Salsa: To Dip or Not To Dip (Part I)

I didn't work out today but I really don't feel that bad about it. Mon & Tues I worked out for 30 min with my trainer, Mon & Wed I did about 30 min of cardio (elliptical), Tuesday I did an hour of cardio (elliptical & stationary bike), & tomorrow I've got another session with my trainer & I plan on doing at least another 30 min on the elliptical (I may do an hour depending on how I feel).

Also, kind of on topic in long stretch kind of a way, Kim has invited me to go with her & some of her friends to eat at Gloria's (Mexican food, mmmmmm) (If I do go I may eat a little something before & just get a small salad or something light) tomorrow night, followed by salsa dancing. Hummmmm. Me, salsa dancing. Someone could get injured very easily. I haven't decided if I'm going to go. I may just play it by ear.

I have two stupid & contradicting fears about the whole dancing thing. First, I'm afraid I will be the only one not asked to dance. Not that that would be all that big of a deal. It doesn't really hurt my feelings but I'm afraid other people will notice. And, not that what people think of me should really matter but, that is when the paranoia begins to kick in. I start imagining everyone is saying one of two things: "How sad. No one has asked her to dance. Let's find someone & ask him to ask her to dance." (how humiliating would that be?) or "Well, we know why she isn't being asked to dance, she's just too fat." Ahh, the life of the socially anxious.

My second fear is that I will be asked to dance. I do not know how to salsa, other than with a chip (obviously). What if I just make a big fool out of myself. I'm really good at that. How disgusting is it going to be when all of my bits start jostling around? Eeekkk!

Having said that, I have another fear that always seems to pop up during situations like that: What if one of those guys starts hitting on me? Ok, first, I am not looking for anything but, if the right kind of guy came along, I wouldn't mind going out with him. However, this is rarely the problem. If some guy does act like he likes me he usually ends up being an "undesirable." I really don't want to get into what qualifies as an "undesirable" to me, here today. Some of the main things would be, a non-Christian, a smoker, a heavy drinker, a thug, etc... There are many other things but, like I said, not here, not today.

I am not the type of girl that feeds on the attention of the opposite sex. In fact, it makes me quite nervous. I have no idea what to do, whether I am attracted to him or not. If he is one of these guys, how do I make it clear I'm not interested without being rude or hurting his feelings (& not lie)? I guess the main reason for my awkwardness when it comes to guys is my inexperience. I've only been on about 4 dates in my whole life (counting my 6 month high school "relationship" as 1 date) and only 1 of those was after high school. Even that one was about 9 1/2 yrs ago (I know, very sad, I'm a social freak).

Ahhh, boy, I have totally gone off the deep end with being pretty open & honest on this blog with what I'm about to share. You are really getting a glimpse in to the psyche of Kristy (ha, that kind of rhymes).

Along with the whole boy/girl topic (man, how did I get on this?), there is the issue of flirting. Now, I'm not talking about the tactless ogling, batting eyes, drooling, & smiling to the point of nerve damage that many girls seem to have majored in; I'm talking about the showing of the opposite sex that you are interested. I am crap at that. I have a paradox going off in my mind at the very thought of attempting to flirt. My thought is, "I don't want to flirt because he may think I like him." Yes, I'm being totally honest, that is really how I feel. I told you, I don't make sense; a total paradox. No matter how much I try to logically work this out in my mind, I still come back to the thoughts that if they guy or his friends think I like him they are going to run off into a corner & laugh about it. Like, "How could this girl ever think she had a chance with me?" Yes, I should be in therapy.

I'm not saying any of this to get any kind of sympathy or anything like that. I'm just trying to be honest & evaluate my life for what it is. Like I've said before, this is just a document of my thoughts, my life, etc... I don't do this for any other reason. If someone finds any humor, motivation, inspiration, interest, etc out of this then that is just an extra bonus.

So, will Kristy eat Mexican, will she brave the dance floor, will she end up in the ER, will she be chased by some creep, will she meet the man of her dreams. Tune in next time for the shocking conclusion of ... * dum, dum, duuuuuummmm *...... Salsa: To Dip or Not To Dip (Part II)

Weigh In #16 & Lucky 7's Video 4

I know this is late. I actually did my weigh in on Sunday night/Monday morning at work, like I normally do but I was waiting to post it on YouTube to see if there was going to be a question of the week for the Lucky 7's Challenge.

If you watch the video, please excuse the hair. I had no idea I looked that bad. It is really hot here, I'm sleep deprived, & it is starting to show on me physically. I'm going to go to bed really early tonight & hopefully sleep a good 12 hrs. I know that sounds like a lot but for me, a girl who needs exactly 8 hrs of sleep, getting only about 6 hrs of sleep is enough to drive me to insanity. I get grumpy, can't concentrate, & have memory loss issues.

