Day 335 = Running + The Runner's High

Austin has seen some crazy rain in the last few days, but tonight I knew I must set out and run in the rain. So I got dressed with my green gloves and green weather-proof parka, but when I went outside at around 7:22 pm, the rain had stopped. I was looking forward to running in the rain, actually. Even though I'd already washed my hair today, I was willing to get it wet again from running in the rain.

I ran 3.22 miles. It's a new route that I made up, which I think is a little safer to run when it's dark outside. Then it happened.

For the first time in probably 6 years, I got a runner's high. I was almost to the halfway mark of my run when I started to feel it. At first it just felt like my feet were gliding. I even questioned, "Did I take some drugs today?" No. I had not. When I headed home, I still felt like I was floating. It felt so good. My feet felt different in my shoes, and I could feel a breeze on my toes. I stopped to remember what kind of socks I'd put on, and yes, they are the same socks that I always wear when I run. The endorphins were really showing up this time and not just phoning it in.

That's the thing about runner's highs - for me, anyway - is I never know when they're going to show up.

Day 334 = Gym + hCG

Have you heard of the hCG diet? It was also mentioned on Livestrong.com and you can read more about it here.

My friend Trey went on the hCG diet under his doctor's supervision and lost more than 50 pounds. He had 50 pounds to lose. I don't have that much. But what is so attractive to me is that the hCG diet targets fat and makes your body live off your fat stores during the 23-day course of injections of hCG. So I'm considering it. If I lose a pound a day, then 23 days should be just about right.

The rub is that I hate needles. So not sure if I'd be able to inject myself.

Tonight, I stuck to the old-fashioned way of fitness with good, ol' exercise at the gym. I have no doubt that I am able to maintain any weight loss. Because I've been working out for 334 days in a row, this is the first year that I started out without the resolution of losing weight. Sure I want to lose a few pounds in some targeted spots, but it's not like it's a hovering goal that I feel like I have to set in order to accomplish it. I work out everyday, so it's not a daunting thought to me.

At the gym tonight it was clear that there are people who are still going strong to follow through on their new year's resolutions. It's good to see so much enthusiasm for being fit because that's what it's about.

Day 333 = Running + LOST

I can't believe the day is finally here. I just don't think I've written about LOST enough in this blog. No blog is complete without it (that is, if you're me and you're writing my blog). I realize there are haters out there and just plain ol' people in denial about the lure that is LOST, but I am uh-dickted. It's so bittersweet that this is the end of the series. Note to anyone listening who cares: I want all those seasons on DVD. And while I hope to never stay home with strep throat again, believe me, I will find a reason to stay home in bed for days to watch LOST.

I remember last spring when LOST announced they wouldn't be back until Feb. 2. I was like, "Wha? No way! You can't do this to me, JJ Abrams." I felt hurt and sad and, well, lost. So many questions. And being a Pisces, I'm easily confused, so LOST is like a perpetual puzzle to me each time. A puzzle that I love to get lost in. OK. That last sentence was dumb. But oh so true.

So here are my questions:

1. Who was Jin buying that panda for? Maybe it's part of the parallel universe that the passengers of Oceanic Flight 815 are living while their counterparts are still back on the island.
2. Who has taken over John Locke's body?
3. Why's it gotta be a smoke monster? That's ridonculous sometimes, but it is what it is.
4. I'm totally convinced that Juliet is not dead. How'd she know that "it worked?"

Now that I've watched tonight's episode, I think the point that Abrams, et al, are trying to make is that the survivors had a better life on the island and they just didn't know it. Am I right?

So, after being "lost" in a 7+ hour meeting today about building a database with people in India, I rushed home to get in a 40-minute run and then showered and baked some mahi mahi and settled in to watch lost. Without interruption. OK, Deacon can call but THAT'S IT! And only during commercials (which I allowed).

Day 332 = Resistance Bands/Home Workout + My Doppelganger

I should probably write an ode to cortisone shots for this blog entry because I cannot say enough about that painful, yet, gorgeous and most wonderful shot. I knew that I should have had one weeks ago instead of going on antibiotics. But I'm not the one who went to medical school. Not even one online in India.

