Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Nina's Kick-Ass Cleansing Soup!

Ingredients:

3 celery stalks, chopped
1 onion, diced
1 can of diced tomatoes
3 carrots, chopped
2 large chicken breast, diced
1 30oz (or larger) container of low sodium chicken broth
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp cayanne pepper
salt and pepper to taste

1. sautee onions until translucent
2. add all other ingredients
3. turn burner to "high", cook for 30 minutes
4. let simmer for an hour, or until vegetables are tender
5. consume with face

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Home!

Well, things have been going better than expected! I can finally talk about the condo we're buying.

Willy and I managed to stumble upon a condo in Germantown, MD. It's got two bedrooms, a bathroom, a nice sized living room, a big balcony, aaaaand... a fireplace! It's on the top floor too, so big vaulted ceilings. Nice. We're supposed to go to settlement in early September, so we're hoping that all goes well so that we can move out/in soon. I tell ya what, I'm looking forward to that enormous master bedroom! Plus, the balcony will be big enough (for now..) for me to have some nice plants.

Here's hoping the cat doesn't eat them!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Nina and the Adventure of Hobo Island

We have hobos in DC. Lots of hobos. SO MANY HOBOS. They're literally everywhere you turn, and while I got no beef with most of them, a lot of them have mental issues. They're not dangerous or anything, but they are insane. And I don't mean a little insane.. I mean.. babbling out loud about conspiracies, arguing with cab drivers over a bag of pennies, that sort of thing. Today, I add a chapter in my ongoing saga with the hobos.

There was a problem on the train I was on, this morning. Because the stop we were stuck in was only about 5 blocks from my job, I decided to get off and walk. So I walked out, and there's 3 hobos sitting on a bus stop bench. One of them is an old lady. She calls out to me, "Good morning!"

Not the worst thing anyone could say, so I said, "Good morning!" back, to which she replies, "You have a beeeaaauuuutiful smile!" and the other two hobos go "Wooooooo!!" and whistle.

See? Not the worst experience to have. Just very strange. Walking beside me was a family of tourists, and they looked at me as if to say, "Poor thing!" but you know what? I smiled at them. This is my city, crazies and all.

A few more experiences I've had...

- Willy and I were in DC, crossing the street, when a hobo with a trumpet walks by. He starts babbling, and goes, "See!? It's easy to make up your own language! A-be-boo-baba-do-ga-be.." ect. Then he blew on his trumpet.

- Willy and I were in DC with his brothers and their girlfriends, for a New Years party. A hobo walks up to us, and says, "How much.. does it cost.. to walk in the jungle?!" When we couldn't answer, he returned to his hobo cave with a bottle of MD 50/50.

- I was taking a walk during my lunch break, and stopped in time to see a hobo rapping to a squirrel.

- I was on the train, with headphones in, when a hobo lady walks in with her cart and bags. She proceeded to yell. When I took off my headphones, I realized she was yelling at me. I couldn't understand a word she was saying, and then she left.

- There was a hobo lady who sat on the steps in front of a Burger King, when I went to college in DC. (Okay, it was Rosslyn, but it's practically DC!) She would play a radio she had, and panhandle. One day, she tried to get a cab driver to take her somewhere, promising to pay him with a bag of pennies. When he refused, she offered him her radio. When he refused again, she tried to pee on the floor in a Metro station.

- On another walk during my lunch break, a hobo calls out to me, "My GOD! I'm IN LOVE!! MARRY ME!!"

Some are funny, some are sad. Either way, DC has a big homeless problem. We do take care of them, there are many areas that serve breakfast and dinner to them, but there isn't enough shelter for them all. I'd really like to do more for them, personally, because one hobo has kinda bewitched me with his hobo powers..

He sells books at my Metro stop. Cheap, used books. I swear, it's like he's peddling crack to me...

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Huge (FAIL)



I tried watching this show, because as a former overweight teen, I felt I could relate. What I got was an overly drama-fied show, starring the chick from Hairspray, David Hasslehoff's daughter, and the black chick from The Adventures of Hercules.

All good actors, given a terrible script. It seems that everyone at this camp has issues outside of the norm, which makes the show feel entirely too fake. The girls are obsessed with a parody of "Twilight", where they replace a ghost with the vampire ("Did you get to the part where they danced in the graveyard??"), and either I've grown waaay past this new generation of teens, or they're portraying teens as really really dumb lately. None of these characters seem at all smart or creative. The main character's biggest creative achievement was to use fat bodyparts to spell words on her wall, like a 5th grader's collage.

I hate it when shows have a good premise and fail. I would actually LOVE to see a show that addresses childhood/teenage obesity without making it out to be the entire reason for their existence. Why can't kids just be kids, while also being fat? This show might have been interesting if the characters had personalities outside of their given archetypes..

The Pretty One


The Angry One who likes The Guy


The Guy who likes The Pretty One


And the rest..

Anyone else watch this, yet?

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Aww..

Well, now that the US is out of the World Cup, I can talk about it.

I'm a soccer fan. Growing up, I was surrounded by other soccer fans in my family, and none outside of them. In school, everyone liked other American sports, which was fine because we also liked American football and basketball. Not baseball, though. Something about that sport just rubbed us the wrong way. I always liked movies about baseball, but the sport itself was just strange and alien.

Every four years, the World Cup happens. To my family, it's a big deal. With my mom being from Spain, we always cheer for them. Us being from the US, we cheer for them too, but, it's sort of half-hearted. We don't deny them praise, but in our hearts we know they won't go far. It's a shame and a pity, because it's our country. We want them to do well, but we know they're outclassed.

This year, I was really enjoying watching the US play. Not because they were great, but because they were so resilient. I saw them lose not one, but TWO goals to bad calls, and get fouled left-and right. It's a shame for new soccer fans, but maybe it will get them angry enough to care. Maybe. Anyway, Saturday's game was heartbreaking. The US once again showed resilience, if not skill. Unfortunately, they've proven time and time again that ball possession and team-playing is not their greatest asset. They have some good individual players, but their defense is SEVERELY lacking, with the exception of one great goalie. But one goalie can't save a team, and neither can one striker. Donavan, you're good, but you're not that good.

The English have been shoving Rooney in our face for months, and what happened? The same thing. Except they were practically humiliated by Germany, and made it only as far as who? The US. So thank GOD they can stop gloating, because their "dream team" was destroyed.

Tuesday, Spain is playing Portugal at 2:30. I'm nervous and excited. This is a big deal, because Portugal has proven to be quite formidable, and Spain lost to, of all people, Switzerland. So I'm hoping that Spain will win, but despite how much I love them, I have my doubts. This is why I don't gamble.. I don't want to let my brain get clouded by hope. But Spain does have something the US needs to learn from; teamwork. If you watch Spain play, you'll see beautiful passing, from one man to another, in split second movements. It's really amazing to watch, to see how well they're in sync with one another. I'm proud of them for that, because they seem to embody the term, "The Beautiful Game".

So forgive me if I'm one of the people that you think might have been sucked into the soccer craze. The truth is, I'm not. I used to go to DC United games every month with my dad, and I still enjoy going to their games. I watch soccer on TV for the 3 years that the World Cup ISN'T playing, and I keep track of my favorite players.

And for those who HAVE been sucked into the soccer craze? I hope they stick around. I hope they prove that just because Americans seem to have this whole "Our shit is better than the world's shit!" mentality, they can put aside their assholish thinking and start to look at it on a global level.

I mean, come on.. isn't it cool to see countries pitted against one another? Fans from every corner of the world waving their flags, wearing ridiculous outfits, singing their national anthems in pride of their nations? That, to me, is what makes the World Cup so amazing.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

America! $%&# yeah!!

Well, we won!! Sorry if I haven't been around much lately, been looking for a house. Might have one! We'll see.. if so, be prepared for lots more blurging!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

'cuz I'm proud to be an American...

