tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173734732024-03-13T01:34:57.488-04:00Nik's notes“The secret to living the life of your dreams is to start living the life of your dreams now, to any degree that you can.” ~ The Universe "Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.comBlogger604125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-65972226364741511502011-06-30T22:56:00.003-04:002011-06-30T23:02:32.711-04:00The Rules of TennisOne of my favorite things about coming home to Georgia is hanging out with my nieces. They are 13 and 18, which means they are now at ages where I can actually relate and we can have a really good time together. They are both full of personality and crack me up on the regular.<br /><br />A couple of nights ago, my little sister (22), my two nieces, and I went to the tennis courts up the street for some nighttime tennis. None of us are superstars but we all have a genetic athletic prowess which allows us to be at least somewhat competent in most sports (except bowling; I did not get that gene), so I thought we could at least get some good hits in.<br /><br />Or. . .not.<br /><br />Turns out we all super suck at tennis. Thus, to make things a little easier on ourselves, we developed these 4 basic rules for tennis that anyone can follow:<br /><br />Rule Number 1: It helps if you keep your eyes open.<br /><br />Rule Number 2: Make contact with the ball.<br /><br />Rule Number 3: Hit the ball over the net.<br /><br />Rule Number 4: All rules except these are superfluous.<br /><br />Happy Tennis-ing!Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-81284916111274702942011-05-29T23:15:00.003-04:002011-05-29T23:27:18.074-04:00Tales from the CryptRecently I had a multi-day jury trial. My client, to put it nicely, was not a defense attorney's dream. Long record, weird slightly scary tattoo, spastic hair, crazy eyes. We were not exactly besties.<br /><br />After trial was over, I learned the following story: The district attorney was displaying photos on a giant screen, so I had positioned myself on the other side of the courtroom to see them. Meanwhile, back at the defense table, client started squirming around in his seat. . .every time they showed a picture he didn't like.<br /><br />My boss, sitting right behind defense table, noticed client's fidgeting and leaned up to him.<br /><br />"Settle down. You need to act like you are expecting everything that comes out of their mouths. Nothing is a surprise to you." Boss advised.<br /><br />Client leaned down, nodded, and assured my boss, "This is my third jury trial."Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-10789235849924635672011-04-17T23:00:00.005-04:002011-04-17T23:21:13.466-04:00Gratitude List<a href="http://tinybuddha.com/blog/how-to-start-a-gratitude-practice-to-change-your-life/">This article</a> about a "gratitude practice" popped up on my Twitter feed today, and although I only skimmed it, I do like the idea. I try to stay aware of the little things, especially when the big things have me down, but I thought writing it down might go a step further toward lightening my mood.<br /><br />So here's my list of what I'm grateful for today (in no particular order):<br /><br />- Conversations with friends, old ones and new ones<br /><br />- That I met him at all (I guess)<br /><br />- Tulips galore and my neighbors who planted them (tulips are my favorite flower, so simple and beautiful)<br /><br />- I saw <a href="http://www.susangibson.com/index1.html">Susan Gibson</a> and <a href="http://www.janapochop.com/">Jana Pochop</a> last night, a rare treat of real music in my tiny town. They were awesome. Brought me back to my roots, also made me even more excited to be in Texas (they live in Austin!).<br /><br />- Guacamole<br /><br />- The cutest dog in the world lives at my house<br /><br />- I vacuumed some stuff!!!!! (Now only 4845721721 other chores that need doing that didn't get done that should've been done 3 weeks ago. Pfft. What.ever.)<br /><br />- <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=6375253">RAFA WON</a> HIS 7TH STRAIGHT TITLE IN MONTE CARLO! (Did I mention I had a dream we made out last week? Hands down, best. dream. ever.) I'm grateful for Rafa, always.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhFFbn_M1WHe6cKihdPGqm8RDJqkd0NrlZyjz-d9qYoAaaaGqhPje-TP1jgQo7IoduFKFyLDhPmxcwgt2ApdxYLbeDpb0NtTXcLJrwfTXAZk0tsiZHaGTGw7NAUazyRa6DQve/s1600/rafamontecarlo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhFFbn_M1WHe6cKihdPGqm8RDJqkd0NrlZyjz-d9qYoAaaaGqhPje-TP1jgQo7IoduFKFyLDhPmxcwgt2ApdxYLbeDpb0NtTXcLJrwfTXAZk0tsiZHaGTGw7NAUazyRa6DQve/s320/rafamontecarlo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596756196161680850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">So many dirty thoughts, so little time.</span><br /></div><br />This was fun. Am actually smiling and happier (Rafa will do that). Post your gratitude list on your own blog or in the comments (all 2 of you :).<br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/cpdsnh/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-5.png" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/cpdsnh/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-6.png" alt="" />Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-11048085464052145882011-04-16T13:17:00.006-04:002011-04-16T14:04:49.286-04:00SamudraSomewhere along the way of practicing yoga and dipping my toe into Buddhism I picked up a tip to help quiet the mind while trying to meditate: Picture yourself sitting at the bottom of the ocean, where everything is still, and the waves and turmoil are all above you, on the surface. <br /><br />The metaphor, of course, is that our thoughts and emotions can swirl around us but at the core we can remain peaceful. I've always found it a particularly helpful exercise, perhaps because I am so drawn to the ocean anyway, and I find myself coming back to it sometimes in the middle of a hectic day when I pause to take a couple of breaths.<br /><br />Today I feel quite literally like sitting on the ocean floor, except the couch is my sand and the current around me is everything I have to do, emotions I'm trying to avoid, thoughts too difficult to deal with. As long as I sit here and remain still, everything is fine. But the moment I get up the peace is gone and stress descends.<br /><br />I'm not quite sure what to do. I try to live by the motto, "ride the wave," and right now the wave is crushing me, holding me under, like what my dad used to call "rolling" me, when you can't find the surface and the tide somersaults you and for a brief couple of seconds you think you might really drown. I'm trying to remind myself that I never drown. I always find air, and my feet always right themselves, and I am free to swim to shore or continue playing in the surf.<br /><br />Just yesterday I told a friend that very early on in my life I began writing my own rules and forging my own path. I don't regret that, nor do I plan to stop doing it. Sometimes, though, it just feels so hard. Sometimes I just wish I could follow the steps that seem to work for everyone else instead of breaking my own ground. But I know my truth, and to ignore that would bring me more unhappiness than the pain and loneliness of making my own way.<br /><br />So after I publish this post, I'm going to get up off the couch and jump into the current, because the peace here is false and if I don't fight for air, then I have succumbed to the wave instead of riding it. It's not time for riding and floating. It's time to paddle and duck dive. Hard work and patience. Another good set will come.Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-35086354531222869812011-03-27T21:06:00.002-04:002011-03-27T21:09:08.534-04:00It Must Be Love......Because I've divulged my affinity for Britney Spears.<br /><br />(For the record, the result was an alternative lyric to <span style="font-style: italic;">Til the World Ends</span>, "I'm a dirty dirty dirty whore.")Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-58846309606988902742011-01-26T00:22:00.003-05:002011-01-26T00:26:41.912-05:00WTF was I thinking?Ya'll. This re-studying for the bar exam thing, three and a half years after I already passed it once...worst.idea.ever.<br /><br />I've been half-assing it for a couple of weeks, but now it's almost crunch time, and I'm starting to slightly panic.<br /><br />To make it worse, work and personal life haven't really been helping matters. And the weather? BOO.<br /><br />But today I got my "ticket" in the mail. I'm definitely taking it in Austin, which is a huge relief. More importantly, I'm now kind of excited. I get to buy a plane ticket. I have to start thinking logistics.<br /><br />Shit's gettin' real.<br /><br />And I like it.Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-60853079230984789322011-01-02T16:43:00.007-05:002011-01-02T21:56:23.427-05:00NYE and the aftermathSo New Year's Eve in Times Square was E.P.I.C. About the only thing missing was alcohol, but honestly, it was so fantastic that I didn't miss it. That being said, my friend EH and I did a good job of making up for a sober NYE by drinking no less than 7 mimosas at brunch on January 1, followed by bloody marys and a long island iced tea at a bar after. Hey. The mimosas were free because our waiter fell on us, knocked our table over, and spilled ketchup on my jacket. What were we <span style="font-style: italic;">supposed</span> to do?