The Season 8 @ Home Biggest Loser

The Dove of Peace

This week I've been praying for my friend to receive a sign from God, to let her know that He is present and taking care of her.  She says that she doesn't feel that she's encountered Him, possibly ever, and she's been a Christian her entire life.  I hope that He has provided a sign for her this week, and that she has been able to receive it.  But, in all my prayers this week, I never once asked Him to deliver a sign to me.  And yet, here He was, revealing His presence to me and marking my the literal and metaphoric road ahead.

I was driving to work on the 91 when all of a sudden this bird flew over my car.  It was carrying something in its feet.  It happened all so fast!  I was driving 65 mph, and it was probably flying about 5 mph, but the silhouette will forever be burned on my brain.  I've never seen anything like it!  The sun was just starting to shine, back lighting the bird.  It was a little rainy out, and this bird, maybe it was a pigeon, maybe it was a raven, or maybe it was an actual dove, had a branch dangling from it's feet.  It was a branch, with fruit or leaves or flowers!  I knew immediately, it was "The Dove of Peace" and a definitive sign from God.  I know it sounds crazy, and I don't know exactly what it means for me and God, but whatever it is, I know it's good.  I can't wait to see what He has planned for me.

*The origin of the dove of peace is in the Old Testament. Noah sends out a pigeon from his ark to see if the earth is still flooded. The bird returns with a twig from an olive tree, proof that the flood waters are retreating and a sign of change for the better.

Justice

So, I was reading Jakob Lodwick's blog and he posted the following:

If you haven’t seen it yet — even if you don’t like contemporary music — even if you don’t like music videos — even if you never watch videos on the internet — you must download it and watch DVNO.

Via JSTN

So, I watched it.  And I thought, "Wow, this is pretty freaking amazing.  It reminds me of that video Matt Richey had me watch during the Glamorous series."  It was at that moment I realized that it was the same exact band.  So, it seems that the French band, Justice, officially has the best music videos as of this moment in time!  (And, actually, I think I like the earlier video better.  But that's just me. I recommend playing them at the exact same time with the music off and see if you see the similarity in style.  I love how they have every piece connected seamlessly.)  Enjoy.  (btw--did anyone know that they were a Christian band?  Interesting...) 

This is the one Matt Richey recommended, and the "earlier" video I was referring to (the best part is when the guy fixes the other guys t-shirt and the blue letters fall off):

1950's Beauty

I was channel surfing a couple nights ago and came across "The Notorious Bettie Page" and while it wasn't the most amazing movie I've ever seen, it was quite intriguing and I have a real appreciation for the first pin-up queen!  Look how cute and sexy she was!  It's funny how body styles change.  She has such a gorgeous body, I wouldn't mind it if I looked something like when I'm done.  What a tiny waist!

If you aren't familiar with her, here's a little story about her, in her own words.

"Lunchtime Kids!"

So, I had lunch today with my friend Janey.  She's in my small group and new to Riverside and had never tried a Simple Simon's sandwich!  Their sandwiches are the best in Riverside, as far as I'm concerned, so I had to share it with her.  She got a Turkey Curry sandwich, which I had a little taste of and even though I'm not a huge fan of curry, it was really good.  I got my usual Chicken Apple Sausage sandwich and macked down!  Then we decided to split a piece of carrot cake.  Here's where it gets interesting.  Janey is a nutritionist and has a real appreciation for food.  I, on the other hand, don't.  So, as we're eating this cake, after her first bite she goes, "Oh my gosh.  I think this is probably the best carrot cake I've ever eaten."  I had already inhaled a couple bites and stopped to realize that I really don't enjoy food.  I hadn't noticed how good it actually was, I was just ready to eat a sweet dessert.  For her though, she was like, "Look at the icing!  You can even see the vanilla bean in it."  "Is that coconut?"  Yes, the carrot cake had shredded coconut in it.  I couldn't believe her attention to detail.  To me, I was just eating carrot cake.  For her, it was a masterpiece.  I need to appreciate food a little more! Skinny Bitch.  (I'm reading that starting today!)

You Know You're Eating Bad When...

All your fruits and vegetables are rotten.  I had to clean out my fridge last night because as dinner was being prepared, it became quite apparent that all the fruits and vegetables in there had started to either wilt or mold.  It's really sad.  I always think about the people in this world, country, even city, who would have loved to have that in their home.  They would have used it.  They would have found nourishment from it.  Yet, here's me, someone with all kinds of healthy food at her disposal, and I opt to have some fast food or something that requires less energy to prepare, but provides less energy for my body.  Not that an apple or an orange require so much, but that's also kind of the point.  Like I said in a previous post, I've allowed myself to fall back into some really bad habits.

45 Minute Walk

I just got back from walking Lily.  I started walking her again this week, which I hadn't done in a couple weeks cuz she had hurt a couple paws, but seemed to be doing better.  However, our walks had dwindled down to these sad little 20-30 minute walks that were more to satisfy her than to satisfy me.  However, as of last night I realized that I needed to really start sweating again, and this morning, God was really pushing me to handle it!

