I'm back from NYC! I absolutely loved it. There was so much to do and see. We didnt have any down time and there's always something to check out. There were also tons of people, which is awesome for a feeling of anonymity and so much opportunity for people watching. I'm definitely a people watcher no matter where I go, but in NYC it's inspiring because of all the fashion. I love seeing how differently everyone dresses and there's such an eclectic mix. I got home at 2:40AM-ish this morning and then started errands today before heading to Salem. The madre, Kurt, Emily and I are going to go out for Thai food and then tomorrow I am learning how to drive my new auto. I'm way stoked to learn how to drive stick. I havent done it before but I hope I will pick it up fast. This is a good weekend!

Thai Time

I went and got Thai from a food cart with my friend Peter today. It was really good and only $6.50. And of course all Thai food is good with tofu instead of meat so I got that instead of chicken. Mmm. Its in NE so I'd be very surprised if I was there again but I love trying new places.

Now off to pack for NYC!

New Car

So I got a car! I went to different lots all day and was looking online and finally found one that I liked. It's a 2001 Saturn SC2 in yellow. It's a stick, which I have no idea how to drive, but my mom is going to teach me. Since I leave for NYC early Thursday morning, I won't really have time to learn how to drive it beforehand. So tomorrow I am dropping the rental car off at Enterprise and then borrowing Mom's car to drive back to Portland. Then i'll fly to NYC and when I get back then I'll drive back to Salem and have Mom teach me how to drive my own car. haha. A lot of shuffling around but it'll be worth it. My mom test drove it and said that it handled nice, and everything else looked good to me and it checked out well. So I'm the new owner of a car. Whoot. Glad to have that off my chest. I have had a lot on my mind with the NYC trip, my roomie breaking the lease and moving out and then the car getting totaled. So this is definitely helping put my mind at ease!

Vegetarianism

So I am giving up meat for the summer. (Feel free to insert gay pun here). I've been looking at the health benefits of doing it and its very interesting to see that there is a marked difference in health between those who eat meat and those who do not. I'm starting tomorrow, actually, and have a few buddies that are going to keep me on track. I gave Whitney my chicken nuggets (which she was all gung ho about) and am not buying any more meat for the apt. I am going to continue eating some fish and eggs though. Thats mainly just in the form of tuna sandwiches, since I get a lot of protein from those. I know that eating just fish and eggs is called pescetarianism, so that's technically what I will be doing. I am also switching over my milk to a plant product rather than animal milk. There are some good options out there for that so I won't miss regular skim milk.

I'm excited to start this. I think it's going to help me be more conscious about what I am taking into my body and eat healthier in general. Plus I am trying to make more food at home recently so this will help with that.

Speaking of making more food at home, I am going to go buy a wok later today so that I can have round deux of making Thai pineapple fried rice. It was very vapid, but I believe that is because of how I prepared it. The last time I prepared everything separately since I didnt have a big enough pan and then added it into a bowl but thats not what the instructions call for.

I think this will be a good endeavor to get me thinking more about how healthy my food is for me and give me something new to try at home. Im hoping it goes well!

I am also starting:

- No alcohol [except on my vacations to NYC and Las Vegas]

- No eating out on my own or getting to-go food on my own

- No eating after 8pm

- No desserts

- No coffee or frappuccinos

- No soda [including diet]

- Trying to eat every 2-3 hours

NYC to-do List

When I visit NYC this summer there is a list of things that I want to do and see. The list will expand, of course, but this is what i've got so far:

- Visit the New York Public Library
- See a broadway play
- Go to Chinatown
- Eat Chinese food
- Take the 'Sex and the City' tour
- Sit on Carrie's doorstep (from Sex and the City)
- Go to Rockefeller Center
- Go to ground zero
- See the 'Book of Mormon' musical
- Visit Serendipity (dessert shop)
- See the Statue of Liberty
- Stand in Times Square
- Go out to a club
- Drink a cosmo
- Ride the subway
- Walk in Central Park
- Go to the Central Park Zoo
- See the bldg 'Friends' is filmed in
- Go to Greenwich Village
- Order from the Soup Nazi off Seinfeld (which is a real place!)
- Walk on the Brookylnn Bridge
- Visit Ellis Island
- Go to the MET
- Take a cab
- Eat pizza
- Shop at a second hand clothing store

Summer Plans

I am really looking forward to this summer! I have a lot of things coming up, including a lot of traveling.

Travel plans:

Utah: June 18th-22nd [with Mom]
Las Vegas: July 8th-11th [for Katy's birthday. We are going to party it up!]
NYC: July 21st-28th [with Kelsey, Caitlin and Horizon]

Events:

Kurt's wedding: June 24th
Britney Spears Concert: June 28th

Plus I can't wait to lay out by my pool and tan and read. That's probably one of my favorite activities in the world. Plus there are beach trips in my future as well. :)

High Weight

I weighed myself this morning. Eek! It's the most that I've ever been before, which I hate. I am working out hardcore with Kelsey. We went to 24HR last night and did an hour of cardio and then we are going again tonight. My goal is to go a minimum of 5 days per week. We are mixing up our routine with cardio, light weights and then abs as well. When I work out on my own I just do cardio so this will better for tonight and for all around workouts.

Our New York trip is July 21st-28th so that's three months (and 3 days) away. That's the perfect amount of time to make a noticeable dent. And Caitlin, Kelsey and I (who are all going) are gym-ing it up to get in shape. My overall goal is to lose 46 lbs, though that wont happen by NYC.

I'm looking forward to working out tonight!

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Goal: 46 lbs