The Biggest Loser, Week 4

Errr… I’m up .8 lbs this week. I expected as much, since my social life took priority over my diet. I spent time with friends Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and friend time often includes restaurants and alcohol. This week: Back on track.

Literally annoying

In my last blog, I posted a quote from someone else, and the final three words of that quote reminded me that I need to blog about this very important subject. The quote: “It literally rocked.”

Literally. Really? It literally rocked?

It’s a big pet peeve of mine when the word literally is used incorrectly. Not that it makes me upset - I don’t care that much. But when people do it I judge them because I know that they say words that they don’t understand.

Definition of literally:

1. in the literal or strict sense: What does the word mean literally?
2. in a literal manner; word for word: to translate literally.
3. actually; without exaggeration or inaccuracy: The city was literally destroyed.
4. in effect; in substance; very nearly; virtually.

When I was a kid I went to church with my mom. For a number of years the pastor there was a woman who really liked the word literally. But, you might have guessed that she didn’t exactly understand her fave word.

She once was telling us in her sermon how much she loved God/religion/etc. “I literally hunger and thirst for the church.” Think about it…

But, the all-time best, most inappropriate use of literally ever: Someone was upset with said pastor. What did he do? He “literally chewed her out!” I’m not going to say more about how that statement completely backfired on her. I think most of you can figure out what comes to mind to a lot of us when we think of someone being literally chewed out. Barf.

If you have any equally amusing word misuses, post them in a comment so that we can bask in the ignorance of others.

Married

This morning I came across a blog about a wedding. The wedding was in Washington state, and unfortunately the marriage is not legally recognized because it is between two women. I just wanted to post a quote from that blog, because I found it very powerful.

My favorite moment: The declaration of our marriage by our bad-ass celebrant & dear friend, Roxanne.

She took a step forward, puffed her chest and powerfully announced:“By the power unlawfully seized by me in defiance of the State of Washington's laws prohibiting marriage equality, it is my great pleasure to declare you MARRIED!"

It felt like the earth shifted at that moment. It was powerful because of how real the words were to her… it sent a visible wave of chills + joy over the crowd. It literally rocked!

Maybe I was just in a sappy mood, but I totally teared up reading that statement!

The Biggest Loser, Week 3

I lost 2.6 pounds in the last week!! That was more than I expected, and I attribute it to my working out.

Saturday James and I biked to the gym, lifted some weights, took a 90 minute cycling class, then biked home. We were exercising for almost 3 hours. Monday I took a 60 minute cycling class and Tuesday was 60 minutes of kickboxing (but I drove there both times).

My total weight lost in the last 3 weeks is 3.4 pounds (I was a little off last week: I lost .8 pounds instead of the 1.0 that I reported). The biggest loser in the competition this week was 2.7 pounds – I was so close!

Congratulations, President Obama!

As I watched the inauguration of our new President this morning, I remembered this poem by one of my favorite poets, Langston Hughes. I’m not just saying this for dramatic effect, I honestly recalled this poem as I was watching the former Presidents enter the stage.

Children’s Rhymes

By what sends
the white kids
I ain't sent:
I know I can't
be President.
What don't bug
them white kids
sure bugs me:
We know everybody
ain't free.

Lies written down
for white folks
ain't for us a-tall:
Liberty And Justice--
Huh!--For All?

The first time I read this poem (a few years ago), I thought about how sad it is that people are limited by their race. They know that there are limits to their potential success, regardless of their abilities.

Today as our country is led by its first African American President, part of that limitation is gone. Now, children of every background can know that they can be President. They can be anything they want to be, and no one can tell them “no” just because of their race. We have a long way to go, but today is historic nonetheless.

I am proud of my country today, for overcoming prejudice and voting for a great leader. I hope that President Obama can help our country recover and excel.

Pasta Puttanesca

Pasta puttanesca, in Italian, means "pasta the way a whore would make it." Ha! Several Wikipedia guesses on how this name originated: It's hot, spicy and pungent; In the old country, it was offered at a low price to entice men into brothels; And, it was a quick, cheap meal that prostitutes could prepare between customers.

