague: I would clean, play with my dog, read, make yogurt.

Me: I have news for you; everyone wants those same two weeks off. I would skip the yogurt part though.

Your back is bigger. Is that from swimming? Rock climbing?, My Mother

Did anyone see Please Give? There's this one character who makes snide remarks about her ex's girlfriend and she's fond of mentioning that the new girlfriend has a big back which caught my attention because I've always had a big back and it is probably bigger now. But who cares? It works fabulously...

Holding On

The shoulder situation made a comeback and I've been treating it with massage therapy but a funny thing would happen on the way to massage therapy: the pain, discomfort and soreness (from exercise) would just about disappear.

The second time the pain disappeared prior to my appointment, I figured something psychological might be going on.

The day after the last massage that I had the discomfort, which had already switched sides of the shoulder, returned to my upper right arm, my shoulder blade and sometimes on the side of my neck. The shoulder blade situation felt like a tight little radius of intensity and heat with a kink right in the middle.

My friend (HC), her sister and I went to Community Acupuncture's open house today. After treatment, my friend asked me what I thought.

Me: It is what it is...

That's when I realized I was in a foul mood and stressed-out.

I have been feeling stuck and there is little wonder that my muscles are in a holding pattern.

I'm frustrated with rock climbing no matter what my belay partners tell me about my tenacity and strength.

I'm frustrated with front crawl breathing even though I've been told that everyone struggles with it.

I'm frustrated that I seem unable to lose more weight. One year plateau anyone?

I have angst about my new body and I didn't see that one coming.

I may have fitness fatigue.

And my face? Even it looks strange after weight loss.


While I was waiting on my friend and her sister to finish up their acupuncture sessions, I read through The Asian Diet book and one of the things it said about stress is that your body holds on to weight. Imagine that...

A few weeks ago, I was talking to my friend Lori and I was reluctant to vent. I told her that I sounded ungrateful and she told me that I wasn't being ungrateful; I was just expressing how I feel.

I also have a tendency to not want to own up to sadness etc. because, in the back of mind, I feel as if things might get worse if I vent. Not sure where I got that idea from and, having said that, turning the calendar page from August to September made me sad. I even took the calendar off the wall for a while.

I went rock climbing yesterday and swimming today. Clearly, if I had a serious shoulder injury, I would not have been able to climb or swim.

Just acknowledging, though, that I haven't been feeling cheery has taken some of the weight off my shoulders. I'm sure that floating helped too...


Postscript: Since I'm getting stuff off my shoulders, even though I swim laps, my treading bites and I am not wholly comfortable with the deep end.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Recently finished Gang Leader for a Day recommended by Prevention RD. Sudhir Venkatesh, the gang leader for a day and then sociology student, goes to The Lake Park projects in Chicago complete with a clipboard and questionnaire. After being harassed, he's finally given permission to ask a question. The first one:

"How does it feel to be black and poor?" I read. Then I gave the multiple-choice answers: "Very bad, somewhat bad, neither bad nor good, somewhat good, very good." (14)

My coffee almost flew across the room as my cackle got caught up in the shuffle.

Venkatesh ends up spending several years with gang leader J.T., other gang members, residents, police officers and J.T.'s mother:

Ms. Mae gave me a big hug and told me to sit down for lunch. She had cooked some of my favorites -- okra, greens, mac and cheese -- and so I gladly obliged. J.T. quipped that I was eating his share of food. "You're becoming the little brother I never wanted," he said. (178)

Gang Leader was an intriguing read with universal truths:

The worst-paying jobs, meanwhile, often required the longest hours...(199)

I can't remember what I was talking with my friend Lori about when I said one should not clown in other countries. For some reason Lori Berenson, convicted of terrorist collaboration in Peru, sticks in my mind.

From that conversation, my friend recommended that I read Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan. The author's note said that it's an actual experience but it was written as a novel to protect the tribe that she went on a journey with. My spidey sense started tingling immediately and made me think of James Frey's book, A Million Little Pieces, which I was in the middle of reading when news broke that it was not autobiographical.

I read Mutant Message anyway. The author was lead into the Outback unwillingly and stripped of all that was dear to her and led on a fairly long walkabout with an Aboriginal tribe.

