Z o r bl o g

• eat those 5-10 servings of fruits and veggies daily (I thought I ate enough, but I was dead wrong!)
• stop dominating conversations. I've gotta learn that it's not always about me. This blog is an exception.
• maintain weight in range of 115-120 pounds.
Corollary:
• build muscle by regular strength training. (not that I don't do that now, but I only started doing this regularly and correctly the last few months of the year)
• improve posture
• quit being jealous of things that I have no right being jealous over
• drinking is ok; puking is NOT

Posted by Zorbs at 08:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I'm inspired by other lists of Christmas bounty:

RCA Lyra
$150 of Petro-Can gift cards
room spray
scarf with music-y patterns
change purse
$25 Bay gift certificate
incense and burner
many boxes of chocolate :puke
floppy drive (I kid you not)
Bodum french press
Starbucks coffee (Christmas blend, Mocha java)
ugly chip and dip set from work
update: Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White and Body Shop Satsuma shower gel & lotion just came in the mail from Babs.

Boxing Day booty:
gray silk skirt from American Eagle ($17)
red cummerbund shirt from Costa Blanca ($25)
fancy hairband from Aldo ($12)
polar bear shirt from Ye Olde Navy ($12)
Calvin Klein bra and undies from the Bay ($14 after use of gift certificate)
Nike Dri-Fit top from Nike Toronto ($39)

Now I'm off to sleep, got up at 6am to be at the mall right when the stores opened at 8am.

Posted by Zorbs at 09:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I swallowed my tongue barbell at dinner. I really don't like the thought of having a piece of stainless steel rolling around in my intestines.

Posted by Zorbs at 08:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

So I've spent the last 2 days in London with Dan and his family...I did relax and have fun but I didn't slack on the healthy habits - except for one bad hour on Tuesday night when I consumed 5 gingerbread cookies. I even got to try a new class at the gym that totally kicked my ass - Dan's mom got me a guest pass to GoodLife and also a free copy of Living The Good Life just for listening to the sales pitch..."Thanks, but no thanks, you don't have a location in my town so I'll have to stick with my current gym.." I read the book on the bus ride home and quite enjoyed it.

I keep reading everywhere about how people should allow themselves a small treat of some special food that they eat only at Christmas. Well, my family has no such traditions - ours are all non-food related - therefore, holiday eating should be no different from any other day.

And what's up with the gym being closed on the 25th? I have nothing to do all day and I'd love nothing more than to pre-emptively burn off some calories before the disgusting family holiday feast in the evening where there will probably be no 'safe' foods on the table and I'll end up going hungry, because I would seriously rather die than regain the weight I've worked so hard to lose. I am aware that I sound totally obsessive, but here's the logic: A 5 pound gain is no big deal to some people, but I lost a TOTAL of 12 pounds. 5 pounds is almost half the weight that could be gained back in one meal!!! It's so not worth it!!!

That said...have a merry fucking Christmas, everyone!

Posted by Zorbs at 09:54 PM | Permalink

Last year I did this By The Numbers thing...this year is a quiz from Amanda:

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
I got a life and started hanging out with people that weren't on the other side of a computer screen.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Looking back in the archives, last January I said I was going to:

* practice better dental hygiene
Well, I got an Oral-B Cross Action toothbrush a few weeks ago and it works quite well...grade C.

* control food portions and junk food intake
Got that down...grade A+.

* be nicer to people I care about
Without going into excruciating detail...grade B-.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nyet.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No again.

5. What countries did you visit?
U.S. (Detroit)

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
Money would be nice!

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 3...Dan made his infamous snarky comment that brought about our relationship.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being happy for the first time in many, many years.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Sucking bigtime at what was probably my last solo piano performance ever.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got some nasty shin splints in November.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A black top from Wally Mart that I've worn about 34968019257019 times already since mid-November...genuine dead cow pants from Kensington for $20.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Dan, for speaking up and making that snarky comment.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Andrew, for being a fucking turd about this whole relationship thing.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Gas and food.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Reaching my goal weight!

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
Feels Like Home, Chantal Kreviazuk
Bring Me To Life, Evanescence

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? waaaay happier!
ii. thinner or fatter? waaaay thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? slightly richer I think...I didn't max out my savings this year, at least.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Earning money.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Spending money.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Beating off anyone who tries to stuff even one morsel of unhealthy food down my throat.

(What happened to #21?)

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Yes. :smile

23. How many one-night stands?
One. That was one too many.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
None of them.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Andrew...well not exactly hate...but I definitely like him a lot less now.

26. What was the best book you read?
All of the Harry Potter books.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Evanescence.

28. What did you want and get?
Happiness.

29. What did you want and not get?
Money.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
None, of course.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 25 and I honestly can't remember what I did. How sad.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I didn't have to lose a friend due to having a relationship.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
The same...it kills me to have to use this word...eclectic. :grr

34. What kept you sane?
Working out regularly.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None, celebrities are just stupid rich people.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Pro-war idiots.

