Fabulous Friday Dream Sequence - Zumba Edition

I have a wonderful blog friend - who has been ODDLY silent the last few days...
(I am writing this on Tuesday, that may have changed.)

I wanted to share with her the conversation I had in my dream about our Zumba Class together...

Go Visit her and say - Happy Fabulous Friday!

MLIP: Come ON GIRLFRIEND - I can see your ass is NOT shaking enough...

ML: YOU shake it.  lol

MLIP: T-bone can shake it...ha ha ha ha ha.

ML: Look at me!  I am Mr. Big - "pusha pusha"!

MLIP: You are two feet too short sista'!

ML: Right, I am "fun-sized".  tee hee hee!

Jumping around and sweating like the fools sexy sirens we are!

MLIP: That's right work it, work it...

ML: Uh-huh.  We are OWNING this Zumba workout!

MLIP and ML both bust a gut laughing into a heap on the floor.

Sigh. 

I went to Zumba again on Sunday and love it! 

I just wish I had a partner in crime along for the ride.  I thought of what MLIP said via email to me though and started laughing right out loud in the middle of class...

It must have inspired my dream. 

Have you seen Zumba?  While it may be serious fitness - it is also seriously hilarious fun!

WW - Choose our holiday card photo 2010!

One

 Just like years past...only newer.

Two

Three

Four

What will you not say today?

The OTHER Rocky Horror Picture Show!

Did you know there was a "sequel" to Rocky Horror Picture Show? 

I ACTUALLY SAW THEM BOTH as a double feature at the Uptown Theatre back in about 1981-82.

Shock Treatment

I thought it was NOT as well acted (ha ha!), but DAMN did it have just as catchy tunes (I had both soundtracks on cassette tape!).  So in honor of Glee going Rocky Horror Picture Show tonight I bring you:

Shock Treatment - Little Black Dress

Monday Minute - All about myself!

Today is Monday - and we are joining Christy for the Monday Minute - you link up too if you like!

1) Have you ever been hospitalized? (OK, maybe that one isn't so upbeat)

2) What’s the last bit of good news you received?

3) Who was your favorite teacher?

4) Do you sing in the shower?

(5) Describe the happiest day of your life.

1. Yes, I have been hospitalized.  The worst was when I got an infection from my spine operation - I had a disc pushing on nerves down my right arm and they cut off the part that was protruding - I was in and out in a day for the surgery and back for a WEEK from the infection.  I was REALLY sick and got very weak, but they took good care of me.
2. That my mom wants to bring pizza over one night this week and hang out with my Boo Boo La La!
3. I had GREAT elementary school teachers, Ms. Rossum and Mrs. Bleck stand out there - and in High School I really liked Mr. Sinks - I am sure many would disagree with me on him!!!  But my favorite teacher was the lawyer who taught my online ethics class at Capella!
4. Not out loud; I do hear music in my head frequently.
5. I would have to say the happiest day was the day I had my daughter.  I was not at all sure I would be good at managing the pain of childbirth, but I was totally surprised at how quickly it all went for us.  Quick summary: I was checked in January 8th just after dinner to be induced January 9th because of my age and blood pressure.  I went into labor in the night and the nurses kept telling me I was not in labor as the monitor was not picking up on the contractions.  About 6:30 am I said if I were not in labor I was going to need an epidural because I was in a good amount of pain already...the shift change was happening so about 8am finally someone showed up to give me the epidural and start pitossin.  The nurse wanted to check how dialated I was and WHOOSH!  My water broke and my daughter shot down the birth canal.  YES, it can happen that fast.  They had to grab a random doctor in the hall as they were on the phone with my doctor telling him they were starting pitossin; my doctor made it to the room just moments after Boo Boo was born and that only took about 20 minutes!  I was so happy it was quick, relatively easy, and that I got such a healthy baby!

10/26/10 update - if it was not clear in the sequence of events - I did NOT get an epidural and had a drug-free birth with my Boo Boo La La.  When the water broke and she started crowning it was too late.  But it was sooooo fast I didn't need them anyway.

 Hope you enjoy the Monday Minute and can play along with Christy who took it over from Ian! 

  

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign...

Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop Presents:

In what way were you labeled as a child and how did it affect you?