To sum it up: The Aboriginal tribe does no harm, wastes no natural resources, has respect for others and animals. They leave the world better than they found it. And the Mutant i.e. the author is to take their message of love and respect back into the world. I don't know whether or not I believed the story being told but there were certainly beneficial messages:

You either have faith or fear, not both. Things, they think, generate fear. The more things you have, the more you have to fear. Eventually you are living your life for things... (152)

I really like this concept because I'm sappy like that:

The Real People nation have for centuries had the practice at birth of speaking the same first phrase to all newborns. Each person hears the same exact first human words: "We love you and support you on the journey..." (153)

And, really, how cool with that be if every child had a life journey with unconditional positive regard?

I have been on such a nonfiction streak and I'm ready for fiction. Any recommendations? Please, save me from another nonfiction book.

Some books that I've enjoyed:


Deception Point by Dan Brown
Gone Fishin' by Walter Mosley
Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Vanishing Act by Thomas Perry


Has anyone checked out Bookseer? When you put in a book that you've read, it gives you, mostly, Amazon recommended books. When I put in Thomas Perry, it gave me all books by Thomas Perry which is cool -- if you're looking for another TP book...

A Perfectly Good Pickle And...

Before my massage the other day, there was paperwork to fill out. I didn't see what my marital status along with some other info had to do with the massage so I left those questions blank and moved on.

There were other questions about how much white flour and sugar you eat. Lori told me that she was happy to put none for tobacco usage since it took her awhile to give up smoking.

As Lori was satisfied to put none for tobacco usage, I was equally satisfied to note that I exercise six days a week. What kind of exercise you ask:

*Aerobics Kate's Kick A$$ Class
Rock Climbing
Swimming
Yoga etc.

Are you fatigued? I always chuckle when I'm faced with this question.

Me: Am I fatigued?

Lori: I don't think they mean fatigued because you exercise like a crazy person. Regular fatigue...

There was also a question about what you crave. Um, sugar... Is that what they meant by cravings?

I went swimming on Saturday -- only the second time (this season) I've been outside. My shoulder feels so much better. As a result, I was able to enjoy doing the backstroke and watch the clouds roll by. My shoulder felt even better after the massage.

On another subject, one of my aunts went to the Lake of the Ozarks. I had fried pickles, she said. I felt my face contort when it happened. What? You eat all kinds of ... she said.

I tell my aunt about the repeat Obesity in America show, the episode in which The Texas State Fair is highlighted. Fried butter, fried coke, fried pizza...The guy at that booth sells so much fried stuff that he is able to quit his job as a computer analyst.

I can't believe some vendor in the Lake of the Ozarks took a perfectly good pickle and fried it...

*Went to Kate's class tonight and was shocked by how crowded it was. There was almost no real estate available. However, there was a modest gap and it was right behind Kate.

Kate and I met over by the weights and haggled over who would get the 10 pounders. I've wanted to up the ante on the weights but I wasn't quite ready for 10 pounds.

I asked Kate if she had enough room and she said not to worry -- if she needed space, she would kick me and let me know. I told her that I would kick back as well. Ah, the prospect of impromptu cardio kickboxing...

Before class started, I sidled up to one of my buddies that I'm usually next to. She said that all the people were present because of my blog. Ha, ha. I outed myself to Kate because I had written enough about her that I thought she should know. Know what I mean? If you're saying writing something nice about someone, you should let them know. Shouldn't you?

Kate kicked butt tonight and I shouldn't be surprised by now. She kept saying:

No one quits.
No one quits.

I kept saying:

Oh My God, OMG...

We did lazy stretching i.e. stretching on the mat. I was so thankful because, at that point in the program, I don't know if I would have had the wherewithal to stand up. As we were reconfiguring ourselves to get in position for ab work, I locked eyes with another classinmate and I could see the fatigue on her face. It felt good to know that I wasn't alone...

How's your stamina lately? Anyone know about your blog that you'd rather not have known about it -- in hindsight?

First Things First: Breathe and Relax Your Arm

I promised myself that I would get massages often. Well, the last time that I had a massage was in October of 2009. Today is my friend Lori's birthday. I thought she might like a massage, I could get one too and we could spend relaxing time together.

