Friday Confessional: Gotta Get Down on Friday

Greetings from sunny, temperate Boston on this glorious Friday morning! It's finally starting to feel like Spring and, despite being my least favorite season, even this bad-weather-loving lady is ready for some sunshine and Sam Summers.

Ok, let's cut to the chase. It's Friday. On Fridays, we wear pink confess our deepest, darkest, most embarrassing thoughts, obsessions and musings.

I have never made a secret of my adoration of terrible, horrible, no good, very bad pop music. Is it embarrassing? Sometimes (and by sometimes I more accurately mean never). I am that girl at the bar who interrupts your regular Friday night Pitbull dance party by putting old school *NSync on the jukebox. And you know what? Seven times out of ten, I am not the only one singing my head off, nor am I alone in recreating the choreography of "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" and "Baby One More Time."

My only fear is that the 21 year old younglings think of these contemporary pop classics as, "vintage party jams," much like my friends and I freaked out every time "Take Me Home Tonight" and other songs of that ilk came blaring through the TKE basement speakers, spurring everyone to break into spontaneous Pat Benetar-inspired windmills and generally creating a ruckus ("Can you describe the ruckus, sir?" ::coughcough:: "Was that the ruckus?" Oh John Hughes, how I miss thee).   

It is with this love in mind that I must make the following confession:

Every Friday, without fail, I listen to Rebecca Black's "Friday" at least twice.

I KNOW.

The vocals are robotic, the tune is annoying and the lyrics are complete rubbish. These are all the exact qualities that draw me to it. Make of that what you will.

When the song first debuted, I initially thought it was meant as clever satire. With the likes of Ke$ha's "Tik Tok" dominating the Top 40, it was a perfectly-crafted mockery of the ridiculousness spewing from our radios, worming its way into our ears and causing us to bungle totally bizarre lyrics such as, "drop my keys, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack," and bringing nonsensical words like, "sizzurp" into the modern-day lexicon. Surely, I mused, no one could have ever penned the words, "tomorrow is Saturday, and Sunday, comes afterwards," without tongue planted firmly in cheek. I'm still not entirely convinced that they didn't.

Yet I love it anyway.

I tried to hate it. I really, really, realllly tried to fight against this ...noise... but I couldn't. It's just so perfectly awful and campy that it appeals to my inner sixth grade nerd who is painstakingly applying eye glitter across her brow bones and parading in front of a mirror while warbling into a hairbrush. Though there is no amount of money in the world that you could pay me to repeat that era of awkwardness, I do occasionally miss those simpler times when my biggest weekend stressor was figuring out which seat I could take on the bus. Now I have to juggle errands, laundry, cleaning and long runs while maintaining a social calendar that involves a decent amount of day-drinking.

Sometimes, being a grown-up is hard work.

I also feel less guilt about this little pleasure because, despite getting off to a bit of a rocky start, Rebecca Black seems to be doing alright for herself in the grand scheme of things. She's appeared on one of those vocal voting shows and has something insane like 50 million views on YouTube. And if nothing else pans out for her, she can rest assured that someday down the line, there is a high likelihood that people will have figured out that it's way more annoying to Friday-Roll their unsuspecting friends than to surreptitiously lead them to that other classic earworm.

[Source: UrbanDictionary.com]

And so, I shall continue my little Friday tradition of gifting my coworkers and Andrew the masterpiece that is "Friday," while reminding them that it could be way worse. Harlem Shake, anyone? 

PS- You're welcome.

PPS- Happy Easter to those celebrating this weekend, and Happy Passover to my Jewish friends!

My Intruiguing Life: Version 3.20.13

Remember back in January when I wrote this post? WELL, you're in for a treat because a) I'm sick today and b) I have writer's block, so I thought to myself, "Self, what better way to kickstart something besides the Veronica Mars Movie than to write another Intriguing Life post?"

So here you go.
________________________________________

Currently: On my couch.

Current books: Royal Flush, A Royal Spyness Mystery by Rhys Bowen (don't judge, clowns -- sometimes a lady just needs some fluff reading, amiright?); The South Beach Diet by Arthur Agatston, M.D. (more on that in a minute).

