My Super Power

We have a new question for the Blogger's Blog Tour: What would your super power?

Given all my responsibilities right now, I would have to say that my super power would either be speed (e.g. Flash from DC Comics) or the ability to change my physical appearance (e.g. Mystique from Marvel Comics).

Having super speed would give me enough time to accomplish everything I have to do - sell my father's house, go through the remaining items that used to belong to my grandmother - and still have time for a social life. Plus, think of all the money I could save on gas by running at the speed of light to work as opposed to driving in. I would have time for a social life and to work out.

Speaking of working out, I would love to have the ability change my physical appearance. I could keep myself fit and trim without having to work out or reduce my food intake. Mystique rocks the skin-tight spandex. I could achieve the same look with minimal effort. Ha!

Plans for the Summer

We have a new question for the Blogger's Blog Tour: What are your plans for the summertime?

I have fallen a bit behing on the Blogger's Blog Tour so I will be posting three entries today.

While I have several scheduled events (e.g. Family Reunion) this summer, my main plan is rather nebulous. I want to, once and for all, get through the remaining major tasks I have for my father so that I can have my life back.

Last year around Memorial Day weekend I completely revamped my budget so that I would have more free cash for things like the local film festivals. Shortly thereafter, I got a phone call that my father was in intensive care and my costs have spiraled upward.

I want to be done with this so that I can have my social life back and stop spending so much money.

My Shoe Despair

Background: A little over a year ago, I was left with a heel spur after the Los Angeles Marathon. As a result, I have to wear orthotic inserts in my shoes or I am in complete agony at the end of the day. My feet are not wide, but the orthotic inserts are. It's been an ordeal finding shoes wide enough and deep enough to fit my inserts. There is really not a lot to choose from in my closet.

I went shopping for eleventy millionth time this past weekend. I have been to Nordstrom, Macy's, DSW and so on. Each store's sole focus for women was hooker shoes.

Have I really gotten so old that I am no longer anyone's target market? I certainly cannot see myself wearing animal print, platform, or spiked heel shoes. Surely, department stores must cater to women past the age of 23.

Don't get me wrong, fuck-me-shoes certainly do have their place, but not at my job. I need shoes that say, "I am a sensible, professional woman," instead of, "Take me now, baby! I want you so badly!"

I gave up after several hours. Now my hope is on my best friend who lives in a more renown fashion capital than I do.

Weight Loss Thoughts

Last week I worked out 5 days for two times per day. I spent 45 minutes in the morning doing lunges, squats, and dips with free weights along with other strenuous exercises. I was breathing hard and drenched with sweat at the end of each work out. I spent 45 minutes in the evening walking. I cut back my food intake and concentrated on eating more fruits and vegetables.

For all this work, I lost....one pound. It makes me wonder. If I had eaten a Twinkie, would I have still lost weight? What would have happened had I not worked out twice a day? Being old and fat sucks so much. I don't recall having to work quite this hard to burn calories a decade ago. If I was not so determined to reduce the size of my gut so that it no longer sticks out further than my booty, I would be totally demoralized.

Weight Check - June 21, 2008

Current Weight: 282.5 pounds
This Week's Weight Loss: 1 pound
Lost To Date: 3.5 pounds
Pounds from Goal Weight: 142.5 pounds
Weight Loss Goal for Next Weighin: 6.5 pounds

Weight Check - June 14, 2008

Current Weight: 283.5 pounds
This Week's Weight Loss: 1.5 pounds
Lost To Date: 2.5 pound
Pounds from Goal Weight: 143.5 pounds
Weight loss goal for next weigh in: 5.5 pounds

Weight Check - June 7, 2008

Current Weight: 285 pounds
This Week's Weight Loss: 1 pound
Lost To Date: 1 pound
Pounds from Goal Weight: 145 pounds
Weight loss goal for next weigh in: 6 pounds

Reading is Fundamental

We have a new question for the Blogger's Blog Tour: Tell us about one book that changed your life.

Feel free to post your own answer in the comment box, and let me know what you think of mine.

I cannot answer this exactly because I don't have any one book that changed my life. Nearly every book I have read has left some sort of impact, even those books I put down in disgust. Let me explain.

I was a painfully shy child. I interacted well with family and people that I was used to, but strangers? I would hide behind my mother when someone I did not know tried to greet me. The unfortunate thing is that I did not want to be shy, but contact with people I did not know would cause me to become tongue-tied and inevitably I would shrink away in fear.

Books were an escape. They were a place to go where I could be brave (Nancy Drew series), choose my own path (Choose Your Own Adventure series), dream of a different world (The Chronicles of Narnia), or thank God that I was born when I was to parents that loved me (The Color Purple - my mother was not too pleased about this one because she felt it was way too advanced for a 9 year old, and it was).

I've forgotten the names of most of the novels I read as a child, but not what they've given me. Books gave me the courage to start talking to other people and keep talking until I conquered my shyness. Books gave me a common avenue of discussion for my friends. We could go on for hours about Sweet Valley High, Elizabeth and Jessica.

Books taught me that even nerds can captivate nations (Harry Potter series), that even the most mediocre novel can become a best seller with a controversial subject (Satanic Verses), that adults are not always right (the Grounding of Group Six), that good does not always win (Will There Really Be a Morning?), to choose my employers carefully (The Devil Wears Prada), and the importance of managing my money for tomorrow (The Millionaire Next Door)

Weight Check - May 31, 2008

Current Weight: 286 pounds
This Week's Weight Loss: None
Pounds Lost To Date: None
Pounds from Goal Weight: 146 pounds

Weight loss goal for next weigh in: 6 pounds