Exactly three weeks away

For inviting such a small group of people to our wedding, I have been very blessed to be surrounded by very loving family and friends. Last weekend, my aunt and mom threw me (well, more like "us" since men folk were also included in the invitation!) a bridal shower which included a LOT of family and family friends. There was so much food that I could just feel my two months of consistent work outs just fly out the door! ;) They had the event catered with Filipino and Hawaiian food (they wanted to tie in the fact we are getting married in Hawaii) and a beautiful cake. I told Jon that the cake was prettier than our wedding cake because I am not a fan of fondit. He said, "Don't say that! Our will be pretty." But I know better - fondit makes for a more attractive cake. It's fine, though, because I like the way whipcream tastes more and that's what is going to serve as icing on our cake! Anyhow, I'd love to share pictures but The Man and I are doofs. He had charged the battery for our new-ish camera but when we got ready to leave, the camera didn't work! So we took my trusty Nikon, thinking the battery was charged. When we got there, it crapped out on us too. I'm hoping that my cousin's camera will have good photos. So I only have one photo - it's of me and Kim!

Kim, I hope you don't mind I posted this. I think it's a flattering picture of you even though I'm really shiny!
Well, I actually do have a couple more pictures but they are of people eating (The Man took them) and I don't think it would be nice to post them. So I cropped one to show some of the food :D

This is just a portion of the table and maybe half of the spread.
The Man strongly dislikes social functions because of his shyness but he was pretty excited about the food. I had asked him earlier that day if we could do some yoga when we got home and he looked at me very seriously and said, "Hon, there's no way. I'm going to eat good tonight." Fair enough.
The people who attended were incredibly generous. We couldn't believe how giving everyone was and it was not something we expected. Armi, thank you and Peter Panda for our awesome Fondue Pot. I'm sooo excited to take that out for the holidays!!! Kim, thank you and Ryan for the tricked out Crock Pot. That is going to come in handy when we get back from the honeymoon. Cousin Mon, not sure if read this but your gift was so cute and not nearly as naughty as you think! My mom would have been ok - promise :) We received so much more but I know the givers don't read this little blog! I will say that much of the money we received will go straight to the puppy sitter. I cannot tell you how exciting it is to be able to do that because I would become really sad every time I thought of the big fat check I was going to have to cut for our puppy sitter!
As I mentioned, I feel very fortunate to have so much love in my life. After the holidays, my sister was sweet enough to arrange a spa day when she was in town. She invited a couple of friends from the Bay Area to join us. It was a great day of pampering and relaxation. This weekend, the small group of friends that are joining us on our wedding day are throwing me an intimate get together. I know for a fact that it is not mom or mother-in-law friendly. But that's all I know. I'm only a tiny bit nervous! Thankfully, I know my friends enough to know that they don't enjoy strippers so at least that won't happen. (I am not at all a fan of a oiled up guy in a banana hammock trying to throw me up in the air and dry hump me. And yes, I've actually seen that happen to another woman.) I'm sure it will be a lot of drinking and dirty talk - my kind of party! Again, I feel really blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. And holy smokes, it's three weeks away!!!!!

PS: For all you travellers, any recommendations regarding luggage? We need to buy some really soon!

Jam packed weekend!

Says the girl who normally hangs around the house with The Man and their two pups.

On Saturday I went to get my dressed altered. Again. I think I must have been so focused on the fact that my dress needed to seriously be hemmed that I didn't look at anything else. Then a few days later, I wanted to see how the dress looked with the necklace I had made. Thank goodness I did that! I realized that my straps were too loose and my V-neckline was very low. How come I didn't notice this before?! Well, one fixes the other so that's why I brought it back to the tailor on Saturday. He is also going to fix the bustle (is that the spelling?) so that it doesn't show. After I dropped off my dress, my friend and I went to the St. Patrick's Day parade in San Francisco.
Earlier last year, I vowed to myself that I would partake, at least one time, in many of the festivities that make the Bay Area a fun place to live. Well, this one was a doozie. Oooo-weeee, talk about a lot of drinking! There was beer EVERYWHERE! And I think every Irish person in the Bay Area made a showing which is fantastic since I don't see too many where I live (Little Mexico. And yes, I'm allowed to call it this because my Mexican friends nicknamed it.) I'm all about diversity. So the beer was flowing which was great for the beer drinkers but not so much for me. My friend and I ordered a big Diet Coke at Burger King and then went to the nearest liquor store, bought some rum and dumped it in. What a little piece of heaven.
You can take the girl out of the ghetto but you can't take the ghetto out of the girl.
Although, in its concealed Burger King cup, at least we didn't throw caution (and good taste) into the wind and drink out of a paper bag. After we made our concoction, we made our way back to the Beer Garden and that was a ton more fun! Truthfully, I didn't see a lick of the parade. We were with a group that wanted to stay in the Beer Garden and so that's where we stayed. I think the Beer Garden was designed so they can have people legitimately drink right outside of City Hall and not get in trouble. Sweet! What was also great was that the St. Patrick's Day parade brought out everyone. Of course, there was little brown me who was obviously not Irish. But I also saw a Chinese Bagpipe player, an entire Hispanic family dressed in green and many other ethnicities tht wanted to help the Irish pay tribute to their day. Fun!
Thank goodness it was a daytime activity because on Sunday, today, I had a three hour yoga workshop. Starting at 6:00am. Back in the city.
Oh sweet baby jeezus, it was REALLY hard getting up at 4:00am. I was meeting back up with my friend on the Peninsula at 5:00am and then we were carpooling back up to San Francisco so we could be there by 5:30am. I know I've been waking up pretty GD early to workout but even 4:00am was a little extreme for me.
But back to the yoga workshop. OK, I do not claim to be a true blue Yogi. I really enjoy the classes I take at the gym but haven't been a regular at a yoga studio. And I most certainly haven't attended a three hour workshop. This class KICKED MY ASS. The room was set at a comfortable 70 degrees but quickly warmed with the 70+ people in the class. I was drenched in my own sweat. This was a little uncomfortable but I felt like I was getting a great workout. What was not at all great was that other people's sweat was everywhere. I am not exaggerating. We had to do inversions using the wall so people were walking all around the room to stake claim on a piece of the wall. There was enormous amounts of foot sweat on the floor. And some people didn't think it was rude to step on other people's mat. With their foot sweat. Anyway, because we were using the wall to support us for handstands, there was also sweat on the wall from feet as well as hands. Yes, there was literally sweat dripping from the walls.
Maybe you don't recall my hang up with bodily fluids but I am very uncomfortable being in contact with other people's sweat. I don't enjoy being splashed with it, rubbed against with it or touching it with any parts of my body. And while I was pretty distracted by how physically challenging the class was, I still noticed all the sweat around me. When I finally walked out of the class three hours later, my feet were dripping with my and many other people's sweat. I just can't get over something like that. I wish I could, I wish I didn't care, but that really grosses me out.
I am very happy to go back to the little cold studio in the gym that I belong to and do my yoga there. With sweat free walls and floors. Because even though I feel like I just ran a marathon and got one of the best workouts that I've had in a good long time, I just can't get past the sweat. It's a hang up of mine that I wish I could change but I can't. And it's really quite a shame since my mom's profession was microbiology and all she did was deal with bodily fluids. But I fear that I will always be this way which means limited or no yoga classea at yoga studios. And I am A-OK being an Amateur or Novice Yogi.

