Couch Potatoette

Along the lines of the state-the-obvious-research that showed drinking alcohol makes others appear better looking, they've now proven that couch potatoes tend to be obese. Duh. The major scientific breakthrough - they surmised that the drive to sit or lounge is genetic, rather than caused by the fact that they are/become obese.

...undergarment readings confirmed that the obese participants sat or reclined an average 2.5 hours more per day than their skinny peers... Despite their newly svelte status, these participants continued to prefer lounging over being more active. "This drive seems very fixed," he said.

Bottom line, whether it's genetic or just lazy-ass syndrome (which I suffer from often), everyone still knows that you need to get off your ass to lose weight. I probably have a genetic predisposition to become addicted to drugs but I know it's bad (very bad) so I don't give myself the opportunity. Not to compare this to being a couch potato - because it's not as if I'm surrounded by chunks of crack that I just choose to pass up each day. The opportunity to sit on you butt and watch Scrubs or reruns of Friends is constant and unrelenting. I understand this. I just think that to spend money on this research is ridiculous when they could have donated some memberships to Weight Watchers and at least helped create thinner, healthier couch pototoes.

Snow Peeves

As you may or may not know, we got dumped on with snow last week. I've lived in snow almost my whole life (minus those three years I spent in Vegas learning to be superficial and morally bankrupt), but there are some things I just can't get used to.

For example, how can someone who, for the past 7 or so snow-free months, understood the appropriate parking distance thanks to the yellow lines, suddenly, when those lines are covered by snow, become devoid of any sensibility such that they park soooo far away from the next car that each could open their doors and not ding one another... yet just close enough that another car cannot fit between them, causing the parking lot to now only fit half the number of cars it could in the spring? I cannot comprehend the stupidity present when someone parks like this. They are someone I want to beat over the head with a mallet.

And then there are the morons who are too damn lazy to wipe off their cars. I kid you not, a guy drove by the other day... his windshield barely wiped clean, and the rest of his car - including the back window - covered with 5 inches of snow, which was blowing off his car and leaving everyone behind him to navigate through his home-made blizzard. Mallet please.

And of course, those that drive too fast or too close. I pity the soul who decides to ride my bumper, then as I have to break for a wayward chunk of snow, plows into the back of me. Hello road rage! I better get a nerf mallet to put in my car.

Strangers with Candy

I am a huge fan of The Daily Show and of the now-defunct tv show Strangers with Candy. So I was delightfully surprised to turn on NPR (as I always do) to hear an interview with Stephen Colbert - who is brilliantly funny on both.

Strangers with Candy was just so wrong on so many levels... such as this one of many quotes:
"How many of you wanna wake up in a public bathroom, lying in a pool of what you HOPE is your own filth?"

So I was estactic to learn that they made Strangers With Candy movie - which is premiering at Sundance tonight. If I were independently wealthy, I would be on a plane to Salt Lake City right now.

My Friends

I have some very cool friends. There is Jenny, who is insanely creative and always finding new ways to express it, from Christmas Cocktails to Lollipop Cozies. There is Daniela, the dynamic sexpot, who got me my first pair of high boots and has inspired me with her taste and class ever since. There are the musicians - Jessica, with the voice of an angel, and Sarah who plays a mean french horn and tickles the ivories so well. There is Amy, who took a risk and pulled ideas together to author the hippest knitting book yet. There is Peppermint Tina, whose thoughtful words and gifts make me feel so special. There is Joel, who won't put his knives in the dishwasher, but will put chicken bones down the garbage disposal. There are many others - actors, painters, writers, artists, thinkers, travelers, mothers, fathers, and those who have a talent for humor.


The latest to impress is Mikha, who has had two really cool books published this past year. One is all about good luck charms and the other about spices. Unfortunately, they are in Portuguese, but even though I don't understand the words, the books are little works of art, with great pictures and beautiful design.

My friends insprire me. I am a lucky girl.

Oreo Personality

I took the Oreo Personality quiz and this is what it said about me:

Everyone likes you because you are always upbeat. You like to sugar coat unpleasant experiences and rationalize bad situations into good ones. You are in total denial about the shambles you call a life.

Sounds about right =)

Pictures!

It has taken me awhile to get back to my blog. I have been spending my evening computer time working on editing and sorting and adding titles to the pictures I took.

One of the drawbacks of buying a 1GB memory card for your camera - you take a TON of pictures and then have to sort through them to get to a collection that might not bore the hell out of everyone else.

So, after sorting through over 500 pictures, here, finally, is a photo album of pictures from Brazil.

