This one is for you Kate....

So, I’ve been told to blog more by my sister since my infamous busy…or also known as “great”, “high”, and “tax” season is over.  Whatever you want to call it..., it’s really just not all that fun.  But, that’s the life of an auditor I guess.  And no, I’m not a tax accountant either.  I don’t know tax.  Me being a CPA does not mean I know tax law.  I do my own taxes via Turbo Tax.  As a matter of fact, I hate tax.  Who wants to spend their time doing taxes is really beyond me.  Okay, rant over.  Now, that I have “freedom” (term is meant to be used loosely), I can blog again.

So, let me get you up to date.  Okay.   Work.  There, you’re up to date.  Okay, just kidding!!!  I’m really pulling your leg.  Rob and I have been on several adventures which have included:

A trip to Sinton to visit Nana & Pop and do Nana’s taxes.  Only I failed at her taxes.  Had to file an extension.  I guess I’ll be back.  Note:  I do nana’s taxes simply because I’m good granddaughter.  This does not give you the right to ask me to do your taxes, because well… I’m not that good and they take me a long time b/c I have to do research on every step.  Damn tax law is so freaking confusing. Ha!  We did all of that in s a single day trip on a Sunday b/c I worked all day on Saturday.

We have been to Austin, TX to be a part of the Texas Relays.  My sister high jumped on Friday, but we didn’t get to see her… why you ask?  Oh, only because we were working!  Duh!  You knew that was coming.  But, to continue on… we drove to Austin Friday night where we met up with Nana & Pop, mom & dad, and Kathleen (Rob’s mom) at the outlet mall.  Kate wasn’t there because .. she was working like most normal people and has to save some of her vacation days.  Also, Kathleen was in New Braunfels working as well that week and weekend, so we got to see her too! Have I mentioned  I love outlet malls?  I really do.  My heart starts to beat fast and my pulse begins to race just when I see one in the distance.  I am the ultimate good deal shopper.  I love to shop and when it’s a good deal, well… nothing can stop me.  Not even Dave Ramsey (just kidding, Robert! Wink, wink)  We went to a few stores looking for a cast iron enameled frying pan for my mom.  But, we never found one.  She did buy an All-Clad frying pan from the Williams & Sonoma outlet, but she had Dad take it back the next day.

On Saturday, we hung out with Kirstie at her hotel early in the morning and then headed to the track meet where we met up with Gretchen Southard, Travis’ mom.  (Remember Travis?--> he’s Kirk’s boyfriend that is on the men’s track team).  Trav was running in the DMR that afternoon at around 1 PM.  I personally was so excited about spending the day in the track, simply because my co-worker has called me “pasty”, so I wanted some freaking sun!  I went a whole hour without putting sunscreen on.  As I came to find out later that day, that was one hour too long.  Yep.  One hour too long.  Doesn’t matter that I put it on three times after that one hour.  My shoulders and forehead were goners.  Actually, it’s been two weeks since that weekend and my shoulders are still peeling from that fiasco.  Oh, I think its also highly unprofessional to go to a client with your forehead peeling.  LIKE A BANANA! Yeah, looked like I had dandruff all up in my hair.  Quite disturbing.  I’d go to the bathroom every so often to check it on and let my hair done and have it fall to the floor.  Disturbing, I know.  But, I don’t think I’m quite at the “pasty” level anymore.  Besides, you always have to get a good burn at the beginning of the spring/summer season!

Anyways, back to the track meet.  When we got there around 10:30 AM, there were a lot of people there but, there was still room to find a seat.  When we left, it was standing room only.  And how I can I put this without offending anyone?  You know how a black eyed pea is white with a little black spot in the middle?  If you can picture that in reverse, that’s what the stands looked like.   But, it was great to see such an amazing crowd.  Would you say it was close to 10,000 mom, dad and Robert?  Maybe more?  It was very impressive.

Okay, back to the race we came to watch.  Wait?  We came to watch a race?  I came to get a sun-tan! Okay, sun burn in my case.  Alright. Just kidding.  I took pictures from beginning to end of Trav’s race.  He now things I’m stalking him and is afraid of his life.  It might be borderline lunacy that he’s only met me like three times, but I’ve posted like 15 pictures of him on MY facebook.  Oh well, it was quite fabulous to watch.  The best FORTY-SIX POINT THREE SECONDS of my life Trav.  Now, you people, don’t go getting the wrong idea here.  I mean, it was only the fastest and bestest FORTHY SIX POINT THREE SECONDS of my life.  Get a grip people, that’s how long his leg was of his DMR.  He ran his 400 (one time around the track for you non-track people like my self) in FORTY SIX POINT THREE SECONDS.  That was a new PR for him and it put Arkansas in the front running to win if his teammates could keep it up as well.  And they did!  They ran first place.  I’ll post a few more pics on here, just to make sure Trav thinks I’m real crazy and goes and files a restraining order against his girlfriend’s sister.

