Family

Weekend Adventure

The Merfett

Darn, I missed posting yesterday! Merfman got off work early and threw me for a loop, a happy loop, but still a loop :)

Wanna hear about my weekend?! No. Too bad, I’m going to tell you anyway.

On Saturday morning Merfman took me to the Glendale Amtrak station when I hopped on the train and headed down to San Diego! The ride was good, but was delayed by 20 minutes when we had to stop on the tracks and wait for approval to pass through an intersection. Riding the train is a very interesting social experience, I highly recommend it if you haven’t done so already. It’s so nice not to have to drive the distance to SD, and the Surf Liner really is pretty when you can see the beach. But the real fun starts when you get to experience the other passengers on the train. Antsy toddler, hungover college student, uptight parents…and my personal favorite: the wanna be Real Housewives of OC. Seriously. I should have recorded their conversations, it was painful to listen to. I was trying to read a script and I had to re-read the same scene several times because I was having such a hard time focusing with all their whining going on!

All was well when I got off in Old Town SD and met my bestie from High School, who was picking me up. She asked what I was feeling for lunch…well, first she asked if I was going to be hungry when I arrived. My answer, ALWAYS. 9.5 times out of 10 I will be hungry when you ask. It’s a gift. I offered up some ethnic suggestions and she landed on Mexican. You can never go wrong with Mexican. Well, unless it’s El Pollo Loco. That’s a sin. She took me to this amazing hole-in-the wall and I had this beauty:

Vegetarian Burrito wrapped in whole wheat tortilla goodness. I don’t think you understand how big this monster was. For comparison:

My manhand for scale

Legit, that thing is the size of a puppy. And I ate the whole thing. I drank my dinner that night (more on that to come) so I’m not a total fatty.

Post burrito coma we went back to my friend’s place. She basically lives the dream. Her place is < 3 blocks from the beach. Ahhh, it’s the life. We took a long bike ride around the bay and passed 6 weddings! 6!!! I’m really hoping we photo-bombed at least one. The weather was amazing and the people watching was spectacular.

We had plans to see Finding Nemo in 3D later that afternoon. Do not mock my love for Nemo and Dory – they are the greatest aquatic characters ever invented. You better believe I quoted that movie from start to finish to myself.   A little pit stop at Starbucks and we were ready to begin the evening phase of the day. On that note, run do not walk to the ‘Bucks and get the Salted Carmel Mocha. It is happiness in liquid form.

We enjoyed an amazing passion fruit Ale pre bar, and I NEED to buy that beer next summer. Sadly it’s seasonal and it’s a crime. We walked to The BeachWood and enjoyed our dinner in liquid form :) I did sample some sweet potato waffle fries with blue cheese from someone else’s dinner and found love in food form.

Sunday morning we had big plans for an aquatic adventure, but I’ll tease you with that until I get the photos for proof :)

My high school friend was able to help me meet up with former Bridesmaid and current Phoenix resident Jessey in Del Mar. We ventured forth and made a stop at my favorit coffee spot in all the land…

That place makes me want to open a coffee shop so bad. Ah, someday.

We did some visiting with Jessey’s folks and then Obby joined us and we hit the road North head-on into the clutches of Carmageddon II. Luckily, we hit minimal traffic and made it to Golden Road Brewing in Glendale for some of this:

I also had the best sandwich I’ve  had in months. You have to try the A.L.T. It’s beer battered avocado. BEER.BATTERED.AVOCADO.  No drill people, it’s insane. We also learned that Golden Road is expanding…adding more menu items, a wait staff, 200 more seats and a beer garden. I don’t wanna sound all hipster…but I’m gonna be all hipster and whine about how I don’t want Golden Road to get all “cool” because then it won’t be cool anymore.

It was a great weekend, spent with awesome people, having a kick-butt time. I love thee San Diego, if only I could make movies from there. Hm.

Health & Fitness

Do Not Fear the Weights

The Merfett

So, I have a confession. I’m embarrassed to admit I was once intimidated by the weight area at my Gym.

Lame, I know. How many years did I spend conditioning and training in a weight room? After playing college water polo you’d think I’d have that business down…which reminds me, I have 2 more years of NCAA eligibility left. Anyone need a 26 year old Guard with a bionic ankle? No? Aw…

After completing my Couch to 5k program, which totally rocks – everyone that thinks they can’t run NEEDS to try it. You will be amazed at what you can do! So, after C25K I got back into Spinning Classes but found that I wasn’t stoked with the way my body was shaping up – or lack of shaping.

