Things I Think Count For Exercise

*I'm trying this out here first so that maybe I can peddle it into an article for the Yahoo Network. Let me know what you think (or if you have any suggestions, please gimme a shout out).

Like I think everyone in the world, I constantly battle the pressure to stay healthy by getting the necessary amount of exercise one needs every day. Also like everyone else, unfortunately, time is usually a factor. But what I've read and discovered on my own is that sometimes the oddest things we do everyday can actually be considered exercise- at least in my eyes. Read on for my tips and please let me know any tricks you have learned.

1.) Using the Stairs- When I'm at work, spending numerous hours at my computer, rarely getting up or moving around, I figure I am entitled to a 15-20 minute walking break. And when the weather is lousy (or my usual walking buddy is absent) I still like to get at least some exercise by hiking up and down the stairwell. It's virtually empty and I can actually get a pretty good sweat going in a few minutes by taking steps two-at-a-time.

2.) Playing with the Dog- One of the benefits of having a yard AND a dog is that I can "work out" without even leaving my property. I'll usually toss the ball and then race the dog to catch it. If I beat her I toss the ball again. If she beats me I lunge after the ball everytime she runs past. Plus I get a whole other muscle group involved when I have to carefully but quickly dodge her little "presents" around the yard. It's surprisingly fun, and constantly sprinting, throwing, and lunging actually gets my heart pumping.

3.) Parking Far Away- This one could be applied anytime, depending on how strapped you are for time, the weather (and how many bags you have to carry back out). But I like purposely parking farther away because you do get those extra few steps added to your exercise for the day. Nice bonus-- on a crowded day you will have less trouble parking and exiting, since most people want to get as close as they can to the store.

4.) Household Chores- Laundry and Cleaning- I really never thought this would count, but I think it should, and according to things I've read, sometimes it legitimately does. Hauling armloads of laundry down a few flights of stairs, crouching to stuff things into a washer and dryer, then pulling it back out and bringing everything back upstairs- you can definitely burn some calories. Mopping, vacuuming, and scrubbing also give your back and arms a good workout. I guess that's why they call it "housework"!

5.) Playing Baseball and Boxing on the Wii Sport- I love our Wii and one of the reasons why is it basically comes with a workout regime- the Wii Sports. Sure it's fun anyway, but when you actually want to blast some energy and feel a burn in your arms for days, try the fitness mode of the baseball and boxing. Trust me; it's exhausting and exhilarating at the same time.

It's true I am not a licensed health advisor and I may have no clinical proof to back up what I say. All I know is that by doing some or all of these things, I am able to break a sweat and lose my breath- two signs I'm pretty sure are all the proof I need. And the best part is that these are things I would do anyway.

Now if only there was a way to incorporate sitting on my butt as exercise...

Drinking and Dying

Is it possible to need two days to recover from a hangover? My stomach and head have still been giving me grief all day- although the headache could be from staring at a computer screen for 8 hours straight...the stomach, meh, my stomach always hurts.

The thing is, I didn't even do anything that crazy that would MERIT a two-day recovery period. I drank beer. Just BEER. Sure, there were a few cups fulls, but c'mon, I can't even drink plain old beer without paying for it the next day?? What kind of rip-off is that?

It's especially infuriating when I see both real people and the television people (or television people on shows on Netflix on Demand that I've never seen before, and therefore, am not cheating on my television embargo) being able to guzzle beer whenever and however, and seemingly recover instantaneously. The only time I was remotely able to do that was in college, and that was because my liver was still pretty show-room new and I was hanging out with foreigners who taught me to drink like a cross country runner instead of a sprinter.

Now, it seems I have a glass of wine and my stomach and head are messed up all the next day. I am whining I know, I'll try to stop.

In case you couldn't tell, I had no idea what to write about tonight but I'd like to try and write for all four days. Unfortunately for you, the reader, it could make for some tedious reading. Lemme see if I can drudge up some good embarrassment for you...oh I got it.

Don't you hate it when someone holds the door for you when you don't want them to? We have to entrances to my office: the main one and the side one. The side one is the one I always go thru b/c it's closest to my desk. But sometimes if someone is walking ahead of me back to the office they will hold the door for me thru the main entrance. I usually just comply, even after I try and show them that I have my access card AND that I'm going the other way.

