The week in review

Happy Leap Day! Nothing exciting happening over here. Just some working, working out, drinking, and sleeping.

• Speaking of working out, it's the end of the month, and unfortunately I'm a pound away from my goal of 145. Boo, yes. But Woot! my skinny jeans fit! (As in my small jeans, not skinny leg jeans, because that is one trend you will never catch this girl in.) I just gave all of my too small pants to pregnant Em, and I might have to ask for some back. Ok, actually only the blue ones...please?I'm still pounding away on the treadmill in an effort to reach my March goal of 140.
• I've had a horrible pinch in my right shoulder for the past week. I actually think it's hurt from me awkwardly sleeping on it when I'm trying to spoon Jota. We decided to try switching bed sides, in a effort to give the pinch a rest. While that idea sounds all fine and dandy, I'm actually sleeping worse. Probably because when I roll to my right to snuggle Jota, I smack my head on his nightstand, and practically roll off the bed. That and now my left shoulder is hurting from spooning to the opposite side. The troubles I have.
• Went to drinks last night with Kate in celebration of...nothing really. She suggested this new bar that just opened on Main Street, called Main on Main, creative bunch, really. The inside was super cute with a nice secluded VIP area, and a great dance floor. We could really envision a sweet girls night out with lots of drinks, laughter, and booty shaking. Oh, and we really had to use our imaginations, because it was completely dead. I mean, we were the only two people there until Jota showed up, then Shilpa, and then Kusi, Doug, and Ben.
• This weekend we're taking Duff to Runyon Canyon, hitting up The Griddle for brunch, and celebrating Liz's birthday with a healthy dose of karaoke!

It's the gym, not a peep show

I've spent the last two or three weeks working my ass off in the gym trying to reach my end of Feb goal. It's definitely paying off, and starting to show, to me at least. I've graduated to the treadmill, have increased my weights/reps, and oh you know, went down a pant size in a month.

I love the convenience of the gym in my building, not to mention the sweet locker room with amazing showers, a sauna, and whirlpool. 24 Hour Fitness Santa Monica, take note. What I don't love is the nakedness. I'm no prude; hello Big Bear '07 trip, but seriously ladies, put some freaking panties on before you bend over to lotion up your legs. Try a tank top, or at least a bra before you go to blow dry your hair and put your makeup on. Oh, and don't lay on the side of the whirlpool with your feet propped up on the railing so the first thing I see when exiting the shower is your nasty whoo-ha. It's called wax, use it.

And dudes who stand in the corner and actually POINT at my ass while talking to their buddies, fuck off. There are mirrors all the way around the free weight room. You think I can't see you?

With only one week left in the month, and three pounds to go, I think I need to be off the booze for the weekend. Unfortunately I don't think that's going to happen. Juan, aka John Martin, is moving back to New Orleans, and we're having a karaoke blowout at the Prospector in Long Beach tonight. You can't go to the LBC and not drink, or pour a little out for the homies. So I guess it's vodka sodas and lime all night long.

Rain Rain Go Away

Because seriously, I was going to run the stairs today. And tomorrow.

I guess I'll just go to the gym. Maybe try the kickboxing class? Only because I really want the pink wraps and gloves!

Obligatory Valentine's Day Post

Oh you pointless day of love, romance, and all things cheesy. Instigator of over-priced dinners, boxed chocolates, nasty conversation hearts, and cuddly stuffed bears. You'd think I would be in a sea of pink and red bliss, but no, I am a hater of Valentine's Day.
So bring on President's Day! Half price chocolates! Dinner that's not prix-fixe and prepared the night before. Barney's Warehouse Sale! And of course, luvin' from my Jota.

A Khaki Mission

J Crew, mecca of all things preppy, you have failed me.  Banana Republic, you too.  American Eagle, I'm almost too old to shop with you anymore, except for shoes.  Love your flats!  Gap, we've never gotten along.  Probably because pretty much every bottom you've ever made looks absolutely heinous on me.  

Anthropologie, you're an angel.  The only store on the Promenade  that carries a basic, bootcut khaki.  Hell, you're the only store that has something other than low rise, wide leg trousers or super duper high rise, tapered at the ankle chinos.  And for that, I thank you.  

Love and Golf?

