Any Given Sunday

7:00 AM - Leave house

7:15 AM - Pray for daily inspiration at the Temple of Starbucks

7:45 AM - Arrive Nadine's house for weekly tennis match

9:20 AM - Sun out in full force, sweat dripping - tennis stops

9:30 AM - Walk to IHOP for breakfast. Crave Bacon mega-omelet, but cringe when looking at provided nutrition info. Compromise by having Garden Scramble, but adding side of bacon. That should be better, right?

10:20 AM - Back to Nadine's house to give weekly hello to Bailey, Ziggy and Sasha before leaving. Receive arm weekly arm scratches from ever-excited "Sasha the Destroyer."

11:00 AM - Back home, hop on computer to see what is happening in the world of Facebook. Debate on showering first, but Facebook infinitely more important. Have all day to shower.

11:38 AM - Receive the following e-mail



Tickets at box office only! Box office is 30 minutes away....

11:39 AM - Remove workout clothes, throw on "hang around the house" dress and run out door, no make-up, no hair done, thank God for flip-flops....

12:10 PM - Looking for parking near Troubadour entrance. Only spot found is one block away, permit only street parking. Quickly calculate risk of ticket vs. risk of missing John Mayer. Grab spot and hope for the best.

12:15 PM - In line waiting....at least I have nice people to talk to. Post status update on Facebook. Begin receiving snarky responses from friends indicating A) I am a stalker B) This is probably a big joke and John will not show up.

12:45 PM - Line begins moving. Beefy security guys chastise anyone who even THINKS about bringing a camera to show tonight that they will meet the curb if they do. Damn... Oh well, at least that means little club purse is all I need tonight.

1:10 PM - Secure magic red wristband for entrance to show. Perform end zone celebration dance on sidewalk.



1:20 PM - Return to parking spot. Car still there AND no ticket! Breathe sigh of relief...

1:45 PM - Back home, update Facebook status again confirming I am officially cool and am going to the show.

2:35 PM - Receive follow-up e-mail confirming what I knew would happen..



2:45 PM - Nap time...gotta prep for a long night ahead. Venue is general admission, standing room only. Time to save the legs.

4:00 PM - Up from nap, head to shower. Recall beefy security guy mentioning magic wristband does not respond well to water. Crap! Run bath water while figuring out how to enter tub without using right arm. Complete sponge bath, omitting right forearm and hand to preserve magic powers of wristband.

6:30 PM - Off to Hollywood!



7:15 PM - Not happy to be back in line, but thrilled to be seeing John.





7:45 PM - Line is moving...WOW!!! This is being taped!



8:00 PM - In the door, and the Gods are on my side. Found a SEAT at the bar with a good view of the stage! SCORE! No standing for 3 hours! Now where's my cocktail?



10:00 PM - John and company kick off a FUNKY night!!



Setlist:

• Vultures (with an extra side of funky!)
• Wait Until Tomorrow (at warp speed!)
• Come When You Call
• Crossroads
• Ain't No Sunshine
• Turn the Lights Down Low (inspired by a Steve Jordan studio request. The lyrics reminded me of the hokey pokey, but we won't tell John...)
• Perfectly Lonely (finally a new tune! And it sounds like a killer single. Lyrics may not be done...per John's Twitter post, he was finishing them 30 minutes before the show)
• Gravity
• Whatcha Gonna Do About It (featuring Steve Jordan AND Jim Keltner! Holy crap!!! That deserves a photo...)
  

Encore......

• Who Says I Can't (...Get Stoned)
• California Dreamin'
• Who Did You Think I Was (with fully funkadelic closing jam)

11:30 PM - Headed back to the car. Amazing show, but a little disappointed JM didn't do more new music. Highlight was the return of the JM Trio lineup. Nothing against John's full touring band, but he just gets a different thing going with Steve & Pino...and it grooves like nothing else.





12:15 AM - Finally home, with my parting gift from the show. Gotta love FREE posters!



1:10 PM - Blog done, bed calling....

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time...

I love shiny things. In my universe, something can never be too covered with sequins, crystals, or bling of some kind. That includes gifts. So when I found this silver glitter wrapping paper, I figured I had scored!



That is, until I went to actually USE it. Then the real trouble began.



Because it's covered in glitter, tape won't stick to the wrapping. So I had to settle for this origami approach, then wait until I was tying the bow to get the package to stay shut. Crap!



And of course, it left little snow specks all over my table. And my hands. And my clothes. And because the table has grooves in the surface, it was a pain in the butt to clean up. Now I'm really irritated!



At least the finished product looks nice....and very SHINY! Of course, it's going to pop apart instantly and cover the recipient with fairy dust when opened. Hope they have a sense of humor.

And no, I'm not telling you who the gift is for. You'll just have to wait for the follow-up blog....

