Snow Way!

Not again! Mother Nature keeps throwing a wrench into my workout plans. For the second time in the past two weeks I shoveled out my driveway, and hopped on a bus and a train to make it into Boston only to find out that my kickboxing class had been cancelled. I called the gym twice before I left yesterday morning to confirm that the class was still on and they assured me it was. As soon as I got off the train in Boston I got an e-mail notice saying it was cancelled due to the weather. I was not a very happy camper. I only got a three week trial membership to this gym so I could attend these kickboxing classes and they keep getting cancelled. I think I'm going to ask them to give me another week to make up for the classes that were cancelled. It's only fair, right?

I don't understand why everyone is so afraid of a little snow these days? Two inches of snow is cause for breaking news reports. It seems like they start closing things down as soon as the first flakes start flying. We barely had two inches on the ground but they were ready to close up and go home. When I was a kid we had to have blizzard conditions before they would even close the schools, now they seem to shut down for a flurry.

I was really looking forward to getting my ass kicked but I decided to make the best of it so it wasn't a totally wasted trip. I ended up having lunch with my friend and then decided to treat myself to a manicure. I also stopped in to see my jeweler so I could get some ring guards for my rings. I was getting nervous because they were getting so loose but didn't want to have them resized until I lose another 20 pounds or so and get closer to my goal weight. At least my rings are secure now.

They better not cancel my class again on Thursday. I wish people would just suck it up and deal with it. It's nothing new. This is winter in New England. It's going to be cold and there will be snow. UGGHHH!! Maybe I should invest in a punching bag so I can let out some of these steam. At least I've been getting some good workouts shoveling.

Hope you are staying warm and enjoying the beauty of the season.

Let is snow, let it snow, let is snow (but please don't cancel my class ;).

Snow Way!

Snow emergencies were called, kids got out of going to school, businesses shut down and we ended up with a grand total of 1.5" of snow. Yes, that is INCHES not feet. I didn't even have to pick up a shovel. What's going on here? Mother Nature is apparently lost and needs to get a new map or a good GPS.

We desperately need snow up in the mountains of Vermont so I can go snowmobiling this weekend. I'm so jealous of everyone in NJ, PA, MD, DC, NY, CT and R.I.

The winter Olympics in Vancouver start next week and they are scrambling to get the mountains covered since they haven't had nearly enough snow. They shouldn't have to build ski slopes out of cardboard and hay bales.

I think Mother Nature is screwing with us. If you see her, please give her directions to the mountains up north.

Thematic Photographic 84 - White

As you all know, I love snow so I just had to participate in this week's Thematic Photographic assignment "White." There is nothing better than flying through the fluffy powder on my sled but the thing I love even more than riding on the snow is the calming effect it has on my mind. The snow muffles the noise of the world and everything seems so quiet and serene. The blanket of white covering everything looks so clean and pure. I know snow is good for my soul. I agree that it's a pain to have to shovel it and commute to work in it but you should try to have fun with it too. Build a snowman, make a snow angel, have a snowball fight, take a walk in it ... just enjoy it before it melts.

If you want to join in the Thematic Photographic fun or see some amazing photos and creative thoughtful writing, go say hi to Carmi over at Written Inc.

Looks Like Snow

It's the last weekend of May and it looks like it's snowing. Unfortunately it's not the kind of snow I love, it's just massive amounts of pollen flying around. I think they did get real snow in the mountains above 4,000 feet but here in the city we just got the stuff that makes me sneeze.

I've had a scratchy throat, itchy watery eyes and have been sneezing all weekend. I know it's bad when I start sneezing and can't stop long enough to catch my breath. I always try to hold out as long as possible before I break down and take my allergy pills because they make me tired and put my head in a fog but I couldn't hold out all weekend if I wanted to breathe again. Breathing is a good thing. We got a short rain shower in the afternoon but it didn't help bring down the pollen count much.

Needless to say, I wasn't able to work out much in between all the sneezing and wheezing. I hope we get some rain to wash away all the fake snow out there so I can breath again.

Still Snowing ...