Nonetheless, it was a very excited race to watch all the way around.  I believe the whole thing was in the 9 minute mark somewhere.  Very impressive.  His mom was going wild and so was my mom and Kirstie was hollering… but my favorite thing I listened to were these two PB men behind me that were saying in their deep voices, “Yes, he’s running a good race.  Really going to kick it in now.  Nice legs. I do believe Arkansas has got this.  Yes, Arkansas has got this.”  I don’t know how much of track experts they were, but they were at least rooting for the Hogs.  We got to chit chat with him briefly afterwards and then him and Kirk headed to wherever athletes go to board the bus and head to the airport.

Travis is taking off!

Coming round the bend...

Finishing and about to hand off the baton.
Notice how's caught up with the guy in first place.
(To see a complete story in photo's see my facebook)

Mom, dad, Robert and I… well, we headed to….. wait for it…. THE OUTLET MALL!  Yep, we went back again.  Did some shopping at J Crew, Ann Taylor, Polo.  Then we headed to this GREAT fried seafood place called Clear Springs.  We met Mema and Pepa there as well as Kathleen.  I personally had the catfish and shrimp, all fried.  Robert had the same plus a salad.  It was delish!

After we all chatted together and stuffed ourselves full, we all headed our separate directions. Mema & Pepa to Seguin, Kathleen back to New Braunfels, and me, mom, dad, and Robert to…. Wait for it… the outlet mall!  This time, we stopped for a potty break and to get some lotion at L’Occitane.  At this time, my forehead was so red, you could have mistaken it for a stoplight.  Same with my shoulders.  So, I bought some of the good stuff.  Didn’t keep me from peeling though!  Tear.  While we were shopping for lotion, dad walked in and said how he just saw the skinniest police officer alive.  Once I made my purchased, he was right.  It was the skinniest, tallest security guard man known to man kind.  It was kind of hilarious.  We were so caught up in the moment we walked past our car.  Then, mom and I filed in a single file line behind dad and pretended to be ducks following their master.  Quite an amusing site I can assure you.  Rob would not participate.  He was the undisciplined duck. Hehehehe.

Alas, that puts up to pretty current.  Last weekend we sat out by the pool all day on Saturday.   I had to burn my back so that it would even out with my shoulders.  It worked.  I’m now the same color between shoulders and back.  No peeling just yet, either.   I read a whole book from start to finish and we went and saw Source Code in theaters.  Pretty good movie, kind of weird though… but entertaining enough.

This where you could find me in Robert last weekend on Saturday.

Sunday I got a pedicure, we went to get ice cream and we made a new recipe called Chicken Tarragon.  It was a success.  And then that really brings us up to current.

Other than that, we haven’t been up to much.  I have taken a liking to painting my nails.  I kind have grown them out long enough so that I paint them French.  Except, I’ve been painting the normally white part (the tips) colors.  Purple has been my choice of color multiple times, but right now it’s lime green.  I personally like it.  But, when my nana saw them she said “Your nails… their interesting.”  I don’t think she was overly joyous of the purple tips.  Then when mom and Kirstie saw them they did comment on them by saying something to the effect of, “Jess, your nails!”  But they never said, “Jess, I like your nails!”  So, perhaps I’m not hitting a fashion statement here?  But nonetheless, it’s my new hobby.  I paint them once to twice a week.  Works for me and I don’t have to pay anyone to do it.  (Check.. dave ramsey).

Oh, speaking of Dave Ramsey… we bought tickets to go and see him October 5^th.  We were so quick to buy tickets that we got them for $19 dollars!  The $9 were sold out already, so we weren’t fast enough.  Anyone who wants to come see Dave needs to come to Houston on October 5^th.  That is where we will be.  I’m kind of excited.  We will have Robert’s car paid off in the next one-two months and then we will be DEBT FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Let me say that again, DEBT FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  When that time comes, no worries.. I’ll have a whole blog devoted to DEBT FREE!!!!!  It’s coming.  And then we can concentrate fully on our house downpayment.  Baby steps, like Dave says.  Oh, special congratulations go out to Ryan and Stacy who got the official word today that they bought a house!!!  First time homeowners!!  That’s just awesome.  They will close when we get back from Vegas.  Vegas?  What, have I mentioned vegas?  Well, I’m going.  In May.  That’s going to be a blog worth reading.  Anyways, I’ve digressed.

