Gym crazy. . .

I've had more than one request to post 'before/after' shots from The Challenge. I hesitated to do so only because I am still a work in progress. Please keep that in mind when you look at the 'after' photo. Since the end of the official Challenge I have lost another 8 lbs., which puts me at 32 lbs. total since February. I have a goal of 20 more before year's end. I am well on my way. . .



Now, if I could only talk Patti into posting her before/afters. She's seriously amazing!

In the words of Maya Angelou. . .

When I say "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I am saved."
I'm whispering "I get lost"
That is why I chose this way.


When I say "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
And need someone to be my guide.


When I say "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I am weak
And pray for strength to carry on.


When I say "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And cannot ever pay the debt.


When I say "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are too visible
But God believes I'm worth it.


When I say "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
Which is why I seek HIS name.


When I say "I am a Christian"
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority
I only know I'm loved.

Guilty as charged. . .

I tried, really I did.

The pull was just too great. And the guilt crept in shortly after the second day. It was literally all I could think about. And every time I sat down to do something mundane (grade papers, check Facebook), the little voice in my head mocked me.

So today I gave in. It would have been day four, but my body couldn't take it. I've officially developed a habit.

The gym is oddly quiet on Sundays, as I've recently discovered, and it felt completely different to be there because I 'wanted to' and not because I 'had to'. Our final weigh-in was last Thursday, and I'd taken a few days off to relax and bask in the glory of a hard three months. Walking through the doors this afternoon of my own volition and not as part of The Challenge was a liberating feeling. Don't get me wrong, having the push of the contest at my back has been incredibly motivating and I certainly wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for that blessing. But working out today, well, it just seemed less stressful even though the workout was just as difficult as it had always been.

* * *

The Challenge is officially over. Results will be announced on Thursday. I am infinitely proud of my Top 5 status, and will be happy wherever I place. I never dreamed I would have made it this far. I've been spending a lot of hours thinking back on the journey: the good, the bad, and the ugly. There have been many, many highlights and low lights throughout these past months. Here are just a few of the things I remember most:

* The day I met the Hanford team in the parking lot of Blockbuster, driving to the KDUV studio, and thinking that we'd left Jennifer behind.

* Eating our "last supper" after our informational meeting, In-n-Out Burgers (I haven't had one since)

* Meeting Mike and thinking he was way too young to be our trainer.

* Zumba.

* Our first team workout, and crying because I couldn't skip rope very well (and still can't).

* Hillary's stepping down so that Jennifer could stay on the team.

* Mike-isms: "lower your butt", "five more", "breathe", "failure is not an option".

* My radio interview with Shannon Steele.

* Patti's "dance" across the pool and laughing so hard we nearly drowned.

* Four-hour workouts before weigh-in.

* Mike's feeble attempt to get me to run through the city of Hanford.

* Retiring some of my old clothes.

* Learning to love broccoli, brown rice, chicken, and protein shakes (okay, not truly loving them, but "adjusting").

* Learning to prioritize my life.

* Realizing that God does answer all types of prayers (even the "just five more reps" variety).

* Seeing my before/after pictures.

There was a certain level of sadness when I left the gym after weigh-in, and it's continued through the weekend. There's a lyric from Hillsong that pretty much sums it up for me:

"I will never be the same again,
I can never return, I've closed the door.
I will walk apart, I'll run the race
And I will never be the same again."

I know that I've said this before and I'll say it again. I am ETERNALLY thankful to KDUV, to Trainer Mike, to my teammates (especially Patti and Jenn who are THE BEST cheerleaders ever!), and all my friends and family who have supported and prayed for me while I've been on this journey. May your cup runneth over with blessing after blessing.

The journey's only just begun. . .I'll keep you posted.

From the mouths of babes. . .

I stole the survey from a friend's Facebook page. She asked her five year old the same questions. I decided to turn it into a morning assignment at school last week. The answers come from a class of 19 third-graders. How they view me is, at times, eye-opening.

1. What is something Miss Montoya always says to you?
"Brainiac, Fart-smeller, Correctamundo" ('fart-smeller' came from my father, instead of 'smart feller')

2. What makes Miss Montoya happy?
"When we are all being quiet" (this was a common answer--they know me all too well)

3. What makes Miss Montoya sad?
"When Yadira is gone" (true. . .she moved before any of us had a chance to say 'good-bye')

4. How does Miss Montoya make you laugh?
"When she makes a mistake" (thanks, kid)

5. What did Miss Montoya like to do as a child?
"Play outside" (no Wii, Xbox, or Nintendos back then--shocking!)

6. How old is Miss Montoya?
"Somewhere between 21-51" (must be the 'man hands')

7. How tall is Miss Montoya?
"Somewhere between 2 yards-10 feet" (guess I need to revisit the measurement unit)

8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV?
"She likes to watch OPRA" (not really, but I like the way she spelled it)

9. What does Miss Montoya do when you're not around?
"She marks you apsent" (sic) (that's one way to look at it)

10. If Miss Montoya becomes famous, what will it be for?
"Being a great teacher" (of course)

11. What is Miss Montoya really good at?
"Teaching" (go figure)

12. What is Miss Montoya not very good at?
"Remembering" (hey, I'm nearly "51", what do you expect)

13. What does Miss Montoya do for her job?
"Third grade teacher" (that was very specific, good job)

14. What is Miss Montoya's favorite food?
"Sushi and spaghetti" (though not at the same time)

15. What makes Miss Montoya proud of you?
"To never give up" (really, nothing does make me prouder)

16. If Miss Montoya were a cartoon character, who would she be?
"Miss Puff" (apparently I don't watch enough Sponge Bob to know who that is)

17. What kinds of things do you work on with Miss Montoya?
"A lot of math" (apparently not enough if we're having "age/height" issues)

18. How are you and Miss Montoya the same?
"We go to the same church" (must have been the Pastor's son)

19. How are you and Miss Montoya different?
"Miss Montoya's smarter" (A+ for that kid)

20. How do you know Miss Montoya likes you?
"Because she likes everybody" (for the most part, my dear, for the most part)

Man hands. . .