<br /><br />Anyway, who doesn't love a good drunk Niki story? That's what I thought. So I present to you a collection of sent text messages from yesterday afternoon/evening. It all began really with the one I sent to Twitter at 2:46pm: <span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">I am fucking wasted! I have to get on bus in 1 hour! Holla! 2011 is the best year EVER!</span></span></span><br /><br />To Twitter: Whoops. 2 hours. Yes! More time to drink!<br /><br />To JL: I love being drunk so e cking much! Woot!<br /><br />To JH: I'm on the bus with Chris. Midnight. (note: JH was picking me up at the bus station; I had called him an hour or two before asking if he could pick me up the next morning because I wanted to change my bus ticket to 1030pm instead of 5pm. No dice.)<br /><br />To EH: Yes! I'm with chris. The coolest seventeen yr old ever! Too young? ;)<br /><br />To JH (in response to "Who is Chris?"): Idk but he's my new bff. Will call. Have to turn phone off bc battery dying.<br /><br />To EH: Lol. I woke up at a gas station with chris in the seat across the aisle. Fuck I have to pee. You drunker yet? I can't believe antonio and the bathroom?! WTF?!<br /><br />To EH: PS I drunk dialed XX and he answered. Clearly he is in love with me.<br /><br />To EH: I think I'm hungover, too. I need pretzels! Where is timo when you need him?<br /><br />To JW: It was legendary! I am drunk on the bus! I love you! Next year we're going! It's the best nye ever!<br /><br />To EH: I'm about to pee in the bus bathroom. Wish me luck! I would cut a bitch for some dominos.<br /><br />To LR: L. I got so drunk in the daytime! You would've been proud. Just getting to bus station. Ugh. Gotta drive home soon. Party foul. Hope you had a good new year's!<br /><br />To EH: E! WTF was that voicemail? Amazing! I am so hungover!<br /><br />To EH: Just got back. Literally slept the whole way. I want to do it again! Our lives rule!<br /><br />To JH: We're here. If you see pizza on the way, i'm gonna need it.<br /><br />To EH: Also I think i listened to back to december no less than 112 times.<br /><br />To EH & Twitter: There is a nearly full bag of cheetos laying on the sidewalk. It's taking more self control than you know not to eat them.<br /><br />You're welcome. I am happy to sacrifice my dignity if it will entertain you even a tiny bit.<br /><br />HAPPY 2011!! Gonna be a fantastic year!Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-80470914816234360972010-11-20T15:28:00.004-05:002010-11-20T16:04:18.990-05:00Damn, I'm being so lazy today. I have no idea what time I went to bed, but I woke up sometime around 11am. I made my way home, threw in a load of clothes, ate some cereal, researched Fantasy Football for an hour, took a nap, and here I am.<br /><br />I need to go put those clothes in the dryer/on the drying rack. (Aside: Can I just say how much I fucking HATE doing this? I hate hate hate hate hate hate hate this task. It takes FOR-EV-ER. Mostly because I am neurotic about my clothes and have this belief that the fabric & color lasts longer if you don't put them in the dryer - even stuff that says go in the dryer - so I end up only tossing mainly underwear and socks in the dryer and trying to find a place to air dry everything else. Such a fucking pain in my ass.)<br /><br />I need to clean the bathroom.<br /><br />I need to walk the dog.<br /><br />I need to sweep.<br /><br />I need to clean the kitchen.<br /><br />I need to sort through the giant stack of mail on my table, on the counter, in the mailbox....<br /><br />But here I am. Writing this blog entry. Yoga Pose of the Week didn't fare as well as I intended, but I'm not giving up. I'm still yoga-ing and my friends gave me a badass Astanga book I can't wait to dig into. Hopefully I'll have the inspiration and time to share some of it on the blog.<br /><br />Oh, the blog. Pretty sure no one reads it anymore, and that's fine and understandable. I am sporadic about reading everyone else's, too. I don't want to give up on it, though, so that's why I'm writing this post. It's been awhile since I've posted anything beyond yoga, food, hot celebrity stuff. Don't get me wrong, those things are well and good, but there is so much more to my life, too. A lot of it I can't/don't want to write here, for privacy's sake, for embarrassment's sake, for a hundred twenty-seven other reasons. But the other day I thought of something that I normally wouldn't share on the blog, but the takeaway point was pretty important to me, so fuck it. I'm going to write it.<br /><br />Over the past several weeks, I have been hanging out with a Boy. A few people know about him, but mainly I keep my relationships under wraps until I know how substantial they are going to be. I've dated enough to know myself and the men I date - these things can be fleeting. But this thing with Boy seems different. Well, sort of. We have a lot of fun together, we have excellent chemistry, we seem to think the same about life. . .and on it goes. I will confess. I am developing more than a crush on him.<br /><br />And because of my past experiences, of course once I realized this possibility beyond a crush, I freaked the fuck out. Number One because I don't want to get hurt. Number Two because Boy has an expiration date; there is almost no way it will last "forever" and I don't want to get hurt (I won't go into detail here; just trust me on this). I spent a couple of days brooding, determined I should just end things now, before I get in too deep, before it leaves a wound that will scar instead of just a paper cut. <br /><br />Ordinarily I live my life the opposite way - living in the moment, dealing with consequences later. It is better to have loved and lost. . .blah blah blah. . .never say no to an adventure. . .you know me. You get the point. There was just something about this, something that made me balk at the possibility of hurt. It has been a rough few years for me, broken heart-wise, and I just wasn't sure I could face another one.<br /><br />Then I realized something I've been learning with yogic philosophy and Buddhism: Nothing is forever. No thing. No one. No relationship. Some last longer than others, but everything lives and then dies. We have no way of knowing how long <span style="font-style: italic;">anything</span> will last. Even if Boy had the potential for "forever," anything could take him or me away at any moment.<br /><br />That's when I took my head out of my ass and decided to embrace it head on. Get back to my roots and live in the moment. Appreciate every. single. second. of happiness. Life is an ebb and flow, an up and down. Every day, even, has its moments of good and bad, a progression of moods. Why deny myself these delicious times with a great person just because he won't always be there? It was silly to even consider it.<br /><br />So here I am. Lazy on a Saturday because we stayed up too late last night laughing and drinking and watching funny things on TV. And I don't care about the laundry, the dirty kitchen, the mail. These things will get done because they must. For a moment, for a few hours, I will soak in the happiness and just be.Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-46034550274673742992010-10-03T22:11:00.002-04:002010-10-03T22:37:58.558-04:00Yoga Pose of the Week: Balasana/Child's Pose<a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/475"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Balasana/Child's Pose</span></a><br /><br />Today has been rainy and relaxing. When I was walking the dog, I started thinking about this week's yoga pose. I literally almost did "naptime pose" because it's just that kind of Sunday. In that spirit, I give you child's pose - best known as a resting pose in both yoga and Pilates. Literally, there are days I come home from work and my body is craving child's pose. I think I cannot possibly work out or walk the dog or make dinner, but after doing balasana for a few minutes, I'm rejuvenated. Several instructors I've had also start off class in this pose because it helps prepare the mind and body for the practice to come.<br /><br />This is how I go into child's pose, and there's a cheesy video at the end to show you another variation (complete with shirtless man. You're welcome!).<br /><br />1) Get in table top position - on your hands and knees, flat back.<br /><br />2) Spread your knees wide and let your toes touch.<br /><br />3) Press your hands into the mat as you push your butt and hips onto your heels. If you aren't that flexible, try putting a block or blanket on your thighs and calves. Rest your head on the ground.<br /><br />4) Either bring your hands palm facing upward by your hips or remain in extended child's pose with your palms pressing into the mat, arms extended. If taking the latter variation, remember not to let your shoulders crunch into your ears but remain down your back.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WrA5mN-MW5U&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WrA5mN-MW5U&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br />According to <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/475"><span style="font-style: italic;">Yoga Journal</span></a>, this pose should NOT be practiced by pregnant women. Also, be careful of knee injuries; if it hurts your knees don't do it. For what it's worth, I have issues with my knees, but I've found this pose actually stretches them out and makes them feel better. But those are my issues, my knees, and the pose doesn't hurt. If it hurts, stop!