I did promise Andy that I'd have my journal in by Monday, and this is (in fact) Tuesday... but we both knew that wasn't really gonna happen. [Are you kidding? I'm amazed I got it this fast... thought admittedly, you're getting better - AB]
 I see London, blah, blah... I see women's underpants! |
This time I am actually typing fully dressed... what I can say it's been a busy day; I'll get naked as soon as Heather gets home.
Heather... Home... nice.
We're supposed to leave here (Independence MO) on Monday... but Heather is having a little more trouble getting her life to fit in my (now OUR) 36 foot trailer. She also has some peculiar ideas of moving, and packing... she spent a goodly portion of last night (for instance) rearranging the living room and covering the couch with a new slipcover... Me? I'd have done things differently... but the house does look better. London is also helping Heather move in... yeah, same kind of help as at Christmas.
It has been a busy time. We had a satisfying New Year's, and shortly thereafter Heather's Birthday. We took a Scuba class, and had Iranian food at her dear friend's house. We've eaten out a lot... and I have discovered that my sweetheart really is quite a good cook.
For myself, I have been going to the gym a lot; converting oodles of old VHS Tortuga Twin Videos into digital files... (So look for some really cool content to show up here over the next few months) and of course, now that the Trailer is completely prepared for winter... It has been the mildest recorded winter in history for this area.
I've been busy working on contracts for the year (as has Jef), and preparing to make some major changes to the Tortugas Website.
Finally, I'll give you guys the biggest news I've given in a while... but just the smallest piece of it.
Let's start with a quote shall we?
Michael Crichton - Eaters of the dead
 Heather's old friends = my new friends |
 Look at all the food |
Christmas went well, and we were suddenly into the Holiday Party Season. Heather has a huge support system, her friends are her real family, and they all LOVE to eat - and drink. Poor me, I have to put up with this (that is sarcasm) and our forays into the restaurants of Kansas City (the forays are many and rewarding) all of this, while trying to lose weight.... Sheesh!
Here is my exercise regime: in theory.
Each day the first thing I do is go to the elliptical Cross-trainer... 30 minutes at level 8 or nine burns up better than 500 calories and works up a good sweat, I usually prefer to listen to my MP3 player... unless there is something scandalous on the overhead TV (whether that scandal is Fox News, or VH1... who cares?) then since my goal at this time is weight loss, I do high rep / medium weight (I'll change this once I get to Phoenix. Riki, my workout guru says you have to change-up every two months or so.)
I'm theoretically on a four day schedule, and try to make it five days a week... and usually fail.
Day one I do biceps and triceps... Riki taught me a few free-weight exercises, but since I'm currently using low -weight loads... that means the only weights in amounts I need are small, and neon colored... so for now it is Machines Only (Nautilus etc)
I try to do three machines per group I am working and three abdomen machines as well.
Day two: Legs... even when we're not performing, it is always best to do your legs early in the week. If you ever see us limping, or grimacing on stage - it's because we have forgotten that golden rule!
Day Three: Chest and Back
Day four: Shoulders...
Again I use only machines, and three different machines per muscle group... sometimes more. I also (again) do at least three abs each day.
Finally after all of that is done, I return to the Cardio Area, and do 45 minutes, high speed on the stationary bike. This is my time to read USA today, and listen to rap music (really!) and some other cool stuff as well... I work up a second really good sweat, and home I go.
Now, I cheat... a little. I always manage three days, rarely four, almost never five (but those are my intentions). I am currently doing three sets of 12... and push until I can't make the last set. With all of the Abs stuff, it is three sets of 15... but sometimes I cheat on a few.
All of this so I can fit in those damned tights.
I have lost five pounds... and feel things tightening back up. It's been hard. This little Asian girl can really cook, and really eat (how does she stay so small?)
And there is (of course) the whole problem of 'Happy Fat'.
I had an ex girlfriend who liked to say there were two kinds of fat a person can put on:
Sad Fat and Happy Fat.
Happy fat: you're enjoying life, enjoying your surroundings, and you're eating and drinking with gusto, and enthusiasm... when you are happy, (and especially when you are in love) you tend to put on weight.
