Exercise Nazi

Tonight, I went to the gym. Hopefully this will become a normal reoccurring event for me as I am wickedly out of shape.

It's a pretty sweet deal. Working at the crime lab, we somehow managed to get a free membership to the gym attached to the hospital across the street. That's right, free. But here's the best part - work has not only approved but is actually endorsing us to work out during the work day, or leaving slightly early from work just to work out. With no penalty. Basically the deal is, we get paid to work out. And we have a facility to work out in for free.

So, given these two facts, I figured it was high time to get my butt in gear and start working out.

I went to the gym with a couple coworkers. (I stayed at work until the usual quitting time. It might take a little while for me to actually take off early from work to go to the gym. It just feels wrong somehow.) It's great working with them because if I were there by myself I wouldn't push myself as hard, and I also would not know as many different exercises to do.

That being said... I am home now. And already sore. There's some muscle in my hip I never knew existed that is currently painful. And my stomach muscles are going to be angry tomorrow, I can tell.

So, I'm now in league with an Exercise Nazi. I'm not sure I know what I've really gotten myself into, but I'm glad that I have her as my personal trainer of sorts. Maybe I'll lose the 10-15 pounds I put on since I left DC.

Heil, mein Führer!


End Blog.
(PS - Exercise Nazi, I know you've read this blog before. So, if you happen to see this... I love you. Don't stop kicking my ass.)

Thanksgiving

I basically adopted a whole family for Thanksgiving (they are friends of mine). It was awesome. There were a total of 8 of us, and I managed to cook way too much food. But it was really fun and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. We even had little kids at the table who ate way better than I ever imagined they would. So, here are a few snapshots of the holiday:

I can cook. Pretty well, too. There were compliments, amazingly enough. Or... they were all just being very polite.

Here is the table. I ran out of chairs, so my guests brought some over with them. I just never got a picture after they arrived.

Even Remy had a guest to entertain! That's the tiniest dog, ever. He's a miniature dachshund and the runt of the litter. He's just a few months old.


Remy's always a big hit with everyone. And by the end of the night, tired enough not to care what was happening to her.

His daughter took this picture.

And of course, it's not a party until everyone plays Guitar Hero.

She's totally not even left handed.

It was a good Thanksgiving. I'm very happy that everyone came to share it with me in my new home. Thanks.


End Blog.

Making Christmastime

Today, the day after Thanksgiving... Black Friday. I did not participate in the commercialism. It always ruins the whole spirit of the season seeing people fighting over stuff to buy and standing in lines to get deals and all that jazz. I'd much rather celebrate the season in the freezing cold (the high today was 31 degrees), putting up Christmas lights on my house. Thanks to Janelle, I'm adopting this tradition. The day after Christmas is now for decorating the outside of one's home.


I debated what kind of lights to buy, but I settled on multicolored ones because that's what Dad used to put on the house when I was a kid. And I always loved it. I think plain white lights are much more classy, but... Christmas decorations aren't about being classy. No. They are about reliving the happiness of childhood, and so, multicolored it is.


Up I go. Thankfully, I have a lovely friend who let me borrow her ladder. Which has totally sold me on purchasing this kind of ladder when I get finally do get one.

Stop looking at my butt.

So, one side of my house is... taller. (More of the foundation is showing.) And we got tired of moving the ladder when we got to this last side. So, I climbed up on the roof. I'm still debating how good of an idea that was, but finishing the lights was lightning fast after I got up there. It was just the getting up there and the getting down from there parts that were scary.


The roof is really high. And has more of a pitch than I would have thought. But, it was totally worth it. See?



"Cause when the full moon starts to rise, we're all singing out, it's Christmastime!"


End Blog.

Happy Birthday, Remy

One year ago today, I brought Remy home to my apartment. Thankfully, she's been with me ever since. I just hope she's as happy with me as I am with her.



Happy Birthday, Rem. Thanks for being such a good pup. Apparently fireworks are being set off in your honor.



See, there she is, looking at the fireworks out of the window. Because now that she has windows to look out of all the time, it's hard to pull her away from them. Today she got to growl out of the back door as well, because a neighbor was cutting his lawn... or mulching the leaves, which would probably be a better guess. I hope you like your new house and yard and windows, Girl.

May we celebrate many more "birthdays" together. Love you, Rems.


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Victory is MINE!

Mwahahahahaha!

Success! After lots of frustration (and possibly maybe some damaged drywall that is covered up now so who really cares anyway?) I have hung my bamboo Roman blinds!

I win!

Nikki 1, House... too many to count.

In other exciting news, I finally have my dryer vented to the great outdoors. So, more like, Nikki 2, house... still too many to count.

Victory!


End Blog.

You Come to Visit Me Next, Right?

Look who I just saw!!!



I miss you bunches, you know. Move to Missouri. I'm sure we have law schools nearby. Do we look older to you? I mean, it's been four years since graduation. Please tell me we don't look that much older.



No, really. I miss you.


End Blog.

Assume the Position

It may not be that original or anything, but I thought I'd at least share my Halloween costume.



I'm pretty awesome. I know.


End Blog.