Now, not speaking of Dave, we bought Taylor Swift tickets this week as well.  When is her concert you ask?  Oh, not until November.  I seem to like to buy my tickets way in advance, apparently.  I’m seeing a pattern.  Those were not quite on the Dave plan, but Robert said I could buy them so I did!!!  J

I head to Philadelphia next week (6 days) for my first day off of work since New Year’s vacation.  It promises to be a heck of vacation and a blog.  Until next time….



Oh, how I'm glad spring is here and summer is around the corner!
(P.S. Don't mind Rob's picture, he's not very good at this taking a picture thing, hehe.)



Its the Middle of March Already!!!

Where did time go?  Certainly not towards my blog b/c I haven’t posted anything.  Oh wait, I’m an auditor during her what can be known as “great season”, “high season”, or just plain “busy season.”  It’s been keeping me very busy over the past month or so and on the weekends, so I haven’t just had these amazing Ricky and Lucy stories to tell.

So, let me catch you up on a few things and then dive right on in to my Ricky & Lucy adventure.

1)  I made it through 6 weeks of doing our insanity workouts.  I had to stop because I went out of town and then I have to drive over an hour to my client each day, so I just am too tired.  But, I have been working out AT LEAST three times a week on my own, following the Insanity exercises.  After this week, Robert and I will be starting back up again.  Gotta find my Las Vegas body and then my beach body!!!!!

2)  Robert and I have pretty much been working non-stop.  He has been working late as well, so we aren’t much fun.  Find it quite hard to stay up past ten o’clock on the weekend and its everything I got not to climb into bed at 8:30 on a Friday night.  Isn’t that sad… but I’m just keeping it real.

3)  I went home the last weekend in February to see my sister, Kirstie, high jump at the SEC Championships.  That was a very cool experience.  I had never been to a college track meet and never been to a track meet indoors.  The field events took quite a bit longer than I thought they would take and the running events went by quite quickly.  Kirstie didn’t do her best, but I think we can probably just chalk it up to some major jitters.  I’m definitely looking forward to outdoor season where she will come to Austin and I hope to go back home for a couple and sit outside and bask in the sunshine while watching everything go on.

Oh, I should probably mention Kirstie got this new boyfriend.  His name is Travis and I think he is somewhere around 6’4.  He runs the 400 in the open event, DMR and the 4x4 relay.  Ha, I didn’t even know what those things were until that weekend.  But he’s quite cute looking and a business major… so we know how I feel about that!  Go WCOB (Walton College of Business)!  Anyways, he’s very fast and makes me feel very short.  I told Kirstie that when he met Rob I needed him to walk in on his knees.  Hehe.

4)  My home computer’s power supply went out.  But, Robert fixed it!!!  All by himself.  I was very impressed with him.  I really didn’t think he could do it.  Rob’s twin Ryan is really into computers and fixes them up a lot (computer science major-- works with computers for a living) and because I think Robert knows that Ryan can do it, he thinks he can too just by being associated with Ryan.

But he did fix it.  I had to have him do it while I wasn’t home though because he was making me really nervous.  My home computer pretty much has my life on it and I really, really didn’t want it to all disappear.  Since this has happened, I have since bought a back up hard drive and have backed up all my files.

We also upgraded from Windows Vista to Windows 7.  I think Vista is what caused my power supply to go out b/c it ran my computer really loudly all the time.  Seriously, if you came to visit, you would have noticed the loud sound.  It pretty much sounded like it was gearing up to fly away.  To fix this, I decided Windows 7 was my answer.. and guess what.. it was!!  My computer runs silently now!!

However, I guess when I originally bought Vista I decided I needed to by Vista Ultimate (why, I have no idea... a complete waste of my money, I know that now).  So… that meant that to upgrade to 7, I had by Windows 7 Ultimate less I wanted to completely remove all programs from my home computer.  And I really didn’t want to do that.

Except, my Windows 7 diagnostic test did not tell me that.  At all.  I didn’t even know I had Vista Ultimate until I tried to install just regular Windows 7 that was $100.  Upon trying to install the regular, I figured out my problem.  So, I had to spend like $200 dollars to upgrade… but I think it was worth it.  Just the silence of the computer makes it all better.