Well, the other day I was in a precarious situation- I had a guy from my office in front of me walking to the door and two guys behind me. As I'm sure you already know, I like to be as invisible at work as possible (or at least until I know for sure I am liked). The guy ahead opened the door and held it for me, thinking I was going in that way. I fumbled again for access key and muttered something like "I...uhh, I've...got...ma..key".

I thought he understood my signals and so I was just letting the door closed. Suddenly the guys behind me (who are notoriously sarcastic but cool) yelled, "Hey! What're you doin, not holding the door for us?"

The guy who had been in front simply said, "I was holding it for her," as I quickly ducked down the long hallway. When I heard him alluding to me, I was still just as flustered, just louder.

"OH! I've...got..my...this...I'm...good. Th-th-thanks, s-s-sorry!"

It was another one of those great moments where it probably wasn't a big deal, but internally I was tightening the noose. Oh well.

Hope that got a chuckle from ya. See ya tomorrow!

Cheese, please?

As I think you know, I'm what you call a finicky eater- the list is long of foods I don't like, but I go one step further by disliking cold foods. The worst of these are meats and cheeses. I like meat. I like cheese. But either one cold is usually a deal breaker for me (as you can imagine I'm no breeze when it comes to lunch).

While I have given up hope on eating meat cold (just can't get past the texture and smell), I am trying to stretch my appetite borders by exploring more cheeses. There was a cheese ball that Joe's mom made for the holidays that was stupendous. Everyone else dove right in right away, and I, feeling brave after a glass of wine, decided to sample as well. It was good- very good- and cold. I was pleased with myself and proceeded to make that same cheese ball at a party of our own.

Still, because I'm such a novice with cheese I still have a hard time guessing what I like and don't. I tend to think it's a taste that requires some time to acquire, so I'm trying avenues here and there, when time and money permits. I also always envied the people who could enjoy wine and cheese at the same time, practically making a meal on just that. S0 one cheese I am trying with that, and currently loving, is brie.

I tried brie for the first time in a home ec class in high school, when our teacher placed slivers on French baguettes and popped them in the oven. I remember the smell and taste being otherworldly, so I figured I had that one down.

Then a while ago I was visiting my friend Kel, and as we were talking she put out some brie slices and crackers for us to snack on. I took one piece just to be polite, and then found myself trying to leave her at least one piece, just to be polite- I could've eaten the whole log.

So on a trip to Trader Joe's I spied what looked like the same brie log, and it wasn't too expensive. Once I had bought some crackers too, I set about having my own cheese and crackers while cooking dinner. I loved it; Joe, on the other hand, wasn't thrilled.

I kept it up until the week rolled on, and it was a few days before I would have my brie again. Now, when I say I am an amateur cheese-eater, I mean it. I looked to see if there was mold growing yet and when I didn't I sliced myself a few slivers.

Joe walked in and saw what I was doing.

"Is that that same cheese?" he asked. I told him yes, and he replied.

"Uh, hun, that cheese is probably bad. It's been open for over a week."

I told him, naah, I think it tasted fine.

I'm not sure if it was his suggestion or if it really had gone bad, but suddenly I began to lose the taste. I didn't get sick or anything, but all of a sudden it tasted as if I was eating pure butter slabs. There was a bitter and salty aftertaste that seemed to linger. I swallowed that last of my slivers and tossed the tiny remainder away.

I'm not saying I'm going to give up on cheese. On the contrary, I intend to head over to TJ's and try something new. And when I wonder if the cheese I am eating is bad, I'll know what to do: compare it to a stick of Land O' Lakes.

Whiney Wednesday

Despite the fact that I had a fairly good day, I still feel like bitching a little bit. Not over anything big, but maybe you can relate to some of these little annoyances...

1.) My toenail keeps snagging the inside of my sock, even though I gave myself a pedicure less than a week ago! It's probably not even the nail, it's probably some dry skin. And speaking of gross...

2.) I have a scab on the inside of my nose that is so annoying and SO painful. Yet my nose keeps running, so I blow my nose, and then I see blood. How does my nose run AND be super dry at the same time!?!? It doesn't make sense. It's this weather...and speaking of weather.

3.) I know everyone says "March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb", but I always sorta thought that had something to do with it just being rainy and then sunny, not temptingly warm and blissful and then bitter cold. The high tomorrow is going to 38...38! In March!! Ugh, get warm already...my spring clothes are waiting.

