The Little Shack of Horrors Pt.1: The Decision

I have very strong feelings regarding the rent house in which Yvan and I currently reside...none of which are of the sunshine variety...and all for very good reasons.  There are a multitude of nicknames for said house including "The Little Shack of Horrors, Craphole, The Roach Nest, Piecer," and my personal favorite, "Chateau Sh**."

We rented this house as a last resort.  I swear, it was literally THE LAST HOUSE for rent any where in an area that would keep both of us near work.  Add in the fact that Yvan and I have very different ideas of what is considered suitable living space and we had our work cut out for us.  You see, I don't need a yard and have no problems with neighbors.  I can handle an apartment, condo, or house with neighbors.  Yvan has never lived in a neighborhood, much less an apartment.  He grew up in France, in a small village, in a home built into the side of a mountain that overlooks said village.  I'm sorry babe, but we don't have that here in Rockwall.  Since moving to the US, he has lived on acreage.  Again, lucky him.  So you can imagine the difficulties we had trying to find something that would work for both of us.  Since he refused to live in an apartment, we were forced to go house hunting.  The only thing we did agree on was not wanting to pay someone else's mortgage to live in their home.  The cost of renting is ridiculous in Rockwall.  Seriously, 1100sf, 2bed/2bath, no yard = $1800.  Umm, no.  Its not even the amount of money, its the fact that I am paying your mortgage and getting nothing in return.  I finally gave up and left the searching up to Yvan.  I was tired and way past done.  Maybe I should have pushed a little more.  Here are Yvan's Top 3.

3.  Ranch house in Terrell.  This actually would have been a pretty good deal if it was a little closer.  It was right smack in the middle of a large (I mean huge) ranch.  But, when even Yvan says it might take a while to get to work (like, 10 minutes to even get off the property) its a problem.  I have varsity practice at 7am.  The earlier I have to get up the worse it gets for anyone that has to deal with me that day.  So that is a pass.

2.  Ranch Style home in McLendon Chisholm.  Ummm, I started crying when we walked in.  The house was a disaster.  The back door wouldn't open and the downstairs bedroom was painted pepto pink and covered with tinkerbell icons.  The owners were willing to let us repaint at our own cost.  Seriously?  Upstairs wasn't any better.  There was no carpet in the closet, but there was carpet nails.  Again, the owners weren't willing to repair it, but we could at our own cost.  SERIOUSLY?  There are nails sticking up out of the floor.  And then there was the back yard and full array of broken, busted little kid toys everywhere.  Again, we could clean it up, but they weren't going to.  I very rarely give up a fight, but I must have completely shut down mentally, because Yvan made all the arrangements to meet and sign papers.  Luckily, his mother convinced him that he was being ridiculous.  Any landlord that wouldn't fix problems like that before we move in, certainly wasn't going to willing to fix things later.  And, hadn't he just rented out his cabin in Huntsville?  How much time and money did he invest to make sure it was a nice space for his renters?  Yvan finally came to his senses and told me we weren't going to live there.  I cried again.  This time they were tears of joy and relief rather than agony and total defeat.  The latter would come again later.

3.  The last resort.  Yvan calls me and says he found a place.  Yvan: "Can you come by and look at it tomorrow?" Me: "Uh, sure.  Where is it?"  Yvan: "About two miles from my school."  Me: (to myself) "Of course it is," (to Yvan) "That's awesome!"  The next day I swing by and meet Yvan at the house.  There are workers present and going to town.  And I'm thinking to myself, that's already a good sign.  At least they are willing to fix things.  We take a little tour and though it is very dated, it has two big bedrooms and two full baths.  The kitchen isn't too bad.  As we walk into the living room I start feeling a little drunk.  As I'm trying to figure out what's going on, Yvan goes, "yeah, the room slants a little bit."  No kidding.  Without carpet, you could race matchbox cars down the living room.  We briefly talk to the contractor about what work is being done and he states the basics, paint, new carpet, etc.  I ask Yvan about the price and he says they want $475/mo.  Excuse me?  $475?  That's it?  I should have known.  Good gracious, I should have known.  But, we were both at our breaking point.  So, I told him fine.  Let's do it.

