Each day that I glance outside to view my backyard, I get antsy. Its still not much more than a scarred mudpit after last fall's "surgery" to install water and sewer lines.

Granted, I don't believe in sod. Sod is just the laziest concept I can imagine. But its not just a matter of getting the grass to grow. The ground desperately needs to be leveled. And some kind of layout needs to be assigned to the various portions of the outdoor living space.

I think I have convinced hubby to install a small pond in the yard - its already torn up so why not cover one of the divots in vinyl, rocks, water and plants?? I've gathered info in magazines, books, and online relating to pond installation and maintenance. One nice thing is that we already have a nice supply of rocks/small boulders left after the construction. I gathered them into a large pile last fall, hoping to somehow incorporate them back into the garden. I'm also looking forward to the water garden being not just plants and water but a HABITAT for frogs, birds, snails, and small fish. We do have Herons in our area in the summer so I have to ensure that the setup includes hiding spaces for aquatic creatures to give them a fair chance. Naturally we'll be doing this project on a budget but from the research I've done so far it appears do-able in our price range.

In order to reasonably (i.e. without injury) undertake the landscaping that needs to be initiated in a few short weeks, I realized I need to step-up my fitness routine. Since I have barely shed any pounds, despite working out vigorously (cardio, weigh training, yoga and pilates) at least 5 days a week fo the past 5 weeks, I had been concerned about where my cardio-vascular fitness level was - and per my monitor findings, its wasn't too great. I started working out w. my heart rate monitor again and I think that will be the key to training in the zone I need to be in to affect change.

Yesterday, I got on the treadmill with my electronics in tow: mp3 player to pump up the jams and heart rate monitor to pump up my blood. I guess I was enjoying the digitized tunage because before I knew it, I completed 5 miles of walking/running/and hill-climbing. I kinda wanna go for that again today! I won't be able to swim for a few days because my kiddo is home sick with a cold, and of course, I have those feminie issues to deal with, making swimming a less-than-ideal option right now.

I always wondered who wore the kooky, semi-kitschy and moderately pricey duds from Urban Outiftters...

...and then I caught a bit of #1 Single on E! and realized that it must be Lisa Loeb who is single-handedly keeping that chain of overpriced juniorwear afloat.

And what is UP with her flashing her thong'd lil' heine to Isaac Mizrahi? Speaking of whom... can I just note that, though I appreciate his sense of style and humor, he has got to be the worst talk show host on the planet. Although one interview I'd adore: Isaac Mizrahi talks candidly to resident Alien, Roger, from Fox's American Dad. 

I was having a terrible weekend: after my initial elation/exhaustion from my swimming workout on Thursday, I awoke on Friday to discover that I got my period AGAIN. Yes a full week early - thus giving me TWO ,count 'em, TWO menses within one month's time thus far in 2006.

The resulting skin breakouts, mood swings and weight flux put me in foul spirits which resonated until this evening.

Upon the suggestion of the Hubby, I picked up Chinese food for dinner. After inhaling copious amounts of Kung-pao chicken, I opened my fortune cookie:

"Remember: After a rainstorm there is always sunshine."

So in a few days, I guess I can expect butterflies and daisies to come fluttering out from betwixt my thighs?!?! Whatever...as long as its not that bouncing yellow Wal-Mart smile face, whistling dixie as he emerges from my nether region, I think I'll be fine with it. (insert smart-a** grin here.)

My community pool offers "Adult Liesure Swim" each day from 1-2pm. Basically it means you can move around in the pool with kickboards or floats (provided), walk the length of the pool, tread water, or even SWIM, but without the restriction of having to stay within a lane at a certain pace.

I went and did all of those activities, tried various swimming strokes, did some "toning"/resistance training with the floats, as well as some post-kickboard stretching, for about 35 minutes. Then to further drain my system I hopped in the sauna for 10 minutes. Man, I am WIPED OUT!

Liesure, my arse!!

Hey!

Tomorrow (Wed.) on CBS' "The Early Show" there will be an interview with author, restaurant reviewer and all-around fun gal Lauren McCutcheon, on her new book, A Virgin's Guide To Everything.

Lauren is one of my sister's best friends; they have collaborated together for many years (i.e. - my sis and her hubby often accompany Lauren when doing restaurant reviews) and I can tell you for a fact that Lauren has some excellent karaoke skills!

Peek in on the interview and check out her book, too!

...was supposed to be Jack Elliott's due date.

