57 posts tagged “s factor”

Bitch:
It. Is. ON!

You better hope we don't get assigned to dance at the same time.

Working out was a BITCH!!

I popped something in my back during the warmup and now I can't turn my head left. When I told the instructor (Stacy, my first time with her - I liked her) she said she thought she heard it during class. But, no... she was hearing my bad knee cracking. It's such a joy getting old!

There were supposed to be 7 people in our class but it was just another girl (first time L2) and me. As I expected, I could barely do 1/2 the warmup and sucked at this week's pole trick ("Peter Pan" aka: bent knee V-split), while the she did great (she's a skinny/fit thing). So it was fun to sneak peeks of her during warmup and see her doing totally wrong moves (which makes me laugh cause all you have to do is look at the instructor to see what you should be doing) or being really stiff, not yet in touch with her sensous side.

I was EXHAUSTED by the end of class. Couldn't catch my breath. Chest hurt (I'm pretty sure I burned about a billion calories - but they were all heart muscle instead of fat). Took my time getting redressed... just sat in the lobby trying to convince myself to drive home rather than fall asleep right there.

Plaid shoes - SO YUMMY!

1 comment

Soo... in typical Leenda fashion, I "rewarded" my hard work with some awesome slut shoes (they were on sale; that makes it okay) and a Carl's Jr Famous Star burger (okay... 2 of them)(and a choc cake)(and a rum & coke). (why am I fat?)

I'm still sore but my mood is higher!

ps to Vox: Thanks for saying there was an error posting, then posting SEVEN copies of this!

I just got word that S Factor is considering reducing class duration & price. Duration would be 1.5 hrs, instead of the current 2. Price... maybe $330... not settled.

This is apparently still at "discussion" phase so if you're a former S Factor student who is no longer attending (or current student who's considering stopping due to the duration and/or cost), but would return or such a deal, call your former studio and let them know!! It could make the difference in whether or not they go forward with it!

I was told that, if implemented, the new structure/pricing may happen as soon as middle of the current session.

In other news: I signed up for the 4wk pkg of 1hr "Pole" classes. Unfortunately, the $140 price is only for current students - so it actually ended up costing me $160. Annoying but I signed up anyway, ONLY because I need to do SOMETHING till I "man up" and talk to LeAnne to resolve my attitude problem toward her (or I love the Krav Maga classes so much that I do them instead).

Red Light

• Despite being disappointed by the Pole$tar event, I still want one of their (or Xpolesitions') shirts - cause they were CUTE - but don't know how to get one.
• Although I stand by my comments about the Pole$tar event, I feel bad that I didn't balance out with more good (like getting flirted with by some good looking men) and that someone from Pole$tar was mildly hurt by reading them. I give her props for having a neutral reaction instead of flaming me - she showed a lot of maturity. More than I would have. [see comments to the prior post, the one with my dress pictures]
  
• My left eye is watering all the time and it "drains" upward, into the crease, totally f-ing up my makeup. What's that about?
• My ears are STILL ringing from the Pole$tar event. That's 2 days. The Left one is substantially worse than right (hearing is fully back in right but still partial in Left)... which is concerning me. A LOT. I'm pretty sure it's just shock and will wear off, eventually, but will have the doc to take a quick look tomorrow.
• House is a DISASTER AREA yet I still don't clean it (where the hell are my magic cleaning gremlins?)
  
• My knee probs are largely weight based but I still don't do enough to lower my weight. Because the knee limits my ability to exercise, I am starting to consider drastic non-exercise options (though not likely to actually do them).
  
• Weed-grass in the side yard is suddenly 3' high (where is it getting water??). Tall enough that I was nervous about walking through it, to the trash cans, cause I didn't know what might be hiding in there. Guess that means weed whacking is on this weekend's agenda. Pah!!
  
• I really need to take my car in for $400+ tune up (120k miles) this Sat, before I forget again
• I pulled up a couple more vinyl tiles in the bathroom and found black mold under them. Greeeaaaaat.
• Leah cancelled on going to the strip club which means cute former-coworker Jesse will probably cancel too. Damn.
• People keep calling me. Hellowww... I DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE... SEND AN EMAIL!!
  

• 

  Boo guards my lingerie drawer

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  My knee brace showed up over the weekend (though I didn't see the box till late Sunday). It seems to be helping some - though not as much as I hoped (because it fits my thigh but is too big on my lower leg). I think a big metal "Forest Gump" leg brace sounds ideal.
  
• There was free salad in the lunch room today (leftover from some meeting)
  
• I have a doc appt (tomorrow morn) for more Cymbalta and a referral to an ortho/knee specialist. Will probably also ask for refill of Xanax.
  