Anyway, after WEEKS of nonstop suffering from allergies, strep throat, sinus infections and general crappiness, I went back to the doctor who at first wanted to test me for mono, but then he changed his mind and decided to just give me a cortisone shot to see if that helps. Fuck yeah, it helped. I did this last January 2009 when I had cedar fever. If you ever have allergies, I highly recommend a cortisone shot. I had no idea this existed until a fellow allergy-sufferer told me about it. Thank God for you!

I'm such a baby when it comes to needles, and the cortisone medicine is actually kind of painful. I have a fair threshold for pain, but I white-knuckled it for the shot and kept thinking how wonderful I was going to feel in a matter of hours and maybe even minutes. I was right.

I came home and decided to just chill out and stay calm and let the medicine work. I was updating my blog (I'm so behind!) and fiddling around on Facebook and learned that this week is the week that you should post a picture of your doppelganger. (In case you are paying attention on Facebook because you've been spending a lot of time at home being sick like me.) A doppelganger is the celebrity who everyone says you look like. I used to get Britney Spears all the time back before she went crayzay. I guess it's the brown eyes and blonde hair. But more recently, people are telling me I look like Anna Faris. Well, I'll jump all over that bandwagon.

I felt really good tonight and would have liked to have gone to the gym or to run, and I almost did, but I am really hell-bent on getting better. I hate being sick and I'm tired of being sick and not feeling like my old go-getter self. So I stuck to resistance bands and little home workout that I made up for core work.

Day 311 = Gym + Popcorn

Tonight after a 10-hour day at the old Dell campus, where Mistelle and I were quietly and diligently processing our leads, I went to the gym. My first day back at work after my second round of strep throat began with finding out that while I was out in December, the media agency I'm forced to use decided to spend all my money on paid search, totally ignoring the contract and admitting in writing to making an "erroneous assumption." I wrote in boldface and underlined in an email that this was absolutely unacceptable. Monday at 9 am and I'm already debating on the approach I may or may not take to tear a new asshole into someone. So I tried to sit on that email until after my next four meetings.

At the gym, lots of people seemed to be sticking to their New Year's resolution of getting in shape. It was 8pm when I got there, and most of the cardio machines were still full! Since I started this challenge in March, this is the first year since I can remember that I didn't make the resolution to "get back in shape" because I am already. Well, I'd like to lose a few more pounds, but I'm working on it. I was tired but pushed through a workout on my own. It went something like this:

• 11 min on the elliptical trainer listening to my iPod
• 3 sets of leg lift crunches in the Roman chair (all my sets are at least 15 reps)
• 2 sets of dips
• A little circuit of 2 sets each of chest press with 15 lb. weights (too light for me now), the "lawnmower" back exercise and a series of crunches, reverse crunches, seated leg crunches
• Then another little circuit with the lat pull down and the trapezoid push down (that's what I call it anyway)
• Then another little circuit of bicep curls with the long 30 lb. dumbbell and some kind of dumbbell lift and squat that Regan taught me, which I have no idea what it's called, paired with this oblique twist with the Freemotion machine.

I have to tell you that you need to run out right now and buy Orville Redenbacher's Natural Buttery Salt and Cracked Pepper popcorn. One bag is 160 calories, and it's perfect for dinner tonight.

I also want to tell iPhone users about this app I use to keep up with my favorite blogs. It's called RSS Runner by Francois Goldgewicht and it's free. The web site is here: /www.golden-apps.com/.

Day 280 = Resistance Bands + Bose

So while I'm still sporting the BodyBugg until my subscription runs out, I'm still plugging it in and checking out the calorie burn. Today I did so much walking that I burned more than 2,300 calories. Not so bad for a night of resistance bands. But hey, hey, hey - the night before a long run is usually scheduled as "rest" but it really just means "no running." Mission accomplished.

Another mission accomplished is I finally treated myself to the Bose iPod docking station. Merry Christmas, Me.

I've been wanting one for years, and not one to settle for just any old sound system, I'm glad I held out for this baby. It sounds great in my living room, and it's going to sound awesome at my party.

Now, I just need to start compiling the many playlists I'll have at the ready at the touch of my Bose remote control button.

Day 279 = Running + Trust?

This morning, I was smart and planned out my workout in advance. So I woke up early and ran 3 miles. I did this because tonight is my company Christmas party, and I decided to bring Deacon. I figure we've been hanging out a little bit recently, and it would be fun to bring him.

