This is how well my two female jack's get along.

Day in my life

My intent was to do an entire image summary of my day. Instead I only did the first few hours this AM. I do plan to do a more comprehensive version after surgery. See if you can follow.... These are taken in the order of events. Certainly nothing exciting, egg whites, getting my guest room ready and analyzing my neck brace. And the answer is Yes, I do have a lot of time on my hands.

Few random pictures taken 2 years ago

Cruise a few years back and Randi and I at her husbands sisters house.

It was a Murder Suicide....

I knew it was coming the weather was getting cool and the first frost hit. I held out as long as I could but it was time. I had to cut down the tomato and pepper plants. Here is my last crop of the season followed by the death of the plants...

Yorton Cup 2007

Today is the day! Many pictures to follow!!

YORTON
Stephanie Miller is in the purple and won the Pro class. Nicole Weeks is in the black and came in second.

Best Salad in the world

Tell me this isn't gorgeous! lettuce, chick peas, tomatoes, olives, yellow peppers, pine nuts, parm cheese, broccoli, cilantro, shrimp etc...

Cheesecake brownies and Fudgy Brownies

Since I have a lot of friends competing tomorrow I made Chocolate Chip Toffee Cookies, Fudgy Brownies and Cheesecake brownies I haven't cut up yet. If you are interested in the recipes please let me know. I didn't feel like posting them.

Don't double space - it's just wrong.

Ok ,so I got an email from someone trying to do business with me. Is it so wrong of me to email him back and and inform him that double spacing through email is "old school"?

"It is generally accepted that the practice of putting two spaces at the end of a sentence is a carryover from the days of typewriters with monospaced typefaces."


"The only time more than 1 space was used in a line of type was when we had to justify the line to the full margins."
— _{Madisonhank, describing typesetting before digital type}


I didn't actually quote that to him but I did mention that it is no longer acceptable to double space between sentences through email. Quite frankly, I found it hard to take the email seriously. LOL! Maybe I should stay at home all the time to be sure I do not hurt people's feelings LOL.

P.S. I don't claim to be a grammar, sentence structure or punctuation guru, however that was a glaring error. At least an error to me and it looked foolish.

Charm City Classic 2007

I went to the show, I sat there as long as I could... A little sad knowing that should have been me up there this year. But there is always next year. Here is a shot of the competition. Monique Jones took it all and won her pro card. The other two ladies post on my ocb message boards.

Colorado etc...

Richard got back in from Colorado last night. Here is the best shot he took while out there. Pretty...

Not long to go for the surgery. I just want this chapter in my life closed for good. I am so sick of being on HOLD for everything. Tomorrow is Charm City Classic. I am going to stop by for a little bit. We'll see how long I can make it. I can sit for a while, that I know. I plan to do the best I can and take a few photographs while there. I know several people competting and really want to see them. As well as next weekend is Yorton and I will know lots of people in that competition. I plan to try to go for an hour or so as well.


My mother and sister will be going tomorrow as well. Should be a decent day.

Retro Post Alert -- Chain Mail

** Originally posted in 2005

I hate chain mail. It's stupid and pointless and a waste of time. Since when does sending 7 junk mails out entitle you to a wish! ... Horseshit! So in protest this morning I created my own complete with fake email addresses. Everything you read below is fake and I wrote it. I sent it out to 15 people hoping they will pass it on. My dream is one day to get this creation back after it bounced around from email to email. It's so random and makes NO SENSE LOL... ENJOY

----------------------------------------------------------------

See below. This really works please pass it on! What do you have to lose???

I WILL KNOW IF YOU DID NOT READ THIS!!!!!!!!

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here:

An older gentleman was sleeping in bed with his dog Rusty as usual. When the man woke up he felt strange and saw blood. After he looked for his beloved Rusty he noticed some of his toes were missing! The man is diabetic and he never felt it! Rusty gnawed threw his toes and the bone!!! The bits of toes were left on his bed along with Rusty sleeping soundly. The man was in too much pain to get up grab the phone and dial 911 so he woke rusty! He told Rusty to fetch the phone (as he has done so many other times) and he did. The man dialed 911!