Weekly loss: -1.5 lbs
Lucky 7's loss: -2.25 lbs
Total loss: -31.25 lbs

You Can Worship Anywhere

Most all Christians know little truths like this, but, as I am learning, just because you know something doesn't necessarily mean you actively believe it or that it is "real" to you. This even goes with little things I've been told all my life about loosing weight/exercise/health.

So, today, about 45 min into my hour of cardio (that's right, I said an hour, who would have ever thought I would do anything physical, voluntarily for an hour?), sweating like I had just stepped out of a shower, panting like a dog but still "walking" on the elliptical, TobyMac's song, "Made to Love" came on my MP3 player. I love this song & the words are simple but pretty much sum up our purpose here on Earth.

I usually have some type of emotion when it comes on, but today I heard/felt something differently in it. I usually focus on the words "made to love" in the song, & how God made me so he could love me & I could love him. But today, I focused on the word "made." I was made by God. He purposefully sat down (I guess God sits, I'm not really sure), & painstakingly formed every aspect of me. My appearance, my temperament, my emotions, the way I express myself, my desires, my likes, my dislikes, & considered every part of my life. Out of all the "more important" people in the world, the "more important" situations, he took time to design & create me like an architect building a building or artist painting a painting or sculptor sculpting a sculpture (that sounds funny) or a carpenter building what ever. When you really start to understand that (as well as we humans can) it is, for lack of a better word, awe inspiring, indescribable, earth shattering (non of the words are what I wanted to say but my mind is telling me it is time for bed).

Anyway, back to the title of this entry. There I was "peddling" away on the elliptical in all my sweaty glory listening to this amazing song when I had to worship Him. I had my eyes closed, my head slightly back, & my thumb & forefinger slightly raised (I didn't want to let go of the handles for fear of falling not to mention I would probably get kicked out for acting like a lunatic, also, that is not my typical worship style). It was different, amazing, short but great. So, moral of this story, Kristy learned another simple truth that she should have learned years ago. :)

News Story: Gunman opens fire in Tennessee church, 2 killed

Gunman opens fire in Tennessee church, 2 killed

Maps of War: History of Religion

Ok, so here is the History of Religion map. I just realized that the maps actually go over my blogs boundaries. Oh, well, it just doesn't look pretty but here it is anyway.

Cool Site -- Spread of Democracy

Here is a really cool site, Maps of War (I know, it sounds very dramatic). They have maps of the world & show the spread of some topic, such as March of Democracy, History of Religion, Leadership & War, & Imperial History. So, here is the March of Democracy map. I may post the Religion one next. Anyway, most of you know that I am a history nut so I thought this was really cool.

"Michael Clayton" Review

Michael Clayton, starring George Clooney as Michael Clayton, is about a man who is an attorney that, instead of entering the courtroom, is now cleaning up the "messes" his clients & the firm that he tends to deal with. In this particular case, a colleague & friend (Tom Wilkinson), bi-polar & off his medications, makes a spectacle out of himself embarrassing the firm but at the same time revealing to the firm's heads that he knows a little more than he should about a certain case they have all been working on.

This movie was interesting but, I don't know, a little too tricky for me. I don't know, even that doesn't seem to explain what it was that I didn't like about this film. George Clooney (an actor who I believe will, in the future, go down as one of the best; like one of the great actors of classic Hollywood) did a great job, as usual, but still could not hook me into this movie.

By the way, if you do watch this movie, you will notice that Clayton's son is obsessed with a book series in which the first book is called "Realm & Conquest." This book does not exist in reality, it is only a movie prop. I know, because I checked. It sounded like a cool book so I wanted to get it but I was foiled once again by Hollywood. Ah, Hollywood, an eternal love-hate relationship.

So, would I recommend this film. If you like John Grisham styled plots, then you will probably like this one. If that is the case then, yes, I would suggest it but if that isn't really your "cup of tea" the I would suggest moving to the next movie on the shelf. I would give this movie a "C." George Clooney would get a much higher grade but he is not what I am reviewing. That will have to wait until another day.


Discussion Questions from Christianity Today:

1. The film's tagline is, "Truth Can Be Adjusted." Do you agree, or disagree? Why? Are there any circumstances under which that might be true?

2. At one point, Clayton's in-car navigation system is unable to show him the correct direction to proceed. Could the malfunctioning computer be a metaphor for anything else in Clayton's life and, if so, what does it mean?

3. While Clayton plays poker, a reckless game of chance, his son is obsessed with the fictitious fantasy book series and game, Realm and Conquest. Why does this story of epic journeys and virtuous heroes so appeal to the imbalanced Arthur Edens when he hears about it?

4. Discuss the ways in which noble intentions can erode over time, eaten away by small compromises that consume our idealism and resolve. What leads to this collapse and what can we do to prevent it?

