Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Too Close (2011)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) This song is about a friendship that turned romantic ... and it doesn't end happily. Have you ever crossed that line with a friend? If so, how did it work out? This has never happened to me. I'm either sexually attracted to a guy or I'm not, it's never just snuck up on me within a friendship. Though I think the idea is romantic and hope that anyone this has happened to lives happily ever after.

2) When he was a kid, this week's singer, Alex Clare, listened to his dad's Stevie Wonder records. When you were in 7th/8th grades, what music were you into? Incredibly embarrassing bubblegum. I should be ashamed to post this, but I'll do it anyway. Enjoy the fringed shirt/tight black pant combo and swivel hip dance moves.





3) "Too Close" has been featured on the TV show, The Vampire Diaries. Do you enjoy shows/books/movies about the supernatural? Nope

4) Some of Alex Clare's tour dates were sponsored by Bud Light. Do you like beer? I drink less beer than I used to, but there are times when a light beer hits the spot.

5) Mr. Clare trained to be a chef, just in case the music thing didn't work out. Are you a good cook? No.


6) Crazy Sam is forever running out of mayo because she slathers it on her sandwiches. What is currently on your grocery list? Paper towels are a staple for me. And I think I'll pick up a bag of those cute little mandarin oranges from Trader Joe's.

7) Where are you most likely to find spare change -- between the sofa cushions, in your jeans as you toss them into the washer, or under the floor mat of your car? Sofa.

8) How did you spend your Friday night -- working late, hanging out with friends, or just enjoying a quiet night at home? I'm cocooning. I work in an "open office space" -- aka a clown car -- with four of us sharing one small space. When I get away from work, it's my goal to not speak to anyone.

9) Do you use Pinterest? Every once in a while. I'm liking Houzz more. It's all about interior design and I'm working on my bathroom.

March Challenge -- Day 28

Day 28 --Describe your glasses or sunglasses.

I'll go with sunglasses, because they're more fun. They're my weakness and I have too, too many pairs. I'm going to take a few to Goodwill tomorrow, as a matter of fact.

But not these. These are my current favorites. Polo by Ralph Lauren. Picked them up in the Tampa airport en route to Key West. The pair I'd been wearing when I got on the plane at O'Hare broke. What a happy accident that turned out to be! The squarish lenses are a nice contrast to my round face and the frames feel sturdy but not heavy. They go with everything.

Now I just hope I don't leave them on the el. 

Play the March Challenge along with Kwizgiver.

My bathroom lights have arrived!

Now all I need is the new sink, the new faucets, the new medicine chest, the new tiles around the tub, and the new paintjob for the walls.

OK, what's in front of me is daunting, but this is a start!

March Challenge -- Day 27

Day 27 --What's in your wallet?

 

From memory: Wallet, hairbrush, makeup bag, Franklin Planner, Petco and CVS coupons, thumb drive, two pairs of glasses (prescription and reading), contact lens solution, contact lens case, pens, Pepto Bismol tablets, a few emergency tablets in case I get a migraine.

Play the March Challenge along with Kwizgiver.

Change Is in the Air

"There's a change in the weather, there's a change in the sea. So from now on they'll be a change in me."

I'm tired of being fat and sloppy and broke. So I asked for a fitness assessment at LA Fitness, where I try to work out 3x/week ... but haven't been. And when I do work out, I obviously don't push myself hard enough.

The assessment was humbling. I'm in terrible shape and a health club is populated by the strong and the skinny. I get out of breath easily. I'm not flexible.

But this emphasized how much I need to do. Over the last 20 years I have gained ... gulp ... 80 lbs. Thirty of those pounds have been put on over the last 8 years. The trainer thought it was reasonable for me to expect to lose 35 over the next year. I'd be happy to lose 5!

OK, I said, let's get started. Two 45-min. sessions/week for ... I don't remember how long. My mind went to the happy place when I saw the dollar amount. NO WAY CAN I AFFORD THIS!

Which I told him. I was also feeling bad that they didn't let me know how high the fees were before I embarrassed myself waddling through the fitness assessment.

OK, how about one 30-min session/week (preceded by 30 mins. of cardio warm up on my own) for about $60/session? That seemed reasonable. Expensive enough to force me to show up, but affordable. I mean, this is my health we're talking about here. I'm worth $60/week.

But not $60/week for 28 weeks. That's $240/month for 6 months ... and it's a binding contract. On the one hand, my paid-for sessions never expire. On the other hand, if I lose my job between now and October, I'm still on the hook for $240/month.

After thinking about it overnight, I decided I simply can't do it. I'll go back to my local health club. I really didn't like the trainer I tried in 2009, but that was 5 years ago and she doesn't work there anymore. The thing is, that gym is in my neighborhood and LA Fitness is downtown, near work, and easier for me to get to.

But I'm tired of weighing more than Abraham Lincoln did, so I called and set up an appt. with a new, more affordable local trainer for Sunday afternoon.

Then guess what! LA Fitness called back. They just now began offering a new 12-week program!* $290/month for three months. I sign the paperwork next week and then we'll get started.

Next up: straightening out that bog of paperwork on my dining room table.

I can do this. I have to do this. Because I'm the only one who can!

*Yeah, I don't believe it, either. The $870 option was probably always available but they didn't want to offer it until they were sure I wouldn't take the $1440 plan.