The ambulance came and they asked what happened. He didn't want to let them know so he hid the toes under his pillow. He didn't want them to take Rusty away!!!! So he just said, “No idea I woke up like this”. He went to the hospital and they did what they could. A day later when he came home he forgave poor Rusty. Now Rusty helps him out all the time with household chores.

This story shows what love can make you overcome. Please Pass this along to several of your friends and I guarantee a wish will come true. Have faith! You have nothing to lose!!!!

WISH.. MAKE A WISH.... MAKE A WISH...

You must forward this to friends and CC me for this to work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

----- Original Message -----
From: Cindy Lookaround ; <> ; ; <>; ; ;
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2005 11:02 AM

------ End of Forwarded Message

Do you want me to put that in the bag?

I made eye contact with a child today at target, since I have no children he could have been anywhere between 1-5 years old, I have no idea... Anyway, he stared at me, I stared back, the encounter lasted several minutes. It was a game of chicken, I knew I couldn't win. I gave in, I looked away. I felt defeated but I was seriously frightened. Glad I will never see that child again.

Once I made it to the cashier I put my few items on the counter. All items I will need while home recovering from surgery. Except a .99 lipstick I bought on a whim. She rings it all up and then comes the lipstick. She asks me, "Do you want me to put this in the bag?" Stupid question! I never understood why they ask me if I wanted certain things in the bag or not. I looked at her and said, "No, I'm going to eat it in the car". Clearly the girl didn't get me, she placed it in the bag and I went on about my business.

Pre-Op Update

I have to admit I hate pre-op appointments. It was really no big deal though. I received my script to do more blood work which I plan to do Monday. 14 days out from surgery now... starting to look forward to it, just to get it over with. The one thing that is hard to deal with is my lack of ability to plan, plan for work, vacations, contest prep etc... It's very difficult for me.

I do have to stop the all or nothing attitude. Just because I can't train doesn't mean I can eat clean. Eating clean is 80% of this anyway, and I do have the ability to add muscle at a decent rate. So for the next 3 months. It's all about the diet.

Pepper is doing better today. What a mess yesterday!

Interesting Day

Pepper spent the entire day throwing up in every room. No room was spared.

Tomorrow I go for pre-op blood work again. So use to this at this point it just common place for me. I am still waiting for the 10 viles of blood I gave last week to be analyzed for anything and everything you can think of. Tomorrow also marks 14 days out from surgery. A time to really clean up my diet during this time. I know that after surgery I will be unable to eat for at least the first week. I am prepared for it. But like I said no complaints at all. I just want to be better and return to work, weight training and prepping for contest.

Ipods for sale-- SOLD

Black 30GB Video Ipod for sale - BROKEN Battery - CHEAP
Black 30GB Video Ipod for sale - Great condition -

If interested I will ship it and take paypal....

Thanks everyone __ SOLD

Charm City Classic 2007

Here is the show I was suppose to compete in this year. Very sad but there is always next year.

Looking ahead

**Kristen's comments are valid ones, so I wanted to add, these calories are for when I am recovering from surgery and trapped in the house with no movement.*** I welcome any comments or thoughts about this.

New Goals:

With such little movement and activity available now. My current macros are:
1133 calories per day.
101 grams of protein per day.
134 grams of carbs per day.
21 grams of fat per day.

I need to start tracking with fitday again.

I need to start to remember my goals here. To be on stage next year. Sitting around not eating on plan isn't helping the situation.

just bought this

Although I am home and being very frugal with money... I had to have this. How appropriate.

almost there

I also made szechuan cucumber salad today. My favorite restaurant that makes this went out of business so I am working hard trying to replicate the exact recipe. It's not easy!

I used:
kirby cycumber, fresh ginger, fresh garlic, red peppers, allspice, anise stars, hot pepper oil, rice vinegar. kosher salt, cracked pepper.

