Ms. Cheevious in Hollywood

My Zany Years Spent Working in Tinsel Town

Diet

I’m Too Sexy for My Genes

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Buckle up boys and girls.  There is a TON of information in this post, all written in true Ms. Cheevious fashion (fun)… You will miss important information if you breeze through, however.  If you value your life, take the time to read this.  And that’s no joke.  It could really make a difference for you or someone you love. Now, dive in and enjoy.

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I think it only fitting to make this announcement now.  No.  I don’t have breast cancer.  It’s more involved than a simple diagnosis, but it’s important and everyone should be aware of this information, so they too can make informed, proactive decisions as they are able.

This post is in honor of my sister Mary Louise “Mimi” Sherwood Larimore, who passed away in August, 2010, losing her almost 7 year battle to Ovarian Cancer.

Why, dedicate this post to someone who suffered with Ovarian Cancer, when I’ve said clearly it is timely for Breast Cancer Awareness?  Well, mostly because I can, but there are other, much more important reasons.

Read on to learn them.

Now.

Picture this:

Me, with a lab coat and horn-rimmed glasses.

There.

Now you’re ready.

First off, let me preface the rest of my post with this: I am NOT, in any way shape or form saying that anyone can ever be TOO SEXY (for their genes or otherwise)!  No, my dearies, in the long, endless list of things to worry about or avoid, being “too sexy” is not one of them. Also, in this context, I am referring to being SEXY and creating sexiness by staying fit and healthy, which causes our body to become a lean, mean, streamlined, fighting machine.  This of course means that in the world of biology, if we do these things, we hope that all pieces of the puzzle communicate, find each other, and fit nicely together.  Being TOO SEXY, in my case means this: FOR GODDSAKES!  Here I am working my ASS off (pun intended), mostly for the health benefits, and in this particular case, it really didn’t make a bit of difference.

So, apparently I am WAY too sexy for my genes….  My little puzzle pieces (genes) just can’t keep up with me. Or, as I’m told, at least one of them can’t.   But can you blame ’em?  The mere pace I keep in life alone causes grown men to cry… (insert evil laugh) but that is another topic for another time.

Many of you, if you’ve followed my blogs, and my vlogs on my YouTube channel, know that my beloved, beautiful sister Mimi Sherwood Larimore lost her battle with Ovarian Cancer in August of 2010. Her ongoing battle was horrific to behold (even from a distance), but in true Sherwood Girl fashion, we all believed she would conquer the scourge that besieged her body. We all supported her belief, wholeheartedly.

Her illness prompted my gynecologist to begin a personal campaign to get me to the genetic specialists at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles.  And when my sister passed away, without having opted for genetic screening, my doc turned up the heat. She REALLY wanted me to be screened for Ovarian / Breast Cancer (they are related) gene mutations. So I succumbed. This time, I had no excuse, because I knew I wanted to know, but in the year past, my insurance would not have covered such a test.  This was not the case this time around.  My insurance covered 90% of the screening. I also learned insurance companies are prohibited by law from discriminating based on genetic testing.

I’ll cut to the chase here.  I went in for the screening, and then went in for my results, and more to the shock of the genetics counselors than to myself, I tested positive for the BRCA2 Genetic Mutation.The shock was because even with  TEN FRIGGIN SIBLINGS, I had only one first degree relative with ovarian cancer, and none with breast cancer (although the BRCA2 gene is indicative of the risk increasing with age). None of us is absolutely certain whether our father’s cancer – which was only discovered two days prior to his death – and running rampant throughout his mid-section – was prostate, stomach or pancreatic cancer – or not – (also high-risk cancers for BRCA2 mutation carriers). Our mother did not have it (she had lymphoma). There was a second degree relative with Ovarian tumors at a young age, but that was about it!  So yes, the genetics experts at Cedars were quite surprised.

I’m not sure what to make of the image below… but it matches the lab coat thing we got goin’ on here, and gee, it sure is pretty.  If you are a true GEEK, perhaps you can post a reply below and enlighten us.  But explain it slowly and in three and four letter words if at all possible.

Who would have THUNK something with the ability to wreak such havoc, could come from either one of these gorgeous people?

Padalino & Sherwood - The Early Days

That is my mom, Nereide Frances Padalino Sherwood, holding my oldest brother, with my dad, Orville Joseph Sherwood.