Pee in my cheerios. And a $48 torture contraption.

DAMMIT! The beautiful, gorgeous, and thick yoga mat that I bought is USELESS! I had inherited my old mat so I have never gone mat shopping before. I checked the reviews on Amazon and everyone loved it. So why, OH WHY, did my mat fail me when I took it to class? I'm not a huge perspirer but I was losing traction on my hands and feet. Seriously, my groin muscles should not hurt when I'm in warrior positions (but they did because I fought not to end up in the splits.) I even gave it one more chance at another class but I was slipping and sliding so much that I turned the mat over, hoping to get more traction. I didn't. OK, so I'm not crying but how annoying! Anyway ...
I bought my wedding undergarments today at Nordstrom. First I tried on Spanx. OH LAWDEEE!!! Those are some intense pieces of underoos! It was the first time I regretted choosing a sheath for a wedding gown rather than a puffier dress. I wouldn't have to deal with underwear lines with a nice tulle and petticoat number! Spanx definitely did the job, keeping everything in. But My main concern was lines and making sure my dress didn't go up my butt (something I didn't even think about until my Sister mentioned it. And, let's face it, it's pretty funky when you see a gal's butt practically munching on the dress. Nasty, I know but what a visual, hm?) Anyway, I was able to see the lines from the Spanx through my dress. Well, that defeated the whole purpose of getting bodyshape wear. (Under my dress, it looked like I was wearing biker shorts, Steve Urkel-style.) I should also mention that Spanx are HOT. I needed someone to fan me after getting into one of those contraptions. And then wearing it over a period of time? How was I going to survive in Hawaii?!
Then my friend unearthed the Body Wrap from another rack - she had mistakenly thought she had worn Spanx at her wedding but it was actually Body Wrap. Ooh! It was a much lighter fabric (imagine panty hose verses biker shorts.) But when she gave this undergarment to me, it looked like it could fit a toddler. No lie, it was about a foot and a half long. Then she told me that it will actually stretch from the bottom of my bra to a little below my knee. Serious?

Yes, oh yes, that is the Body Wrap. Pretty sexy, right? But I honestly can't knock it. It's light, it doesn't roll down (I hope!) and it keeps everything in order. It doesn't necessarily slim me down but it holds everything in place. Plus, since it ends below my knees, there are no lines on my dress. Of course the first thing I did when I got home was show The Man. I held it up and said that this is what I'm going to be wearing under my wedding gown and we would be makin' babies after he saw me in this.
He looked at it, a little confused at first (it looks like it could may one of our puppies) and said, "How much did it cost?" I pretended I didn't hear.
Whooohooo! One more thing checked off the To Do list!

Small but happy purchase ... and heart healthy soaps!

I am now hopped up on decongestion medication and allergy medication because I don't know what's what anymore. I save my special codeine cough syrup for the evenings. Anyhow, now that I'm somewhat back to normal, I'm trying to go back to my (as of lately) normal routine.
Well, I woke up at 1:30am today and couldn't go back to sleep. I hope to not wake up so early moving forward. But with the pups moving around and my nose being stuffed up and runny at the same time, I couldn't go back to sleep. I finally got out of bed around 3:00am and did some work and surfed the 'net. Thanks for the wee early morning chat, Jen! I even ate a little bit of oatmeal before I headed out to the gym.
I haven't been to the gym in seven days. When you're supposed to be going six days a week, that's been a loooooong time. I didn't even try to go on the treadmill. My trainer had to lighten up my weights because I was weaker. I felt like a wheezing old biddy. Who coughed a lot.
Anyway, it looks like I will be OK enough to go to yoga tomorrow. I love yoga!! Specifically, vinyasa or power yoga. OK, no one may care and I may lose anyone who was thinking about reading this entry. But I do! I do love yoga! It makes me feel strong and peaceful at the same time. I feel focused and energized. I wish I was a true yogi but I'm not. I'm not in it for the meditation. I like the challenges and using my own body for resistance. I love it. Well, except for Plow. If you don't do yoga, this is plow:


I hate this position. I feel like my stomach (muffin top) and boobs are suffocating me. My "cushion" even prevents me from getting my toes to the ground. The Man tried doing this position once when we did a yoga video together ... it made him feel a little tubby. I have to admit, it made me feel better that I wasn't the only one.
I had done yoga for about a year and then had to take a year off because of my previous employer - yet another reason why I hated that job. Anyway, I started my yoga practice in November and am back in love. But it is time to get a new mat. See, I had inherited this mat a little over two years ago:It's done right by me. Two years ago, I didn't know if I'd like yoga but I wanted to give it a try. I was still working at a gym and one of the guys I worked with told me there was an unclaimed new-ish looking mat and mat bag that had been there for a while. I think you all know how I feel about other people's sweat. Specifically, other people's sweat touching ME. But it did look like new. I had taken the mat and bag home and put them in the wash. Good as new! And the mat and bag have been great to me ever since.
Well, maybe it's just because, or maybe it's because I'm going into my 30s, but I realized recently that I need more cushion for my knees, elbows and wrists and my 1/8" inch mat just isn't doing it for me anymore. I mean, how am I supposed to comfortably do this?

This is one of my most favorite poses. Except I don't dare do it in white biker shorts and sports bra.

Or this?

I like this pose because it reminds me of when I did gymnastics as a kid. Plus it's easy for me.