I've always loved the winter. You won't hear me complaining about the cold weather because you can always add layers but there is only so much you can take off when it is sticky hot and humid. I get so excited when I can get out and play in the mountains and would rather be there than the beach any day.

I have tons of winter gear that keeps me warm and dry which is the key to enjoying winter sports. It is worth the price to pay the extra money for the quality gear. It is worth every penny when you are out in the elements. I pray for piles of snow and I find myself counting the days until the snowmobile trails open in the middle of summer. The trails opened last Tuesday and I was getting excited looking forward to that first ride of the season on some fresh powder. I'm a winter girl and usually never complain about too much snow until this past weekend.

My office closed at 3:00 on Friday but because I now work for a complete *ssh*le I ended up having to work until after 5:00 (I was not happy). I finally got home in the height of the storm and had to shovel out my driveway all by myself. B worked late Friday night, Saturday morning and again this morning which meant that we couldn't go up north to play. I tried to get one of my friends to drive up with me but he had to stay home this weekend too. My in-laws were on vacation and the college kids that live downstairs went home for the holidays so I was the only one around to do snow removal. I spent hours Friday night shoveling, I spent hours Saturday morning and night shoveling, and I spent more time out there this morning shoveling. My back is sore and I'm very cranky I couldn't take my snowmobile out for a ride.

I realized that I don't love the snow as much as I thought I did. I really love it when I am out playing in it. When I'm skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or snowmobiling I absolutely LOVE IT but when I'm stuck in the city for the weekend shoveling, not so much love.

At least shoveling is good exercise, right? Time to get back out there and shovel some more ... oh my aching back.

Spring Ahead ...

Most people here in the Northeast look forward to spring, they are sick of the cold weather, they are sick of shoveling snow, they are sick of the heavy coats, scarfs, gloves and all the winter gear they need to pile on everyday but I'm not usually one of them. I have always loved the winter and will wish for a good blizzard or nor'easter. The more snow the better.

I love the way the snow softens the sounds of the city and puts a pure coat of white over the dirty streets making them seem safe and serene. I love to get out and play in the snow more than anything else and most winter weekends I am doing something in the snow. We used to spend our weekends skiing at one Vermont mountain or another where we would always have a great story to tell about some secret trail, a good wipe out or crazy lift ride. As long as nobody gets hurt it is always a blast to spend the day on the mountains. We would fly down some crazy black diamond trails and yell at each other to "go big or go home," or "if you ain't scared, you ain't skiing downhill." I even started snowboarding the past few years and spent lots of time on my *ss but loved every single sore minute of it.

The past few years we have done less skiing and snowboarding and more snowmobiling. We would anxiously await the weekend forecast and pray for fresh snow so we could plan our weekend rides around the best areas. The past few years we've had to trailer the sleds for miles to find the good snow but this year we were blessed and could take advantage of the trails in our own back yard. Cruising down the trials and in the woods on my snowmobile relaxes me, thrills me and gets my heart pumping like nothing else.

When I'm riding I'm not thinking about my stressful job or my battle of the bulge, I'm not thinking of how much weight I need to lose or the size of my thighs, I'm not thinking about all the housework that I need to do or the bills that need to get paid, I'm not thinking about anything except the trail ahead and taking in as much of the amazingly breathtaking scenery as I can. I have perm-a-grin all day long under that helmet and sleep like a baby after a good 150-200 mile day-long ride.

This past month has been incredibly tough because not only have I been playing nurse to B who broke his back but I haven't been able to take advantage of one of the best snowmobile seasons in the past decade. The riding this past month has been pristine and I have been stuck in the dirty, crowded, noisy city trying not to get too depressed about missing out. I'm jealous of everyone out there ripping up the trails and taking advantage of the white gold that finally found its way back to the great white north.

Every year on this day I would be hoping we still get a few of those big spring snowstorms to improve the trail conditions enough to get us through to the end of the season (April 15th) but this year I just want it to be over. I don't want to have to shovel it and deal with the cold if I can't have the joy of going out and playing in it.

Now I know how people who hibernate all winter feel. They just wait for those longer days and rejoice at the site of melting snow. I'm sad to say that I have reluctantly joined that group this year. I'm forced to look forward to next winter when my riding partner is back in the saddle and can join me on the trail again.