It was a beautiful day in South Africa. David Beckham, in all his arrogance, walked the sidelines like a caged tiger in his designer three piece suit. Six thousand Americans and five thousand English were in the stands, with South Africans, and other fans from all over the world. The whistle blew. No less than six minutes in, England scored a goal that left me clutching the dashboard of Willy's car screaming "Nooooo!!!" English players launched themselves at the ball like human torpedoes. Shirts were pulled, legs were scarred, blood was drawn.

And then...



Yes, I know. The goal slipped through his fingers.. but you know what? We kept them at bay. The mighty England, with it's world class athletes, with the great Rooney, with all their cockey attitude, could not get past our defense. Despite the fact that our defensive line is slightly shaky due to injuries, despite the fact that we're ranked #15 and they're ranked #3, we held them off.

So America, here's to you. It's a real freaking shame that more Americans don't take pride in a team that went from being considered the worst, to fending off the best. Now.. if they can get through the rest of these games with a bit more aggression, I will be pleased.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Look out! Senior at the wheel!

It was a terrible day. Dreary, rainy, I was returning home after a jaunt to the supermarket for foodstuffs. I stopped behind 3 cars and waited, as a school bus let kids off. A few seconds later...



Yup, that's my poor baby. I screamed, and thank god I pressed hard on the brake. Felt my head hit the back of my chair hard, and froze for a few seconds. Cop comes. Directs us to the side of the road to exchange information.

The driver was 82. I was stopped for at least 5 seconds. Time enough, you would think, but nope. Not long enough for him to realize what was happening. I still have a headache. Tomorrow, we discover if I have whiplash. Grrreat.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

House Hunting; The Neverending Saga

Part of what sucks about looking for a house is that even when you fall in love, there are other variables besides the house itself, and the biggest one is crime. My husband is a scaredy cat when it comes to crime, but that's okay because it grounds me. I'd personally say yes to ANY house, because I grew up in an area full of crime. I got our lucky, but he's right in that it's best to avoid that. Unfortunately, when you're 2 twenty-somethings who make a little under 100 grand a year, that limits the amount of houses we can qualify for. We're not broke, but we're not loaded either. We can't afford a nice little 300k starter home. All of the homes we're looking at are in the 120k range, and that comes with a price.

Yesterday, Willy and I went with his grandmother to Manassas. We lived there, so we thought it would be okay. Saw three gorgeous brick homes. Would have been perfect, EXCEPT.. yep. Crime. And you know what sucks? The place was full of minorities. Indians, black, Latino, a few white people sprinkled throughout.. I felt very comfortable there. Willy didn't. He wanted to be wrong about how he felt, because despite his discomfort, he held out hope that the place wasn't full of crime. But then I checked last year's crime report from the Manassas police department, and wouldn't you know it, the area we were looking in had more break-ins, assaults, rapes, and everything you wouldn't want while starting up your family.

What annoys me is that people keep telling me I need to look in white neighborhoods. Better resale value, less crime, better schools, more expensive. Why is it minorities carry this stigma? Even areas people would consider to be "white trash" have less crime. It's not fair that we do this to ourselves. It's not fair that I have to look at neighborhoods with predominantly white populations, because they will be safer. And it's not fair that despite the fact that Willy and I work two full-time professional jobs, we can't afford anything decent.

At this point, we could afford to live in a luxury apartment, in the "good side of town", for more than a mortgage would cost. It's been 6 months, and we're still living at his parents' house. We're not broke. We're just not rich. What do we do, at this point? Give up and get an apartment? It just makes me sick and depressed.

Friday, June 4, 2010

The perfect Chipotle





































Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
Calories 560 Cal from Fat 355
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 39g 59%








Saturated Fat 17g 83%
Trans Fat 0g  
Cholesterol 130mg 43%
Sodium 1140mg 48%
Total Carbs 15g 5%








Dietary Fiber 7g 28%
Sugars 6g  
Protein 37g  














Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 0% Iron 0%





* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
INGREDIENTS: Barbacoa (4oz),Sour Cream,Cheese,Green Tomatillo Salsa,Guacamole (4oz),Lettuce


Man. I wish we had a Chipotle near work! XO

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Hay, ya'll!

So this is a good week, so far. Been eating clean, feeling good (except for the nausia, but I'm learning to live with it), and spent a FABULOUS weekend in PA with my family. Willy and I went to Hershey Park, and there was a very minimal amount of chocolate binging.

One ice cream cone ain't bad, right?

But I'm shedding the pounds for a wedding I'll be attending in August, so no more ice cream for me.

Now on to other things.. I'm usually not one to beg, but, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me out, guys. If you could find it in the goodness of your heart to visit this link and vote for A Sound of Thunder so that we can open for KISS, I will be forever grateful. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.

..and now I am done grovelling.

(please!)

Click here to vote!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Greek Yogurt and UK Distribution

Today, I ate Greek yogurt. In an effort to either fix myself or drive myself into a deep depression, I'm trying to eat normally. I had oatmal for breakfast, and brought yogurt and a sandwich for lunch. Dunno if I can bring myself to eat the sandwich, but I will try.

In other news, my band is now with Ravenheart Music! It's a small distribution group in the UK that specializes in female fronted rock and metal, and they will soon be distributing our music accross the pond. Hurray!! The show on Friday was amazing, by the way. With the exception of my singing terribly off-key due to my not being able to hear my guitarist for a certain song (AHHHHH.........!!!), everything else was awesome! We even made a valuable contact in the booking agent of Metal Mike, a very cool guy indeed.

And now, I leave you with the conversation I just had with my husband.

potatofoot: well, you got my attention, how can i help?

me: No idea!
Tell me something sexy.

potatofoot: i am at work, in an open room, with three people being able to watch my monitor

me: Hot.
What are you wearing?

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

We're on Motorhead's website!!

They were nice enough to put our press release on our website!

Check it out here.

Hurraaaaay. :)

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Stupid food dreams...

Had a dream I was eating bread. In my dream, I was like "Shit, this breaks my diet.. but it's so good!" and it was. The bread in my dream was super soft and just melted in my mouth.

Gaddamn it.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Once Upon a Time...


...I had my own boutique. It stocked J-Rock/goth/metal/punk fashion, jewelry, and music. 99% of the store was black. All of the people working there were covered with tattoos, with mohawks and dredlocks. They wore denim, leather, and spikes. Death metal, J-Rock, and punk music played throughout the store, AND.. it doubled as a coffee house. Half of the store had small round tables, and there was a stage. On that stage, we did poetry readings. Art exhibitions. Music.
And then I woke up.

GADDAMN IT, HOT TOPIC. Where you once were my go-to place for gothic stage-clothes, now I have to ship my clothes from Hong Kong. And they're still LESS EXPENSIVE than from your store, which now caters to 13 year olds. FUCK YOU GUYS. UGH. I've always wanted my own goth hangout spot. I've never had one, before. Closest I ever got to one was going to a fetish club every few months, or going to a metal show. But even then, it was never good enough. The venues changed to cater to bigger crowds, the people changed, the scene changed.

Where my weirdos at?? Have we become so repressed that we are damned to spend the rest of eternity paying enormous prices for mediocre clothes and shitty music? No. Not me. Someday, I'll have my goth fairy tale. Someday.

Monday, May 10, 2010

RIP Frank Frazetta


At age 92, Frank Frazetta, one of the greatest artists in history, passed away today. As an artist, I've had 2 big influences; comic books, and Disney movies. Frazetta's style helped to shape an entire genre of fantasy art, which my influences were influenced by. I studied Frazetta's work in college, and throughout my growth as an artist, I've learned from his attention to detail and anatomy.