I have an evil awful habit. I'm an avid nail biter. No bad tasting polish nor fake acrylic can keep me from pick, pick, picking at them. It's a horrible vice that I've had since I was a child. At 14, when the orthodontist put my braces on, my mom was convinced that I'd not be able to continue to chew on my hands. But folks, where there's a will there's a way, and soon I'd learned how to maneuver around all that metal. Occasionally, I'll find myself in the nail salon having falsies put on for one special occasion or another. And for a week (minimally) my natural nails will have an opportunity to thrive, that is, until, I'm able to see them growing under the acrylic, at which time I will pick at them from underneath.

It's sad, I know. I definitely need an intervention.

I'm fairly confident in the fact that I don't really look my full 42 years of age. I suppose it's partly due to my freckles, and partly due to my attitude. However, if you were to look at my hands, especially lately, you might think I was much older.

Since continuing The Challenge, I've recently noticed the development of callouses on the palms of my hands. Apparently they've been there for a while, just never paid much attention. All this weight-lifting has given me what I call "man hands." I showed them to Trainer Mike last night. The conversation went down something like this:

Me: Look, I've got man hands!

TM: So?

Me: It's gross!

TM: I've got them too.

Me: But you're a man!

TM: (shrugs his shoulders) Buy some gloves.

Apparently my dilemma was lost on him.

Oh, and I'm not ready to buy 'gloves'. Gloves are for serious lifters, and while I'm completely serious about this Challenge, I'm not quite athletic enough to wear weight-lifting gloves. Maybe when I make it to "buff and toned" status then I'll invest in the gloves.

Until then, please, don't look at my hands. You might consider that I'm lying about my age. . .

I just can't help it. . .

Mike once mentioned that his "vibe" on me was that I was the "happy" team member, always smiling and cracking jokes (four years working for Disney will do that to a person). He also told me that he didn't want to see me smiling anymore. "Put on your game face," he said. He was trying to get me to buckle down because, while my body fat/inches were coming down, I wasn't seeing the drop in pounds that he thought I should have been.

Well I hate to tell you, but the smiling hasn't ceased, especially after today's weigh-in. I actually don't know all the stats yet (they have to work out the numbers still), but I do know that I pulled off my best personal weight-loss since the beginning of the challenge. And while the numbers aren't staggering, my students would probably tell you that I was in one of the best moods I've been in since Christmas Break.

As you've read from the others, nothing is a guarantee when it comes to elimination weigh-ins. Nobody knows how the numbers will come out, or what criteria they'll use for this week's cut, but just knowing that I've done all that I could, worked as hard as my body would let me, and continued to garner substantial results. . .well, in the end that's the prize.

And I just can't stop smiling about it. . .

If You Give a Slice to Cyndi. . .

I am craving pizza.

I am craving a spicy, cheesy, meaty piece of Me & Ed's Italiano pizza.

But I know that if I have a large slice of spicy, cheesy, meaty Me & Ed's Italiano pizza, chances are I'll want jalapenos to sprinkle on top of it.

And if I have jalapenos on top of it, I'll probably want a side of ranch to offset the heat from the peppers.

Of course, if the ranch doesn't quench the fire from the jalapenos, I'll more than likely order a beer to cool my tongue.

And if I order a beer, well that will remind me that I need to stop at the market because I'll want to snack on peanuts while I drink.

While I'm eating my peanuts and drinking my beer, I'll be reminded of going to my friend's kid's Little League game.

At the Little League game I'll be invited to watch the team video at the local pizza joint.

And, if I'm at the local pizza joint, chances are I'm going to want a large piece of spicy, cheesy, meaty Italiano pizza.

Hit me with your best shot. . .

Well, it goes without saying that the highlight of this Challenge officially took place during Saturday's team training. Mike, in the process of setting up the gym for our hour-long session, brought in a pair of boxing gloves (mwah ha ha ha). You can imagine the wringing of hands and the smiles on faces as we learned that he'd be holding the mitts while we had the chance to hit him. Oh happy day! I think he was ready for that reaction, for sure. Not that any of us want to do him true harm, but after the not-so-secret joy he gets out of torturing us during our workouts, well, we were feeling pretty empowered. And, I'd like to say that none of us held back. To his credit, Mike's always a good sport and I'm convinced that he's really going to miss us once this whole contest is over. We are, I'm sure, his weekly comic relief.

It actually was a fantastic team day, though very difficult, ranking up there with the pain we felt after our very first group session. I can't speak for the others, but getting out of bed this morning was somewhat painful.

My boyfriend (and biggest cheerleader) and I had an opportunity to spend a little time together last night. One of the most important things that's taken a back burner to this challenge has been my relationship, and while we speak to each other daily, free time during the week is at an all-time minimum between his work, my work, and the gym. Over our meal at Tahoe Joe's, we thought it would be a good idea to share with the public what goes down when you are trying to order something healthy and low-fat. Here's what I'd like to have ordered, in my past life. The steak and green beans probably would have been alright, but the mashers and bread (with butter)? Well, let's just say I was thankful for our waiter's accommodating nature.

Just an FYI, I chose the grilled salmon, which was supposed to come with a baked potato, but I opted for double vegetables instead. Yummy!! And I didn't feel like I was missing out on a thing.

We also managed to squeeze in a little exercise after the meal, roaming around the closed Toyota dealership in search of a new truck for my boyfriend. I've decided that a closed dealership is the best kind of dealership to visit for car browsing. Of course, it's a little hard on for the test driving, though not entirely impossible.

Yea, don't get any ideas. . .

Alan knows I love these. . .

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER SOMEONE
My mother's favorite doll, apparently. Never heard of a Cyndi doll myself.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Oh gosh, last Saturday after team training. Today was so much better.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I can read it. It's all good.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Deli turkey.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Twenty, and they change every August. Doesn't get better than that.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Of course, I'm pretty awesome if I do say so myself.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Uh, no.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Nope, and I missed a perfectly good camping trip because of that surgery. Not that I'm bitter about it or anything. . .

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Probably, but a better question would be 'could I'.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Grape Nuts, which according to some people is like eating gravel.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Not usually. I'm still a huge fan of my Van's slip-ons. Best shoe evah!

