Connecticut Primary

Today is the Connecticut Primary - we'll soon know who will be running against Dick Blumenthal for the Senate seat (my guess is Linda McMahon) and who will be running for governor. I gotta say, this is when I get most frustrated with living in New England. People are SO liberal. And they follow liberal candidates blindly. One would think it might bother people that Dicky B. lied about his military service and made it look like he fought in Vietnam. To me, that says something seriously negative about his character and integrity. However, people don't seem to care. Amazing.

Day 14

I didn't post for a couple days... but I DID work out! Day 11 was 100 Burpees for time, and it was bad, but I did it in 14 minutes, 6 seconds. I thought that would be the worst ever, but I hadn't done Day 13 yet - 5 rounds for time of 20 Burpees, 15 Squats, and 10 Sit ups. I did it in 17 minutes and 4 seconds. Today I have to run 5k. Not sure how I am going to get that in... I got up at 5:30 to do it, since my hubby was going to be home until 6:15, but it was raining and the baby decided to be up then, too. I may be able to work it in tonight when my husband gets home.

As of yesterday, I was not even close to fitting into my pants. It's frustrating that I really don't have that many pounds to lose, but they're all in my stomach! I am contemplating something drastic, like the cabbage soup diet:)

Days 7, 8, and 9

I was right - Day 7 sucked. I have a hard time doing 15 burpees in a row. The first round, I did them all. The second and third rounds, I did 10, took a breather, and did the other 5. Anyways, it was good once it was over!

Day 8 was a rest day - much needed!

Yesterday was another tough one, but I am starting to feel stronger. I had to do 3 rounds for time of:

50m sprint

10 burpees

50m sprint

10 squats

50m sprint

10 sit ups

I did it in 12 min 30 sec.

Believe it or not, the hardest part for me was the sit ups. My abs are still so weak! I made myself do full sit ups instead of crunches, and it was hard.

I also went for a walk with the husband and baby this morning and attempted a pull up. I did one. Last summer, I could do 3, so I have a ways to go!

Days 5 and 6

Day 5: This day sucked. In fact, I think it was the worst yet, but that's only because I haven't worked out today yet. Today's is going to be a kick in the pants, as my husband would say. Day 5 was 2 rounds of a 400 meter run and 50 lunges. We live on a hill, so the run was 200 meters uphill, and 200 down. The first run wasn't too bad, but the second was awful. After doing 50 lunges, my legs were burning. Day 5 was not timed.

Day 6: Yesterday I had to do 100 push ups for time. I only got through 10 of them doing real push ups. The other 90 I did from my knees. I took several breaks and was finished in 5 minutes and 30 seconds. This was not the hardest work out ever, but I'm sore today.

Today, I have to do 4 rounds of:

15 burpees

25 squats

35 sit ups

The burpees are what kill me.

Overall, I am not sure how much progress I'm making. I feel like I'm doing well and then I try to put on some clothes that I feel like should fit me and I can't even get them over my ass. Or I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror at some unflattering angle and realize how much stomach is there where there didn't used to be any! I think I probably need to be running on top of Crossfitting, but it's pretty tough with a baby. I don't have a lot of time every day to devote to working out.

My husband and I just celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary on August 1st. One year ago, I was in the best shape I have ever been in! Today, I feel like I am in the worst!

Crossfit Days 3 and 4

Yesterday (Day 4) I had a wonderful day off from working out. The day before (Day 3) I did 5 rounds for time of 10 tuck jumps and 15 back extensions. The tuck jumps were pretty hard - it's hard to pull your knees up in front of you instead of behind. The back extensions were a little tough, too, because I got an Abmat and used it. It definitely targets your lower back! I did it in 3 minutes and 35 seconds.

Crossfit Day 2

12 minutes to work out today - and I have Jell-o arms already.

Today was:

8 rounds of push ups, sit ups, and squats.

You do each exercise for 20 seconds, then take a 10 second rest and move onto the next exercise. You do the whole 8 rounds without stopping. Sounds easy, right? Not so much. The push ups actually got really hard the last few rounds, and the squats were tough because I'm sore from yesterday. Overall, not too bad!

Shared by Lindsey: Federal Judge Blocks Key Portions of Arizona Illegal Immigration Law

Federal Judge Blocks Key Portions of Arizona Illegal Immigration Law

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked some of the toughest provisions in the Arizona illegal immigration law, putting on hold the state's attempt to have local police enforce federal immigration policy.