To other "big girls", he was a hero. Frazetta's art showcased the human form and all of it's "flaws", and made them glamerous. Big-butted chicks with flabby thighs and tummies were the princesses. We were the maidens, the heroines, and the goddesses. He loved women as they are, not as we have made them with plastic surgery. He loved muscles, flab, boobs, butts, legs, feet, EVERYTHING. He never failed to make me remember that as an artist, I should draw from life.

Thank you, Frank Frazetta. Your work shaped my life, and my love for art. I'll never remember seeing your paintings for the first time, and thinking to myself, "This is what I want." I can only hope to continue to grow as an artist, and someday make pieces as beautiful as his. Tonight, I'm going to buy some bristol, sit down to some cartoons, and get back to my roots.

Once again, thank you Frank Frazetta. You are an inspiration to us all.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Chick can DRUM..

So last night was pretty bad-ass. I helped out my friend Bobbie in putting together a Battle of the Bands event for Flight of the Valkyries, in which the winner would be able to play first for the show. It was a major success, a ton of people showed up. The bands that played were:

[geist]
Acid Queen
Scarz Within
and
Cypher Lock

All of the bands put up a good fight, but in the end, [geist] took home the glory. But that's not what I wanna talk about. What I wanna talk about is Cypher Lock's drummer, Mariah. Mariah is a girl. Who drums. Mariah is also a big girl. Who drums. And drums AMAZINGLY. Now, I don't know if ya'll know this about metal drummers, but they do a lot of stuff. I mean holy shit, usually metal drummers are pouring sweat and working every single one of their muscles. Well, Mariah made it look easy. Personally, she made that band for me. I was so impressed by her that I wished I could steal her away.

You go, Mariah.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Running..OH GOD

Went on my 2nd run of the year.. lol Haven't run since the fall, and my body was in bad shape. When I did my first on, on Saturday, I knew it would be followed by about a week of soreness. Once I get over the initial soreness of the first week, I'm usually alright. Today, after getting over the hurt, I tried again for 1.5 miles. OH GOD. Once I got to the uphill trail back to the house, I got a massive headache/earache. No idea why, but my ears were pounding with pain. I got back, drank some water, and collapsed.

Methinks I should research whats up with that earache so it NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

Also, best news evar.. WILLY GOT HIS JOB BACK!! He's making 50k now, instead of the old 40-something, which means that combined with my 46.5k a year, we're almost making 100k. O_O Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.............. NOW GIMME A HOUSE, DAMN IT.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Random Jumbling Crap

So I just shot back a 5-Hour, and I'm feeling slightly more awake than before. Slightly. See, I went to sleep around 11:30 last night, after a night of paper work and reading old comics. Willy and I might be getting a condo, and it's really exciting, but HOLY SHIT do we have a lot to do. Apparently it's harder for people who are poor to buy things. Go figure! Technically, we're not POOR.. we're just not that well off, so we need to get an FHA loan, which takes a lot of work and like, 10 people to pull off.

We put in a bid for a short-sale place that's been on the market for nearly half a year, so we're hoping they'll think we're a nice young couple and say "aw, lets let them have it. They're so cute!" or something to that effect. We'll have to replace the carpet and fix up the bathroom, but it's a nice place. It even has a 2nd bedroom so that I can have my Blood Study/accidental pregnancy back-up room.

Eating wise, I've been clean for the past week. Last night I was slightly bad and had a few boneless wings at Applebees, but all in all I kept it around 30 carbs for the whole day, so I was still good. Dinner was steak and broccoli. I've been asked not to eat anymore rare meat by my darling husband, until we get some health insurance. It's going to be a struggle for me, since I hate meat that's been cooked too much... but anything to give him peace of mind, I'll do gladly. But oh man, that steak was good.

I'm having some trouble eating due to (TMI AHEEEEAAAAD!) side-effects with my birth control. I take it to regulate my hormones, so when it backfires and instead gives me "lady times" for a month straight, I get very annoyed. And nauseous. My calories haven't been good for the past few days, and it's slowing down my metabolism. I know this, because I'm less hungry, despite not eating more than a thousand calories per day. I'm trying to eat more, but I'm limited in what I'm comfortable with eating and the nausea is bugging me.

Oh food, I hate you so much.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Spreading the word of DEFENDOR

So I don't know if anyone has talked about this film yet, but I just bought it and watched it tonight. Defendor came out some time last year, got hardly any marketing, and basically disappeared for a bit before going to DVD. I wouldn't be surprised if it were a straight to DVD film, but people, it is the BEST movie I have seen this year, and last. Here's a summary from IMDB:

A comedy centered around three characters: an everyday guy who comes to believe he's a superhero, his psychiatrist, and the teenager he befriends.

Okay, this was NOT a comedy. Did it have a funny premise? Sure. But the movie in itself was, while it had some really funny lines, not pure comedy.

Anyone who likes movies with superheroes, good acting, good story, and real emotion, will like this film. I can not stress enough what an amazing actor Woody Harrelson is. If you saw Zombieland, 7 Pounds, or any of his other films, you will recognize the diversity in his characters.

I want this movie to get it's justice. It deserved awards, recognition, all that other crap that other movies get when they have lots of money pushing it. It didn't get anything, but I hope it will be recognized by people who can appreciate real value and talent by actors and film-makers.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Coooool!!

Well, I can say this about working with A Sound of Thunder.. it's hella-easy to get gigs! We're opening for Primal Fear in a few weeks, and thankfully, aren't going on first! Hahaha.. I love it.

For those of you unfamiliar with Primal Fear, here is a bit of them. 80's metal type people will probably like their classic metal sound and clean vocals.



This should be a good night. If you're in the DC area on May 21st, I highly recommend coming down to Springfield, VA for a good night of metal and boozing.

Also, the 'Thunder has a new MySpace page up! Go check it out for awesomeness.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

How lame of me!

Sorry I haven't been updating the ole' blog yet, folks.. been super busy! I'm helping out with Flight of the Valkyries (female fronted metal band festival), and my band is getting gig after gig... we'll be opening for Primal Fear in a few weeks! Ha!

Through all the stress, I'm trying hard to eat right, but it's been a struggle of feeling guilty over eating/not eating. Every time I eat a full meal, I feel sick. Every time I don't, I feel sick. It's a lose/lose situation, so I'm working on it.

Today I got a slight break from the madness. Willy is at work so I got to work on my little herb garden, and do the various chores that needed doing.. like go to the bank, buy new jeans, ect.. I am so thankful that for once, I have some time to myself.

Here are my herbs!!



From left to right, I have sweet bay, mint, lavender, Italian basil, Rosemary, cilantro, and Thai basil.

Thai basil is awesome, guys. Totally makes me crave green curry!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Of course!

Sometimes I can be so dumb.

All this time, I've been looking for something to eat that could settle my hypoglycemia, and simultaneously not make me feel like crap throughout the day. The answer?

PUMPKIN!

I used to eat pumpkin for breakfast every day. 1/2 a cup, with a little cinnamon, tastes like pumpkin pie filling. It's got 3 grams of fiber and only 4 net carbs. It's got a trivial amount of sugar, lots of vitamins, and when coupled with a few sunflower kernels, I suddenly don't feel like vomiting every morning. It's great!

Now all I gotta do is explain to the in-laws why there is a half-used can of pumpkin in the fridge. Somehow, I doubt they'd believe I was making mini-pies at 5AM.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Damned if I do; damned if I don't

Well as it turns out, I hate eating normal. The oatmeal in the morning made me crazy hungry throughout the day, and eating bread makes me feel bloated. Tonight I went out and bought stuff to make myself breakfast and lunch. I've got eggs for breakfast, and for lunch, salad with chicken and cherry tomatoes. I'm hoping that the tomatoes will be enough sugar to keep me from getting all nauseous again.

I just can't sit idly by and feel myself become fatter by eating "normal people food". My carbs will continue to come from vegetables, and I'll just have to try and eat a small amount of fruit or something to get the sugar that I need.