Before my appointment, I did two 15-Minute circuits of Jackie Warner's Personal Training Circuit -- figured that I might as well add the Warner aftermath to the list of kinks that needed to be kneaded. My body just rains every time I do a Warner circuit. I need to do this workout way more often -- to keep myself in check.

An hour and a half later, I arrived at the spa and when the massage therapist got ready to start, she told me to take a deep breath. I tapped into my yoga thing, she did a centering ritual of sorts and the decompressing began.

There were several times when I thought I just might cry. Guess I must be storing something but I guess we are all storing one thing or another.

The only thing that was uncomfortable about the massage was the attention to the feet. Having my feet touched is almost unbearable and I was hoping that reflexes would not get the better of me.

I was also told to relax my arm which is not the first time that's happened. It's ironic because I'm certainly not trying to help by holding it up -- just general tension I guess...

When I first got my car, my CD player went on the fritz. I immediately made an appointment to get it fixed. One of my colleagues said, What dedication to self-care. Those words are never far from my mind and I'm going to get a whole lot better at that activity. I work out hard and, dang it, I'm going to play hard.

I smelly all woodsy like tea tree oil but in a lavender kind of way and I'm digging it.

I thought this article about spas in Afghanistan was pretty intriguing.

In what ways have you shown that you're dedicated to taking care of yourself?


P.S. I'm semi-unplugged as I have a stupid virus on my home computer. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Other People's Neatness

I didn't realize that Gail Blanke's Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life is like a workbook -- you're prompted to get rid of items while reading. No matter, things have a way of coming along when you need them.

I asked someone to come and help me unclutter my bedroom which I had lost the ability to be agile in. Translation: I could have easily sprained an ankle with all the crap that was in my room.

Asking for help was humbling and a bit (understatement) mortifying. I was properly and thoroughly embarrassed to have someone witness my slovenliness. My counselor friend said, "Don't worry, we all need professional help at some point."

The initial organization provided me with the incentive to take on The Fifty Project. Still, I wrestled mightily with the most insignificant items. Is it recyclable? Will I have a need for it later? Should I try to sell it?

I also struggled with things that people gave me -- even if it was an object that I didn't particularly like. I found things that I had forgotten about including license plate covers that my brother gave me in 2003. I also spotted, in the nether region of my closet, the toes of a tall doll, a childhood present from my grandfather.

I didn't think that I would have has many mental throwaways as I did but once the ball got rolling, it really got rolling. I have the feeling, though, that it's going to take more than one trip to the trashcan for the mental throwaways. Throwing out non-mental stuff became somewhat infectious as well. I was searching for a place that might recycle photos and I came upon good advice: Sometimes you just have to throw stuff away.

Here's the big qualifier. If you threw out fifty cups, it only counted as one item and on and on -- 50 books = one item. And magazines, they belong to the same tribe as books. I thought I might never make it to 50 but here's the list:

1) Bath Sponge
2) Bedding (unused for nearly a decade)
3) Being verbally abusive to myself
4) Beverages, Old or Unwanted (Pimpjuice and Propel)
5) Bike (Old One)
6) Book bags and satchels
7) Books and magazines
8) Candles
9) Candlestick Holders
10) Cardboard Boxes (lots of them; what was I saving them for? plus, my friend has this situation below)


11) Catnip (G’ma gave it to me for protection from mosquitoes)

12) Christopher Gruver’s Flowers: A Universe Revealed -- 2006 Wall Calendar

Significant Events in 2006

Dinner at Stir Crazy, Cirque de Soleil & Memorial Service; October 12th, 14th and 15th

Jury Duty; L’Enfant and Akeelah and the Bee released; Drivers License Expired; Tape Oprah: April 14th & 18th; India Arie: July 15th

13) Clothes (Goodbye to those of you that I outgrew)


14) Contact Paraphernalia (Expired -- in 2007 -- Rewetting Drops)
15) Cups (‘A’ cup, tiger mug, white cups with white tea)
16) Declarations of war i.e. getting my feathers ruffled over small stuff. (Bye bye)
17) Expired Food (Pomegranate Fruit Bars et al.)