5. What would you have done in Clayton's shoes?

"I Am Legend" Review

Ok, so I guess I'm a sucker for post-apocalyptic movies. The Postman, The Stand, The Day After Tomorrow, &, now, I Am Legend. I, as opposed to most movie critics, really liked this movie. I thought the portrayal of anyone who is on their own after an apocalypse was done very well. But would I expect anything less from Will Smith (sans The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)?

I enjoyed this film from beginning to end. The "monsters" were obviously CGI but scared the crap out of me. For lack of better judgment on my part, I watched this movie at about 2 am &, after finishing it, was kind of freaked out so I had to pop in another movie before my mind had time to move into imagination mode & really drive me to the panic zone. :)

Just a bit of advice when watching the DVD, don't waste your time watching the "animated comic book" shorts. They are very violent, disgusting, & left me very uneasy. The DVD doesn't come with a lot of special features, which I was disappointed in. I would have expected it to include a "making of" feature but, alas, we are gypped on that extra.

So, would I recommend this film? To the right type of person, most definitely. Being a post-apocalyptic film many people can't handle that type of story, but then throw in some "zombies," the rest of the population immediately turns sour on the whole idea. However, to that small remnant of the population like me, I would definitely suggest it as a way of wasting a couple of hours. I would give this movie an "A-."


Discussion Questions from Christianity Today:

1. In one of the final scenes, Neville shouts, "You are sick and I can save you! Let me save you!" What comparisons do you see in this scene—and the whole movie—between Neville and Christ? Do you think it is intentional? Why or why not?

2. Think about the scientist's analogy of the measles virus to a fast car whose destruction or value depends on who is driving. What does that mean to you? What other things are that way?

3. What do you think the movie is saying about the debate between science and faith?

"Shadowlands" (1985) Review

Shadowlands (1985) is the story of C.S. Lewis' life, or at least his life after he met his wife. This was a made for TV version by PBS staring Joss Ackland as C.S. Lewis & Clair Bloom as Joy Davidman. I was kind of disappointed with this film. I thought it would be about his life but it was just about 4 yrs of his life. From the movie, you get the impression that he met his wife, courted her, married her, & her death all in the matter of a few months or so, when in reality it was about a 4 yr span. Her remission stage in reality lasted about 1 1/2 - 2 years but in this film it seems like only a couple of weeks. The movie also did not go on to tell what happened to her two sons later in life.

As a nice little movie about a short part of his life, I guess this was a pretty good movie but I was expecting to find out more about his life so I was a little let down by the abbreviation. This movie was redone in in 1993 under the same name, starring Anthony Hopkins as C.S. Lewis & Debra Winger as Joy Davidson. I've read that there are some misrepresentations in that film also but any movie, in my opinion, with Anthony Hopkins in it is worth watching.

So, would I recommend this film? Sure, it is worth watching on a slow night when you can't find anything more interesting to watch but I would also suggest doing a little research on the life of this theologian before taking anything you learn from the movie as fact. I would give this movie a "C." It was good but I was expecting more.

In case you are interested, here is an article in Christianity Today entitled Into the Shadows in which the two versions of the movie are compared.


Interesting C.S. Lewis Related Sites:

• Wikipedia: C.S. Lewis
• C.S. Lewis Foundation
• Into the Wardrobe
• C.S. Lewis

"The X-Files: I Want To Believe" Review

Brandie, Betty, & I saw The X-Files: I Want To Believe on Saturday. The X-Files was a great paranormal TV show from 1993 - 2002. In 1998, they produced The X-Files the movie. From what I remember, it did not do well at the box office & if the turn out at the theater on Saturday is any sign this one will do no better. Having said that, I did enjoy this one, much more than the first one.

What many die hard X-Files fans may not like about this film is that it deals very little with the paranormal. In fact, the story is more crime fiction than sci-fi. So, those of you hoping to see if our questions, do the "little green men" really exist, will Mulder ever find his sister, will Scully finally believe, etc..., are answered, may be disappointed, once again. However, this may be the true genius of The X-Files. We continue to return time after time hoping the tension will be broken. If the truth was revealed, would we still be drawn to this story? I'm not sure. It seems that most shows that break this "tension" usually fail soon after.

So, would I recommend this film? Sure, it's worth a watch, maybe even more so for those who are into crime shows but not so caught up in paranormal stories. Both fans can enjoy this film. For a little lighthearted humor stay, after the credits roll.

I'll give it a "B-." I thought it was pretty good but I probably won't watch it again.

PS: Here is a video review that I totally agree with. X Files I Want To Believe Movie Review


Discussion Questions from Christianity Today:

1. Compare and contrast Mulder and Scully's views of the world. Who has a greater grasp of "the truth"? What do they both need to learn?

2. What did you think of Father Joe? Do you think he can be forgiven for his crimes? Does he seem genuinely repentant?

3. Do you believe in psychic phenomena like Father Joe's visions? Has God ever used visions and dreams to communicate with people?