In the meantime, allergies are kicking my ass. Welcome, Spring!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Health Crap

So, for the last few days, I've been suffering from severe nausea. And here I thought it was from eating badly! After having to leave from work early to see a doctor, I've discovered that it might be due to 2 things;

1. Not enough sugar intake.
2. Ovarian cysts.

Doctor said there were ketones in my urine. So while I'm like "Alright, ketosis! Losing weight!" he's like, "You're probably feeling sick because of a severe imbalance," which makes me very sad. I'm a huge proponent of living a low carb lifestyle, and by that, I mean that I feel SEVERE GUILT when I eat bread and anything with sugar.

So I thought to myself, self, what if we try South Beach? I looked it up, but I had dismissed this diet many times before because it always looked like an Atkins rip-off. I was absolutely right. It is a total Atkins rip-off, except that it's easier to follow, because it lets you eat beans and nuts during induction.

Now, while I have seen people lose weight on South Beach, I have never known anyone to lose it and keep it off. I have kept off most of the weight I've lost, but, I feel like I've gained about 5 pounds over the winter this year. My pants feel slightly tight at the stomach, and I'm terrified of gaining weight back. I don't have a scale because it's in storage, so I'm flying blind, but all I know is that I feel uncomfortable. So either I'm crazy, or I've gained back a few pounds. And now I'm learning that losing it the way I usually do will make me sick.

Gaddamn it all.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Woooooooback!

Well I'm back to my old ways of demoralizing myself. Did a gig on Saturday, and after giving this whole, "I don't need to be thin! I'm talented! Fuck everyone!" speech, and eating french fries.. I immediately regretted it after seeing the photos.

God, my thighs are horrible.

So I'm back on my diet, and kinda grateful for it. I hate the way I feel when I eat "normal". I've been nauseous for weeks, and I'm hoping that eating clean will take that away.

Now for other news, not sure if ya'll who follow this blog knew this, but I am with another band. A Sound of Thunder has more of an Iron Maiden/power metal feel, which matches my personality a bit more. I love the guys in it, and hanging out with them is always a blast. We already have a CD out, and we're about to release a single for the West Memphis 3. I'll post more on that later, once the song is up.

But in the meantime, this is what we've got out right now! You can also search for "A Sound of Thunder" on iTunes.

Friday, March 12, 2010

I'm out!

Well, me and Blood Corps are no more. It turns out I really wasn't appreciated there, just as I feared. But now it's over, I'm out of a toxic relationship that made me physically ill and I'm never going to put myself in that position again. It was like breaking up with my abusive ex-boyfriend all over again.

I was in such a good mood this morning, I actually ate oatmeal. I was really hungry, I can't eat meat because it's Friday, so I got oatmeal. I'm trying not to feel bad about it. Imagine, feeling bad about eating oatmeal... but yes, I feel the guilt, and it's really hard to keep from feeling fat.

Ugh, well, the good news is that as soon as I came home last night, it was to two e-mails with gigs! One at the Rock n' Roll Hotel in DC, the other to place in Chicago.

Freedom, here I come!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

What de fook?

Someone posted an article in Facebook today, talking about this model from Victoria's Secret and how she's hella thin. I was all, "Well they all are.." but then I saw the picture. Apparently, she's standing next to two "plus sized" models.Woah, wait a second.. "plus sized"?! How the hell are those chicks plus sized?? I'm not gonna get all up in arms about the skinny chick.. I mean, if she's skinny, she's skinny, I don't care.. but those two girls beside her are apparently "plus sized" models for Victoria's Secret. Being a size 6, I can honestly say that I'm MUCH bigger than those girls. Of course, that's a today's version of a size 6, which might be more like a traditional size 10....... but either way!! How the hell are they plus sized!? That's fucking crazy! Fuck you, Victoria's Secret, and your ultra comfortable (and expensive) bras!! I'd boycott you if I knew where to buy better underwear... but unfortunately, you do make some really good shit.

Gaddamn it.

Anyhow, back to my day.. I'm pretty nauseous this morning, because tonight I have to have that inevitable meeting with Blood Corps. Basically, this is my "either you guys learn to treat me with respect, our I am OUT" meeting. I've been getting increasingly unhappy with having to deal with them lately, and last week's gig kinda put the icing on the cake. I was blamed for everything from our bass player being late, to our CDs being printed incorrectly. And then praised for my performance, once it was done.

I'm just really sick of it. I'm sick of them ignoring my suggestions, rolling their eyes, treating me like my opinions don't matter, and then throwing out anything I've ever created in favor of repetative riffs and "radio friendly" metal ideas. I have a feeling they'd be happier if they created a cover band, anyway.. can you believe that they played "Paranoid" as a sound check?? It was embarassing. I felt horrible. Not only is it the worst Black Sabbath song they ever wrote, but it was OUR SOUND CHECK!! It was a chance for people to get a glimpse of us before the show, and what do they do?? They play a cover. Someone else's music. I am so tired of being around people who are either incapable of writing good music, or just don't have the drive for it. Tonight, I'm gonna tell them how I feel. It's either gonna make, or break this band. But I can't take it, anymore.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Just keep swimming..

Well, Willy didn't get that particular job.. but! He is being looked at by a few other employees. I tell ya what, man, it's a total buyers market right now. I wish I had the dough to start my own evil restaraunt because god knows I'd have the pick of the litter when it comes to employees! Unfortunately, despite many dreams about buying my favorite club, I'm nowhere close to it. So I'm just gonna keep hoping that my husband GETS A JOB so that we can buy this house his grandmother is showing us.

It's a small one, but it's a house. And I need to move out before I GO CRAZY.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

A wing and a prayer..

Dear God,

I ask, in your infinite wisdom, that you allow Willy to get this job. If he does, in fact, get this job, it will mean very good things.

First of all, I'll be able to finally buy a house. Second of all, I will be able to decorate it as garishly and insanely as I want. Picture PeeWee's Playhouse, but with more weapons. Now, that doesn't mean I'll be leaving YOU out, of course. The house I'm looking at sits on half an acre. That means I'll be able to have a garden, and in that garden, I will have a statue of St. Francis. I will also, somewhere, have a statue of your girl, Mary. I plan on surrounding these statue with roses, which I will tend like an old lady, to encourage blooming.

I will fill one of those five bedrooms with a kid. The other four will be reserved for Willy and I, a computer room, a guest room, and my evil Blood Stud--, I mean, a cute little library.

I will cook in that enormous kitchen for my husband, kid, and our drunken (go sacrificial wine!) guests. I will scrub, and sweep, and wipe, and everything else to keep my home as clean and beautiful as possible. I will tend to my lawn, wash my cars, and yes Lord, I will attend church every Sunday to remind myself that without you, I'd have no beautiful house.

So please, God. Help me to do your good work, and let Willy have this job.

Besides, with two paychecks, I can finally afford these really adorable shoes I've been eyeing. For church going, of course.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Mysterious Ways..

I tell ya what, god sure is mysterious.

For Lent this year, I gave up something that I needed real help with; spending money. I kept spending money during the week on books, drinks, random things that I just felt I had to have. It hasn't gotten me in trouble, but it hasn't gotten me any closer to my goal of owning a house. So this year I decided that what I really need to give up is spending money throughout the week.

First week went by alright, but after that I slipped up. I kept forgetting to pack a lunch, or, forgetting to bring water. I'd start feeling sick and buy something. I had no discipline. Well last night, I had discipline forced on me.

After a frantic search throughout my house, I was convinced that I had lost my wallet. Inside, I had two bank cards, a credit card, my Victorias Secret card, credit card, license, ect. So I had to plan on spending the next week without my magic money cards, which involved Willy giving me cash for Metro and Metro only. Plus, cancelling all my cards.

I arrived at work more than a little stressed and exhausted. Prepared for the day, I looked through my purse one more time... and there he was.

