I'm officially at a weight loss plateau.  I used to hear people complain about them, and I always wrote them off as being imaginary, or somehow the fault of the person who was trying to lose the weight.  But now that I'm suffering through one, I can be sympathetic.

I lowered my calorie intake considerably, I've started working 90 minutes 5 times a week (Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred followed by a 3.5 - 5 mile power walk).  And nothing has happened.  I weigh the exact same amount as I did in the beginning of  March.  I've heard the following suggestions for trying to break out of the plateau:

1.  Vary my caloric intake

2.  Change up my work-out routine.

3.  Wait it out.

4.  Drink more water.

5.  Work more on strength training.

I'm going to try all of the above for the next two weeks, and see if that helps.  Otherwise, I just might give up!!

I've become obsessed with two reality TV stars lately.  Tara, from the Biggest Loser, and Matt Giraud from American Idol. 
So for Tara, I think the reason I love her so much is because she's so determined to get things done.  She has a drive that I like to think I have (I'm not sure if I do though).  As Brian would say, she's a beast!  And I love her and admire her for it.  So far, on The Biggest Loser ranch she's lost 99 pounds.  Let me repeat that because that's pretty amazing NINETY-NINE POUNDS!!!  She's probably got about 50 or 60 more pounds to go, but she's already beautiful.  I hope she wins!  I even sent her a friend request on Facebook, which I realize is a little pathetic, but who cares.  Brian seems to think I love her so much because she looks similar to my favorite movie star.
Now for Matt.  To put it simply, I love him.  Sorry Brian, I know you think it's ridiculous.  But when he plays the piano and hits that falsetto, it's like I get chills!  Whew!  I'm getting worked up just thinking about it.  He reminds me of Justin Timberlake, but I actually like him better than Justin.  Just watch one of his performances, and try not to swoon.  And for the record, I am a "fan" of Matt on Facebook

What happened to all of the chick lit?  A few years ago, it was all the rage.  You couldn't walk into a bookstore without seeing the pastel book covers promoted all over the place.  I remember back in the chick lit heyday I was reading:
- The Shopaholic series
- Books by Sarah Mlynowski
- Murder mysteries by Kate White
- "Something Borrowed", "Something Blue", "Baby Proof", and "Love the One You're with" (which sucked)
- "Fashionistas"
- "Bergdorf Blondes", "The Debutante Divorce"
- "Jemima J"
- The Heather Wells Mysteries

But now, it's hard to find a chick lit book even worth picking up.  What happened?!?  I've had to revert to teen books to get the same fulfillment I used to get (Twilight series anyone?).  I tried reading "Chasing Harry Winston" (same author as "The Devil Wears Prada") but it was so boring, I couldn't get into it.  In fact, all of the chick lit out now seems kind of ridiculous.  So I have to wonder, has the literature changed, or have I?

BTW, my favorite chick lit book ever would definitely be "The Washingtonienne".  Although the girl who wrote it isn't necessarily the world's best writer, it based on her life and it's absolutely hilarious.

I realized the other day that I do a lot of complaining about stuff, including my job (see post below).  But I've decided to stop complaining about try to look at the bright side of things.  I mean, I'm not homeless.  I'm not alone.  I have a great life if I really stop to think about it:

1.  I have a job that gives me TONS of freedom (working from home, not a manager within 500 miles, most of the year I'm not really busy).

2.  I have a brand new car.

3.  I'm decently paid.

4.  I have a beautiful home.

5.  I have doting husband.

6.  I buy almost every thing I want, without going broke.

My point is, there are a lot of people in the world who would kill for all of that stuff.  And hear I am complaining on almost a daily basis about my life.   True, I do wish I was about 30 pounds thinner.  But considering I've lost 15 pounds in the last 4 months, I think I should be grateful for what I've accomplished.  It's hard to always have a positive attitude, but from now on, I'm really going to try my hardest.  Apparently, according to some people, it can really improve the quality of life.

I usually work from home.  But occasionally I go into the office to do some work, or meet with people in person.  I never enjoy it.  The people I work with are typical co-workers, annoying, obnoxious, and sometimes even gross.  I'm going to use this post as an outlet for my frustration:

Dear Co-workers,

I know all of us have a hard time coming into the office.  Especially since we have the freedom to work from home most days.  But I would appreciate if you could please take others into consideration when you are in the office.

