A Marathon and a Bachelorette Party!

Lucky to attend my first ever bachelorette party and Marathon in the same day. I was nervous at first, but it was so much fun, because we were a great bunch and kept it classy!

The Marathon was the River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, and the Bride to Be and her two sisters ran the 10K (6 Miles). They averaged a 7 minute mile and it was a breeze for these super fit girls, that they sang the "Eye of the tiger" the whole time, changing the words of course.

Then since we couldn't find a way out of the city, we watched the 26K which the girls were pumped to do next year. We watched for a long while, until we were pressed for time to get to the Bridal Shower, which was followed by a few hours of rest and then the Bachelorette party. Making it a busy, fun and love filled weekend. What awesome energy!

River Bank Run May 18th 2013, Grand Rapids, Michigan

The Bachelorette Party

 

Geek Guy Gets The Sexy Model

There are two hot girls, and one is talking and suddenly you notice oh there's a frog looking guy on the right side of the screen. The hot girl in the pink dress suddenly slowly turns towards the frog, and they move in ever so slowly, purposefully for a kiss. The shot goes in close to show them kiss, intimately. For a seemingly long time, until you feel uncomfortable and squirm in your seat. Something seems wrong. Something is off. They shouldn't be kissing? This isn't porn? What? What is this? <--- click to watch!

Note: I am not a big fan of Go Daddy per se, but their latest ad did cause me to think deeply.

Have you noticed how are mind works sometimes, especially when we think we are the most open minded person, and then WHAM!

A year ago my friend started learning pole dancing, I was kind of surprised, for she and I had taken other dance lessons together. She told me it was an amazing work out, and lost a lot of weight doing so. It was funner than going to a gym and running on a treadmill. I realized more women were learning pole dancing for this very reason. Later she told me she was learning burlesque, and this was something I had no idea about, but I had to take a moment and think about it before I judged a friend I love to dearly.

My thoughts went like this - I love her a lot as my friend. She is doing a dance which I equate with stripping. Is stripping really bad? I should research burlesque. Should I not like her, judge her, or have a lower opinion of her because she chooses to express herself with her body? After all isn't belly dance, and other dances similar? Wow I am not as open minded as I thought I was, so now I am a hypocrite to claiming I am open minded.

I researched burlesque, watched videos online, and even watched Christina Aguilera and Cher's movie "Burlesque" (I don't care what the critics say, but I loved it!). I also talked to her about it, and understood it more. She was brave to go and drop her clothes in front of a crowd. It seriously takes balls! This isn't streaking, this is performing in skimpy clothes. I actually grew to admire her more. One has to be very comfortable with one's body to be able to do that.

I have another friend that enjoys photographing naked ladies for artistic photography. It isn't porn. It's tasteful nudity and appreciation of the human form. Especially with the unhealthy mindset we have in regards to what a woman's body should look like, appreciating the feminine form in all her shapes and sizes is something not many people can do. But she does. First I thought "Omg this is scandalous" Then I told my self to shut up and learn to love myself naked. How many of you honestly love your self naked - yes love handles, bulges et. al. ? How many of us truly think "She may look like an hippopotamus on the outside, but maybe she is a wonderful person on the inside. Let me get to know her." How many of us do that? We usually judge on appearances, careers, hobbies, dress choices before we even let ourselves get to know the stranger.

Many such incidences occur through out our lifetimes. Where we me encounter a cognitive dissonance type situation. It's tough, but we find ways to overcome it. So this years Superbowl featured an advertisement for a Go Daddy dot com featuring a hot model, and a nerd kissing. I think the point was sexy websites/ technology and the mastermind behind it all - a geek, come together to give you amazing web hosting services. Apparently this imagery caused a big hue and cry, disgust, and was termed "inappropriate" (an gun violence on TV is totally appropriate?). Maybe parents were concerned kids would see this "kiss" and suddenly the encyclopedia on SEX, and the Kamasutra would magically get downloaded into their brains through this perversion on TV. Like men jumping on each other, a murderer running amok the teams, and Beyonce dancing in a skimpy outfit is totally appropriate. Then again what do I know, i don't have kids yet. It's funny how we accept certain things, but don't accept others.