I distinctly recall as a child being told how "perfect" I was, how "smart, clever, cute, funny, sweet, bright..." you name it - I got labeled it.

Does it sound like I am bragging?

I am not. 

It was a curse.  I think I peaked at age eleven.  Seriously.

I was selected in Second Grade to participate in this "experiment" to be in a class of Second and Third Graders - learning in a new hip and cool way.  My Mother put the Ki-bosh on that one...she told the school that developmentally the Second and Third Grader's should not be mixed, presented studies and well... the school dropped the program.

I was always in the high reading group... 
math group...
extra groups, like Great Books and geeky science classes.

I was a Girl Scout and my Mother pushed me to earn MANY MANY badges and Cookie Seller Awards. 

I wanted them...so not all her fault. 

Besides swimming lessons in the summer my Mother took us to The Star-Tribune, The Federal Reserve, museum's and enrolled us in summer art programs where we drank papaya juice and ate carob-chip cookies.  I even took summer school classes for FUN!

I also went to Debate Camp and Norwegian Camp...and yes, Band Camp.  Norwegian Camp was the MOST twisted. 

Don't get me wrong.  I loved it.

Every second of every thing - making new friends everywhere I went.

I spent a year in Norway as an exchange student and even there I excelled at blending in...seriously, people thought I was Norwegian - or the very least, Danish. 

What this did to me is make me EXPECT more from myself.  If I failed at something (or was not in the Top Ten Best!)- ANYTHING - I felt worthless.  Sometimes I still do...

I feel like I let myself down a lot. 

The BIGGEST reason I feel that way right now is that I do not have the job I want by a long shot. 

not.even.close.

I expected that by the time I finished my degree online at Capella University I would have a much better sales position - higher base salary, higher commission potential, larger company - perhaps. 

I mean that B.S. degree should have opened doors, but it came too late. 

March 2010?  Who the heck is hiring?

However my career started its slide down the drain before the degree was complete after accepting

ONE STUPID JOB. 

ONE STUPID JOB at one very large company that dismissed me because my boss went to work for the competition so they set about systematically dismantling his team. 

Seriously I was the second let go and the first girl who "resigned" actually had made quota - and was setup to do it again. 

I was over 80% to annual quota in APRIL!  Gone in June...

I took the best job available of the three I was offered after that...and let's just say it was not only a huge pay cut, but I was flat out lied to about the potential. 

So here I sit.  Depressed quite often. 

I LOATHE the questions, "How is work going?" and  "What do you do for a living?" because my answer is that I don't want to talk about it...it just makes me cry. 

Recently my company was purchased and I am praying this helps me change my mind about my work.  It hasn't done much yet to instill any confidence that I am at all important, or wanted, so I am not holding my breath just yet...

But I hope and I dream....

I try to remember my achievements and potential...

That I have a GREAT family who loves me...

...and I buy Powerball Tickets.

Zzzzzzzzzzz

She bounded into the class late - breathless and giggling - picking up on the moves and bouncing along with the rest of the class.

This is pretty fun, she thought in her head, ohhh I am going up to get one of those jingly wraps and put around my waist in the break between songs.  They look fun and I bet it would help me know if I am shaking it enough. 

Over halfway into the class she decided to peel off a layer - too sweaty - this class is rockin'!

Ahh, the cool down, I need this my calves were getting tight on that last song.  Maybe I will stay for the short core conditioning class after this?

Class ends.. 

The chubby lady in the back dressed in blah brown sweats runs to pick up her bag and take the fastest shower possible so she can get her daughter and go home.  She avoids looking at the breathless giggling girl and her tight 20-something tattooed abs.  She sighs and thinks, If there were any justice I just lost five pounds from this Zumba class...

Maybe I will come back next week. 

Flashback Friday - Seymore D. Fair

These are my best friends from high school...sure we had a few friends that would join us for events as they liked, but these were the four inseperable girls our Junior and Senior year. 

It helped we all were in French and A/P classes together! 

Oh and we were band geeks.

From left to right, Colleen R, Me, Seymore (damn picture hog), Teri N. and Kristi B. 

or Clarinet, Flute/Picolo, Beak, Clarinet, Clarinet/Oboe - That's right, I'm the Michelle! 