<br /><br />Otherwise, you can enjoy these benefits from the pose (taken from <span style="font-style: italic;">Yoga Journal</span>):<br />* Stretches hips, thighs, ankles<br /><br />* Calms the mind, relieves stress<br /><br />* Relieves neck and back pain when doing <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/1452">the supported version</a><br /><br />Almost anyone can do this pose, so I encourage you to try it and feel the calming effects for yourself!<br /><br />NamasteNikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-20118130516343335512010-09-28T22:23:00.003-04:002010-09-28T22:41:27.541-04:00Yoga Pose of the Week: Padahastasana<span style="font-weight: bold;">Padahastasana, or Hand to Foot Pose</span><br /><br />This is my favorite variation on a forward fold. Forward folds in general have a calming, re-focusing effect on the body and are great to do right after last week's <a href="http://nikisnotes.blogspot.com/2010/09/yoga-pose-of-week-handstand.html">YPW - Handstand</a>. I like this version for a few reasons. 1) It gives me a nice stretch on my shoulders while also stretching the hamstrings and low back. 2) It's fun to say! (Pronounced - PAH-duh-ha-STAH-san-uh, Pada = foot, hasta = hand, thus hand to foot pose)<br /><br />Here's a video which demonstrates the proper alignment and steps to the pose. It's pretty simple.<br /><br /><object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MPIvLaCNnAg?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MPIvLaCNnAg?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object><br /><br />Some thoughts from my own practice:<br /><br />* Keep your low back straight. If you cannot come all the way to the floor with straight legs, just bend your legs. You will increase your flexibility more and better by being mindful of your body rather than rushing just to the floor.<br /><br />* Don't let your shoulders get scrunched into your ears. Envision them sliding down your back to get the best benefit from this pose.<br /><br />* This pose has a slight balancing aspect. It's good to try to put more weight on the hands than the heels, which can be a little scary. I *may* have almost fallen over trying to do this, so be careful! But don't worry, as one of my yoga teachers used to say, you have a roll bar if you do fall. :)<br /><br />* Check out these <a href="http://yoga108.org/pages/show/117-padahastasana-standing-forward-bend-yoga-posture">couple</a> of <a href="http://www.yogawiz.com/basic-yoga/advanced-session.html">pages</a> for the numerous benefits of this posture, which include increasing blood flow to the head, alleviation of bloating or constipation, toning of the abdominal muscles, and increasing spinal flexibility.<br /><br />NamasteNikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-90752421437748946422010-09-19T13:10:00.007-04:002010-09-19T19:25:53.837-04:00Yoga Pose of the Week: HandstandIn my effort to return to semi-regular blogging, I'm going to attempt to feature a yoga pose every Sunday. I know some of you would rather eat pigs' feet than try yoga, but one of my new goals in life is to get my yoga teacher certification so I can convince even more people that yoga is awesome. In that vein, I'm going to share some of my 7+ years of yoga love with you.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/788"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Adho Mukha Vrksasana/</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Handstand</span></a> (click it to learn how to pronounce)<br /><br />Handstand is probably one of my top five favorite poses even though I have not "mastered" it, and that's one of the reasons I chose it as my first pose to feature on the blog. It shows that yoga can be fun and fulfilling regardless of where you are in a pose. It isn't about being flexible or making a perfect triangle. It's about trying the movements and feeling the benefits in your body and mind. With that said, let's get to handstand.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Benefits</span>:<br />Handstand is <span style="font-style: italic;">excellent</span> for waking you up and giving you productive energy. Most of ya'll know I'm hyper sensitive to caffeine, so I rarely drink coffee. It kind of makes me feel cracked out - I am awake, but I feel so spazzy I can't focus. Instead, I get my energy boost by doing handstand in the morning. I have noticed that when I do handstand, I get more accomplished, and with a better attitude, than days I do not. My co-worker and I have also been known to do them around 3pm in one of our offices instead of hitting the M&Ms. It makes us laugh, too, which is also an awesome stress reliever.<br /><br />Many yogis also believe inversions help with circulation and give internal organs a rest. Handstand also gives the physical benefit of strengthening wrists, arms, and shoulders.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What you need</span>:<br />* A wall (eventually you can do it without the wall, but I'm still working on that)<br />* Open space<br />* Courage<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What you DON'T need</span>:<br />* A skirt w/o bloomers<br />* A yoga mat - if you have one, great, otherwise a stable, non-slick surface is fine; I have used regular carpet, commercial carpet, hardwood floors, almost anything.<br />* Fear - A certain amount of anxiety is completely normal with this pose. Check out <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/916">this excellent article</a> from <span style="font-style: italic;">Yoga Journal</span> to help fight the fear. As an added benefit, doing handstand can also increase our ability to overcome fears outside the yoga mat.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Notes of caution</span>:<br />Use your common sense. If your wrists are hurt or you are having problems with your arms, don't try this pose.<br /><br />If you have high blood pressure or if you are menstruating, some yogis caution against doing any inversions whatsoever.<br /><br />But don't trust me. If you have any misgivings, do NOT do the pose without consulting a doctor.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How to do it</span>:<br />Here's the method I use (taught to me at my favorite yoga studio):<br /><br />1. Place your hands about 1 hand length away from the wall.<br /><br />2. Go into <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/491">downward dog</a>.<br /><br />3. Slowly walk your legs forward about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way to your hands.<br /><br />4. Engage your abs. (Practice building your abdominal strength with plank poses. A lot of handstand is in the abs.)<br /><br />5. Look toward the wall. (This is <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> important. Your body follows your eyes.)<br /><br />6. Bend one leg and kick up to the wall with the other. Let your bottom leg follow. (See the video below on not bicycling the legs. One leg will be easier than the other. I always bend my right and kick up with the left. When I do it the other way, it's a disaster, so I should probably work on that, but I don't.)<br /><br />7. Once you're upside down, press your hands into the floor and use your back, shoulders, and abs to keep you up. Eventually you want your body to be in one straight line (again, I'm still working on this).<br /><br />8. Come back down. (I usually do the pose 2-3 times, holding for as long as I can, which isn't very long because I'm working on keeping my feet away from the wall. If I were just staying on the wall, I would probably hold it longer and only do it once.)<br /><br />9. Rest in <a href="http://yoga.about.com/od/yogaposes/a/childspose.htm">child's pose</a> or standing forward fold.<br /><br />It definitely helps to watch someone. Here is a video from yoga journal that shows a way very similar to the one I just described:<br /><br /><object id="obj_9b4aca168ead41fab289421979e01b40" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,115,0" width="450" height="392"> <param name="movie" value="http://applications.fliqz.com/9b4aca168ead41fab289421979e01b40.swf"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <param name="flashvars" value="file=b1d1b1fc62d3a6145b7638f136617c44&permalink=http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/788&"> <embed id="emb_9b4aca168ead41fab289421979e01b40" src="http://applications.fliqz.com/9b4aca168ead41fab289421979e01b40.swf" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="file=b1d1b1fc62d3a6145b7638f136617c44&permalink=http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/788&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="450" height="392"></embed> </object><br /><br />If you still can't quite make it up to the wall, or if you want to know more about improving your handstand, I urge you to not only read this awesome <span style="font-style: italic;">Yoga Journal</span> <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/916">article</a> but also go to a yoga studio!<br /><br />Be careful and have fun!<br /><br />NamasteNikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-54410196596055035792010-09-16T13:55:00.002-04:002010-09-16T14:04:32.024-04:00The Tomato Sandwich. Reinvented.A southern staple food, at least in my house, is the tomato sandwich. Two pieces of bread, one giant slice of tomato, a little salt and pepper, and mayonnaise, and you've got lunch perfection. Except one thing. I have always, always hated mayonnaise. To this day my father will ask me whether I want mayonnaise, and to this day my reply is, "Have I <span style="font-style: italic;">ever</span> wanted mayonnaise?"