5)  Robert and I went to the NCAA Indoor Track Championships in College Station, TX.  My mom and my sister were there (sis didn’t qualify, so she wasn’t competing) cheering on the team and her boyfriend, Travis, who competed in the DMR. 

Let me tell you, the place was PACKED.  We were all squished in the stands like sardines.  It was CRAZY.  Pretty exciting though.  People would go wild at the end of the races and what not.

Robert and I got there about 3:30 PM (I had to work until 2 on Saturday).  We met up with my mom and Kirstie and watched Arkansas’ pole vaulter Tina Sutej win the pole vault.  Also, the women placed 4^th overall.  The men didn’t do as well… but the races were still quite exciting to watch!

We left the meet around 8PM and went to mom and Kirk’s hotel room (Rob and I stayed the night too).  Kirstie got ready for her night out in College Station with Travis and I held my eyes open with my fingers so as not to fall asleep.  Trav came down and then we all went to eat at Olive Garden… no worries, it was only 9:30 by this time!!  But we were in and out quick.

Rob managed to get himself a little lost on the way and it was only .8 miles away from the hotel.  It was quite funny.  I said to my mom… see… this is what I deal with every day as Rob is pulling u-turns illegally and reversing away from a stop light, and turning the wrong way into parking lots.  But, we were only, you know, 5 minutes behind Kirstie and Travis whom left after us.

Travis and Kirstie went and did their thing and mom, Rob and I went to bed.  Kirstie came in around 2 AM (or would you say it was 3 AM with the time change?? Hmm..)  Mom and her chitchatted about her night for a while and I spoke up and told them, “Can you please whisper a little more loudly so that I wouldn’t have to strain so hard to hear you.”  So then they started talking louder which was all fine and dandy to me because I wanted to hear too.  Mom made a comment about how we needed to keep it down b/c of Robert… but then Rob spoke up too about how he’s heard every word.  Very funny at 3AM.

Mom and Kirk took off Sunday AM around 8:30 and Robert and I got up at 9:30 to begin preparing to leave.  I guess Mom and Kirk used up all the hotel shampoo and conditioner, because Robert couldn’t find any…. so I went raiding the Housekeeping cart (where the housekeeper was, I do not know… but her cart was just in the hallway) looking for some shampoo, etc.  I never found any shampoo… but I did find a bar soap and conditioner and told Rob to just make do.

By the time we left the hotel to head back home, it was about 10:30 AM.  I was very sad, because that meant we couldn’t go to McDonald’s for breakfast.  I freaking love McGriddles and always try to eat at McDonalds for breakfast when possible.  The only other place I could think of that would still be serving breakfast was Whataburger, so we headed there.

Kyle always raves about Whataburger’s taquitos so I didn’t think we could go wrong.  But upon pulling into the drive through, I saw pancakes on the menu… and thought, forget the Taquito, I’m going for the pancakes.  So we pull up and I say, Rob I want pancakes.. .so get the # 13.  So he orders the #13 and a taquito for himself.  We spent $10.75 for fast food breakfast and that seems a little high to me.  But, it was because Robert ordered his taquito with, sausage, bacon, potatoes, and shredded cheese which added like two bucks or something.

We get our food, and I’m like… this isn’t pancakes?!?!  Rob says… yeah, I know…. You didn’t order pancakes?  I’m like yeah I did… I told you I wanted pancakes and to get the #13.  He said, well the # 13 wasn’t pancakes. And I said, “you didn’t tell me that.”  He said… “Well, you sounded so sure that you wanted the #13, I just thought maybe you changed your mind.”

Oh, I was so sad.  I had my heart set on pancakes and instead I had a biscuit.  It was pretty good anyways I reckon… but no pancakes.  J

We headed back to Houston and stopped on the outlet mall on Highway 290 where we dropped some serious cash doing a little spring shopping.  But, Rob did get two new pairs of pants, and a new shirt.  I just got like you know… 8 new shirts and a new skirt.  Score!!!

We drove all the way in and stopped at Kroger where Robert casually mentions, “I need better things to eat on the weekend.  You know, something I don’t have to cook.”  I said, well that’s what Chocolate pop-tarts are for.”  He looked at me w/ that look that said…. “why did I marry you?”  I responded with, “What, the Chocolate fudge poptarts don’t rock your world?”  He said, “Do they rock yours?”  Me. “Well, as a matter of fact, yes.”  (I eat chocolate fudge poptarts EVERY morning during the week and on Saturday when I work).

So… anyways, we bought more chocolate fudge poptarts (for me) and nothing for breakfast for Rob b/c I said if he didn’t want to cook anything, he’d have to just hook himself up to an IV. Haha.

