Addicted to History...

One thing you don't know about me. I can just sit and watch the History and Military channels all day long. I don't know why. I used to hate this stuff back in school, but now that I don't have to learn it, I love it. I've seen the Vietnam War chronicles, the Cold War, WW's I and II, the Iraq wars, the Civil War Reenactments, the Civil Rights Movement (yes, that was a war!) a few times over. I especially love when they do reenactments and stories of Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Shaka Zulu and all the ancient empires. Basically, stories of the way the world was won. I eat that stuff up like cereal! Any war story that's been captured on film, including non US involved wars, I've seen it. For some reason this all interests me to no end. I don't know why. I used to be addicted to Court TV's crime shows, but after seeing them all a few thousand times, I think I'm good.

Right now I'm watching the Nuremberg Trials that occurred after the WWII. After this, comes on the story of the Tokyo trials, and of Tojo, the Japanese general that ordered the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and who basically is responsible for bringing the US fully into WWII. The stories and history behind these retold events always amaze me. I guess I find it amazing that people managed to survive some of the atrocities that went on, from being in combat to becoming POWs, some for years. Real life drama beats anything you can make up from your imagination.

Yeah, I'm a real hoot at parties! Don't you dare bring up any historical war reference with me! I'll corner you and talk you to death on it! ;)

On a much lighter note, I am also addicted to a few select reality shows. So I AM well rounded, okay? ;). Project Runway, Make Me a Super Model and Millionaire Matchmaker are my guilty little pleasures right now, in addition to Making the Band 4, and America's Best Dance Crew. Ahhh. If not for reality TV. We get so caught up in all these dramas, don't we? I know I do. Who's gonna win at Fashion Week? Who's gonna become the super model? Will Diddy's new group be a hit? Will the Flavor of Love Series EVER end????? (keeping fingers crossed on that one. ENOUGH. It's not even funny anymore). What in the world did we watch before reality TV? I wonder if it will ever go out of style.

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Exercise for the Brain

Okay, you can't just be this fabulous, fit, tuned up like a fast car body with a limp brain. Gotta exercise the mind as well, okay? So here's a little smorgasbord of brain teasers to stimulate the old brain cells and take them out for a jog.
Figure them out, and answer in the comments section. Try not to peek at anyone else's answers. Be sure to answer in the correct order (1,2,3,4,5). I will give the answers in a couple days. Some might seem easy, but careful! They could be trickier than you think! Have fun!




1- What object has keys that open no locks, space but no room, and you can enter but not go in?



2- What is so fragile that when you say its name you break it?




3- Forward I am heavy, backwards I am not.

 What am I?




4- What can run but never walks,

  has a mouth but never talks,

 has a head but never weeps,

 has a bed but never sleeps?




5- What do bullet proof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers  all have in common?

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All Gone Now...

...and it barely even took 3 days. The snow has completely vanished. Oh well, I guess I'll have to go to Vermont again to experience temporary snow blindness! lol

Another snowboard weekend is coming up soon, and dude, I am SO stoked! lol. Yeah, I know. I just think snowboard lingo is so cute! I'm using phrases like "shred the nar", and it's cool, cause it's like this secret language that only other winter sport people use and know. Well, some of it is used by skateboarders too, since when you think about it, there are quite a few similarities between skate and snowboarding.

Anyways, I'm up for the next trip. The sucky thing is there is such a short season for snowboarding, and this damn crazily warm winter is making it even shorter. Snowboarders and skiiers are hitting the mountains on back to back weekends like chain smokers. Some are taking days off in the middle of the week to find some precious powder. Sucking it up like the last drops of soda in a can. Junkies itchy for the next fix, knowing that it might be their last.
Ah, well. I can't be too sad, because as soon as ski season is over, it'll be warm enough to blade every day. You have to find a way to be happy and excited EVERY season! That's my plan....and so far it's working! ;)

SnowBoardDiva.com

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And Finally, Some Snow!

Yay! It's about damn time. I mean, this winter has been so schizo...60 degree days, followed by rain showers and then a cold day here and there. It has tried to snow a couple times before, but the weather has been so warm in New York this winter that it has never been able to stick for more than a day. Well, not today, baby! We've now got us some snow!


