and again, I blather at work. ;)

[brightbluegirl]

Well, I got a bunch done yesterday (and no, zv, they aren't GOALS, just "things I need to do", completely different. :P) evening, and was even able to do 45 minutes of cardio. However, I didn't get... uh... any real time to relax to myself, although I did get about 30 minutes where my brother went to the grocery store, Andrew wasn't home yet, and dinner didn't need me to do anything at that moment (the roti were resting). So I jumped on lj and tried to catch up (I didn't, quite, but oh well).

Anyway, we're still in "visit" mode, so there's no just relaxing and doing our own thing, but I'm still enjoying having Gonzo here. Not to mention, he is really shaking us up, and I like that. For all I know, that's what I hoped we'd get out of the deal. I mean, he's already introduced Andrew to an amazing
online job bank, and found out about a community center JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM US, with a pool, that the boys are going to check out today. (I'd love to be able to go swimming regularly again, and to work out with my brother is the BEST way to get back into weights again)

He also helped me work out... I came home, started making dinner, and then when the boys were home and dinner was almost ready, I bemoaned the fact that I was ready to work out, but dinner was almost ready, but it was almost 8 and if I ate then, I couldn't really work out until 9, and then it would be bedtime
after that... but Gonzo just said "Work out now, we'll wait dinner on you" and it was the perfect thing to say. He's good like that!

So yes, I had partly selfish motivations for wanting to do this. He'll help keep me on track for working out and eating no sugar.

(ASIDE: tamble, "Going off sugar", for me, means eating no refined sugar - nothing from the cane plant, no white sugar, brown sugar, demerara sugar, or molasses, cane juice or otherwise. It also means no processed foods (of which we eat very little anyway) that contain sugar, like breads with 'just
a little' sugar or whatever. I also stay away from corn syrup. Basically, I sweeten some things with maple syrup, and I also have some dried fructose if a recipe calls for dry sweetener.)

Anyway, I hope tonight is more relaxing.

---

I've been reading "The World According to Garp" this week on my way to and from work. It is GOOD. I mean, some of the subject matter is jarring for me, but it's written really well.

I have an intense fondness for fantasy/sci-fi, and even mysteries, that I can't begin to explain, especially with all the shitty fantasy/sci-fi out there. So often I'll pick up a fantasy/sci-fi novel instead of a classic, just for the familiarity of it - even though I know the classic is probably written better. Sometimes, I just don't want an overly serious novel, you know?

But I'm very glad I decided to finally read "The World According to Garp". It draws me in so well that I don't even notice where the bus is until it's at the skytrain station, and it contents me like good food so that I'm happy throughout work (well, to a point ;).

Comments

[zaftigvegan.livejournal.com]

ooh god i love john irving. like, ridiculous amounts of love for the man. "...garp" is great, but my absolute favourite is "a prayer for owen meany". no, wait. it's "cider house rules". no, no, scratch that. it's "hotel new hampshire". no wait...it's "a widow for a year". aw, hell. i like them all.

glad you're feeling motivated and that your brother is being a positive influence but try to remember to not compare yourself to him too much. you are YOU and that's why i dig you.

[freakykitten.livejournal.com]

thanks darling, I won't change like that, I promise!!! I just want to be strong and energetic, not... boringly-brainwashed or anything.

[tamble.livejournal.com]

Ahh I see. Not a bad idea, really. I guess I tend to avoid sugar also, though I eat some processed foods.

I noticed that sometimes when I eat things with sugar I get light-headed and/or dizzy and nauseous. That's kinda scary.

[onlyabunny.livejournal.com]

If you don't want to have to make a choice between science fiction and "literature," try Samuel R. Delaney.

[youmns.livejournal.com]

I'm going to take your enjoyment of "The World According to Garp" as a suggestion, and pick it up as soon as I finish my current fantasy novel.
I do the same thing regarding reading - it's nice to read the familiar stuff, even if it's not as great as capital-L Literature.