My mom reminded me of this over the weekend. I'm ok about it all but my daughter was lamenting his loss today.

*sigh*

I came across this article online touting the vision for Neo-traditional/"new urbanism" planning in a number of towns along the Gulf coast that were devastated by Katrina.

I may not have mentioned it but I have a Master's degree in Urban Planning & Policy and this "Neo-Trad" development idea was the predominant model for transportation and housing design when I was in school, and it continues to have a strong following among planners, architects, developers, and local governments today.

I nearly laughed out loud when I read the following quote from the dean of Tulane's School of Architecture:

"This is a very conservative, very waspy ideology," said Reed Kroloff, dean of the Tulane University School of Architecture and head of a New Orleans rebuilding committee. "There's no doubt that a fair amount of New Urbanist principles have found their way into the embrace of the American right. ... They call themselves neo-traditionalists. Neo-traditionalists and neo-conservatives make a very happy marriage."

My experience with Neo-trad proponents is that many of the professors I had were practically socialists in terms of their personal politics and vision for community. When the key elements of such a plan include:

• persons of mixed income living next door to one another (i.e. - certain percentage of housing units reserved for section 8 housing right there in the neighborhood as opposed to the "old school" method of shuffling/segregating the poor into warehouses (housing projects) or slums)
• preservation of land/open space to promote cleaner air and water
• layout of commercial services (shopping, etc.) within walking distance of housing, further fostering a sense of "community"
• overall layout conducive to pedestrian and public transit traffic; significantly less dependence by residence upon cars (obviously a huge benfit for those who can't afford cars.)

Yeah, those sound like inherently "neo-con" ideas to me (insert sarcastic smirk here.)

Granted, the money and time just may not be available to these Gulf cities to start from scratch with a neo-trad layout. And that is really a shame, because it could truly be a boon to persons across the socio-economic spectrum who deserve not only improvement upon the existing devastation but the promise of a more inclusive, vibrant, welcoming hometown to call their own.

Although well-intended, the money and time needed to execute such development just may not exist in many of the towns affected. This is an enormous tragedy unto itself - just read the many articles and blogs that tell how bad things STILL are and how in some towns things are getting worse these many months post-Katrina.

But to call someone offering VISION - upbeat and perhaps a bit idealistic/unrealistic, but a VISION, nonetheless -  "waspy" and "neo-conservative" - to me that is utterly preposterous. Its a classic example of a party pooper; someone draining the spirit and energy from a region that so desperately needs it.

To me, the ultimate "neo-con" or just plain old "con" idea of planning consists of gated communites for the rich and gated housing projects for the poor - and never the two shall meet. The rich can get in their SUV's and haul off to some luxury mall or organic grocery store. The poor shop at...well the neo-con's don't care where they spend their food stamps. As long as it ain't in THEIR neighborhood.

I wish I could offer grants from philanthropic pockets to communities who realize that in the past, there were blighted areas, slums, and a dispartiy among the populace and now, amidst the devastation of a natural disaster, something POSITIVE can be done to improve the lives of all residents and business owners. That through careful, creative and equitable planning and development, the South can "rise again" so to speak.

Idealistic, unrealistic, not what everyone wants? Yes, likely. Neo-con? Hardly.

I cannot be the first person to notice this:

Santino Rice (Project Runway contestant, season 2):

Overarching qualities: Narcissistic, outrageous, prone to fashion faux-pas, drives Michael Kors crazy.

Osama Bin Laden (International terrorist): Ditto (minus the Kors thing...)

I have been feeling quite well the past few weeks. My back has been solid and thuus I'm back to areobics, weight training, and yoga 4x's a week in various combos.

I'm doing well enough that...I am really thinking I can rev up my training routine to get me ready for a triathlon by mid-summer.

Belive it or not my least-favorite element is biking. I have an indoor trainer can use but its been quite nice around here lately with dry roads. Today would be a perfect day to go for a spin on the schwinn but I volunteered to help out on a project at my daughter's school this afternoon so I'll have to wait for another sunny, dry, non-windy day for a road workout.

In the meanwhile I've already ordered a new bathing suit to begin pool workouts and I'll plan to start running again TOMORROW.

Oh, and my stomach has been doing pretty nicely, as well - so much so that I'm down to only one pill daily for the GI-related issues.

I think I was inspired in part by this funny logo I saw recently on shirts and stickers online:

Yeah, I'd love to be sportin' that on my car bumper as I drop my kid off at school every day! hehehe.