We got back home and I took a little siesta of a nap and then Rob and I cleaned out our closet for all this new clothes we bought and to box up the winter stuff.  We have proudly filled two giant trash bags of clothes we will be donating.  I hate to think of how much money is actually sitting in those bags.  But, my closet is successfully turned back into spring, summer, fall clothing and all the sweaters have been boxed up or put aside in the trash bag for donations.

Oh, should I also mention that I bought three new pairs of shoes this weekend?  This is what happens when I work too much and start to get somewhat depressed, I go shopping and spend money.  But they are very cute shoes!!!

Rob got rid of a lot of shirts he didn’t wear or shorts that were too small (he’s getting a bit thicker these days).  So we are all set.  I reckon my next big shopping spree will be for some Las Vegas clothes!!!  Oh, how I can’t wait (May 10^th!!).

Now, Robert and I have cooked spaghetti for dinner and enjoying a nice movie of Jurassic Park on TNT.  I love Jurassic Park.  As a matter of fact, I can watch it over and over again w/o complaint or boredom.  There is just something about it.  Rob just laughs at me.  But seriously, when it comes on, I always watch it.  I’m currently at the part where the car is about to be thrown in the tree and they are escaping from the giant T-Rex.  The T-rex just ate the lawyer and declared his dominance on the world.  Steven Spielberg, you are amazing.

So anyways, that’s where we’ve been and what we’ve been up to.  It’s not much… but can you believe it’s the middle of March already?!  Rob goes to Florida for his buddy’s wedding (Joe Gracy)-- how I wish I could go too!!  The family will be in Austin April 9^th for the Texas Relays, so I’m a bit pumped about that.  Not too far away!!!  Then, I’m going to try to get back home April 30^th for a friend’s wedding and then its Las Vegas May 10^th!!!!!

Stay tuned for what I’m sure will be a great Spring!!!

Well… maybe RobAndJessInAWorkoutRegimen is better than Vitameatavegamin. Maybe.

Oh yes, I know.. you thought we, or I, had given up.  But nope, today marked the 15^th workout by me & Rob.  We haven’t skipped a single day.  The only day of rest is a Sunday.  And I look forward to that day with everything I got.

And yes, the first week was bloody miserable.  I couldn’t move, everything hurt.  I even researched ice baths and made one for me and Rob.  Yep, you heard right.  I took an ice bath.  Do I need to repeat b/c you still don’t believe.  YES, I, JESSICA LYNN MEIER, TOOK AN ICE BATH.  But only after Robert did it first.  And I put on sweatshirt for the upper half of me.  But yes, the water was a sweet 58 degrees.  Robert kind of just had to push me down b/c I stepped my toes in and was like, nope… I’m not doing it.  He literally shoved me down as I went screaming.  But I stayed in for 8 minutes.  Yep, you are looking at the girl who doesn’t get in pool unless the water is above 86 degrees.  My legs were numb afterwards, but can I say that I felt miraculously better the next day?  Yes.  Oh, and I took a hot shower an hour later.  I was kind of concern at first b/c other than my legs feeling a bit numb… my body still freaking hurt.  But, I can honestly say the next day I felt better.

We were in such unbearable pain that we took ice baths.  But, I can’t even describe to you the amount of pain my legs were in.  I don’t even remember what else hurt, but I can recall the screaming pain of my legs instantly.  I still have nightmares about it.  The second week was drastically better than the first.  Don’t get me wrong… not a minute goes by that our instructor, Shaun T says “ Dig deeper, squeeze that core!”  I  yell back, “I DON’T HAVE A CORE!!!!!” with sweat dripping down my face and my legs shaking.

I am proud to report that Rob and I can almost make it through the 9 minute warm-up.  ALMOST.  But, I don’t really consider this a warm-up.  Hardest warm-up of my life.  And then, there is this one day where you just do cardio straight for 20 minutes.  It’s kind of ridiculous.  The second week had to combine 20  minute non-stop cardio w/ a cardio abs workout.  Needless to say, my abs have yet to recover (this took place on Saturday).   I live for “Recovery Workout” Day.  While this entails squatting for 3 minutes straight, there is no jumping.  So be it that my legs collapse and I fall to the floor.  Just no more basketballs and squat jumps, please!!!!!!  For those wondering what a “basketball” is that is where you squat, bend down and touch the floor, and jump up pretending you are shooting a basketball.  Don’t know about you, but I get a ‘nothing but net’ every time!!!!