4.) (Enough of the chain segues..) There is a woman who walks to work everyday and I always pass her when I'm driving. I used to do the polite head nod and smile but I have a weird history with this woman.

Back in the summer when we first moved in she had befriended me and often chatted about dog-related stuff. One day she mentioned how she thought her dogs and Georgia should have a play date (and if you heard this story already feel free to move on), and when I agreed I was immediately regretting my decision. Her one dog snapped at the other so bad it's ear began to bleed.

I was trying to suggest another time but she seemed determined and eventually just dropped both dogs into the yard. I was still tense but they played ok (if not a little rough and bullish). Anyway, they stayed for a while until finally she left and Joe and I agreed never to allow her over again.

Since then I still see her walking by but I am so terrified of another "play date" I thought it best just to cut that friendship off, so I try to find ways to avoid eye contact. Sometimes I just NEED to change the radio station at that exact moment, other times I need to reach for my phone for some reason, and still other times I just make a dazed or concerned face, pretending to ponder over life's mysteries or just trying to really really concentrate on driving.

Anyway, those are my current annoyances, but other than that, life's not too bad. How bout you? Leave a comment, won't we?

Sometime You Wanna Go...Where Everybody Kinda Knows Your Name

I like being regular. Wait, I mean, I like being A regular, especially when it comes to bars and restaurants. There's nothing quite like the feeling of walking into an establishment and feeling immediately recognized and welcome. I've tried to achieve that feeling everywhere I tend to go: hair salons, auto body shops, take-out restaurants, etc. However the only place that has seemed to take root is a local Indian restaurant right in Towson called Cafe Spice.

Joe, another one who shares that unending mission to find his "place" (and did so for a while at Fazzini's, the Italian restaurant back in Timonium), and I would often meander over to Cafe Spice over the weekend to partake in their buffet. Before we moved whenever we got a hankering for some samosas and tikka masala we would walk to India Palace, where we felt we were beginning to become regulars but for some reason, out of nowhere, the same guy that usually waited on us turned slightly chilly, and we never regained our hold.

Still, it was the convenience and food we thought we would miss more, so when we moved to Towson we were happy to find another Indian place that was both in walking distance and held a weekend buffet. We began going so often in fact that we soon became recognizable to the owner, who always sat us and asked how we were. We began striking up conversations about her food, the weather, her travels to India, even the details of her husband's surprise party. She never called us by our names; still, whenever she saw us walking down the ramp to her restaurant below she always greeted us with a wide smile.

Soon, the perks started to happen. After we were full a small dessert would magically appear before us. One of the most recent times we commented on a drink called lassi, and thought it looked refreshing. Lo and behold as we were digesting two small glasses of lassi were placed in front of us. Joe and I would just beam at each other: we had found "our place". So you can imagine how bummed we were when the owner informed us they were moving.

"But...where are you going?" we both asked, sadly.

"Up to Timonium area. Then we can have actual windows to see outside," she said smiling. She seemed excited so we didn't want to bring her down, but after she walked away we were stunned. How could our place be gone?

As we were leaving we promised her we would still come up and visit as often as possible, but Joe and I knew it wouldn't be the same. I mean, where else could we go that was stumbling distance away and satisfy our massive hunger for less than $8 each?

So it appears the quest will begin again. Maybe we should try something other than Indian. I hear the Roly Poly is in the market for regulars??

Keep The Old...

Can't tell if this fatigue I'm feeling is just end-of-week related, or lots-of-stuff-happening related or simply I-went-out-last-night-and-had-a-few-beers-and-some-whiskey-drink related, but anyway, I am lethargic.

But I haven't written in a few days, so let's catch up.

I got a message on facebook from an old childhood friend that's touring with Seussical the Musical and she said that their company was coming to Towson. When she had first posted that she was touring I mentioned to her to let me know if and when they come to the Baltimore/Washington area. Needless to say I was surprised they were not only coming to the area, but coming right into my neighborhood! We organized a time for me to pick her up from her hotel and we'd get dinner while catching up. I was excited, but truthfully a bit nervous as well.

I think it was because she IS a girl I have known most of my life, living in the same town and going to the same schools for all those years. She has seen me at my best (and worst), and yet, being adults now, I wanted to make sure I left a good impression, reminding her of my better moments, as opposed to my most awkward. It is here that I must pose a question..