I know I already posted on immigration, but this really exasperates me. For one, I am certain that the Constitution gives Congress the power to set NATURALIZATION law, but does not mention anything about illegal immigration. In my opinion, according to the 10th amendment, Arizona should be allowed to pass laws that punish illegals. It is appalling to me that our government is going to such lengths to ensure that illegal aliens are not punished for breaking our laws. The most alarming part of this whole story is that the federal judge made her judgment based on the fact that identifying illegals in Arizona would place "undo" stress on the Federal Government, because they would have to prosecute and possibly deport them. Because there are so many, the judge has deemed it too big a problem to deal with. To me, this is like going to work and deciding that because so many of the students read below grade level I just shouldn't teach them. It's as bad as the policy of some states to let criminals out early because the prisons are overcrowded. Not because they no longer pose a threat to society, but because the prisons are too crowded. When will our government pony up and admit that the lack of border security truly poses a threat to national security and keeps open a drain on our economy? President Obama claims to make the "right" decisions, whether they are popular or not. If this were true, he would secure the border. The reality is, however, that he needs the Latino and Hispanic votes. He won't fix the problem because it looks like his party is taking a nose dive in November. We can only hope.

Crossfit Day 1

My husband has been Crossfitting for a while, so I decided to give it a try. It's quick and I've already learned a lot of the basics from the Boot Camp he runs. I found a two week program for beginners that doesn't require any equipment. I figured that was smart, since I should probably ease into the weights. I have mostly recovered, but I'm a little nervous about lifting heavy weights. My abdomen still gets sore.

The whole idea behind Crossfit is to do short, but intense, work outs that constantly challenge you. You have to change up the work outs and are always doing different stuff.

Today's work out was:

3 sets of (for time):

10 burpees

20 squats

30 sit ups*

*I can't do full sit ups yet (abs are not strong enough post c-section), so I did crunches.

I did it in 7 minutes, which I figure is not too bad a start. I did hold an 8 pound medicine ball for the squats, but that was all the weight I used. I forgot how much burpees will kick your ass! My quads are already sore, and even typing I can feel it in my forearms. Overall, a good start I think!

Dinner tonight: Haddock over a salad with Light Balsamic and Basil dressing. Mmmmmm....

New Work Out!

Today's work out:

5 sets of 10 jumping jacks, 10 push ups, 10 crunches, and a run up the hill and back.

I'm not going to lie - it sucked! It's been so hot and humid, so I had to wait until the evening to do it. Still no scale - probably tomorrow.

As far as the diet goes - not too bad. Last night we went to a party and I was pretty good. We left before the cake!

The baby had his 2 month check up and weighed in at 15 lbs 6 oz!! He's a big boy.

Day 2 of Post-Baby Diet

Ok, so I didn't run today, but I walked about 3 miles relatively briskly. My legs are a little sore from the run yesterday, and I didn't get up early enough to run before it got hot. The baby slept until 5am and my husband took care of him when he got up again a couple hours later, so I took advantage and slept in.

Diet - going well. No sweets today, and no carbs:)

I need a new scale - apparently I broke mine while pregnant!! That might be a purchase for tomorrow...

Burn the Baby Fat!

Ok, so it has been almost 9 weeks since my c-section. This morning I went for my first run. I will be tracking my progress (let's hope I make some!)

Current weight: 143 pounds (down from 170 at the birth of my son in May)

Weight before pregnancy: 135 pounds

Goal weight: 128 pounds

I know, I know, it might be a bit lofty to want to weigh less than before the pregnancy, but I have reasoning. I was in awesome shape when I got pregnant and had a lot of muscle mass. I was a 135 pound size 2. Now, I'm only 8 pounds away from the same weight, but am much larger. I lost a lot of muscle mass and replaced it with fat, which as we all know, takes up more space. I figure 128 will put at about the same size. So here we go...

Today I ran 1.5 miles and it sucked. But I did it. So it's a start.

Tomorrow I will run again and do some weights... and report on what I ate (that's the worst part for me!)

Hello! Ok, so I have completely neglected my blog for almost a year... The good news is, I'm back. It's been quite a year - I got married last August and had a baby in May. He's almost 9 weeks old. So I think I have a bit of an excuse for not posting. Also, the political climate has been so sickening that I would have had a hard time typing about it without vomiting. Especially when you consider the morning sickness.

Anyways, there's much too much material for me to really comment on our illustrious administration, so I will pose one question, pick one topic, and move on.

Question: Is anyone else enjoying watching Obambi self-destruct as much as I am? When polls show that, were the election tomorrow, he'd be in a dead heat with Sarah Palin, that's quality stuff.

