Good Times With New Toys (Photographically Speaking)

I Am Amazing. Yes, I Am

I thought it was going to take me forever (or at least a week) to edit the 977 photos I took at the wedding I shot Saturday.  Nah, I'm done with the bulk.  I'm tweaking bride and groom shots and formals still, but other than that, I'm done.  Crazy, I tell you.  There's lightning speed in these fingers. 

I will be in Virginia in 25 days for a 5-week visit/business trip.  Wow.  I'm not at all ready logistically for that trip. 

M.I.A. and EdiTING

This is what i'm doing while editing almost 1,000 wedding photos, in case you were wondering:

New Toys

Okay, so i posted these pics over at my photog blog, but  i couldn't resist posting them here, too. (see 'em larger over there).  i got a green screen (the cheapest of the cheap!) to play with (and use for business, of course, although the distinction between work and play is very weak).  These pics crack me up!  I need more practice, but for a first attempt, not bad i suppose.  They made me laugh, so that's worth something, right? 

Speaking in Code Through Songs

When the world has turned
Paralyzed and wrong
Cold blooded claws
Never offered anything at all

Past the point of love
Shattered and untied
Waiting to pick up the pieces
That make it all alright

But pieces of what
Pieces of what
Pieces of what
Doesn't matter any more

Moonlight on my floor
Shining through the roof
They got the city surrounded
As if I needed proof

I forgot my fear
Feelings on the rise
Burying all of the pieces
Falling from the sky

But pieces of what
Pieces of what
Pieces of what
We used to call home

Pieces of what
We used to call home

When I drank your tea
And shallow water still
At the belgian gates
I waited for my meal

Sigh. Andrew VanWyngarden. Yum. And This Song is Amazing

Andrew VanWyngarden is My New Crack (or He Just May Be the Devil)

I have been listening to MGMT non-stop for about 48 hours now. Andrew VanWyngarden's voice penetrates me like...something really penetrating. And listening to MGMT is 10 times better than eating chocolate (not that i've been doing that lately). And have you looked at him? Hawt. Burning hawt.

here's the "Kids" video, which may be disturbing to those of you who like small children. (See interview below the video if you fall under that category)

And an interview with the yummy deliciousness known as Andrew VanWyngarden:

102.5 lbs. / 21.9% and Fighting for Yourself

I have to admit that it slightly bugs me that my weight hasn't gone down in the past couple days (it went up half a lb.), but realistically, it's the body fat that matters, and that's still dropping.  And I doooooooo want more muscle, so the weight going up is actually a good thing.  If I were to end up at 105 / 19%, I would be completely cool with that.

Last night i saw a quote that i had posted on my facebook status earlier this month:

"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." ~ e. e. cummings

It's a good reminder, yes? 

102 lbs. - Reached My Goal Weight...But Wait....

When i started my weight loss endeavour 4 and a half weeks ago at 113 lbs (and approx. 28% or so body fat), i set my goal weight at 102 lbs.  I'm really not sure why.  One-OH!-two is actually a couple lbs heavier than my average adult lifetime "normal" weight (which was always 100 lbs.).  So, I'm not done.  Not by a long stretch.  My goal is more oriented toward body fat.  I want to be 19% (I'm at 22%) and I want to be there by the time I leave for Virginia (39 days).  I will do that by continuing to follow S.P.E.E.D. and incorporating one more day of workouts into my week (from 3 or 4 to 4 or 5). 

In the words of the hound who finds the trail...ON! ON!

102.5 / 22.0% 'Ello Poppet! and 1963 Corvette Stingray

'Ello poppet!  I can't stop saying that. 

Someone mentioned their Bucket List to me this morning (hi Rob).  Mine includes owning a 1963 Corvette Stingray.  If you happen to see one for sale, please let me know!

FRICKIN' SWEET!

102.5 / 22.6%

Yadda yadda yadda.

Pics Allie Took

Yesterday Allie decided to she wants to be an awesome photographer.  She told me to get dressed and be her model.  After a few lessons on exposure, metering, and focus, here are the photos she made (click photo to see larger):

103 / 22.8% Blogging from my Droid

Finally broke down and got a Droid. I'll need it for business in VA. It doesn't have any of the issues I heard about. It's just freaking awesome!

103.5 / 22.8% and iRandomosities

Good workout last night.  I'm getting a Droid today.  I'm working out tonight.  Todd and I are having date night tonite.  We're going to see Date Night (the movie).  I freaking love Tina Fey.  I need a haircut.  I now fit into my favorite size 1 Volcom shorts that I saved, despite thinking I would never fit into them again.  I have a love/hate relationship with bipolar II.  I really want to go to LA this weekend (not happening).  If i keep waking up before 5 i'm going to do something drastic.  Maybe.  I freaking love TJ Maxx.  And Hello Kitty.  It's almost 7 am and i'm ready for bed. 

and there's some random Scheiße for you on this fine, fine Friday morning.

103.5 / 23.0% My Adventures with SPEED and You've Gotta Watch This Video!

Oh come on, I'm talking about the weight loss book, http://www.speedweightlossbook.com/ not the drug.  But you knew that, right?

So I'm down to 103.5 lbs and some of you may be wondering how low I'll go and what is too low.  That differs so greatly from person to person.  For me, somewhere around 100 lbs has been "about right" for most of my life.  I have extremely tiny bones and I'm pretty short.  You can see from my body fat percentage of 23 that I still have plenty of excess junk I can get rid of.  And I will.  I promise I'm not starving or withering away over here. 