I need some protection for my poor joints and limbs! So I perused through amazon.com (a favorite of our household now) to shop around for my new yoga partner and found this lovely mat:

So pretty! Just like the ocean with all the different shades of blue and aquamarine (is aquamarine a shade of blue?) And it's 1/4" thick. Double the thickness - hallelujah! I am hoping that my cough continues to subside and that my nose running is kept to a minimum so I can go back to yoga tomorrow morning. And use my lovely new mat! See? A small purchase but it made me very happy.
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A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SUBJECT BUT ON THE SAME DAY ...
Oh my gosh! So you know how I love my j-o-b? Not only do I really enjoy my work but I also think very highly of the company. I just received an email letting me know that one of our campaigns, Go Red for Women, was featured on General Hospital!
Soooo, long story short, I used to be addicted to soap operas. Seriously. I watched since I was a baby (I don't blame my mama, it's just how it was) up until I started grad school. 23 years of watching soap operas. How is this possible? Didn't I go to school?! My mama taped them. While I was doing my homework, I would watch One Life to Live, General Hospital and Days of our Lives. We would get done around 7pm. Every week day, from when I was in diapers all the way to senior year in high school. And then I would do my best to catch some if not all when I was in college. It was a struggle.
I even wrote a thesis on a qualitative study of soap opera audiences because I realized it affected the way I thought about relationships. No joke. My therapist and grad school professors helped me figure that out. Anyway, I used to be addicted. I stopped watching all together (the thesis and therapy really opened my eyes.) But I do have a fondness for "my stories." And I loved, loved, loved General Hospital! So imagine the GLEE I felt when I found out "we" were on GH!
AHA visits ABC’s General Hospital
The Feb. 27 storyline of ABC’s General Hospital was created with one goal in mind: inform women about their risk of heart disease. The episode features Go Red For Women messaging and includes appearances by AHA volunteer survivors Maria Kisska and Evan McCabe, as well as Molly McLellan, AHA’s corporate events director in Los Angeles.
In the episode, General Hospital character Epiphany Johnson, a heart attack survivor, takes part in a Go Red support group meeting and talks with other heart survivors, including Maria, Evan and Molly. Go Red signage can be seen in the background.
How cool is that?! I'm so proud of the company I work for and all that my colleagues and our volunteers do. Anyway, now you know! The importance of living heart healthy and my complicated views of soap operas! My thesis rocked, by the way. Do you doubt? Think the topic was too frivolous and trite? It won an award for Best Writing in my graduate studies the year I graduated :) BIG shout outs to my kick ass (non paid) editors, Kim and Darwin.

SICK

I am a weenie when I'm sick. Usually I just try to sleep for a couple of days and, for the most part, it goes away. Not this time.
I have been sick since Thursday night.
I slept through a beautiful weekend. I saw the sun through the drapes but was too congested and my throat was too sore for me to care.
And then it GOT WORSE on Monday. So I saw my doctor and she recommended I take it easy for a couple of days.
I feel like I'm behind at work. I had to reschedule four meetings to when I am less or not contagious.
I haven't worked out since Thursday. I cancelled my training session on Friday. Backed out of yoga on Sunday. Cancelled another session on Monday. Didn't go to yoga today. For a gal that has been committed to working out six days a week, I feel like a blob. A snotty, congested, bleary-eyed blob. Who finally has the right medication.
Bless the codeine.

Hellllooooooooo dress

Background: I was told in September that I would receive my wedding gown in mid-January. In mid-January I was told due to Chinese New Year that I would actually receive it mid-February. Not understanding the relevance, this only frustrated me because that is like telling me I won't receive it on time because of Groundhog Day. What does Chinese New Year have to do with me?! Evidently, it comes from China and all production comes to a screeching halt when CNY comes around. Some of you wondered why I didn't go apeshit on the boutique owner. While I was sure to tell her that I was upset about the delay, I didn't feel like I was in a position to let her have it. First, it truly wasn't her fault that it was delayed. Of course, since this apparently happens every year with this company she should take this important fact into account when telling a bride when her dress will arrive - that is her fault. But there was no way she could make it come any faster. I would basically be yelling at her to make me feel better. The other reason I did not go apeshit is because you may remember that my dress is quite inexpensive because it is a bridesmaid dress. I felt that if I were to have a nasty exchange with her that she would say, "You know what? Here is your money back. This certainly isn't worth my time." And then I would be up S-Creek. So, albeit a bit uncharacteristic of me, I waited somewhat patiently until the gown arrived.

I received an email Friday afternoon from Debra (the boutique owner) who said the dress is here. FINALLY! I told her I could come by around 12pm on Saturday. On Saturday morning, I woke up early like a good little bride-to-be and went to the gym to work out. Then I drove across the bridge to go to a Vinyasa yoga class. I skipped coffee with my yoga friend so I can go back over the bridge and straight home.
I asked The Man if he would come with me to pick it up. For some reason, I didn't feel like having a friend accompany me. Jon said sure so I told him to wait for me while I took a quick shower. It was raining hard outside and since I was going to try on the dress before I took it home, it was a perfect time to wear sweats. But I didn't. This is especially odd since, because of my job, I've been looking like a camp counselor lately. I put on my warmest wrap dress, stockings and I took the time to put on my make up - like The Man and I were going out for dinner! When I told Jon I was ready for us to leave, he noticed I was dressed up and asked me why. I told him that I wanted to look nice when I saw my dress. "You got dressed up to meet your wedding gown?" I did! It sounds so strange but it's true.
We went to the bridal boutique and were told to wait a few minutes. There was a bride with her friend choosing a bridesmaid dress. The Man, because he's such a good sport and wanted to be supportive, patiently waited and thumbed through wedding magazines with me. Once the two women looked like they're going to leave, I turned to Jon and told him that he couldn't see me try it on. Now I know I was very unconventional in having help me pick out the dress. And while he did see similar dresses on me he has not seen the wedding dress on me. He looked suprised and asked, "Well, do you want me to leave?" and I said, "Mmm, you can either look away when I try it on or wait in the car." He said he'd rather wait in the car, kissed me and said goodbye to Debra the boutique owner.
Debra and I talked a few moments about the bride that was before me (the gal had come to Debra the week before and let her know she was getting married in two weeks! She actually found a dress that fit her in Debra's samples and bought it off the rack right then and there. Can you believe that? Two weeks!!) After we chatted about that, she asked, "So do you want to see your dress?" OF COURSE! She handed me a garment bag and told me to try it on. I went into the bathroom, hung the hanger on the hook and slowly unzipped the dress.
Hellllooooooooo dress.
This simple gown, this dress that was designed for a bridesmaid but the dress I chose as my wedding gown is the dress I will be wearing when both my parents walk me down the aisle. This is the dress I'll be wearing when I exchange my vows with The Man. This is the dress I will be wearing when I tell The Man why I love him so much and how much he truly means to me. This is the dress I will be wearing when I change my name for the man that I love and become Mrs. Ramirez. This is the dress I'll be wearing when we are pronounced husband and wife in front of our families and loved ones. This is the dress that I will be wearing in the wedding photos that we will eventually show our children and grandchildren.
Do you see why it was so important that I looked nice when I first met this dress?
I have hardly gotten overly emotional about this wedding (by that I mean mushy, not the fury or frustration I have felt regarding RSVPs:) I think the only thing that makes me tear up is thinking about the declarations of love we will write and say to each other. I wasn't at all emotional when I chose this dress as I wanted to get the process done as quickly as possible! (I only went to one bridal boutique.) I didn't cry or get watery eyes when I tried on my gown but, somehow, this dress became a significant symbol to me. I took it off the hanger and carefully put it on. There was no way I would get make up on this! I asked Debra to finish zipping the back of my dress.
It fit perfectly.
This was suprisingly since this dress wasn't tailor-made for me. But other than needing it hemmed considerably, everything fit perfectly. I told her I wanted to lose weight before the wedding and she told me that I could lose a few pounds but not to lose anymore because the fit is really good (I am still going to try to lose weight - I don't mind at all if I have to take it in on the sides!) I looked at myself in different angles of the mirror and was so happy, so relieved, so at content ... because I finally had my wedding dress.
Debra helped me get out of it and I put it back in the hanger (again, carefully!) and back into the garment bag. After all this time, I finally had my dress. And although it was nearly two months late, it all turned out OK. I'm sure she's used to it but I gave Debra a BIG HUG before I left and thanked her for all her help. She apologized again for causing any anxiety or distress. I walked down the stairs and down the driveway to Jon. He was so sweet - he was so cautious when he arranged the garment bag so it could hang on the hook in the car and drape along the passenger seats. He knew how important this article of clothing was to me.
As soon as we got home, I went into a different room away from The Man and I took out my wedding sandals and necklace to see how it looked with the gown. They all looked very nice together. It's now tucked in my closet, waiting to hemmed and then for the big day in one month and 23 days.