See, normally I wake up at 7am every morning--like clockwork.  I don't even have to set my alarm.  And even if I feel particularly tired and want to sleep a little longer, Lily will bust into my room at 7am (again, like clockwork), as if she were a little kid waking up her parents to go and play.  I get up, open the back door so she can go pee or whatever, then she comes back in while I'm checking the net and lays down next to me and sighs, huffs, and puffs, until I finally put my shoes on to take her for our morning spin.

But, this morning, God woke me up at 6:30.  Why?  Cuz He knows me and my routine.  By the time I get around to taking Lily out, it's usually about  7:30-7:45, so we have to rush and I don't feel I have time to really get a good workout out of it.  I woke up at 6:30 and could not go back to sleep.  But, that's not to say I got up.  I definitely resisted the nudge, but at least got out the door with Lily at 7:20 and got back home a little after 8:00am.  Was it a full hour?  No, but it's definitely progress and I got a good sweat out of it.  It's a step in the right direction.  I'm leaving you guys a few pics from this morning.  fyi--the mountains are heading into the dry season and for those of you not from Cali, this is why our mountains catch fire every summer.  Some pics show the dryness better than others.

Last Night's Episode of Biggest Loser

The ladies dominated!!  Those boys were such jerks last night, and the ladies put them in their place!!  You can read a full article here or watch a recap here.  Just know that the women took first in the weigh in and  Ali has lost more weight than any other woman has ever lost on the ranch.  Dan got kicked off!  Not that I don't like the guys, but they are kinda jerks about things.  I was just glad that the women were able to hold their own and at least one is guaranteed to be in the finale.

I'm Bored

I'm bored with the waiting.  I feel like a girl waiting for a guy to call her.  When will that phone just ring??  I check my emails every so often, hoping to hear back from a casting director.  Yet, the phone doesn't ring (or at least not with them on the other line) and the email has yet to arrive.  I wonder what they're thinking.  I wonder what they're doing.  I wonder if they love me.  I wonder if they want me.  Right?  I sound like a desperate chick!  Fortunately I've found certain comfort in Matthew McNutt's blog turned discussion board.  He was on Season 4.   It seems like even those of us who have gone through the interview process and made some serious progress in casting are all in the same boat.  We're floating without a paddle.

This video made me laugh.  It's Matthew before he lost the weight.  "What is this foul villainy?"

**Update: Actually, Matthew was Season 3 and he not only visited my blog, but even left a comment on this very post! I'm so excited an actual BL came to my site! I'm seriously honored. And also slightly mortified since I got his season wrong, but he was cool about it. I'm adding a link to his blog under my "fellow hotties."

Don't Say I Didn't Tell You First...

About three months ago I introduced you guys to my favorite East Coast celeb-u-taunt, Julia Allison.  I'd been keeping up with her blog for about 6 months at that time and after a while, realized she needed to be shared with the West Side!  So, basically, I think she's totally fun and adorable.  We've exchanged a few emails and have had a chance to talk.  I even tried to get her to check out Sandals online because she's been going through a tough time and I thought she might find some comfort in what Matt has to say about God, life, and ourselves.  (If you haven't checked it out, you should too!)

Anyway, while many New Yorkers know her through Gawker, which just loves to trash talk on her, I think she's a little over looked on this side of the country.  But not for long...she and I are going to be sharing a network!  :P

Bravo and NBC are talking about giving her and her friends their own reality show.  I'm not sure how to feel about it.  I like her, I think her friend Megan seems cool, but that Mary girl, I still don't get a good sense of her being a person I want to see more of.  This is just my opinion at this time, I could be totally proven wrong.  But, she kinda seems like a pretentious b*tch.  Maybe it was the homeless joke she blogged.  Hmm. We'll have to see how it goes.  But I wish Julia the best of luck!!

Anything Interesting?

This whole waiting thing is driving me up the freaking wall.  I know I need to be patient, but it's harder with each passing day.  Phone call?  Email?  Any word at all?? 

Someone give me something cool to think about.  I need a distraction.

Ok, here are a couple things for me:

1) Britney did good on her appearance tonight on "How I Met Your Mother."  I've never really watched the show, which seemed 50% decent, 50% totally lame.  But, she definitely didn't embarrass herself, which is a big step for my girl Brit.

2) Guy Fieri annoys the crap out of me.  He's just obnoxious and has stupid jokes, and the worst thing of all is that he always tastes food and licks his fingers, and then goes and starts cooking.  Eww!  I hope they edited out the part where he washed his hands, but it usually seems like it's all in the same shot.  But, I like the diner show, it lets me eat vicariously through the tv and that food always looks grub!  Anyway, yeah, his white hair and backward sunglasses really are the icing on the cake.  I don't get it.  Is he supposed to look young and hip?  Ugh.  (In the video below, note around 2:26 into the video, when they make the rub, he starts sticking his fingers in stuff and licking them and then putting them back, while the cook is wearing latex gloves!  gross!!)