Day 62 = Resistance Bands + Optimism

Another late night. I gotta stop that. Just "stop," as the waffle guy put it. Well, this time it wasn't due to work; I "stopped" off at happy hour because despite all my working out, I was stressed and needed to get away from flourescent lighting and closer to a drink in my hand. Well, I needed something else, but this is a G-rated blog. And let's just say that any effort on the latter part of what I want continues to be a fruitless pursuit for me. Haha... I said fruit. Or should I say nuts.

Anyway...since I got home after 8 pm, big surprise: I got out the resistance bands tonight, but I have at least noticed some improvement with using them. I've got a whole mini workout area in my living room of resistance bands, free weights (albeit, I need something stronger than 2 lbs), a yoga mat and a core ball. My resistance bands are pink, and I used them while watching (and tearing up) that show about Michael J. Fox. I like to think I'm an optimist, too.

Day 61 = Running + The Gettys

Running. That's what I did today. I was itching to run. Get outside and make the Texas heat my bitch (92 degrees at 7:30 pm). Some people make excuses for the heat and not getting outside. Well, as much as I love being in the snow and skiing down a mountain, feeling the cold air on my cheeks and the warmth of my coat, I would rather actually live in a warm climate. You can always go inside and sit in the A/C or jump in some water to cool off, but frostbite just seems like the most uncomfortable thing. I take comfort in the fact that I am probably burning more calories when I sweat. Hmmmm... wonder if you burn any more calories if you freeze?

When I got home from work, I was sucked into dorking out with Facebook. After 45 minutes of that and sitting on my bed half dressed, I realized it was almost 7:30, which did not leave me a lot of time to run, shower and catch the first few minutes of LOST. I ran for about 25 minutes and listened to music. I have just about everything on my iPod - The Beatles, U2, Muse, Jane's Addiction, The Cure...as well as Springsteen, Snoop Dogg, Marley, Van Morrison. I will listen to just about anything; all depends on my mood. Even my brother's band, The Gettys, made it on my iPod. They charge $50 to learn new songs. I've got a good mind to send him a check for $50 to learn to play "Freebird." All 10 minutes and 8 seconds of it. I'd just like to see him do that.

Music makes me smile.

Day 60 = Dance Workout + "Dancing with the Stars"

It is so official. Steve Wozniak is a better dancer than I. Well, maybe. Goodness gracious! If I think of all the times I've been out dancing and most likely the victim of people-watching (one of my favorite past-times), I cringe to think of how I looked.

Worked late tonight and didn't get home until after 8 pm, and I had really wanted to go for a run and raise my heart rate -- do something really active and cardio. Watching "Dancing with the Stars" while eating leftover pizza inspired me to find the "Dance Off the Inches: Fat Burning Jam" workout that I streamed on Netflix. I will rate that only 3 stars.

My coordination is awful. I already knew that I should stay away from step aerobics because I have a freakish fear of tripping and falling over the step in the middle of the routine in a class with strangers where other strangers in the gym can see me through the window. I am so far away from being on "Dancing with the Stars." How do people on that show even get started? I have a new respect for Lil' Kim (who was kicked off tonight and it almost made me cry; not because I am sad for Lil' Kim but because it really seemed emotional).

In the end, I burned about 156 calories in my living room and worked up a sweat. I don't remember being so uncoordinated during four years of ballet and tap dancing, three years of Junior Cotillion and two years of cheerleading.

Day 59 = Resistance Bands + Waffle House

Home again today. First leaving Memphis and then leaving Little Rock; back to Austin. It's been a great time. And I got to sleep late three days in a row! That's huge to me! Again... it's the little things that make me happy.

Speaking of little things, I opted for a thorough workout with the resistance bands, which I packed and used in my hotel room. Then I followed my workout later in the day with a brunch of a pecan waffle, bacon and cheese grits from The Waffle House on stop during the drive back to Little Rock. I guess I just had to get it out of my system before getting serious with all the features the BodyBugg offers on its web site.