Topic: Illegal Immigration. Perhaps someone can enlighten me. Now, I am a confessed Conservative and I may even be a little extreme in some of my views. However, most of the time I can at least see the Liberal side of an argument, even if I don't agree. Not so with illegal immigration. I can see absolutely NO good reason for not completely securing the border and using force if necessary. This is our safety we're talking about. Furthermore, our laws. It is a violation of our laws to be in the United States illegally. And don't give me that crap about "They're the gardeners and housekeepers and cooks - they're not criminals." Wrong. By virtue of the fact that they are ILLEGAL, they are criminals. That's what illegal means, jackass. It means AGAINST THE LAW. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why anyone would not understand this. I can see why there might be some debate about what to do with the ones already here, just because deporting them all would be a logistical nightmare, even though it's what I support. But the border itself? Build a wall, and if the idiots trying to climb it fall off and die, it's a consequence of them choosing to commit a crime. Send troops down there with orders to shoot on sight. I guarantee we'll see a decrease in illegals coming across. The reality is, it's not just housekeepers and gardeners coming across. Drugs and violence are coming across, too. In large quantities. It's time for politicians to consider the country's best interest for once and stop courting the Hispanic vote. SECURE THE BORDER!

New School Year

Today, I started a new school year. I have been contemplating lately how on Earth I am going to teach U.S. Government objectively. I have become so overwhelmingly anti this current trend the government is in that I am going to find it really difficult not to come out and tell the students that I think we currently have the worst President since Jimmy Carter (and maybe even before that. Hoover, anybody? Or how does Ulysses S. Grant sound?) And then, when I think about it, I start to realize that I don't really have to mask it. Liberals have long used public schools to indoctrinate the nation's children. Just look at Barry's latest plan: Address (brainwash) the school children directly, and provide lesson plans so that teachers ask their students to come up with ways to help the President (I don't even know what to say about this except that I am ABSOLUTELY not doing it under any circumstances. I'd rather get fired). The public education system is a bastion for those who are ultra liberal - probably mostly because their audience (children) either doesn't know enough yet to argue, or because the kids don't feel comfortable doing it. If it's ok for Liberals, it's ok for me. The difference is, I will explain to my students the difference between subjectivity and objectivity, unlike many of my colleagues (this past week one of them looked me straight in the face and told me the media isn't biased, because "the truth isn't liberal" and everyone except Fox News reports the truth. WHAT????). I plan to tell my Government classes what an awful President we have, as many teachers did between 2000 and 2008. Isn't it the same? Besides, I have numbers on my side: currently, 52% of voters disapprove of the job Obama is doing (from 9/3 Rasmussen poll) and Obama's index rating is -11. That means a great deal more people strongly disapprove of him than strongly approve. Additionally, 42% of voters believe that people randomly selected from the phone book could do a better job than Congress. I have to say, I agree. Provided the phone book isn't a directory for a public school district.

Lastly, my husband and his friends were trying to come up with a name for their bowling team last night. They were trying out Big Lebowski references, as well as names related to King Pin and Eastbound and Down. When they began musing that they would probably only play the 1st half of the season, and they most likely wouldn't deliver on all the promises of grandeur they have been making, I suggested Obama and the Bail Outs. They liked it.

Hypocrisy?

Does anyone else find it hypocritical of the Democrats to want a special interim appointment to fill the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat until the special election? Let's review the facts:

-In 2004, the Democrats pushed the passage of a special state law that mandates a vacancy be filled by a special election taking place about 145 days after the seat becomes vacant. At the time, John Kerry was running for President in (apparently) a close race with incumbent George W. Bush. The Democrats feared that then-Governor, Mitt Romney (a Republican), would appoint a Republican to replace Kerry if he was elected President.

-In order to avoid a Republican gaining the seat by appointment, the Democrats came up with this law, arguing that it was unconstitutional for a Senator to take his place in the Senate without having been elected.

-Now that Kennedy has died, the Democrats are urging a special appointment. It's obvious that they want another Democrat in the Senate because they are having trouble getting support for their healthcare legislation. Is it fair that this type of appointment was blocked in 2004, but now that it would serve the Democratic Party it is viewed as necessary? I don't think so.

-Could this also have anything to do with the fact that Democratic candidates are struggling in the polls all over the nation? If the seat remains empty until next year, it gives time for a Republican candidate to organize and prepare for the election.

I'm beginning believe we should have term limits for Congress...

Libya and the "Nuclear Option"

2 short things today:

1. Does it really piss anyone else off that Scotland released Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie plane bomber? The kicker for me is that he was released out of "compassion." Is this compassion supposed to emulate the compassion he showed his 270 innocent victims? If it was up to me, he'd rot in prison until he died. Actually, if it was up to me this man would have been executed. So, I guess it's a non-issue. I wonder what Comrade Obama's response to the thousands of cheering Libyans who met the murderer will be? If we take a cue from his limp wristed response to the situation in Iran, he will probably applaud their freedom of assembly.