Let me stress that I tore that purse apart. THREE TIMES. It's as if my wallet suddenly materialized in my purse, but with three cancelled cards and no way for me to spend money over the week. Just the sort of help I needed, it seems, to put a hold on my spending.

Thanks god. I appreciate it.

Monday, March 1, 2010

A night of ADVENTURE!

Every so often, I enjoy having random adventures with my goons. Today, I was scheduled to work from 12AM to 12PM, which meant that I'd need to somehow sleep through Sunday in order to stay up all night for work. My brilliant plan? Stay out all Saturday!!

It all started at around 5:00 PM, at Jaxx. My buddy Josh and I hung out at the famous dive bar in Springfield VA, notoritious for it's metal reputation, despite the fact that it's somehow trying to become a more mainstream venue. (Lame.) We watched a new up and coming band that reminded me a lot of Dethklok, and they actually recognized me as the lead singer of Blood Corps! Quite a few people recognized me, in fact. It was pretty awesome. They all really got a kick out of my performance with A Sound of Thunder, so Josh and I (who plays guitar for ASOT) were pretty proud.

We travelled far from Jaxx, to the mystical land of Alexandria VA, in search of late-night munchies for our drug-like junk food craving; pupusas. For those of you who do not know, pupusas are a Salvadorian food near and dear to my heart. They are made of corn meal, and full of pork and cheese, flattened like tortillas. They're eaten with pickled cabbage and tomato sauce. I love them. Hard. Unfortunately, by the time we got there, the place was closing.. so I had to deal with Salvadorian style tacos, instead. Which were AMAZING, by the way. If you're ever in Arlington and want cheap (and good!) food, I recommend going to El Charrito.

After El Charrito, we continued our adventure in one of my favorite areas of DC; Dupont Circle. Having a craving for bad karaoke, we went into a Japanese sushi and karaoke bar called Cafe Japone, where we drank $9 Sapporos and listened to 50 people sing simultaneously horrible. It was worth it for the drunken people.

After leaving Cafe Japone, we moved my car, and made our way toward my new favorite DC hot spot; Omega. Omega is a gay karaoke bar that I went to on the day before my wedding rehearsal, in July. I had such a good time that I figured I'd take Josh. Well lemme tell ya, it's a much different place on the weekend! There were five dudes on the bar, dancing in thongs. It was pretty great, lemme tell ya.. we got a few drinks and enjoyed the festivities, and I even put a dollar in this one dude's thigh-strap! Unfortunately, he kept trying to get my attention.. and me, being who I am, well I didn't want to insult him. So I giggled and said "thank you!" to all of his compliments.

Then he asked for my number. "Wait a sec!" my brains screamed. "This is wrong!!" and then I felt him press his sack to my face. And then he kissed me. Thankfully, Josh rescued me from the psuedo-gay, and we spent a few hours hanging out and watching the buff dudes gyrate.

At last call, he and I left for the nearby CVS so that he could buy some eye droppers to his eyeballs. Once they were sufficiently lubricated, we wandered about looking for a place to sober up. We managed to find a pizza joint somewhere along P street, but I've been scouring Google Maps for like, 20 minutes, and I can't for the life of me find it!! When we got there, at 4AM, it was swarmed with the drunk crowd. We sat down and ate some pizza, drank a couple diet cokes, and then left in search of coffee.

Around 4:30 AM we finally found a place for coffee, The DC Cafe, where we drank down black coffee in styrofoam cups and met a surprising amount of Persians. I think like, 90% of the people in there were Persian. They asked where I was from, and when I said "Spain", we got into a conversation about how Spain is a historically Muslim country. "Of course, we're proud of that!" I said, narrowly dodging that half our pride comes from the fact that we defeated them in battle and stole all of their palaces..

Then Josh made the mistake of saying he was Jewish, so I rescued him from an argument and, finally sober, we made our way home.

Yeah. I love this city.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Parasite?

This week has been hell.

I had band practice on Tuesday night, followed by Wednesday which was chock-full of food poisoning. Then a gig. Today I have band practice again, but after that gig I got a whopping 5 hours of sleep and am now insanely tired. Also, my neck hurts from the headbanging, and my stomach is still killing me.

Ugh.......

Monday, February 22, 2010

Oh, Canada...

Dear Canada,

I am writing to you to express my condolances. While I understand that you're going through a tough time, let me express how sorry I am for the severe gloating that you are about to endure from the American people. We are known for being arrogant, crude, and cruel in sad times. This time will be no different.

A week ago, we, America, made a decision. Should Canada win the olympic hockey game against the United States, we would congratulate you, be happy for you even! This, after all, was your sport. The year you hosted the olympics. Your time to shine. We would graciously bow down before your superiority on the ice, because lets face it, much of the NHL is made up of players from either your country, or Russia. That you would teach our players a lesson in good sportsmanship was obvious. Unfortunately, the opposite was already known for us. If the US won against Canada, during the olympics, which Canada was hosting, we would never let you forget it. Ever.

It took five goals, and a few thousand cheers before we realized what had happened. We beat you. We did not only out-score you, but we blocked more than 40 shots to our goal. It was like a magical moment in history where the US could prove what huge assholes we truly are. Which is why I am here, today.

Canada, I applaud your efforts. You truly are one of the classiest, most beautiful countries in the world. Your people are known for being kind, polite, and attractive. Your skills in sports are praised worldwide, and it is a great pleasure to be your neighbor.

But for the next few years, the US reigns supreme in hockey. Which means you're either going to find another form of national pride, or learn to really really love figure skating.

I heard your dance duo did a great job, last night!

Love,
Nina

PS: USA! USA! USA!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Oh the pain, the pain of it all!

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it appears that I have been denied healthcare. Why? Not for my pre-existing asthma, which landed me in the ER twice.. not for my husband's club foot.. but because two years ago, I went to counceling for bipolar depression. Since then, I have not only not had any real problems, but my councelor deemed me just fine. I was having a hard time, now I'm not. I'm good. No problem.

Well, one problem.. NO HEALTH INSURANCE.

So either Willy needs to get a job with health insurance NOW.. or we have to keep looking. Just because United denied me doesn't mean they all will, right?

RIGHT??

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Valentines Day - Courtesy of your DC tour guide

Well, ladies and gentleman, I have to apologize for not updating for the past few days. Why? Valentines Day run-off. Willy and I did it good, this year.. REAL good. Like, sitcom-family good. We got a room at Capitol Hill Suites, which I highly recommend to anyone visiting the DC area. It was very inexpensive (a little over $100 a night), and it was insanely convenient. One block away from the Capitol South Metro station (yes, we braved Metro!), it was such a short walk that once we spotted it we were like, "..awesome!" 'cuz, yanno, walking in the snow sucks. The lobby was gorgeous and the interior very modern.When we got to our suite, we were welcomed by a trail of rose petals that led us from a very beautiful and spacious living room (with a mini kitchen, fridge, and high-def TV), to a king sized bed in the bedroom. The bed had a heart drawn in rose petals and some chocolates arranged in the center. It was adorable! Very comfortable bed, too. There was yet another high-def TV in the bedroom, so we were exceptionally lazy. The bathroom was very clean, and I have to say guys, the entire room was gorgeous. I almost forgot we were away on a romantic weekend because I was ready to call over my goons and have a hotel room party.