What to write about ...

I have a blog because it's like an email blast to my good friends but even better because we can interact. But sometimes I struggle about what I should write about. Especially when it seems trivial.
Of course, that hardly ever stops me.
I thought about writing how I don't understand why I sabotaged myself. I had heff-ed out this week and completely disregarded my calorie intake. But I decided not to do that and just quietly got back on course. I can beat myself up publicly another time. Then I thought about writing how work is going but it's always kind of dangerous to do that. I mean, it's no problem being vague but I'd rather give examples and details. Oh well. Work is actually quite positive, though. I'm still very happy and am #1 in my team this week! (I have one of the lowest generating areas, though, so this is not something that will be a regular occurrence. I'm just going to enjoy the short-lived feeling of accomplishment :)
Then there's all that wedding stuff. Do I want to write about my dress? Not really. But I think I will finally get to see the blessed thing really soon. Then there's the ceremony. Every day I think about what I'm going to say to him at our wedding. We aren't writing our own vows - we're going to have the standard vows. But we are exchanging what our officiant calls "declarations of love." I don't mean to but every day, multiple times a day, I think about what I want to tell him. And then I start tearing up. Oh NOOOOO ... I'm going to be one of those people who can't keep it together at her own wedding! I hope not. So I am also thinking of light-hearted things I can tell him that will make him laugh. Plus I'm having my make up professionally done, complete with lashes, and I can't be looking crazy!!!
I think I feel like I have nothing to write or talk about because I'm so tired. Waking up at 4:45am is starting to wear on me. I hope I get used to it soon because I really start to feel it by Thursday night. But other than being very tired, I am still happy and loving life. I'm just EXHAUSTED!

Courtesy of the Sister

Now, here is what you are supposed to do ... altered for the blog world ... copy and paste the entry below, delete my answers and put in yours. Then tag a few people you think will put it on their blog. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little-known facts about those you know.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes. It was the late 70s and Ms. Minelli was in her heyday. According to my father, there was also an Olympian around that time with my name but I have yet to prove that correct. The other part is my name is after my mama. Her name is Aurora who is the goddess of Dawn. And there you have it.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I think I was crying while I was throwing up so two nights ago.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, when it's not rushed. When I'm taking notes, it's fugly.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Honey roasted turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No. Just two furry puppies that THINK they are kids. And sometimes I think they are too.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? HA! Well, we would either be best friends or civil acquaintances who barely stand each other.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Oh no. Never.
8 DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Never say never but it's not on my list of top ten things to do.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Honey nut Chex and Honey nut Cheerios combined!
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Rarely but I try to because it messed up the sneakers when you don't.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I want to write yes but the over-analytical side of me replies, "Define strong." So I'll just tell her to shut up and write YES.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Cookies n cream
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Skin
15. RED OR PINK? Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Muffin top. (Sounds cute, doesn't it? It's NOT.)
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST Sister!
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO DO THIS? Sure
19. WHAT COLOR Skirt and SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Pleeeease. I'm wearing gray sweats.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Akmok crackers, Better 'n Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Butter (sounds gross but it's all from Trader Joe's so you know it's not that bad.)
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The humming of the computer and heater.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Easy. Periwinkle. OK, maybe not so easy - Aquamarine. What do you think?
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Jon's aftershave and cologne
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My mama
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I better! She's one of my best friends (but even better because we're family so we can't lose touch. Phewww!)
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Olympic gymnastics. My palms get all sweaty, especially when the announcer repeats that the balance beam is barely wider than a remote control. Oh jeebus, I love watching gymnastics!
27. HAIR COLOR? Dark brown with (purchased) highlights.
28. EYE COLOR? Brown
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Lumpia (I think it's because I haven't had it in a while.)
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The Bourne movies on DVD. I love Bourne Identity and Bourne Ultimatum. I could do without Supremacy.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Gray sweatshirt (I may be dressed like a slob right now but I have the decency to match.)
34 SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter wins by a small edge - Christmas!!
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs. Both the action and the Hershey product.
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Milk chocolate
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Veronica! :)
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Sister, as she sent it already
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Knitting directions. And I'm stumped on one of the directions. Sister?!
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? That cool gel thing you can rest your wrist on.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV. LAST NIGHT? Brothers and Sisters (slim pickings, people. I don't have cable.)
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Ocean waves. If I can be more broad, beach sounds - a few seagulls, a couple kids playing in the water (far from me), and the water lapping onto the sand.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Oh goodness, I'm sorry. I don't know enough about either to make an informed decision.
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? I'm geographically challenged. What's farther, Europe or the Philippines?
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Yes. My thumbs are double joined.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Hayward
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Any of them :)

I forgot what it was like ...

I woke up around 2am with a feeling of over-fullness in my stomach. I resituated myself in bed, hoping that the feeling would go away. Poor Piko, I think I accidentally kicked her off the bed. When the feeling didn't go away, I thought I may need to go to the bathroom. But nothing happened. Then I realized I needed to throw up.
Food poisoning is a BUGGER.
I had a severe bout of food poisoning in 1999. I remember it distinctly because it was at my first internship. I asked if I could go home but couldn't make it home (I worked over the bridge and on the Peninsula.) My boyfriend at the time picked me up and took me to the hospital, hoping to get me some medication. I ended up being admitted and having to stay there for five days.
Last night wasn't so bad but I kept throwing up. I ended up waking up The Man with all the noise I was making and he asked me if he could help, bless his heart. But what I needed most was to get that garlic halibut out of my body.
Yes, throwing up garlic halibut is as disgusting, if not more, as it sounds. I think I threw up more because it was so foul coming up.
Though the food poisoning this time wasn't nearly as bad as my other experience, it was not a fun time. Then we woke up this morning to a couple of piles of throw-up around the house. No, they weren't mine. Evidently, Piko had eaten the stuffing of one of their chew toys. Since 6:00am today, we have steam cleaned and wiped up throw up around the house and have constantly been changing the pee pads as the chew toy stuffing must also cause diarrhea. The Man said he would rather be at work because at least he gets paid.
I'm no longer vomiting but poor Piko looks like she's in hell.