<br /><br />I do acknowledge there needs to be a little bit of lubrication on the tomato sandwich, so for the most part I add mustard, the best condiment in the universe. The only issue some people have with mustard is that it adds an entirely new flavor, a new dimension to the simple flavors of the more traditional tomato sandwich. I agree, even though in my book, mustard can never do wrong.<br /><br />But let me get to the point. Ladies and gentlemen, over the past two days I have perfected the mayonnaise-less tomato sandwich and enjoyed a perfect at-home lunch. Here you go:<br /><br />1. I start by toasting some bread, whatever kind you love.<br /><br />2. Then I spread some hummus on both sides. I like a lot of hummus. Maybe you like a little or just a medium amount. Whatever floats your boat.<br /><br />3. Put the tomato slice(s) onto the hummus.<br /><br />4. Drizzle some olive oil on the tomato.<br /><br />5. Sprinkle some salt and pepper.<br /><br />Voila! Bon Appetit!<br /><br />(If this were a real food blog I'd show you a picture of the delicious sandwich. But it's not. So use your imagination.)Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-46196108380872978282010-09-12T12:27:00.004-04:002010-09-12T12:47:07.083-04:00Black Bean Hummus...MMMM.Last night my friend had a small get-together to celebrate the return of football season. As the sole non-carnivore, I promised I would bring some delicious vegetarian edibles for others to enjoy. Shortly thereafter I began to think, "What the hell am I going to bring? I don't know what other people are gonna like!"<br /><br />Luckily, we have the internet, and a tasty recipe is no more than a Google search away. "Vegan football food" led me to quite a few interesting ideas, but a lot of them had "weird" ingredients that people might balk at or stuff that I didn't think I could find around here. (I did, however, find an AWESOME looking "<a href="http://www.ordinaryvegetarian.com/2009/12/tempeh-hot-wings.html">Tempeh Hot Wings</a>" recipe that I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">dying</span> to try. But that post is for another day.)<br /><br />In the end I settled on making this "<a href="http://www.suite101.com/content/speedy-vegetarian-mexican-lasagna-a116794">Speedy Vegetarian Mexican Lasagna</a>," which I've made before and meat-eaters and vegs alike enjoyed. (<span style="font-size:85%;">NOTE: To make it more speedy, just use salsa instead of trying to put together all those first ingredients. I always add whatever spices I have on hand, but for me it's cheaper and faster to start off with salsa.</span>) Yes, it has dairy, but I figured I'd better start slow with normal people because sometimes even the word "vegetarian" causes panic, and I didn't want to start a riot with the word "vegan."<br /><br />For my other dish, I found this <a href="http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2008/10/spooky-black-bean-hummus.html">Black Bean Hummus</a> recipe that looked pretty easy, and for which I already had most of the ingredients. The only one I thought I'd have trouble with was soy yogurt, which, lo and behold, is unavailable in BFE. Shocking. Instead, I substituted 0% fat, plain Fage Greek yogurt.<br /><br />O.M.G.<br /><br />Y'all.<br /><br />This dip was awesome. It was an even bigger hit than the Mexican lasagna (which, to be honest, suffered from having to sit around for over an hour while we waited on other people, other food, etc.). Because the recipe makes a pretty good amount, I had leftovers to bring home. When I woke up this morning, I beelined it for the fridge and to my surprise it is even <span style="font-style: italic;">more delicious</span> after the ingredients have a chance to meld and chill together.<br /><br />I think next time I'll try it without the yogurt, to see if I can find a suitable "vegan" version, but for you guys not bothered by that constraint, this yogurt version is DE.LI.SHUS. Make it now!Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-31324727002380475932010-05-15T01:05:00.000-04:002010-05-15T01:05:11.346-04:00HotnessI thought I couldn't love Jakey G anymore.<br />
<br />
I was wrong.<br />
<br />
<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ObaLGDunXY&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ObaLGDunXY&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Seriously. Why couldn't I be at that party dancing silly with him? Bitches.Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-84782114240908048812010-04-25T15:40:00.000-04:002010-04-25T15:40:39.567-04:00Mmmm. Brownies.I <i>just</i> made these, and oh my god, right out of the oven. . .I know I haven't had sex in awhile but still, orgasmic doesn't seem like a big stretch. My first attempt at vegan baking is awe. some.<br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients</b><br />
<div class="ingredients" style="margin-top: 10px;"><ul><li class="plaincharacterwrap"> 2 c unbleached all-purpose flour</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap"> 2 c white sugar</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap"> 3/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap"> 1 teaspoon baking powder</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap"> 1 teaspoon salt</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap"> 1 cup water</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap"> 1/4 c vegetable oil (I used <a href="https://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&productId=666158&catalogId=10002&krypto=QJrbAudPd0vzXUGByeatog%3D%3D&ddkey=http:ProductListView">Smart Balance Omega</a>)</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap">3/4 c applesauce</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap"> 1 teaspoon vanilla extract</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap">1/2 bag Ghiradelli semi-sweet chocolate chips (or a whole bag. whatever. Ghiradelli is vegan, Nestle is not.)</li>
</ul></div><div style="border-top: 1px dotted rgb(204, 204, 204); margin-top: 20px; width: 300px;"></div><div class="directions" style="margin-top: 10px;"><h3><span style="font-size: small;"> Directions</span></h3><ol><li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). </span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Pour in water, vegetable oil, applesauce and vanilla; mix until well blended. </span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">Stir in chocolate chips. Spread evenly in a 9x13 inch baking pan. </span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top is no longer shiny. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting into squares. (NOTE: I had to cook mine probably 35-40 mins for the center to be done.)</span></li>
</ol></div>I adapted this recipe from <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Vegan-Brownies/Detail.aspx">this one</a> at all recipes. Taking it into work tomorrow for a belated Administrative Professionals' Day thank you gift. That will be the true test, but so far, so delicious. Make these. NOW.Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-52419674028179648062010-04-24T12:03:00.000-04:002010-04-24T12:03:04.266-04:00Quick, Delicious BrunchThis morning I woke up early (7am = early for me), went to 50 minutes of spinning followed by 75 minutes of yoga. After that I had to run by the store to pick up a few things, then home to shower off the workouts. By the time I was clean and ready to cook, it was about 11:15, and I was <i>starving</i>.<br />
<br />
For the past few weeks I've been semi-vegan. Very little dairy (except as may appear in chocolates or other delicious treats), no meat (obviously), and no eggs (just for the hell of it). Because I like to bake, and eat baked goods, and I haven't mastered any vegan recipes, I bought eggs yesterday because I volunteered to make cookies for an SPCA fundraiser. Since I had the eggs, I was seriously craving them for breakfast.<br />
<br />
I dug around in my fridge and pantry to find some new and some almost-expired ingredients to create an off-the-cuff but fucking fantastic brunch. It's a lot of food, but I was a hungry girl, and it was delish. To commemorate my momentary culinary genius, I'm posting the very simple recipes in case anyone is ever <i>starving</i>, and wants a relatively nutritious, pretty quick, and absolutely yummy and filling brunch.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Sauteed Potatoes</b></u><br />
I had a red potato lying around that needed to be used before it went bad. I chopped it up and made my own version of "home fries."<br />
<br />
1. Heat small amount of oil in pan.<br />
<br />
2. Throw in chopped potato. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, ground cumin. (Cumin is my current favorite spice. I love it, put it on almost everything.)<br />
<br />
3. Sautee/pan fry until delicious. (I cut my potatoes almost bite sized so they cook faster.)<br />
<br />
I cooked these until they were almost done, then pushed them aside to make the next part of my brunch. I don't like cleaning up, so I use as few dishes as possible.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Spinach & Mozzarella Eggs</b></u><br />
Mix together 1 egg + 2 egg whites (= 3 total eggs used), a little salt & pepper in a bowl. This is my preferred method of eating eggs. To me, it maximizes protein, taste and portion size without as much cholesterol. <br />