2. In a sick way I am almost hoping the Democrats DO ram this healthcare legislature through Congress. If they do, I am predicting some massive gains by the GOP in the 2010 and 2012 elections. Chris Dodd (whose office told my husband he will hold no town meetings this recess because he held 2 in the first half of the year) is hopefully gone from CT. Let's go Rob Simmons. Presumably several Democrats in battleground states and states with hefty Independent populations will face defeat also. I know what a colossal mess this healthcare bill will be, but it feels almost worth it to seal the fate of the Democratic Party for the next few years. If it's enough to brand Obama as a single-termer, then I am almost convinced it will be worth it...

Stick to the Facts

I was criticized for being too subjective in my last post, so I want to bring up a fact. I find this next point both alarming and completely infuriating. As we all know (unless you've been living under a rock), many Americans, on both sides of the issue, have gotten out to town hall meetings in recent weeks to offer their representatives their opinions about healthcare reform. Representative Eric Massa (D-NY) recently had this to say about voting for a bill that mandates a single payer:

"I will vote adamantly against the interests of my district. I will vote against their opinion if I actually believe it will help them."

Does anyone else find this completely enraging? We elect officials in this country to represent us in Washington. They are not supposed to come home and represent Washington to us. If more representatives echo his sentiment, I think this is very dangerous for our country. Our government was founded by the people, for the people. Thomas Jefferson stated explicitly in the Declaration of Independence that the purpose of a government is to serve the people, and when it ceases to, the people have a RESPONSIBILITY to change the government. The audacity of Massa is truly disturbing. There are representatives in this country who will risk losing reelection in order to push an agenda that their constituents do not approve of. This is not democracy in the sense that it was meant for the United States of America.

Now, for the opinion part: I believe we should all fight this sentiment to the greatest extent we can. The government is supposed to carry out the will of the people. I am insulted by statements such as the one Massa made and remarks made by Barney Frank at his recent town hall meeting. The insinuation that they know better than the average American about issues that directly affect Americans is flat out wrong. Perhaps in certain cases it is necessary for the government to push change, but I do not believe health care reform is one of them. These issues surrounding healthcare are near and dear to the heart of every American, and people are worried by the blatant disregard with which they are being treated by their supposed representatives. I would urge anyone who feels misrepresented by his or her Congressman, Senator, or President to get these people out of office at the earliest possible time. Do not reelect those who disenfranchise you. Vote for candidates who will accurately represent you, and if they don't, don't vote for them again. Take this very seriously - we have reached a critical point in American history, and every voting American has the power to put America back on the track it was created on.

Here goes... everything

Alright, guys. Here's the thing. As you can see, this blog consists of one single post from February (6 months ago). The truth is, I've had a busy 6 months. I got married on the 1st, and the build up to the wedding was more than preoccupying. However, that's not the real reason I have neglected my blog. The real reason is that I had nothing to write about. When I started the blog I thought it would be my sounding board for run of the mill every day type stuff. I definitely wanted to stay away from politics, because I didn't want to offend anyone. The problem with that is that the only thing I get really fired up about IS that very subject. If you're not concerned with the state of our country, or if you can't handle a conservative viewpoint, I invite you to not read the blog. But hey, somebody's got to be Right.

Tonight, I would like to address the media. I teach government, and a large portion of what I teach centers about the Constitution. I spend an entire unit on the Bill of Rights, and we discuss at length the necessity of each and every amendment. Almost without fail, when I ask any of my 9th grade students to identify which amendment in the Bill of Rights is the most important, he or she answers without hesitation, "the 1st."

We all know that the 1st Amendment guarantees your right to free speech, assembly, petition, religion, and to a FREE PRESS. Within the past 6 months, I have noticed an alarming and blatant erosion of this right. I do not believe that Americans have access to true and unbiased information. How are people to make decisions when they cannot access the facts? The extent to which 90% of the media goes to protect the current administration is akin to the censorship committed by oppressive regimes of the worst type (Stalinist Russia, Nazi Germany). I'm not saying the President is actually censoring the media. I'm saying the media is voluntarily withholding facts in an effort to further its own liberal agenda. The best example I can offer as of yet is the complete and utter disregard of the TEA Parties of the past months by pretty much all news outlets except Fox News. Why are the thousands of Americans who are unhappy with the direction the country is headed in not worth reporting on? It's not because their numbers are not strong - that is not the case. It's because their viewpoint is not attractive to the media or to the ultra liberal politicians pulling the strings. True, one could argue a "free press" is one that reports what it wants. However, I believe a free press is one committed to reporting the unbiased truth, without regard to agenda or partisanship. If this is the definition, WE DO NOT HAVE A FREE PRESS IN THE UNITED STATES.