In any case, it is yummy. My parents used to make it all the time. I remembered about it tonight and made it for dinner, and rediscovered how so very easy it is to make.

These amounts will feed about 2-3 people.

1 can cut tomatoes
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
5 oz. green olives
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried pepper flakes
4 cloves of garlic, chopped

Drain the can of tomatoes. Combine the tomatoes with olive oil and bring to a boil in a skillet.

Keep the sauce at a full boil and add oregano, pepper flakes, garlic and olives, stirring frequently. Reduce heat slightly, and cook until sauce has thickened.

Serve over penne pasta.

The Biggest Loser, Week 2

I lost 1 pound! Now I wish I had tried harder and made it more… the biggest loser this week was 4 pounds. But, this 1 pound is encouraging. I hope I can continue losing at least a pound each week!

Baked Zucchini Sticks

I found this recipe here. I'm not on Weight Watchers, but half of this recipe is only 2 points, which I've heard is pretty good. You can serve them with marinara sauce, but I preferred them plain.

3 medium zucchini sliced into long sticks
1 large egg white
1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 425.

Combine bread crumbs, parmesan and garlic salt. In another bowl, beat egg whites, then season with salt and pepper. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.

Dip the zucchini sticks in the egg whites, then the bread crumbs. Place on the cookie sheet and spray more cooking spray on top. Cook for 20 minutes.

Orlando Magic

Nothing remarkable happened to me today, so I’m going to share James’ exciting story of the day.

He was working out at the gym in downtown Sac, and half of the Orlando Magic team came in to work out! They’re in town to play the Kings.

This guy’s on a roll with the celeb sightings at the gym… a few months ago he saw Natalie Bomke, local Fox News anchor. All I ever see are obnoxious hairy guy and skanky too-tight pants girl.

Alcatraz

James and I went to Alcatraz in San Francisco today. He had never been, but this was my third time. It was much cooler before. I've kind of already seen everything. It's interesting, but I have a bit of a problem with the glamorization of crime. Turning criminals into celebrities just sickens me in some ways... but I did perpetuate this, and I did find it interesting. I'm conflicted! It was a beautiful day though, and we could see the whole bay. We walked around the city a bit too. A good day trip.

The Biggest Loser, Week 1

Yesterday we had our first weigh-in at work for our Biggest Loser contest. I’ll be happy if I loose 12 pounds in the 12-week competition. Actually I’ll be happy if I loose anything. Eventually I’d like to get back to my weight in high school, which would require me to loose 25 pounds (I know, I can’t believe it either!). I have to concentrate every day, every meal on not overeating.

Upcoming gay rights events

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009

Nationwide rally in protest of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act).

DOMA was passed by the Federal Government in 1996, and states

1. No state need treat a relationship between persons of the same sex as a marriage, even if the relationship is considered a marriage in another state.
2. The Federal Government may not treat same-sex relationships as marriages for any purpose, even is concluded or recognized by one of the states.

I don’t have any Sacramento-specific info yet, but will post it when I do. Rallies will be held at city halls across the country 1:30pm EST/10:30am PST to urge President-Elect Barack Obama to repeal this act.

Here’s the promo for this event:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2009
California State Capitol

Speakers, entertainment and thousands of like-minded people – in one spot – join us to put a FACE on the issue of true equality.

Confirmed Appearances by:
Robin Tyler, Long time political and gay activist
Julia Louis-Dryfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Marc Shaiman, Prop 8 the Musical, Hairspray, South Park
Wanda Sykes, Comedian
Deborah Gibson, Singer
George Takei, Star Trek
Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Film Producers - Milk, American Beauty
Melissa Etheridge, singer - will be sending us a video spot
Selene Selene Luna, The Cho Show
...And many more yet to confirm

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2009
California State Capitol

Love Lobby Day at the state capitol - if you can stay and lobby our representatives there will be a training event then we take on the Capitol. Sponsored by EQCA supported by Equality Action NOW.