Current music: The solid 18-hour "We Heart the 90s" playlist that Katie and created on Spotify a few weeks ago.

Bring me back to TRL, why don't you?

Current guilty pleasure: The Vampire Diaries. I'm halfway through Season One and, thanks to all of your tweets encouraging me to stick it out, I am finally hooked. Ian Somerhalder can bite me any time. 

Current nail color: Naked. I hate having naked nails (I'm a barely reformed biter -- so gross), but it turns out that my funky eye allergies might actually have been caused by polish, so I have to dare to bare for the moment.

Current drink: So much water that I'm surprised I haven't transfigured myself into some kind of marine mammal by now, McGonagall-style. I was a little ... underhydrated?... over the course of the weekend and am playing catchup now.

Water, water, everywhere.... I've probably managed to drink this much water, yes.

Current food: Eggs. I can't get enough of them lately. Thankfully, the FDA took them off their shtlist again, but I'm still sticking with 'beaters for the most part (who am I kidding, the only reason I use eggbeaters is because it's too hard to transport and cook real eggs at work!).

Current favorite show: 30 Rock, which Andrew and I started over from the beginning almost immediately after the series finale aired; Pretty Little Liars because the season finale is tonight and there will be hell to pay if they are mirroring the books; Castle because Nathan Fillion is hot; Shark Tank because I have no life and do my long runs on Saturday mornings, so I might as well spend my Friday nights watching poor people squeeze money out of rich people.

Current wish list: So easy -- to go back on vacation! NYC this time around was even more fun than I expected. I've been stalking deal sites to try to plan a quick weekend getaway either with Andrew or one of my gal pals. Any suggestions?

Current needs: The same as last time -- more sleep! I've gotten an exorbitant amount of Zs over the past 36 hours, but I still can't seem to get enough. Also, I need for the two pounds I've jumped up over the past two days to fall back off, because I was all set to add fruit back into my life and now I'm stuck in Phase 1 for an extra two days, courtesy of St. Patrick.

In case the complexion wasn't enough, I thought I should broadcast my heritage on my shirt.

Current triumphs: I ran my first race since last year's injury, which is a triumph of sorts. Sure, it was my slowest 5k time ever and I was disappointed for a hot minute once the results posted, but then I reminded myself that a little less than a year ago I was in a walking boot and physical therapy, then patted myself on the back (Also, I'm down more pounds than days I've been dieting, so that's a win).

Current bane of my existence: Is of my own doing: disorganization. I need like an hour alone with a notebook and a really great pen so that I can make a bunch of lists so I can focus my attention where it needs to be, rather than being distracted by the 40,000 ideas/thoughts floating around my brain.

Current celebrity crush: Rob Thomas. Actually, BOTH Rob Thomases, because I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that my beloved Veronica Mars is FINALLY going to receive the ending it deserved.Oh, and Ian Somerhalder, as previously noted... like Chase Crawford, only less cradle-robby.

Current indulgence: 1/2c ricotta cheese with a dash of vanilla extract and a half tablespoon of slivered almonds. I haven't missed dessert once! Also, on a beauty level, I'm considering splurging on this Macadamia Oil that I received in my March Birchbox -- OBSESSED. I've used it twice and both times, even my second-day hair looked like it had been blown out that morning.

[Source]

Current blessing: My darling and wonderful boyfriend.

Current slang: Nothing too offensive -- although as I type this, I'm listening to "No Scrubs" by TLC (thank you, 90s playlist), and I really think it's a term that needs to make a comeback. I've noticed a recent uptick in the amount of people attempting to holla at ladies on the street -- they hide under the guise of hipster, but perhaps we should just call them what they are: carless scrubs. 

Current outfit: It's a lovely shade of, "wintery mix" here in Boston, so I'm scrubbed out in Forever 21 jeggings, a fuchsia cowl-neck tee, a loooooong drapey sweater and black flats.

Current excitement: Andrew and I are hosting a brunch at our place on Saturday for some friends -- also known as, "the daycation kickoff party." The last time we all daycated, we ended up doing karaoke, so here's hoping the party is the smashing intro everyone hopes it will be!