It doesn't get more un-American (nod to Fire Marshall Bill, I mean Nancy Pelosi) than trying to squash an American's right to free speech. Do I always like what supporters of the White House whack job have to say? No, but I acknowledge their right to express their opinions. It sickens me that we live in a country where our media has stooped to the level of portraying Americans who wish to voice their opinions as "manufactured" and "angry mobs." When protesters gather at anti-war protests and hold signs that say "Peace is Patriotic", the media applauds their exercise of their 1st Amendment right. When conservatives voice opposition to frivolous government spending and a dangerous increase in the government's involvement in our everyday lives, however, the media demonizes them. This administration and the media need to scale back their arrogance and acknowledge that a huge population in this country actually disagrees with them. I am appalled by the President's incredulity at the fact that not everyone thinks he is right. And the fact that he has told Americans to shut up. And the fact that he mocks Americans who choose to exercise their 1st Amendment rights. And the fact that he appoints ex cons and admitted communists to government positions. And the fact that he has manufactured a White House Press Corps that contrives the news and hands it out to media outlets when he doesn't want the media to actually be present at an event. And the fact that he claims the support of entities like the AARP without their consent. But I digress.

To reiterate my original point, every American should be alarmed at the current state of the media. When George W. Bush was president, he was called a Fascist, compared to Hitler, and protested regularly. And it was all constitutional, and the media reported it. It's vital to our democratic system that opposition is recognized and noted to provide balance in Washington. We all need to demand the truth from the media about our President and, more importantly, about Americans. Only through recognizing opposition will this administration move to a more moderate position and choose to represent a greater number of Americans. Do not let them ignore facts. Demand better. Demand we get America back.

Ok, so let's try this again. My first post got me into some trouble on the homefront... Apparently my criticism of New England and its hardy inhabitants was not well-received. Seriously, though, I didn't mean it in a cruel way. I just really don't understand why anyone chooses to stay here.
Which brings me to my point today. Last night, I didn't watch the Carolina/Duke game. I am an '04 grad of Carolina, and I bleed Carolina blue. I buy into the whole bit (If God's not a Tarheel, then why is the sky Carolina blue?), I hate Duke with every fiber of my being. I believe, like the rest of the enlightened world, that Coach K truly is the Devil. Or the Anti-Christ. Either way, his evil heart is as black as his shiny, perfectly combed over hair.
So, why didn't I watch the Carolina/Duke game? It wasn't because we don't have cable (we don't), because my fiance watched it after the UConn game at his parents'. I could have done so, as well. I simply could not bring myself to watch the game with anyone who is not a Carolina fan. I don't mean a person who likes Carolina, or who doesn't have a preference. The Carolina/Duke game is one that can only be watched with others who feel just like me. If I'm watching it with someone, I need to know they anguish at every missed shot like I do. They need to writhe in antagonizing anxiety during each Duke possession, and then bite their nails off during each ensuing Carolina one. I don't want to hear any acknowledgment of a "good" play by a Dookie (if there is such a thing), or a nice shot. I only want to hear the cries of other Tarheels in the worst kind of bloodlust - the kind that leaves you craving the sweetest sight known to man: Coach K passing out on the court, a serious injury incurred by a Duke player, J.J. Reddick crying after a loss at his last ever home-game and Senior night, or Tyler Hansbrough and Danny Green enjoying their 4th straight win at Cameron Indoor.
If I was a real fan, would I have watched the game last night anyways? Not at my fiance's parents' house - under a roof that shelters Duke fans. Not only are there Duke fans there, there are the worst kind - the kind that adopted Duke as their team for no good reason. No ties to the school, no ties to Durham, except maybe that a sizable proportion of the student body at the University of New Jersey at Durham is from New England. And they share the Polish thing with Coach K, so I'll give them that.
My love for Tarheel basketball and my disdain for everything Bluedevil manifests itself in such a way that yes, I would rather miss an historic game than watch it with the infidels. I have no choice. The rivalry brings out another side to me - one that I'm not sure the in-laws are quite ready for. And there's nothing worse than screaming at the television while someone is giving you the "It's JUST a game" look. Not to this Heel. A victory over Duke is a signal that somewhere amid the chaos, something is still right with the world. A loss... well, I won't even bother. It's not necessary. Because, as of last night, the universe makes sense. To the tune of 101-87, Carolina.