• 

  Oriental Lilies
  Pretty sure I'm gonna follow Cranky's advice - save even more than 50% tuition by not "taking advantage of" the $220 S Factor pricing and just wait till fall to return to their classes (or find something else). Ideally, I'd like to swap my current Thurs & Sat classes - cause it would save a bunch of gas and time. Will have to ask about that on Thurs night.
• Boo was a little cuddle-kitty this morning and barely cried at all. Very unusual for her but I really enjoyed it
• 

  Firecracker Lily

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  More of my oriental lilies, plus my firecracker lily, are in bloom. (note: all bought before I learned that lilies are dangerous for cats. I'd pull them out but the cats have been fine with them... so far... knock on wood)
  
• Stray Cats concert in a week

Were there any unusual earthquakes around 5am PDT? I read that Reno has been shaking, nearly nonstop, for 2 months now and no one knows why - maybe they had another big one? I ask only because my back went into intense "earthquake ache" around 1:30a. I finally got to sleep around 2:30am, by sprawling sideways across my bed, along my pillows with my feet hanging off the side of the bed. Woke back up around 5, back still bothering me and HAD to get out of bed - severy antsies (ansies? ants in my pantsies?). Anyhoo... maybe just paranoia on my part but combo frequently indicates earthquakes in bizarre locations.

I finally took 1/2 a xanax (to chill my brain) and 1/2 a darvocet (to chill my knee) and headed back to bed. The darvo is still working great - but I need to remember to take another 1/2 before workout tonight. And let's not forget the 1/2 a (prescription) amphetamine I took to get me through the day/workout. Who needs food & rest when you have coffee & pills? (don't bitch at me - I'm not serious!)

Speaking of workouts: I scheduled a 2hr private class with Yannori for May 11. That's gonna be a killer - but she's a good instructor so it's money & time well spent. I was actually craving freestyling today (to Morcheeba "One Love Karma") but know I would have hated it if I'd actually had the opp. But, still, I'm considering going back to S Factor next session - maybe even 2 classes a week (1 in OC and 1 in LA - with Coco). But that's all just big talk/dreams right now - sign ups are still 4 weeks away and the next session doesn't start for 7 more weeks. Plus, I still need to check out Kristin's new studio/classes.

There was another episode of MIA kitties last night. Boo was missing for so long that I was freaked out to the point of nearly being in tears - I really convinced myself that loud cars had scared to off to the point of being lost. I've confirmed that they're popping the broken crawl space screen, which leads to the side street, open (after I wedge it shut). I need to block it but don't have anything to put there (such as a potted plant) that won't be stolen before I get home. So I guess Boo is going to be stuck inside till the weekend, when I can buy slab of wood to close the exit. I'll made a new screen later (there are about a 15 others so airflow is not a problem).

Haven't gotten around to putting away my clean laundry. It's in piles on my (dirty) bedroom floor. Most of it will have to be re-dried to remove wrinkles. I've reached amazing new levels of "I can't be bothered" at home. Pathetic.

Still hoping for a miracle diagnosis/cure from the metabolic tests. Follow up is May 8.

Oh... I heard from the FGNs!! Can you believe that? It's been over 6 months since we've had any contact - probably more than a year since we've actually talked. They invited me to a Master's Degree party for Riley (Drew got his a couple years ago). I have 10 days to think of a present (I got Drew a $125 bottle of champagne).

What else? Miss Kitty's party this Sat night. I won't be in theme (Sunken City) - other than maybe the totally cute teal glitter eyeliner I bought last week (cause that's what every 45yr old needs).

Okay... I'm gonna go buy some shoes.

06 One Love Karma

Morcheeba

Things I Loathe:

• Feeling that whether or not my S class' timeslot will remain is dependent upon me (4 students enrolled, takes 5 to keep a class open, today is the day decision will be made)
• Already making a mental tally of all the ways I want to spend my IRS refund (I haven't even filed yet)
• Finding out about new lurkers who are reading my posts - and the things I'm saying about them
• The doors on my bedroom closet
• That I still can't figure out where the super strong breeze in my house is coming from
• Ugly ugly UGLY carpet
• My toilet is flushing "wrong" and I don't know why. Always has to be flushed twice (which is an extra problem because it also still leaks into the foundation). Add this to the IRS refund list.
• That, as of last week, I seem to have developed a dependency upon Xanax in order to get my brain to shut the F up long enough for me to fall asleep. (It's lowest dose - and daily use is a very new thing but it's really bothering me.)
• My 7-11 clerk pressuring me for my phone number
• Finding gift cards, at the supermarket, for Southwest Airlines. Granted, that airline SUCKS - but I'd love to get an airline gift card!
  
