20 Something in LA LA land...

Letter to my fellow gym-goers.

Hey guys,

Isn't it fun that we all go to the same gym here in LA almost everyday?  Isn't it just great that we care about our fitness and cholesterol and appearance?  I know.  It is!

But since we see eachother almost every.single.day and that means we're kinda like friends now, I thought I would just write you guys a letter to let you know how I really feel.

* First of all - the talking.  I totally feel you - you're popular!  I GET IT.  Does that mean I need to hear your cell phone ring 16 times in the course of 30 minutes on the treadmill RIGHT NEXT TO ME??? No.  Sure, if your kid is having an emergency or say you may get fired from your job if you don't take it?  Well then fine.  But if I hear one more goddamn conversation about Dancing with The Stars and "HA HA" and "OMG!!!" and "FUCK YOU you are SO FUNNY!!!" when I am focused on my run?  Not so cool.  See, there's a problem when my "Barbie Girl" is on the loudest setting on my iPod and I can still hear you talk about Tila Tequila.  ON YOUR CELL.

* Next, the smells.  I love smells - you know, of the pumpkin pie, rose, and Marc Jacobs variety but B.O.??  NOT SO MUCH.  Friends - put on some deodorant!  It can't be that hard - wake up, brush teeth, put on deodorant!  Also, please do not eat copious amounts of garlic or drink insane amounts of tequila the night before either.  Because really?  I don't like working out at a restaurant / bar.

* Your clothes.  I'm ALL about wearing whatever you want to the gym - I really am.  Different clothes are more conducive to different people's bodies and workout styles but ladies?  Going to the gym is NOT an audition for the Bachelor.  I promise you.  You don't need to dress that skimpy, I mean, shorts should be at least 5 inches long, right?  I love ya, but I really really don't need to see your Britneys in front of me in spin class.  And men?  Tighter is NOT better.

* Lastly, the sounds.  (I know I'm being a little crazy on this one but go with it)  Please bring a tissue if you need to consistently remove snot from your nose as you work out.  I don't need to hear it every single time you snort, sniff, and cough.  Also, the grunting.  Really?  Seriously?

Like I said before, I LOVE working out all the time too.  If you could just make these slight changes in your "routine", it would be greatly appreciated :)

XOXO,
DG

Sidenote:  I just had seriously the most disgusting experience and had to share.  As I was driving out of the Starbucks parking lot this morning, a man in a GORGEOUS mercedes almost hit my car.  Luckily I was paying attention, because he had no clue what he was doing... as he was looking down straight into the most disgusting SMUT magazine.  (Did he not realize that I have an SUV and can look down into his car and see everything???)  This was girl on girl stuff, with dildos and close ups of the lower regions, and the man was blatantly flipping through the mag as he would be in the privacy of his bedroom. Plus, he was doing it while driving way below the speed limit and in two lines.  Worst part?  He had a wedding ring on.   Just had to share.

In a routine

I've been waking up every morning at 7:30 am so that I can get to the gym for about an hour before work.  Last night as I was going to bed, I decided I needed some more sleep so I set my alarm at 8:15 and would "take the day off" from working out today. 

So what happens?  7:29 am on the dot I open my eyes.  And then start to think of all the things I need to do today at work and then next thing I know, I'm awake!

I guess I'll just enjoy this morning and watch GMA and maybe lift some weights in front of the TV.

Do you guys watch Biggest Loser?  C and I do and even though it's the most OVERPRODUCED show on TV (really? you need 45 minutes for the goddamn weigh-in EVERY WEEK???), we LOVE watching the end part, where they show you how much weight the last person who got kicked off has lost so far.  Because the people who get kicked off also compete for a smaller prize at the finale.  Every time we watch it we both are almost shocked because it's so amazing that these people who have been in a routine of eating whatever they want, whenever they want, and NEVER working out, have completely turned their lives around.  I just think it's awesome.

SPEAKING of eating, here is the recipe for the FANTABULOUS TURKEY CHILI that everyone who has tried it has fallen in love with.  And its perfect for a cold October night!

1.25 lb package of lean or extra lean ground turkey
1 small yellow onion
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
1.5 cups chopped celery
1 can of corn
1 can of red kidney beans (drained)
1 (14 oz) can of diced tomatoes (undrained)
1 (8 oz) can of tomato paste
1 cup of water

In a large pot, heat some olive oil and brown turkey and onions for about 5- 6 minutes until turkey is no longer pink.  Season with salt.

Take turkey and onions out without removing the juices in the pot. Keep aside in a separate plate.

Chop up celery and bell peppers and begin to cook them in the pot over high heat to soften them.  About another 5 minutes.

Throw in corn and kidney beans and mix together.

Add can of diced tomatoes without draining.  Keep stirring so juices immerse the whole pot. 

Add can of tomato sauce.   Also approx 1 cup of water so  chili doesn't get too thick. 

When chili becomes fairly warm, lower heat and put turkey and onions back into the pot.

Season however you like (I used salt - you'll definitely need some of that, pepper, cayenne pepper - I like things spicy, a little tobasco, chili powder).  If you like it a bit sweet you can add brown sugar.

Keep stirring every few minutes but let it simmer UNCOVERED for about twenty more minutes.

Serve with TONS of yummy warm bread, sour cream, cheese, and whatever else you like.

IT IS SO YUMMY!!!  If you try it, let me know how you liked it! :)

(PS That was the first recipe I have ever created and then written on my own so I hope you guys don't think it was too lame and amateur)

I feel old

Two nights ago, as C and I were watching a double header of Big Brother, my knees started to hurt.  Out of nowhere.  It's not like I had exercised recently - actually, I haven't since Friday - and while we were in Chicago, the only exercising I did was lifting my glass of wine or my pizza to my mouth.