I don't know why this makes me so happy. But it does! ;)


It's not like I get to stay home from work or anything. lol. But until it gets trampled over and all peed on by the dogs, it's gorgeous!

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Keeping the Creativity Flowing...

Now that my writer bug is on full tilt, it seems other aspects of my need to create are kicking in as well. I'm presently trying to work on a completely new class format that's just more kick ass than anything I've ever done. I've been experimenting with my class members (my favorite little lab bunnies) by changing up the formats from some of my classes. They have alot to look forward to in the next upcoming month or so. lol

See, I think that no matter how well you do something, after a while it can still get a little stale if you don't look into ways to take it to the next level, or even just flip it completely. I'm sure that just about everything that's doable in fitness has been done, but that being said, you can still find a way to add your own personal twist to something.
Also, now that I'm snowboarding, that has served to make me think more about how I'm training my body. Lot's of ideas about core training and fluidity come to mind when I'm brainstorming. I don't know exactly what I'm gonna come up with, but trust that I will figure it out.

One other thing that I noticed about myself after going snowboarding a few times is that I now have this fearlessness about falling. When you first learn to snowboard, you fall SO many times. In fact, everybody falls, beginner or not. The more you push to be better and do more advanced movements, the more you're gonna fall. I always come back from snowboarding with these nice little bruises.

Well, I noticed that when I went roller blading last week I felt so much more willing to take chances on performing certain little tricks I like to work on. I realize that falling on concrete and falling on snow are two different kinds of pain, don't worry! But I'm so much more willing to go for it! It's funny. After snowboarding I feel invincible! lol


Ok...gotta go work out! You all stay fit, now! ;)

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Blatant Plagiarism!!

So, I log on today, and decide to do key word searches on Google to see when and on what page my articles, posts, etc show up. Just a thing I do to see how well my SEO is working. Well, don't cha know, by doing this I found out that another blogger on Google just stole one of my posts, changed a few words around and has not given me the credit for MY hard work on that post! It's an article that I put on my other blog entitiled The Art of Flirting at the Gym". This dolt of a person, copied my article from paragraph to paragraph, and inserted their own bad grammar, substituted a few words throughout and didn't even bother to post a link to my blog where they found it. I am livid! That article was the result of my brainstorming, my writing, my editing and of course, my own personal view on the subject. How DARE people do that! I went on their blog and told them that what a talentless hack they must be to have to steal other people's work, and that they need to take it down. I will wage an all out war on this person's blog if I have to. And get this...I just posted the article to my own blog about two days ago, and here already today, they have it on THEIR blog! The absolute gall!! Anybody out here been through this? I'm looking into what I can do about this infringement on my copyright. This person doesn't have any personal info on their profile, so it's hard to contact them other than posting a comment on the blog. Any suggestions?

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Does the Carmen Electra Strip Aerobics Video Work?

Well, I decided to give it a whirl, and I must say, I did work up a sweat. And it was damn fun, to boot. Nothing like exercising your sexy, ya know? She also has a section on one of the videos where she does a chair strip routine, and man, that is definitely some work. All in all, this is a great video to add to your collection for something a little off the beaten path. Be careful, though. Because after you do all that teasing, you might need someone to unleash all that sexual energy on! Be sure to have someone handy! ;)

This is but a sample of the vid. It gets more intense as you go on.

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Pure Talent...

I've been watching the dance competition show "America's Best Dance Crew", and let me tell you, there are some incredibly talented, ridiculously acrobatic dancers on the show competing for the $100,000 prize. Being a skater, of course I'm favoring the crew named Break Sk8, because they're pretty good, and I like their concept of melding break dancing with skate dancing. It's pretty fierce. And need I say, you have to be in mad, crazy shape to be able to pull off these antics? Check it out:

I'm lovin' the straddle split on skates. Wicked!

Here I'm gonna give props to MTV and post their link to the first two entire episodes, just in case you want to see all the dance crews. Great stuff here!