So, today was fitness test 2.  You will recall our first fitness test from day 1 on my previous blog.  So, let me break it down for you:

	Jessica		Robert
	Day 1	Day 15	Day 1	Day 15
Test 1	38	61	45	76
Test 2	18	30	26	35
Test 3	30	48	40	62
Test 4	13	20	20	29
Test 5	4	8	5	8
Test 6	8	10	10	11
Test 7	0*	6	18	20
Test 8	20	30	18	26

*This would be push up jacks.  I could do none the first day.

Oh, and no one is allowed to comment about how Rob does more reps than me.  We have a rule… no judging each other, so that will also apply to you.

So, yes folks… I would say our workout is working!  WE IMPROVED!!!!!!!!  I’m calling this a success.  What, what?!?  So, maybe all that pain was for a little gain.  I can even do a push-up!!!!!  I was fairly certain I would never be able to do a push-up jack.  I mean really, who wants to jump and straddle their legs all while doing a push up???  Certainly not me.  Oh, and I still don’t like doing any of this stuff.. but it is getting somewhat easier.  SOMEWHAT.  Maybe in the next 2 weeks I will be able to report that I can make it through the entire warm-up.  MAYBE.

We definitely don’t have a 6 pack of abs or anything, but I am starting to see a faint outline of a leg muscle.  I still hate Kendra.  She still wears her hair down and has a 6-pack of abs and annoyingly smiles while she does it all… but let me tell ya, Kendra… I’M COMING AFTER YOU.  Though, I will never wear my hair down while working out.  That’s just stupid.  But, maybe we’re past the point of needing another ice bath, cuz baby, that was just cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But here I am, making this all about me… but Rob is doing great too.  But, let’s face it… I’m the one that really needs to work out.  He could run 4 miles w/o stopping before he even started.  J  And he still drinks Protein shakes after every workout.  I’m still eating cereal.  Where’s the fairness in life??  Okay, no judging I swear!  I’ve got 5 more pounds to go to get to my original wedding weight.  Damn the 15 lbs marriage can give you!!

So, here’s my incentive to you.  If I can do it…. you can definitely do it.  I hope my blog is somewhat of an inspiration to you.. b/c just knowing that someone might wonder how I did keeps me going day in and day out.  So, hopefully you will be able to see how we are coming along in the next 15 days.

So yes, maybe RobandJessInAWorkoutRegimen is a little better than Vitameatavegamin.  Maybe.

It's not vitameatavegamin... it's Rob&JessInAWorkoutRegimen!

Alarm went off at 6:40 AM.  A bit later than usual, but I just had to go into the office today so my time travels were much less and could afford a little extra shut eye.  I peaked one eye open and said “I can’t roll over.”  Rob perked right up and hopped into the shower.

Just so you know, Robert never “perks right up and hops into the shower.”  NEVER.  This was bizarre.  I personally snoozed my alarm.  It went off again… I snoozed it again, but felt slightly guilty since Rob was already in the shower.  I’m usually out of the shower before he gets in.

Okay.. break.  What did we do yesterday (Monday)?  Why would it cause Jessica to not be able to roll over?? Well... Robert and I started a new workout regimen.  And when I say regimen, I mean REGIMEN!  We are doing it hard core for thirty days.  If we start seeing results, we will do it hard core again for another 60 days.  Monday was our first day.  And you have to do it for 6 days straight with only one day of rest.  Each workout ranges between 30 and 45 minutes long and we watch a video & do what the guy does.  Or well, sort of do what the guy does.  Because well, we aren’t very advanced.  I might not even say we were beginners…. Can you be a beginner, beginner??

Anyways, all our stuff came in the mail on Monday.  I came home and read the instructions to make sure what we were about to do wasn’t like going to kill me.  I cooked up some left over spaghetti and then we warmed up… you know, bend over and stretch.  We got the guts to put in the video for our “Fitness Test.”  YES, day 1 was only a 30 minute fitness test.

I’m pretty sure we failed.  And Rob just as bad as me.  Ok, me a little a bit worse if I’m honest.  We did these 8 different tests and had to record our scores.  I could barely get through the part that just warms you up so that you can stretch.  But, in all fairness we did complete it all.  Just a bit slower than the guy on the video.  But ya know, FORM over SPEED.  Which is what Shaun T, my video instructor says.

You know, I can’t actually do a pushup.  I discovered this during one of our “skills test.”  I can barely do a girl push up.  And this guy wanted us to do a push up jacks!  If you know what those are, great.. if not, thank God that you don’t.  I stuck to my girl push ups only.  Maybe by the end of the 30 days I’ll have built enough strength to do an actual push up.  If I can do one push up jack, I’ll consider this course a complete success.