Some quick highlights:

Tsunami Sadness

While I was away, we heard little news. When we left Sao Paulo, the death toll in the tsunami was estimated at 11,000. When we heard of it again a week later, it was up to 140,000. As I've returned back and am watching the news, I am seeing the true devastation and it deeply saddens me. I see images of beaches that prior to the waves, looked just like the beach I was on in Brasil. It is scary to think about being subjected to the fury of the sea. It's hard to understand why these things happen, sometimes to the smallest, most innocent among us.

Back from Paradise

Arrived home from Brazil yesterday, exhausted and a little bit in shock. It's not easy to go from warm, sandy beaches to cold, snowy roads. It was an amazing trip - gorgeous scenery, great weather, and wonderful people.

So as not to type a dissertation, I will try to list some highlights of the trip:

- Beautiful wedding
- Brasilian coffee
- Cheese for breakfast
- Fruit, fruit & more fruit
- Guarana Light
- 3 day bus trip north thru Brasil
- Flip Flops
- Churrascaria - Brasilian BBQ - a carnivore's dream
- bumpy, dirt/sand roads to Beach house
- Paradise
- Falling asleep & waking to sound of waves crashing
- Rising moons & starlit skies
- Sunscreen
- Caipirinhas
- Coconut Water
- Cashew Water
- Sunscreen
- Trying to learn Portuguese
- Riding in the dune buggy (pronounced boogy in Portuguese)
- Brasilian bikinis
- Sunscreen
- Gorgeous Brasilian women
- Hunky Brasilian men
- Skinny Brasilian dogs
- Boat Trip up the Lagoon from Marau to Barre Grande
- Lots of Sunscreen
- Yoga under the stars
- Getting hit on by a cute young Brasilian (que é seu nome?)
- Beach Volleyball
- Bug spray
- riding Shakey (the horse)
- Harry the dog taking my sneaker
- Pousadas - Bahia Boa
- Shrimp with faces & legs (yikes!)
- Yoga in the rain
- Family & Friends & Friends who have become Family

Feliz Natal

With things looking much better on the family front, our first day in Brasil has been wonderful. A bit jetlagged from an overnight flight, but between the Guarana and espresso, and the best Christmas Eve I´ve had in three years, I´m feeling pretty energetic.

We exchanged gifts, had a delicious dinner of lamb (yes, I tasted it and, to my surprise, liked it), turkey, rissoto, and rice, panettone filled with ice cream for dessert, and then listened to Daniela´s very talented friend Edrick play the guitar and sing for us. After Edrick sang, another friend of the family, Caroline, played the piano and sang opera. The evening was topped of when Daniela´s Dad sat down at the piano (something he rarely does) and played some beautiful music.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Paradise Found

Thank God for frequent flier miles. They have made it possible for Hubby & I to go to Brasil to be in Daniela's wedding. We leave tomorrow (today). We are so excited. Her family is so incredibly kind and generous, they take us in and take care of us. I feel like I am getting the gift of parents for Christmas because Daniela's family are the kind of people who treat you like one of their own. I just hope I don't get overcome with emotion and start bawling.

The wedding is on Sunday and I know it will be beautiful. Chuck is in charge of the rings, so I hope he doesn't faint or, worse yet, forget them.

The next day we all head up to the beach house in Maraú. The drive will be incredible, taking around two days, it will take us through the small towns in Brasil that most tourists don't get to see.

Then, relaxation on the beach for the next week.

Damn, after the month I've had, I need this. Though I am sure I am going to worry like crazy about my Brother. He does seem to be doing better today though. One day at a time, as they say in the program.

Have a safe, warm and happy holiday!

I
think
I
am
officially
turning
nocturnal.

Rebates Repulse Me

I hate rebates, they're the biggest scam EVER. These companies KNOW that 98% of us are schlumps who let them expire or just don't even bother. So today, when I bought new memory cards for my digital cameras, I tried to be very proactive and fill out the forms right away. On the form I noticed a web address - FINALLY - they're making it easy with online registration... so I went to the Office Max website and, lo and behold, it's BEING UPGRADED and ISN'T AVAILABLE.

YEAH, RIGHT! Why don't they just add a link to buy the Brooklyn Bridge.

em effers.

Cookie Monster

Well, I missed Jenny's Cookies & Cocktails party, major bummer. Her party was inspired by our favorite restaurant here in LA, Lola's, who serves hot fresh baked cookies as a dessert... so damn good!

So to make up for missing the party, on Friday night, bro called Lola's to order Cookies for take out... but much to our dismay, they were having a private party and weren't providing food. So we called again tonight, another private Christmas party. No fresh baked cookies. How sad is that?