America's Best Dance Crew

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Busy, Busy Beee!

I swear, I started another blog. I am seriously addicted to blogging! Is there a 12 step program for this? I don't have the time to be out here upkeeping blogs all day long! lol
Also been doing a ton of writing otherwise. Check the sidebar on the right for some of my latest articles. Curious to know more about the fitness diva? If you're a good little detective, you can follow that article trail to see what else I've done and am doing....

Right now, I'm trying to write enough content for all my sites and blogs. Funny thing is, once I turn it on, it's on. My writer robot, that is. I'm able to write at the drop of a hat these days, and that's a good thing. I don't even know what writer's block is. I never get it. What I do get is the lazies. But once I kick them out the door, I turn into this writing machine. In fact, so much so, that I'm still up at 3am writing! Yeah...get me some help. Soon! ;)

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Grown Women Do NOT Fall Apart at the Sight of a Teddy Bear!!!

UGH!!! The next time I see another one of those ridiculous Vermont Teddy Bear ads that they're running for Valentine's day, I'm gonna vomit!!

You know the ones; a woman receives her 'gift' in front of her co workers and opens it, and then these waaayy over the top 'oooooohs', 'aaaaahhhhs' and 'OOOOHHHHHS' ensue. The women totally LOSE it, and go on and ON about how damn cute the bear is and WHAT A GUY this man must be that gave it to her. PUH-LEEZE!!! You'd think she'd just opened up a box with a 5 carat diamond in it, the reaction is so over the top! The entire office loses its damn mind, and guys from surrounding cubicles then rush to a phone to dial up and get a bear for THEIR woman so they can get that same reaction when they get home. Yeah, sure...um hmmmm.

Another one shows all types of folks posing with these bears, holding onto them like little life rafts keeping them afloat on some invisible sea of love. In the background, some smarmy song written just for the occasion drones on and on. There's actually a good two minutes of this hell....they pulled out the big budget for airtime for it. I immediately put my TV on MUTE when these commercials appear, so I won't die from cheesiness overkill.

Let me tell you something...you show up at my door on V Day with a damn teddy bear, dressed as anything, know that you won't be getting ANY that night, papi! Just explain to me how a fuzzy, fake bear is supposed to make me get all sexy and want to lay it on ya. Sorry, buddy, it won't! The marketing of this concept has just gone way too far. They're leading you down the wrong path. Trust me on that!


Get this. Women do not fall apart at the sight of a teddy bear. Give us some damn credit, pleeease! I don't think even teenage girls go to pieces over them as much as they did years ago. Face it, there's so much cooler, sexier, more romantic stuff you can get for your lady, and women, for the guy. Getting a guy one of those silly bears would be just as dumb. Don't do it! Use your brain! What do women really like? By the same token, what do guys really like? Then break it down to what is YOUR man/woman really into? Start right there, and you're on the way to making a good choice.

Once again, women do not fall to pieces over teddy bears. I can't say it enough. With a few exceptions,of course, but honey, let's get real. You'd better be showing up with some lingerie, champagne, and yes, chocolates still work. A box of Godivas can melt me anytime. Especially the chocolate dipped strawberries! I'll also never say no to a nice, tasteful piece of jewelry. Or even better yet, just a romantic night out with a few special touches thrown in here and there. Use your imagination, dude.

The thing is, a woman wants something that shows that you know her at least a little.
What she likes, what she's into. What she wants. I once received a book for V Day, "The Art of Happiness" by the Dali Lama. In a beautiful red box, wrapped in red silk, along with a long stemmed red rose. THAT touched me in ways you won't believe. Because it took some insight on this person's part to know that such a gift would be as appreciated by me as it was. And still is. And the presentation was flawless.

It's not about spending a ton of money on a girl or guy, for that matter. It's about showing that you used your brain, your heart and your best instincts, and THEN made your choice.
I want to see that you've at least gotten a glimpse into my soul, and you get it. THAT's what turns me on.

So guys (and girls), don't fall for these damn cheesy bear ads. I know they're trying to do business, but damn! You gotta come better than that to win THIS girl's heart! And any one else's as well.