Current mood: So bummed out about this weather. It's a mood that my baby brother, G-Unit, refers to as, "awww draaaaps!" which Andrew and I appropriated for ourselves because, really, what is funnier than a three-year-old thinking that, "drat" is pronounced, "draps" and then whining it whenever things don't go his way?

Current link: www.newyorker.com -- My stepmother makes fun of my dad and me for reading The New Yorker on a regular basis, but I've been doing it since I was ten and I still maintain that you would be hard-pressed to find a periodical with such consistently provocative, yet well-informed, articles. I love it.

Drop Everything For This Video

As you might know, I love healthy living blogs and the amazing community that they have fostered. While I don't consider myself an HLB, my reader is full of them and I can't tell you enough how much reading them has broadened my horizons. Before I started reading HLBs, I was convinced that I was the only person in the world who struggled so much with weight loss, calorie obsession and body image (What? So I'm a narcissist; sue me!). Now, I've learned to eat clean, whole foods that I don't know how to prepare or pronounce, that it's TOTALLY OK to take walking breaks in a 5k and, most importantly, to let my positive thoughts sing louder than the negative ones can shout.

As you ALSO might know, I've also learned to love love love laughing at myself and never to take myself, or anything else, too seriously.  

Which is why this video has so utterly and completely made my day. Maybe I'm late to the party, but if you haven't watched it yet, seriously, drop everything -- you can always get another job, right?? -- and go watch it. Holy hilarious. I dare you not to get it stuck in your head all day.

"You're the most annoying dude I've ever seen, brah,

Can you please move? You're right in front of the quinoa"

I die!

Thanks to my coworker/friend, Kristin, for sending it to me.

Adventures in Pilates: Two Thumbs Up!

Greetings, readers-who-don't-exist-because-I-refuse-to-make-this-blog-public-for-fear-of-familial-friendly-corporate-embarrassment-and-retribution!

This whole Cait-IE Experiment is supposed to be about my quest to better myself through choices, experiences and trust, right? (Actually, how would you know that; I still haven't had time to write the "About" page). Anyway, I thought I should probably write something about a big leap (in a number of ways) that I made today.

I signed up for, and tried, my very first structured Pilates class.

"Ok," I know you're saying, "big deal. Pilates class. WHOOPIE!" You don't know me, though, and the fact that I have spent years (yes, literally YEARS) working on severe social anxiety issues. I don't know where they came from, or why they appeared, but sometime in college I completely lost any backbone I had and became this giant... puddle. It's how I gained weight in the first place, actually, after taking off 50 lbs between my sophomore and senior years of high school. I avoided the Freshman 15 and gained the Junior 80. Sad, but true, and I'm sure that one day I'll get more into that aspect of my life. But back to the problem at hand: Pilates.

I've dabbled in Pilates before. For awhile, I was a devotee of the 10 Minute Solutions: Pilates Perfect Body DVD. Abs, Arms, Lower Body, Total Body and Cooldown, all in 50 minutes? Sweet, sign me up! Except, of course, if signing up required actually doing these things in public, where people could see me awkwardly trying to contort my body into unnatural positions and sweating like a pig while trying not to die. I'm not without any grace, some have even called me elegant with movement, but I wouldn't wish the sight of me doing anything involving pelvic bridges on anyone. Except maybe that kid who scratched my car last weekend, that little b**tard. But I digress. After working with the DVD for a few years in my bedroom, I progressed to Jillian Michaels' Yoga Meltdown and The Biggest Loser: Yoga after completing the 30 Day Shred. I was content with striking poses like Boat and Swan in the comfort of my own or, in a few cases, my friend LC's, home.