<br />
1. Throw some baby spinach (I use pre-bagged) on the hot oil. Sautee until almost done.<br />
<br />
2. Pour the egg mixture on top of the spinach. Mix it all up. (If you're using the same pan as the potatoes, make sure you tilt the pan a little when you put the egg in or it will all get scrambled together. All scrambled together isn't necessarily a bad thing, in fact it's probably delicious, but it wasn't what I was going for this morning.)<br />
<br />
3. Scramble eggs & spinach until done.<br />
<br />
4. Throw some shredded mozzarella on top of egg & spinach, mix it up if you want. Remove from heat when cheese melts. (*I used mozzarella because it was almost expired, bought before I tried to cut cheese out of my diet. Cheddar or monterey jack or whatever kind of cheese you love is also probably perfect.)<br />
<br />
If you've timed it right, everything should be done at once.<br />
<br />
Serve with 2 pieces of toast. I am in love with <a href="http://www.foodforlife.com/sprouted-grain-difference/genesis-1-29.html">Genesis bread</a>. I topped one of my toast pieces with Marmite, because I like to pretend I'm British. Also, it tastes awesome. :)<br />
<br />
Serve with whatever your favorite breakfast beverage. This morning I drank water. Juice, tea, mimosa, and bloody mary also highly recommended.<br />
<br />
Bon Appetit!Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-51648202700009711792010-04-03T21:18:00.000-04:002010-04-03T21:18:48.274-04:00SXSW: Tacos, Beer, & Cupcakes. Oh, is there music here, too?<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">It's been a couple weeks since I got back from SXSW. Epic - the only word to even come close to describing it. Since I suck and forgot to pack a travel journal, my tweets from the trip will have to do. Instead of trying to write it all out narrative-like, I present to you the timeline of my tweets below. They don't do the trip justice, but it's all I've got to commemorate it. (Additional commentary follows) </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">No one cares, but I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve today. My insides are jumping up & down. Leave for SXSW tomorrow. I heart my life! <u style="color: blue;">11:13 AM Mar 16th</u><span style="color: blue;"> <span style="color: black;">via</span> </span><u style="color: blue;">web</u></span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Holy shit. This SXSW stuff is overwhelming. Will never, ever see it all. Must have strategy meeting tonight.</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"><span style="color: blue;"><u style="color: blue;">4:47 PM Mar 16th</u><span style="color: black;"> via </span><u style="color: blue;">web</u> </span> </span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"> </span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">I give up. Scheduling SXSW is impossible. Just going to let it happen. Now I'm going to drink w/friends before leaving. Then pack. Obvs. :)</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"><u style="color: blue;">9:05 PM Mar 16th</u><span style="color: black;"> via </span></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"><u style="color: blue;">web</u></span></span></span></b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"> (Typical Niki form: I stayed up til like 1-1:30am, didn't pack until the next morning. I think I have mad-rush packing down to an artform. About 30 mins flat and I'm good to go.)</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">St. Pat's day, 70s and gorgeous, on my way to Austin and Federer lost last night. I love my life!</span></span><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <u style="color: blue;">2:10 PM Mar 17th</u><span style="color: black;"> via </span><u style="color: blue;">txt</u></span></span></b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><b><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Fuck yes. Irish pub in layover airport playing rafa!</span> </span></b> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <b><a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10641153046" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Wed Mar 17 22:12:13 +0000 2010'}">6:12 PM Mar 17th</span><span style="color: black;"> </span></a><span style="color: black;">via </span><a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></b> </span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">(Seriously. I was beside myself with glee. Found a seat a table right near the match. Crazy dude playing a keyboard? guitar? something. Was a bustling little Irish pub. Oh, and an $8 Harp. WTF? It wasn't even green. I didn't care. It was a perfect moment. Another perfect moment: most beautiful, vibrant sunset from the airplane. It was almost a perfect color spectrum. Glorious.)</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><b><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Isner looks like he's wearing Umbros circa 1991.</span> </span></b> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <b><a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10641924453" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Wed Mar 17 22:32:21 +0000 2010'}">6:32 PM Mar 17th</span><span style="color: black;"> </span></a><span style="color: black;">via </span><a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></b> (Rafa was playing John Isner, North Carolina native, UGA alum and tennis champ. His shorts totally looked like the Umbros we wore in 6th grade, you know, black with white piping. Hee. I realize I probably should've been cheering for the hometown boy, but ya'll know Rafa is my boo.)</span></span><br />
<u><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"><br />
</span></span></span></u><br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Goddamn. Sensory mother fuckin overload. Austin is like Athens on steroids right now.</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10658438365" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Thu Mar 18 05:59:40 +0000 2010'}">1:59 AM Mar 18th</span><span style="color: black;"> </span></a> <span style="color: black;">via </span><a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></span></span></b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"> (Seriously. It was CRAY-Z. Hipsters everywhere. Bars all over the place. St. Patrick's Day made SXSW blow the fuck up. Was awesome, awesome people watching like I haven't seen since last Halloween at West Palm Beach's Moonfest.)</span></span></span><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">I heart breakfast tacos! Do not heart saddle creek and merge records doing showcases at same time at diff venues. Austin rocks.</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10679429286" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Thu Mar 18 16:46:26 +0000 2010'}">12:46 PM Mar 18th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></span></span></b><span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Mini golf while drinking. Austin just keeps getting better.</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10681212641" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Thu Mar 18 17:30:12 +0000 2010'}">1:30 PM Mar 18th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></span></span></b> (For real. More places should have mini-golf where you can bring your own beer. So. Much. Fun. I got sunburned, but whatevs. Also, my terrible streak at mini-golf continues. I suck. Hard.)<br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><b><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Sugar Mama's cupcakes in Austin, TX. Highly recommend. My butt will be Texas-sized by the time I leave here.</span> </span></b> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <b><a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10688402412" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Thu Mar 18 20:40:26 +0000 2010'}">4:40 PM Mar 18th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></b> (Mmmm. Mouth watering for that cupcake right now. Damn it. Was some sort of Oreo, chocolate, cream cheese concoction. Shawn had carrot cake. The icing. . .to.die.for.)</span> </span><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Heading out sans cell phone bc don't want to lug purse. Slightly scary. Sad. Good times ahead though.</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10694128446" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Thu Mar 18 23:09:35 +0000 2010'}">7:09 PM Mar 18th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a> </span></span></b><span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}">(We went to the "free" show at Austin Auditorium Shores first. Saw Bajafango followed by Ozomatli. I'd seen Ozo about 10 yrs ago at Glastonbury, in the UK. They rocked and I've been wanting to see them again ever since. They rocked again at SXSW. We then tried to go to Merge party to see She & Him. Line was crazy, plus only letting in "official" SXSW badges. I didn't have one of those - they cost like $500+. Then tried to go to Saddle Creek showcase, the record label Conor founded. No line but only "official" badges. Boo! We decided to head back to the car, but I refused to give up on the night. Because of my positive attitude, we lucked up and the restaurant/bar near where we'd parked - several blocks away from the "main" action - had an awesome show with Bob Schneider, an Austin favorite. So much fun. So. much. fun.)</span></span><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">FYI: it is entirely possible to live off tacos, beer, and cupcakes. Life. Is. Good.</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10710105567" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Fri Mar 19 06:14:03 +0000 2010'}">2:14 AM Mar 19th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></span></span></b><span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"><a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow"><br />