Yes, my little Hottie-McHottlesteins, I am old enough to have parents who were having kids in the NINETEEN-FORTIES… but just BARELY.  My parents had me when they were late into their SEVENTIES.  I PROMISE.  🙂  It was a miracle, and was featured in the National Enquirer, and everything… SWEAR. TO. GOD.

Anyway – back to my lab coat and horn-rimmed glasses… and to the Genetics Counselors at Cedars Sinai:

They explained that our bodies read genetic code as such:

Genes are read in three “letter” sequences.  But every three letters must “make sense” or “spell” something… so a correct set of code may look like this:

But when a mutation occurs, an extra “letter” – like an “A” is inserted, which sets all the code off and causes all kinds of mayhem in your body. It may look like this:

So, why only these cancers (Ovarian, Breast and lesser known cancers) then?  Why wouldn’t this screw up our entire bodies?  Why wouldn’t there be a risk of brain tumors or whatever?

Well, they said it’s like a library.  The brain tissue or liver tissue, etc… it never has to access this code.  This code is only accessed by breast and ovary tissue most of the time, and the prostate and pancreas (and other parts of the body) some times.  So that’s why you don’t get bone cancer, or a brain tumor, etc…

Additionally they provided these nice little statistics of RISKS for me to think about (and share with any and all blood relatives):

MEN
Risk for Early onset (around 50 yrs) Prostate Cancer:
Those with mutated Gene:  20% (goes up with age, significantly)
General Population: 5% (goes up with age after 70)

Risk for Breast Cancer:
With mutated gene: 5-7%
General Population: <1%

Risk for Pancreatic Cancer:
With gene: 2-4 %
Gen population: <1%

WOMEN
Risk for Breast cancer:
With gene mutation:  avg 80% (risk increases with age up to 87% or more)
without (general population): 7%

Risk for Ovarian cancer between age 50-70:
With gene mutation: 19-27%
Without (general pop):  1.7%

Risk for Ovarian cancer from 70 and up:
With Gene mutation:  27-44%
General population: < 2%

So, in my results appointment, my Genetics counselors discussed the options available to me with this new information.  There were a few choices but I opted for the most aggressive approach to eradicating my elevated risks.  For me it was simple.  I saw what my sister and her loved ones went through.  I have had my kids, and hell, I had a breast lift to improve my appearance after nursing my kids years ago!

Sometime in the next couple of months,  I am undergoing a double prophylactic mastectomy (with breast reconstruction and implants) and at the same time, will have them remove my ovaries and tubes. There are other factors that can further complicate the surgery (for instance, if they see something questionable while in there, etc.) but we’re assuming I am extremely healthy and doing this solely for preventative measures.

So why the long, drawn out post, with all these details?  Well, because.

I share everything with you people.

And there is a lesson in all of this for you:  Don’t be too sexy for your genes.  Get screened.

Don’t think you are too good, too healthy, too anything to NOT be screened.  Don’t NOT be screened for any of the wrong reasons.  If you have relatives who’ve suffered from Breast or Ovarian cancer (maybe even Pancreatic or Prostate cancers – ask your doctor), then ask about it and don’t allow FEAR of the unknown, or KNOWN to rule your life.

If you are looking for a conservative approach to life, and want to find a blog that praises you for taking no risks while safely maneuvering through the twists and turns on life’s road – you have come to the wrong place.

Hello!  I am Ms. Cheevious!  Adventurous – Fun – Cute – Cuddly (just making sure you’re still there) – and I really do try with all of my heart to be brave and make BRAVE choices.   Being brave is a choice and bravery is something you must consciously make an effort to practice.

I love life, and I really do – on purpose – take REAL, sometimes SCARY, LIFE-CHANGING RISKS. Not always. But I certainly try not to make choices out of fear.  And yet, somehow I still ENJOY EVERY MOMENT, and I have no regrets.  I truly believe this quote, and I’ve used it before:

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow. What a ride!’ ”

You can do that too, if you so choose.  I’m here to cheer you on.  We are ALL here to cheer you on!

Here’s a tweet you can copy and paste into twitter to encourage others too – especially in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

They’re MY boobs, and I’m quite attached! Get screened ladies.  It can save your life! @mscheevious #breastcancerawareness

And guess what?  Now that you’ve made it this far – here is the REAL announcement!  HA!

