Sunday, February 27, 2011

Internet: your slowness is seriously pissing me off...

Love, Ashley



I've been watching the Academy Awards since about a half hour in and I've been very entertained despite having only seen a couple of the movies.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and was pleased to see it won the awards for best costume design and best art direction.  And now after seeing some of the other wins, my goal is to at least see Inception and The Social Network.  I've been holding off on seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 since I really want to see the second one right after the first.  I guess eventually I'll get around to seeing all of the wonderful films nominated tonight.  I just do things on my own time line. 

Friday, February 25, 2011

I LOVE SPARTACUS!!!!

If you haven't already been watching Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, you fucking should be!  I just finished watching the season finale a bit ago and it was FANTASTICALLY AMAZING AWESOMENESS TO THE MIZZITY MAXIMUS!!!  I have watched every episode except last week's the night and time it originally aired.  I actually watched last weeks ep this afternoon, unfortunately on the burn tv.  However, it totally amped me up for tonight's finale which absolutely blew my mind (much like many previous episodes have).  I'm totally stoked for the next season.  It is extremely unfortunate that the actor that plays the character of Spartacus, Andy Whitfield, has melanoma and actually, from what I've heard, has been recast.  I hope from the depths of my soul that he recovers and quickly because no one deserves the pain and heartache that cancer brings.

Whatever though, Gannicus and Crixus are super fine and made my night super-fly.  Now I'm watching the new Fatal Attractions which will be followed shortly by bedtime (since coffee is here tomorrow around 8ish).  And tomorrow's my weekly weigh-in...wish me luck!  I lost a whopping 4 lbs last week so I'm not expecting anything huge, but I've added some new moves to my workout and have been extremely consistent so it should pay off!

Random Bit of the Day

I think the reason blogger was being janky last night and not loading properly had everything to do with the fact that I was trying to stream a movie online...
I was browsing one of my favorite movie streaming sites looking for something good to watch when I happened upon the original 1974 version of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.  I had no idea that the 2009 version was a remake!  I totally loved The Taking of Pelham 123 with John Travolta and Denzel Washington.  After finding out that Walter Mathau was in the original, I felt I just had to see it.  I did a little research while waiting for my video to load and found that the original dispatcher's name was Lt. Zachary Garber but the remade character's name was Walter Garber.  It's a nice touch and a cool tribute to the late great Walter Mathau.  I didn't end up watching much but the intro to the old movie since it hadn't finished loading and I had to get to bed for today's early rising.  But I will be watching the rest of it when I can and I expect that it will be just as awesome as the remake.

Lucid Dream

I just had the most obnoxious lucid dream.  I woke up at 6:30 this morning since it's Friday and both Aaron and Terri go in at 7.  Z was already up by then.  So I fed him early cuz he was whimpering like he was hungry but after that he was just whiny.  I tried snuggling him for about an hour but he wouldn't fall asleep and eventually he started to buck and fight again.  So I got him a warm sippy and he fell asleep drinking it on the floor.  I put him in his bed and succeeded in falling asleep myself on the couch.  It is there where I experienced a lucid dream the likes of which I haven't had for a very long time...

I was watching Z at a completely different house, but for some reason it was actually theirs.  I wasn't living with them though, just sitting for them.  I remember that they had just moved in so there were boxes everywhere.  At one point I was working out and happened upon 3 piles of cat vomit in close proximity to my hand weights.  Later I found 3 more in the doorway to their bedroom.  At any rate, the day was today since I have a phone interview at 1 this afternoon.  I laid down on the couch to nap while Z was napping and suddenly it was 4:45 in the evening and Aaron was arriving home from work.  I looked at him in shock and cried that I had missed my interview.  I scrambled around to get my computer and send the company an email explaining that I needed to reschedule. 

At that point I sat bolt upright and stared at the clock in disbelief.  It was just a dream and it was only 10 am.  I can barely describe the feeling of panic the dream drove into me.  I will NOT be missing this interview this afternoon.  I have every intention of making sure Z is fully fed; if he's tired, I'll get him down for a nap.  And if he's awake and content, I'll put him in his saucer to watch an episode of the Smurfs.  Whatever happens, I'll be making that phone call and participating in that interview.

Oh yea, blogger was being lame-o last night when I was trying to post about my job interview today.  The place I've been corresponding with back and forth via email since Wednesday morning has agreed to do a phone interview today.  I'm not holding my breath about getting the job but I am very glad to already have an opportunity at my feet.  I will just have to wait and see how it pans out...and I will, of course, post an update either way.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Beck - Peaches & Cream

I freaking love this song!