Then there is 'Sad Fat': like after a break-up... all you do is mope, and eat junk food, drown your sorrows in booze and Twinkies...
I'm suffering from a little happy fat right now. Actually, most of the weight I am currently carrying is actually stress and Palooza related... but being so happy, and enjoying my situation so much does make it a bit harder to trim down.
Heather's best friends in KC are Bob and Ann... what wonderful people. I promised Heather long ago to do my best to make her New Year's swell. She has had some bad breaks the past few years - and some bummer NYE's.
Fortunately the aforementioned Bob and Ann decided to host the shindig at their house this year. They invited most of Heather's old friends, and some old acquaintances as well... maybe 20 people, loads of food... everyone brought some wonderful, fattening treat. The butter cake nearly killed me, and I ate WAAAAAAY to many "little smokies." Since Ann is a photographer, she handed out her camera, and everyone took turns playing 'Fashion-Photographer' I brought my new digital as well... so there are some good shots... and it added a whole new element to the event.
 Party at a photo's house |
 The girl I kissed on New Year's Eve |
 T-R-O-U-B-L-E |
But I had to take a nap before the night ended...
Another quote:
Michael Crichton - Eaters of the dead
 Birthday Bob |
 It's a Monkey Cake! |
 Scuba Steve |
I invited all of her friends, we had a cake (we almost had two)... for years Bob has accused Heather of being a monkey... which always brings delighted squeals of denial from my distinctly non-monkey-like honey... so of course the cake reflected the game as well.
All of her best friends were there... including Tonya. Heather is of Korean Descent, Tonya is of Iranian... Oh my god, I am partying with the "Axis of Evil"!
 Helping pick out scuba gear |
 Scuba Ronn |
 Scuba Heather |
The scuba class itself went well, it cost more than it was supposed to (it always does) but we had fun, and Heather is a natural...
I have to admit, it was a little selfish of me to have gotten her this gift... I am (partially) doing it so I have someone to dive with... but she's very excited and seems to love it... we're already talking about vacations just to dive.
Either way she'll have to finish her qualifications in warmer water, warmer weather... I have already made arrangements with the guy who certified me, so spring in Florida... we're getting wet!
Did I mention that Ann is a photographer? And quite an amazing artist as well. She made me this amazing gift for Christmas... in the style of old pulp fiction covers, She took the original Photo of Heather, and took (most) of the text from actual old-style titles... wow!
There's more: she also insisted that Heather and I do a photo shoot... I haven't seen all of the photos yet, but they may be the best damn photos I have ever seen of myself. We meant to get her to shoot us Tortugas last year during Minnesota... but ran out of time. After the boys see the magic she has wrought, they'll definitely clamor to have her do them as well. (And you guys should too!)
I'll have the photos from Heather-n-my shoot soon, and will post some here, or the ones we'll let you see... but Golly she's (Ann, and for that matter Heather) is amazing.
 Click for full-size photo Compliments of Ann Brown |
I think that about wraps things up for this month, except for a few more things:
I love Asians, so of course folks comically describe me as having "Yellow Fever."
This caused me to think of some other "afflictions":
Yellow Fever -> Asians
Scarlet Fever -> Redheads
Jungle Fever or Black Plague -> Black girls
I know that this is a bit shorter and mostly centered around Heather... but right now, to be honest; so am I. I've been home and to the gym a lot... a few movies, and mostly just hanging out with the coolest girl I ever met.
Which brings us to the big news: I just bought, and picked up Heather's engagement ring.
There's more, so much more going on... but that will have to wait until the next journal.
It's funny, folks have been congratulating me about her, (thank you very much) and seem to be following her life as much as mine.
The ring thing may seem sudden to you folks (I haven't given it to her yet... there's more to that story too... heheh) but this is exactly what is supposed to be happening, and when.
We're not engaged yet... (heheheh) so you'll just have to keep your memberships current to see how this plays out.
Heather has already lined-up a job "on circuit" which may turn into something spectacular... so wish her luck.
Next month we'll cover her first road trip, Valentine's in Vegas (and no, we're not getting hitched there... I promise) (mostly) (kind of)
So there ya go for now!