You’ll soon be able to SEE and HEAR more about this journey, because I’m scheduled to be on an episode of The Doctors with my reconstructive surgeon Dr. Lisa Cassileth, who has a breakthrough procedure for reconstruction after mastectomy, called the Cassileth One-Stage Breast Reconstruction (you can read more about that here). We are taping our episode soon, but check your local listings for The Doctors. COOL, EH!!???  I’m also videoing everything and hope to produce a documentary.  Fingers crossed.

OH and  HEY! Check out my new FACEBOOK APP!  If you are already a member on Facebook (have “like”d it), you can check out the new cool stuff by clicking here (http://www.facebook.com/IamMsCheevious?sk=app_208237022576310) and surf around all the little links and such.  You’ll be able to buy my book when it’s published, as well as other fun Ms. Cheevious inspirations to send to your fun, flirty, brave and daring gal-pals. If you are NOT a member of my Facebook Page, please join! You will love the interactive-ness of it all.  PLUS it’s a great example of a custom Facebook page.  I’ve worked hard on it!

That’s it for now…  Stay tuned!

Love you people!!!  Mmmmmppphhhuuuhhhh!!!

xoxo,

Ms. Cheevious

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Blog content copyright 2011, LISA JEY DAVIS a.k.a. Ms. Cheevious

Are Hot Bodies Dead?

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I only ask this question because I finally completely my SPX Fitness training, and was officially added to the schedule at the renowned founding studio in West Hollywood. This guy, Sebastien Lagree, has more press from making celebrity hotties look fabulous than many a-list movie stars!

Anyhoo, I was added to the schedule last Saturday, and as of today – my grand debut taking place in just a few short hours –  still no one has booked one of my classes!  A brief perusal of the schedule revealed that there are many classes with no one in them – or so it seems. I wrote it off to people not wanting to commit – so “L.A.”  They’ll just show up knowing if there are 10 slots available it’s a good chance they’ll get into the class.

Meanwhile, I wrote to another teacher on the schedule – one that I enjoy taking her classes – to let her know I was now teaching. What I got was a response from an annoyed individual who has trouble filling her own classes. She saw my addition to the schedule as “cutting in to her pay.”

Now.  This was ME she was talking to.  She may as well have been speaking Russian.  I just don’t understand the mentality.  I got on the schedule, and the first thing I did was spend several hours designing a flier and event for Facebook. Then I spent MY OWN MONEY promoting it with an ad to people who are interested in fitness.  This may sound foreign to fitness professionals (“What? Promote your classes with your own money?”), and I suppose it is a little “outside of the box,” but it’s only natural for me.  You don’t make the big bucks or succeed at some things by merely waiting for the people to show up.  You have to put yourself “OUT THERE.”  Ya know?

I have to admit, however, the entire process had me second-guessing what people are after these days.  My mind went to all sorts of scary, frightening places, like ‘perhaps people don’t care if they are fat and unhealthy these days…’ or ‘maybe “FAT” is the new 30’, and this great gem, ‘maybe my jokes about being Jabba have been taken seriously, and the minions are following too closely — too literally…’  (trust me — my brain will go places I have no control over some times).

But after much thought and deliberation I have to conclude that NO – hot bodies are NOT DEAD.  They are alive and well and thriving — especially in the US, and even more so in Los Angeles!  People desperately want to be fit, healthy, good looking and feeling fine.  They WANT to be able to go into a store and fit into the most fashionable clothes with ease — and look GOOD in them.  I have to believe there are still people out there who WILL take my class because — well — great minds and bodies think alike.  Ya know?  (Inserting obligatory disclaimer here — SOMEONE will take offense or think I am being narcissistic — No. I am not saying “Oh! Look at Me!  I have a great mind and a great body, and if you do too, you’ll take my class!”  No.  I have lived a life with plenty of lessons that have finally brought me to the place of being comfortable in my own skin, and proud of the hard work and the intricate journey my life has taken me on. It’s not for whimps, this life stuff, but I tell ya, if you can find a way to enjoy it, and be HAPPY with who you are, always striving to be who you want to be, and never letting go of your dreams and goals – well then life’s difficulties tend to fade.  So, do I think I have a great mind?  It has its moments, but I’m partial.  Do I think I have a great body? I’m doing alright.  It’s more about what others say, and express to me… that they want what I have… and I am a marketing person – I listen to the pundits).