• Boo waking me up at 6am by laying in bed and crying, loudly, for no obvious reason. I suspect she has GI probs but worry that something more serious may be going on... except that, other than these episodes 2 or 3 times a day, she seems fine.
• Still not being able to successfully invert on the pole (almost made it once, thought I had it - but I was wrong)
  

• Someone signing up for next session, during class, so the S timeslot is continuing, whether I go or not.
• Finishing on a high note: S Factor class went really well for me last night (better than it has in weeks)
• Remembering my "not to do" list, not pushing myself so hard during warmup, and therefore having no injuries when I went home (in fact, I could actually walk normal for the first time in weeks - but I think that's cause I was barefoot).
  
• Cracking up, hysterically, when I tried to do the move where you lay on your back then throw your feet up, over your head, and touch the floor above your head (so you're folded in half). I used the pole to get in the move. For the first time ever, I hit that position in a way that still allowed me to breathe. So I decided to let go of the pole and, like everyone else, brace my arms on the floor for the rest of the move. Instruction was to s-l-o-w-l-y, one vertebrae at a time, roll legs back to starting position. Within about 1 second, my ass moved enough for my entire center of balance to shift and rapidly slam my legs back to the floor. No injuries - just sloppy and funny (if I'm going to keep this mondo-ass, I really need to get some mondo abs to counter it!).
• Doing the "Ronde de Jambe" move for the first time EVER!! ever-ever-EVER!!
• Possibly having a breakthrough on pole climbing (couldn't test it because my R knee was too weak for me to keep moving. But the theory is good and it felt good.)
  
• Having several people (including Christine who rarely has anything to say to anyone) comment that my song was REALLY good for me and that it really showed in my dance.
• Being right - dancing in my 'regular' clothes, instead of workout clothes, lingerie, or "costume" helped me be more "me" and less pressured - also helping me have a better dance.
• Waking up to BEAUTIFUL weather today
• Wearing my hair in a ponytail
• Feeling ready for my tax appt (even though I'm really not)
  
• Waking up in the middle of the night and finding all 3 kitties sleeping with me
• Self-adhesive heat pads
  
• My heated mattress pad (it's a big, full body, heat pad when I'm achy!!)
• The 7-11 clerk (Christian) having cinnamon coffee for me 2 days in a row
• When the office is really really quite

Natalie wasn't even playing the game. Just found this on her blog and thought "Yes, THAT'S IT!!"

If I can channel the same vibe it's giving me now, it will probably be my "farewell" song for last class Mon night.

I wish we could wear wireless headphones while we dance - I don't think the stereo will get the song loud enough for me to connect to it as well.

If I'm feeling REALLY ballsy, I'll ask to have someone be my point of focus, dancing to them while imagining them as someone else. Maybe Michelle or Megan - I don't think anyone else is ready for that kind of intensity (but I'll probably chicken out on the idea so it doesn't really matter). Would love to do the entire song but it's 6 min and I'll be cut off around 3.5.

Now with added song instead of link to link to link to song:

Something I Can Never Have

Nine Inch Nails

I don't know what got into me but, being the wise old soul that I am, last night I decided to practice burlesque walks in the shower... you know, while I'm still nursing a "trick" knee that can't be relied upon to actually work (total mind of it's own). Hey, I only tell people I'm smart - not that I'm smart all the time. Somehow, in my mind, Bad knee + slippery/wet shower + burlesque = BRILLIANT.

After a jumbled moved, a bit of stumbling, and the mental reality check that maybe this wasn't my wisest idea ever, there was a loud SNAP. My knee didn't break - it moved back into place. It was suddenly able to support me reliably and without pain. I can put weight on it, I can bend it, I could kneal and not cry. I believe I can actually walk up & down stairs today, get out of a chair and not spend 10 minutes waiting to get my balance, all the other stuff most people take for granted. I could have fallen and waited a week to be found partial eaten by my cats but, nope, I got cured. Lucky SOB!! I should by a lotto ticket.

I'm 80% certain I'm dropping out of S Factor. Actually, I need to stop using that phrase... I'm taking a session off from S Factor. As much as that scares me, the reality is that I don't want to face that place right now - everything about it irritates me. After 19 months, familiarity has bred contempt.

Work is going okay. Keeping me busy - which is mostly good.

Not much on the social calendar. BrunchBunch this Sun (PUHLEEEZE let my love, David, be there!!). Earl is hosting (bet he still falls asleep!). Tax appt on Wed morn. I really hope I get serious about breaking down my info before then. Luckily, there's not much to it anymore so I'm not worried about receipts or any of that crap - just parsing my bank statements & figuring out my cash/goods donations to charity.

Time to go play the part of the good corporate drone. Happy Turdsday.

My instructor, Megan, is prominently featured - as is another OC instructor, Lin. Not sure about anyone else - we only saw a little preview at the Enchantment Party (last October) before the camera conked out.

Wee bit of pain today. I went to workout last night. No longer sure that was such a good idea. Sometime during class, my lower back started locking up (I only remember being in the "warmup" row, during freestyle, and having to stop because I thought I was gonna throw my back out). And today my R knee is sore & swollen.