4. What do you think of the closing scene in the hospital. Is the scientist being brave and noble? Do the protestors have valid concerns?

"Step Brothers" Review

Brandie & I went to see Step Brothers, starring Will Farrell & John C. Reilly, on Friday. We thought it looked really funny; not funny funny but stupid funny. A movie that looked light-hearted, something to break the seriousness of the week & ease us into a relaxing weekend. We weren't expecting much but we thought it might be fun. We got our first surprise while were waiting in line for a bottle of water. I looked at the ticket & realized this was movie was rated "R." We were both surprised by this; we thought this film might be a little crude but rated "R," what were we in for?

So, we went in expecting a bit of profanity. Well, it surpasses "a bit" within the first 10 min. Crude language was used considerably in each scene, not to mention the dreaded "F" word being used as if the writers left their thesaurus at home & just used it when they couldn't think of a better adjective. As if that wasn't enough, there is a scene during the first 1/3 of the movie that I will not describe due to the graphic & disgusting nature of it. Just suffice it to say that there is no excuse for such filth in main stream movies. Humor-wise, it did have funny bits but it was beyond stupid & choppy & annoying in parts. All in all, I would say I'm pretty embarrassed to say I actually watched this.

So, would I recommend this film? Absolutely not. I think Brandie enjoyed it more than I did but I still thought it was quite a horrible waste of time & money. Having said that, as always, I did enjoy hanging out with my great friend, Brandie.

I think I'm going to start attempting to give these reviews a grade. "A" being a great movie; "B" being that it was definitely worthwhile; "C" being good but I probably wouldn't watch it again; "D" being I didn't enjoy it that much, it's pretty much a waste of time; "F" being terrible, hated it, one of the worst movies I've seen in a while. So I give this movie an .......... "F."


Discussion Questions from Christianity Today (if you actually go against this advice & decide to waste your time & money.):

1. The film's central theme is that of immaturity versus maturity, of the need to grow up and put childish things aside. Do you think that, by the end of the film, Brennan and Dale achieve this? Why or why not?

2. The ways in which Brennan and Dale are immature are obvious, but are there any regards in which Robert or Nancy need to grow up? Do you think they are good parents? Why or why not?

3. How does this movie treat divorce? Adultery? Does it have any positive messages about family? About forgiveness?

The Fishin' Trip

We had a great time on the fishing trip. We weren't sure if we would even be able to get the boats out at first much less get any hits at first because the water was so high. Arkansas (& most of that part of the US as you may know) has gotten a lot of rain this year & most of the rivers, creeks, tributaries, etc... are over flowing with the extra water. We did end up being able to go out but we couldn't use an anchor due to the depth & the speed of the water. Of course, Uncle Randy caught his limit (5), I caught one, Kim & Lance caught a few (I can't really remember how many), dad caught two or three, & Kaylee caught two or three. Kaylee caught a large brown trout. The guy we rented the boats from said that they don't stock browns so her's was considered a trophy fish, so we took her pic holding it & then she let it go.

We only rented two boats so Dad, Kim, & Lance were in one & Uncle Randy, Kaylee, & I were in the other. Mom & Granny didn't fish because they couldn't see the sense in buying a fishing license for only a couple of hours of fishing. Aunt Connee went fishing later with Dad & Lance while Uncle Randy boated Granny & Mom around on the lake that afternoon. Meanwhile, Kaylee, Kim, & I took advantage of the pool.

I ended up getting pretty sunburned. That always ticks me off because I never sunburned as a kid. I would get a tan but not burn. Now that I'm older, I think I've lost a lot of my melanin & tend to burn a lot easier. It probably doesn't help that I work nights now either. I guess I am kind of like a vampire; sleep in the day, out all night, & can't take the sun. I did put on lots of sunscreen & kept reapplying it but a lot of good that did. Another problem was that it was so nice & cool that I didn't realize I was burning. It has turned to tan now so that's nice except that I just noticed my right shoulder has started to peal. Lovely.

I did get a little grumpy at night & I do apologize for that if anyone is reading this. With my schedule & all if I don't get my full 8 hrs of sleep each night, especially on the weekends, I get very testy. So again, I'm sorry. Anyway, all & all we had a great time. And it was great, us all being together again.

No Apologies

Ok, I started to apologize for not posting much this week but I had a conversation a few weeks ago with some friends & we talked about when writing in journals/diaries/blogs we would miss a few days/weeks & then write all these apologies. I told them that I had promised myself a while back ago that I would not apologize anymore about doing that. I do this for myself (if other people get something out of it then that is a bonus) & if I can't work it in or have some reason I don't post then it's okay. I'm not going to keep apologizing to myself. I'll just get back on it & try to do better in the future. So, now, on to other stuff...

