i'm starving.

So, I recently started the Special K diet, where you substitute two meals for two bowls of cereal. Supposedly, if you follow this, you will lose 6 pounds in 2 weeks. Oh, I so need to lose 6 pounds. A couple of years ago, after I graduated from grad school, I realized I had gained the freshman 25. I was so overweight, I couldn't believe it. It was bound to happen. I was working full time and going to school full time. I very rarely cooked or ate at home because I spend most of my time at school. I usually ended up eating take out, which is loads of calories and fat. So, some months down the line after I graduated, I went on weight watchers with the encouragement of my friend, and I managed to lose a good 20 pounds. I felt great. I looked great. I had more energy, and I was going to the gym 4 times a week. But then something happened, my weight started to plateau and I started getting frustrated that I was paying money to go to weekly meetings and I wasn't losing any more weight. Which was okay, because I thought I didn't need the support of meetings anymore, since I knew what to do with eating right and exercising. Then... I started dating Kyle and having such an amazing time, that I started to forget about dieting, and exercising. Not to mention, we both like to cook, eat, go out and enjoy ourselves. Yeah, I let myself go, and now, I find myself in this weird predicament. I'm not quite as heavy as I was when I graduated, but, I have packed on some pounds that I am dying to get rid of. So, it's been 3 days on this diet, and although I really like the taste of vanilla almond special k, I get hungry every 4 hours. I guess that's normal, but I'm sitting here at 1:30pm and I'm starving. I ate breakfast at 9:45am today. As long as I can pass the 2 week mark, so that I can jump start my dieting and metabolism, I can go back to eating regular healthy meals. I've also started to go to the gym again, and make my way back to the 4 day a week routine. It's been hard, because of winter, but enough with the procrastination. It's time to get back in shape.

I know I'm a democrat but...

I almost wish I was a devoted republican, because then if I openly criticize President Bush, it would give it more validity. Why is it that whenever a democrat like myself disagrees wholeheartedly with our insane president that we are deemed too "liberal". And when did the world "liberal" become such a bad word. Like, it was an utterance of profanity. It really saddens me that our nation had re-elected this incompetent politician for a second term. There are so many things that he has approved in his presidency that is questionable. Not only, did we start a war with false intel, and broke the law by spying on phone conversations, but he goes to great lengths to cover it up. The war in Iraq seems like it will never end. Countless lives have been lost, and for what, why? It has been reported that over 100,000 Iraqis have died since the start of the war. Was that necessary? Is that worth the cost of capturing Saddam? I also feel for the troops and the their families. How are they coping with this? If only, the american public would question his tactics more. Why have we all of the sudden become so indifferent with the president? Why have we not vocally voiced discontent, our outrage at his antics? And now, on the eve of the appointment of the second supreme court justice he has selected, it really is starting to scare me. Two stark conservatives added to the bench of the supreme court will change the lives of all americans. I really feel sad about this. Heartbroken even.

Come on NY, get it together

It really bothers me that one of the most advanced cities in the world doesn't have public recycling. This morning, on my commute into the city, I felt so disheartened because there were tons of free Metro newspapers on the Path subway platform. It's really depressing to me that all this paper gets wasted. I saw this one guy, put his paper on top of a Path signage. Like where did he think that paper is going to go. Ok, granted, there were no recycling bins on the platform, however, he can carry that paper into work and recycle it. Is that so hard? I hate that people use things and don't think about the consequences of waste. It's really disgusting to me that we just consume, consume, consume, without even thinking about what happens to the waste. Landfills are beyond full in NY. They ship their garbage to Jersey. Pretty soon, we'll smell just like Staten Island. If I sound angry, it's because I am. Experts say that 75% of the garbage we create is recyclable. However, our society doesn't think that way. I blame the local government for this. If there were stricter rules about public waste, and recycling, then perhaps we would be a society that thinks about the things we throw out. Why can't we have public recycling like San Francisco or in Europe? I don't know how long we can go like this until we swim in our own filth. It's no wonder that NY is so dirty with garbage anywhere. People just don't care. Or maybe they are just lazy or indifferent. Am I the only one who carries their plastic water bottle in my bag, until I get home or to my office to toss it in the green recycling bin?