Behind the Scenes

After I got back from Yurika's birthday party, I was feeling a little full from dinner and felt the urge to work it off. I didn't want to go to they gym. I tried that Thursday night after dinner out with a friend, and discovered late night work outs do not sit well with my stomach. So I thought I would take a walk around the complex just to move a little and get some fresh air. Plus I love how the city looks on a clear night, and I wanted to try some pictures.

The complex has this system of elevated walkways so you can get to buildings on adjacent blocks without dealing the street traffic. It's also a nice way to walk around at night.



This is the pool. Hard to believe I haven't had time to check it out yet, but it sure looks tempting.



As I walked towards the back of the pool patio area, I thought I spotted a camera crew. And sure enough, upon closer inspection, they had shut down the street behind the building, as well as two lanes on 3rd Street, for some kind of filming. Not clear whether it's TV or a movie, but you may be seeing my apartment complex on a screen near you one of these days!



All of these stopped cars were part of the shoot. The grey building in the top right quadrant of the photo is the Walt Disney Concert Hall.







I'm just glad I don't live in the South Tower. Those poor folks are gonna have a tough time sleeping tonight with this shining through the windows...

Happy Birthday Yurika!

My friend Paul threw a surprise birthday party tonight at Buca di Beppo for his beautiful wife Yuika. They were kind enough to join in for my birthday dinner, so I was glad he called and invited me. It was small but lively group and everyone had a great time.



And who doesn't love Italian birthday cake?





Of course, Jordan Hershberg was once again the star of the evening. We had the high chair in between Micah's seat and mine so we could give Allison a little break. He is so entertaining! And I absolutely love that when Allison says, "Where's Meg?" that he points right at me and says my name. I even got "I love you!" Melted my heart!





Happy Birthday Yurika!

Awestruck And Inspired

When I posted my "In Training" blog last night, I took a deep breath before I hit the publish button. Talking privately with friends about weight and body image is one thing, but putting it out there for the world to see is another matter altogether. My vodka tonic with dinner made me feel brave enough, I guess!

While I hoped to get some supportive messages from the two or three people that regularly comment about everything on my blog, I wasn't prepared for the overwhelming flood of positive thoughts I received. I have my blog linked to Facebook as well, and a bunch of my Facebook friends chose to comment there. Things that inspired and amazed me:

• Recipe offers! I need as many of those as I can get. Because I'm not gonna stop eating, but I'm committed to doing it better. And you know I love to cook! One friend even gave me her Weight Watchers account information so I could see what was going on there, even if I didn't want to dive into the full program. WOW!
  
• Admissions by people I think of as "natural athletes" that they struggle with exercising every day. Huh? You mean my friend who competes in triathalons has to talk herself into exercising? Cool...
• Acknowledgment that I'm not alone. EVERYONE to a person admitted their own fitness struggles. It's so great not to feel alone. And I think I now have a workout buddy in every city where I have a friend. Amazing!
  

I'm so excited to talk more about all the aspects of this journey and have you follow along with me. I thought about starting all the related blog titles with "In Training" followed by the subject of the post, but I thought it might start to look boring. Plus having to search through a year of titles to find what you're looking for isn't fun. Instead, each post will have a "In Training" tag, so you can just use the tag menu on the main page of my blog to read these more easily.

Thanks to all my amazing friends for their support, encouragement and love. Because of all of you, I AM GOING TO DO THIS.

In Training

Ever since I moved, I've been trying to find the motivation to use the gym in the basement of my building. It was one of the things I liked about this place when I was looking for new digs. So accessible, no more room for excuses not to get in better shape. For most of June, I put it off. Still getting organized, stuff to do around the apartment, project at work...always an excuse. Pretty much the story of my adult life.

I have struggled with my body image as long as I can remember. Even when I was a kid, at my skinniest, I had heavy thighs and a booty. No surprise I still have them, and they've only gotten bigger with age. I will never be a supermodel. It just isn't in the genes. So why bother doing anything about it? You can't overcome nature, right?

But this nagging thought was still in the back of my mind. "What if you just put in a little effort? What can it hurt? " So in July, I had a couple of business trips planned. I was traveling solo and knew I'd be bored, so I packed the gym gear and my swimsuit. And I actually used them both! It's like something in me woke up and said, "Welcome back to the world of aerobic activity! We've missed you." I started feeling pretty pleased with myself, and kept the habit going when I got back home. I turned the corner and started to believe I could make some positive and lasting changes. Maybe I'll never be a supermodel, but I can be a better, healthier version of me!

And so I started to formulate a plan, and I even set a goal. I'm going to lose 50 pounds in the next year. There, I said it.

I have a few key things working against me. I'm not a natural athlete. With the exception of cheerleading in high school, I've never actively participated in organized sports. I love being a fan, but actually doing it is another story. And I LOVE food. Always have, always will. Food is not the enemy. I know this on an intellectual level. But I'm also a stress eater, which is NOT good, because food becomes tied to emotion. And I have a terrible sweet tooth, especially when it comes to chocolate.