1. Please don't wear your sweatsuits to work.  I know it's a casual dress environment, but let's try to keep it professional.  I have lots of cute Juicy suits, but would NEVER wear them to work.  Keep it decent people!

2.  Please don't bring in your hard boiled eggs, bologna, glazed ham leftovers, etc, and leave them in the refrigerator.  It's gross.  Especially if you leave it in there until you remember to take it back out.

3.  Along with bringing in lunch, PLEASE don't bring in seafood.  It's gross.  I don't want to smell that crap when you're warming it back up.  It makes me want to puke.

4.  Customer Service:  Please keep your ghettoness to a minimum.  When you're talking to the police about your recent arrest, go outside.  When you're arguing with your baby's daddy about child support, again, take it outside.  I don't want to hear about it.

5.  DON'T STEAL ANYTHING OFF MY DESK!

6.  On coference calls, please keep the questions to a minimum.  Don't just talk so the manager can hear you talk.  You will just piss off everyone else.

7.  Don't track my time.  When I leave for lunch and what time I leave in the evening is my business, and my manager's business.  Mind your own!  Do I give you looks when you go out for a 35 minutes smoke break every other hour?  Didn't think so.

8.  Don't ask me questions about crap I have nothing to do with.  If I'm the only person you can think of to ask something, chances are I won't know the answer.  So go bother someone else.

9.  Don't use the following terms:  high-level, action items, projected status, estimated time of arrival, please advise, escalate to management, and any other term that you think makes you sound important, but I think makes you sound like a jackass.

10.  Don't drink coffee and smoke and then come talk to me.  Not interested in anything you have to say.

Thank you!!!

I got to thinking about my last real post (before the car) and realized that since there definitely is a group of songs I hate, is there also a group of songs that I love?  I think that would be a lot harder to come up with.  There are a lot of songs out there from different decades, different genres, etc, that I really like to listen to.  So how could I compare Stevie Nicks to The Pussycat Dolls?  There's no comparison right?  I mean, I love dance music, but I also like rap. 
Then I remembered a question that I had overheard a guy ask a girl he was trying to pick up.  I thought it was so original, and even though it was kind of strange, it definitely was an ice-breaker. 
"What's your number 1 played song on your ipod?" 
It's a good question.  I mean, obviously the top 25 songs in my ipod are the ones I like best, right?  At least they are the types of songs I like best when I'm wearing my ipod (i.e. on the subway, working out, and now riding in my car).  So here goes, the top 25 songs on my ipod:

1.  Tempermental - Everything But the Girl
2.  Silver Springs - Fleetwood Mac
3.  Gypsy - Fleetwood Mac
4.  Lullaby of Clubland - Everything But the Girl
5.  Don't Cha - PCD
6.  Karma - Alicia Keys
7.  Five Fathoms - Everything But the Girl
8.  My Love - Justin Timberlake
9.  Buttons - PCD
10.  Used to Love U - John Legend
11.  Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac
12.  Blowin Me Up - JC Chasez
13.  Maybe - Emma Bunton
14.  Feeling Good - Michael Buble
15.  Compression - Everything But the Girl
16.  Be Without You - Mary J
17.  Santa Maria - Gotan Project
18.  The Future of the Future (Stay Gold) - Everything But the Girl
19.  Promiscuous - Nelly Furtado
20.  Black and White - Sarah McLachlan
21.  It's Like That - Mariah Carey
22.  Low Tide of the Night - Everything But the Girl
23.  Don't You Worry Bout a Thing - John Legend
24.  Rendezvous - Craig David
25.  Naughty Girl - Beyonce

Any Surprises?

I love my new baby! 

The other day I was in the car with Brian, and he said "you know what song I hate?" and I of course said "no, which one?" and he said "POKERFACE!"
Now, I don't find that song especially offensive, but I can understand how he would be annoyed.  When she goes "my my my pokerface my my pokerface", it's a bit irritating.  Also, it got me thinking about songs I've hated over the years.  So here's a list of my most hated songs:

1.  Waterfalls - TLC
Remember when this song was played allllll the time?  Well it started out ok, but then after about two months, I really started to hate it.  To this day, I still can't really listen to it the whole way through.