Valentine's Day - take it or leave it

I'll leave it.
I don't hate Valentine's Day. And I certainly don't want to rain on anyone's parade if he or she happens to love the holiday. But I'm not a fan.
No, I'm not bitter. The Man has been wonderful about sending flowers and chocolates (although we passed on this tradition this year as we are going to be spending a GRIP of money in two months.) I've had someone to spend the date with for five years. Before that, I was in a relationship for four years. So, for most of my adult life, I've had a Valentine. It just means something totally different from when I was a little kid.
I visit a lot of schools for my job. The most recent visits reminded me of a time when Valentine's Day was fun. Everyone made cards for everyone in the class so a kid comes home with 30 Valentine's Day cards and a bunch of candy. Now that's a good time. I suppose it's around high school when it became neccessary to have a significant other to be able to truly celebrate Valentine's Day. That's when I start having issues about this little but big holiday.
It seems like it's a day that unintentionally (at least, I HOPE it's unintentional) makes women feel bad if they don't have man. We then have to seek refuge among other groups of women that are in the same boat so we don't feel inadequate. It's just not right. I hate seeing my friends, who are wonderful and amazing women, get this feeling of dread when this day rolls around. In all honesty, when Valentine's Day rolls around, I almost feel more relieved than romantic. Kind of like, "Phewww, thank goodness I have someone." And maybe that's just me who thinks that but it's what makes me NOT a fan of the holiday. I would even argue that it's not truly a holiday because I didn't even get the day off from work.
I don't care about the commercialism. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas because it's a time when I want to surround myself with the ones that I love - family and good friends. And sure, the holidays encourage you to be with someone, anyone ... but it doesn't matter if you're single or taken, it's good times for all! So no thank you when it comes to Valentine's Day. While I love flowers and chocolates, I would much rather celebrate our anniversary and do something special then. So a big BAH-HUMBUG from me to Valentine's Day.
PS: I started writing this on February 14th but I think the new routine of waking up HELLA early in the morning has gotten to me. I am so pooped at night!

Boring post but a necessary question

How do you go about changing your name?
I know some of you have done this and I'm too lazy (I'd like to say busy but I'm putting in the time to write this post, right?) to look up the procedure of how one changes one's name.
I'd like to get the ball rolling since I think it's a lengthy process, right? I thought it was something I could do in one day but Kim had made mention of waiting for something to clear in order to finish. Was it SS# then driver's license? I have no idea.
Anyway, if you could let me know, that would be great. Especially if I can get started now. I will be sad if I need to get a wedding license first.
PS: I really like my trainer! She is 2/3 my size (seriously, I did the math and I really think she is 2/3 my weight) and a sprite lookin' thing and really motivating me! I'm also calorie counting which is easy sometimes, difficult when eating home cooked meals. I have 1,900 calories and, man, do I blast through them!

Wedding, weight and whatever else ...

She's writing about weight AND her wedding again?! Jeezus!
Hey, if you're thinking that, I don't blame you. I would think that too. But here's the thing. Whatever I'm doing right now, it is NOT working because I'm not seeing results. Power yoga 2x a week, gym 2x a week, Jenny Craig ... it's not working. I keep going back to my I-Hate-My-(Old)-Job weight. I thought that if I went from doing practically nothing to doing the things I listed, I would go back to my standard weight. I am not secure enough to reveal the number but I will tell you it's a 13 lbs difference. And I'm not talking about going back to my skinniest. I think that isn't reasonable just now (FYI: that's a 21 lbs difference) but I think that the weight I am now, the most I've ever weighed to date, is now my standard weight - my plateau, if you will. I mean, I've changed my eating habits and have taken the initiative to work out more has not made a difference.
As I was explaining to my cousin, I want to be at my best for the wedding. Not the skinniest I've ever been but what I'm accustomed to being. Or what I was a year and a half ago. I'm uncomfortable where I am now. I realize that I was "letting myself go" and allowing myself to get away with it because (and this is horrible) I have a man and am in a good relationship. I'm not on the dating scene and I don't need to impress anyone. Part of the reason The Man is wonderful is he never makes me feel bad. In fact, he swears he cannot tell the difference between me now and me two years ago. And I figured, well, if he's happy with me, I'M happy with me. But I'm not. I miss fitting into my clothes. I miss feeling decent in a bathing suit. I miss feeling fit.
So I got a personal trainer. This was a difficult decision because I've always thought that it was a frivolous expense. I mean, I can push myself to work out. Why should I pay a person or a gym to push me? But I know I'm just not motivated enough to do more than what I'm currently doing. So I went to my gym and signed up for a trainer to train with from now until a couple weeks after the wedding. I'm also calorie counting (something I refused to do in the past because it's a pain in the ass!) because I am obviously eating more calories than I am burning. The wedding was a good wake up call. But what helped me make this decision was that I am doing it for me. Not because Jon wants me to look like I did when I met him (which, by all means, wasn’t spectacular) but I felt better about myself. What’s hard to swallow – almost harder than the fact that I’m not losing this weight on my own – is the expense. But check it out. My mom gave me a document last week, saying that I probably didn’t know it was missing but I may want it. It was a check from my old job.
WHAT?!
OK, my head must have been up my ass when I received it because I remember receiving it. I got this check two months after I left my old job. I remember that I was surprised to receive a check two months later so I had called an old coworker who quit the same time as me. She explained to me that it was the last bonus I earned before I left. All this time, I thought I had deposited it but I hadn’t. I left it at my parents’ house and forgot about it. No, I was (and am still) not in the position where I can just forget about money. But I was already at another job so I had a steady paycheck coming in. And, like I said, my head must have been up my ass. Anyway, nearly a year later, I deposited the check (yes, it’s still good!) And the hard earned money that I plum forgot about is now paying for personal trainer.
As for the wedding, there is still no news about the dress but I am in communication with the boutique. It’s coming from China to New York and she is calling the New York dress manufacturer every week to find out the date it’s coming in. I don’t understand this kooky bridal dress industry but I’m hoping that it will be in soon. I’m worried but I keep telling myself that it’s almost prom season so if worse comes to worse, Mama is looking for a white prom dress. (No, it doesn’t make me feel a ton better but I’m trying to not freak out.) My ceremony location emailed me to remind me that my checklist is due and that we need to schedule a 60-90 minute phone conference this month to discuss the details. I was a very surprised at first (I told The Man this and I think that’s a huge reason why I got the flowers) because I thought we would be handling everything through email and, if need be, phone calls. But I realize that this is excellent customer service and I am more than happy to comply with a phone conference. That is scheduled at the end of this month.
Last thing – voting. I am proud to say that I voted yesterday. I don’t know much about politics but I have to say that these are exciting times. I honestly thought I would be much older before I would see a minority and a woman vie for a party nomination. It’s truly incredible. If only one of them was gay, then it would be a liberal's dream come true :) Seriously! (And before anyone tells me that Hillary is quite conservative, I already know that. I'm just stating that it's fantastic that we have a woman and a black man being taken under consideration for the Democratic nomination.) I think that this is the most I’ve ever been excited about an election. Well, there have been post-elections that have evoked strong emotions from me - when Bush was re-elected and when Schwarzenegger was elected as governor. Anyway, I voted. I feel like I’m entitled to complaining if I want because I exercised my right to vote. Complaining to random people and not voting doesn’t mean squat because how can you make a difference if you don’t vote?
That’s all the updates for now.