Some people claim it was a hot woman kissing an unattractive guy, the imbalance got to them. Maybe we accept people who are equally attractive or equally unattractive to date each other. That is acceptable. However an unattractive person dating an attractive person is not? Who makes these lame societal norms? So a skinny person should not date an obese person? Older woman should not date a younger man? Aren't we above this? Love is love! Let it be! Do we prefer war over love?

Since when did Love seem inappropriate over Violence?
We need to teach our kids to love better than we have learned to love.

Or apparently it feeds a negative stereotype that beautiful women/women are dumb. And most unattractive men are rich? What?! Bill Gates and Melinda Gates should sue these people who think this stereotype is common? Shouldn't they also ban Modern Family then?

Yeah, I was kind of grossed out by the kiss, but at the same time I thought why can't the nerdy guy get the pretty girl. Maybe because it was a raw kiss, no chick flick music in the background. Just a sensual kiss, tongue and all. I do it! So why did it seem wrong? Or is something wrong in my head cause I was all like "yeah go beat up the (-insert team name-)!!!" Really Pree? You condone violent sports that cause serious injuries all for an egg shaped ball, but can't deal with the nerd's dream come true kiss?

I'm thinking that kid was the luckiest nerd kid ever! And may all unattractive guys know they can get a hot chick on their arm. :-P Anyway the advertisement did work for the company!

All I'm trying to say is think, think before you realize some skewed societal norm is leading you to judge another person!

 

 

The Princess and the Frog Prince!

Other Articles:
http://www.underwearexpert.com/2013/02/bar-rafaeli-underwear-godaddy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bar-rafaeli-underwear-godaddy

 http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2013/02/06/the-woman-behind-godaddys-crass-effective-super-bowl-ads/







Breathe!

Let's Get Healthy

It's time to get back in shape, for me, at least.

I have had some health issues for a quite a few months now, as a result I have gained weight, have high blood pressure, and haven't been able to do the active things I love doing. I don't want to go into details of the nature of the health issue, but I am sure many of you are aware, and dealing with a family crisis back in India. The weight gain has been due to hormonal imbalances, organs not working right, and depression as a result of pain, and hormones. In order for the body to function exercise is important, however if you are in so much pain you can't move (which I have experienced), exercise is difficult. So the hormonal imbalance, Pain, and lack of exercise (doing things I love), all result in inability to burn fat, calories. Also when you are in that state, you don't really want to eat healthy.

For  the next couple of months I will blog about how to get back into shape to hike, yoga, climb, dance, and run. Get into that peak physical condition - shape, cardiovascular, muscular, mental level which I had but a year ago. I am starting from ground zero and with astounding high blood pressure (side effect of meds? Doc is working with me to narrow the cause). If you want to get into shape and do things like biking 40 miles etc. stick with me and hopefully by spring we should be in shape (hopefully sooner, for I long to go back country hiking and camping this winter).

First off I am totally cleaning up my diet - low sodium, which means mostly cooking at home, using fresh ingredients- VEGGIES! Researching (Wikipedia/Google) the nutrition of the ingredients, adding little to zero salt. Using spices for flavoring, and not eating out as much.
I will have some alcohol (beer, wine) on weekends. I never indulge in caffeine other than Earl Grey.
Eating lots of fruits.
Oh did I mention this miraculous but nasty thing called Oatmeal? It helps reduce blood pressure among other things, it is so good for weight loss, but after eating it for 3 years (when I lived at home) it just sounds kind of gross to me. Yes lots and lots of oatmeal.

Starting off these next few weeks: slow and easy Yoga and Pilates, walking or elliptical for 30 minutes to an hour, some light weights to get the arms and back, back in shape, and breathing exercises (Kapalbhati - I learnt it at the Sivananda Yoga Center, Chennai, Google or ask me to learn more and see if it is right for you).

During the work day: watch posture, walk as much as you can, drink lots of water (yes I forget this simple task) and let's not forget sneaking in some... OATMEAL!

 Breathe!

A Weekend In NYC

A lovely weekend in NYC with family and friends!

To see more follow my channel: Pree1403


Piyali dances with Fire!
My sister performs for us with fire (this is only her second time doing it with actual fire. Please do not try this at home!)

Toni Sings
Toni Tone my sister's friend sings in the dark night, at my uncle's place in Long Island.

Besame Mucho in the Park
This was under my sister's favorite tree in central park.