On Tuesday, February 17, Equality California, Equality Action NOW, and other partnering organizations to be announced, will co-host a legislative lobby day at the California State Capitol. The purpose of the lobby day will be to urge legislators to support SR 7 (Leno) and HR 5 (Ammiano), companion resolutions in the State Senate and Assembly that would put the Legislature on record as opposing Proposition 8 as an invalid revision to the State Constitution.

The lobby day will bring together diverse community organizations and leaders from across the state for a day of coordinated advocacy and activism. The event is free and open to all. Each participant will receive a lobbying training, advocacy materials, and be assigned to an experienced group leader.

http://equalityactionnow.c.topica.com/maamGt9abM2NXcdojOdbaehuKb/

A civil rights issue

The issue of gay marriage rights is one that I am absolutely passionate about. It’s completely incomprehensible to me why anyone believes that they have the right to tell another person who they may legally marry. I don’t care if it “grosses you out.” We do not create laws based on ickiness factor. I don’t care if your religious book says that it’s an abomination. This is America, and we do not base our laws on religion. If you want a government like that, go to another country. Seriously. Go.

By the way, let’s get some context. The Bible declares homosexuality an abomination with the same ferocity as it bans the consumption of shellfish. If we’re going to strictly interpret every sentence of the bible (and that’s what it is, one sentence), then do it 100%. I have a huge problem with people picking and choosing which parts of the bible apply and which don’t.

Here in America, we also do not prevent two people from marrying due to their inability to reproduce, such as the elderly or infertile. And, The Gay is not even a little bit contagious.

I do not have these views because I have a close relationship with any homosexual, nor because I have experienced this particular discrimination. I have the right to marry the person I choose, because I choose to marry a man. I hold this belief simply because I understand that people do not choose who they love, and to deny anyone the right to legally declare that love is discriminative, archaic and completely un-American.

::whew::

That said, I am on the email list for Equality Action Now, a gay rights group based in Sacramento. I will be posting information on relevant events that they send, in case anyone interested in getting involved happens to stumble across my blog.

STOMP

Last night I went to my first Broadway show - STOMP! It was really cool! I wasn't quite as amazed as I expected to be, but I'd definetely go again. I'd like to go to more shows too.

And, as a random aside, my high school volleyball coach and her husband were sitting in front of us. I went to high school 100 miles from Sacramento.

The clip below was one of my favorite segments of the show.

January so far

A synopsis of the past few days:

Wednesday was New Years Eve. I had to work but they let us go home 2.5 hours early! I love when that happens :) At 11 p.m. I went to the ball drop with boyfriend James and sister Rose. We were considering watching the fireworks at Old Sac, but decided to go to the ball drop because it was *new*... the fireworks would have been so much cooler! The ball drop was just kinda lame. Lots of people standing too close together, waiting for midnight. I looove fireworks, so next year and every year thereafter we'll be doing that. It was fun to be out and doing something new though. I'm waiting for Rose to email me pics from that night.

Thursday, New Years Day, was a day off work. Looove that even more than leaving early! James and I went on our first bike ride together. I bought mine several months ago, but I just bought one for him for Christmas. We went over to the Sacramento River. Probably 1.5 to 2 mile round trip, which was actually kind of hard! My legs felt worked at the end. I guess I'll have to get used to it. We'll definetely be doing it more.

Friday I would have gone back to work, but instead drove up to far NorCal to attend my uncle's funeral. He was a Vietnam war veteran, so they shot guns and played taps. The song is very emotional. His youngest daughter is only 18, and has not had the easiest circumstances in life. I'm so proud of her. She deals with everything wonderfully. I can't imagine losing a parent at such a young age.

This morning we were planning to get up early and go to the gym so I could attend the 9 a.m. kickboxing class. Instead we decided to sleep in and go to the gym this afternoon. Oh well, I love kickboxing but I love sleeping too!