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Baskin Robbin's Peanut Butter Chocolate, hands down.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Eyes and smile.

15. RED OR PINK?
Red.

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I'm a HUGE procrastinator.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Mom and dad.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
Meh, if they're so inclined.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Black and socks.

20. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY CAR, WHAT KIND AND COLOR WOULD IT BE?
Mini cooper.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Some reality show on E (in the other room).

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Cornflower blue.

23. FAVORITE SMELL(S)?
Coffee.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My Michael.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Alan? Oh yea, he's a cutie patootie.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Football.

27. HAIR COLOR?
Dark Brown

28. EYE COLOR?
Hazel

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Nope

30. FAVORITE FOOD(S)?
Sushi!

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Comedies.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Coroline.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Army green.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Both.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Rootbeer floats.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Maybe someone from The Challenge.

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Alan. He's been here and done this.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Jason and the Money Tree (with my kids).

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Dell.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Nada, I was in Kingsburg.

42. FAVORITE SOUND(S)
The 2:30 bell.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Ireland.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I've got lots of talents, but I'm not sure how special they are.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Fort Campbell, KY.

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK
Yours.

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
School.

49. IS THE CUP HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY?
Always half full.

50. IF YOU COULD SIT DOWN TO DINNER WITH FIVE PEOPLE, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
My family. All at the same time.

Death by cardio. . .

So, it's always been my belief that Mike lays awake at night thinking of ways to torture us, and tonight I learned it to be true.

As you may know, cardio has never been my forte (along with skipping rope AND running--both cardio) especially when it comes to the treadmill, due to excruciating shin splints that always seem to kick in after the first 15 minutes. Since this discovery, Mike has made every effort to find something that I'm successful at and that gets my heart rate above 160. Well, tonight he found it. It's called a Precor (sp?), otherwise known as an elliptical machine, and while it's easy on the shins it definitely kicked my proverbial butt into super drive. Mike had me doing the "circuit" and in no time I was burnin' up. Every so often he'd say, "On a scale of 1-to-10 how much pain are you in?" And I'd always say "10", and he'd always say "good" and smile. I mentioned that he was enjoying my pain just a little too much, to which he agreed. "That's my job" as he says. And I suppose it is.

Just as an aside, and I'm putting this in print to hold him to it, he did say that if I kept my cardio up for 50 minutes tonight that he'd actually commit to renting "The Princess Bride" (an ongoing joke since the beginning of the challenge). I'm thinking that if I make it past tomorrow's elimination he'd better become the proud owner of that movie. He owes me.

Speaking of the weigh in. . .I'm not sure if the work I've done in two weeks is as substantial as the first four, but I still feel good, my pants are still fitting more loosely, and I'm still dedicated to the process. The gratitude I feel about this whole experience is immeasurable. I have been, and continue to be, truly blessed.

Good morning Miss Montoya. This is your wake up call. . .

So today was my do-over. I managed a late session in the gym, around 6:00 PM, concentrating on my upper body workout. I put everything I could into each exercise and was feeling pretty good about myself. Much better than yesterday, in fact. I've discovered that I like Sundays at In-Shape, mostly because it's very quiet and there's little to no wait for a machine. I ran into Kim at one point, and we chatted a bit. She is someone I really appreciate in this challenge because she comes from an education background and understands the time and pressure constraints of the job. I always know that I can bend her ear if I need to, and for that I am thankful.

I was coming close to the end of my workout and wanted to use a specific machine that was just opening up. A little blond woman was wiping down the equipment as I came over. I pulled off my headphones and asked if she was finished with the machine, to which she said yes. Then, she said something very unexpected and truly wonderful. She said simply that she'd been following me on the radio and that I looked great! I was stunned to say the least, but I did manage to squeak out a 'thank you.' And in that moment I felt an incredible sense of empowerment. She may never know, but her timing was impeccable, and those few words gave me the strength to continue my workout with the same commitment I'd had when I started earlier in the evening.

And the icing on the proverbial cake? When I put my headphones back on to continue my workout, Chris Tomlin's "How Great is Our God" was playing.

Coincidence?

There's no crying in baseball. . .

Or football. Or soccer. Or team-workouts for that matter.

Somehow I didn't get that memo. . .

Today was, what I consider to be, my weakest showing for a team workout thus far. First, it was odd without Hillary. I couldn't help but feel sad about not having her there. Second, there was a lot of running involved. And I'm not a runner. And because I keep saying that "I'm not a runner", my brain has convinced my body that "I'm not a runner." Self-defeatism at it's finest. Mike had us compete 2 against 2 for an extra one-hour training session. Patti and Kim won. I cried because it took me forever to get through 200 jumps with the rope, and then again because it took equally as long to do 50 full sit-ups, even with the team cheering me on. I cried in the locker room after the girls had left, and then again in the car on the way home. It's been a virtual evening of tears.

Sometimes there are days that are "just those kind of days." And today was one of them. But, being the eternal optimist, I choose to focus on the positive. Here's what I know to be true so far in this challenge:

1) God does answer the "just 10 more" prayers (be it reps, minutes, sit-ups, etc.).

2) My underwear fit looser (too much information, probably, but true nonetheless).

3) I can still do more jumps, sit-ups, reps, etc. than when I started a month ago, and I feel stronger everyday.

4) Weight loss and working out is NOT easy. It's just not. And sometimes it's not fun either. But the sense of accomplishment after a good workout outweighs the cons any day.

5) Coordination is not my strength, but that in and of itself keeps me laughing.

6) I CAN do a lot that that I didn't think I could in the beginning. I CAN run despite the fact that I say "I'm not a runner", I CAN spin (thanks to Patti who motivated me to try it, and Mike who sweated it out with us), I CAN eat right (and I don't miss fast food as much as you'd think I would), I CAN do all the exercises Mike throws at me, even if I'm not very pretty doing them, and I CAN manage my time when necessary.

So I don't call it a set-back. It was my own, self-defined "bad showing". And, thanks be to God, tomorrow's another day. I'm looking forward to a "do over."

Tears of a clown. . .

I know it's because I'm premenstrual, but finding out that I'm still in the In-Shape Challenge has brought more tears than joy today.

