Pink Power Ranger Sighting

This picture was taken by an "untrained, non-professional". Please do not attempt this on your own. At approximately 6pm on Monday, July 28th - a "Pink Power Ranger" on a pink scooter was spotted on Hwy 80 (see tire on the right side of the picture). This is not the first time I had seen the Pink Power Ranger. It is a site to behold. The Pink Power Ranger has blonde hair and a pink helmet to match the pink scooter. I really tried to get a picture, but as you can see my photography skills are lacking especially while driving in the car. I'm sure that's on the list of things "not" to do while driving. As I drove past her, I think I saw one of the Disney Princesses on the back of her helmet. I was so mesmerized that I almost ran off the side of the road. I was literally on the side of road with my car doing that "thud thud thud" noise. It was a little embarrassing. I'm sure the people behind me thought I was drunk. I do want to comment that I do not think scooters are supposed to be on the Hwy. She can only go about 45 miles - and that doesn't seem very safe. Apparently, this is becoming a new trend which I can understand due to gas prices. I think scooters and vespas are for jutting around the neighborhood (in Europe some where). Anyway, please stay tuned. I am determined to get a picture.

Working Out - Day 5

I started my aggressive "Biggest Loser" workout on Friday. I did strength training. On Saturday, I did cardio (45 minutes on the elliptical), strength training on Sunday, and cardio on Monday. I actually got up at 5:30 AM. I met tonight with Lana, my trainer. We refined one of my strength workouts because it had stuff that I just didn't have the nerve to do at the gym by myself (walking lunges, squats on the big ball with weights, walking lunges, lunges, walking lunges) . I hate lunges.

Lana suggested giving up carbs (breads and pastas) and red meat if I want to lose 10 lbs in 8 days. Boy, is that going to be hard. All the Lean Cuisine's I bought have pasta in them. Dang it! Plus, what about Friday night steak night at Dad's? She told me that it can take up to 2 weeks, (2 WEEKS) for our bodies to process red meat. OMG! I am going to have my dad buy me portabello mushrooms (maybe like 3) to grill on Friday. I'm going to douse it in worchestershire sauce and fake it like steak. I am determined to get this weight off. I hope I can do it.

Dark Knight

I was told to watch Batman Begins before seeing Dark Knight. I'm so glad I did. I am sure I saw it when it came out in 2005, but I vaguely remember it. I don't think I cared for it. I wasn't a big Christian Bale fan back then. Not that I am big one now, but I liked Batman Begins better now. I really liked Katie Holmes better than Maggie G. (Can't spell her last name - and I'm too lazy to go look it up). I haven't been keeping up with movies until recently. I go in spurts. It started with "Sex in the City" - (which was awesome) then "Hancock" (which was as good as I expected it to be), and then Dark Knight - because I am a big Heath Ledger fan. I loved him in 10 things I Hate About You and a Knight's Tale. I didn't see Brokeback Mountain, but I will now. Heath was a very scary Joker. He reminded me of Jack Nicholson - but alot more diabolical. I was told to not drink anything before the movie because it was long, and they were right. I made it through!!! It's funny but that's all I could think about - do not drink anything before the movie.

Shrimp Pasta

I am learning that not everyone appreciates a good picture of food. I will not buy a cookbook if it doesn't have pictures. I need to know what the food is supposed to look like when I cook something new. I took several pictures of this dish, but they all looked like they belong on a lamented menu at a chinese restaurant. Shelby would only sign off on the picture if I "staged" it correctly.

I had John and Shelby over on Saturday night. We had stuffed mushrooms, caesar salad, rosemary-cheddar bread, and Shrimp Pasta in a Tomato-Chile Sauce. I got the recipe off Food Network.  It's from Emeril Lagasse. It was very delicious and very spicy which is what kept me from totally pigging out on it. I hope to serve this one again at my next dinner party.

Working out

Well, I'm on a roll. I have worked out every day since Friday. Ok, so that is only 4 days (including today) - but I've been averaging about twice a week which explains why I've only lost about 12 lbs since January. My new plan is to get up every weekday morning (except for Tuesdays) and hit the gym by 5:30 at the latest. Today was Day one of this new plan, I was there at 5:50 this morning. I was still able to get to work by 8:15. I won't do it on Tuesdays because I have a standing appt with my trainer at 6pm. I'm going to try to stick to 1500-1800 calories. Here are my goals:

10 lbs by 8/6 (Yvette's Wedding in Chicago)
25 lbs by 9/13 (25 yr. High School Reunion)
40 lbs by 12/13 (Ryan's Graduation)

Stay tuned.