37. Who did you miss?
Amanda.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
grapety-poo.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003:
That you can't have it all...sometimes you have to hurt people to gain happiness.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I've been so alone
And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done"

Feels Like Home, Chantal Kreviazuk

Posted by Zorbs at 08:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Why are you people getting all crazy over LoTR? it's just a fucking movie, for crying out loud. I personally have never read the books, never seen the movies and I probably wouldn't even if someone tied me up and put a gun to my head.

Posted by Zorbs at 02:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

The bizarre oyster craving has been satiated. Dan and I went to Smokeless Joe's last night and it was great. I decided to be adventurous and tried a beer called Mort Subite Peche from Belgium and it was nummy, perfect to wash down Malpeque oysters with freshly grated horseradish and a dash of Tabasco. Too bad the beer was $7.95 a bottle! The oysters were a small snack after dining at Baton Rouge. I had the Louisiana BBQ chicken tits with a side of steamed broccoli and carrots that were lightly sprinkled with Parmesan. Who says the healthy food is bland?

I then proceeded to wreck a week of nearly perfect eating with a terrible craving for a dish that's found in Chinese greasy spoon diners - deep fried seafood (fish, shrimp, scallops, squid) over spaghetti in cream sauce and broiled. That's the Big Bad Three in one dish - grease, processed carbs and cream. Ooooh tasty death! But I ate the whole dish myself today at lunch. And I will ruthlessly burn off those calories tomorrow.

But ohhhh, what a treat for my taste buds! :drool

Posted by Zorbs at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

VS, Saks, and Macy's reportedly resell returned and possibly worn underwear. Yummay. :covereyes

[link from One Girl's Life]

Posted by Zorbs at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Things I DO NOT WANT for Christmas:

1. Chocolate. Unfortunately it's #1 on the list of Generic Things To Get For People You Don't Give A Flying Fuck About, eg. Your Kid's Piano Teacher. Unless they're Mint Lindors.

2. Coffee Mug. We already have about 3640982098 bazillion, all of them ugly.

3. Salad Bowl/Candy Dish. Ditto.

Things I REALLY WOULD LIKE but no one ever gets me:

1. Gas station gift certificates. If you're truly stumped, gas gift certs would be much appreciated. I mean, I drive almost every day, so of course there is gratuitous gas consumption.

2. Spa Day. Or just a pedicure, facial, massage. I want to chill out and emerge looking pretty!

3. Body Shop gift basket. It's just as generic and can be as inexpensive as that nasty box of chocolates that I will probably repackage and give away to someone else, so....

4. Grand Piano. Yeah, Zorbie, dream on. :rotflmao

Posted by Zorbs at 03:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

My Music Personality

People high on this dimension tend to enjoy Alternative, Rock, and Heavy Metal music. On the Edgy & Aggressive Dimension you fell in the 81 percentile. This score is very high.

81%

Based on your responses, you scored above average on the edgy and aggressive music-preference dimension. Research in our laboratory indicates that people high on this dimension, like you, often have the following characteristics:

People with high scores on the energetic and aggressive music-preference dimension tend to enjoy taking risks and engaging in thrilling experiences. They also tend to be dominant, imaginative, and energetic. They tend to be politically liberal, and believe that freedom, independence, and excitement are important aspects of life. When it comes to lifestyle, lovers of edgy and aggressive music, tend to come from the middle to lower classes. As for media entertainment, they're likely to enjoy watching action, science fiction, fantasy, war, and horror movies.

[link from Weblog Wannabe]

Posted by Zorbs at 12:03 PM | Permalink

Evanescence concert tonight, woohoo! :headbang It's snowing like crazy outside, but I will not miss this concert for anything!

Posted by Zorbs at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

This is the older and bigger and more evil twin brother to the pepper that was in my Kung Pao chicken. I ate the smaller one accidentally, thinking that it was a sweet red pepper. Ow ow ow. :cow juice to the rescue!

Posted by Zorbs at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

I have a weird craving for oysters lately.

Posted by Zorbs at 11:09 AM | Permalink

I was juuuuuuuuuuuuust about to write a post bitching about how the OFC said they were going to call this afternoon regarding my test results and hadn't yet.

And as I was firing up my ranting typing fingers, the phone rang.

I PASSED!!!!! :grin

Posted by Zorbs at 04:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

I was driving down Spadina on my way to Kensington Market on Saturday when I spied Accordion Guy walking down the street. Mind you, I have never met the guy and I only know him from the many pictures posted around the intarweb. But I rolled down my window and yelled "HEY ACCORDION GUY! I'M ZORBS!!" He asked if I was going to the big par-tay. No, I wasn't, but I returned to the geekhaus and Steph was frying mountains of falafel, in preparation for the same party.

The blogosphere is really very small.

Posted by Zorbs at 08:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I broke down and bought one of those super-trendy Italian charm bracelets today and 3 charms. I've got a crystal P, my birthstone, and a polar bear. Now I'm only beginning to discover the array of charms that are available. Like this Leafs logo. And a grand piano. And for the truly ridiculous (but totally appropriate considering how much money I'm forking over to them lately), a Starbucks charm.

Posted by Zorbs at 04:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

ta-da!

I'm also busy these days studying for the fitness leader certification theory exam, which is on Monday morning.

Posted by Zorbs at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)