</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Free drinks at free concert. Goodbye sobriety, hello bloody mary!</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10733874721" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Fri Mar 19 17:55:13 +0000 2010'}">1:55 PM Mar 19th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></span></span></b><br />
(Note the time: 1:55PM, barely after the morning. I think I'd already had one at this point. Turns out only my first bloody mary was free, but 16oz Lone Stars were free. We were at the Birmingham show to see Taylor Hollingsworth, one of the Mystic Valley Band that plays with Conor. Taylor is from Birmingham, Alabama. He tried to eat lunch with me outside on the patio, but his brother tried to sit in my friend's seat while my friend was on beer run. Tried to get them a different chair, but they switched tables. :( Later on introduced myself to Taylor and got a picture which is now my phone wallpaper. Such a sweetie. Also played a good set!)<br />
<br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Lol. Drunk at three o'clock. Did i mention i love my life?</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10739464899" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Fri Mar 19 20:20:28 +0000 2010'}">4:20 PM Mar 19th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><b><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">I love boys.</span> </span></b> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <b><a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10742606672" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Fri Mar 19 21:46:37 +0000 2010'}">5:46 PM Mar 19th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></b> (Absolutely NO recollection of this tweet. None. No idea what it refers to, but suffice it to say, that's pretty much 100% Niki no matter what.)</span></span><br />
<br />
(Sometime in between the previous tweet and the next tweet I began drunk dialing almost everyone I know. At least, that's what I found out later on, the next morning, and over the next few days as people started telling me about our conversations. Yeah. NO recollection. ZERO.)<br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><b><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Fuck this vegetarian shit. That dog's bbq looked awesome! Sxsw is so. Much. Fun!</span> </span></b> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <b><a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10749728204" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Sat Mar 20 00:55:35 +0000 2010'}">8:55 PM Mar 19th</span> </a><a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></b> via (No recollection of this either.) </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><b><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Omg. Bbq is delicious.</span> </span></b> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <b><a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10751118994" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Sat Mar 20 01:30:40 +0000 2010'}">9:30 PM Mar 19th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></b> </span></span>(Yeah. Ya'll read that right. I ate some fucking BBQ. In my defense, a) Had been drinking since 1:30ish, b) Had not eaten, c) Could not find anything else to eat, d) Was super drunk, e) It's mother-fuckin' Texas. I had to experience the local "culture," right? Will not tell you how many times I made Shawn go buy us a sandwich to split, but uh, yeah, it was more than one. Per Tempe, I apparently called her after this and said it was "life-changing" BBQ.)<br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><b><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Just found out rafa and marc in dubs finals and rada in semis today. Can't watch or otherwise follow. Vamos!</span> </span></b> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <b><a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10785659202" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Sat Mar 20 19:03:32 +0000 2010'}">3:03 PM Mar 20th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></b> (Yeah. I'm having the time of my life and still force my friend to let me check the tennis scores on his computer. Whatever. Rafa ended up winning doubles title and losing in the semi-finals of that tournament. Important stuff, you guys.)</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><b><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">I am the anti- hipster. Pink shirt, girlie t, blonde hair.</span> </span></b> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <b><a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10786136339" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Sat Mar 20 19:16:29 +0000 2010'}">3:16 PM Mar 20th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></b> (Sweet Jesus. Hipters HATE mother fuckin' color. They must be allergic to any fabric that isn't black.)</span></span><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="actions"> </span></span></span><br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"> <span class="entry-content">40 Watt free party rocks.Athens music is the best. Listen to Futurebirds!</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10788085490" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Sat Mar 20 20:11:31 +0000 2010'}">4:11 PM Mar 20th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></span></span></b> (Futurebirds is a really good band. Check them out. Band I saw before them was also really good. No recollection of their names, but the bloody mary I had while watching them also stellar.)<br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><b><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Venice is Sinking. Best band so far. Check them out!</span> </span></b> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <b><a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10790475580" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Sat Mar 20 21:22:34 +0000 2010'}">5:22 PM Mar 20th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></b> (Love, love, love Venice is Sinking. Go to a show if you're in Athens! BTW, I've listened to a little bit of them on the internet and let me say this: it's good, but live is far, far better. Trust.)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="actions"> </span></span></span><br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"> <span class="entry-content">Just saw bathroom graffiti that said 'miri is hotter than smoking.' @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/nadalnews" rel="nofollow">nadalnews</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10794605594" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Sat Mar 20 23:24:09 +0000 2010'}">7:24 PM Mar 20th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></span></span></b> (Was at The Broken Spoke. They have filmed part of <i>Friday Night Lights</i> the TV show there. Met a cowboy. Borrowed his hat for a photo. Another awesome day. Oh, and Miri is the name used by the creator of Nadal News, so that's why I was tweeting her. On another note, she lives in Austin, ergo, could've been about her :)<br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><b><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Thank goddess i don't live in texas. The mexican food is killing me. Must've gained ten pounds in 3 days.</span> </span></b> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <b><a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10796687255" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Sun Mar 21 00:18:30 +0000 2010'}">8:18 PM Mar 20th</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></b> (Mexican food really did change my life. I'm addicted.)</span> </span><br />
<br />
(Saw She & Him this night. Was fucking cold. Didn't care. M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel were awesome, awesome. God, I love them. Buy their cd. Now. You'll thank me later.)<br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><b><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">I'm a little too excited about the o.g. Whole foods.</span> </span></b> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <b><a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10838455605" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Sun Mar 21 21:17:19 +0000 2010'}">5:17 PM Mar 21st</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></b> ($5 organic avocados. W.T.F? But seriously, it was heaven. *sigh* I miss having a Whole Foods in my life.) </span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"><br />