While the rest of my team is out in NOLA having a blast at All Star, I've been left; home alone, all by myself in the office.  Rather than spend the next week playing Tetris and chatting with Jota, I volunteered to help out another team with the Northern Trust Open here in LA.  Sadly, the weather was not cooperating this morning, and I'm just in from freezing my booty off at the first tee.  But there is a silver lining to this little gray cloud...I met Sergio Garcia.  As in Sergio Garcia the golfer I've been in love with ever since the first day I had to watch an open in the clubhouse while working my first job.  Over the moon I am.  

Shake That Bear Mountain

The 2nd Annual Shake That Mountain Trip was a success! No nudity, no debilitating hangover, lots of fun and games, and plenty of laughs were had all weekend long.

Da, Kel, and I shook the shit out of the mountain while skiing this weekend. I did my first double black, and didn't have to slowly go from side to side either. I guess it helped that I was on 120s (munchkin skis!)...but whatevs, it was a terrific, gratifying day. Top the excellent snow with a dip in our hot tub back at the cabin, and you get a happy James.

My only fall, ok fine, there were 3, but 2 don't count because...The first was at the very bottom of the hill before the lift lines. Jota always beats me to the bottom, and I love how he turns around to watch me come down. The second happened while getting off the lift with Jota and Murph. I somehow managed to get one ski under each of their boards. And they both exited opposite ways. I almost did the splits. My last fall was on the very last run of the day. It was just me and J, and he's quite swift, especially when I'm on the munchkin skis. I decided to totally bomb the last part, and starting shredding like a mad woman. Definitely ending up losing all control, flipping over onto my back, and sliding a good 50 feet. Mmm, cold snow down my pants and up my shirt.

Favorite part of the trip: Sneaking kisses and snuggles with Jota on the lifts.

Worst part of the trip: The freaking drive up there! It took us over an hour to get past downtown, and that's only 12 miles away!
Duff definitely enjoyed himself as well. Begging for food to his little heart's content, and sleeping the entire way home.

Over the river, and through the woods

I'm off to Big Bear this afternoon for some much needed chill time.  These past two weeks have been insanely stressful.  I've found myself nearing tears in the office, screaming at Jota for eating the last english muffin, and getting frustrated with Duff for, well, being Duff.  And how can I get angry at a face like this?

I haven't been sleeping well, ok fine, at all.  In all honesty, I can't even begin to understand where all of my anxiety is coming from.  The only good that's come out of this is the fact that my appetite is all but gone.  Which also freaks me out to say because no one wants "Crazy Diet College James" to come back.    

So Big Bear, here I come.  You better be full of wonderful powder, and your runs had better be kick ass.   

PS new goal: 145 by the end of Feb.  And then I'm only 5 more away from pre - CA James.  

The week in preview

Started off the week right with a wonderful dinner of steaks, roasted asparagus, and fingerling potatoes with basil and thyme. Yum. Capped off the night with a brisk and chilly walk along the beach and through the canals with J and Duff.

Tonight it's off to nitespa with Em for some girly time. You can't beat pedis and wine, especially when it's a bottomless glass. Except Em can't drink because of that whole pregnant thing, so I guess while she's eating for two, I will be drinking for two.
PS - It's Super Tuesday, vote bitches.

The US plays Mexico in a friendly Wednesday night. Watch that shit and get jealous that L is making us dinner to go along with the game. I wonder if I can crochet Duff a USA sweater in two days?

Thursday, I got nothing except the premier of Lipstick Jungle. Dear God, please end the writer's strike.

And Friday it's off to our 2nd Annual Ski Trip in Big Bear! J and Drew are driving up early Friday to get a full day in, while the rest of us will be in town later that evening. Late night hijinks will of course be documented on film, and pending nudity (last year, bad, real bad) will be up on Flickr and YouTube shortly after.

But I'm Shama Training

Note to Self: You are no longer 21 years old. Can you think of the last time you tried boozing it up three nights in a row? Didn't think so.

Dear Hair

I know you're off to bigger and better things, like making two amazing wigs for children, but I can't help it...I miss you, all 14 inches of you.

With Love, me

Good Idea, Bad Idea

Good Idea: Starting the week off right by hitting the gym.
Bad Idea: Forgetting how grossly out of shape I am, and completely overdoing it. I can't lift my arms over my head.

Good Idea: Making a list for the grocery store.
Bad Idea: Going to the grocery store after the gym when I'm totally starved.

Good Idea: Hitting up the salad bar. Lots of fresh veggies, beans, and chicken...yum!
Bad Idea: Hitting up the last bit of the chips and dip when the salad wasn't enough.

Good Idea: Having friends over for a few beers.
Bad Idea: A whole bottle of wine.
Badder Idea: Riesling, gross.
Worst Idea: Two beers on top of that.
"Hello, gym? I know we had a great thing going earlier tonight, but I'm so over you."

