Archives for January 2010 | theclothesmakethegirl

Jan 28, 2010 Posted by Mel

Smupdate! January 27, 2010

Sometimes, when I’m hanging with the corporate overlords, Dave emails me photos of what Smudge is doing. This just in: It took 11 mid-nap, head-to-tail pets to get her to... read more

Jan 28, 2010 Posted by Mel

You might not know her name, but I bet you recognize her voice. Zelda Rubenstein was the diminutive on-screen actress with a gigantic off-screen Good streak. She’s probably best known for her role in Poltergeist as the psychic Tangina Barrons, but I really loved her brief appearance as the organist in Sixteen Candles. It’s one of my favorite movies (Jake Ryan!), and she added the perfect touch... read more

Jan 27, 2010 Posted by Mel

Goodbye, Coffee – Hello, Chamomile

Based on the very helpful suggestion of one of my readers, I read the book Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests are Normal? over the weekend. It gave me a lot of confidence going into my endocrinology appointment that I’ve done all I can with my lifestyle to support my Frankenneck. The advice in the book was clear: maintaining stable blood sugar levels is really important and one of... read more

Jan 26, 2010 Posted by Mel

I’m Not Crazy And I Like (Scaled) Muscle-Ups: A Story in Two Parts

Part One: I’m Not Crazy I was seriously beginning to doubt my sanity. OK, maybe that’s a little melodramatic, but I was Concerned, was wondering if I’d somehow lost my mental mojo, my trademark stubbornness, that internal core that helps me never cheat, never quit. Since the beginning of the year, my energy level has been, for lack of a more technical term, “whack” – and my... read more

Jan 22, 2010 Posted by Mel

Heavy Lifting & Heavy Metal

Ladies and gentlemen, we have safely arrived at Friday. Congratulations! Friday means Dave and I head to the craptastic gym for heavy lifting. Today’s workout was 5X5 front squat and 5X5 bench press. (Sssshhhh… don’t tell anyone: I’m beginning to love the front squat.) The first time I did them back in October, they were very uncomfortable and scary, but now I’m all prepared... read more

Jan 21, 2010 Posted by Mel

Why I Can’t/Won’t/Don’t Read Celebrity Crap Anymore

On November 30, I swore off junk food publications like People, Us Weekly, InTouch, and all the other celebrity gossip rags. I don’t put junk food in my body, and I’m no longer putting junk food in my mind. Instead of filling my head with nonsense that takes up valuable space, I thought I might be able to use all that prime real estate to think my own thoughts, make up stories for my future... read more

Jan 21, 2010 Posted by Mel

Oh, Good! There’s Time For Squats, Too

Wednesday night pre-bed ritual:1. Drink Natural Calm2. Eat 1 tablespoon of Sunbutter3. Brush teeth4. Squeeze Smudge5. Check Twitter for workout6. Dream about the weight to use for deadlifts CrossFit Women WorkoutTABATA! :20 on/:10 off for eight roundsdeadliftburpeessitups Unlike when we did the 2010: A Tabata Odyssey workout and took a break in between tabata sets, this morning, we went straight... read more

Jan 20, 2010 Posted by Mel

Think Positive… Or Don’t

Awesome ideas alert! There’s a lot of good, straight-talk in this post at Aggressive Strength Magazine. This first point is an interesting one. Read it, then we’ll discuss: Self-help gurus often talk about the importance of having a positive attitude, claiming it’s fundamental to the success of any and all endeavors. On the contrary: attitude is... read more

Jan 20, 2010 Posted by Mel

Some Day

One of the loveliest things about fitness is that it’s never too late to start – and you’re never really “done.”That means there’s no good reason to be impatient or try to rush to the end goal. The answer, instead, seems to be to commit to the process, fight Fear and Doubt every day, and focus on BEING the fit person on the way to their next goal. The truth of it is, once a... read more

Jan 19, 2010 Posted by Mel

Melicious… SMASH!

There are cupcakes are our reception desk again. I can see them from my desk. Dozens of them: white, pink, and chocolate cake with white frosting and violets MADE FROM FROSTING on top. Everytime I walk past to get to the bathroom – which is a lot because I drink a lot of water and chamomile tea – I can smell the butter and sugar. This has been going on for four hours. I just had a very vivid... read more

Jan 19, 2010 Posted by Mel

R.I.P. Robert Parker & Spenser

Really sad news: Robert Parker died yesterday. He was the creator of the iconic, hardboiled detective character Spenser. If you’re old like me, you might remember the TV version Spenser: For Hire. Spenser is the kind of character I’d love to create some day: true to his friends, honest, self-confident, romantic without being a pushover, and self-reflective without being a wuss. In short: a... read more

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reading is sexy
Reading right now...

The Redbreast: A Harry Hole Novel
I'm about two-thirds of the way through this detective thriller, and I'm hooked. It's set in modern Norway with flashbacks to WWII (catnip for me!) and features a somewhat grim hero that engenders empathy. I can't help pulling for the guy as I watch him struggle with his case and his life. The cast of characters is a realistic but motley crew, and it reminds me of other favorites set in cold, snowy climes: the Millenium Trilogy and Smila's Sense of Snow.
Recently finished...

The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million
I picked up this book after reading an interview with Lee Child (author of the Jack Reacher thrillers). He referred to The Lost as "the book of the century" and since I devour as much as I can about the Holocaust to try to make sense of it all, I decided I needed to read it immediately. Part memoir, part detective tale, this book was thoroughly engrossing. It's intelligent, annoying, moving, frustrating, and ultimately, rewarding and beautifully written. It challenged me in ways I didn't expect, and I was sad when it was finished.