My daughter entered a chocolate-making contest on Saturday. The event had contests for chili, chocolate, and home brewed beer. (I'm sure people will be looking for the best diet pills after all the food they ate!) My daughter's chocolate and cream cheese cupcakes won first place in the children's division. She was so excited to win! Also, my sister's boyfriend won third place in the chili contest. His brother won second in the home brewed beer part. Everyone had a great time but I'm glad the food binge is over. Time to get back to the diet!
Favorite Friday
I know this video has been making the rounds so you've probably seen it already. However, what you don't know is that this happened at one of the malls near my house. This is a rather large fountain. I'm not sure how she didn't notice it. It's still pretty funny.
Supposedly, her husband was able to take the phone apart and set it in dry ice or something to get the water out. If only canon camera batteries dried out so well!
Valentine's is coming!
When it comes to presents for my husband, I tend to be a bit of a slacker. I usually just give him leave to buy whatever he wants at GameStop or Best Buy or wherever. For Christmas this year, I got us tickets to see Lewis Black. That means I have to step up my game for Valentine's Day. I was checking out http://redenvelope.com/gifts-for-couples-rwcop and found this adorable little "Reasons I Love You Stones." They are little brushed-nickle stone-shaped trinkets that have "I love you..." on one side and a reason on the other. One example is "...because you are so much fun." Another is "...for being so giving." Yeah, they are a little cheesy but I think they are cute. I wonder if my husband would like those....
Is winter over yet?
Once again, winter weather is ruining my free time. We had ice and snow come through yesterday so my daughter's school was closed. That, of course, means I didn't get a lot done. Though I did look at a lot of pretty cubic zirconia wedding rings online. Yeah, I'm already married but I know some people who are currently engaged. That gives me the OK to look! The weather isn't awful today. However, there is black ice on the streets. Then it's supposed to snow again tomorrow night. I'm completely ready for spring!
The Cape: Kozmo
Remember, there are spoilers behind the cut!
I found this episode to be slightly informative, yet annoying at the same time. We learn a bit more about the origins of the cape. It has been handed down among master magicians who all turn on the persona of "Kozmo." Max Malini was the last official Kozmo. His apprentice was Gregor Molotov. Gregor did receive the cape as the new Kozmo but he used it to murder a woman. So Max took the cape back and Gregor traveled around various Russian prisons for 20 years. However, as an escape artist, Gregor managed to find his way out of every prison. This time, he has come back to the Carnival to retrieve his cape.
While at the Carnival, Gregor meets Vince and figures out that he is the one with the cape. At the same time, Ark is breathing down Orwell's neck. Ark raids her hideout mere minutes after she flees. Orwell turns up at Vince's door berating him for trying to shake down one of the members of Ark's police squad that set him up as Chess. Thanks to his shenanigans, Orwell has lost her hideout.
So now both Gregor and Orwell are at the Carnival. Gregor reads Orwell's palm and reveals a few tidbits about our unknown computer expert. Unfortunately, these aren't really informative facts. She's spoiled, has daddy issues, and she's been imprisoned. In all, it's pointing toward Orwell being Peter Fleming's daughter.
Of course, Gregor doesn't get the cape. Of course, Vince proves to Max that he is honorable enough to handle the cape without going to the dark side. Of course, Vince's wife, who believes he is dead, is starting to move on with her life. And, of course, this shows his tortured soul side.
I believe Scales is back as the Villain of the Week next Monday. If the show doesn't pick up the storyline a bit more, it will definitely lose the audience. I know this is only the third episode (the pilot consisted of two episodes) but people won't wait around forever.
JDorama review: Tsuki no Koibito
This show made me absolutely hate KimuTaku for the first 5 or 6 episodes. Since this is only an 8-episode series, that's an awful lot of time hating the main character. He does redeem himself, of course. It just would have been nice to see that change start around episode 4 or 5.
Shinohara Ryoko is awesome as designer Maemi. She made me feel so bad for her character, even though she didn't want anyone to feel sorry for her. I think she totally made up for the crapfest that KimuTaku was.
Poor Kitagawa Keiko got robbed though. Onuki Yuzuki is completely a throw away character. She has no real importance to the show. Even when she tries to make big reveals, the information has already been given by another character. She's convenient but unnecessary.
Now onto Lin Chi Ling, who, in my opinion, takes up way too much time. I'm pretty sure her role was to show what a hardass Hazuke is with everyone, even those he claims to love. But all she really did was take away from the awesomeness that is Maemi. However, the interaction between the two women was nice. I guess that is one redeeming value.
This show absolutely depended on the actors and their characters. There wasn't a big plot to reign the characters in. If the characters failed, the show would fail as well. For the most part, the characters are annoying. It isn't until the last few episodes that anyone shows any redeeming values. I didn't think the show was horrible. It was just meh.
Weigh In
I haven't weighed myself since before the holiday season. The week before Christmas, if I remember correctly. The good news is that I haven't gained any weight, despite eating an awful amount of food over the holidays and not exercising at all for about 3 weeks. The bad news is that I haven't lost any more weight either. I've only been back on my routine for about 2 weeks so I shouldn't be too hard on myself. But I really hope I can lose a few more pounds by the end of next month. I don't want to be humongous at the instructor training class.
Slow down, you're going too fast.
As I've been doing research on this whole teaching Zumba thing, I find that I am freaking myself out about things I don't need to worry about. At least not yet anyway. Things like business debt consolidation. The word 'debt' worries me. Then again, I'm also bored enough to do be doing research on things way out of my league. Like commercial buildings to rent or buy to run my own fitness company. Then ideas of hiring other instructors to teach other classes and....I'm getting way way ahead of myself. This is why I should not have ideas. Ideas are bad for my brain. But don't worry. I won't actually act on any of these ideas yet. I will take this slowly. I promise.
Favorite Friday
On Monday, I'll be posting my review for the jdorama Tsuki no Koibito. Until then, here is the theme song:
Teaching Zumba
I am seriously thinking about becoming a Zumba instructor. I'd need to complete the Zumba training, which shouldn't be too difficult. Then I might need to complete some other courses, depending on where I'd teach. I already have a dance background and I really love the official Zumba class I attend on Saturday mornings. I guess I'm just not very confident in myself right now. (Not to mention that I'd need to get together like $200 for the training course.) Maybe I should just take a deep breath and plunge in. It might be good for me. (Better than asking "what are the best diet pills" at least!) After all, I'd be doing something I love instead of something that drains me every day. That's good, right?