I drove to work a little late, which is not unusual for me, in order to hear the announcement. I was trying to psych myself up in case they announced my name, repeating over and over that I have the tools I need to continue this journey successfully on my own. My heart literally sank when they announced Jenn's name, and immediately my eyes swelled and I had to catch my breath. I never though my reaction to losing a teammate would have been so dramatic (call me a "queen" if you will). It's just hard to imagine our team without one vital player. Later in the day I received news that Hillary had requested to give up her spot on the team so that Jenn could continue. Again the waterworks started, happy for Jenn but sad to lose Hillary, who's always the one cheering during our workouts. I'm going to miss her bubbly personality each weekend, but I know that she's got access to a great gym at LNAS and that she'll keep with the program right along with the rest of us. Hill, you're with us in spirit. Never give up!!

My commitment to the gym is being tested at the moment. I was in LA for the weekend, attending a Chris Tomlin concert (UH-MAY-ZING!), and I did really well food-wise while I was there. No formal workout, but a lot of walking around the city. It was a whirlwind weekend to say the least. Today's been a day filled with grades and report cards, both of which I'm seriously behind on. Spending five days a week in the gym for the past four weeks is hard on the paperwork when you're a teacher, and I am feeling the crunch. I'm trying hard to breath in and out and not stress, but today will be the third day in a row that I've not been in the gym and I'm starting to freak out a little. I changed into my gym clothes when I got home, with all intentions of spending a couple of hours at In-Shape later in the evening but it just hasn't happened. I'm in between entering grades, updating my Fitday, and blogging. I'm feeling incredibly guilty sitting here, like all the work I've done is going to go out the window in one day. But honestly, I can't do it tonight, and I've got to give myself this time to work.

Now if someone can tell me how to stop feeling guilty. . .

The sun'll come out. . .

Tomorrow's the day. We'll all be weighed and measured once again, and by Monday one of us will be eliminated. I have worked as hard and eaten as well as I could in these last four weeks. I've learned an immeasurable amount of information about fitness and nutrition. If it's meant to be me, then that is God's will. I will continue on the journey I've started, and be very proud of what I've accomplished thus far.

I'd forget my head if it wasn't attached to my shoulders. . .

How could I ever forget to thank the people who have been by my (literal) side through all this drama?! Of course I'm giving the biggest of shout-outs to my teammates: Patti, Hill, Kim, and Jennifer. Thank God we've got each other to moan and groan our way through team workouts. Your support's been invaluable.

And I could never forget trainer Mike, despite the fact that he won't rent The Princess Bride. Thanks for the knowledge, Mike. You're truly a pain in my. . .

Ahhhhh. . .

It doesn't get much better than this. Paul Colman blessed us with his presence last night, playing some of his older and newer tunes and giving one of the most amazing testimonies I've ever heard. Many in the crowd were in tears. It was one of those experiences that makes you think you can conquer the world. And it couldn't have come at a better time. . .

Elimination is this Thursday. I am both nervous and excited about the prospect of getting some hard stats. Mike wouldn't let us weigh in on Saturday stating that he didn't want it to influence our workout at all. I could see his point. So I haven't weighed in a while, but I can feel the difference in my body, and that's what matters right now. Of course, I'm praying that I've done enough to make it through, but I'm completely aware that this journey is not strictly my own.

I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to a whole lot of people: 1) The staff at KDUV, who have continued to talk about and support the members of this challenge. It feels good to know that the simple words we've said have somehow inspired others. 2) My church family, who has seen my "before" picture and still likes me anyways. 3) My close friends, immediate family, and wonderful boyfriend who are also on this journey with me and remind me regularly that I'm still beautiful no matter what the weight. Sometimes it's easy to forget. 4) And finally everyone that I don't know personally but who follow this blog and are obviously easily entertained (haha). I appreciate your attention and hope that somehow I've made the point that if I can do this, anyone can (for reals). May God bless you all!

I've got three solid work-outs before weigh-in. I'm off to #1.

So close, but so far away. . .

Paul Colman (formerly of the Newsboys) is coming to SVCC this Sunday!! This will be the third time I've seen him in the last year, and I am beyond excited to hear him again. I mean, not only is this guy genuinely down to earth (he spent much of his free time with us in the green room during his Christmas show), but he's like uber-talented, and exceptionally inspirational (not to mention easy on the eyes). I'd been kicking myself for missing his Visalia show last week when I learned from one of my students that Paul had decided to hang out in the Valley and bless us with his presence.

Group workout's tomorrow, but ask me if that's what I'm thinking about. . .

Hungry like the wolf. . .

I just ate, and I'm still hungry. My metabolism must be working overtime. I had a relatively healthy, very delicious, Carl's Jr. Charbroiled BBQ Chicken Sandwich. On a honey wheat bun, no less. And I was feeling pretty good about it until I went to the website to get the nutrition information for my Fitday.com journal and noticed that it had 1150mg of sodium!! What!? ELEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY MILLIGRAMS! Yikes!! That's like half my sodium intake for the day. At least. Today has already been the most trying of days and now I can't get this out of my head.

I hit the gym relatively grouchy today. I managed all my workout (lower body and cardio) but didn't have the euphoric feeling that I usually do when I leave the gym. I was in such rare form that I stuck my tongue out at Trainer Mike when he said hello to me. My feisty-ness reared it's ugly head. I sat at dinner with my boyfriend and really started to feel very sad about the possibility of being eliminated next week. I know, in my head, that the big prize of this challenge is not the iPod or the gym membership. Still, for the first time, I've started to question whether or not I'm doing everything I can to be successful at this endeavor. My boyfriend (and all my other wonderful supporters--you know who you are) assures me that I'm on the right track and doing a great job. But in the back of my mind, during my own private 'pity party', I wonder if "a great job" is going to be good enough.

So did I mention that I was hungry?

I didn't make my 1600 calories today and I'm thinking that a protein shake might be in order, but I'm not sure about the time. It's after 8, but if I stay up and work until 10 it will most likely be okay.

Ugh, my brain in not in the mood to process all of this. . .gggrrr.

Would you like fries with that shake?