I read The New Rules of Lifting for Women which was very informative and had a new approach to lifting for women. I got inspired to give lifting a go again. So, we all know the gym stereotypes…but I’ll leave you with this reference just in case you need a refresher. So with all the Muscle Men taking up space there seems to be little room for ME to find a place to lift, a machine to use or a pair of free weights not strewn around the floor. Why, oh why can people not RE-RACK! We learned this in Kindergarden people!!! Sing it with me….clean up, clean up….

I’ve learned the secret to peaceful and productive weightlifting. It’s a time of day thing. 11:00am – 1:00pm is when the Gym Rats crawl out of bed and make their way to social hour at the gym. I don’t understand it. If that’s your thing to socialize that the gym between sets, no problemo – but, can you slide off to the side so I can use that leg press? Mmkay?

8:00am – 9:30am is my sweet spot. For months I hit to gym with the 6:00am – 7:30am crowd, which I dig since they’re all about business and getting a good workout in before they hit their 9 – 5. Since I’m working form home these days I have the flexibility to hit the gym after the morning rush and before the afternoon happy hour. I’ve tried to make a workout later in the afternoon/evening, but I’m just not that person. I blame years of 5:30am practices. I’m a better human when I get my workout in early so I can take on the rest of my day.

2 – 3 days a week I do cardio for 20 – 30 minutes and then lift for another 15 – 20 min. I’m usually in and out of the gym in an hour. I know it’s good to mix things up so your body doesn’t get used to what your routine is so I try to Spin a few days and run on the Dreadmill a few days. The Elliptical and I haven’t become bestie’s yet. I just can’t.get.the.rhythm. I find that I’m more concerned about falling off the darn thing, than I am about getting in a good work out. I know it’s good because it’s low impact and all that good stuff but I just haven’t gotten the hang of it.

Lifting is normally a combo of legs and arms with Core work at the end. I try to alternate legs/arms with each set and make sure I work different legs/arms if I’m lifting two consecutive days. It’s working for me now, we’ll see how I’m feeling in a few weeks.

I’m trying to establish a good routine now, so I don’t get thrown off by all the baby gym members come New Years ;)

Family

Betsy Ross

The Merfett

Meet Betsy Ross:

I asked Merfman what he wanted for his birthday a while back. He mentioned a few things, then paused and said…”well, I dunno, I guess you could see about finding a French Bulldog.” I was ecstatic! I’ve slowly been brainwashing   convincing him as to how awesome French Bulldogs are. I still get misty when I think about Stevie, the first Frenchie I adopted which later became my parent’s. We lost Stevie a year ago next month.

I started browsing the internet for French Bulldogs. It’s sad, but there are a lot of scams out there revolving around buying and selling Frenchie’s. They are expensive dogs, listed at $4,000 when sold by trusted breeders. I looked into adopting through a Rescue network but it’s difficult to qualify and many of the dogs have medical issues that require extensive care or surgery. The breed is prone to medical issues and many people don’t know this when they buy a puppy. Later they surrender them because it’s too difficult to deal with.

I emailed Hollywood French Bulldogs  when I found them online. I was requested to fill out an application to see what type of dog I was looking for. I filled out the application and included a touching story my Dad wrote about Stevie when we lost her. Shortly after I received an email back from them, with several suggestions. I knew we couldn’t afford a $4,000 puppy, so I was very interested when they mentioned an older dog was being retired from breeding and needed a forever home.

I was introduced to Hilsman’s French Bulldogs and we started talking about Betsy, a 5 year old female they were looking to retire and re-home. She was a former show dog, with 3 litters of puppies.

She’s as pretty in real life as she looks in those photos :) Betsy and her brother were born on the 4th of July and were named Betsy Ross and Thomas Jefferson! Several of Betsy’s puppies have found homes in Los Angeles with other people that work in Film and TV. It’s like she was destined to come to Hollywood!

After several emails and calls about logistics it was arranged for Betsy to be flown out to LAX. I picked her up on September 6th, Merfman’s birthday :) I loved her immediately. She’s sweet and calm, laid back and fun. Buddy, the Yellow Dragon  Lab is also a big fan. They play and nap together all day long. Buddy even taught Betsy how to use the doggie door :)

Since I work from home Betsy is never more than a few feet from me. She’s follows me around all day and loves napping by my feet while I work at my desk. She loves her doggie beds, yes beds. She loved her first one so much I got her a second one to keep in the living room. Merfman and I loving refer to her as our Princess <— Yep, we became those dog people.

I cannot thank and recommend Hollywood and Hilsman French Bulldogs enough. Such kind and wonderful people that helped add a new member to our little family.