Had a dream about Sprite last night, as in soda. I don't drink soda. Ended up stopping at CVS to picked up a two liter. What my subconscious wants, my subconscious gets.

Look Out!

Shama comes to town on Sunday. She's here for a week, and has already drunkenly told me, "You're ditching Jason and staying with me one night."

Fuck. I don't think I have it in me to keep up with Shama anymore. But I'll get out my most titty-licious top and paint Weho red all night long with her. Thank God for sick days...

New Bag for Duff?

Little man needs to travel in style, and I guess he's tired of his current bag, seeing how he chewed the zipper from the inside and now it can't open. Thoughts on these?

I'm really in love with the pink, but Jota refuses to carry it in the airport unless and I quote, "You're walking no more than 2 feet away from me."

Whatevs though, I always carry the Duff as it is. I like the last two bags because they're very discreet. While I love the fact that Duff is indeed tote-able, I do not like people going, "Look at that girl and her dog."

Quick Updates

• Joined the gym. I know I went on the whole saving money rant, but this is necessary. It's on the first floor of my building, and while it's certainly not a bar, I now have no excuse to skip it on my way out the door.
• My sister found our brother. What? While I have yet to explain the intricate network that I like to call my family, let's just leave it at...My dad had a kid before he married my mom. I told my baby sister in a argument years ago, and she decided now would be a good time to track him down. So he's like 30 something, lives in VA, not sure if I have nieces or nephews yet, or if he even knows who our dad is. We shall see how this one pans out.
• My bestest friend in the whole wide world (at least on the West Coast) is pregnant with her first little one. I could not be more proud or excited for her and her huh (can we start saying the whole word now). They're going to be the two most adorable and doting parents in the whole world.
• Work is amazing right now. I'm finally starting to get some more projects that require some sort of creativity.

I've really been struggling with this idea of having a brother (other than the little one). I mean, Shannon just out of the blue emails this guy with, "Hi, I'm your sister. The guy who you think is your dad, really isn't. Let's talk."

While my curiosity is certainly peaked, I'm not sure if I want to meet this brother of another mother. Does he know about us? About my dad? Why hasn't he found us before? And is my sister potentially ruining a man's life as he's known it? Can you imagine finding out that your dad, isn't really your dad?

11 Days

Fuck! It only took 11 days to break the "Be super nice to everyone" guideline.

Oh No You Didn't!

A white seersucker suit? I know we're in LA and it's 70 degrees today (Go ahead and hate), but it's fucking January.

Frustrated, So Frustrated

I'm not feeling so great today, and will likely spend my weekend alcohol free. Shocking, but it's been known to happen. The only problem; my friend's having Girls Night on Saturday for her birthday. Going to Girls Night and not drinking is like going to Disneyland and not getting your picture taken with Mickey. You just don't do it.
So I'm bemoaning this utter dilemma when my coworker says, "Well if you're not drinking then you can be my sober driver."

"That could totally work, EXCEPT, I live all of 2 seconds from the lounge we're going to, and your like completely out of my way."

"Yeah, but it's not like it's far or anything. You act like it's 30 minutes away or something."

"Um, actually it's like a 20 min roundtrip drive at 2:00am, plus finding parking in my sketchy ass neighborhood and then walking home."

Sorry, but that's not a sacrifice I'm willing to make for someone I work with. And seriously, I know what you make, stop being a cheapass and take a $10 cab ride home.

New Year's Resolutions

No thanks. Why bother making a new rule that I'm going to follow for a while, and then completely toss out the window? I have however, decided to make some goals, and set a few guidelines:

• Go on a real vacation! No more of this using vacation days to go to Maryland bullshit.
• Actually lose the 20 lbs I've gained since moving to Cali. (6 down, 14 to go) woot woot!
• No more smoking cigs when I get all drunk and Dawn buys a pack for us to "share".
• Be super nice to everyone

How Rude!

Location: Trader Joe's on Pico in Santa Monica
Props: One lemon, one jar of pure desert honey, and one container of mascarpone cheese.

Stupid Checkout Dude: Uhh, so are you like, getting over being sick?

Me - no make up, glasses, ponytail, on my way home from work: (sheepishly) Yeah, that's it.

PS - Thanks fucker. I made the best damn banana muffins with mascarpone honey frosting. What do you say to the girl who gets tampons and vodka?

PPS - I broke out the contacts and mascara today.