Trader Joes - oooh, can't wait

So my friend Amy reminded me of the greatest news yesterday. That Trader Joes will officially open up a store in Manhattan. In Union Square to be exact. I am so happy that I am giddy! I heard rumors from my other friends and devoted fans that this was going to happen, but I thought it was just that, a rumor. But alas, it was written up in the NY Times and it was marked clearly on the TJ website. Ohhhh, this is so exciting, I can't even explain. Trader Joes beats all the other gourmet grocery stores in my opinion. They have amazing prices and amazing food. The best frozen pizzas. And they have the best sourdough bread. One of my favorite things is the horseradish hummus. It has a kick like no other. Oh, and don't get me started about the dark chocolate covered raisins. Just heavenly, and you cannot eat just one. It said in the article that it's to open in 3 months. I don't know if I can wait that long.

job interview

This year, my new years resolution, was to find a new job. I've been feeling trapped in my position lately, and I have been wanting to move on to a new place of employment. This past friday, I went on my very first job interview. I've only applied to two places so far, and both have called me in to meet with them. I turned down the first place, because the pay was too low. The interview was nerve racking. Three people interviewed me, and they drilled me on everything I knew. It was so intimidating. I'm not sure if I'll get called in for a second interview. I wasn't nervous, I answered all the questions that they had for me. But afterwards, I kept Monday footballing it. Oh, I could have answered that better, or I could of said this too. I hate job interviews. It's so much pressure to "sell yourself". I was making myself sick from talking about how great I was as an employee. It's really quite gross to talk so highly of oneself. Anyhow, I left the interview feeling tired, confused, and annoyed. After it was over, I went straight across the street and ordered myself a stiff drink at the bar. Upon which I waited for my friends to arrive so I could wallow in my misery.

karaoke

Kyle and I went out after we saw the film Walk the Line on Friday. We went back to Brooklyn, and headed over to one of our favorite bars in Bayridge. We like this place because they usually serve a delicious Heiffenweizen on tap. Unfortunately, when we arrived, they no longer had the beer we liked, but they had a bottled version. Oh well. As we walked in, we realized that they were having karaoke night. Oh boy! The highlight of the night was this 87 year old guy, who was singing. He was so darn cute. The lady sitting next to us said that he is a regular. He was getting all into it. And he didn't even need to use the tv screen. He knew all the words by heart. I hope that when I get that age, that I have the energy to party like this guy. He was great! Karaoke is definitely entertaining. Seeing these people get up in front of the bar and sing musac was hysterical.

We stayed out until 3am. Very late for me. When we got back to Kyle's we were starving, so we made some tuna fish sandwiches, watched some tele, then fell asleep.

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride

So, yesterday I went to try on a bridesmaid dress that we are ordering for my friend Mandee's upcoming June wedding. This will be the 7th time that I've been a bridesmaid in my life. So that adage is true for me. "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride". I recently was a bridesmaid in June of last year, and I told myself it would be the last one. I went into bridesmaid retirement, because, I felt I was getting too old for shiny chiffon dresses. I am afterall 30. However, I came out of retirement for my friend Mands. She is a close friend, and just about the last of my college friends to get hitched. I have a bridesmaid dress graveyard in my closet. I always said that when I get married, I'll ask all of the brides to be in my wedding, and they would have to wear the bridesmaid dress I wore to theirs. I think that would be soooo funny.

Do you think this is real?

I was online today and came across this weird site. I was thinking, if this is a baby kitten, how can it's eye be opened? So, I'm thinking this can't be real at all, since we just had kittens, and their eyes didn't open until after 4 weeks.
But this sure is odd looking.

http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/060111_ap_cyclops_cat.html

little kitty, so cute

Little Yaffa is so cute. She is the sweetest cat in the world. She has this funny habit where she likes to stick her tongue out. It's the funniest thing I've ever seen. Even funnier, her kittens likes to do the same. They too, follow mommy and stick their tongue out. I'm so glad Kyle found Yaffa. She is just the best cat. She is so lovable. And she is so affectionate, for a street cat. AJ always jokes that Kyle stole someone's family cat off the street. But then again, when he rescued her, she was sooo dirty, her fur was grey.

a new year, a new motivation

I love the start of a new year. Everything to me, starts over. I like the feeling of starting fresh. My first goal for this year is to look for a new job. I'm somewhat nervous by this, but it's something I need to do. I found out last month my job is in jeopardy, so it's time for me to finally move on. I'm pretty okay with it, afterall, I have been in this current employment for 7 years. It's my longest committment ever! I am also looking forward to continue with my health regimen. At the tail end of 2005, I had a real lack of motivation for working out and eating healthy. All this for the new year, has to change. That's what so great about January, it's always a new slate.