It was a strange pain, but I figured I would go to bed and it would get better.  I woke up yesterday because of the pain at 7 am.  I immediately called my mom who was going to her physical therapist, and asked her what  I should do.  I ended up joining her at her physical therapist's office, getting my knees iced, and then joining her at her podiatrists office to get advice.

A little dramatic maybe?  Well, the thing is, I like my body to work.  For various reasons, of course. One being that I LOVE to workout.  I've mentioned that before.  To me, working out provides sanity, regularity, strength, pride, a sense of accomplishment.  All kinds of things.  Even if its a walk on the treadmill, I would rather do that then sit home.  Not that I don't take pleasure in a vacation from working out.  In fact, when I know I'm going on a trip to Chicago, I enjoy the idea of spending my time consuming calories rather than burning them - BUT I like to know that the day after I get home I will once again resume my routine.

Another wierd thing about me is that I am a bit of a hypochondriac.  Undiagnosed but I know I am.  If I feel a back pain, I think tumor.  If I have a recurring headache, I think brain cancer.  If I feel a chest pain, well, you get where I'm going.  When I used to go to therapy to deal with some stuff, I told her this and she said that a lot of people feel this way because they are just very "in tune" with the way that their body feels.  She said that many people have pains all the time but don't really pay attention or realize it.  I feel everything.  I will say though for the record, I have gotten a LOT better. 

Anyway, with my knees hurting, I was left not being able to workout after a long eating trip, and I was very very aware of it - every single step in fact.  Needless to say, yesterday was a bit of a tough one.

However, I kept myself really busy since I know that I start work on Monday and I only have a couple of days to get all of my "summer projects" done that I was too lazy to do for two months.  Also, my best friend is having her bridal shower on Sunday so there is a little planning for that.  And last night, I had a long overdue dinner with a friend of mine which was so much fun. We went to this great restaurant where you can order smores as a dessert and literally, we had chocolate everywhere at one point and COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING.  We were sitting there, in the middle of a loud restaurant, laughing our asses off like hyenas, with chocolate on every single finger, and I hadn't felt that happy in a really long time.

And today? My knees feel better.

Achy shaky legs

This morning I decided to switch up my workout routine and go hiking at the famous Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills.  I used to live right at the entrance for three years so I know the hike well, although I can appreciate it a lot more now that I don't leave my apartment and smell dog urine and poop immediately (that's not a joke).  I get there, find a parking spot (AH-MAZING) and start to hike.  It was gorgeous - you get the most BEAUTIFUL views of LA without the smog and noise... very serene.  I listened to my iPod, thought at moments I was gonna pass out, and made it back in a little over 45 minutes.  Not too bad.  Except my legs are literally SHAKING... like I'm nervous and my knees are gonna go out.  This is a very strange sensation to me as I work out all of the time - run, stairmaster, eliptical, lunges - you name it, I do it.  Strange but I kinda like it...

Last night I went out with one of my bosses to a networking party that one of the networks we work with threw.  I wasn't drinking (come on, I need like one day off) and I wasn't eating (although those mini pizzas and cheese plates looked damn good) because C had dinner waiting for me at home (good boy).  I prepared myself for the ultimate faking you'll see.  I mean we all work in Hollywood so I guess its par for the course.  Typical conversation:

"So what are you working on?"
"Right now, we're on a bit of a break but we have some really exciting..."
"WELL, I just got this fabulous project that everyone was talking about blah, blah, blah, blah!"

A giant WHO-CARES!!!

But I looked really cute - I just bought this adorable white and green dress which I will take a picture of and post eventually cause it's too darn cute not too.  So I actually made some contacts just off my dress - love that!

And now I'm about to go shopping at the new Steve & Barry's (I've never been) where they carry Sarah Jessica Parker's new line "Bitten".  I've obviously been watching too much SATC at 11pm every night ;)

UPDATE: Here is the dress but I took the picture off my camera phone so its a bit fuzzy...

I may need a TuTu...

I'll start by saying that I love to workout.  I know, I know, sounds INSANE but it's actually true!  Well, I should rephrase it by saying that I don't particularly like waking up, putting my workout gear (who am I kidding? gear? more like old navy sweats) on and getting in my car to drive to the gym, but nothing (almost nothing) beats the feeling that I get when I am done.  Sometimes, its so good I feel like screaming out on to the street "I WORKED OUT AND YOU DIDN'T!!! HA!!".  Except I'm not that mean :)

Working in television, at least my particular job, means that you are basically freelance and are hired project by project. Every year, around the end of April, our office goes on a "hiatus", where we are off anywhere from 2-4 months.  Last year during the hiatus, I decided to get a short job on another project to keep myself busy (and employed).

This year, for whatever god-forsaken reason, I had no interest in looking for other employment.  Why?  Because by the end of April, I felt like I NEEDED the vacay.  Work had been so crazy and I just wanted and looked forward to the break.  Um, big mistake... hello???

Sure, I LOVED my trip to Hawaii with my boyfriend C (more details on him in another post) and New York was so much fun over Memorial Day weekend... but the rest of my time has been spent watching tv, shopping (very, very bad for an unemployed girl), getting manis and pedis, reading books, etc... Sure its all fine and dandy but my personality LOVES to be busy. LOVES to multi-task!  LOVES to pick up phones and write appointments down in her calendar!  SO all the free time, me no likey...

What has saved me partially from complete boredom, depression, and going insane-dom?  Working out, moving, sweating... and yesterday, I attempted the long-awaited first ballet class.  I shouldn't bore you with the hilarious details of how stupid I looked in every position (don't even ask about  the grand plie) but when I drove home last night, I felt GREAT.  It's amazing what a little movement can do for you - or me.