Friday, February 29, 2008

For the love of...

Tuesday was a very rainy, miserable day in Boston so my co-worker and I decided to go to the movies. I hadn't read a movie review in a couple weeks so we unfortunately ended up seeing Vantage Point. Wow was that a mistake. It was laughable to say the least. I actually was laughing through the last scene, obviously a scene that was supposed to be a touching moment between William Hurt and Dennis Quaid. Sigourney Weaver was completely miscast as a no-nonsense network news producer. It might as well have been Kirsten Alley as we never saw anything below Sigourney's chest the entire movie. Is Sigourney going to be hawking Jenny Craig Soon? What's goin' on? Then you have Forrest Whitaker who, I am sorry to say, I just don't understand his appeal. It looks like his droopy face is as pliable as play-doh. For that reason alone, I can't take him seriously. AND THEN you have Matthew Fox. Please, Jack- Go back to LOST. The island needs you. And PLEASE don't ever try to pass off speaking some line in Spanish as credible acting. Oh you were atrocious.

Phew... sorry that has been building up for a couple days. Please don't see Vantage Point. We should have seen The Spiderwick Chronicles- Freddie Highmore can't do anything wrong in my mind.

Today's song: Unison by Bjork

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Confessions of a Tricky eater

I'm not the world's biggest eater. Not to say I don't enjoy food, I do. I could eat steak, mashed potatoes, and asparagus every day for the rest of my life and die a happy man but most of the time, I eat because I have to. Sometimes I am able to get away with not eating for a day because I find other things to occupy my time like work, running, television, talking, not talking, etc.

My family has always had a small concern for my lack of appetite but has come to accept it and poke fun at it. My mother celebrates everytime I come home and look like I have gained a pound. When asked by my sister "If you could choose to have three meals a day or three pills a day to replace those meals and reap the same nutritional value from those pills as you would the meals, which would you choose?", my answer was an obvious no brainer: the Pills!

Why am I telling you all of this? Because I think this might be getting out of hand*. While I don't enjoy eating per se, there are certain things that I absolutely love eating. I just got back from the little convenience store in my building and take a look at what I bought:

DiGiorno's Pepperoni Thin Crust Pizza
Lactaid Reduced Fat Milk
Cherry Pomegranate Power Naked Energy Smoothie
Tostitos Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips
Captain Crunch
2-liter Bottle of Coca-Cola Classic

These six items will last me a couple days (I know this because I have done it before). I think my eating habits have reached a new level of unhealthy especially when you add in the Tostitos Queso that I have waiting for me in the fridge. That queso is to die for.

But now I'm starting to think that maybe my eating habits aren't necessarily bad**-certainly unhealthy, but not bad. I am just enjoying what I like because I can and I whether or not I go a day without eating, I know that I am going to be ok because I'll always have my DiGiorno and Queso waiting for me on the other side until those pills are approved by the FDA. And that makes me happy...

Today's song: Come on Closer by Jem


*Do I really think this?
**Yeah, I didn't think so.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Clickity Clack

I've recently realized I'm the click-clack guy you hear walking down the street. The heels on all of my shoes (the exception being my new driving mocassins which are amazing btw) make incredibly loud clacking noises on the sidewalk, asphalt, grass, etc. No matter how lightly I try to walk, people turn around expecting to see a 5-inch-high stiletto wearer and instead fine me, clacking away in one of my many pairs of loafers.

When/how did this happen? I know that I have always been a 'heavy walker' as my mother always said and I did get that complaint from my downstairs neighbor for 'excessive heavy walking noises' but I can hear my steps even when I am listening to my iPod. This is becoming serious. very serious.

Today's song: Cruel Summer by Bananarama

Friday, February 15, 2008

Quick travel note..

Because I travel almost every week for work, I have almost memorized Delta's little safety schpeal at the beginning of each flight. I can't help but chuckle each time the flight attendant gets to the "And, in case of an emergency, your seat cushion can be used as a floatation devise!" part.

They always say it with such cheer, as if they are selling the cushions on an infomercial, "Well, isn't that neat!"

But when you think about it, it's not that cheery of a thought.


Today's song: California Dreamin'- The Mamas and Papas

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

What really gets me goin'...

I just got back from a 10-mile run and I feel fantastic. I mean, my legs are killing me, I'm still panting and I'm probably not going to be able to ice skate very well tonight, but I FEEL FANTASTIC.

I took a different route today and at around mile five found myself down by the tidal basin. I overcame my fear of falling into the Basin and decided run along the path right beside it. Except for the geese droppings it was an excellent decision. Watching the sun break through the clouds above the Jefferson Memorial just as Madonna's Sorry comes on is a moment that I can't truly describe.

I hadn't been running in a couple of days and when I started this morning I wasn't really into. What made all the difference is my running playlist that I have fine-tuned over the past couple months. I've decided to post it here because I think I'm doing a disservice to my fellow runners/exercisers by keeping it to myself. I catch myself laughing, singing, and doing a little dance while running listening to the majority of the songs. When you see the list below you will understand why. Here you go!

Apocalypse Please- Muse (Muse, in general, makes awesome music to work out to)

Call My Name- Charlotte Church (fan-freakin-tastic song)

Escape- Enrique Iglesias (no list is complete without Enrique)

Gone- Kelly Clarkson (awesome one from start to finish)

Happier
- Guster (just like the title indicate, a happy song)

Holding Out for a Hero- Bonnie Tyler (no song makes me run faster)

It’s Raining Men- Geri Halliwell (or the weather Girls, but Geri’s is a little faster)

Music is the Victim
- Scissor Sisters (love it)

Rainy Monday- Shiny Toy Guns (not the fastest song, but a good one none-the-less)

Something to Talk About- Bonnie Raitt (always good to cool you down a bit)

Stockholm Syndrome- Muse (will have you running FAST)

Starlight- Muse (almost as fast as Stockholm)

Cuz I Can- Pink (really good one to get you started)

Waterloo- ABBA (really good around mile 8 or 9 when you really need to smile)

Get Me Bodied (extended remix)- Beyonce (hilariously awesome song)

Just Like Jesse James- Cher (best.cher.song.ever.)

Sorry- Madonna (You have to keep running to this song otherwise you stop and dance)

Crazy Chick- Charlotte Church (ah, I love me some crazy charlotte)

Don't Stop Me Now- Queen (Cheesy but AWESOME)

You Can't Stop the Beat- Hairspray Soundtrack (this is where I start to dance a little bit)



If you ever see me running down sixteenth street or through Rock Creek Park and I'm smiling, it's not because I'm crazy. I've just put together the best work-out list ever! Now you can enjoy it! YAY!

Today's Song: All of the Above!