I didn't go to the gym yesterday because I really needed to clean my house. I cleaned for like 4 or 5 hrs & took something like 3 medium sized boxes & 5 large trash bags of trash to the dumpster. I know that sounds absolutely ridiculous. A lot of it was some stuff that I have been meaning to take to the dumpster for a while (old DVD players, stacks of old magazines, boxes & large mailing envelops from packages I had received, etc) that I just don't feel would be right to expect the curb side pickup guy to lug to the dumpster. I don't think it was as good of a work out as I usually do but I did sweat so I know I burned a few calories.

I went to the gym & worked out with my trainer this morning but afterward (& even during), I was feeling really weak & drained. I'm not sure what that is all about; I hope I'm not coming down with something. But I just could not bring myself to get on the elliptical.

Speaking of elliptical, one day this week I had just completed 20 min on the elliptical & was trying to figure out if I wanted to do another 15 -20 min on it or what. I looked down at the stationary bikes & decided I would try to do 5 min on it. I know 5 min doesn't sound long but I tried back in April & it really hurt my knees & was very uncomfortable with my big-o belly. Well, I ended up doing about 17 min. I was so happy. My knees did feel a little pressure but not bad &, belly-wise, everything was fine. Not to mention, that 15 min flew by. Now, I feel like an old woman on that bike (mainly because that's the only people who use it) but I'm thinking about getting a bike for myself for Christmas & I want to kind of get the actions down. I would also like to start trying the Spin classes out soon (maybe once I'm under 200). As some of you know I use to ride bikes all the time when I was a kid but I haven't ridden one in about 10 yrs so I probably need the practice.

One of the guys at work is big into biking & I was asking him about it the other day. He told me that the cities around DFW hold city rides every Saturday between the months of April to October (I think that's right). When I told him I was thinking about getting a bike at Christmas he was like, "But then you'll have to wait until spring." This is true but I'll probably need that time before I feel comfortable riding a bike for the 20 - 30 + miles that they do.

Weigh In # 15 & Lucky 7's Video 3

Weight loss: -2 lbs
Total loss: -29.75 lbs

Lucky 7's loss: 1 lb

7 Reasons I want to loose weight & get fit
1. Health
2. Look & feel good (physically & mentally)
3. Shopping
4. Travel
5. Outdoors activities
6. Inspiration to myself & others
7. Family

Please excuse the lack of energy in this video. I was extremely tired, this was my third take (obviously I could never cut it as an actress), & I was/am extremely sore from Monday's workout. I kind of scared of tomorrows workout.

Gone Fishin'

Hey everybody. Well, I'm about to leave on my fishin' trip. I'm going to pick up my sister in a couple of hours, then we are driving home to our parents. After we load up their car we are heading to the hills of Arkansas. We probably won't get there until late tonight but tomorrow we are trout fishing.

Fishing is not my favorite past time but being with my family is one of my favorites. So I am so excited. It will be the first time in almost exactly a year since I've seen Lance, so that is exciting too. It will also be the first time in several years all four of us cousins will be in the same place at the same time. Another exciting aspect of the weekend! Boy, this weekend is nothing but "exciting" is it. :)

Anyway, maybe this creacher of the dark will also get a tan this weekend. I use to be so dark when I was a kid but as I've gotten older I've turned pale. How depressing. My grandmother (my dad's mom) told me a couple of years ago that she could tell I worked night because I was so pale. Thanks, Gram. :)

On the weight loss front, I was planning on going to the gym by 7am & actually woke up about 5 or 5:30 but I woke up with the second worst crick in my neck I have ever had. Oh my goodness does it hurt. I took some Advil & I'm about to get in the shower to see if the hot water will loosen the muscle a bit. Knowing that I'm going to have to drive through Dallas traffic today & fish tomorrow, I didn't want to over do it on the elliptical this morning. That may not have been the best decision but that's what I decided. I don't feel that guilty though because I worked my butt off this week on that crazy machine. I've never sweat so much in my life. I've also drank an average of 15+ glasses of water (that's about 120+ oz) everyday this week. I think I may buy stock in toilet paper. :)

I'll let you know what happened this weekend later. And, I'll probably make a video about it too. You all have a great weekend too!

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRANDIE!!!!!!

Who in the world taught Kristy math?

Ok, if any of you are watching my total loss of weight, you are probably wandering who in the world taught me math. There are a couple of reasons for this.

When I first started doing this, I got my starting weight at the gym. Since then I've been using a scale in a closet at work. I do occasionally weigh on the one at the gym just to see what the difference is. The gym's scales weigh me about 2 lbs heavier but when I weigh at the gym I always have my tennis shoes on. I still think the scale at the gym is probably more accurate due to the one I'm using is as old as the hills but it is more private & I really don't care as long as I'm having to slide the little weight to the left.

