Group Power

I recently did a workshop to become certified to teach a group weight lifting class for Breakthru Fitness in Pasadena. Here is a video of a Group Power class from a club in Japan:

Thanksgiving 08

The O'Hare's had a lovely Thanksgiving this year. As is tradition, Hawk came over and hung out with us. Kelly cooked the turkey. He also made gravy, mashed potatoes, mushrooms in wine sauce, and brussel sprouts with pancetta, dried cranberries and goat cheese. I made cranberry chutney, Stovetop stuffing, and a dark rum pecan pie. It was great! After we ate, Beth came by to drop off Athena and she stayed awhile so we could practice our Irish dancing. We danced for at least 40 minutes-that's a lot of hopping after eating a big meal.
Later on, Kelly and I went to see Milk which is bound to be up for best picture and lots of acting awards - stand-out performances include Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hersch, James Franco, and Diego Luna (basically everyone in the cast). It was quite poignant in the wake of the passing of prop 8. I found myself tearing up numerous times not only because of events depicted in the movie but also because I found it difficult to accept how far we've come and yet how far our country still has to go in terms of acceptance. Milk made me thankful for the freedoms I possess and hopeful that someday all of my friends and family will be free to marry and live openly without discrimination.

Roberta's cranberry chutney and Paula Dean's Rum Pecan Pie

Kelly prepping dinner

Kelly's fabulous turkey with mushrooms in white wine sauce

the perfect plate

happy and full of food

Hawk and Athena playing tug-o-war

Beth watching Snoops and Athena play tug-o-war

Kelly making music

100 Happy Things...

Inspired by Kendra, I have decided to make a list of one hundred things that make me happy:

1. Mr. Snoops right after he's had a bath
2. the Ultra Lounge music compilation series
3. Lucky Charms
4. the spread eagle exercise on the cadillac
5. Gummo
6. Kelly wearing a nice outfit
7. daikon radish salad
8. quietly closing the gate
9. slow dancing with Pat
10. walking around the reservoir with Snoops
11. talking to Beth about the same old things
12. shimmering chapstick
13. pants from Lululemon
14. seeing Violet the pug at Society of the Spectacle
15. heating pad
16. Kelly and Snoops playing
17. sitting in the shade in hot weather
18. Kimmy being vegetarian
19. paintings by the "chicken man"
20. tiny flashlights
21. dancing the Light Jig
22. imagining a house and family with Kelly
23. Mom showing me her projects
24. massage by Alighta
25. new videos and pictures of Xander Gogark
26. Bailey holding onto my finger
27. bowling pin lamp
28. hot herbal tea
29. the misfits
30. watching reruns of What Not to Wear
31. working at Bodyscape
32. sitting criss-cross applesauce
33. stuff with rainbows on it
34. my wedding ring
35. Dad telling me it's all going to be okay
36. Snoops corn chip smelling feet
37. going to see plays with Anastasia
38. teaching with Andrea
39. waking up at 10 am on a regular basis
40. Crocs slippers
41. clapping with excitement
42. making motor boat sounds
43. seeing people get it, i.e. epiphanies
44. Disneyworld
45. eating ice cream with Hawk
46. Franks laugh
47. wearing leggings instead of jeans
48. happy old couples
49. turbo Athena
50. memories of Tracers
51. teaching with Pat
52. dancing with IMP
53. TCBY peanut butter sundae
54. Tommy telling me all the details
55. DanceAbility
56. imagining I can drool (but not actually doing it)
57. the fitness circle light
58. doing laundry with Snoops
59. Kelly's gray hair
60. Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery by Eric Franklin
61. big spoons
62. hair free clothes
63. creepy masks
64. dancing to Nano's vocal improv
65. basic cable TV
66. tempurpedic mattresses
67. hearing Dad sing
68. staying at Jim and Suzan's house
69. holding someone's head in my hands
70. Peggy saying, "Wanna play?" like Chucky
71. talking about Disneyworld with Christin
72. watching Michelle do the roll-up
73. anniversary dinner at Bucca di Beppo
74. Prosecco at Pizzeria Mozza with Kelly
75. using salt water as hair texturizer
76. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios
77. burned cds
78. arranging pictures on the refrigerator
79. sugar free Jello
80. coconut cake, who'm I kidding - all cake
81. red pants
82. Mom's quilts
83. pilates with Jessica
84. the smell of chlorine
85. watching Stu dance
86. Actual Lives rehearsals
87. practicing pilates with Cindy at John Garey's Studio
88. making yearly photobooks
89. staying up late
90. occasionally wearing high heeled shoes
91. Hippopotamus Sandwich
92. Vietnamese Rocks!
93. walking with Snoops, Suzan, Mindy, Macarthur, and Bazil
94. black nail polish
95. poking Kimmy and Peggy on FaceBook
96. planning trips
97. being alone with Kelly
98. taking courses about exercise
99. Michael calling me out of the blue
100. you reading my blog