Then again, I'm the type who puts my cookies in the fridge and my Faux Ho's in the freezer... and since Hubby grabbed me some molasses cookies that I will be sinking my teeth into within the next 48 hours, it really isn't so bad.

Day 4

Still in LA, in the midst of helping family. Things are going much better, though the stress is giving me migraines, upset stomaches, and crying spells. But it's what needed to happen.

Had a good day today, lunch at Bossa Nova, about the best Chicken Lasagna I've ever had... and for the first time in what seems like weeks, a REALLY GOOD Starbucks Vanilla Latte (non-fat, sugar free, extra vanilla, with whip - whew!)... a visit to some inspiring friends, and a stop at Costco - which was so insanely-mobbed, it's reason enough to keep me from moving to LA.

That said, having not shopped in quite some time, especially given the actual NEED to shop this time of year, I feel like I'M jonesing*. Driving by M.A.C., Kitson, Beverly Center, and Fred Segal about put me over the edge. I need SOMETHING, just a little bit of Target or Gap would get me through...

*I am NOT a Shopoholic, I checked the symptoms, hubby is well aware of all my purchases and I don't have to sell off my collection of Beanie Babies to pay my bills.

On a Mission

Family crisis got too much to bear, so at at 1am Wednesday I booked a flight and at 6am I was on my way to Las Vegas. I have to try to help, even if I'm not really the one who can change things. If something bad were to happen, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I hadn't at least visited.

Meanwhile, I think my body is feeling the effects of extreme stress, but I can't worry about that right now.

Winter Wonderland

Back in NY and greeted with cold and snow. I really don't mind the snow as far as looking at it and snowboarding on it... but the driving in it and walking through the parking lot in it (and nearly biting it) I could do without.

But for me, growing up in the Northeast, it just wouldn't be Christmas without it.

Love, Actually is Putting me on The Edge of Reason

Parts of my life seem to mirroring Colin Firth movies, but not in the way you might think.

I'll start with the Portuguese I am trying to learn, ala Colin Firth in Love Actually. We are going to Brasil in a couple weeks for Daniela's wedding and I don't want to be a completely ignorant American who can't even attempt to communicate. But I did also, just in case, buy the Point It book with all the pictures of stuff you might need, and I will be surrounded by beautiful Brasilian women - Daniela, Mika, Sofia and Charlotte - who will help me shop =)

This weekend, we're visiting the in-laws, who live in Florida's premiere retirement hotspot, The Villages - smack dab in the middle of the state. Earlier today, we went to a Christmas brunch, where I felt like Bridget Jones, mainly because we were half as old as the majority of people there, and most of them were wearing Christmas jumpers.

And the worst of all, I'm spending most of my time here worried about my family. I'm like Laura Linney in 'Love Actually', on the phone all the time, trying to make their lives better while nearly sacrificing my own sanity.

At least it's sunny here, not very warm, but sunny.

Gorilla Tears

Having a rough time as of late. Our family can't have good without bad rearing it's ugly head. Too much to mention, too depressing, and no matter how bad you think you have it, someone else is dealing with much worse crap.

So given my state of mind, when I read about the wake they had for Babs the Gorilla at the Brookfield Zoo, I bawled my eyes out...

"Babs' 9-year-old daughter, Bana, was the first to approach the body, followed by Babs' mother, Alpha, 43. Bana sat down, held Babs' hand and stroked her mother's stomach. Then she sat down and laid her head on Babs' arm."

Waaaahhhhhh!!!

Wake me Up When I'm Skinny

It's not new, I've heard it before, sleep affects your weight. But the new research spells it out a bit more. When you're sleep deprived your body makes more of the hormone that makes you want to eat and less of the one that tells you to stop eating. It also makes you want to eat all the crap that you didn't sleep long enough to dream about... Krispy Kremes, lasagna, Butterfingers, Big Gulps...

If sleep were the key to eating less, I should have been emaciated on those summer vacations when I stayed up until 2am watching tv but then slept until 3pm - getting up just in time to see Blackie & Jackie go at it General Hospital. Unfortunately, I was still a chubby girl exposed to a few too many late night cable movies.

So basically, I've tried the Stay in Bed all Day Diet (SO ahead of my time) and it didn't work. Because, realistically, you only have to be awake for an hour to down a box of Fruity Pebbles, some pop tarts, some leftover pizza of which you ate most of the night before and wash everything down with a few pepsis... and appetite has little to do with those food choices, while instant gratification and tastebud extacy do.