Then again, when you're in northeast Arkansas...dining options are pretty limited, so you really can't blame me. ;-)

Day 58 = Running + "Memphis in May"

Last night was one of those perfect nights and times that don't come around too often and that some people are never fortunate enough to experience. I had a great time with my family. And, there was a "Golden Girls" marathon on. I forgot to mention that yesterday. Some channel was running the "Golden Girls" all day, and it was still on after we took the trolley home from Beale Street. Since I gave up cable, this is just one more nice perk that comes with staying in a hotel.

This morning, I met my stepdad and my aunt and uncle for breakfast. Well, I wouldn't say I "met" them. More like I surprised them. And sat at their table while they chatted. My Oprah-style "a-ha" moment of the day came when I ordered a waffle. The chef's accent was soooo laid back and kon-try. I told him I loved his accent and that he sounded so laid back. He said that is something that he can do well -- be laid back. I said I have a hard time slowing down and relaxing sometimes. He said, "It's easy. All you gotta do is just stop." Ah, yes. Just stop. Gonna have to work on that.

One thing I love about traveling is running in a new city. I ran for about half an hour in downtown Memphis after breakfast. I ran down to Beale Street, which at about 12:30 pm was very similar to running downtown on a SXSW morning in Austin. On the way back to the hotel, I detoured through The Peabody; haven't been there since we took a family vacation in 1980 (?). Watched the ducks; they're a little fat. But I guess it's a better life in a hotel fountain. Although, you have to ask yourself: "are those ducks really living?"

It's been pouring rain all weekend and there are absolutely no rain boots or slickers to be found in a 50-mile radius. I ended up wearing jeans and my mom's sweater and flip-flops to watch about 15 minutes of Snoop Dogg in the mud at the Beale Street Music Festival/Memphis in May concert. As soon as he (er, I) sang "Gin and Juice," we were outta there. Showered and back in the hotel bar within two hours.

Day 57 = Gym + Beale Street

In Memphis, Tenn., with my family today. Staying at the Marriott downtown. It's like a mini vacation for me. I have my own room. I can come and go as I please. I can get room service. I like having the freedom to dirty up every towel in the place and leave the TV on and all lights on when I leave. Even though I'm a grown up and can do all these things in my own home where I have a mortgage and pay bills, it's these simple things I still do enjoy.

I took advantage of the hotel's workout facilities for my workout today. I was short on time, so I spent about 15 minutes on the elliptical trainer while facing out the window, where I watched 3 Gen Y guys each smoke their own blunt joints. Nice. Then I ran for about 15 minutes on the treadmill. Yep, that's enough for me tonight, I figured.

We're all going to dinner at Itta Bena's above BB King's on Beale Street tonight. Should be another fine time with my folks. Gotta be more entertaining than Toad Suck Daze in Conway, Ark., where we all converged last night. Somehow, all of us escaped without eating a funnel cake or gator on a stick.

(P.S. I did not win the lottery.)

Day 56 = Walking + The Lottery

One of my favorite things to do is walk in the morning. It is especially nice when I know I don't have to rush back in time to, oh, say, go to work. This morning I took a 20-minute walk up to the little shop to buy a diet Coke and a couple of lottery tickets. I didn't win the weekly grand, but I am hoping to win the $220M mega-million jackpot tonight.

So that made me wonder what I would do with $220M after taxes. I'd pay all my debt and my family's debt and maybe even throw a few dollars toward my friends to pay their debt. I promised Kristina if I ever won, I'd give her $20,000 or I'd take her and some friends and family to a nice spa weekend, like at Mirabel. I would quit my job. I would travel. I would give some money to charity. I'd volunteer more, since I wouldn't have a job. I'd focus on my secret invention and building an iPhone application. I would hire a personal trainer for every day and a personal chef. And I'd write a book.