And then I joined Gym X, started running again, got coerced into trying Spinning, checked out the classes offered and wanted to get my money's worth for the astronomical fee they are draining from my bank account each month. While browsing the class schedule on a particularly irritable day, I saw "Beginner Pilates" on the schedule for today and, with my boss' blessing, clicked "Sign Up". So, after sending multiple panicky emails to my poor coworker, ("OMG, do I have to wear sneakers? No, it's barefoot, right? Ew. Is that even sanitary? Do I have to bring my own mat? Will I be the least flexible and fattest person there?") I sat Caitlin down and let Caitie have a little chat with her, which went something like this:

Caitie: "TAKE A CHILL PILL, YOU FREAK!"

Deep breaths. Then I went to the gym, managed to get dressed with only one switch of the shirt (there's another question: do you go loose and flowey, or is fitted and immobile better? I don't want to flash the entire gym my lady bits, after all! I went with a crewneck and stretchy shorts), put on socks, and proceeded to hover awkwardly around the water cooler in the locker room, stealthily checking out the feet of every woman who walked by, sneakers sitting on top of my gym bag in that, "Oh, silly me, I forgot to put on shoes!" in the event that no one else was barefoot type way. Finally, I decided to just go with it, and padded my way from the locker room to the group exercise studio in my socks. Thankfully, everyone else was similarly clad in cotton, and those who weren't had rolled up their socks and stowed them next to their mats. Thank God.

Observing in a, "Oh, I've done this in a million times!", side-of-the-eye darting around the room fashion, I understood I should be grabbing a mat from a disgusting stack in the corner. So I did, and unrolled it, realizing I had two - cool, because I've done this at home, and one HURTS. What's the point of a mat if it isn't going to even cushion your spine while you contort it in ways that nature never intended it to move? Then I saw a few of the women grabbing blocks and hand weights -- um, I did not sign up for accessories when I signed up for Beginner Pilates. So, I just sat tight until the instructor, who had an accent I had initially pegged for Russian but, it turns out, was actually French, asked us if anyone was new to Pilates. Momentary crisis: do I deny, deny, deny, and just fake it until I make it, the way that I did with Spinning? Or do I fess up, because in the event I look like a total jackass while belly flopping and rolling around in a ball, I want to have something to blame it on? I went with the latter, and added a really confident arm swing when I shot my hand up like a bullet. HELLO, WORLD! I'm an EAGER newbie!

From there it was actually easier than I expected. There were a few other newbs in the group, and they both said this was their second class (For the record, I lied and said it was my second class, too. Hours of DVD instruction has to even out to a one hour class, right?). Then we did The Hundred (knew it!), leg circles (check!) and a bunch of other stuff. The whole time, the instructor was wandering around and commenting on us, particularly those of us who were new. She kept correcting the woman to my left, which was awesome because I felt like a rockstar when she made her way over to my extended leg circle with pointed toe and said, "good!" That's pretty much how the class went - almost everything we did, I had already done it with the DVDs, so she just fine-tuned my form on a couple things. And then there were the rolls. GOOD GOD. Anything that requires you to grab your feet, roll yourself backward, click your heels three times over your head and then roll back to a sitting position should be outlawed. I was fine with the rolling back part, but apparently my abdominal region is full of jello, rather than muscle, and I could not FOR THE LIFE OF ME use my abs to roll back up. I (thankfully) was out of view of the mirror, but I assume I looked like a fish flopping around on the deck of a schooner. It was bad enough that the instructor, whom I had liked up until that point, made the ENTIRE CLASS do the extra-super-idiot-style modified version of the move 5 times just so I didn't feel like a failure. Thanks, lady. Then it got easier again, with leg extensions and stuff, and once again the friend to my left was all kinds of jacked up and I looked great by comparison. Then, an hour had rolled by and the class ended. I barely broke a sweat (good? bad? who knows). And the best part...

... as I was leaving, the teacher caught my eye and broke off her conversation with someone else to say, "You did very good today! Very, very good!" I've analyzed it for the remainder of my afternoon, and honestly, I don't even think there was a hint of patronization in her voice. I think she was trying to tell me "Good work!" I'm not about to run out and try the intermediate class anytime soon, but that didn't stop me from grinning like an idiot, rushing back (have you ever tried running while strutting? It ain't easy!) and telling my coworker and boss what a natural I am at the ancient art form, Pilates. What a trip.

And that's all she wrote... for now.