Zeds Dead - White Satin


Jason sent me a link a couple nights ago to a site with some pretty sweet music mixes. I don't know if I'd go so far as to say that the title of the set is actually a descriptor but they are good. I like the first one but this the second one was awesome.
Panty Dropping Dubstep on 8tracks.com

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

300th Post

For this my groundbreaking 300th blogger post I would like to share my newly posted Craigslist ad:

Custom Hand-Painted Portraits

Monday, February 21, 2011

Random Bit of the Day

I've been experiencing difficulties getting to sleep at a decent time these past few nights (for reasons completely obvious to me, but not worth sharing).  Last night, I was explaining my woes to my best guy pal Jason via Skype video chat when he said I should check out some video on YouTube.  So I opened a new Safari browser and the front page story on my Yahoo homepage at that particular moment was this:

5 Foods That Help You Sleep

What's really interesting is that I had just eaten a banana about 30 minutes before.  Synchronicity is awesome and creepy like that.  Unfortunately I couldn't really tell if the banana actually helped since we ended up talking until almost 1 am...

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Brassiere

I was recently exposed to (no pun intended) a YouTube video tutorial of how to unhook a woman's bra (for a man, as I would assume a woman would know how to do this simple daily task).  It struck me as absolutely hilarious because unhooking my own bra is a-less-than-2-second endeavor.  However, from the reach-around position and an opposite point of view I can see how it might be troublesome.  Therefore, it would be considerably easier (for him and me) if he could unhook the blasted contraption in one fell swoop, same as I do.  Unfortunately that is easier said than done which I guess is what started the ridiculous YouTube tutorials including (but not limited to):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eorw05P_HSg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXvMp8LqmYE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvjKWtluiIA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JamX8-gwr_Y

World records: (cuz apparently this kinda shit is cool)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F84ZtfpSuYM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlUXgEXBTBk


And this Wikipedia description is hilarious in its own rite:
http://www.wikihow.com/Unhook-a-Bra

That is all...I think for the night seeing as it's almost 3am and I guess we have folks coming for coffee around 8-8:30...but since tomorrow's my weigh-in I'll be getting up slightly earlier than that...providing my alarms work as set...

I guess we'll see what happens...

...

Ok so I'm totally into Fatal Attractions...but also, I decided to listen to some music made by an old coworker/friend of mine and some of his friends.  This awesomeness is available at:

Jet Stone and Moving On (aka Tim Young=Awesome)

PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT: HE'S TOTALLY AWESOME (and I'm not makin' it up)

Friday, February 18, 2011

This couch potato is TVing it up tonight...

I can't believe it.  I totally forgot that tonight was Spartacus: Gods of the Arena night!  I had to work tonight and when I got home it was half over...at least we've got it on the dvr, I can watch it in 5 minutes if I want to.  Maybe I will cuz it's always just Aaron and me watching it when it first comes on (seeing as Terri's in bed by 8:30 even though it's Friday night and she doesn't work Saturdays).  And though we both LOVE the show, it is definitely a little awkward to watch some of the scenes with my brother.  :-P


And now that it's over and Aaron has retreated to bed for the night, I did a quick channel scan and decided to watch Fatal Attractions (for the first time) followed by Confessions: Animal Hoarding (a fav of mine).  I can't explain my fixation with shows like this but I can't seem to get enough of shows about other people's problems.  Other shows I've been watching as of late include (but not limited to):
Hoarders and Hoarding: Buried Alive
My Strange Addiction
What Not to Wear
My Life is a Zoo

Honestly, I can't wait until I have regular old full-time job where I'm not home during the day and I can't really watch all the crazy odd shows on Direct TV.  Also, when I get an apartment of my own, I have absolutely NO intention of paying for TV...just wifi, on which I can stream nearly everything I want.  Then maybe I won't be so attracted to these bizarro shows and I won't watch nearly as much TV as I do right now...

Did you know?

...that graphing calculator buttons are all individual buttons, not connected by anything but the plastic plate that holds them in place.  No?  Well I do now after dismembering two of them this evening.

I know, the extent of my life's excitement is staggering...

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Random Bit of the Day

I just finished watching the movie The Hand that Rocks the Cradle.  This would be the first time I've seen it from beginning to end.  HOLY CRAP AWESOMENESS! :D  The part I find the most entertaining is that the little girl in the movie, Emma, is played by the actress Madeline Zima.  She's had cameo roles in tons of different network shows like Law and Order, JAG, Touched by an Angel, King of the Hill, Gilmore Girls, 7th Heaven, Ghost Whisperer and Grey's Anatomy (only a few of which I actually watch or watched, ie the linked shows).  But her bigger roles were on The Nanny (barf) and on Heroes (yay!).

It's Thursday again?

