I'd Rather Run Barefoot

Today, I got my periodic email from Zappos and clicked over to browse the latest offerings in Spring Footwear. Talk about shock and awe...when I saw these sandals or, Tube Flops, only a stilted 'Oh. My. God.' squeaked past my lips.

These are quite possibly the ugliest fashion trend I've seen in a very long time. I guess I shouldn't really say 'trend' because I have not seen a single person wearing them...and I hope I never do, because I will not be able to wipe the sneer from my lips, or keep my eyebrows in a position less than half an inch from my hairline.

You can check their selection of color and print combinations for yourself...one picture just doesn't do it justice. Bless their hearts, I hope they make their money back. I can only imagine the brainstorming session that produced these gems...'Dude! What if you could wear socks with sandals, because they were the sandals?!' (bubbling water and smoke inhalation fills the air)...'Totally!'

Here's what they have to say for themselves...

• Wearing socks and sandals used to be an absolute fashion faux pas; now, it's a chic statement! Introducing the bold, the bright, the anything-but-boring... The Tube Flop from Sanük™!

• Give those toes a little wiggle room while keepin' warm with this functional and fashionable hybrid!
• Light and breathable tube sock connects to the footbed through a molded channel in the flip flop.
• Soft and feminine strap for absolute comfort between the toes.
• Compression molded footbed is squishy 'n soft for signature Sanukcomfort.
• Sanuk logo tag on bottom of sock.
• Happy U outsole tread for easy steppin'.
• A Vegan friendly flip flop made of synthetic materials.
• Roll the sock into itself and against the sandal for easy storage.
• Hand wash and hang dry your Tubeflops for easy cleaning.

Oscar the Grouch

Last night, I celebrated the watching of The 82nd Annual Academy Awards with cocktails and girlfriends.

There were so many movies nominated this year that were phenomenal. I've seen both Inglourious Basterds and The Hurt Locker, both of which were fantastic from the score to the visuals, the acting and everything in between. I haven't yet seen Crazy Heart, but who doesn't love Jeff Bridges?! I've got the rest of the nominations patiently waiting in my Netflix queue, and yes, I'll probably even watch Avatar eventually.

From the start, I was very anti-Avatar, though I have not yet seen the movie. Why was I so against it? Well, for starters, because I'm not a huge fantasy or sci-fi fan, I've always been a little annoyed that based on special effects alone a movie would be nominated for Best Picture when the actual story-line wasn't all that revolutionary. I mean, Pandora as the name of the planet where valuable minerals are protected and not to be harvested by humans? Really? Wow, that was super-original! And, while I'm sure one really doesn't have to do with the other, the main character is an injured Marine who goes to a planet of Navy people. Oh sorry, I mean Na'vi. Coincidence, or was it possibly a subliminal messaging propaganda video?

I remind you, I have not seen the movie, so you may find me gushing later, but right now...just too much hype for something reminiscent of the Blue Man Group or mythology 101; the redux.

I thought Ben Stiller's entrance to the stage as one of the Na'vi was hilarious, and I loved the double-kick that Kathryn Bigelow, who was the first female to win Best Director with her film The Hurt Locker, was sitting in front of ex-husband James Cameron and beat him in both Best Picture and Best Director categories. I'm sure they've got a perfectly amicable relationship, but it still gave me some warm fuzzies, that will probably come back to bite me in the shame-on-you karma department.

Because we stayed drinking Pineapple cocktails (Pineapple infused vodka with pineapple juice) until midnight*, today was rough! I got to bed at about 1am, then after a couple of mid-night treks with H back to his bed, I was up for good around 7. Thanks to Alex, who motivated me to join her, I went to the Y at 11 to make up for my missed run on Saturday.

It. Was. Not. Pretty. About 1.5 miles into it, I had to walk for a minute to re-group. The next time I wanted to walk, however, I decided to just put the towel back over the display and with the start of the next song, (Hot 'N Cold, thank you Katy Perry!) I bumped the speed up .5 miles and ran at that pace for the length of the song. By the time the song was over, I was in a new groove, and it felt like a relief to run okay jog at my normal pace...definitely a trick I'll use again.

*In the interest of full-disclosure; No, I did not drive intoxicated. I had my last of two cocktails at 9:30 and drove at midnight. But thanks for your concern!

Rhapsody in Blue

While I didn't get the Gold Medal, I have made significant progress. The sleeves are the pieces sitting to the sides, they're on stitch holders waiting to be joined to the body and worked in the round all together at the yoke. You can see the little increase stitches, and they are at the point that would be the side seams. While this may take the next week to finish, I really love that it's in the round, which mean it's just knit, knit, knit...no purling, no counting, it's great! Now that I'm past the side increases, I'm in the home stretch until I add the arms and start the yoke pattern. I sense an accomplishment coming on!

Keep It Simple, Silly!

In the interest of actually reaching the goals I made, I set steps along the way, which any good goal-reacher will tell you is the best method. I'm not logging my meals or counting the calories from the envelopes I lick, but I am logging my workouts. I also set my weight loss goals according to the phases of my life to which I'd like to revert.

I'm happy to report that I've met goal number one; make it back to my 'pre-Charlie' weight. It only took 21 months (three weeks of which I was genuinely trying) but it's off. Now, on to my pre-H weight.

I've found that by simply working toward the fitness goals I've set, the weight-loss goals are happening on their own. I have the added bonus of more patience with my kids and, for someone who's getting as much, or less, sleep as I usually do, I'm a whole lot less tired!

Now, for that gold medal I was supposed to be working on...I finished both sleeves of the sweater and am about a third of the way up the body.

If I didn't have these other pesky tasks to complete that are actually paying me money, I would have finished. But what can I say? I'm more gold digger than gold medalist at the moment.

Pressure. Steady, driving pressure.
The receiving end; concentric circles
forming to make room.
Always accomodating.

Pressure is shallow.
Still runs deep.
Move over.
Make room.

Invite the pressure.
Resist only enough
that balance is maintained.
Enjoy the patterns
stemming from pressure and release.
Eb and flow.