This is your brain on expired sugar


Why do I still have crystallized ginger? Have not made cookies in over three years.

Ginger Lemon Cookies

Makes 3 dozen

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, plus more for sprinkling
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup crystallized ginger, cut into 1/8-inch dice

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment; set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl twice. Add egg; mix on high speed to combine. Add zest; mix to combine.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, ground ginger, baking soda, salt, and crystallized ginger; add to butter mixture. Mix on medium-low speed to combine, about 20 seconds.
3. Using two spoons, drop about 2 teaspoons of batter on baking sheet; repeat, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake for 7 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

From Martha Stewart Living, December/January 1995/1996

18) Eyeglasses (Old Prescription; Donated)
19) Feelings of guilt (over throwing away food that I bought but didn’t’ like, of throwing away stuff that may or may not be recyclable etc.)
20) Graveyard Ribbons
21) Hangers
22) Jewelry
23) Latex Swim Cap (Unused)
24) Old Dietary Supplements
25) Paper (Old Notebooks and Newspaper Articles)
26) Percussion Egg (Don’t Ask)
27) Perfection
28) Perfume (Expired)
29) Photo Album
30) Photos
31) Picture Frame
32) Potpourri
33) Purses
34) Smiley Face Bank
35) Soap & Bath Stuff (Old)


36) Speedo (First One)


37) Squirrel Knickknacks
38) Stuffed Animal
39) The feeling that I’m this poor little girl from the wrong side of the river. (gone)
40) The feeling that I suck (because I forgot someone’s birthday or to pay a bill)
41) The feeling that I’m not good enough. (Throwing that out felt really good.)
42) The feeling that I’m not smart enough.
43) The feeling that weird things only happen to me.
44) The nagging feeling that I don’t belong. (out)
45) Tins (Altoid tin good for holding pepitas and peanuts but did I need two?)



46) Tweety Birds (gift)


47) Underwear (seldom worn back of the drawer rejects along with the need-to-be darned)



48) VHS Tapes (Biggest Loser with Helen, Sione and Tara; The Amazing Race)
49) Wall Décor


50) Wallets (Black and Green; I bought the brown replacement wallet a year and a half ago)


This whole uncluttering project that I have underway takes the burden off my friend Lori who was to come in, should I meet a sudden demise, and clean up for me so that I would not die again of shame.


Resources:

Can I Recycle Old Photographs?

Can Used Photo Paper Be Recycled?

Recycling Photos

Stop the Souvenir Insanity

The mess he made: A life-long slob decides it's time to get organized

The Story of Stuff

Best quote: "It's rare that a sloppy person is made uncomfortable by another person's neatness," she says. "Part of being a sloppy person is that you just don't notice." Arlene Kagle from "To Clean Or Not To Clean, That Is The Question," O: The Oprah Magazine, March 2010

The Arabic Music Phase

I had this whole Arabic music phase. When I heard Aicha by Cheb Khaled, I immediately fell in love with the song.

Really, you should hear me singing in French and my apologies to all of the French speakers out there. And what does French have to do with Arabic anyway?

Here are the lyrics, in part, to Aicha:

AICHA
écrite par J.J Goldman

Comme si je n'existais pas,
elle est passée à côté de moi
Sans un regard, reine de "Saba",
j'ai dit Aïcha prends tout est pour toi

Voici les perles les bijoux,
aussi l'or autour de ton cou
Les fruits, biens mûrs au goût de miel,
ma vie, Aïcha si tu m'aimes...

I’ll have to find the actual translation but Aicha walks past the gentleman without regard and he’s going to bring her jewelry, the sun...yadda yadda yadda. Listen to me, he pleads. I’ll erase your tears, your sorrow...yadda yadda yadda.

When I told my friend Lori the lyrics she said, he’s lying. Wow, Lori, have a little faith.



My fascination with Aicha led me to Raï music which led me to Magic System.

If you look at my workout play list, I have this song Un Gaou Oran by 113& Magic System. I love this video. I think it’s so funky, cute and no one is scantily clad. So, here's something funky for Friday. Sit back and enjoy 113 & Magic System.

What's the story behind one of your favorite workout songs?

Cheers! It's Friday.