After an hour of an upper body work, I took my third Zumba class this evening. I was feeling pretty 'noodley' after pull-ups and free weights, but I needed to get some cardio in, and I do so love to salsa.

The hard thing about Zumba is that many of the moves are "sassy" in nature, and while I'm quick to catch on, I must admit that I don't look as smooth as our instructor. Granted, I understand that she's been doing this a lot longer than I, and that she comes from a Latin background, and that she has a super-cute figure that actually looks good doing those moves. I mentioned to my friend Carol tonight that all the rump-shaking painfully reminds me that my body is much like jello. But, that doesn't stop me. I keep my gaze in the mirror to a minimum, concentrate on the steps, and keep my body moving.

Someday, I'll have that jiggle down to a minimum.

You killed my father, prepare to die. . .

I had a silly little conversation with Trainer Mike (TM) today. Among other things, the question of my last name came up. It's Montoya, by the way, and the usual response when I tell people this comes from a line in the movie The Princess Bride. I asked Mike if he'd seen it, and he pretty much looked at me like I was crazy (which isn't so uncommon). And then I realized that he might not have even been born when that movie came out (it was the 80's, ya know). Now, I'd heard that infamous line many, many times before I was actually convinced to see the movie. And I have more guy friends, than girls, who are fans, which leads me to believe that TPB should not be categorized as a "chick flick". True? At any rate, I tried my best to convince TM that he should actually rent the movie now. That there was something in it for both him and his girlfriend to enjoy. And that seeing it, would give him a new appreciation for my name. I don't think he bought it.

I was super unmotivated to go to the gym today. I'd been in meetings all morning and had become sluggish just sitting around. When my training time came I was pretty convinced that I was not going to be able to see my full workout through. After a couple minutes of burnin' up my shins on the treadmill (this has been an ongoing issue), Mike switched me to the rowing machine ("same purpose, less stress on the legs"), and later explained my lower body workout for the week. I'd somehow messed up my cycle of workouts, so I didn't get to actually do the new exercises to my full potential, but I did manage a solid core workout and I'm anticipating my 6-pack sometime in the next 6-8 months ('set the bar high' I always say).

Funny how things work. Getting through the front door seems to be 1/2 the battle. Once I'm in, I'm completely committed, and somehow God blesses me with the energy that I need to put in a good session.

As it states in Isaiah 41:10. . .

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Sometimes it's so accurate it's scary.

But on your shoulders, I can see. . .

It's a really good thing that I'm not being filmed during this challenge because, everyday there are some things that are so comical that I'd be completely embarrassed for anyone (other than my teammates) to see. For example, it's now apparent that I do not jump rope well. Get me a hula hoop and I'm all over it, but a jump rope? I tried to blame it on the extra long rope, but I'm pretty sure that didn't fly. I'm also not a great hopper. Try jumping from a standing position onto a 6-12 inch platform. It doesn't sound like much, but you have to remember that 1) I'm vertically challenged, 2) I'm gravitationally challenged, and 3) I'm a klutz. So, it took me a good 10-15 seconds of concentration to actually hoist my butt up onto the step. And we were supposed to do it more than once. Ay dios mio! Seriously, how Mike keeps a straight face sometimes is a mystery to me.

Speaking of trainer Mike. I had to chuckle this evening during our "pinch" test. Poor young guy. Having to squeeze me, a woman old enough to be his mother, in a variety of places must somewhat disconcerting. He asked how I felt about it. I didn't have to guts to tell him that it was the highlight of my day. I mean, how often are 22 year old trainer hands on me these days, really? I know, I know. There's the line, and here's me crossing it.

Aside from the comedy of it all, I did learn a couple of things today. First, the pounds are slow to come off, but the fat seems to be melting quicker. This is difficult to understand and handle, mostly because our first elimination weigh-in is about a week and a half away. I'm just trying to sponge as much off of Mike as I can in case I happen to be the first one out. Second, Fitday.com is my new best friend. I've been having such a difficult time making the calories (1600 a day) and understanding what I should be eating and when. Fitday has really shed some light on my daily menu, giving me a visual representation of my carb/fat/protein ratios. The fat thing I've got under control. Now I've got to work on lowering my carbs and increasing my protein.

There's a song in my head that's been keeping my focused for the past couple of days. It's by Francesca Battistelli. Next time you hear it, turn up the volume and make a joyful noise.

"‘Cause I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I'm so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me. . ."

The last temptation. . .

I contemplated telling my students about the Challenge before our Valentine's Day celebration today. V-day is the 2nd biggest candy/sweet holiday in my classroom, only second to Christmas (we don't do much for Halloween due to various religious beliefs). I wanted to ask that they only bring their teacher cards and not candy, but another colleague talked me out of it stating that as 3rd graders they may not understand. So I continued the day as usual with the piles of cookies, candy, and cupcakes (we had 3 birthdays today as well). It's flattering to see how excited the kids get when they hand you the big box of Brach's chocolates, not knowing that years of chocolates (among other things) have put you in the shape that you're in. And to an 8 year old, it doesn't register. I am the most beautiful princess of a teacher in most of their eyes, overweight or not (one of the many perks of teaching).

So of course, I was saddled at the end of the day with a heap of fattening, delicious, tempting goodies, enough to last at least a week (in my former life), and the swirling thoughts of what I might do with all my loot. I considered putting it all in the staff room, for the other teachers, but thought better of it as many of them are participating in our own site weight-loss challenge. I didn't want to sabotage anyone's progress as I know first hand how hard it is to maintain this lifestyle. So I bagged it all up and hauled it to my Friday evening small group fellowship/bible study where I knew there would be a number of energetic kids who would be more than willing to divvy up the goods. Nothing better than sugaring up another friend's children for a couple of days. . .

But, I do have a confession to make. There is one treat that I did not part with. One of the kids brought a small silver mailbox (the kind with the red flag on the side) filled with Hershey's Miniatures--Mr. Goodbar, Crackle, Special Dark--all of my favorites. I'm not sure why I didn't pack it up. I haven't eaten any of them, I don't plan on eating any of them, but somewhere in the back of my mind they have become my "in case of emergency, break glass" treats. I'm curious as to why I might do that to myself, and I've not yet truly analyzed it all. But it does seem a little crazy. Don't cha think?