And as a doubly whammy... there are people behind the instructor doing all of this too.  They are sweating, but can still smile!  Both have the 6-pack abs, great legs, and awesome arms.  After every test, the instructor was like "well Kendra, how many did have before?" Kendra said, "32."  Instructor: "and what did you get this time?"  Kendra: "46" [emphasize big extra smile here].   When Kendra could do 46 I was usually around 15-20.  And when she was discussing her results I was taking large swigs of water and wiping the sweat from my face.  I hate Kendra.  Plus, Kendra did all of this w/ her hair down and it still looked nice and neat when she finished.  Me: I have sweat dripping into my eyes, my hair is also sweaty not to mention frizzy, and my face is beat red.  Did I mention I hate Kendra?

But, baby… YOU.COULD.FEEL.THE.BURN.  I could tell in about 15 minutes I was going to hurt.  Not too mention Rob and I were hilarious.  I’m sure the neighbors that live below us loved having us jump around for 30 minutes.  And, I will say… I was a better jumper than Rob.  When he went up, he came down…hard.  Doesn’t know how to land lightly.  I’m going to thank gymnastics and volleyball for that skill.

Anyways, after it was all said and done with.. we stretched some more.  Because, let’s not kid yourself… when you are as out of shape as I am, you need double the stretching time to somewhat alleviate the pain.  And of course, about 8 Advil’s a day.  But no harm, no foul.  We headed off into bed where I knew it was going to be bad later.  I just didn’t know how bad:

Around 1 AM in the morning, I was having this dream where I was kind of performing an inventory count (yeah, so I dream about work all the time), but I was counting the number of times I could lift my arms up in this warehouse.    And my arms were like weights.  When I lifted the above my head, they clanked.  And this kept going on and on.  I’m serious.. this was actually a dream.  Finally, I just got worn out in my dream, but my arms wouldn’t start clanking.  I somehow managed to wake up and pry one eye open and suddenly realized the clanking wasn’t in my dreams… it was the DISHWASHER!!  (Why is that more & more of my stories are starting to involve my dishwasher…. Robert……).  Rob clearly hadn’t put the dishes in the proper places as they were banging around like crazy.  So, I listened to that for about 20 minutes b/c I was too sore to even get out of bed at 1 AM.  I did fall asleep again, which leads me back to the very beginning of this blog….

Rob perked up and hopped into the shower well before I was even able to throw my legs on the floor and sit in a sitting position.  He takes the fastest show I have ever seen him take.. might go down in the record books… and leaves me astounded.  Why was he in such a chipper mood even though he has to be almost as sore as I am (for my sake, I’m pretending he is as sore as me)??  He wanted to make eggs!  And he did make eggs.. brought me a plate full of scrambled eggs and a piece of toast.  He made some for himself too… this wasn’t just for me ladies.  But he says, “we need our protein!”  And he does all this as he has no care in the world.  Me, I’m cursing at every step I take and wonder how I’m going to lift my arms to the steering wheel so I can just drive my car to work.  I hate him, I swear (jk!).  I guess my chocolate poptarts in the morning don’t live up to our new workout regimen.

(You know, I really like the word regimen… for some reason it reminds me of the I Love Lucy episode about the vitameatavegamin)

We each get to work and I promptly send him an e-mail saying, “hit hurts to breathe.”  And you know.. this was only after the FITNESS TEST.  We had to do Day 2 tonight!!!  I mentally prepared myself all day.  I made it through the day, but by the end of the day when I was walking to my car I’m pretty sure I looked like an 80 year-old grandma who can barely stand up.  Walked slowly too.

I came home from work to find out that Rob had bought two bags of Whey Protein powder.  God, what is up his love of protein??!?  I’m trying to get the pounds off and he’s eating 60 grams of protein in one drink!!!  I could kill him.  He’s so freaking happy about this working out.  My muscles are screaming at me (oh wait, what muscle?).

Never fear ladies & gents, I did do day two w/ Rob.  It was plyometric cardio circuit this time for a solid 40 minutes.  And if it’s possible, I may be even sorer than the day before!!!  And it’s only 10 PM.  Tomorrow is not going to be good, I can already tell.  Wait… tomorrow’s disk says “Cardio Recovery.”  YES… Recovery sounds good, right??????

More is sure to come about our exercise regimen… and if it doesn’t, then you can probably assume we (or most likely I) gave up.  But I’m going to try really hard not to.