Shame on me again for neglecting my blog again...and now a recap of the past week:

Last Friday, Matt and Angela and I hung out despite it being a Z-day for me.  Angela really wanted to get me a haircut (for my birthday, which isn't till June) so she and Matt kept Zidane company while I was getting my hair chopped off by Angela's stylist at Studio 26.  Then we had delicious soup, salad, and breadsticks at Olive Garden.
I worked most of the weekend.  Sunday was Jason's birthday; Monday was Valentine's Day.  The only thing of note that I did that day was apply for a job at a place that pays really really well despite the boring work and the required drug test.  I'm hoping to hear back from them ASAP because I'm broke and I really need to get out of this house.
On the plus side, the weather's been almost like spring this past few days though we can't get too used to it since winter is definitely not over.
Unfortunately, I still haven't filed my taxes yet but I've started my loan consolidation processes so I feel slightly accomplished.  I also finally heard back from the people in charge of the knitting and crocheting classes at Michaels.  I am officially the primary instructor for crocheting and the backup for Deb's knitting.  I, of course, have to take a course myself to get certified but I was told that I could take the course online while teaching classes in store.  I'll get a gift card to pay for my supplies plus 50 bucks per 2-hour class.  Sweet deal.
And now, since I finally got Z to sleep for his AM nap I'm going to utilize my time wisely.  Workout followed by taxes if possible.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Random Bit of the Day

I took Z to lunch with Jon today; we had Chinese Express (naughty me).  Afterward we hung out at his house watching season 4 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  Sweet Dee is my favorite character, especially when she's drunk or performing in public.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Nothing but porcelein under her skin.

Wow, I've been slacking in posting for a bit.  Well, my schedule got all whacked out this weekend because Angela was sick.  So I worked Saturday night and more hours Sunday.  Afterward went to the Super Bowl party at Jon and Marcy's house.  Mom and Dad were there, and Chloe, poor sick little girl.  I read her a bedtime story though. :) <3

Unfortunately this evening was more of the same with the master and commander of this nest.  I'm just tired of getting so angry that nothing I ever do is right around here.  It's blatantly clear that my time here at this residence is limited far more than originally anticipated.  I've got to regroup and get out.  Enough said.

I pulled myself out of my earlier funk with the beginning of an episode of Glee but it's loading presently so here I type.  I watched the Rocky Horror Glee Show episode this afternoon which was totally awesome.  I loved that Barry Bostwick guest starred in it.  Today I also got that massage that mom gave me a gift certificate for.  I got a half hour long massage and it was blissful but now that the day has worn on and I foolishly took a nap after Glee this afternoon instead of working out or folding laundry, my back has started to ache in strange new places.  So I think if I can manage to squeeze some yoga tomorrow between chasing Ella and keeping Z from pounding her, I'll feel a little better.  For now I'm skipping laundry for now and curling up in bed with my freshly loaded Never Been Kissed Glee episode.  But first I'm going to find a healthy snack to accompany this pear I have.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Move it

I've spent the bulk of my online time today putting together this list of links to exercises I may want to integrate into my workout and some that I already consistently do*.  I may add more eventually cuz I'm feeling lean and mean after a couple hearty workouts today (while Z was napping and after Aaron came home and that ugly post earlier).  I hope I don't cave later and have more of a snack than this banana I just grabbed from the kitchen.  I've been working hard this week and with a few additions to my workout sequences I may have a really good weigh in/measure this Saturday.  I'd say right now that I do about 30% weight/strength training, 40% yoga, 20% cardio, and 10% free-form (dancing, tossing Z, etc).  I switch up my routine daily and try new things a lot.

Ab/Core Exercises:
*Core Strengthening Exercise
Ball Balance
Seated Torso Twist
Side Bridge with Hip Drops
Rotations on the Ball
Core Strengthen and Stretch
*Oblique Crunches

Leg Exercises:
*Squats
Squat Modifications
*Quadruped Hip Extensions
*Lunges
*Step Ups

*Arm Exercises

Back Exercises:
Strengthen and Stretch
*Dumbbell Pullover
*Dumbbell Rows
*Back Extension

Yoga Poses:
Yoga and Pilates for Abs
*Mountain Pose
*Raised Hands Pose
*Standing Forward Bend
*Standing Straddle Forward Bend
*Downward-facing Dog
*Extended Side Angle Pose
*Extended Triangle Pose
*Warrior 1 Pose
*Warrior 2 Pose
Pyramid Pose
*Awkward Chair Pose
Lizard Pose
Reverse Warrior Pose
Revolved Side Angle Pose
Revolved Triangle Pose
Knee to Ankle Pose
Cow Face Pose
*Hero Pose
Lotus Pose
*Pigeon Pose
Bow Pose
Camel Pose
Fish Pose
*Locust Pose
*Upward Facing Dog
Side Plank Pose

I switch up my routine daily and try new things a lot.  However, I'm thinking of focusing more attention towards yoga and increasing my flexibility.  I don't think I'm quite back at the same level I was 5 years ago when I did yoga every single day.  But I think soon enough I will be and I want to actually surpass my abilities from before and start doing more advanced poses.  All the ones above here are beginner or intermediate and are all poses I can do (or try at least one rep of).  I think that if I slowly work at it I could eventually become really good at advanced yoga.

As a little aside, I'm watching Aaron play Dead Space 2 right now and hot damn is that shit brutal!  But kind of awesome too...