Put on your big girl panties. . .

Okay, so I'm sick. I've managed to catch some sort of micro-organism in the petri dish that is my classroom. No amount of Zicam, vitamin C, Airborne, nor Nyquil has helped much. And believe me when I say that I've tried them all. So, I'm sniffing my way through my workouts and my work week.

I had my second individual training session with Mike on Tuesday. He could tell by my "sultry" voice that I wasn't at 100%, but we worked hard nonetheless. I wouldn't have had it any other way. As hard as it is to get myself to the gym on some days, I've still managed to get myself there by "putting on my big girl panties--and dealing with it". I am a self-professed baby when it comes to being sick, regardless of the severity of the illness. Right now it's the common cold, and really, you'd think I was on my death bed. But thankfully, I am fully aware of my own idiosyncrasies and know what it takes to give myself the kick in the chones I need on a regular basis. Luckily, the gym's a stones throw from my house so there's really no excuse despite the fact that I've tried to make one every night this week. And I've found that once I'm there and moving, I'm good. Actually, better than good, and the sense of pride I get from sticking with the program outweighs any discomfort I'm temporarily going through with this virus.

So, do I have an excuse tonight? Of course I do!! The paperwork on my kitchen table has nearly consumed the dining room, I've got Valentine's to fill out for 20 kids, dishes piled in the sink, at least two loads of laundry, and two latch-key dogs and a boyfriend I've been neglecting for the past week. But, I'm going to the underwear drawer, and you know the rest. . .

In-Shape Challenge, Day 248

Okay, okay, so I've exaggerated a little. It's been 8 days since we met, took before pictures, signed paperwork, and started our new lives. It seems like I've been at this forever. I never realized how hard this endeavor was going to be. And I'm not gonna lie to you, it's hard! My body's been in various states of soreness for the past week, and as good as I feel about the fact that I'm doing what's good for me, I can't say that I feel 'good.' The blessing to all this is the weight loss, and yes, I've lost weight already. I've also learned a great deal about myself, fitness, and nutrition in the few short days since we began. For example:

1) Sports bras very GREATLY in comfort and support.

2) My brain WILL give out before my body, as Mike had mentioned, but I'm learning to fight that urge.

3) Team training day has to be the most rewarding time out of all the workout days.

4) My teammates are a group of incredibly smart, supportive women and I'm thankful that God put us on this journey together.

5) I'm not a runner, but I managed to run a number of steps last Saturday (and I didn't trip and injure myself).

6) Eating 1600 healthy calories daily is nearly impossible for me. I'm hovering around 1300 and I have no idea how to squeeze in the extra 300 (aside from tying on a hot fudge sundae at the end of the day).

7) I've realized that friends will always support you, but they'll still eat that extra piece of pizza in right in front of you without even blinking.

8) I've realized that my will-power is strong and getting stronger daily.

9) Healthy eating is not cheap.

10) I laugh at something about myself everyday, mainly because I'm a clutz, but also because it keeps me sane.

I have to give a 'shout-out' to my friends, known and unknown, who are following this blog and in turn joining me on this journey. I hope that my little (mis)adventures are inspiring you. Or at least giving you a little something to laugh about. As Jack Handy would say: "It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man."

My parts are on fire. . .

I literally hurt in places where I didn't think muscles existed. I've been walking like a little old woman for most of the day. Wait, in all fairness let me clarify that. I've been walking like a little old woman for the hours that I've been upright. Okay, better.

I had committed two more days to my weekly workout. One of those days was today, and I wasn't even sure how I would manage trying to push through the pain from yesterday's sadistic exercises. But, being the overachiever that I am, I opted for a Zumba class to satisfy my cardio requirement for this evening. And let me tell you, I think I've found my calling. Granted, it's pretty humorous to see an overweight 40-something woman shaking her bon-bon with some of those younger chickies, but I thought 'what have I got to lose?' And I'll also admit that being mostly Hispanic (despite the fair skin) gives me at least a little rhythm, so don't think for a minute that I wasn't shakin' the junk in my trunk with the best of them (hey, it's not gonna get any smaller just standing there).

I felt a little guilty because I was having so much fun, and once I'd warmed up my body actually felt 42 again as opposed to 82 (who woulda thought that 42 was such a plus). I caught Mike on the way out of the gym, explained my reasons for taking Zumba instead of the 'circuit' route and he actually thought it was a good idea. Anything to keep my body guessing, I suppose.

My tip for the day: Mike said that we should try to cook all our meals for the week during the weekend, put them in individual containers, and pull them out as needed, that way we don't have to worry about time wasted during our already hectic weeks. Considering I've sacrificed the majority of my school work to spend time in the gym these past few days, I'm thinkin' that cooking on the weekend is going to be my saving grace.

I hesitate to end this blog. Not because I have so much more to say, but because ending it means that I've actually got to get myself out of this chair. Ah heck, maybe I'll just check my Facebook.

Short circuit. . .

After 20 minutes of floor exercise instruction and nutrition information, Mike put me on a 30 minute "circuit cardio" workout. Seems that cardio is not about quantity but quality, and last night's hour long session, while not pointless, could have rendered better results if I'd known then what I know now.

So I started out "cruisin'" at 3.5 mph on an incline of 6 for five minutes, just to warm up. Then I learned to alternate my speed and incline to keep my heart rate up around 165. For 30 seconds I adjust from 3.5 mph to 3.7 (doesn't sound like much, but with my short stride it's a serious effort) and up the incline to 8. After 30 seconds of "pushing it" I bring it back down to my original "cruisin'" speed and incline for another minute. This goes on for the remainder of the workout. The hardest part was remembering to lengthen my stride. I have a tendency to walk in small steps (must have been that "8 to the 5" they drilled into us in band) so I sometimes found myself jogging a bit which I don't really feel ready for, yet. My arms are sore from holding myself on the treadmill and there's a small blister on the ball of my right foot caused by my new workout shoes.