Another reason that my total's haven't added up in the past is that have been keeping up with my weight on different websites & some of the websites round up & that got me off in a couple of places so that was annoying.

Anyway, I'm really not that bad in math & just got confused a few times. :)

Weigh In #14 & Lucky 7's Video 2

Weekly Loss (Gain): +1.25 lbs
Total Loss: -27.75 lbs (see next post for explanation on why my math is not adding up)

Lucky 7's Loss: +1.25 lbs :(

Totally water weight. I pretty much lost all of that yesterday, so that proves it.

Reasons for gain:
1. Didn't do cardio as much as I usually do.
2. Ate out way too much this weekend.
3. TOM :P

I'm going to kick it this week though, just watch. :)

{Thanks, Aunt Connee, for letting me know I had made a typo.}

I'm Being Haunted By A Closet Monster!!

Ok, so, no, you couldn't hear it. It was a drip, drip sound. I think it was either my AC or water heater dripping. Oooooooooo....Eek! :)

Archie's Ride Home

Movie Review: Hancock

So Kim & I went to see Hancock at Studio Movie Grill last night. I really enjoyed the movie. I think Kim only thought it was okay.

The Christianity Today review kind of talked like it was your typical superhero movie but I don't really agree. I thought it was very well done. Yes, it is mainly about a man with super powers coming to terms with his gift, or as his curse as he has come to think of it, but there are deeper issues surrounding his struggle. There are several twists in the movie that I was not really expecting especially the big revelation (if you've seen it, then you'll know what I'm talking about).

One thing some people may not like is that about 2/3rds of the way through the movie an entire new plot is thrown in & the plot from the beginning is pretty much abandoned. Now, normally, I hate this kind of think (for example Spider Man 3, I did not like the movie due to so many plots) However, in my opinion, it is nicely wrapped up in the end. And, now that I think about it, even though those are two huge plots, they are really only subplots to the main one, a man coming to terms with his gift/destiny/mission. Speaking of the ending. I wasn't thrilled; it was kind of corny but it was okay & it did not detract from the film as a whole, I feel. Also, just a heads up, don't leave the theater right away. There is a little snippet as the credits are rolling. Don't worry, it is really short & it isn't important or anything, so if you are dying to hit the bathroom from all that soda & popcorn you really won't miss that much.

So, in the end, it was no X-Men but it was much better than Spider Man 3. I would probably rate it there with the new Incredible Hulk. I know most reviews didn't give it good ratings but I think it is definitely worth watching at least once.


Discussion Questions (from CT article):

1. Do you see any parallels between the way Hancock is treated by the public and the current political scene in America?

2. What parallels do you see between Hancock and Ray in the way they approach altruism?

3. What does the film have to say about sacrifice?

4. Late in the film, Mary says, "Fate doesn't account for everything. We have a choice." Is her statement justified by film's end?

My Diet Coke Experience

Video 1







Video 2



Flat out website: http://www.flatoutbread.com/

I Found Something!

I've been finding things on my body lately that I have never had. Don't get worried about me though. They are muscles! No, really, Kristy has muscles! I started noticing a calf muscle a couple of weeks ago & then a bit of firmness on the top of my thighs.

I had great calf muscles when I was in college living in Fayetteville but these are different. My Fayetteville calves were one large bump from the back of my knee to about half way down my leg but these are different. There are two; one on the outer part & one on the inner with a little /\ in the middle. Definition, I like that. Then today I was resting my legs on my foot rest with my computer in my lap & I tensed up the tops of my legs & my computer nearly fell off my lap. I started looking at the top of my tensed up thigh & there was this big bump on top. Wow. I was very excited. I have also started noticing when I press in at the top of my abdomen I can feel ab muscles under all that flab & I'm starting to get that line on my arm showing I'm growing a bicep. This is all very exciting for me. I've never had muscles like this. It is amazing.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Last night Brandie & I went to Hellboy II: The Golden Army. I really enjoyed it. I wasn't really impressed with the first one but this one was pretty good.

It starts out with a LOTR-esque story, which I kind of felt was a sign of lack of creativity on the writers part but it was still good. I have never read the actual comic, or excuse me, graphic novel(s) but according to the Christianity Today review it is a bit different. Here is an excerpt from the article:

"In the original Hellboy, the villains were adversaries like demons, Nazis, gods of chaos, assassins and necromancers—characters understood to be evil more or less by nature or by definition, like orcs, vampires or witches. Hellboy II shifts from this kind of mythic good-vs-evil storytelling to something more like classical mythology, with variously flawed characters on all sides.

Except for an occasional cross or rosary, the vestigial Christian influence from Hellboy is virtually gone here. In its place is something a lot like a work of pagan imagination, at times partially reminiscent of the worlds of Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki, with his ambiguous antagonists and animistic spirit-creatures."