All about THE MAN

I borrowed this survey from of a friend of Pookie's.

Note: I told my fiance that I was going to be writing a blog entry all about him and that I wanted him to pick a picture of himself. Pooks, I think he picked this one especially for you because he knows you love his "confidence." I rolled my eyes this time, laughed and uploaded it!

WHAT IS HIS NAME? Jon
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED? Negative 10 weeks
HOW LONG DID YOU DATE? When we get married, we will have just celebrated our 6th year anniversary.
HOW OLD IS HE? 30
WHO EATS MORE SWEETS? Definitely me. He says he didn't eat nearly as much chocolate before he met me. Oops!
WHO SAID I LOVE YOU FIRST? He would debate with me about this one. He was the first person to express his feelings, saying he was "falling for me." The thing is, he told me when we were at a bar and I thought he was yanking my chain. I had a lot of baggage back then and I was also a little tipsy so I thought he was just drunk, too. (I keep telling him the importance of timing!) My response was, "What?! Are you freakin' kidding me? Why would you say that?!" Then I told him I had to pee. True story. He later told me he had heard, "What the F$%&?! Are you out of your GD mind? Why the hell would you say that?!" He tends to hear things differently than what actually comes out of my mouth.
I was the first one to actually drop the L-Bomb, though. You know, come to think about it, it was also after a night of drinking with friends. We sure partied a lot when we were younger. We were chatting into the wee hours of the morning because my friend let us crash at her house and I said something like, "Hey. I just want you to know that I love you." He replied, "Oh! I love you too. Hmm, I was going to do something more romantic and tell you that but I guess I should probably ask you now if you want to be my girlfriend."
WHO CAN SING BETTER? Lawdy, that's a hard one because we're both pretty awful. I suppose, me. But not by much.
WHO IS SMARTER? I have a master's degree. But, if he really tried, I bet he could build me a house. And he makes practically double what I make in salary. So I'm going to have to go with him!!!
WHO DOES THE LAUNDRY? Our Mamas. No, seriously.
WHO PAYS THE BILLS? I'm hoping it will be him but it will probably be me.
WHO SLEEPS ON THE RIGHT SIDE? Me!
WHO MOWS THE LAWN? Lawn, my ass. We have rocks.
WHO COOKS DINNER? Usually, neither of us. But I do cook a little more than he does. His BBQ is pretty awesome, though.
WHO DRIVES? He will say he does but I think it's equal. Unfortunately, we both drive nearly a 100 miles a day for work!
WHO KISSED WHO FIRST? He tried to kiss me a few times after our dinner dates. But he would lean in so slowly (in my opinion!) that I would know it was coming and I would freak out and duck. He would end up getting a mouthful of hair. Since I'm normally an outgoing person, he did not understand my mixed signals. Unfortunately, I'm actually really shy when it comes to dating. We finally had our first kiss in Lake Tahoe in front of a slot machine. Ironic since we don't gamble. You're jealous of how romantic our first kiss was, aren't you?
WHO ASKED WHO OUT FIRST? Well, I asked him to go out first but it was a group outing. I invited him to a friend's birthday party. So thanks, Cyn! That was the first time he and I met up without the people who introduced us. But I can't recall our first true date without chaperones :)
WHO HAS MORE SIBLINGS? He does. He has two brothers and one sister. I have one of each.
WHO WEARS THE PANTS? Hmm, he would say it's equal but I'm going to say he does. But I rock some pretty fierce capris!! :D
--------------------------------------------------------
Since this post is about The Man, I have to give him LOTS OF LOVE today. I received a beautiful spring bouquet from the delivery man. The card was a thank you note from Jon. He wrote that he appreciated all the time I have put into planning the wedding. He felt it was a big weight off his shoulders not to have to think or worry about it. He said that not only have I taken care of the wedding plans but that I take care of him, too. Awwwwww ... he's a hottie, inside and out!