A Stir It Up Moment

You seriously have some kind of problem. Forget Crazy Tracy. Crazy 'Drea.

-My friend Lori after I told her about rock climbing after having participated in an intermediate step class the day before.

People have no concept of what the human body is really designed to do. They have no concept of their strength! And they function in a zone that is well below what their potential really is.

-from A Jillian Michaels' interview that appeared in the November 2009 edition of Health Magazine.

Health bestowed Michaels with their America's Healthiest Body honor.

Is Everyone Stable?

Fascinating question, Karen, but I think everyone was stable at the point -- at least on their stability balls.

I can't believe that I avoided classes for so long. I ventured into an intermediate step class today and it completely rocked. I loved it.

I enjoyed the rocking horses, the kicks and the knee lifts. Who knew a little platform could be so much fun and make you work so freakin' hard?

I loved the cadence when everyone was in synch. And the sound of simultaneous feet hitting steps? So motivating.

Karen was like an assassin -- all business and straight-faced. My friend Lori suspects that she is an introvert as opposed to the instructor Tracy who is an out-and-out extrovert.

After all of that stomping and arm swinging, we put up the steps and brought out the mats and stability balls which also entertained me. We did sit-ups and push-ups and we did a child-like pose over the ball. I also liked it when we just bounced on the stability ball.

Step class was so cool and so much fun. I was instantly addicted.

Addicted To Love

Crazy Tracy

For someone who is not into classes, I wanted to try out another one. I called my friend Lori to see if she wanted to go with me. I ruled out Y-Sculpt which didn't have a description but didn't sound like the best option for my sore upper body. For some reason, I imagined that Y-Sculpt involved weights.

I asked Lori if she wanted to go to Turbo Kick. Lori said Tracy's teaching that class. I hadn't even realized it. Tracy was the one who had my body all locked up and on fire Sunday morning.

As I was entering the driveway toward the recreation complex, I thought I saw Lori going in the opposite direction. Oh, no; Lori changed her mind.

As it turned out, Lori did not change her mind and came bouncing into the class Tigger-like.

We did some kicking,(obviously) jabbing and jumping jacks. We also did some rowing and wheels. I really liked the jabbing and rowing.

Although, I must admit, it was challenging to exercise in front of a mirror because I'm still thick and the mirror is a reminder that I can stand to lose about twenty more pounds. Also, I wasn't crazy about the observers outside the glass doors of the studio but I got over it and chalked the watching up to curiosity.

When we got on the ground for wind down time, Tracy had the nerve to have us do some ab work. My little abs were still tender from Saturday's beat down. Despite my tender abs, I elevated my legs, got a lock on my core, made an A with my hands and did what I had to do.

Later on, Lori and I were talking about Turbo Kick. Crazy Tracy is in shape, Lori said. I laughed because that moniker fits her well. Tracy is, of course, crazy in a good way. She seems very informed and passionate about what she does.

Lori and I were discussing our Tuesday fitness options. She wants to take the Yogalates class. I told Lori that I'm down for the yoga but I don't know about the lates.

Do You Know Where Your Core Is?

That was the question posed to the boot camp class by the instructor Tracy.

I'm not one for group exercise but I went to check out the new Carondelet Park Recreation Complex or, as I like to call it, the city-funded YMCA and, since I've been curious about boot camp style classes and one was being offered on Saturday, I didn't think that a better opportunity would present itself. It was really good timing because only eleven people were in class.

Not only did Tracy help locate our cores, she also showed us à la Diana Ross who was the boss.

Tracy, who is a great instructor, struck all the right notes. The class was challenging yet fun.

We tossed around a three pound weight while moving rather rapidly in a circle. My friend Lori was not crazy about the tossing of the ball; I think she might have had a flashback from her dodgeball playing days.

We did that football-jogging-in-place-crouch then sprawled on the floor. We did planks, push-ups, burpees, squatted with our backs against the wall and, at one point, we compressed ourselves ball-like and rolled on the mat. Lori's squat form was excellent according to Tracy who also made the rounds to check our jabbing intensity level with a punching mitt. I love props almost as much as I loved the sensation and echo emitted when I connected with the punching mitt.

