Thank You, Nintendo

Thanks to Nintendo's Wii Fit, I have currently dropped 30 pounds, and am in better shape than I have been since... um, well, probably forever. I now weigh around 153, which I don't think I have since college. And I know for a fact my abs never looked this toned.

Although, to be fair, that's not all Wii Fit at this point. I broke out my ancient videotape (VHS? What's that?) of Abs Of Steel, and have been doing that since Wii Fit only offers you one variety of crunches.

Still, while these jeans were always a little loose, they were never this loose!

So thank you to Nintendo for creating a videogame that made me really pay attention to what I weighed and what I ate and how I worked out. Sure, it might not be the best for a long-term physical fitness routine, but it's the best jumping-off point I've ever had. Trying to work out at home never stuck, and neither did joining a gym. It's a little embarrassing to think that it took a Nintendo game to get me into shape, but hey — with results like this, I'm not complaining!

The Muppets Take Brooklyn

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Originally uploaded by Wootinie

Last week, I noticed some signs up in Brooklyn Heights saying that Muppets Inc would be filming something called "Letters To Santa" there on Monday, September 8, and the times were from 6AM to 12AM. Why they thought they needed 18 hours is beyond me. But I got off the train a couple stops early to pop over and check it out, and I got lucky enough to see them film one scene before they called it a wrap. They'd redecorated an apartment building in the neighborhood to look like a post office, and Fozzie, Gonzo and Sam the Eagle were on the steps, worrying that the post office had closed, and it was Christmas Eve and they had to return Santa's letters to him. (Naturally, Sam the Eagle reminded viewers that reading other people's mail was a crime, while Fozzie just worried he'd end up on Santa's naughty list for reading his mail)

So I basically only saw that one bit, then they wrapped. Fozzie and Sam disappeared, but Gonzo came over to thank the little boy in front of me for coming to watch. Thank goodness for the kid, or he might not even have bothered. Though honestly, I think I was probably more excited to be three feet away from Gonzo than the kid was! I don't know why I get so excited to encounter the Muppets, but I do. I can't help it. They just make me feel like a kid again. It's wonderful.

The signs only listed the one day, but I hope they'll be back again. I'm sure they shot more than that one scene if they were there all day, but here's hoping there's even more to shoot... maybe on another street closer to mine?

Women Drivers

Eades Family Reunion 2008

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Originally uploaded by Wootinie

Every two years, we try to get the extended family together for a reunion, and this time, Matt and Ann Marie hosted out at their home in Buffalo, NY. It was an absolutely perfect location, with huge front and back yards for the kids to run around in, and a terrific playground setup. The only thing we could've used was a few clouds in the sky to cut down on the sun.

Everyone brought food to share, so there was certainly no shortage of eats. Everyone stuffed themselves silly on everything from grilled Elk to paella to Duff's famous Buffalo Wings. Yum! Of course, having lost 25 pounds over the past few months, I've gotten used to eating less, so my stomach wasn't really happy with all that I kept shoving in there... On the other hand, Colin and Elizabeth insisting that I chase them around the house certainly kept me active enough to burn off some of those calories! Where do kids get all that energy? I don't remember being that hyper! (Although I'm sure my parents would disagree!)

We couldn't have asked for a better weekend, and the photos on my flickr page prove that. Now the only question is who's hosting in 2010?