The Pursuit of Hotness and Comic Art

My weight: 257 lbs. I was doing ok until yesterday, when I went to a friend’s birthday party. In a bowling alley. It is not possible to find healthy food in a bowling alley. Everything was either fried, or had sausage on it, or both. I only had one portion, no seconds, but I guess that was still too much. And it’s not like bowling is the most vigorous activity in the world. My arm hurt, but let’s face it, taking 3 steps before bowling is not really a cardio workout.

My goal for this week is to exercise for 30 minutes every day. No excuses. I find time to feed my face, so I can find time to move my backside. And I get to use my new sneakers.




Aren’t they pretty? (And yes, I know I need to vacuum the carpet)

In other news, I accomplished goal # 17 Visit the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco. They had exhibits of Harvey Comics (Casper the Friendly Ghost, Richie Rich) and a really lovely series of paintings about totoro as part of the Totoro Forest Project. (and if you haven’t seen “My Neighbor Totoro”, rent it! It will be worth your time, I promise. )


The real treat was an exhibit of cartoons that I hadn't heard of before, "The K Chronicles". Funny and smart. If you are in the area, take a look.

The Pursuit of Hotness: 1st Post

In spite of all the successes I’ve posted, this has not been a successful project, because I have not only not achieved any progress on this goal, but have in fact gone backward. I refer to:

Goal number 64. lose 100 lbs.

I didn’t list it as goal number 1, even though it was the first thing I thought of when I started this, because I truly do think there are more important and interesting things in this world than my size.

But it seems to be the one thing that a lot of the others depend on. How successful a marathoner can I be if I’m carry 100 plus pounds extra weight? How successful will I be at dating and falling in love (not very, I know this from experience.) Sexy underwear, bathing suits, etc. Not very likely. I'm reluctant to try kayaking because I'm afraid I'll get stuck in the boat.

So I am going to redirect this blog a little. I’m not changing the name, and I will keep posting about festivals, art, cooking, and places to visit, because they are the things that make up “A More Interesting Life”. But I will be making weight loss (aka The Pursuit of Hotness) a regular feature.

So in the interests of full disclosure, the following stats:

Height: 5 feet, 6 inches.
Weight: 256 lbs

Goal weight: 145 lbs
Pounds to go: 111

I’ll post a picture later, when I take one. Wish me luck.

Tomatoes! and an update

I went to the farmer’s market in El Cerrito last week, and nearly hurt myself trying not to buy everything in sight. Such beautiful produce! I just wanted to fill my car and then cook all day.
Instead I contented myself with buying a bag of cherry tomatoes.

I still bought way too much (eyes bigger than stomach), so I made 'Oven-dried Tomatoes'. Very simple, next to no labor, just slice’em in half, moisten with oil and put in the oven on very low temperature until chewy. They make great sandwiches, are nice stirred into a risotto, or tossed with pasta, and they last longer than fresh. And did I mention it makes the house smell terrific?

So, how’s the project going?

#49 See Shakespeare in the park. I say Pericles on Labor Day Weekend in San Francisco. It was a really unique version, They set the play in Appalachia (a fictional Appalachia, one with oceans), and the music was very traditional, ending with “I Am Weary, Let Me Rest”.

#98. Put together a car maintenance folder. Done! I got together all the bills I’d saved and logged them all in a book, which I am keeping in the car. Now when I take the car in and they ask me “when was the rotator gasket last aligned?” and "did you pin tuck the carbeurator flange?" I’ll be able to tell them.

#59. Buy a decent pair of ballroom shoes. I did this in July, when I went to watch Laura compete. They actually fit! (not easy when you have wide feet) I was so inspired that I asked my instructor to include me in the year-end showcase, and we are putting together a foxtrot.

As you can see, progress is being made, slowly. I haven't been paying as much attention as I should. But I am back to updating the blog, and other entries are being planned, even as I type.