Well anyway, the other instructor also said people would probably show up to my class tonight on the fly – which is what I suspected.  Stay tuned.

Here are the ads, and promo photos I posted on the FaceBook events I added.  I said “Get Your Six Pack Here”… because HEY, that IS what you’ll get!

I hope you are inspired to get in, stay in and be thrilled about your SHAPE people.  This is what makes life – and the “enjoying every moment” part – worth living!

And if you live in Los Angeles and would like to attend my Tuesday and Thursday night classes, well feel free to check out the details here.

Have a wonderful week my lovely fitness fiends!

xoxo,

Ms. Cheevious

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Blog content copyright 2009, LISA JEY DAVIS a.k.a. Ms. Cheevious

Certifiably Fit … Oh Yeah …

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I am always flattered and get a huge grin on my face when people ask me about my fitness routine.  It usually happens when I’m at the beach or in some sort of attire that reveals my arms or abs, and goes something like this:

“What did you do to get those abs, girl?”

OR

“You’ve got some GREAT arms!  Do you work out?”

OR

“I wanna know what diet YOU’RE on!”

Why am I so flattered, or why the huge grin?  Well, DUH.  I work HARD.  It is so great when someone else notices!

So, the answer – to put it simply – is, first, I love food – all kinds.  And I eat it (in moderation, generally).  But most importantly, I LOVE physical activity.  And if you’ve ever been physically active on a continual basis, and doing something you really ENJOYED, you know what I’m talking about.  I feel sluggish and jiggly-puffy (as MC likes to call it) if I don’t get out and DO something physical.  That may include anything from walking or riding my beach cruiser on the beach to an hour on the elliptical stair climber at the gym, followed by abs, arms and legs strength training.  But my absolute FAVORITE workout is found at SPX Fitness.  And I am now a CERTIFIED SPX Fitness Instructor!  WOO HOO! Yep!  I did it.  I went through the training, and am now an instructor of this incredible fitness method!

What does that mean?  Well, watch out people.  If you make it to LA and attend one of my classes, you WILL feel it (during and long afterward).  If you continue in the regimen, you will NOTICE the difference very quickly.  You’ll have abs, definition in your arms, legs and calves, and a sculpted, leaner body as a whole.  It’s simply fabulous!

You can see a video of this incredible workout here (look for the Rockit Body segment):

Rockin My Body!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryaZCrS-W-Q

Fun workout.  Awesome results.

That’s it for this week, people!  Have a FIT and FANTASTIC weekend!  I am off to teach an SPX Fitness practice class!  WOOP WOOP!!

Love you people!  Mmmmmmphhhuuuuuhhhhh!!!

xoxo,

Ms. Cheevious

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Blog content copyright 2009, LISA JEY DAVIS a.k.a. Ms. Cheevious

Here Shrimpy Shrimpy Shrimpy…

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Need I say more? If you’ve read my blog for some time, you’ll know what this is all about. I once wrote about the differences between steak and – ehem – shrimp.  But that part is only important if you remember it.  If not, this is just hilarious anyway…

Many of you have seen the Panda Express commercials – the ones where the two Pandas repeatedly try to steal Panda Express food? Well, there is a new one of them hunting for shrimp in the deep blue sea.  One of that commercial’s incarnations can be found on youtube.com by searching “Panda Express Shrimp Commercial”. 

I tried to find the one with BOTH pandas, but alas, it’s nowhere to be found as of yet on the internet. 

Since MC Nugget (my man, for you newbies) and I are KNOWN for hunting for the best, yummiest SHRIMP, I figured this one was a shoe in.

"Heeere Shrimpy, Shrimpy, Shrimpy...."

Too funny. 

I’m working my way up to Redding, CA this weekend to visit with Maven, her hubby and son.  They just recently moved there and require my expert design services…  but of course, dahhhhling. 

M.C. may join if the two or three gigs he is after do not pan out… I’ll keep you posted. 

Soon, however, as promised, I’ll provide shots from the Oscar Gifting Suites and fesitivities.  Just waiting on them from the event people!

Have a marvelous weekend my lovely boys and girls.  And don’t let those yummy shrimp get away!

Love you people!  Mmmmmmphhhhuuuhhhhh!

xoxo,

Ms. Cheevious

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Blog content copyright 2009, LISA JEY DAVIS a.k.a. Ms. Cheevious

Hot or Not? Zagat This, Osteria Mozza!