I've been rocking steady with exercise for about two and half years now and I almost felt as if I had never done one moment of cardio. I was worn out but definitely in a good way.



Update: After taking the boot camp class, I took a few laps around the track and it seems that another blogger caught me in stride with my new blue Danskin Now top on. It really is a small world after all.

Old Jones: A Non-Fairy Tale

To quote Anthony Hamilton:

I'm a mess right now...

My room is too.

One of my colleagues, who is cleaning machine, said that she would help me but I would have to let her throw away stuff.

My friend, Martene, told me that it probably wouldn't benefit me to hire someone since I would need to be involved as far as okaying what to throw away.

And, finally, I told my friend Lori that I would be mortified if I died and someone saw my room in such disarray. Lori promised me that, upon hearing the news of my death, she would rush over and tidy things up so that people would have fond memories of me as opposed to frowning upon my messiness.

Guess what I've been doing? Cleaning up. Not because I'm inspired. It's the forced clean up because company is coming.

Folks, I don't stand a chance. I'm such a pack rat. I went to San Diego about two years ago where I was chasing other things besides sunsets. It is amazing how sunsets become the thing to watch when you're by the ocean. You rush to get a front row seat when it's that time of the day.



I had a serious jones for Manner of the milk chocolate variety. It's a terrible feeling when you realize that you haven't seen your jones in awhile. I saw this one store that listed milk chocolate Manner as being in stock but when I got my package in the mail, I received the chocolate cream Manner and the woman told me that it was the new milk chocolate Manner.



I didn't care if it was new or not, I didn't want it. Now, there's nothing wrong with the original hazelnut or lemon or vanilla Manner wafers but I just took a liking to the milk chocolate.

As I was cleaning up my room, I saw a piece of paper with the following information:

Sausage King
811 Washington
(619) 297-4301

I chuckled because I remembered having such a hard time finding the Sausage King. And what did the Sausage King sell? Manner wafers and, well, sausage. When I got there, though, he had chocolate cream wafers and I never found the milk chocolate ones again.

Food Landmarks

Lori called me and, as we're in the middle of our conversation, I hear "Give me two tacos and an apple empanada."

"Who sells apple empanadas?," I inquire. Lori informs me that Taco Bell has them on the menu and, of course, this reminds me of when I used to get empanadas at La Tropicana Market and Deli, a Cuban eatery. I liked La Tropicana for more than the empanadas and yucca; it reminded me of a confectionery that used to be in East St. Louis across from Dunbar, my elementary school. The tres leches cake at La Trop wasn't bad either.

I also remember the huge deep fried empanada that I bought from a street vendor in San Juan; it had more fried dough than meat. I knew that I should not have indulged but I was very hungry and about to get whiny and toddler-like.

My food landmarks are many. Whenever I pass by a McDonald's, I remember going there just for french fries and apple pies (2 for $1). I used to marvel at how you could get a bag of food for under $5 bucks.

Whenever I cross Kingshighway, I'm fully aware that Straub's is in the vicinity which also makes me remember how I used to go to the now defunct Pandora's bakery just for brownies. And the Chocolate Bar? Well, you can see how this walk down memory lane could easily spiral out of control but let me not forget to reminisce, briefly, about the slices of birthday cake that I had when it was neither my birthday nor anyone else's. How nice of the store to cut up those unclaimed cakes.

And speaking of Straub's, I ran into one of my favorite high school teachers there. We had not seen each other in ages and bumped into each other twice in one week in the dessert corner in the back of Straub's. If I known that it would take years to see her again, I would have just made a date to rendezvous at Straub's.

Bee Sting Cupcake

My friend Lori recently stumbled upon a cupcake bar in University City. I had to forgive her for going into great detail about her recent monetary and caloric splurge. See, Lori's powers of description are so great that, not only did I not mind listening to her version of the genetic makeup of the Bee Sting cupcake, I enjoyed it. What verbal dexterity...

I also forgive Lori for starting my addiction to Edy's Dreamery Tiramisu Ice Cream if she will forgive me for her Krispy Kreme jones. Once, after our dual enjoyment of a warm glazed original, I still remember the look on her face when I told her that Krispy Kreme was open two dozen hours.