I now have a Mii on my Wii

The Wii has finally been set up and I was able to use it last night. I haven't yet gotten into the sports games: tennis, baseball, etc. Don't want to pull my back out just yet.

What I did do was the Wii Fit game. It's all the rage (I think it is even sold out here for a while) and a colleague of mine let me know that you can determine your "fit age". Sounds like tons of fun - I know.

You pick a profile that is similar to you - a little person with brown hair, brown eyes, etc. That's your Mii. It starts out by asking you a few questions: birthday, height. Then it weighs you - in kilograms! Much nicer as there are 1.9 pounds per kilogram so I was feeling skiiiiiinny. Then I got my calculator out and booo hooo. It calculates your BMI and identifies you on the chart of underweight, ideal, overweight, dead by tomorrow. :)

Then it asks you to do a few balance tests. Apparently my center of gravity (or "COG") is a little too the left. After the balance tests comes a drumroll and then - ta daaaaa - your fit age. Very nerve wracking process, but in the end I was:

34.

So, I'm just as fit as I'm supposed to be I suppose. But I want to be fitter and younger! So, I set my weight loss goal and away I go. I did try a few of the yoga poses in the Wii fit last night and they aren't as easy as it looks. I can see how it would be great for toning. The secret is that since I now have a goal on "paper", I will get my butt to the actual gym and start eating better. Don't want the Wii to fuss at me. :)

UPDATE: When you step on the Wii fit board, I swear it goes "yeoww!" Now, is that really necessary???

Bugger

Thanks, Karen, for my laugh this morning

Especially during a time of increased concern because of STUPID GUSTAV. And you're right, the one crazy line is just some "weather"person's (all PC) CYA measures. Because they don't know where it's going to go either.

The picture is small, but the crazy line is a blue one going to Mexico. And to quote Karen directly: "Yes, OF COURSE the storm will aim for Louisiana and then make a 130 degree turn Southwest suddenly!"

I mean, COME ON!

And then there's this beauty:

KFB: Old Fay says [Check out the light blue line...] "Maybe I'll go back to the ocean, no, maybe for land, yes, and then Mexico... oh way, no, there's Louisiana, I'll go there."

Too much.

Dun Leeeeery

Or as it's actually spelled: Dun Laoghaire. Anywho, we went to the World Cultures Festival there this past weekend. The weather was BEAUTIFUL on Sunday and well worth the drive and stroll on the coast.

Dun Laoghaire is a really nice part of town and the mountains and water are part of that reason. The festival was a good idea, but the set up was tough because of the space they had to use. Unfortunately a lot of the kiosks of things to buy from all around the world were also in the walking path, so getting over to them was difficult. The crowds were HUGE! They did have music from different cultures as well, but the most interesting part was of course the many people in costume on stilts. One was a three headed dragon - talk about coordination.

In the pics below, these people were watching a boat race - complete with the most boring monotone announcer.

If you ever come to Dublin, take a trip to Dun Laoghaire - definitely worth the short drive.

To all of my NOLA friends

Who have MUCH more important things to be doing right now than reading this blog, but in the case you're coming here for a little stress relief, please be careful, get out early, and BE SAFE!

Miss you all.

UPDATE: Just checked weatherunderground.com and this same graph yesterday had every track aimed at southern LA. I like this one better - there's some hope at least.

Oh Gustav. Don't break my heart.

Please go away. Or maybe the real estate gods will wake up from their slumber and SELL MY HOUSE!!!

From http://www.weatherunderground.com/:

The Irish should LOOK OUT!

Another American is on the road! Well, sort of. I did lots of practicing yesterday and I think I'm getting the hang of it. From what I understand, Americans can drive for 12 months from day of arrival as long as they are insured on the vehicle. I have decided to become official, though, so I've started studying for the theory piece of the test, which is all multiple choice. A co-worker gave me a practice CD and said that the questions on the test were the exact same. The database of questions could be as large as 2,000 but you are only asked a random sample of 40 for the actual test. The yuck part is that you have to get 35 out of 40 right - sheesh!

Now, I think I've been driving for something like 19 years (eek) so I'm thinking nooooo worries here. But that is not so. There are lots of signs that I have never seen before - maybe I just wasn't paying attention enough. A few examples:

This one looks very straight forward and we have these in the US, but I think that the ones here are just a little different. The sign is indicating that there is a junction up ahead, but the difference is that the road at the junction is thinner in width than the main road. Therefore, the wider road indicates the dominant road. If that's the way it is in the US as well, then I never noticed it.

We have cattle crossing and deer crossing signs. They do as well, but they also have sheep crossing. Makes total sense!

Island pooping? Ah! Falling rocks.

Look out for bees butts? No no - dangerous winds.

I got this one on my practice test and could only come up with railroad crossing of some sort. But the actual answer is "Level crossing ahead, unguarded by gates or lifting barrier." Oookay - if you say so!


One of the multiple choice answers for this one above was "cathedral up ahead". Ok, I know that I have some to learn, but come on now - I'm not that dumb.

The ever important, self-explanatory one (kind of hard to see - says "Drive on Left"):

I think this one reads, "OH SH*T!!"

And then there are the funny fun fun roundabouts. The important thing is to indicate (or use your blinker in US terms) at the right time. When you're entering, if you put on your left blinker right away, then that means that you are going to take the first exit to the left. In this case you should also be in the left lane. If you are planning on taking the second exit, then you have to put on your left blinker after the first exit and before the second. There's not much time. I'm thinking you'd have to be in the left lane as well - and maybe the right depending on how big the roundabout is. To take the third exit, you should be in the right lane (or maybe left) and also indicate right before it. So you are basically putting your left blinker on as your turning the car right. It's awkward. Very awkward.

So that's all of the driving lessons that I have for today. Now you're all ready for the left side of the road! Now if I could only stop reaching for the gear shift on my right when I'm in the car - I'll break the habit right before I go home for Thanksgiving and start driving there. :)