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Can You Say "Videophilia"?

videophilia -


The new human tendency to focus on sedentary activities involving electronic media


There have been several studies recently, focusing on how much more time we're spending interacting with electronic media such as TV and the internet compared with how much time we spend doing outdoor activities, and the results are pretty grim.


It seems that as a society we are spending less and less time in the great outdoors, doing things like biking, camping, fishing, hiking, etc than we are watching TV, playing video games and hanging out online. This is undoubtedly a direct contributor to the obesity epidemic that's plaguing the USA right now. Are you surprised? I'm not. Heck, we're being videophiles right now as we speak, as you sit here reading this, not to mention the time I spent writing it.



So, you can say that while our society has advanced in areas of technology, electronic media, and invention, we're also slipping and losing some of the old skills we once had.
You have to think; what did people do before there was television, email, video games, I pods, instant messaging, video sharing and all the other incredible stuff we've now learned how to make use of? How the heck did they entertain and enjoy themselves? I know I can't imagine a life without my laptop! Even though I do remember a time when NOBODY had a PC. Heck, I remember a time before cable! But also, I remember being outside alot, playing with my friends.
I remember too, my father loading us up in the car and taking us camping, fishing, to amusement parks, and sometimes just somewhere out in the country to just run around in fresh, clean air.
I knew how to fish by the time I was five. My Dad bought me my very first fishing pole, and took me in a little rowboat with a motor on the back (to my mother's horror), and out on the lake we went. I caught my very first fish that day! I know that my appreciation for the great outdoors and outdoor activities comes from not only my parents' penchant for doing outdoorsy things, but also from the time period itself. Back then there was no such thing as just sitting around in front of a screen to be entertained! lol! Imagine that! TV was something I got to watch after my homework was done after dinner, and early on Saturday mornings before heading outside to play all types of games with my friends on the playground.


We ran, rode bikes, threw, kicked, batted, dodged and caught balls, chased each other, and figured out 1000 different ways to have fun until we wore ourselves out. And even then, we still didn't want to go home! I see the true value of all that now when I look at kids today who have no clue at all what playing really is.


We as a society are now more overweight, less healthy, and our attention spans have decreased significantly. I'm sure that never at any other time in history have so many people been sitting on their butts for such long periods of time.

At the same time, once you've evolved as a culture, it's hard to go back. We can't just unlearn our love of all the electronic media and devices now available to us. But we do need to learn how to create some balance. Know that in this day and age there are some people who NEVER go outside just for the sake of being outside. People who never participate in outdoor activities, simply because it was not part of their upbringing or it isn't popular among their circle of friends. They were raised on video games, text messaging and were taught to socialize on the 'net. How can we who know what good, healthy living and social activity is, let these others in on what they are really missing out on? I've yet to come up with the answer for that. But I do know we'd better figure it out soon.

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Parade of Champions..

I missed the Giants Superbowl Parade this morning because I had to work! I'm so pissed! I'da been there with blue, white and red paint on, like, "What?!". Seriously!

But I guess somebody had to keep the rest of the city running! We're all still basking in the glow of this great win, and talking trash by the minute. You know how we New Yorkers do! ;) Hey, bragging rights are sweet. We're gonna ride 'em til the wheels fall off! ;)

Meanwhile, back down on earth, we are experiencing some freakishly warm weather for January! I tried to wear a down jacket today, and ended up sweating my butt off! To tell the truth, this really is getting scary. I have lived in New York my whole life and have never seen weather like this. January is usually bitingly cold. You shouldn't be able to walk around with your coat hanging open. And a very light coat, at that. WTH is up with the global warming? Is it accelerating that fast? We'd better do something quick, folks.

In the end, it's not gonna be pretty. At all.

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Did I Tell Ya, or Did I TELL YA!!!

GO GIANTS!!!

The New York Giants are the NEW Superbowl CHAMPS, baby!!

And I never had a doubt! After 4 quarters of what was the hardest damn game of the century, my Boys in Blue TOOK the title. I'm so sore from screaming my head off!

GO GIANTS!!!

You've done us New Yorkers PROUD!!

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