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So I went with a gal pal to one of those shi-shi places in Hollywood last week. It’s called Osteria Mozza, on Melrose. The place was listed on Zagat as one of THE places to spot celebrities and see or be seen in Hollywood during Oscar week.  It had some great food and wine list reviews as well.  My girlfriend was visiting from Florida, so we thought it a good opportunity to get into one of those “tough-to-get-into” places, enjoy the wine, have a fabulous meal… and do some serious people watching.  

This is the inside of Osteria Mozza. Cool eh?

Here’s what we ordered:

Grilled Octopus with potatoes, celery & lemon  $18

Bufala Mozzarellawith prosciutto di Parma  $16

Insalata mista $8

Sauteed baby broccoli with chilies & vinegar $10

Orecchiette with sausage & Swiss chard  $18

Sunchokes with caperi & salsa verde $10

And some wine from the Borello district – priced at $75.00/bottle. 

Here’s what we liked:

The bread.

The cool people watching.

That’s it.

So – this restaurant on Hollywood’s (or ZAGAT’s) HOT list, gets a bad review in my book.  The menu was over priced, the food overly greasy and/or buttery, and/or salty (which does NOT help we somewhat “diet conscious” types at all), and the wine a poor suggestion for a first wine of the evening. 

And the worst part?  The service was extremely underwhelming, if not down right dismal.  They repeatedly took important pieces of silverware, and required that I ask multiple servers for replacements, and the only thing we DID like — the bread — required multiple inquiries as well before we were served any.  I’m sorry, but if you are going to be one of the top restaurants in a major metropolitan area, you’ve got to get that “service” thing DOWN. If you have excellent, exceptional service, you can almost get away with mediocre food.  Almost. This place served up mediocre to poor in both food and service.

And the REALLY worst part?  This place was known by M.C. Nugget’s big-time ICM former agent, and said agent had been wanting to go there.  How could I EVER take anyone to this place after that experience?  What a disappointment!

So… as far as my post here is titled, I’d have to go with a resounding, “NOT.”

How’s that for harsh!?  Sorry folks.  It’s not like I didn’t TRY to enjoy the place or the menu.  I relish what I do (and that covers a LOT of bases), and I feel it’s my job to make sure my peeps have a FABULOUS experience when they visit Tinsel Town.  So, when you come – dine at Osteria Mozza at your own risk.  Then ask me where to go for exquisite wining, dining, ambiance and people watching.

Stay tuned for my dish on the Oscar gifting suites, pre-Oscar festivities, and my all-too-Ms. Cheevious Oscar Viewing party which had its own share of technical difficulties! 

Have a fantastic day my lovelies!

Oh!  And since I didn’t post last week, I’ll try to shoot another one off in a few days.

Love you people! Mmmmmphhhuuhhhhh!

xoxo,

Ms. Cheevious

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Blog content copyright 2009, LISA JEY DAVIS a.k.a. Ms. Cheevious

The Indelible Foibles of Drinking & Dialing (or Texting)

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“This i-phone!” my girlfriend Danielle shrugged, exasperated. 

“What’s the deal?” our friend Debra and I asked over breakfast.

“Last night I was texting back and forth with different people, and for some reason, when you hit ‘reply’ on a text message, sometimes it brings up the last person on your phone list, rather than the person you actually meant to reply to. So last night I was texting back and forth with Craig [sometime boyfriend] – and of course I did have a few glasses of champagne throughout the evening – and he was sending me texts like ‘where are you?’ or ‘what are you doing?’, so at one point I thoughtI was texting him and I said, “I’m on the corner by The Lounge. I’ll be the girl with the hot tits.””

Debra and I chuckled at that statement alone!  Then we heard the real punch line.  “So this morning, I was going through my old texts, and what I thought was a text to Craig, went to the taxi driver from earlier in the evening!” 

We roared with laughter.  The thought of that guy racing to her corner (since we are talking about small-town Aspen here), looking for someone who was hot-to-trot for him was just priceless. 

If you are new to this blog, welcome!  Come on in.  It’s fun here.  Would you care for a drink?  ha ha

Seriously, we’ve all had our share of experiences I’m sure (unless of course you do not indulge or over-indulge in the occasional alcoholic beverage), where we’ve said or done something embarrassing as a result of having too much fun.

cocktails.jpg

And be warned:  These sorted scenarios don’t only play out on the evening in question, but can carry over to the morning after, while we recover from the night before.