After we got settled in, Willy and I took a walk to this place that came highly recommended; The Good Stuff Eatery. This place is famous for it's burgers, and won an award from Rachel Ray. When we got there, it looked very busy, albeit a definite "hole in the wall" style place. We shelled out a good $24 + for two burgers, one thing of fries, and two sodas. Lets just say, we were less than impressed. Don't be fooled by this place's "old timey" vibe. The food was good, but the burgers were half the size of a Five Guys burger, and cost just as much. I know we're a nation of "bigger is better", but really, this felt like a rip-off. I noticed a lot of trendy jack-holes were congregating there, so that's a tip off for the future; do not buy pricey burgers at a joint where 95% of the crowd is college kids wearing South Pole and Ugs. So yeah, visitors to DC, lemme save you the trip and just recommend going to Five Guys. I know it's gone corporate and no longer has that "hole in the wall" feel, but it's the samn gaddamn thing, the burgers and fries are great, and it's cheaper than paying out the ass for some trendy burger the size of a child's fist. Also, Five Guys is surprisingly less greasy. I kinda felt like I was drinking that burger. (Mmmm delicious..)

After that piece of crap, Willy and I returned to the hotel for a nap. We woke up around 7 for our 10 PM reservation at an awesome place called Sonoma. Since we had time to kill, we got a few beers at this cute little bar called the Hawk n' Dove. Great bar, I definitely suggest a visit if you've got time to kill near Capitol South. Friendly bartender, quiet atmosphere, and they had Woodchuck on tap! We watched a little bit of the Olympics, hung out with a cool dude who's family was also Catalan (small world!), and eventually made our way to Sonoma. Lemme make this clear though, guys.. this was all on one block. One strip full of great bars and places to go. I love my city!!

Anyhow, we made it to Sonoma and dropped a good $200 on dinner and wine. It was ridiculously good. I had grilled calamari, lamb, and goat cheese cheesecake for dessert. The wine was deliciously paired, and by the end of the night, I can definitely say that we burned off the excess calories. I'm not sorry I broke my diet for this weekend, because it was a very un-every day thing. We didn't over-eat, or overindulge. I think the worst thing about this weekend was the amount of money that was spent (I dread searching my bank account..) because yesterday was spent shopping for items we'll be using next weekend; during our Barbarian Party.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen.. our Barbarian Party. I look forward to reporting!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

So much snow!!

I must apologize for not having posted since the SNOWMAGEDDON began on Friday. See, when you're stuck in a house for... *checks calander* four fays, you start to get a little stir-crazy. I've been passing the time with frequent drawing binges, a little WoW, and cooking.

Since I work at the State Department, I follow procedure with the other federal workers. The federal government has been closed since Friday afternoon, and brace yourselves, we're gonna have another possible 20" today. It's already begun snowing little trickles here in Damascus, and all I can do is scream "Nooooo!!" and beg for it to stop. Unfortunately, my no-snow dance kinda sucks, so we're probably in for another haul. The snow is supposed to continue from today on until tomorrow afternoon, which means it's very possible they will be keeping the federal offices closed for another day.

I can't tell you how much this is displeasing our leaders, considering how much money is being wasted for every day the federal government does not work. Lets just say, it's in the millions, and I have not yet reached that point in my life where millions of dollars wasted are not a big deal to me. But hell, what can we do? Many people are still stuck from Friday's snow, and now we've got another 20" to battle.

At this point, my everything hurts. I was out there shoveling since Sunday and I'm sore in my arms.. legs.. back.. but at least I've been getting a good work-out! And despite the presence of cupcakes in the house (via my mother-in-law) I have not strayed on my diet. In fact, I have discovered a delightful new addition to my food regiment; almond milk! It's delicious, and ridiculously good for you!

Now if you will excuse me, the time has come to batten down the hatches and get ready for another SNOWMAGEDDON AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!

Friday, February 5, 2010

Home safe!


You all can stop biting your nails. I am home safe, and the cat is okay.

SNOWMAGEDDON!

Apparently, we're gonna have a big snow day today. I say "apparently", because while the rest of DC is closing down EVERYTHING and people are stockpiling for the next 5 days, the federal government has decided that closing 4 hours early would suffice.

Which means that, as a government contractor, I'm here for my full 8 hours.

Which means I'll have to find a way to get home during the SNOWMAGEDDON.

DC doesn't do well in snow, people. Especially not snow that's more than 3 feet. This year may end up being the year with the most snow our nation's capital has ever had, so you can tell we're a little unprepared. In fact, MDOT (Maryland Dept. of Transportation) has already used up it's budget. ALL OF IT. I believe VDOT (Virginia ect.) has as well. Fortunately, my dad is a contractor for VDOT, and works specifically with the plows and snow equipment, so this should be a good year for his income. We always pray for lots of snow because it means lots of money.

I still pray for lots of snow, despite the inconvenience. I just kinda wonder if I'm gonna have an issue getting home, tonight. I drive a low-rider sports car that is NO GOOD in the snow, and Willy drives a little Honda Fit. The 5 stations leading to my metro stop are above-ground, so if they shut down their above-ground stations, I will not be able to get close to home. Either home, in fact. My parents' house is near an above-grund station, so even if I asked one of them to pick me up, it couldn't happen. Closest thing to them is RFK Stadium, and by the time I'm done with work today, it will have been snowing for six hours.

I'm not worried, just a little sad. I wish the federal government had just called the day off, because then everyone could have stayed home safe. Instead, they screwed me over.

And I can't even use a sled dog team. I'm allergic to dogs.

Oh! An addition.. as it turns out, one of my uncles has a blog! Imagine that!

Josep Gironès Descarrega

Unfortunately, it's not en English, so you guys won't get to discover all of my family's steamy gossip.. unless you translate it online like I did, and learn that he writes mostly about nature and local history. My uncle's a published author, and I kinda wish I did speak their language so I could appreciate it. As an avid reader (AKA nerd) the idea of having an author for an uncle is very inspirational. It really makes me want to finish that book.

Oh, and my comic book.

Oh, and my evil restaraunt.

Oh, and my..... you get the idea.

Anyway, since Vicky here is translating.. I'm gonna have to keep it clean. HA! Just kidding. God knows how long that would last.. but hey, can ya see the resemblance?

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Oh yeah!

Forgot to share this with ya'll; these are a few of the pictures from my last shoot. It was with A Sound of Thunder. I really am enjoying all of my time with this band, but if these photos have shown me anything, it's that I'm close to my goal. Just a few more pounds, I swear!


Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Jealousy

So last night I sinned horribly. No, not by breaking my diet and eating at CeCe's Pizza, which is actually pretty gross and will likely never see me again.. but by internally judging an overweight person.

I saw this lady, last night. CeCe's is an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet with really crappy pizza, but it's cheap, so you usally see families with their kids there. I was there with Willy after we spent the entire evening grocery shopping, which gave me no time to cook. We decided to have a "cheat night" because after he got his terrible cholesterol scores back from the doctor (yeah, he only stuck to his diet for about a week..) he promised that he'd eat better. I don't mean to be a jerk, and I'm trying really hard to help him stick to the diet, but I always become the bad guy. So at this point I'm trying to keep my mouth shut and let him make his own decisions.

Anyway, getting back on topic, I saw this lady with her kids. Lady must have been around 300 with some change, and she had three daughters with her that were slowly catching up. Now, me being the bitch that I am, I'm thinking to myself, "Holy crap, the last thing this woman needs is a pizza buffet..", but here I am doing the same thing. And the moment I tell Willy I'm ashamed of myself for being there, he gives me this, "Don't become one of those people," shpiels. "Those" people? Who are those people? Healthy people? Or obsessive people?

Am I healthy, or obsessive for not wanting to eat junk food ever, and feeling ashamed when I do? I'm not sure. With Willy, I'm obsessive. I have a problem. With healthy people, I'm healthy, I'm doing the right thing for avoiding junk food and trying to keep my husband safe from it. I'm tired of getting these mixed messages. I love my husband, but it's obvious that eating badly is hurting him and he doesn't want to change because he wants junk food too much. While we were shopping, he told me that the thing that always blows it for him is having to eat the same thing over and over. He eats the same thing over and over because he isn't willing to eat OTHER HEALTHY THINGS. All he likes is junk food! And since I have to cook for the both of us, I'm constantly cooking the same thing to appease his 5 year old picky eating tendancies. I can't even cook fish because it makes him sick when he smells it. He's practically banned an entire food group!!