But I also have some enormous reasons to overcome the hurdles. Heart disease and diabetes both run in my family. And I have a lot more I want to see and do in my life, which all takes energy. I know this isn't going to be easy, but I also know I can do it. Here's how I'm going to tackle the "Better Meg" challenge...

Step One: Have a Support Network
Even serious athletes need a coach to help them get better, so I have one too. I'm lucky to have Nadine in my corner. Unlike me, she was an athlete in college and is still addicted to running. Like me, she works full time, has a house to take care of, and has all the stresses of life I deal with every day. She's the one who encourages me to stay realistic, to keep focusing on all the small goals leading up to the big one.

Nadine and I play tennis every Sunday morning now, and our tennis matches are a wonderful combination of exercise, girl talk, and coaching. I was commenting about how bad I was food-wise at the Zeta "Guys & Dolls" picnic at the Hollywood Bowl this weekend. Her responses included, "It's OK. You can't be perfect all the time. " And "Forget about the number on the scale, because you're building muscle. Are your clothes fitting better?" They are, so she reinforced I hadn't totally ruined everything. Which was exactly what I needed to hear.

Step Two: Have a Plan
We have a saying at Progressive that we get good at whatever we measure. So I sat down this past weekend and created a spreadsheet to track my workout length and intensity, as well as my food intake. I went online and found a site that tells you how many calories are in darn near everything (large banana? 121 calories, in case you were wondering), so I even get an approximate total for food with no packaging. And I'm getting on the scale every day. I'm already getting a kick out of watching the weight trend graph on my spreadsheet start to slowly tick lower.

Step 3: Talk About It
I've been inspired recently by actress Marissa Jaret Winokur, who has been blogging about her weight loss battles in for People Magazine. And it's not all success. She talks openly about the things that challenge her, the times she stumbles, and what she does to fight back. So expect "the fully skinny" from me as well.

I definitely got some bonus motivation from Justin Bourne, a former hockey player turned blogger that I follow. Here's his take on getting in training mode for hockey season.

http://www.usatoday.com/community/profile.htm?UID=9c32e7547d08b9f3&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a9c32e7547d08b9f3Post%3ae3062717-6755-46e6-b2a5-eb9488e3cd03

I find it comforting to know even professional athletes struggle with this stuff! For now, I'm off to get a good nights sleep. Hockey season starts in less than 2 months. And the "Better Meg" is gonna be ready!

Guys & Dolls

It is a fundamental truth of the universe that for most men, putting the words "musical" and "theatre" together equals "Please don't make me go with you." No one embodies this truth more than Nadine's husband John. So when her sorority alumni group was planing their annual outing to the Hollywood Bowl, and the entertainment was "Guys & Dolls," she knew better than to even tell him about it. Lucky for me, because that meant her extra ticket was a gift to me for my birthday! And I, like most women, actually ENJOY musical theatre. Even if Jessica Biel is playing one of the leads.



Now, I was never in a sorority, for a couple of reasons. For one thing, the band geek thing (practices every day for a couple of hours, football games every weekend) got in the way of Rush Week events, as well as all the ongoing parties and things you had to attend until you hopefully got accepted. Then there's that whole thing of having to work to impress people enough to want to be your friend. Now, I know it isn't like that everywhere, and I'm not judging, but at that stage of my life my attitude was pretty much "You either like me or you don't. And I don't care if you don't like me. Your loss." Now that I think of it, I'm STILL pretty much like that. But Nadine seemed to think I was likable enough to hang with the Zetas, so I wasn't too worried. Although I did check dress code with her. Didn't want to stick out like a sore thumb and all.

Her sisters are a HOOT! What an amazing bunch of women. We had an awesome time, complete with a picnic before the actual show, then seats together with the whole crew and a ton of chuckles throughout the night. Someone was even thoughtful enough to bring a pair of binoculars and pass them around so we could scope out the hot dude playing Sky Masterson in the show.



The entire ensemble cast was really good, including Scott Bakula and Beau Bridges. And I have to admit, Jessica Biel surprised me. Granted, I wasn't expecting much, but she did a good job. The higher end of her soprano range is a little thready, but she held her own. Plus she got to make out with the cute Sky Masterson guy. Justin Timberlake should be just a little jealous!

It was really great night, so big thanks to Nadine and her Zetas for making the continuation of my birthday week a blast! And being the excellent friend she is, Nadine also got me these really cute earrings!



The only less-than-perfect part of the day was the drive home. Only in LA can there be a traffic jam at 11 PM...took me almost 45 minutes to get home (the drive should only take about 20 minutes tops).



And of course, who called me on my way home looking for his wife? That would be John. He's probably sorry he missed the fun...at least he should be.