Our Nation's Capital

So I am in Washington DC for the next few days attending a conference for work. While here I decided to take advantage of the alone time and power walk through the city. I have been here countless other times but I dont know that I have ever been here by myself. This city is wonderful! It is truly awe-inspiring...from the monuments to the park greens that populate the city this place showcases all that is good about city living. I love the fact that the downtown area is designed as a walking city. Everywhere you look there are people walking...old, young, tourists, city residents. Not having an actual city in Detroit really makes you appreciate a real city when you visit one. What is really cool is that cars actually respect/defer to pedestrians here! They wait for you to cross the street!! Being from the New York/New Jersey area, I am used to a survival of the fittest contest when it comes to crossing city streets, so this is a definite change of pace.

Back on-line....

POS work laptop crapped out on me this week. I didn't realize how dependent I was on my work computer until it crashed. I am definitely going to have to invest in a new laptop and I already know what I want...now I just need the cash. Which unfortunately is in short supply right now...hmmm...I will figure it out, I always do. Which brings me to my newest endeavor, I am starting my own business! I think??? It's all very murky right now, without a clear direction, but I do know this..I will never have the freedom financially and emotionally that I need if I continue to work for others. I have to take control...find my own path.

Losin It

So that is the name of the company weight loss challenge. By company I mean, a contest run byt he sales guys to see who can lose the greater percentage of weight by the National Sales Meeting in December. It's a $50.00 buy in and the grand prize is almost a $1000.00! So of course, I wanted in. Getting in this thing means that I had to publicly disclose my weight to everyone in the contest...a prickly endeavor for any woman. But I rationalized to myself that the momentary embarassment that I would face for broadcasting my weight would be worth the money if/when I won. So four days into this contest I am having buyer's remorse. Men can take a crap and lose 5 pounds! Me, I am going to have to starve and work out like a dog for 2-3 weeks to lose 5 pounds...what was I thinking??? I was blinded by the thought of using the prize money to buy a new MacBook Pro laptop that I became a little delusional. What I have on my side is that this contest lasts 3 1/2 months and the men like most men, will start out hard and strong in the beginning and by the end they will limp weakly to the finish line. At least now I have a reason to get refocused. I fell off the wagon so to speak in July and have had a hard time getting back into gear. The thing about the wagon is, it is very slippery. Apparently mine has been coated in french fry grease :) So here it is, a new day in my blogging as a write down for all to see that my starting weight is 173 pounds...God that hurt. But hopefully that will be the last time I ever see that number unless there is a baby growing inside of me...though at almost 41 I don't know that, that will happen again either....but that is a topic for another day. Wish me luck and stay tuned! Something tells me that the next 3 months will be interesting.

New family photos

Cultural Anthropology

Airports are a crash course in cultural anthropolgy. Even though I hate the constant travel, I love sitting at the airport watching people. Not regional airports, for good people watching you have to go to a large international airport, where you get people from all over the world! I have to tell you, foreign women are getting it done! Latin, Asian and Italian women are pimping when they travel. I mean 5" stillettos, fantastic outfit, hair, make-up all done as if Tyra Banks is doing a casting call for ANTM at the airport. I see these women and I have a true appreciation for the presentation, especially when you compare them to the throngs of American women who have opted for extreme comfort sweatpants, flip-flops, hair in a top knot with no make-up. Jackie O, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn, we have failed you! Now I am not crazy enough to wear stillettos in the airport when travelling, that is just madness especially if you have to run for a plane. But I do make sure to look extra cute when travelling, even in flats....Another observation, women from ethiopa/somalia are stunning. I watched an entire deplane of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Everybody looked like Iman or Zahara Pitt, definitely not good for the ego when you have been up for 12 hours and you look like you have been beaten with a stick.

Crusin for a Bruisin

Uggh! Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise...for those of us who are not from Detroit and who are not "gear heads", dream cruise is nothing but a self-induced traffic jam that lasts for days! I honestly don't get it. People sit on the side of the road to watch traffic! Sure there are some cool custom cars, but couldn't they just rent a parking lot and make them all go there? No, instead they choose to clog the main artery through multiple towns for this hillbilly fest! So in an effort to miss this "Extravaganza" we went north and took Benjamin to Huckleberry Railroad. Huckleberry Railroad is a "historical" village that you can tour to see what life was like at the turn of the century. They have rides for the kids, carousel, ferris wheel, river boats, etc. but all of that is an additional cost! By the way did I mention that Thomas the Train and Bob the Builder were both there yesterday? Benjamin was jacked through the roof! Between the rides, games and Thomas, I think yesterday migth have been the best day of his life. We spent a small fortune up there, but Ben was so happy, it was worth it. I am kind of tired today, butI will definitely post pictures tomorrow of the trip.

I kill myself

I just read my last entry, I crack myself up! But here is what is so crazy, still on the exercise band wagon and still no sign of muscle tone! I think the new problem is that regular TV ended! You know summer hiatus when all of your favorite shows go into repeats for the summer. So I have had no choice but to watch cable shows. I am now officially addicted to th food network! Which might be why I have no muscle tone! The funniest thing is that I think after watching the food network for 2 months that I am gourmet chef...I critique Michael's cooking and even worse I have started cooking. But I am only into cooking desserts right now...hmm the trials and tribulations of a fat girl...in any case at least I am having a good summer. Lots of fun with Ben and Mike, which all that matters.

Mike and Ben at the Berkely Fire Department!