I don't want to lose him by a heart attack at 30. How do I fix my gaddamn husband!??!

And no, refraining from sex does not work.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Can't sleep, clowns will eat me..

As it turns out, Advair is great for keeping my asthma in check, but not so great for letting me sleep. I stayed up all night last night, and today I feel nervous and nauseous. Here's hoping the side effects will pass.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Crying myself awake

This morning, I actually started crying after I turned off my alarm. I think I was overwhelmed by today's schedule.

04:30 - wake up, wash hair
04:15 - drive to Metro
05:15 - take Metro to DC
06:30 - walk to work
07:00 - get dressed, go buy breakfast, eat breakfast
08:00 - start work
16:00 - dress down, walk to Metro
16:15 - take Metro to Shady Grove
17:30 - drive to Manassas
19:00 - get something to eat
19:15 - get to band practice, eat, audition drummers
22:00 - drive home
13:00 - go to sleep
05:00 - wake up, drive to Manassas
08:00 - be poked, prodded, and tested
12:00 - ...pass out??

Yeah, I cried this morning. I'm so gaddamn tired. Good news, though. I learned that 10 raspberries only have 2 carbs, and 1 of them is dietary fiber. BRING ON THE BERRIES!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Metro Murders Doors

"This is Friendship Heights. Welcome to Washington."

I got into my car this morning, intent on driving to Shady Grove. Shady Grove is the closest Metro station to the place we're staying; Willy's parents' house in Maryland, in a town called Damascus. I hate it there. Willy would be fine with living in a little town like Damascus. My home town, Forestville, was also a suburb. I guess the difference was in it's closeness to DC. We were literally a walk away from Pennsylvania Avenue; the same Penn. Ave. that the White House sits on. It goes all the way from DC, into my home town. if you drive it, you'll end up going past my old high school, and into the district within five minutes.

In my home town, we've got guns, violence, drunks and drugs. In Willy's home town, they've got drugs and drunks. Not so very much violence, but a lot of bored white people who drink a lot. It takes at least 50-60 minutes to drive directly into the city, which means I need to use the Metro to get there, and even then I need to wake up at 5:00AM, at the latest, to get in to work on time.

This morning, I turned on my radio and learned, to my horror, that two more Metro workers have died. I'm not sure if there is some strange irony at work here, but it seems that even our public transportation is becoming famous for killing people. Even our basketball team is carrying guns to practice. They re-named our team "The Wizards" because "The Washington Bullets" was too violent sounding. Right.

As far as your typical DC tradgedies, my dad has gotten the brunt of it in our family. My dad was injured building Metro. A steel beam fell on his foot and crushed it. They managed to rebuild it, and after two or three years of painful recovery, he was able to walk again. He still works. He's been knifed by a guy, before. While at one of our many liquor stores, some dude attacked him with a knife and nearly sliced off his ear. A police officer arrested him, thinking he was drunk, because he was going to buy beer with red eyes.

Sorry, officer. I've been up since 3 AM this morning, working at the Virginia Department of Transportation.

My brother had a tiny little run-in. While taking a girl to a dance at Suitland High School, the same place I ended up attending, he and his date were attacked. His date's face was sliced open with a glass bottle.

My sister has been shot, before. She says that it was someone trying to car-jack her. She asked only that she be able to remove her baby from the car, first. This happened at her house in DC.

So I'm thinking, today. With all of the shit that's happened, why do I still hate living in the suburbs?? You'd think that after seeing the violence, the guns, the drug runs, I'd be running and screaming for some peace and quiet.. but I just can't get used to it. As soon as I hear the soothing voice of that Metro operator, welcoming me to my beloved city, I smile inside. I'm home, and I'm very lucky that a slight delay in Metro services is all the inconvenience that I've been given.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Arrrrrg!!

Mother of fuck! If there's one thing that pisses me off, it's when something I was looking forward to doesn't go my way. Like the film adaptation to one of my favorite books, Water For Elephants. This is a beautiful story about love, hardship, and the circus. I kept telling Willy, "Man, this would make a great movie!"

Now, lo and behold, they're making a movie. Starring she-of-the-mighty-chin, Reese Whitherspoon, and... oh my shit.. Robert-I-look-like-I'm-sucking-dick-all-day-Patterson.

My literary nerd rage knows no bounds.

From I Watch Stuff.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Metro and Books

So it's winter. I've travelled through DC during the winter, before. During my college years, I took Metro to school every day. It was cold back then, sure. But damned if I remember being THIS COLD every single day. I don't know if it's me, or if Metro just isn't turning on their heat anymore. I don't recall ever getting on the train and going, "Wow, it feels just like I'm still standing outside." This morning, it was too cold for me to even read.

I'm working on this book right now called "The Naked and the Dead". It's a gritty World War II novel, written from the POV of soldiers in the Pacific. It's definitely a man's book, written by a man for men, and hoo boy, is it hillarious. From the constant dialogue that involves getting pussy, having pussy and wanting pussy, to the deep and meaningful conversations where two soldiers come to the realization that women just aren't interested in sex. Not like men, anyway.

HOLY SHEET. I love reading this old-timey shit, because it's so funny how men used to think. How some of them STILL think.

Lemme clear some things up for ya, soldier boys. It's not that women aren't interested in having sex. It's that they're not interested in having sex with YOU. Now, if she were propositioned by a good looking man, with a job, and a personality, well, she'd probably become a horned-out super slut. All depending on if he's her type, of course.

I also read "Push", which is what Precious is based on. It's a great book, but my GOD was it visceral. So much horror, blood, and sadness. It had the sort of ending that you can expect, one that isn't happy but has a sort of growth. Throughout the book, you're actually reading through the eyes of Precious, and you can see her world unfold from one of terror and mysery to hope and renewal. So, in a way, it's actually quite beautiful. I started crying after the first page, big baby that I am, and my guitarist asks what I'm reading. I explain what it is, and he's fairly shocked that I, being such a normally happy person, am reading something so depressing. So I explain that I read a lot of depressing shit, which is why I am generally so happy.

People, it's easy to be happy when you're reading about opressed women in China having their feet broken, bound, and scraped clean of rotting dying flesh. Shit, at least I've got my gaddamn FEET.

That doesn't make being cold any easier to live through, but it does give me some perspective. That's what I love about books. They take me to places I couldn't otherwise travel to, and allow me to live the life of someone who might never have existed. They let me go out of myself and look back at my position with envy. I mean shit, Precious Jones would KILL to be me! So I should be grateful for the crap I've got, right? Right.

Willy says I'm one book short of getting a Kindle. BUT I DON'T WANNA.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

I was wrong!!

I ended up not getting to sleep until 11. x_x Tonight I've got band practice, which means I probably won't even be home until 11, let alone in bed.. and then I gotta get up at 4 for work, and after work, my birthday party! Did I mention that today is my birthday?

I MISS MY SLEEP!!

Friday night will be spent partying, but I still need to wake up at a decent hour to do some recording on Saturday morning for a song.. which means that I won't get a good night's sleep until... Saturday night. Oh boy. To top it all off, I'm having horrible stomach pains. All I had for dinner last night was pork and seukreuat, and this morning I had bacon and eggs with coffee and a big bottle of water, so I figured I'd be alright for the day. Oh, my poor retarded stomach. Here's hoping I'm not getting sick.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

D'oh!

Sorry darlings, but there's nothing much to report. As far as eating goes, I had a slight relapse this weekend, but was back in the saddle by Monday. Since I'm only weighing myself on Saturdays, I'm hoping that I won't freak out, but we'll see. Willy got super sick on Sunday, and I had to take a sick day to care for him. Fortunately (or unfortunately) a co-worker had to call off today, which allowed me to take her hours, which were conveniently the same amount I lost on Monday. This means that I got to do a 12 hour shift, today. It also means I started at 4AM. Which means that I had to arrive by 3. Which means that I woke up at 1:30. Which means that I was in bed by 7. x_x

I'm gonna enjoy sleeping tonight, I tell ya what.. a 9PM bedtime doesn't seem so crazy when compared to one at 7.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Pride!!