The next hour I spent doing the floor work. Mike encouraged me to workout in the weight room, first because of all the mirrors, and second because with all the men in there I'd be sure to concentrate on my form. Now I'm not generally a shy girl, but for my first go-around I opted for the floor area of the women's section. Good thing too since I nearly fell twice while working on my lunges (apparently I have a thing with balance).

My body hurts, but in a good way. I finally went grocery shopping and filled my fridge chock full with fruit, vegetables, chicken, ground turkey, etc. Not my normal fare, for sure. It's almost a little awe inspiring. There's not been that much healthy food in there for like, oh, let me see. . .uh, ever. My big struggle this week will be keeping a food journal ("if it goes in your mouth I want to know about it") and managing to drink all the water. I thought I was doing pretty well with 64 ounces, but Mike would like to see that number doubled if I'm serious about dropping the weight. Good thing my next door classroom neighbor is there to support me in this. One hundred forty-eight ounces of water is sure to put an interesting spin on my school day.

Death by treadmill?

Apparently some people shouldn't be left to workout unsupervised.

I walked in about 7:00 PM, threw my stuff in a locker, plugged in my iPod, and hopped on the first empty treadmill in the women's section of the gym. I like the women's section, not that I'm concerned about being checked out, but because from upstairs I can watch and learn how the circuit training machines work and it's less crowded (really).

So, I've got a groove goin', Fat Burning cycle, movin' my feet at roughly 3.5 mph. Not running, but for my short legs, movin'. I set my iPod on the lip of the console while I walked, and zoned out to the TV in front of me. About a 1/2 an hour into my walk, I caught someone out of the corner of my eye, so I turned my head to look at them. Of course, doing that pulled my iPod off the console where it fell between my legs onto the belt of the treadmill (while still attached to my ears). I looked down to see my player being zipped through my legs. I couldn't figure out what to do quickly enough so I jumped onto the side bars. My iPod was pulled from my headphones and shot off the back of the belt. After standing there for nearly a full minute, I finally figured out that the big red STOP button can actually be used in such an emergency. Needless to say I felt like an ass (no other word for it). And the girl on the elliptical next to me? Well, I thought she was sure to have an accident, she was laughing so hard.

I swallowed my pride, stepped off the treadmill, put my iPod back together (no damage done), and resumed my walk. Only this time, I actually attached it to my waist.

Live and learn.

Super-size me. . .

So it's official. It's a go. Game on. The teams met on Saturday at the KDUV studio in Visalia. Everyone seemed excited and raring to go. The staff at the station (Cari, Joe, and LJ) couldn't have been more helpful and welcoming. I mean, really, photographing a bunch of strangers in their skivvys has to be a bit nerve-racking (for both parties), especially if you've not had your morning coffee.

We spent a couple hours going over protocol, talking about eliminations, getting to know one another. After our "before shots" the other Hanford team members and I decided to have one last hurrah at In-N-Out before meeting with the trainer Mike at In-Shape. I can't even explain how much I savored that cheeseburger. I know it's going to be hard to change eating patterns that have become well established over a number of years. And cheeseburgers aren't really my weakness. My biggest challenge will be (and this is going to sound awful) giving up the Friday night beer after a long week at work. Doesn't that sound ridiculous? Not chocolate, not burgers, not nachos, but beer. Makes me sound like an alcoholic.

(I'm not, in case you were wondering)

Meeting Mike was quite the adventure. He is very knowledgeable, despite his young age, and he's excited to see us succeed. The time at the gym was most eye-opening. I have always understood that I was heavy, but I wasn't prepared for the extent of that heaviness. The percentage of fat in my body doesn't seem like a reality, but there it was, plain as day, on the screen of his digital reader. That was probably the first time I actually wanted to cry, but I managed to take a deep breath and surrender to what the facts are. I'm overweight, it's of my own doing, and now I've got an opportunity to do something about it.

Kim and I squeezed in a workout on Saturday, after weigh in. I haven't worked out since then (unless you call jumping up and down and screaming at the Cardinals exercise). I have been very careful about food for the last couple days, and I did manage to drink my full 64 ounces of water today, which is very challenging for a classroom teacher (I won't go into details). I've got my gear on and I'm heading to the gym for a bit of a walk on the treadmill. My first one-on-one day with Mike is tomorrow.

Let's get this show on the road. . .

25 More. . .

1. I'm a teacher, a daughter, a sister, an auntie, a girlfriend, a friend.

2. I'm imperfect but saved by the grace of God.

3. I have a tendency towards randomness and moodiness, which means I'm all girl.

4. I'm eternally optimistic.

5. If I'm upright and breathing, I'm happy.

6. I aspire to be "sophisticated and alluring."

7. My boyfriend is pretty much the raddest guy ever. Really.

8. I grew up in Anaheim, lived in Orange, San Francisco, and Bakersfield. How I ended up in Hanford is a pretty long story.

9. I've worked for Disneyland, Polygram Records, and many restaurants in between.

10. I've got a passport with two stamps in it. I'd like more.

11. I'm a sucker for a great sense of humor.

12. On any given day I've got a crush on someone. Today it might be you.

13. When I lived in SF, I used to meet random foreigners and invite them to crash on our living room floor.

14. That behavior did not go over well with my roommates.

15. Back in the day I could carry a tray full of drinks, over my head, through a crowded dance floor, and not spill a drop.

16. I put myself through college working as a bartender.

17. I don't like when people become too big for their britches.

18. I wonder what my 3rd graders tell their parents about their teacher.

19. I'm constantly wondering what I can do to be a better educator.

20. If I decide to get my Masters it'll be in Educational Technology.

21. Both my dogs came from shelters.

22. I've been thrown from the same horse twice.

23. I will probably never ride a horse again.

24. If my best friend was a man, she'd be the perfect husband.

25. I've had a number of nicknames: Pooh, Tumbleweed, Chica, Luu. Luu was the only one that stuck.

Paradigm shift. . .

I pulled down and dusted off all my healthy cookbooks from a couple years ago.

I went to Sizzler with my boyfriend, ordered the salad bar, and filled up on lots of vegetables (and fruit for desert).

I've been bringing healthy snacks to school, and it really helps at the end of a long day.

I ordered two new "Eat This Not That" books, which have interesting information (though I'm not sure how practical they are).