You know you live in Houston when...

I parked myself in the Williams Tower parking garage on the 4^th floor, took the stairs down to level 3, walked across the sky bridge, and then took the elevator to level 32.  I meandered my way to the space I call my own: approximately 25 square feet of cubicle space.  I am on the aisle, so I only have one cube neighbor.  I set my bags down and immediately popped open my Diet DP and took a nice long drink and gave out a little sigh.  Waylon, who sits in the window cube across from me, looked up and said “Wow, already?!”  I responded with, “Yeah, rough drive in.”

Maybe I should preface this story with… oh.. I live 2.9 miles away from my office.  And yes, its 2.9 not 3 as for insurance purposes you get a discount if you live LESS than 3 miles to the office, not exactly 3 miles. 

I think it may only be in Houston where a 2.9 mile drive to work can be stressful.  But I had been pained by the stoplights (must go through 12+ stoplights to get to work), three school zones, and two police officers managing road traffic on the street I’m on.  Not to mention being cut-off by two black SUVs.  In fact, one of the black SUV’s decided he had to beat me so bad to the red light that we were BOTH making right hand turns at, he zipped past me and cut me off so he could make his right-hand turn first.  Buddy, the light was red anyways!  Really?!  And forget about the police officers directing traffic.. they seem to stop the traffic when it gets a green light and let it go when it gets a red light so that it takes twice as long to get through one green light.   So, yes, the first thing I did when I walked into the office that morning was take a nice huge gulp of my Diet DP.

So, that’s how I’m going to begin my list… You know you live in Houston when:

1.        You can live 2.9 miles away from the office and it still takes you 30 minutes to get there.

2.       When it’s raining outside, you can go the whole day with never getting wet b/c you just drive from parking garage to parking garage.

3.       Saying a word of profanity to the person who just cut you off becomes a habit.

4.       You drive a quarter of mile just to get to the top of your apartment’s parking garage

5.       You drive as though it’s a competition w/ everyone else… me first, me first!!

6.       On the weekends you end up doing nothing because there are too many things going on in Houston for you to just decide what to do.

7.       The sky lets a little rain down, and it freaking floods.  (When this happens, we won’t even talk about the traffic snarl up.. or the time that I called Robert crying b/c water was almost covering all my tires, as well as everyone else's right next to me)

8.       Some people willingly spend an hour to an hour and a half sitting in traffic each way. (How do you do it?!?)

9.       You hear people ask “What’s a hard freeze?  Should I bring my plants inside?” on the radio.

10.   You get traffic updates every 15 minutes on the radio and you can download iphone apps and monitor websites that have real-time traffic pictures/updates.  You always check the site before you head out.

11.   Traffic can still be bad at 6:45 PM. (or even 6:45 AM)

12.   You wonder where all those cars park that just drove into downtown over the past hour. (Seriously, where do they go?!)

13.   You willingly work an hour or two later just so that you can miss traffic. ("Well, I'm just gonna stay another hour or so b/c it's just not worth it")

14.   You own a GPS because no one really knows where they are going.

15.   The rodeo lasts for an entire month and concerts are on-going for four days a week every week during that time. (Oh yes, the concerts were just announced this past Monday at 10 AM)

16.   You turn your heat on one day and the AC on for the next five.

17.   You can head out of town on a Saturday morning and an hour later… you still haven’t left the city limits of Houston (as we noted when driving home for Christmas).

18.   You don’t keep grocery bags in your apartment because of roaches (eeewww, I know!)

19.   People know what “stickers” are (aka, grass spurs if you didn’t know)

20.   You haven’t been to Wal-Mart in over 2 months (hello, Target!)

21.   People classify the seasons as: Almost Summer, Summer, Still Summer, and Christmas (Yes, I did have a person tell me this… and after my first full year in Houston, I tend to agree)

22.   People measure distances in hours/minutes instead of miles (ex: 3 hours to San Antonio/Austin, 4 hours to Dallas, 45 minutes to Katy, etc)

23.   San Felipe is not pronounced San Phee-Lipe

24.   To do anything in Houston.. you must head to 610 (the inner loop).  It all begins with “well, go to 610 and then….

25.   You see people have carts they pull out of their car to carry in their groceries b/c their apartment is so far away (no worries, we don’t have one but I’m trying to convince Robert to buy one).

Okay, there are my 25 reasons.  Phew!!!  I was going to stop at 10, but I seem to have gotten a bit carried away… ooops.  Now, don’t get me wrong.. we really do love living in Houston, but there are some days where I just really, really need my Diet DP.