Now, seriously, you've gotta watch this video.  It was made by a photog in LA that i sorta kinda worship and will someday go play with.  He's pretty freaking incredible.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerinthebox/4500655600/

Let me know what you think!

104.5 / 23.4% and Dance Floor Etiquette

I don't know why this came to mind first thing when I opened my eyes at 5 this morning.  Maybe i was dreaming about clubbing?  Dunno.  Anyway, i was out at Club 216 (a primarily gay club in C'ville, VA) happily dancing away to techno/house when approached by a chunky-ish, dark-haired dude who very politely asked if he could dance in my space.  I glanced at my bouncer, gave him my "it's okay" look, and allowed Chunkster to dance in my space.  Things were fine for a minute, then suddenly Chunkaloo grabs my hand and starts...are you ready?...swing dancing with me.  To a techno song.  In a gay club.  Pushing me out, spinning me, pulling me back in.  I cocked my head to the side to assess whether this was really happening, or if I might have perhaps been slipped some sort of really bad drug minutes before.  No, it was really happening.  So, I just planted my feet and STOPPED moving.  I looked at Chunk Norris and said, "Dude, I don't like dancing like that."  I mean, nothing against swing, either East or West coast, really, but it's just so not my thing.  Especially in a gay techno club.  So, if I'm out clubbing and see you out there swing dancing to techno music, don't be offended if I point and laugh.  I'm just giggling at my own silly memory.

104 / 23.4% Decisiolating

Yay...progress!  Had a great workout last night, wasn't exhausted before arriving, Aimes went with (so fun, thanks for going!); more more more!  I think I could go 6 days/week and be completely xstatic about it.  It's like being in the Air Force again, except without all the rules and regulations and trying to hide my purple hair.

Anyway...

My Big Trip to Virginia is fast approaching, and I'm going to need a 3G phone since my moms doesn't have a computer, or internet access, and lives in the middle of the woods in a rural county, and I will need to conduct business primarily over the phone/internet.

So...

Of course, the big question is:  iPhone or Droid?

I've heard negatives about both:  the iPhone wants to be more of a computer than a phone, AT&T's 3G network is way smaller than Verizon's, will never use Flash.  But i do so love my iTouch and it's apps (and iTunes), so....   On the other hand, I've heard the Droid:  hangs up too easily with cheek contact, and the Facebook app doesn't have an INBOX.  Whaaaaat?  I need my Inbox, are they kidding me with no Inbox?  Who can live without an Inbox?  I do a lot of business thru my Inbox.  I really do.

But, then again, if I can't access AT&T's 3G network at my mom's (where i'll be for FIVE LONG WEEKS), I guess I won't really be accessing my inbox anyway, huh? 

Okay, Droid it is.

And what was I thinking, going to VA for 5 weeks, leaving behind all the comforts of home?  VA peeps...I will need your love and support :o)

104.5 / 23.9% - Zane, aka "Tooth-Lip"

Tomorrow I take Tooth-Lip to the dentist so the very in-denial doc can see that YES, Zane's tooth is embedded in his lip (which was cut all the way through from inside his mouth to just below the bottom of his lip on the outside about a month ago), which has now healed over.  (I wondered why it was still so swollen in that one spot.)  Doc was in great denial on the telephone, saying it's just scar tissue (he had x-rayed in his office the day of the trauma).  Can't wait to see the look on his face when he realizes it really is the half of Zane's tooth that was never found when he got his faced smashed onto the back of a chair.  Am I still a little upset about that?  Yeah.  But, I have to admit, the whole Tooth-Lip thing is kinda funny.  Zane just wants to leave it in there.  So not happening.  It's huge.

In other "Zane" news, he won't leave me alone about a freaking iPad.  I told him months ago to save up for it.  He had enough money between Christmas and his birthday to have the cash by now, but he bought an iTouch, and blew the rest on silly little things, like iPod apps and video games.  Poor kid; his mom has apparently taught him nothing about saving up for things you really want or delaying gratification or avoiding impulse buying.  Shame on me her.

104.5 / 24.3% (Body Fat)

I'm not sure I trust that 24.3% (I think I'm higher), but we'll go with it.  For now.

So it's Easter and i was at Wholy Foods yesterday, surrounded by yummy temptations.  I came home with a Vosges Sugar-free Barcelona Bar (hickory smoked almonds, sea salt, deep milk chocolate, heaven) and it's not even tempting me.  I also brought home an Amaretto Mousse Bombe (Amaretto...mmmmmmm) and it sits in the fridge, not tempting me at all.  I will probably taste it later just for the experience, but there's no way I'll eat the whole disgusting thing.

What's happened to me?  Better yet,

WHO THE HELL AM I?

104.5 (again) and Fat Pinching

My trainer asks me if weight matters as much to me as body composition.  Of course it doesn't!  I could weigh 110 (or more) and be happy as long as my body fat percentage were low.  I'm aiming for 19% body fat.  I know, I know, a very lofty goal for someone my age who is really not so active.  But I was there not that long ago, so I believe I can do it again.  I don't feel a great need to stay there forever, but to just touch it one more time would be really really freaking cool!  I'm going to GNC to buy some fat pinchers (okay, body fat calipers) so I can keep track of my fat percentage without having to invade my bff's house and stand on her fat scale.  (Love you, Aimes!)

And speaking of being not so active, I've been great about working out with my trainer 3x/week and I've also found (are you ready for this?)

KUNG FU

right near my house!

SHUT UP!

I took Shaolin kung fu several years ago, but stopped b/c the instructor was a fricking lune.  I've been looking for the fu out my way for 3 years now.  Finally found it!  So excited! 

Check it, soooooo beautiful!