I do not have my camera so I had to use my treo to take this picture...Surgery is scheduled for November 1. It will be a pretty difficult recovery but certainly tolerable. I am not allowed in a car for 4 weeks after it and not allowed to do anything during those 4 weeks at all. I may have the possibility of getting my computer at home so that I can work from home after that time. I would love to get my life back as soon as possible.

I dropped my lap top several nights ago. Now my monitor is turning white pixel by pixel. In a panic ( which is always a great way to deal with problems) I purchased a new one. I won't have it until late October so I hope this one holds on for dear life until then. Going online is pretty much my only cure of boredom here at home.

today...

Big day out, I went to the bank, and came home. I know can you believe it?! While out, much to my dismay, while waiting for the tube to come barreling down the pipe for me to fill with my deposit. I looked in the car next to me and say a woman practically eating her fingers. I tried hard but couldn't look away. She was eating something that came out of a bag and didn't want to miss one single crumb. You know how I feel about this finger licking thing. Gross! And I couldn't stop looking at it. It was like a car crash that you can't peel your eyes off of. I didn't even care if she saw me. However, I believe she was in barbecue heaven so we never made eye contact. First here is her website Skwigg's World And a direct link to her blog This is a must read folks, Tons of articles on fitness, ideas for food, snacks workouts etc. I highly recommend it. I think I am going to do my trainers cleanse diet:

Day #1 - Eat 6 meals of a soft protein with a soft complex carb and cooked veggies. You should be eating white fish, eggs, yogurt or cottage cheese and protein powder (whey). For complex carbs its oats, brown rice or cooked sweet potato. Cooked veggies are green beans, broc., squash, sprouts etc. Eat till slightly full, get all 6 meals in but no complex carbs for meals 5 & 6.

Day #2 - Same as above, but only eggs or whey for protein.

Day #3 - As much fresh fruit and RAW veggies as you can eat. 6-7 whey shakes each day spaced out.

Day #4 - Get the blender out. Have 6 shakes consisting of blended raw fruit, veggies and whey protein.

Day #5 - Same as day 4.

Day #6 - Same as day 3.

Day #7 - Same as day 2.

No supplement other then a colon cleanser, fiber and the whey protein. NO ALTERATIONS AND DO NOT MISS A DAY OR MEAL!

I am planning this on Monday of next week. Give me something to do while I wait around for surgery. I am also thinking about doing a "Day in the life" post. I remember seeing a blog that people take photos of each thing they do in one single day. Mine, will be fascinating. LOL

But then again should I do this cleanse? I might wind up looking like this:

What is a figure competitor?

I've received many emails asking me exactly what this is. People assume it's everything from this to that. Well it's neither my friend. A natural figure competitor (drug free) looks like this:






Are you assuming she is 20 with no children? Guess again. A good friend of mine who is in her 30's already had two children at this point, with no surgery afterwards. Her name is Blythe Alberg.












Still think a figure competitor is too muscular, here's more....



Now to say you don't want to look like this. Is a lie... LOL This is how she looks everyday walking down the street. Not a she-man. Like an above average physique correct?














Now here is the same exact person. Dieted down 10 lbs or so, with Dream Tan on and flexing her ass off. So here you have it. Does Jelena Abbou look like this picture all year round? NO, but she does look like the one above it. So when people ask me in disgust why I would want to be a figure competitor. I laugh to myself and think why wouldn't I?!
*Jelena is a client of my trainer as well on Team Sully. I work with Sully through email and phone calls only.





Photo of woman bodybuilding CC strangesports.com
Photos of Jelena cc jelenafit.com and snapshot.com
Photo of iceskater... not sure
Photo of Blythe Alberg cc ocbbodybuilding.com

cervical stenosis/cervical herniation

Cervical spinal stenosis may cause similar symptoms in the shoulders, arms, and legs; hand clumsiness and gait and balance disturbances can also occur. In some patients the pain starts in the legs and moves upward to the buttocks; in other patients the pain begins higher in the body and moves downward. This is referred to as a “sensory march”. The pain may radiate like sciatica or may be a cramping pain. In severe cases, the pain can be constant. Severe cases of stenosis can also cause bladder and bowel problems, but this rarely occurs.