Where should I start? Well, he'd warned me ahead of time that he was going to wear a suit he bought at the Goodwill. I thought he was joking, but then I also thought he was telling the truth, yet if he was, I had faith that he'd have the good sense to wear something decent. Verdict? It was decent. I meant it was only about 15-20 years old and not, like, 30 years old, not that it's something I'd condone everyday or for everyone. But it's Deacon, and you just have to know him. But the shoes were thumbs way down.

I decided to check up on my match.com emails while we waited for the cab because I'd written him off on that fact alone. I mean, I'll be honest; I have been starting to wonder about him lately, you know, like does he have potential to roll with me? Um, not sure now. And certainly not putting all my eggs in one basket. But the upside is I could still relax and have fun and hang out with him.

So we waited, and waited, and waited for the cab. Hey, Deacon. I thought I said we needed to leave at 6:15? Scott rolled up with the Land Yacht at about 7:15 and about 2 vodka sodas into the night.

When we arrived at Thistle Cafe (where Deacon's friend happens to be owner and chef), a photographer snapped this picture of us before I could take off my own vintage mink coat (circa 1976). OK. So we were both wearing "vintage." Of course, under my coat I was wearing Michael Kors circa 2009. And you know what goes well with vintage? Vodka does. The bar was and will always be a good idea for Christmas parties. Especially open bars. And especially bars where Deacon has friends.

I realized tonight that yes, I can take Deacon somewhere and he won't throw the shocker sign for every photo and he can carry on a conversation with strangers and he has table manners. So with a few more drinks, I forgot about the suit thing. After dinner, we lingered for a while and talked to Deacon's friend and drank more drinks. Oh, vodka, how I could write tomes about you! That said, there were other bars to get to, so we didn't linger too long. Deacon suggested Malverde again, and I obliged, although I do not know what the big attraction is for this bar.

Once again, we were just about the only people in the place. We sat on a couch that was across from another bank of couches where another couple were "lounging." If you squinted your eyes just right, which is about the only way I could control my eyelids at this point, then it looked like you were watching soft porn. I think we took bets on whether they would go for it right there on the couch. I said, "get a room" out loud, but I knew they couldn't hear me over the music. I just wanted to say it. Out loud.

So to divert our attention and derail any sexual tension that might have been building, we started talking. I think Deacon did most of the talking. And I did some listening. I was tired because I woke up early to run and dare I say I couldn't only finish half of my 7th vodka soda. And at some point, like it has before, Deacon and I started talking about trust and how I should trust him. I told him that I had a dream that a friend of ours told me, "Don't trust Deacon." So this has been a point of contention lately.

Then right there on the couch, Deacon tried to kiss me, but I pushed him off because I said we are just friends (and I was still debating on how I felt about him in a "more than friends" situation). I take my time with things. But it was time for a change of venue, so we walked down the street to Lavaca Street Bar.

To cap off the night, I just ordered a beer. Deacon kept wanting to talk about trust again and why don't I trust him. I said I'm still getting to know you better. He convinced me to do the "fall into my arms" trust exercise. I agreed. But just as I was about to fall, I caught a glimpse in a mirror of him flinching out of the corner of my eye, and I caught myself.

You would have thought I'd just run over a baby if you were judging by the way his attitude changed to a "how dare you? how could you?" tone. I told him about what I saw in the mirror and he denied it. I told him it was a dumb game and I didn't want to play. He kept pressing and I said, "This is the end of the discussion. I'm not discussing this any more." But like a child, he wanted to get his way and have the last word or at least continue to press my buttons. I told him that if he wanted me to trust him then he needed to give me a reason to trust him and not play some stupid game with me. He argued his defense. I whipped out my digital voice recorder and started recording: his side vs. my side of this silly argument. I told him he'd had too much to drink and that when he was sober tomorrow, he could listen to how irrational he was sounding.

After that, we shared a cab back to his house, and I said, "This is why you are single. You go after women with drama, and I will have nothing to do with it. I don't want any part in drama. I'm not going to let you pick a fight with me over nothing." I don't know if he heard any of it or processed any of it or will remember any of it, but when we got back to his house, I didn't even go inside. I just said goodnight and got in my car and drove home.

I'm a little disappointed that the night ended this way. I was beginning to enjoy my time hanging out with Deacon and getting to know him and not having to make any decisions about trust or kissing or conflict resolution. But it is what it is, and there's always tomorrow. And more vodka.