Caught on camera!

I was waiting for the subway after work and managed to snap a picture on my iPhone of this little nasty guy... a RAT! I think I said before how there's an inner struggle of wanting to watch the rat run around on the tracks, or look away because it's so creepy. I don't know if I want to SEE the rat, and know that it's there and be able to avoid it, or just LOOK AWAY and shudder. Usually, I watch because if it starts scurring in my direction, I get the CRAP outta there! Did you know they can JUMP up out of the track on onto the platform? Yeah, I would be in cardiac arrest if that happened. AGGHHHHH!!!!!

Can you see the baby?

Superman sucks

So, no I didn’t get pictures yet- last night I had another torture training session that was basically a test to see how far he can push me before I collapse in pain and exhaustion. FUN FUN! We did upper body work and abs last night, and seriously, I could barely lift my arms to shampoo my hair in the shower afterwards. It’s really not that it’s a lot of repetitions; I do about 15…20…25 reps of each exercise, but it’s HEAVY! I do bicep curls with 25lb dumbbells in each hand, while I look around and see all the other girls doing the little 5 or 8 pound hand weights. Actually, I guess 25 reps IS a lot! Then, he had me sprinting up the stairMONSTER for 3 minutes in between reps, or doing 90 second planks and 90 second “superman.” A “superman” is when you lay face down on your stomach, extend your legs and arms straight and lift them up as high as you can off the floor, like you’re flying like superman. Sounds easy? Try it! It’s easy for about 10 seconds… then it really starts to suck.

Anyway, we’re coming into the home stretch, and I only have 2 more weeks till final weigh in!

I’ll try to post pictures after my workout tonight- last night we went out for a friend’s birthday at pier 17, in the south sea port. Cool place! I’d never been down there before, and I took pictures last night to post for you to see. Look for them on my other blog- www.carmineanddan.blogspot.com. I try to keep this blog as more of a personal diary/humor blog and the other one is public for pictures, stories, etc.

Ok, I’ll check in with you soon! Layta, playas

Gets your whites whiter!

Three cheers for Amazon!
I got my camera battery charger delivered from Amazon.com, so I will be able to resuscitate my camera back to life tonight. I will take my OWN bodybuilding pictures- although I'm warning you now, my skin color is a stark contrast from the orange oompa loompa ladies that you saw in my previous post.

My friend Cari, who reads (and COMMENTS, thank you very MUCH!) this blog, was having a conversation about how there should be a different name for MY race, which is clearly different than "white." White people aren't WHITE, but I actually am pretty close. Cari said we should call me "CAR-casion" and I suggested "Cauc-ASHEN."

Anyway, I'm done work in about 20 minutes, and I'm off to the gym with Dan and Elizabeth for cardio day. I gave them both guest passes for a week. Dan now wishes he had joined MY gym, Equinox, but he's in a year contract with crunch, so it'd be dumb to pay TWO gym memberships (especially when Equinox is $175/month!)
Gotta head straight home after my workout because I'm having groceries delivered (freshdirect.com is the greatest idea EVER!) at 8!

Let's get PUMPED!

Saturday night I entered a brave new world- a world of orange tans and speedos. A world of gigantic monsters and women that look like men. Yes, I went to a bodybuilding competition.

As far as bodybuilding competitions go, I'm in the novice category. That's to say, the closest I've ever come to bodybuilding is standing next to "muscle fitness" magazine in the checkout line of the pharmacy. BUT... my trainer has been working out and starving himself and dehydrating and tanning for MONTHS so I said I'd go and support him while he poses in his water panties.

Elizabeth, Dan and I went to the show in TriBeca: there were so many women there that looked like Chyna the wrestler, it was scary! All their boyfriends were short little muscle-y guys too, about 2 feet shorter than the "chicks" (and I use that word loosely) in their plastic clear platform shoes and lycra mini dresses. Again- it was all so very odd.

We really had FUN though, although Elizabeth pointed out that the competition would be even better enjoyed if she was drinking heavily. Then, Jay Cutler, who is 3 time Mr. Olympia came out as a "guest poser." This man was a monster! His legs are 31 inches each! That's like a PERSON on each leg! Unreal!