Worst. Decision. Ever.

As we would soon discover.

Stay tuned for how I, Prissy Krissy, became immune to all things creepy crawly.

Sweat Yourself Skinny

I've never been the type of person that liked working out in the cold.  Even getting to the gym during winter was a trial because I didn't want to get out of the car and walk through the cold to get to the gym.  I always prefer to be nice and toasty when I work out and finish up a sweaty mess.  This can be accomplished if you run long enough on a treadmill, but I've found something way more productive.

Hot Yoga.  LOVE IT.

Now, I'm not one of those crazies that practices in a facility with the temp over 100.  Your body has to be able to maintain its internal temp.  And I certainly don't walk in wearing only spankies and a sports bra.  I don't want to see anyone's butt while I'm trying to tone mine.  That's just gross.  I joined Sunstone Yoga about 6 months ago and it is amazing.  After only two weeks, I was so hooked I canceled my other gym membership.  I knew that going in there and spending an hour on the treadmill watching all the douchebags workout only their arms (with poor form) and then stare at their abs in the mirror was never going to be satisfying.

During my first class, I didn't think that I would ever make it through a workout in that heat.  Truly, while I was lying down waiting for class to start I began to think that maybe I was nuts for trying this.  But, once you start moving you don't even notice the heat anymore.  The sweat, yes.  It's dripping right into your face and stinging the crap out of your eyeballs.  So yeah, it's noticeable.  And a little painful at first, but you get used to it.  Its so weird.  I really don't feel the heat.

The temperature of Fire Class at Sunstone is set at 98 degrees with 60% humidity.  Notice anything familiar about those numbers?  Your internal body temperature is just over 98 degrees and your body is 60% water.  I guess when your internal and external temperature and water levels are the same you just don't notice the heat as much.

The sweat, however, is impossible to miss.  It soaks your clothes, your hair, your towel, the mat underneath your towel, and the carpet around your mat.  Totally nasty.  Its bad enough that they provide recycled grocery bags to put your workout clothes in...and I use them...every class.  When Yvan gives me a hard time I just throw the bag at him.  Always grosses him out and shuts his mouth.  Wet yoga clothes are pretty heavy!  Side note...make sure you remove your mascara before class.  Nothing like walking out of class into the dressing room and realizing that the day's make-up is dripping down your face.

Sweating is not the only great thing about hot yoga.  It is such a challenge every time even though we are doing the same sequence of poses.  It is the only workout I've ever done that I haven't needed a distraction to make it though.  I didn't even notice until my third or fourth class that there wasn't any music.  None.  With the exception of the instructor talking and everyone breathing, there is no noise.  Amazing.  And this workout is HARD.  My muscles shake so bad and sometimes when I leave I wonder if I'm going to be able to push down on the accelerator hard enough to get home.  But, my body feels amazing.  I actually have withdrawals when I'm not able to go.  According to my doctor, I'm also an inch taller.  My back doesn't hurt and its really helping me tone up.  Did I mention its not boring?

If you've never tried yoga before, give it a shot.  Just make sure you do some research on the kind of yoga offered at each studio and the temperature they keep the room.  I think those factors make a big difference.

Spring Break!!

Two Words...Woo Hoo!  Maybe that's one word, but who really cares.  It's Spring Break!

The craziest Spring Break memory I have is gas only costing $.88/gal.  Now, that wasn't crazy then, but it sure is now!  It cost $12 to fill up my Ford Explorer.  12 years and a couple cars later it now costs over $50 to fill up my Equinox.  How do college kids still afford road trips?

I am so not keeping up with this blog like I originally planned.  I have so much to write about and no time to write about it.  But now its Spring Break, woohoo, and there is some catching up to do.  So prepare yourselves for the onslaught.  There is much to be said about sweating, shacks, and the joy of teaching.  I will not in any way go off like that teacher up north, because finally, at the age of 30, I am a good decision maker and I like my job.  That said, bless her heart, I understand.

Spring Break!  Woohoo!