Warmup was sucky for me. I did the moves but very consciously - no flow. I've realized/decided that I don't like Megan's music anymore - and that's why I'm finding it difficult to "get in the mood" in class. Plus I was still sore from Coco's class on Sat - so I spent a lot of my time just stretching (and, at one point, trying to fall asleep - but I failed).

I think I did okay during pole work. I tried & tried moves that I just can't seem to catch on to (ronde de jambe SUCKS) - again feeling it's a matter of one tiny wrist being unable to bear the load of my BIG body. But I tried. I actually made some progress on the body spiral (ahhhaaa.... just realized THAT is where I screwed up my back!!) - finally figuring out that my hand placement has been wrong - and that my body much prefers me doing it left handed. Not that I can actually DO it - but, again, I got closer.

I tried climbing but without any "dry hands" (liquid gymnastic chalk) on my legs, I just kept sliding back down the pole. Plus, by that point I was really tired. Made 3 attempts at inverting - all close but no cigar... I can get upside and hook my toes and/or the bottom of my foot around the pole, but I need to get my ankle hooked and gripping the pole. Keep trying.

I did some of the L1 tricks that I'm still screwing up. Landed on my knees a couple times - but at least it was a soft landing, not a hard fall. I didn't think much about it till the way home, when I stopped at the supermarket and something in the back of my right knee popped. I haven't been able to fully straighten my leg since and, despite Darvocet (which usually makes me feel okay) it's a-hurtin today.

Freestyle dance was a bit frustrating. I don't like going last but keep ending up in that position. I let Megan pick my song and she chose some NIN (I don't remember which song), which always works well for me. I had the lap dance chair (no one in it) backed up to one of the poles. Around the middle of the song, I found myself doing a pole back bend onto the chair. I had a wild hair to slide into the chair backward - so I went with it - over the back, down the seat, onto the floor. It felt really sexy (I doubt it looked it - picture a walrus sliding over a chair - but it felt it) - till I got to the floor and found myself "stuck" - on my back with half my body on the floor, half pressed against the front of the chair, and my legs up in the air with nothing to push against. There was a wonderful "oh, shit, what do I do now?" moment. I finally did a big leg splay (would have been hot if a guy had been in the chair), which allowed enough momentum to flip over sideways and get moving again.

So blahblahblah, rest of dance, whatever. Afterward, Megan said something about "it's not about the 'big' tricks - the stuff you think of as small and boring is actually what looks good." I paused, then asked for examples. She said some rolling around that I'd done had looked really hot (note: I recall Coco cheering a similar move so I guess I should heed this advice) but that it wasn't necessary to "go big" - meaning she thought the chair thing had been thought out and "staged". I told her the chair was totally unplanned and, while I was conscious of what I was doing (simply because it was new and I wanted to make sure I didn't hurt myself), that I had really enjoyed it - till I got stuck. Since there had been an adv. lap class over the weekend, I think Megan thought I was attempting to keep up with those tricksters, or show off, or doing something "big" to make up for my lack of dancing lately. It frustrated me because that basically means it did not look good/natural - it looked planned. But it wasn't. Then Michele made some kind of comment about "parts good, parts not so much" - which kind of echoed Megan. So now I was annoyed.

But to her credit, "pushed me out of the circle last week" chick walked up and said, "I don't know if it was your outfit, the music, the night, your mood, or what - but your dance was HOT." So I felt a lot better.

Anyhoo.... long story longer, today I'm sore everywhere - primarily lower back and right knee. My 44-going-on-85 health continues.

Speaking of which, someone cancelled so I'm getting their time slot and seeing a GI specialist tomorrow afternoon. Just the initial consult - will probably schedule the colonoscopy - but I'm hoping I can also get more drugs from him (I'm at a state of no longer improving but at least the meds keep things under control). I'm probably going to get out of that around 4pm - which means commuting to work during rush hour - so it may turn into a day off instead. Not sure yet.

Tonight is LUCHA VAVOOM. I'm super hyped - even though my schedule & the commute mean that I may miss a good hour of the show (google maps lists the commute as "39..6 mi - about 48 mins; up to 1 hr 50 mins in traffic - which sounds about right). I'm hoping that, like last time, they actually start 1.5 hrs after what the ticket says. So long as I see the CrazyChickens, I'll be content.

general info: Moshi is doing okay. His ear is still bothering him (from the cartridge tear) but doesn't appear to be getting any worse (though also not much better). Espressa is now tolerating his presence but Boo is still refusing to be in the same room with him. All 3 cats are super unhappy about not being allowed outdoors - I'm shocked that I haven't given in and let them out. Moshi's follow up is Thurs. I'm hoping that means we'll all be back to our regular routines by Saturday.

Owwwww.