My trainer commented on my last blog and I'm glad that he's so motivated.

I'm going to purchase Shaun T's Hip Hop for Kids Workout and can't wait to show it in the classroom.

I'm pretty sure my boyfriend and his daughter are going to be sick of hearing me talk about portion size and calories from now until forever.

Time management will be my biggest obstacle.

Saturday's just a number of hours away, and I'm excited.

Reality bites. . .

Ever since receiving the call on Friday afternoon I've began to consciously notice all the temptations around me. The majority of my life seems to revolve around food. And I'm really, really starting to get nervous. How will I handle Friday night bible study? Dinner and fellowship are such a HUGE part of our evening, and nothing's ever low cal. Or Sunday school, where there's always a box of sugary, glazed, chocolaty donuts sitting helplessly on the counter? Or Friday 'snack day' in the staff lounge? Or just the everyday lure of the local fast food joint after a long day with 3rd graders?

(All these thoughts are driving me just a little bit crazy. . .)

I've been trying to keep Pastor Jeff's sermon at the front of my brain for most of the day. He said that there are two things that God wants from us: 1) To be born again (Jn 3:3-7), and 2) To Grow in our faith (1 Cor 3:1-2). I'm looking at this challenge as just that. An opportunity to grow in my faith with fellow believers who share more than one common goal.

So what's the prize for me? Not the extrinsic, though it would be a definite added bonus to be able to continue with In-Shape through the remainder of the summer. But for me the prize will be any amount of weight that I'm able to take off in the time provided to me. The big prize is the start, and hopefully the continuation, of a whole new healthy future doing what God has planned for my life.

I have a picture, pinned to my wall. . .

Two and a half years ago, when I received my first high cholesterol diagnosis I went into a bit of a panic, called my mother ('cause that's what I do), and cried for an hour thinking I was certain to die at any minute (I can be a bit over dramatic that way). I decided then and there that I was going to do everything on the laundry list of items that my doctor had suggested to improve my condition. I started walking daily, rain or shine, joined Nutrisystem, and quit fast food cold turkey. It was a major shift, for me, in how I'd lived my life in the past, and I found that the weight came off relatively easily. In roughly four months I'd lost almost 30 lbs, I was back in my "skinny clothes" (which for me was a size 10/12), and could see a visible difference in the shape of my body, most specifically in my face.

Shortly after the initial weight loss I was challenged with a bout of sciatica, which if you've never dealt with it, is excruciatingly painful. Standing hurt, walking hurt, sitting hurt. I spent one morning on my hands and knees, just before I was due at school, and had to call a girl friend to come get my plan book so that a sub could be booked to teach my class. It was a frightening experience, but more disappointing was my lack of ability (and drive) to continue the weight loss/exercise program I had become accustomed to. Thankfully, with physical therapy the sciatica ceased and I was back in the swing of things. Mostly.

About the time of my recovery I met a fantastic guy, who to this day treats me like gold. I was 25 pounds lighter when we met but that doesn't seem to bother him, which is one of the many reasons I love him so. I will say, however, that because he loves me unconditionally I've been less than motivated to take off the excess weight. Do I blame him for that? Absolutely not. I happen to be well aware of my own motivations and desires. And, honestly, I let the workout/weight loss thing go. I just did. It's easy to fall into old habits after they've been well established, as I'm sure you understand. And when I looked in the mirror, I didn't see a major difference. I mentioned to a friend of mine once: I'm pretty sure I have the opposite of anorexia. I don't truly see myself as 'heavy' until I see myself in pictures.

I have a picture pinned to the wall of classroom, in the mix of the foggy day schedules, student drawings, and pictures of friends. It's a picture of my boyfriend and me shortly after we started dating, and it's a reminder of all the hard work I'd put into getting healthier years ago. It was also the motivating factor for my entering the KDUV In-shape Challenge. Ultimately, I know what I need to do to lose the weight, and how I need to do it. When I applied I thought that the opportunity to have the kick-in-the-pants from others in the same position as I, well, was too much of a break to pass up.

Cari called me yesterday afternoon while I sat at my desk after school. I was up to my eyeballs in paperwork and trying to recover from "rainy day schedule" when she shared that I'd made the Hanford team. I was beyond excited to learn the news, but I'm not sure I sounded it. I'm looking forward to having the chance to say 'thank you' personally to the staff at KDUV, especially LJ (for coming up with the promotion in the first place). I am monumentally thankful to be on this journey.

God has put me on this path for a reason. I give thanks for the direction and am determined to do great things with the opportunity provided me.

16 things

Mr. Zellous challenged us to write a note with 16 random things, shortcomings, facts, habits or goals about ourselves. At the end of that process we were instructed to choose 16 people to be tagged, listing their names and why we chose them. I'm also supposed to tag Mr. Z, but he's done this before so I may spare him the redundancy of it all.

For your reading pleasure:

1: Since I moved away from home I've never lived anywhere for more than five years at a time, that is until I moved to Hanford, where I've been for almost 13 years.

2: I did TV commercials and print ads when I was a child.

3: Back in the day, when my father came home from work, my siblings and I would bounce at the side of the dishwasher and chant, "Yay, yay, daddy's home!"

4. My sister and I sing the lyrics to Song Sung Blue by Neil Diamond in our own special way ("song sung blue, we know, we know, weeee know").

5. I worked for Disneyland for five years (no, I wasn't a character, but I did try out once).

6. My four front teeth are fake. I knocked the originals out while twirling rifle in high school.

7. I never wanted to be married or have children. I think I've changed my mind about that.

8. I still worry about what my parents think of me.

9. Some of my best memories come from living in San Francisco in the 90's.

10. Some of my worst memories come from living in San Francisco in the 90's.

11. I was in an abusive relationship for four years. I can't, to this day, even tell you why.

12. If I could afford to have plastic surgery, I'd get my nose done.

13. I used to think people who were "born again" were crazy, until I became one of them.

14. I cry very, very easily.

15. I aspire to be sophisticated and alluring.

16. In high school I wanted to be a teacher. In college I wanted to be a stage actress. Now I can say I do a little of both in front of my students.



I've decided not to tag anyone. But I'd love to read your "16 things."