</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><b><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">At something called chicken shit bingo. Um...i love my life?</span> </span></b> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <b><a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10846083921" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Mon Mar 22 00:33:24 +0000 2010'}">8:33 PM Mar 21st</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></b> (Shawn forced me to go to chicken shit bingo. In my mind it was this godawful, unsanitary hell on earth. Like the bingo scene in <i>My Girl</i> - a room full of long rows of tables - with chickens running around pooping on slightly-bigger-than average bingo cards, and lots of rednecks looking at us like we didn't belong. In reality, was a dive bar with a chicken coop on top of a board on top of the pool table. Numbers in a grid on the board. You buy a numbered ticket. They put the chicken in. You + hipsters + locals watch and wait to see if chicken poops on your number. If so, you win $100! Also, there is a band and people dance.) </span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Apparently it can take this chicken up to 1hr 45mins to poop on a number and declare a winner. I'm gonna need another beer.</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10848515492" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Mon Mar 22 01:30:07 +0000 2010'}">9:30 PM Mar 21st</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a> </span> </span></b><br />
(Umm. . .had WAAAY more than just another beer. We did not win despite having #38 and also the line. Still tons of fun.)<br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="actions"> </span></span></span><br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"> <span class="entry-content">Best night ever. Met a guy who could flip me while dancing. We might get married. Heh.</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10857869791" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Mon Mar 22 05:08:32 +0000 2010'}">1:08 AM Mar 22nd</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a> </span> </span></b><br />
(If you haven't been flipped while swing dancing, you haven't lived. That's all I'll say about that. Oh, and he really did propose to me. :)<br />
<br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Migas tacos are my new fave food. Great ending to a great SXSW. Thanks, Austin. Definitely coming back!</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10874757167" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Mon Mar 22 14:41:07 +0000 2010'}">10:41 AM Mar 22nd</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Hartsfield, I got nothin but love for you but would it be too much to ask for some people movers if you have to run from north to south ...</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10889772918" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Mon Mar 22 20:40:18 +0000 2010'}">4:40 PM Mar 22nd</span> </a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/devices" rel="nofollow">txt</a></span></span></b><br />
(Dude. I had like 30mins to get from one end of the terminal to the exact opposite end. . .lugging my giant backpack. Was not fun, but I made it. Thanks plane being delayed!)<br />
<br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/nadalnews" rel="nofollow">nadalnews</a> Just got your tweets from when I was in TX. Have ghetto phone. Was totally going to do Hey Cupcake compare but not enough time!</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10938831755" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Tue Mar 23 18:56:33 +0000 2010'}">about 3 hours ago</span> </a> via web <a href="http://twitter.com/nadalnews/status/10688657812">in reply to nadalnews</a> </span> </span></b><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> (Hey Cupcake is another cupcake institution in Austin. Apparently they have a rivalry w/Sugar Mama's and I'd been told to try them both, do taste test for myself. And obviously this was not 3 hrs ago. This was some point on Tuesday when I FINALLY trudged into the office. Thanks sinus infection. See below.) </span></span><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Brought home wicked sinus infection/cold from SXSW. Just got to work. Suffice it to say I'd rather be in Austin.</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10938856768" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Tue Mar 23 18:57:13 +0000 2010'}">about 3 hours ago</span> </a> via web </span></span></b><span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}">(Yeah, soooo. . .this was around 2:22PM Mar 22)</span></span><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> </span> </span><br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/julesdc" rel="nofollow">julesdc</a> It's already on my calendar next yr. Mark yours. We'll make it a date!</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10938900315" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Tue Mar 23 18:58:22 +0000 2010'}">about 3 hours ago</span> </a> via web <a href="http://twitter.com/julesdc/status/10938874847">in reply to julesdc</a> </span> </span></b><br />
(Definitely going next year. SXSW is the best. The. Best.)<br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="actions"> </span></span></span><br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"> <span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/nadalnews" rel="nofollow">nadalnews</a> And yes, it was totally Peter Pan. That place alone is enough to make me want to move to Austin! Good times. Am envious of you!</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10938951107" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Tue Mar 23 18:59:43 +0000 2010'}">about 3 hours ago</span> </a> via web <a href="http://twitter.com/nadalnews/status/10681525682">in reply to nadalnews</a> </span> </span></b><br />
(Peter Pan = mini golf place w/scary cartoon character statutes and BYOB policy. Oh, and I'm totally moving to Austin. In. Love.)<br />
<br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/julesdc" rel="nofollow">julesdc</a> Chose Merge, but long-ass line + needed "official" badge. Went to Saddle Creek, also needed badge. Ended up at random free fun show</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10939035829" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Tue Mar 23 19:01:44 +0000 2010'}">about 3 hours ago</span> </a> via web <a href="http://twitter.com/julesdc/status/10938874847">in reply to julesdc</a> </span> </span></b><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}">(This is incorrect. Wasn't free, was $22, but was still really, really fun. But which show wasn't? They were all fun.)</span></span><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> </span> </span><br />
<b><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/nadalnews" rel="nofollow">nadalnews</a> So true-grass is always greener. My Peter Pan experience was followed by tacos & cupcake-best beginning to SXSW ever!</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/theshiznik/status/10939608509" rel="bookmark"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Tue Mar 23 19:16:33 +0000 2010'}">about 3 hours ago</span> </a> via web <a href="http://twitter.com/nadalnews/status/10939406280">in reply to nadalnews</a> </span></span></b><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}">(Seriously. Drunk mini-golf + tacos + cupcakes - and that was only the beginning. Never went downhill after that. One of the best experiences of my life. I love my friend Shawn for putting up with me. I love Austin for being so quirky and fantastic. I love Texas for being so close to Mexico. I love bands for rocking out. SXSW - Just do it.)</span></span><b><span class="status-body"><span class="meta entry-meta" data="{}"> </span> </span></b>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-53999660318403858852010-03-24T20:20:00.002-04:002010-03-24T20:20:36.635-04:00"Thieves"<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gfYkPYFKBXE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gfYkPYFKBXE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-85386178629651350422010-03-08T03:52:00.001-05:002010-03-08T03:53:27.335-05:00Calvin Klein...THANK YOU.<embed base="http://admin.brightcove.com" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=70670473001&playerId=1544453252&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" name="flashObj" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" seamlesstabbing="false" src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1544453252" swliveconnect="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="486" height="412"></embed><br /><br />Possibly NSFW, but very, very safe for the bedroom. Or kitchen. Or wherever you have a moment alone.<br /><br />That would be tennis hottie, Fernando Verdasco (who isn't as hot as Rafa, but is Spanish so I'll take it), Mehcad Brooks (from <i>True Blood</i> and other stuff I haven't seen), Kellan Lutz (from <i>Twilight</i>, and the new <i>90210</i>), and Hidetoshi Nakata (former Japanese soccer player.Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-56195123288143261572010-02-27T12:35:00.001-05:002010-02-27T12:58:54.954-05:00no.words.Yeah, I totally dropped the ball on the Olympics. Whoops. Let's not dwell on that, shall we? (Hope to do semi-recap post this weekend, so fret not. Like any of you are out there fretting besides spam commenters, but whatevs.)<br /><br />Let's enjoy <a href="http://www.shakira.com/news/title/gypsy-video-premieres">Shakira's new video for "Gypsy"</a> starring my boyfriend, Rafa, looking hotter-than-anyone-ever-in-the-entire-universe-oh-my-god-i-need-a-cold-shower.<br /><br /><a href="http://cowbell.typepad.com/forty_deuce/2010/02/spoiler-alert-jigtowehrwluksf.html">This blog</a> pretty well sums it up.<br /><br />Shakira, you are my hero. (PS Glad you got the memo that my favorite outfit of all time on any man is t-shirt in jeans and/or no shirt and jeans. Again...HERO.)Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-14765412508104103282010-02-14T19:39:00.001-05:002010-02-14T19:40:42.586-05:00Olympics 2010: Day 2When I did the last post, I didn't know about the luge accident. My heart is heavy with sadness and I feel so badly for his family.<br />
