People who suck

- People who eat other people's food that they find in the work fridge.
- Yankees fans.
- Credit card companies.
- Mean people.
- Intolerant people.
- Attention whores.
- Backstabbing people.
- People who stalk their exes through the Internet.
- People who don't RSVP to invitations.
- People who are mean or impatient with waiters.
- Chronic whiners.
- People who make everything about them.
- But mostly, Yankees fans. :)

154

That's how many birthday wishes I received on Facebook. That does not include emails, phone calls, e-cards, shout-outs on kickrunners, cards, flowers, and other assorted good wishes.

I spent much of the day with tears in my eyes, thankful for all the wonderful friends I have both near and far. I am truly grateful for all the good people in my life. People I've known for 40+ years and those who are newer friends. People who are related to me by blood or by choice. People who, in some cases, came out of the woodwork to wish me a happy birthday yesterday. People I've met recently through work or volunteering who went out of their way to make my day so very special.

I don't know what I've done to deserve such attention. Such support. Such love. I don't know how I can ever repay everyone's kindness, not only yesterday but in general. But I promise you this: I will do my very best to treat everyone as well as they treat me.

I love you guys.

Be A Champion

Last night I fell asleep watching the game. (My sofa is just TOO comfy.) Luckily, I woke up in the bottom of the 8th inning... just in time to see the big comeback.

Love me some J-Roll. And loved this post-game rush to the field.









Go Phillies!!!!!!!!

Cupcake porn!

I am in the wrong business.

One dozen cupcakes = $25. Seriously? $25? For CUPCAKES????

I went in asking for eight cupcakes to take to a friend's house as a hostess gift, but they had only the separated plastic boxes pictured above. As the woman filled the box with my selected cupcakes, I started to realize how crappy it would look to have 8 cupcakes in a box designed to hold 12. It would have looked as though I ate 4 of the cupcakes on my way to their house!

So of course I bought 12 cupcakes. For the low, low price of 25 freaking dollars.

What a ripoff.

Now that's dedication!

Yesterday when I left work I noticed that my left rear tire was very low. When I left the Y a few hours later, it was even worse, so I drove right to Pep Boys and walked home from there. Since I got there shortly before 8 p.m., they told me they wouldn't look at my car until this morning. I didn't think much of it... until I remembered that I was subbing for Michelle's 6 a.m. boot camp class this morning! Oops!

The alarm went off early (I can't call it bright and early because it was d.a.r.k.), and I dragged my sorry butt out of bed. Luckily, it was fairly warm this morning, but it was raining! So by the time I ran to the Y for class -- with my water bottle in one hand and my class CDs in the other -- I was pretty drenched.

One girl in the back of the room hesitantly said, "Go easy on us! This is my first time." I laughed and said, "I just ran through the rain in COMPLETE DARKNESS to get here. No way it's going to be easy!" One of my Pilates regulars griped, "Uh oh. That doesn't sound good!"

Later in the class, I gave some positioning cues to the new girl in the back. Since I didn't know her name, I referred to her by the color of her t-shirt... Greenie! :) She laughed and replied, "That's OK. I won't tell you what they called you!!!"

Bwwaaaaaahahahahahaha! I love my evil reputation at the gym!

I know I already posted it on Facebook...

... but I love this picture so much I'm posting it here too!

My big fat Greek family. In all our fabulousness. :) (In actuality, that's about 1/25th of my family, but you have to admit it's an obvious caption.)

Tonight's class

This is what I have planned for my first class tonight. Still not sure what the steppers will be subjected, I mean treated to. :)

BOSU BOOT CAMP

Up up down down, 2 jacks
Repeat for about a minute on a right lead
Hold the jacks - 16 total
Up up down down, 2 jacks
Repeat for a minute on a left lead
Hold the jacks

Stand on top of the BOSU
Pulse squat down with right leg for 3 counts, step on top, repeat other side
32 Total

Take it up a notch...
Stand on top of the BOSU
Pulse squat down for 3 counts, propel over, repeat other side
32 Total

Partner up and do a high knee drill (one partner holds his/her arms out at shoulder height, the other has to jog in place with high knees... 45 seconds each partner, then 30 seconds each, then 15 seconds each, then repeat 15 each, 30 each, 45 each)

Plie squat with one foot on the BOSU, the other out wide, low plie, very light dumbbells in hands and do alternating jabs while holding the plie, one minute each side

Jump squat onto BOSU, step off right left. After 10, repeat but step off left right for 10 more

Stand on top of the BOSU and do tempo lunges side to side

Sumo straddles (a personal favorite... straddle the BOSU and stay LOW, jump both feet up onto the BOSU and still stay LOW, step off right left... do 10 reps and then switch to a left right exit, 10 more)

Mountain climber/pushup combo - flip the BOSU over and hold onto the sides... 30 seconds mountain climber, 12 pushups, 45 second mountain climber, 10 pushups, 1 minute mountain climber, 8 pushups

Alternating lunges onto BOSU for 16
Afterward, stand on top and do lateral delt raises for 16
Alternating lunges again onto BOSU for 16
Stand on top and do lateral-to-front delt raises -- up up to the side, slowly move the arms to the front of the body, lower down, then back up in front, slowly spread the arms wide, down down... that was ONE rep... do 10

Kneel on BOSU and do a glute squeeze/fire hydrant (heel going straight up to the ceiling), 16 each leg

Crunches on the BOSU

Big stretch

Now... What to do in my step class?