I’m sure this is why my friend Danielle thought for certain that the i-phone was her problem.  She continued, “So, this morning I had a text from Ellie, who was asking where I went last night, and I thoughtI was texting her back, when I said, “I met up with Craig and we had wild monkey sex until three in the morning.”  Hey – what can I say? Some of my best friends are base individuals – given to animal instincts and behaviors at times!

As we absorbed her comments, she delivered this little doozy: “Well, I just looked, and that text went to Craig.”  she said, mortified.

“Oh no!” we said, laughingly.  Then I offered, “That’s so weird!  There must be some faulty programming on those things. You should check for updates or something online.  I bet it’s a known problem!” 

In reality, it’s more likely the alcohol in her system to blame, rather than a renegade text mechanism in her i-phone.  I’m sure Danielle, now that her system is clear, knows this to be true.

So, though I have dealt with the consequences of drinking and dialing, the whole texting thing is a new one to me.  I mean, I’ve sent some indecipherable texts after a few cocktails.  I’ve even texted the wrong person, but generally the messages were harmless, and left my unintended targets scratching their heads, and later writing it off to my – well, blondness.

It begs the question, however, how does one, if inebriated, make the  level-headed “call” to step away from the cell phone?  I am asking this question as a student – someone who does not have the answers, I swear.  If I did, my friend, I promise I’d rattle off some list of do’s and don’ts!

I suppose the very same mechanism that kicks in, making some insist, by god, that they can drive, even though they’ve only had three? four? five? drinks, may be to blame here. 

What is it about this legal drug and its affect on us?  And why do some people have more command over their faculties than others?  I have some friends that get just plain stupid when they drink. I don’t even want to be around them.  Then there are others that seem perfectly normal.  Or could it be that I’ve had as much to drink as they have on those occasions?

I can offer this sage advice, from years of doing the RIGHT thing:  If you don’t want to do anything stupid, determine that ahead of time, and be responsible.  If you find yourself guzzling the wine, perhaps you are actually thirsty.  Try a glass of water.  It’s actually refreshing.  And, as a wise man once said “Know thyself.”  Don’t be an idiot and think you can pound down the drinks without even developing a slight stagger or stutter.  Everyone does to a certain extent.  If you are going out to drink, learn from other people’s mistakes if you can and take precautions.  As a single mother, I learned long ago that you do NOT go out and drive if going out for a night of drinking. There are precious people I am responsible for, and it is just wrong. Don’t even BRING your car if you stand a chance of drinking over the course of an evening.  A hundred dollars in cab fare is far better price to pay than dealing with the myriad of other possible outcomes, which I won’t even go into here (the very least of these being a DUI).

So – enough about drinking, dialing and texting.  I know you are all sitting, waiting with bated breath to hear about my results for the week.  In case you’ve not been here, I’ve been on this challenge to get back to a healthy eating lifestyle.  I’ve been known for being an incredibly disciplined eater for most of my post-divorce, adult life.  That is, until a few years ago.  It got to the point this past January, where I put some of my favorite clothes on and they looked awful.  There were bulges where it use to be solid and lean, and I just didn’t feel as good as I’m accustomed to.  So, I got rigid.  Then I got lax (last week I actually gained half a pound).  Anyhow, I am back on track, and still determined.  You don’t get rid of bad habits overnight.  This I know. I’ve decided that until I reach my goal, I will not belabor the message in these posts.  I will simply state my goal, current weight and weight lost/gained. 

Sound good? Works for me!  Except, of course, for this week.  PSYCHE!  I am in Albuquerque, New Mexico to spend time with my mother who recently had a stroke.  I’ve been packing, condo hunting, moving, running a business and much much more ever since this whole thing started.  I’ve been traveling so much (just this month) that my whole system (physical and logistical) is off, and I decided not to go there.  I will weigh in on this (no pun intended) next week!  Know this:  Changing habits that you aren’t fond of (in yourself) takes determination, stamina and time.  You have to be IN it for real.  I am.  Bring it on, baby!  I’ve lost 8 of 11 lbs, and I am going to WIN. hee hee[digg=http://digg.com/food_drink/The_Indelible_Foibles_of_Drinking_Driving_or_texting]

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