So, this one time in New Orleans...
We met this pelican named Seymore D. Fair and he wanted us to join him at the WonderWall.  But we were INTENT on trying to buy a cocktail on Bourbon Street so we had to ditch that smelly fellow for Pat O' Brien's and a Hurricane or two. 

Our high school band played at the 1984 World's Fair/Expo in New Orleans on O.J. Simpson Day - and NO JOKE he directed us for a song and recreated his old Hertz commercials by leaping over trumpet and trombone cases for us...



Good times.

So, what do you have to share today? 

Writer's Workshop - The Diet

So I signed up to get the prompts from Mama Kat - and I really wanted to play, but I forgot last week - and this week...I was not inspired by any of the prompts.

le sigh

So I went to Mama Kat's site and pulled up all the old prompts and chose to write about....

Describe the worst diet you ever put yourself on.

Early on in my marriage I decided to drop a few pounds - I had gained that "happy weight" and it was not helping me fit into my cute work clothing and I was sick of using the tricks.

You know the tricks, right?  Use a safety pin to keep your pants and skirts together at the waist and wear a loooooooong shirt or sweater over it. 

I know, not pretty.

So I looked around the internet for a "diet" - really I was looking out for a quick fix for the eating and drinking I had done over the preparations, parties, wedding and honeymoon. 

Ugh. 

(side note: I wish I was that "fat" weight now! double UGH!)

I came up with SCAN DIET.

How bad could it be?  It was developed in Scandinavia after all. 
Those people are smart, right? 
The Scandinavians are sensible, right?  I mean the United Nations was their idea!!!

So I start the diet after buying the expensive powders, THIS should have been my first clue.

Then I read up and the first TWELVE weeks I am supposed to drink three to four "shakes" a day and fruits and vegetables.  NO MEAT. 

The "shake" provided all the protien I was going to need.  (ummm, riiiiight.)

Now let me say this, I AM a fan of soy protien and thought this was a fine plan at the time.  The problem is that it just is not sustainable to only drink "shakes" and eat fruits and veggies over that kind of time frame. 
I mean no grains, no bread, no protein outside of the "shakes". 

It just is not realistic.
And my BODY knew this.

I was going along just fine.  I love fruit and veggies so I was okay with it all in the front of my brain...then one night...I had a dream;

I was tearing apart and GNAWING bloody red warm meat with my bare hands. 

AND I LIKED IT - Nay, LOVED IT!

Somewhere deep down inside my body was CRYING out for more nutrients than I was getting from these "shakes" and despite the fact I had lost 24lbs in eight weeks...

The next day I had a steak stir fry.

And I savored every last juicy drippity-drop of that meat.

(It was tough to research for this story because basically - Scan Diet does not seem to exist any longer.  I believe they have replaced this with a new product called Nutrilett.)

Now enjoy the battle over this meat.

Larry Bird vs Michael Jordan McDonalds commercial @ Yahoo! Video

More Fall Birthday's - Wordless Wednesday

Go visit Cathy...

 Go Visit Lesli...

Tell them I said "Happy Birthday!" 

PINT - Up the WAZHOO!

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

Boo Boo La La is Robot Number One!

I am missing her today...

Boo work!

Flashback Friday - My earliest memory

So here is me as a very young girl.  And yes - you can see the date and age me...laugh - go ahead.

I have had this very very very vague and early memory.  You see my mom worked when I was a baby and I went to daycare (I think pretty much by myself?) to Bev and Pearly's house with their three boys! 

The thing I remember is one time Bev and Pearly waving at me from the open front door - Bev and Pearly were going somewhere and the sons were babysitting.  And I was laying on the living room floor waving back...giggling. 

I have no idea how I know this because I KNOW that I turned three AFTER we moved away from St. Paul to Blue Earth, MN. 

Its funny what the mind recalls...and what it completely blocks out.

DON'T EVER GET THIS BEVERAGE!!! I MEANT IT!!! I am WARNING you!!

Every once in a while I want cocoa - it doesn't even have to be winter its just one of those things. 

I used to crave one about 2-3 times a year...and then...