This guy (above) was 58 years old!! Can you believe it? Why don't they have female bodybuilders that are 58 years old?

And finally... (drumroll please) here's my trainer at the competition. Freakin' SICK, right?!
You know, I would've competed too but you know..uh... I'm just not very tan. Yeah... that's right...sure.

more AW-Some tattoos...

In loving memory????

And another addition to my "worst tattoos ever" collection...

Add this to my favorite things list!!!

I can't get ENOUGH of these yummy snacks! They were voted "best snack" in my Shape magazine last month, so when I saw them at the supermarket, I decided to give them a try. Since I'm cutting out simple carbs, white flour, sugar, all that stuff for my workouts, the sweet potatoes are EXACTLY the type of complex carbs I need for my cardio workouts.

I was simply not PREPARED for how DELICIOUS these Dr. Praeger sweet potato bites are!!! If I had kids, this is what I would be feeding them! Even if you say you don't LIKE SWEET POTATOES, and I know some of you are huge skeptics of healthy and organic food- you WILL be surprised at how good they are!! I'm eating them right now, and I just HAD to blog about it!

You can buy them in the freezer section- and they are a PERFECT nighttime snack, or even a small dinner! They have the combination of sweet and savory, and they're organic and just plain GOOD! Try 'em and let me know what you think! I'm hooked on Dr. Praeger! I've also tried the veggie balls and they're amazing too!

Stupid battery charger...

I know everyone's wanting me to take pictures to show you my progress at the gym, but AGAIN, I can't find the blasted battery charger for my camera! I thought a rechargable camera was a good idea, but that's only a good idea if you can keep track of the charger. I haven't been able to find it since the Diesel 60 minute party, and before THAT, I had lost it for months too!

I ordered another charger on amazon.com today, so when it arrives I'll charge up my battery and flex my muscles for some pictures! :) This Saturday night, my trainer is in a bodybuilding competition, and me Dan and Elizabeth are going. I'm especially excited to see the freak show...I mean WOMEN'S bodybuilding portion of the competition. It will either INspire, or DE-spire, me I think. (Shouldn't DE-spire be a word? I think so!)

I'm bringing my FLIP camera to take some videos, and I'll post on this blog!

Exam gone wrong...

(CLICK to enlarge)

Tore UP!

Hi Guys!

So, here’s some more on my sis Edella and Jen’s visit, with PICTURES that Edella emailed me. When they arrived Thursday night, we went straight to Senor Swanky’s, a Mexican place known for their margaritas. Happy hour STARTS at 10pm, how cool is that? The margaritas are 2 for 1 from 10pm till close. I know- great deal, right? Here’s a picture of my sister, Edella on the left and her best friend Jen on the right:

Dan, Dave, Jason and Kathryn were already 3 or 4 drinks in by the time we arrived. I ordered my glass of water and salad with no dressing (lucky me!) and watched the hilarity ensue.

It was FLEET WEEK in NYC, which means all the sailors in the Navy are in town (actually, I still don’t know really why…) and they were all putting the moves on the girls at the bar. One chick seemed to be especially popular, although we all couldn’t understand what the appeal was. She wasn’t exactly the most attractive young lady and as Jason put it, this girl was “Tore up from the FLOOR up!”

I had some fun at this poor guy’s expense, and convinced him it would be HILARIOUS to put these tomatoes on his eyes. We were all laughing… AT him!

Roll out the barrel...

Dan and I have a new favorite musician: this old guy! He performs down in the subways, and he moves around to different stations so we never catch him at the same spot. He plays polka music with an organ sound, and he usually has these little dolls set up ALL OVER the place that dance around to the music. It's that combination of creepy and kooky that make it so enjoyable to watch! This guy must be like 100 years old- honestly, I don't know how he does it. I bet he makes a killing, though because EVERYONE gives him a dollar when they walk by. He's just so darn cute! Yey, give it up for the old man with the organ!