2.  I'll be missing you - Puff Daddy & co.
Again, a song that was played on the radio constantly.  The only difference is, I hated this song from the beginning.  I mean, no one should EVER make over a Police song.  Especially in remembrance to an obese dead rapper (sounds harsh, but it's true).

3.  Don't Stop Believing - Journey
The other day Brian told me this is the most downloaded song off of Itunes.  My response was, "WHY?!?"  I'll admit, it is kind of catchy, but the whole Soprano's thing really is over and done with.  This song should be too.  It's not even that good to begin with.

4.  Big Girls Don't Cry - Fergie
For some reason, I just can't make it all the way through this song.  Her tone just grates on my nerves.  There's something very whiny about it.  Big girls don't cry, but they whine like banchees in this song.

5.  Baby Got Back - Sir Mixalot
This songs sucks.  I hate it, I don't know why people like it.  And especially (no offense) for some reason, white people really seem to like this song.  When I go somewhere where mostly black people are hanging out, they NEVER play this song.  So why do white people like it so much?  I guess I'll never know.

6.  Anything by Tupac
I was just never a fan.  The songs all sound incredibly outdated now too.  For some reason, people fell in love with his music, but I never did.  Don't feel sorry for me though, I really don't feel like I'm missing out on much.

Anything you would like to add?  Post it in the comments!

Have you ever imagined a movie being made about your life?  Mine would definitely be a coming of age story.  It would start out as a young girl from a small upper middle class town going to school, living in her own world, having close friends and a loving family, then deciding after college to move to Boston to discover herself in a new city.  Only thing is, when she gets to Boston she realizes that it's nothing like she thought it would be, Boston is dirty, old, and mostly working class, and she has a lot of adjustments to deal with on her own.  But then after a year of living in the big city, she meets a very special man who ends up changing her life for the better.

Sounds pretty cool right?  Well of course they would add some very interesting parts, like me considering prostituting myself in order to buy the nice stuff I love (false of course, but my real life was waaaay too boring for a two hour movie).  Another thing that ALWAYS get exxagerated is how everyone looks, am I right?  Think about Erin Brokovitch, I'm sorry but she did not look nearly as good as Julia Roberts.  Or how about Russell Crowe as John Nash in "A Beautiful Mind".  Again, much better looking than their real-life counterpart, but there's still a slight resemblance.  Keep that in mind when you take a look at my casting in some cases....

Moi ........................................... Gabrielle Union  (I've been told I look a tiny bit like her on really good days)

Brian ......................................... Jason Statham

Tinelle (my sister) ...................... Malinda Williams

Linda (my mother) ..................... Angela Bassett

Harold (my father)....................... Delroy Lindo

Allison (friend)............................ Kristen Bell

Patrick (brother-in law)............... Jon Favreau

Gail (my mother-in law)............... Elaine Stritch

Sammy (friend)........................... Melonie Diaz

Liz (friend) ................................. Lindsay Lohan (think before she went skanky when she was a natural redhead)

John (my brother-in law)............ Anthony Edwards

 That title may be a bit inappropriate, but oh well.  I needed something to showcase my renewed vigor.  Here's what different since the last time I blogged:

- I own more jewels, to be specific, a pair of diamond earrings, a set of fabulous bangles, and a smashing pair of sunglasses:

They make me look like a movie start from the 50s. 

- I've lost 6 pounds.

- I have a new food obsession: White Chedder corn puffs from Trader Joe's.

- My nephews are still the cutest boys alive (I know that's no different, but I just couldn't resist posting this picture)

Now for the bad news, things that are still the same:

- I still love money

- I'm still very unsympathetic to just about everyone (I can't STAND Scott McIntyre on American Idol).

- I still have the same job, with absolutely no interesting prospects in the near future.

Oh well, at least I can still watch those Proactiv commercials and think, "thank God I don't need that stuff."

BTW, tomorrow's entry:  "If my life were made into a movie, which actors would play the most important people in my life?"