The CT review goes on to discuss how good & evil is not always black & white. Some really good people do really bad things & sometimes bad people do really good things. Also, sometimes people do good things with bad intentions or bad things for what they believe are good reasons. Life is not easy & this movie does demonstrate that to a point. It doesn't dwell on it. It is more of a "background noise" that most viewers will not pay much attention to.

I also agree with the CT review that the character development in both this one & the prequel is lacking. You start to get a look in on it in this film but it often feels like we were thrown into the middle of a story without really knowing who these characters really are, why they do what they do, & what is their main motivation.

It is obvious there will be more Hellboy's to come & by the prophesy from The Angel of Death. Which, as most prophesies from The Angel of Death goes, does not seem to be a happy one.

There are a couple of more things in the movie I would discuss but I don't want to ruin the movie for anyone. The CT article did have some discussion questions at the end, which is their usual format, that I will post at the end of this. So, if you see the movie, you might want to just consider these questions to help you to better critique the movie. I know what you are thinking, "I go to the movies for fun & to escape reality for a few hours. It's just a movie, I know what I believe, I don't need to over-analyze everything in life. I don't want to take homework to a movie. Kristy, you are taking life a little too seriously, just relax, enjoy the movie." I usually watch movies that way too, but I am trying to take a different approach. I want to start critically analyzing the things (movies, shows, books, music, etc...) that I expose myself to. We do not realize what an effect media has on our morality & the way we view life.

Last fall, I was watching entirely too much TV. I liked so many of the new shows but I started really paying attention to what I subjecting my unconscious mind to & realized that it probably wasn't the "true," "noble," "right," "pure," "lovely," "admirable," "excellent," or "praiseworthy" things that the Bible instructs use to dwell on. (Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. -- Philippians 4:8) The Bible also instructs us to "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." (I Thessalonians 5:21-22).

So, I decided to purge my TiVo recording list. The only shows I left were Jericho, Heroes, The Office, Psych, & Monk (I also record some cooking shows, some fitness shows, some Brit Coms, & some PBS shows but most of those are not regular shows, they just play one or two every once in a while so I didn't count those; I was only counting the mainstream regular shows). Even though these shows may not also fit with in those verses they do have some redeemable qualities & compared to what is on TV today & what I was watching before, these are down right wholesome entertainment. Even though purging my playlist was difficult at first, I do not miss even one of those shows. The whole experience taught me than I need to be more attentive to what I am watching, reading, & listening to because, even though I did not notice it, those shows were affecting my though life, they way I viewed certain moral issues, & made me question many of my basic beliefs.

I don't mean to preach but I would suggest that you pay attention to what you subject yourself to. Some people are more impressionable than others & I am one of them so I have to be vigilant. I certainly did not mean to make this near as long as it has turned out but I got on a soapbox I guess.

Hellboy II Discussion Questions (from CT article):

1. How problematic is the notion of a "good demon" in a comic-book story? Consider the notion of a "good witch" like Glinda in The Wizard of Oz. How are they these the same? How are they different?

2. What might it mean to say that man was "created with a hole in his heart"? Is there more than one way to interpret this statement? In what sense might it be true? In what sense might it be false?

3. What does pregnancy mean for an unmarried couple? What should such a couple do? How is it different for a married couple?

4. Can you imagine being offered a choice like the one the Angel of Death offers Liz? Do you think her choice is defensible or not? Why or why not? What do you think you would do?

My new books

Last weekend I ordered several books that either as questions or ask you to make lists of certain things. I received one of the books today. It is called List Your Self: Listmaking as the Way to Self-Discovery. Now I am not one of those that believe in a lot of the new age psychobabble that is out there but I thought this would be an interesting way to get me to journal more. And, who knows, maybe I'll learn a little more about myself or at least how to articulate what I feel inside. Verbal expression is not necessarily one of my gifts. I always seem to come off as a snob, judgmental, angry, or just an old fashioned B. I've come to the realization, due mainly to a book I am doing in one of my church small groups (People Pleasing: How not to be an "approval junkie" by Lou Priolo) that I am, most definitely, a people pleaser, & this is not a good thing. In fact it is a sin, an expression of pride. So maybe these books will help me to convey my feelings & thoughts more clearly.

I actually got these books to help with my singles small group that a friend & I are trying to start at my church. I was telling another friend at work about these books the other day & she got very excited. Her brother is in jail, or prison, & she has started sending him questions that she wants him to consider & journal. She was excited that I was getting these books so she can now have more questions for him to answer. It makes me feel good that I may play a small role in helping my friend's brother. I don't know if he will take any of this seriously but it is worth a shot. Who knows, maybe me & some dude in prison somewhere on the east coast will be on a similar journey of self-discovery. Anything's possible.