Bits of naughty ... but not my naughty bits

I went with some friends to a bar/club in San Francisco. As I grow older, these "Night on the Town" plans become less and less so I enjoy them when they do come around. There's truly nothing like partying in the city, right? While the weather was bad, the parking angels were kind to us and we found parking relatively close to our destination, walked by a few strip clubs (yes, we were in North Beach) and found the Dragon Bar in time to not pay cover. Suh-weet.
Since we were a tad early, there was plenty of room to saddle up to the bar and order drinks. I've said this before and I'll say it again - You can try and try but you cannot take the poor out of the girl. It's very easy for me to refuse an offer to buy me a drink. It is damn near impossible for me to not drink a beverage when it's been paid for and put in front of me. As if people around the world are starving because there is not enough alcohol for them to consume. I know, it's twisted and even at that moment I know it's wrong but I feel like it's a social faux pas to not take a drink that has been paid for already. As if I was being so rude to throw away someone's hard earned money. My point? I paid for the first round and bought myself a rum & diet coke. I then received two more rum & diet cokes, a glass of champagne, a lemon drop and a random fruity shot (I never did find out the contents.)
I know who paid for MOST of them. It's quite dangerous when you drink with people who are generous with their money. While it's probably pointing out the obvious, I was tossed off my rocker. Luckily, I had paced myself so I was just sustaining a very nice buzz. Until that last anonymous shot.
Damn that shot.
Once I downed it, I knew I had just waged a war inside my body. I tried drinking lots of water but you know when you know and I knew. I was done for.
I was able to maintain while we were at the bar and even when we got into the car. The kiss of death for me, however, was the nap. I tried and tried to fight it off on the car ride back to my friend's house but I lost and closed my eyes.
Seriously, it took that five minutes for my stomach to go all kujo on my ass.
I woke up and found myself gagging. "Um, do you mind pulling over?"
I have been friends with this gal for about five years and we've had our fair share of drinks. But I've never asked her to pull over. She knew this wasn't good. She took the very next exit and as soon as she stopped I opened the passenger door.
Nothing. The fresh air seemed to do the trick and the gagging went away.
The two gals I was with felt like having some breakfast so we rolled into an IHOP at 1:30am. We sat down, ordered our food and I drank a tall glass of water. But that didn't seem to work. I calmly said, "I'll be right back. I have to vomit in the bathroom." One of them asked if I was sure and I said that all the liquid was just not settling well. So off I went to do the deed and then I washed up and went back outside and was happy to hear that I didn't look like I had done what I did. I'd like to think I'm a tidy person, even in gross times such as these. I felt a lot better by the time we left. I picked up my car and drove 15 miles back to my home.
When I parked in my driveway, the demons in my stomach stirred again. I had wanted to go to a chinese restaurant and order wonton noodle soup but my nonAsian friends felt that hashbrowns, toast, eggs and bacon were a much better remedy. I was sure I would wake The Man up because the bathroom is right across from the bedroom. Soooooooo ...
I made the decision to vomit in the driveway, hiding behind my car and the garage. At the time, it seemed like the best idea. I was hidden, the rain would wash it away and I didn't have to worry about waking up Jon. Once I was done, I walked inside, stripped off the clothes, washed my face, brushed my teeth and passed out in bed. Please believe that this was not a proud moment for me. While I was ecstatic that I did not wake up with a hangover, how embarassing is it to have to hose off your driveway while the love of your life is waiting in the garage, rolling his eyes, because I didn't want him to see that the rain didn't do its' job? In addition, I was so useless the next day, all I wanted to do was sleep because I was exhausted. The Man said that my party girl days are over. 21 I am not. I think he's right. While I love to dance the night away, I seem to get in a lot less trouble when drinking in the safety of a loved one's home. And I seem to have a lot more control over my alcohol intake.
Yes people, I am welcoming my 30th birthday with open arms.

Even smaller random bits

Finally, some progress! Down 1.6 lbs! Am I the only one that winces when she gets on the scale and even before the number pops up? Just wondering.
I've been going to the gym more often (well, more often than never which is progress.) I still feel a little out of place in the weights area but I'm over the whole meat market atmosphere. I love that most of the women at my 24 Hour Fitness wear big ol' shirts and sweats. Before, there were a lot of sportsbra-only wearin' chicks. I'm not a hater - it's just intimidating! Like I said, if I weighed my dream weight, I would walk around buck NEKKID.
OK, I would wear heels.
I forgot to mention in a survey that my most favorite job ever was my job at Bare Escentuals. I briefly worked at the Embaradero location (right in the Financial district of SF) and it was glorious! It wasn't in a mall so we opened at 10:00am and closed by 6:00pm each night. The shop was more boutique-y than other stores so it was super easy to clean and we would get out, at the latest, 7:00pm. Oh, I also got 50% OFF all the make up. I know, such a random fact about me but I can't believe I forgot to mention this as one of my jobs. My gosh, I would still be working there if it paid the bills.
I'm going drinking tomorrow night in the City. Oooh-doggee. Going out and partying in San Francisco is very rare for me so when it does happen, I get a little tingly. I'm hoping for a nice buzz and no heaving on the sidewalk. Because that would be very 21 of me. I remember talking to someone and saying how it was acceptable and EXPECTED of friends to take turns puking and/or taking care of one another. I admit that I would now glare at my friends and fight the urge to kick them. I hate cleaning/smelling/seeing puke. Anyway, I'm going out a girlfiend for her birthday so The Man is staying at home with the pups (he really really did not want to go.)
I hope you all have a lovely weekend!
PS: I had to add this ... I was reading some entries that I wrote last year around this same time. I was so unhappy because of work. The rest of my life was dandy but I was so miserable at my old job. I am very thankful for my new career (it still feels new!), my husband-to-be, wonderful family and friends. Oh, and pups, of course! I feel at peace and am very thankful for that.

Complete thoughts? Pshhhhhht!

Well, random complete thoughts - yes. Thought-out paragraphs - a big fat NO.
I loved visiting Sister, WGD and The Boy. I'm sure that having a guest is not the most relaxing thing for them but I was plenty relaxed. We knit, we played, we worked out ... we even went out for some drinks! I love where they live and completely understand why travel magazines tote it as a resort community (but I do love the granola and boondocks of it all, too!!!)
I'm frustrated. I've been working out a lot more and keeping a food diary and haven't lost a pound. And nope, my clothes are looser. To make matters worse, The Man and I measure our waists and we both were s-h-o-c-k-e-d. Talk about facing up after being in denial - "Oh, these jeans are a tad snug but I'm sure my waist has changed only a centimeter." Riiiiight.
Despite being frustrated, I am still a happy person. I am very excited to be getting married. I am almost as excited to be on vacation for three weeks! I haven't taken that long of a vacation while working since ... never! I've either been in between jobs or in school. I feel a tad bit naughty.
Been struggling with the whole name change thing but think I've finally made a decision. Professionally, I'd like to stick with my maiden name. I haven't asked them, though, if I will be forced to change it since I'll be changing it on my SS# and driver's license. But I'd like to be able to keep it my maiden name at work. Everywhere else, I will be Mrs. Ramirez. I'm hoping that being sorted alphabetically by last name is a practice that has been left at school. Random, right? To go from A to R may be a bit jarring, though. I liked getting whatever it was over with first!
The Man just bought his barong for our wedding. (Why he was measuring his waist and had inspired me to measure mine - I'm such a dumb ass.) A friend of mine didn't want her husband to wear one because she thought it looks like a doily. After she pointed that out, I kind of agree. But I still think it's beautiful because it's part of our culture. Plus he will be so much more comfortable than wearing a suit!
I still love my job. It's challenging but I am very happy. I grit my teeth when I say, "Money isn't everything" but I really do believe it.
I'm sad about Heath Ledger. I wasn't his number one fan but I admired his work. He was in one of my favorite movies, 10 Things I Hate About You. Ironically, I think it was his least favorite. Anyway, I suppose it's just yet another example that money isn't everything. But it's not an example that I'm happy to display as proof. He was a dad - poor kid.
I'm getting married in eleven weeks. Unbelievable. I know it's life changing yet there won't be much that will be different in my day-to-day routine. Yet I'm so excited and know that it means so much.

Didn't I just do this?? Oh well, thank Cyn!

things you may or may not know about me... The directions are at the end.