So we weighed in, this morning. According to el scale-o, Willy has lost at LEAST 10lbs. If the scale is over by 5lbs, he's lost 10.

It also means, if the scale is off by 5lbs, that I've lost nothing. If not, I'm back to my normal 122.5. I'm not going to let it get to me. I'm gonna keep up what I've been doing. But until then, I am so proud of my Willy!!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Diet Religions

Diets are a lot like religions; when someone questions yours, you become defensive and insulted. That's how I feel, anyway, but it's hard not to when you're being questioned. It's hard to eat low-carb around people who still hold on to the old "low fat" values.. but even when those values are PROVEN not to work, they still criticize and look at me like a crazy person for eating the way I do, and having my husband do the same.

I'm hoping that someday, we'll have the freedom to discuss diet and religion without being looked at like weirdos. I still feel like an outcast for being Catholic, but that's another complaint entirely.

Willy got an e-mail from a company asking to talk, so I'm hoping that he'll have some good news for me today. Unfortunately, the job is in Baltimore, which means we'll need to look for a half-way point if he gets the job, which annoys the hell out of me. I wanted to live in Virginia, but it looks like we'll be stuck in Maryland. I love my Maryland, but man, I loved my Virginia more.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Nina's Top 10 Sexiest Journalists

BEHOLD! MY top 10 sexy journalists...

#10
Kamahl Santamaria - Al Jazeera

Less well known than his fellow shiny-toothed news brethren, like Aladdin, Kamahl is a diamond in the rough. His friendly smile and happy demeanor allow us to look past the sand, and into the man. Hopefully as time progresses, we will see more of this happy go lucky guy, hopefully without mortars exploding behind him.

#9
Sam Champion - ABC (Good Morning America)

His name says it all. Sam is the "tall, blonde, and charming" type of guy who looks like a prince, sounds like a prince, and is likely the descendant of some sort of Swedish royal family. He could easily father the Third Reich all by himself, and we wouldn't fault him for it. Who wouldn't want to be ruled by a legion of sexy supermen? I certainly wouldn't mind.

#8
Max Foster - CNN

With the voice of an angel and the chin of a god, Max is the very essense of "News". He's the sort of guy who could tell you that the world is coming to an end, while still managing to send a thrill up your spine. Know no fear, Max. Know no fear.

#7
Matt Lauer - NBC (The Today Show)

Known for his role as host of the Today Show, Matt has a way of smiling that lets you know he's a people person. If this is the sort of guy who kicks dogs and spits at the homeless, you wouldn't know it by his friendly demeanor. He has chisseled features that are in no way slighted by his short hair cut; in fact, the short do seems to allow his naturally handsome features to shine even more brightly.

#6
Stephen Colbert - Comedy Central (The Colbert Report)

Although technically, not a real journalist, Stephen Colbert still brings the US it's news through satire and laughter. It can not be denied, however, that his face is finely sculpted, and his teeth blindingly white.

#5
John Vause - CNN

A skilled performer with a sexy little Superman curl, John can cheer up any destitute child he finds in the 3rd world countries he reports from. One can only hope that he doesn't get maleria, or anything else that would reduce his sweet sweet ass.

#4
Bill Hemmer - Fox News

A "good ole boy" American type of guy, Bill brings us back to our suburban lives with a charming smile, and the body that seems to scream "FOOTBAAAALL WOOOOO!!!!!". In truth however, he is an intelligent young man, who's expertise can only be outmatched by the size of his shoulders.

#3
Dr. Sanjay Gupta - CNN

A ridiculously good looking man with a heart of gold, we can only imagine how God managed to roll everything a woman has ever needed into a tight, hard, brown package. Dr. Gupta not only speaks like a genius, he actually turned down a job from the single most charismatic man in the world, President Obama. Proof that the myth about Asians having small junk can not be true, because this man has got some seriously righteous balls.

#2
Tom Brokaw - NBC (Nightly News)

Like an eagle, Tom soars through the airwaves and into our hearts. His dark, deep, slightly nasal voice is a memory that brings us to every tradgedy that has happened in the past 20 years. His is a bittersweet tune; a bone chilling aria that leaves us begging for more.

#1
Anderson Cooper - CNN

Like an iconic symbol of pure masculinity and sex, Anderson Cooper is the sort of man that makes other men look like babbling monkey people. Mr. Cooper has the sort of otherworldly alien attractiveness that is nothing short of awe inspiring. His teeth are white, his suits are crisp, and his hair is so fair that it is made of 100% pure platinum. It is quite possible that Anderson Cooper is an amalgamation of all good things, put together, like an increadibly sexy Frankenstein's Monster. May his sperm never impragnate a mortal woman, lest she give birth to what can only be described as the son of a god.

I feel gre--, oh..

Well, the good news is that since I've been eating on-plan for the past few days, I've felt much better. And I have not weighed myself even once! I'm hoping I'll get a pleasant surprise when I do, so I'm saving it for next Saturday. Willy, unfortunately, went off plan on Sunday. He's back on track now, so I'm hoping I can help keep him there. My iron will must be strong to withstand both he an I's weaknesses.

Today is gonna be a rough day. I didn't get enough sleep, and I'm feeling it badly. I took a 5 Hour Energy, but it's not working at ALL. I feel dead at my computer. I guess you just can't replace sleep with caffeine.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Not gonna be easy...

So I'm trying to figure something out. If Willy wants to diet, why does he place the blame on not getting to eat junk food on me?? He seems incapable of eating out unless it's junk food. He can't compromise. If I suggest going to a steak house, he'll tell me that he is going to break his diet. Never mind the fact that it's perfectly easy to eat a steak, veg, salad, soup, all sorts of things on our diet. No, eating out = junk food. So I've got to make dinner. Every night.

Now, I don't mind making dinner.. but after a long ass drive from Pennsylvania, I kinda wanted a break. Nope. Had to run to the store to buy broccoli.

So lemme tell ya what happened today! Willy and I needed to go to VA to turn in our last bill for the old apartment. On the way, we were invited by his younger brother to visit one of the cousins at he and his wife's house. In Pennsylvania. Now, I don't mind driving that far, but the fact is, we drove from VA, through MD, to PA, and then found out.. once we got there... that they had dogs. Once we discovered this, Willy went livid and we didn't even go inside. We just left. Why? I AM DEATHLY ALLERGIC TO DOGS. Everyone knows this!! I tell people this whenever they discuss getting a puppy. They have SEEN me while sick! Whenever I am near any type of dog, I get a hacking cough, runny nose, itchy eyes, and severe asthma. Even more severe since I don't have Advair. I am nasty sick for at least a day, sometimes two. Even if I take a shower.

So even when Willy explained this, his brother gets mad. Like it's our fault for leaving!? Why the fuck didn't you tell us he had a dog before we drove through three states?! I feel so hurt. Nobody seems to understand, except my own husband. We just wasted 4 hours of our Saturday in transit to a place we couldn't even visit. Thanks a gaddamn lot, what a Saturday.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Happy new year!

Willy and I got in last night--, er, sorry, this morning, at about 5:30AM. I drove us all the way from our friend's house in VA, to his parents' house in MD, and it only took me an hour! x_x I was very lucky in that I tend to sober up very quickly, and only retained a slight hangover this morning that was mostly fixed by drinking lots of water. Dehydration is the cause of hangovers, and I can always tell when I drank too much because I feel dry and sticky. Gross.

So far, Willy's doing well on his New Year's Resolution! He's too hungover to eat badly... XD