<br />
I also didn't know about the torch screw up, which makes me kind of giggle.<br />
<br />
Watching some figure skating pairs at the moment, about to eat some pizza with friends. Good times!<br />
<br />
Congrats to my secondary boyfriend, Apolo Ohno, on his silver in the 1500m race and Hanna Kearney is adorable. Adorable.<br />
<br />
Ooh, ooh, ooh. As I type this Team USA is ahead with 5 total medals in the medal count. Yeah, I'm sure this won't last, but it's fun for now!Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-75390211551023540292010-02-13T19:21:00.000-05:002010-02-13T19:21:30.427-05:00Olympics 2010: Day 1?I didn't get to see the Opening Ceremony last night, and I'm too lazy to look it up right now, but I'm pretty sure competition didn't get underway in Vancouver until today.<br />
<br />
So far all I've watched was the Men's 5000m skating competition. It went like this: Woke up from nap dazed and confused. Skating seemed pretty boring since it lasted 6+ mins and only two skaters raced at a time, but nonetheless I sat there, nearly comatose watching because honestly, I was so hungover I couldn't do anything else.<br />
<br />
Then all of a sudden it got interesting, and I actually got into it. Shani Davis, a black speed skater for Team USA is totally hot. Korean dude Seung-Hoon Lee was also pretty good looking. Then there's Netherlands' speed skating Michael Phelps - Sven Kramer (pronounced KRAH-mer not KRAY-mer, weird) who is absolutely adorable (photogenic, no, but on camera he was pretty cute, especially when he won and climbed the bleachers to his family and girlfriend). <br />
<br />
But let's talk about the outfits, shall we? Who the hell designed those monstrosities? It looks like a spring wet suit with tights and long sleeves underneath. And they all. look. the same. Speed skating body condom fail. <a href="http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-features/news/newsid=414022.html#kramer+dominates+u+s+shut">Check it out here</a> b/c again, too lazy to copy and post pics myself.Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-71168942201915474662010-01-28T23:13:00.001-05:002010-01-29T00:00:29.777-05:00Sports AddictI've been pretty bummed this week. For starters, the Minnesota Vikings lost in sort of a heartbreaker on Sunday night. I mean, they kind of deserved to lose since they played hot potato instead of football, but still. I wanted it for Favre. I wanted it for rookie and ex-Gator Percy Harvin. It just wasn't meant to be.<br /><br />But I was willing to put that behind me because Rafael Nadal was pretty much cruising in the first week of the Australian Open. There were some tense moments, but overall, his play was very close to his pre-stupid-fucking-knee-injury form. Then came Monday night. I went to sleep around 10-10:30pm and woke up at 3:45am to watch his match live from Australia. He was playing Andy Murray in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, and if it hadn't been a Grand Slam event or had been a less impressive player, I probably would've just slept, like I had every other late-night match. But I was "living in the moment" and decided to do it.<br /><br />Well, this is what happened. I watched the first set which was intense and really fucking close and Rafa lost. By that time I was feeling slightly nauseous due to sleep situation and also the match. So I dozed a little, woke up midway through second set to watch Rafa lose it again. And even though I know never to give up on Rafa, because he is nothing if not a fighter, it seemed like Andy was playing better overall and it was a done deal. Plus, I was SO.TIR-ED. I closed my computer around 5am and went to dreamland.<br /><br />Well, more like nightmare land. I dreamed that he had to "retire." This is what they call it when a player must forfeit the remainder of a match because of injury. I woke up relieved that it had been a dream. Then I got to work, checked the score, and lo and behold the stupid-fucking-knee injury was back. He HAD retired, just 3 games into the third set. My stomach sank. Will he ever recover? Will he ever be that same player that won <a href="http://nikisnotes.blogspot.com/2008/07/you-cant-script-this-stuff.html">the epic Wimbledon final in 2008</a>?<br /><br />So I've been bummed. I know it's silly, but I can't help it. I've been waiting for him to make the "comeback," to show everyone that he's still got game, and now he's *this* close, and the knee just won't cooperate. And he's so darn disappointed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtWIkUil6h_MpyVif59wwHea46Q-xD3jmrxjFPVb9Crs3qIKZhyIK-j4Bw505kjYUZ5z2MAFX8txchZF_xjrq9MZ14RZ74tvJq8dAb4mKOFowxRxwwGzCwHwoWyJ1rllij7iF/s1600-h/frowny%20face%20rafa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtWIkUil6h_MpyVif59wwHea46Q-xD3jmrxjFPVb9Crs3qIKZhyIK-j4Bw505kjYUZ5z2MAFX8txchZF_xjrq9MZ14RZ74tvJq8dAb4mKOFowxRxwwGzCwHwoWyJ1rllij7iF/s320/frowny%20face%20rafa.jpg" width="320" border="0" height="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:x-small;"> I has a sad, too, Rafa. Let's hug it out. (via <a href="http://nadalnews.com/">Nadal News</a> photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)</span></div><br />So now football season is almost over, the Gators lost the SEC Championship, the Vikings lost the NFC Championship, and <a href="http://nikisnotes.blogspot.com/2009/08/god-loves-me.html">my boyfriend</a> can't even finish his quarterfinal match at the Australian Open and will be out for who knows how long. WTF am I supposed to do for sports now? (Because clearly, going without sports is worse than going without food & water.) Tennis is on at random times. Haven't loved basketball since high school-ish. Hockey? Soccer? No clue.<br /><br />That's when I remembered Winter Olympics! <a href="http://www.vancouver2010.com/">Vancouver 2010</a> begins in 14 days. Holla! Am hoping to do a daily "recap" or "commentary" or "WTF" or "Did you see ?!" like <a href="http://nikisnotes.blogspot.com/2008/08/olympics-day-1.html">I did for the 2008 games</a>. . .we'll see how it goes. To get you all as amped as I am for said Olympics, I give you the fabulous Johnny Weir, performing to Lady Gaga's "Poker Face." Love. It.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qTaVkbl3Dp4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qTaVkbl3Dp4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-18152504078323090572010-01-18T11:33:00.000-05:002010-01-18T11:33:05.755-05:00My New Happy Video?My 2009 "Happy Video of the Year" was <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8F3UE9qFsg">"I'm On A Boat."</a><br />
<br />
2010 has only just begun, but I am already near tears after watching (and let's be honest, re-watching) this pure awesomeness from <i>American Idol</i>.<br />
<br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tMwhl4IrPNc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tMwhl4IrPNc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<br />
But Andy, don't worry. You're still my boo. General Larry got nothin' on you.Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17373473.post-29951128857407703602010-01-02T11:00:00.002-05:002010-01-02T13:33:57.319-05:00The Truth of the MatterEvery break-up or ending has that moment. That moment you know in your heart and bones that s/he's not coming back, that you're not going back, that it will not be fixed, that it truly is over. Sometimes you don't even realize you've been holding on to the tiniest of tiny hopes; sometimes you have outwardly longed and prayed for a reversal of events. Either way, the time always comes - sooner or later, but always - when you know.<br />
<br />
I think the pscyhologists call it "acceptance" or similar. I call it "reality-smacks-you-in-the-fucking-face-and-forces-you-to-wake-the-fuck-up."<br />
<br />
It seems strange, because it feels like a brick in your stomach, but in actuality, you've been waiting for this moment, the final grieving. When you can let go and honestly live again. When you can stop looking backward or forward and be present in the now.<br />
<br />
It doesn't mean you will no longer think of the person/place/thing or even that you will never be sad again. But you are now on the way toward true healing because you are viewing the situation as it is, not as you hope or wish it to be. The truth of the matter.<br />
<br />
So today, I am sad but also happy because this part is almost over. . .and I'm <i>this close</i> to being me again.<br />
<br />
<b>UPDATE</b>: My Deepak Chopra Quote of the Day from Twitter is very apropos. <span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">"Today I will commit myself to detachment. I will allow myself and those around me the freedom to be as they are." Deepak Chopra</span></span>Nikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589815264105118278noreply@blogger.com6