It might have been a Louis C.K. joke, but still, don't you HATE it when you do something stupid, and even though it's not a big deal, you still just want to kill yourself? Wait for it...

I tried to think of a place near Towson that might impress her (although since she lives in New York, I knew it was going to be a challenge) and quickly turned into Razorbacks, a restaurant/bar nearby.

As we walked in and waited for the hostess, I felt pretty good. I was holding my own in our conversations, trading comments and quips like the old days. Then the hostess came back up and mumbled something while gathering menus. Because she was looking at us and holding the menus I immediately began following her, assuming she was taking us to our table.

I noticed my friend lagging behind and when my head finally came out of the clouds I realized I had nearly joined another group to their table. The other people smiled and laughed sympathetically (at the poor idiot girl), and I rejoined my friend, trying like hell to make it seem like it wasn't a big deal (meanwhile I was mentally tying a noose around my neck).

Thankfully we were both able to laugh it off, and my friend, god love her, was able to bring us right back to whatever we were talking about.

Oh well, friends, especially old friends, are still your friends because they share a ride in your memories. And they are still able to like you...even when you unintentionally nearly ditch them for a pack of hungry strangers.

Casi-nope

If I may tack one more thing on my list of vices, I have to declare I am a fan of gambling. Well, maybe not so much the poker or Black Jack kind of gambling; instead I prefer the blind luck of the slot machine. I can certainly understand why some choose the card games over machines, seeing as how you have at least SOME control in a card game. However, there's nothing quite like the instant gratification you experience when those lights go off and loud music starts to play from your machine, all pointing to you as if to say, "There is a winner right here!"

In fact, I'm a sucker for any kind of gaudy lights and fixtures, which brings me to my second love: the casino.

Over the years I have been able to visit several casinos ranging from the cheapest to the most extravagant. But while the casinos themselves may differ vastly, what hasn't changed much is my strict spending policy. Whatever cash I have is game, but after that, I call it quits. Well, at least, for the most part...

Anyway, I was really excited when I first heard that the law had passed for casinos to be built in Maryland, and even more so when the first one opened not too far away. Joe and I had been waiting for the opportunity to finally visit, and come Valentine's weekend, we finally had our chance.

We both woke up and dressed fairly early. I even took a few extra seconds to put an outfit together and fix my hair nice. We kissed the puppy goodbye and got on the road, figuring it would take about 45 minutes to get there. As we drove we discussed our plan; whether to eat first or play first, how long we ought to stay, our budget, etc.

When we finally pulled up, Joe looked around and said, "Wow...it's kinda small."

He was right, in fact we both agreed that it must've been the former movie theater for the area. This wasn't a bad thing, as we have seen casinos on the modest-side, but this was brand new, and looked like the only thing in town.

As we walked in, I immediately felt WAY over dressed. I don't know what gets into me- I practically shlub to work in old jeans, yet to sit in stiff chairs next to Grandma Smokes-a-ton and Bobby Blow-My-Retirement, I feel the need to dress to the nines.

We decided to opt for the brunch buffet, since it was still going on, and after a few plates we were dying to start playing. Of course, I was unprepared and without cash (a cardinal casino rule I hated to violate) so after eating a $4 ATM fee we split off to find our fortunes.

I stalked a few machines before I played, taking a look at the minimum bets. I usually like to stick to 2 cent or 5 cent slots, so I can spread my cash out. Unfortunately, in many cases here, the minimum bet was around 80 cents- not horrible, but really not great. I even sat at a machine that had a minimum bet of $1! That's fine if that's how much you were thinking to play anyway, but this was at a 5 cent machine! Worse, these slots simply swallowed your money with only an occasional small belch back. They were so bad in fact that Joe came back strolling over to where I was sitting before 45 minutes had passed.

"I'm out, already" he said simply. I nodded in agreement as I sent my last fruitless bet into the machine.

We walked out, disappointed at our bad luck, but even more so at how little the games let you play. Typically one of us is at least somewhat ahead, if not at least breaking even. Instead, it was as if we simply handed over our cash for nothing. I guess that's the biggest trick in a casino- to pay for however much you want to be entertained. You can't go in thinking you'll win.

Still, it feels soooo good when you do.....