Caribou Coffee began melting "real Guittard® chocolate of your choice (dark, milk or white) with steamed milk and then top with whipped cream and chocolate chips to create our decadent hot chocolate."

Decadent.hot.cocoa.  Allow that to sink into your brain...mmmmmmmmmm.

Now let me describe this beverage form of chocoalte for you.

The barista hands you the steaming cup and declares,
"Medium hot chocolate with milk chocolate, skim milk, light whip and no chocolate chips?" 
Yes please! (And yes I do have to be that picky in ordering my cocoa.)
"Enjoy!"
Yes, yes I will.  I will bring the cup to my nose and breathe in the intoxicating smell of steamy hot cocoa...and I must! take a sip before all the whip cream melts away!  Ahhhhhhhh.  The chocolatey goodness and creamy whip cream are ALMOST too much for me and my knees get weak.  I need to get to the car...stat!

I take my time with my cocoa...I sip and savor every last tiny drop. 

Sometimes I even tease it with a piece of peanut butter toast. 

I pray they did remember to leave off those chocolate chips because they sink to the bottom and make for an unappetizing grainy last gulp that ruins the whole thing....

Ahhh yes, smooth delicious steamy cocoa down to the very last drippity drop. 

I highly recommend you avoid this cocoa - milk and dark are both TERRIBLE!  ;) 

p.s. I have not tried white...that just ain't cocoa!
p.p.s. I seriously avoid Caribou Coffee as much as possible now because it is TOO tempting!
p.p.s.s. Lucky Starbucks!

Can you believe it - Bad Mommy Monday Minute

I took Boo Boo La La apple picking for the very first time and FORGOT to take our camera - and my phone was pretty much dead so no pictures.  Not one.  But that meant we had a good time not worrying about getting the "right" picture too so perhaps it was not a loss.

She made a cute friend Owen, but he lives about 90 minutes away from us...sigh. 

Since its Monday and I spent the weekend apple picking, tea-partying(not the same as being a tea-bagger this was an ACTUAL party at my neighbors), apple crisp baking, cooking, cleaning, laundry do-ing and putting away, Sunday School teaching and more I decided to participate in the Monday Minute - join up here too if you like with Christy:

Questions:


(1) What's your biggest pet peeve? Poor driving ettiquette - I think I need to start a school for people to learn how to merge - what to do at stop signs, etc.

(2) Describe your first kiss.  There was lots of Bonne Belle lip smacker behind the bowling alley.

(3) Describe the drunkest night of your life (or at least, the drunkest night you remember).  Wow...I don't even know where to go with this one...I got drunk once with my mom my senior year of high school.  It was New Year's Eve and she and I had about three pitchers of margaritas before my dad got home for dinner - then I went out with friends and my boyfriend ended up sleeping at our house.  I told my dad it was because Krissy didn't know how to get to his house...They lived about two blocks from each other in the next town over from mine.  I also rambled something about people throwing puppies in a ditch....

(4) What's the last movie you saw and what did you think of it?  I watched Juno.  Not what I expected, but I liked it even more for that. 

(5) Do you prefer to take a bath or a shower?  I go back and forth on this...I love baths, but sometimes crave a shower. 

Enjoy your Monday Peeps!

Guess who got a haircut???

THIS MAMA

 I am also rockin' fall in my favorite boots, knee-hi, sweater skirt combo...

Tales of the J-Dogg:

So he is recovering from jaw surgery of course...and I have been adamant about getting breakfast in him before school this first week back. 

Whilst I was cooking up his oatmeal this morning he said he was going out to "...turn his car around."

Uh, yeah.  Okay.

Goes out...comes in...huffs.  Goes back out, comes back in, huffs.

"My key fob won't work when the doors are locked."

Ummm.  Genius much?  You didn't test it BEFORE you shut the locked door with the car running??? And what frozen hell do you think is going on out there that you need to be "warming up" your car??
IT IS FIFTY DEGREES outside and we live in MINNESOTA!!!

Thirty minutes later we got it open. 

sigh.

I love being in sweaty gym clothes in my yard at 6:30 am.

And the cat got out.

At least I am still looking FABULOUS!  Even my boss said, "Wow Lisa you look NICE today." 

and he is a guy...

Now go visit Iris please to tell her just how FABULOUS you are.