I'm not happy about it but I'm springing ahead ...

Happy Days

This post has nothing to do with Fonzi and the gang but I thought I would interrupt this regularly scheduled bitch and moan session about my weight loss (or lack thereof) to talk of happier things in my life. After reading through some of my posts I realized that I come across as rather sad and desperate but the truth is I am not as miserable as this blog makes me sound. My angst over my weight is always in the back of my mind but I do manage to have fun in spite of the fat.


While I don't like my job I make a decent paycheck that allows me to escape the city on the weekends and head north to Vermont. It is like a two day vacation every week because it is such a drastic change from living and working in the city. B and I bought a small camp about 9 years ago and we've been going there constantly ever since. Even though B has been out of work (again/still) which certainly puts a strain on our relationship we are happy together and just celebrated our 25th anniversary. Maybe we'll make it legal someday but that piece of paper was never really important to me but things change when you get older and you never know what could happen if we ever make that trip to Vegas.


B and I both upgraded to newer snowmobiles this year and we got well over a foot of snow in Vermont this week so we're planning on three days of good riding. I'm taking a vacation day Monday, next Monday is a holiday (happy b-day presidents), and then the following week I'm taking the week off. I hope we get even more snow so we can ride all over the state. The snowmobile season has been pretty lame the past few years (damn that global warming) so we're really excited about being able to ride in some great conditions. I'm so excited. I can't wait to ride.


I hope you all have a great weekend and if you live in the northeast get out and enjoy the snow!


Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

That's the Spirit

I really don't know how I'm getting through each day without knowing whether my weight is up or down. How am is supposed to know if I should feel good for being down a pound or depressed 'cause I gained one? My daily mood has almost always been dictated by what the scale, in its cold metal menacing way, told me. It is a bit scary not knowing whether those few cookies or catered lunch did any damage. I'm going to continue my scale avoidance test until the 1st of the year and I hope it will be kind to me when I get back on.

I haven't been able to do any serious workouts this past week but I'm continuing to follow Savy's advice by doing at least 30 minutes each day of some sort of exercise. Unfortunately, I think all the dancing I did at my office *Holiday* party didn't make up for the open bar (we had an amazing bartender with a very heavy hand). I ate very little of the incredible, mouth watering gourmet food by taking pictures and having a blast on the dance floor.

Every year I dread going to the *Holiday* party but who I can't pass up the opportunity for free food, booze, gifts and the chance to get some incriminating photos of my co-workers and bosses. It it always fun to watch the *ssholes try to act human and be nice and there is always the few who appear to have never seen an open bar before. Why do people insist on getting sloppy drunk wasted at office parties when they know they will be totally embarrassed by their drunkin' behavior? I'm not saying people shouldn't have a good time but we're not with our friends or at a frat party. I guess I'm lucky that I know when I've reached my limit and I put down the vodka and start drinking water. There is a lot of pressure to continue drinking but I know if I have one more drink I'll be spinnin' in my bed later that night and I hate that. I wonder why I know when I've reached my alcohol limit but have no shut off limit when I'm binging on sugar.

I had the distinct pleasure of having to drunksit my office mate as she got sick all over the $800/night hotel room. I stayed with her (holding her hair, rubbing her back, getting her changed and reassuring her she was not going to die) until her husband got there to take over (he was not very happy). I didn't want to be there but couldn't leave her in that condition. It was very messy and smelled nasty ... ewww. After I turned over my drunksitting duties I went down to the lobby to find a dozen or so of my colleagues causing a scene. Everyone was swaying, knocking over glasses, and yelling like foul-mouthed drunkin sailors. It was entertaining to watch but I'm glad I won't be ashamed of myself when I go into the office on Tuesday.

Hope you all enjoy your holiday parties but try not to do anything you will regret in the morning. Save your best drunkin moments for your good friends. I did have a bit of a hangover but B and I got up very early to go to VT. We had to meet the insurance guy early Saturday morning so we could ride our snowmobiles on Sunday. I'm so excited we finally have snow on opening day and I've been getting a great workout shoveling too. Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

Cheers!