Herniated discs in the neck (cervical spine) can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the neck, shoulders, chest, arms, and hands. In some cases a very large herniated disc in the neck may cause weakness or unusual tingling affecting other parts of the body, including the legs.

Pumpkins and why would you eat them??

I don't eat anything that people carve a face into. Why would you!??

I'm a zebra!

My surgeon used an analogy, that I am sure to get wrong since it's 5:44 am, but I'll give it a shot...

"If you are in the woods, and hear footsteps that resemble a horse, don't assume it's a horse...it could be a zebra."

I, my friends am the zebra. After many, many, many, appointments and possible diagnosis. My surgeon now believes my issues are indeed coming from my neck. It's not 100% for sure but I know for a fact he wouldn't operate unless he felt it would improve my situation. He is very conservative and doesn't even give out pain pills. Not that I've ever asked for them. So I am headed in for ... drum roll please...

cervical fusion!



















This will be no cake walk, and I certainly hope most of my symptoms go away. My recovery will suck, but you won't here me complaining one minute... I never expect to be 100% free of nerve issues and numbness. But that's ok... No worries here.

Crossing Guards... menace to society?

Retro Post Alert - Original Post 2005

Crossing Guards... why do they think they rule the world when they put their reflector jacket, safety belt and blue cop hat on? I understand the need for them so children can make it across the street safely... But why does my 4'6" 300 lb. crossing guard feel the need to wave me along, letting me know I don't need to stop at the stop sign. Traffic laws do not apply while she waves her 12 inch arm my way. It's as if she becomes the law once she is in "uniform". I won't even get into the dramatic way she stops traffic when she spots a child 18 houses away. Whistles, bells, darting into the road like some mental patient.

Maybe it's me?

WTH?

I am online searching for blueberry bushes. I find a decent site but here is the image they use ...Is it me or is it disgusting?

black and blue memories

I realize this is inappropriate, however the comedy value of it forces me to post it. This is why I've decided not to take up archery ever again....

Fingernails

Is it me or are fingernails disgusting? Especially women or men for that matter that grow them long. 99% of the time there is sh*t under them. Typically they are different lengths and shapes. GROSS.

My worst fingernail experience was one day at work, I was eating lunch with a co-worker who has fake nails. She was eating a sub and when finished actually used her nails to pick up the whole wheat crumbs and eat, let me repeat EAT what was under there. How effing hungry do you need to be to eat what has collected under your fingernails? I started dry heaving when I saw her do this. I could have loaned her a few quarters for a bag of chips!!! blachhhh!
p.s. THOSE ARE NOT MY FINGERNAILS!

Chicken,Pasta and Chickpea Stew

I added fresh parsley, oregano, extra garlic and salt/pepper.
Excuse the bowl. It looks a little messy....

Ingredients

Cooking spray
cup thinly sliced celery
3/4 cup diced carrot
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
3 cups Basic Marinara
1 cup canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
3/4 cup uncooked ditalini (very short tube-shaped macaroni)
teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
6 tablespoons shaved fresh Parmesan cheese

Preparation

Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add celery, carrot, and onion to pan; cook 12 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add broth and next 4 ingredients (through pepper); bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 12 minutes or until pasta is tender. Add chicken to pan; cook 3 minutes or until chicken is done. Sprinkle with cheese.

Yield

6 servings (serving size: about 1 1/2 cups soup and 1 tablespoon cheese)

Nutritional Information

CALORIES 237(27% from fat); FAT 7.1g (sat 2g,mono 3.2g,poly 1.5g); PROTEIN 15.5g; CHOLESTEROL 29mg; CALCIUM 138mg; SODIUM 724mg; FIBER 5.8g; IRON 2.5mg; CARBOHYDRATE 28.1g

Finally Britney got her license!

Home

Being home is the pits. Having limited use of your hands, feet numb etc... it sucks. What I wouldn't do to be able to go to the gym and work. I hope everyone knows how fortunate they are to just be able to do normal, mundane things. If it was taken away, you wouldn't believe the feeling. I'll be back....