4 jobs I had in my life:
1. High Tech PR intern - back in '99 and it paid $10. I thought I had hit the jackpot!!!
2. Sarah & Vinnie Morning Show intern - woke up at 4:30am for that one. Not paid.
3. KGO-TV production assistant - woke up at 1:45am for that one! I lasted three months. Those were three looooooooooong months. Thankfully, I got a teeny promotion. First job out of college and I got paid $12.75 with no benefits.
4. SF State Dorm Data Entry Clerk - I'm sure it was NOT the title of the job but that's what I did. Double the data entry work because they were on two different systems. I lasted one month and then told them some dumb excuse of why I had to quit. I thought I was going to snap and stab myself in the eye.

4 movies I would watch over and over:
1. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
2. 50 First Dates
3. Little Women
4. The Wedding Singer

4 places I have lived:
1. Parents' house
2. Mary Ward Hall at SFSU
3. Mold infested apartments at SFSU (but I got to room with Kim so it wasn't all bad!:)
4. Treasure Island

4 TV shows that I watch:
1. Cashmere Mafia (it ain't no Sex & the City)
2. Grey's Anatomy - I'm hoping that there's still hope
3. The Office - please pay the writers so I can watch my show!!!!
4. Desperate Housewives - I'm not as big of a fan as I used to be but it's getting good again.

4 places I have been:
1. Hawaii - Oahu & Maui
2. Philippines - Makati, Boracay, Bicol
3. Germany
4. Michigan - I thought I would just throw that in there ;)
**HELL (aka my workplace....AHAH) - so funny, Cyn! That was my old workplace ;)**

4 people who email me (regularly):
1. La Re Doute
2. Amazon
3. Work
4. Yelp

4 of my favorite foods:
1. My dad's cooking - I agree, Cyn! My dad's cooking too!
2. milk chocolate just-about-anything
3. Home cooked Filipino food
4. Sushi

4 places I would rather be right now:
1. In bed - not because I'm sick but because it's a Saturday morning!
2. Hawaii
3. Back at my Sister's
4. almost at any beach on a sunny day

4 Things I am looking forward to this (2008)year:
1. Getting married to the Man
2. Being with him and my family in Hawaii
3. Not working for three weeks!
4. Lose weight in 08 I like that one, Cyn, so I'm keeping it for myself

4 friends I think will respond:
I have no idea!

I suppose there is an upside

I'm trying not to get nervous. Because there really isn't anything I can do, right? I was supposed to get my wedding dress by now but the boutique said that it will be another month. I'm just confused because the dress is so simple and it's not being tailor made to fit me. So why is it taking so long?
I guess the upside is that I get another month to work out and eat right before trying on the dress for alterations. But the control-freak in me wants the dress already in my hot little hands. The paranoid side of me is simply worried that mid-February will come around and the dress will still not be ready. Then I will get really nervous because I definitely need to get the dang thing altered.
I'm not freaking out at this very moment. Because I know that there is still plenty of time. But I am such a deadline person that when someone tells me to expect something by a certain time, I want it by the deadline. Like RIGHT NOW! Ahh well.

Operation: Damn Good in the Wedding Dress

I went to the gym today!
Can I get an Amen?!
I'm sure I don't have to describe how hard it is to psych myself in the morning to go to the gym. First of all, The Man has rubbed off on me. I hated, HATED, how he would press the snooze button every freakin' morning. Now I do that!!! Not only that, I'm actually WORSE than him, pressing the snooze button far more times than him now. (Pay back's a biatch, though, right? Heehee!) Anyway, it's very hard to get myself out of bed, into gym clothes and out the door. But I'm determined now. Because I want to look Damn Good in my wedding dress.
What's funny is being in other friends' weddings never inspired me to work out. I mean, I wanted to but than I would just think, "Well, it's all about the bride, right? No one will be looking at me." So back to sleep I would go. Not even my trips to Hawaii really inspired me to tone and shed a few pounds. I have to say that my own wedding day is a pretty strong motivation for me. Seriously, the last time I was this motivated was senior prom. And that was because my date was 5'6" and weighed only TEN POUNDS more than me. I was determined not to look like a bowling ball next to his pin-sized figure. (Looking back, I should have just gotten another prom date but I was 17 years old and a little dim at the time. No, I'm not shallow enough to just dump the date because of his thin figure, the boy had some baggage. But that is an entirely different post that probably doesn't need to be written.)
I don't want anyone to think that I'm working out for two hours and being all gung-ho. I'm there for a little under an hour, running for 25 minutes and then doing sit ups and weights for the remainder of the time. I know that's not exactly boot camp but I know it's better than what I was doing before. Which was nothing. I'm also not resorting to celery sticks and water. But I am writing down what I eat so I'm more aware of my eating habits. I'm also doing Power Yoga again!!!! I missed it so much and have been doing it for a little over two months.
So I say ... "Bring it on, twelve weeks!" I am determined to look good on our wedding day. Plus, like I wrote before, we're going to be in Hawaii so I would like to look my best. Of course, I'm hoping that all these good habits I'm training myself to do will carry over when I get back from our wedding so it doesn't all go to hell in a hand basket (whatever that means.)
Wish me luck!!!

Needing a little motivation and inspiration ...

... and having three months until my wedding is just the gentle push kick in the ass I need.
Holy smokes, that's 12 weeks. TWELVE WEEKS.
I haven't talked about Jenny Craig in a while because, while I'm still in the program, I've been terrible about sticking to it during the holidays. I also got sick which was the perfect excuse to stop working out.
Well, sweet baby Jeezus (thanks for putting that into my vocabulary, Pookie!) it's time to get SERIOUS! Mama Lu needs to get toned and slim for the Big Day. Because I was the brilliant mastermind who convinced her significant other that it would be FAB-YOO-LEZZ to get married in Hawaii. Well, that means running around half nekkid (well, tanks and shorts or a bathing suit is being half or more nekkid.)
So I'm pushing myself to be better at working out and eating less crap. Remember how I wrote about bacon? NO BACON!
I better look A-M-A-Z-I-N-G in my wedding pictures if I'm giving up bacon. You may be wondering, "What about Jon? Don't you care what JON looks like in the photographs?!" Look. The Man is gorgeous. I think he can either work out or do nothing and he will still look super duper handsome in our pictures. I also better look amazing because I'm going to the gym. I no likee the gym! But I'm going. Because it's good for me. OK, let's be real. Because I'm getting the kick in the ass that our wedding is coming in twelve weeks.
Sweet Baby Jeezus.
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12:00pm update - I went to the gym! I decided to run, do some sit ups and squats. I felt SO MUCH BETTER after I worked out ... like I accomplished something! I just have to remember how that feels when I have that argument with myself if I should go to the gym. Whooohooo! Now I just got to do the same thing tomorrow. And the next day. Ooh doggie.