Trying a new blogger

So, I've been using Xanga.com for a long time to blog but unless you have a xanga account you can't subscribe to my blog or comment. So I've decided to try this one. For a while I may keep blogging on xanga but copy & past the posts here but if I actually like this one then I may close my xanga account & just blog here. Ok, I know this is all to thrilling to read but I'm just giving it a try. I may copy & paste some of my old blogs to here just to see how it goes. Ok, that's all for now. Thanks.

"Make My Day"

Two things really made my day today. First, I kicked my butt at the gym today. I arrived about 20 min early (I meant to be there 30 min early but that didn't work out) so I could get some of my cardio in before my work out with my trainer. I had to use a different elliptical machine today (one with the swinging arm poles) because all the others were taken. I didn't think it would be that bad so I put it on "cross country" mode & went at it. Then the resistance jumped up. Now, until today I usually use only a resistance of 1 or 2 but I've been trying to work myself up to 3 & 4. When I do "interval training" mode I do get up to a resistance of 8 for about 4 min at a time & it really kicks me in the butt. However, this one jumped up to a resistance of 10 right away & continued to increase up to a resistance of 20! Holy crap! I didn't think I would make it. I never thought getting to a resistance of 10 would be the "easy" level. Toward the end it jumped back up to 20. I didn't think I could do it but right before it jumped up, I was like, "yes I can, I can do this." When it gets really hard for me I have been doing a little something most people would probably think is crazy but it works for me & I really believe it is what is happening too. I imagine Jesus standing right in front of the elliptical cheering me on. I didn't think I could finish it but I did. I got off & thought, I will never do something so evil to my body again. But, after a few min. I decided I probably would do it again sometime. Well, after my work out with my trainer I went & got back on that thing for another 20 mins. This time I tried the "hill climbing" mode. Again, it kicked my butt. But I did it. I succeeded. I conquered the hill.

The second thing that "made my day" was also at the gym. While I was doing the cool down on my first experiment with the new elliptical I saw one of my coworkers go over & talk to my trainer. After I got off I walked over to my trainer & he said, "I just me another one of your coworkers." I said, "Was that ____? I thought that was her." Then he said, "What, do they only hire good looking people there?" At this point I kind of stopped in my tracks. I wasn't really sure what he was saying. Was he saying he thought I was good looking? Surely not. There is no way someone as hot as him would ever think I was "good looking." I kind of mumbled some sort of incoherent agreement that the girl he had just met was quite beautiful. The he says, "Yeah, I mean, there is you, & ____, & now her." I was completely shaken. He did say I was pretty. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't for a second think that he is coming on to me or flirting with me or anything like that. We are just friends, really less than that, I'm his client. But it really made me feel good.

I love my gym.

Another week

I lost another 4 lbs this past week. Don't ask me how. I didn't get to work out like I normally do but I stayed way under my calories & drank a ton of water so maybe that helped.

I ended up having to work July 4th but it was actually a blessing. I was originally supposed to work on Christmas but the girl that was supposed to work on July 4th said she would rather work Christmas so we traded. Yay. So, for the first year in like 2 or 3 yrs I will actually be with my family on Christmas Day. Yipee! I may actually have to work Christmas Eve & just have to drive home on Christmas Day, but still, I'm excited. It will also be the first time in several years all 4 of us cousins will be together during Christmas. I'm hoping to get off the week after Christmas but since I took it off last year, I may not get it off this year (we all have to take turns).

I may post this weeks video here later but it is taking forever to load today.

Weigh In #13 & Lucky 7's Video 1

Week loss: -4 lbs
Total loss: -31 lbs

Sauteed Alaskan Cod in Spicy Lemon Butter Sauce

This is the original recipe:

4 T butter, divided
2 Cod fillets (4-6 oz) (frozen or thawed)
Salt & pepper to taste
1 T of fresh lemon juice
2 tsp grated lemon zest
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 T snipped chives

Melt 2 T butter in a large nonstick skillet over med. heat. Rinse any ice glaze from the frozen cod fillet under cold water; pat dry with paper towel. Saute 6 min. per side for frozen fillets (varies by thickness) or 3 min per side for thawed fish, turning once. Cook just until fish is opaque throughout. Season fillets with salt & pepper. Remove fillets from skillet; keep warm. Wipe out pan, if necessary. Add remaining ingredients & heat thoroughly. Spoon sauce over fish to serve. (http://www.cookitfrozen.com for more recipes)

How I did it for this recipe:

Cooked cod same as above only omitted butter for a non-stick spray. Then I only used 1 T of butter (I could have probably used less), lemon juice (I didn't measure, I just squeezed all I could out of a lemon), lemon zest (again, I didn't measure, I just did as much as I wanted), & cayenne pepper (didn't measure, just guessed). I didn't use chives because I didn't have any & I'm not a big fan of the anyway but, if you like them, go for it.

Nutritional values my way for 1 whole fillet
Calories: 190
Fat: 7 g
Fiber: 0 g
Protein: 15 g