I don't think Tuesday mornings get any better than this.  Let me present to you, a GIF from the trailer for Wolf of Wall Street.

And this GIF features one of my favorite people on the planet: LEO. 

And yes... he is DANCING.

He isn't just dancing. Homeboy is poppin' and lockin' like nobody's business.  And whatever move the dude in the red pants on the left is doing makes this GIF even better. AND on top of that, it takes place in the 90s.  So you KNOW these people were serious about dancing.

I CAN'T GET ENOUGH.

Check out Buzzfeed for the full, frame-by-frame break down of Leo's amazing dance moves.

And of course, check out the full trailer here (with the sick dance moves at the 1:34 mark).

XOXDanielle

UPDATE: While we're on the topic of Leonardo Awesomeness... observe.

Leo toasting us in Titanic, 1997.

Leo toasting us in The Great Gatsby, 2013.

Leo toasting us in Wolf of Wall Street, 2013.

And bonus aaaaalmost toast, from Django Unchained, 2012.

So we know a few things: Leo likes to hold his glass in his right hand. He likes wine, martinis, and is manly enough to drink a chick's cocktail that comes in a coconut. He parts his hair on the the left. His smirk is PERFECT. He looks fine as hell in a suit. And he is basically perfect.

I mean amiright!?

XODanielle

For months I’ve been looking forward to running in the Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon.  At the start of the new year, I decided that my major goal for this year was to attack my biggest fears and weaknesses and to stop letting them hold me back.  Number one on my list was my arch nemesis – running.  Eleven days into the new year, I was given the opportunity to run my first ever Half Marathon, and of course, I jumped at the chance.

So, right away I started with a nutritional overhaul with the Whole Life Challenge, and got into the habit of doing something active every single day.  And eight weeks ago, I started the hardest training regimen I have ever participated in – 8 workouts a week, with 2 rest days.  I was in the gym non-stop.

But something a little concerning was going on while I trained.  Every time I ran, I got an extreme pain in both of my lower legs.  After a few runs, I assumed I had shin splints, and was immediately taken off my running plan.  I replaced my running workouts with rowing and kept at it.  When last week started, I still wasn’t table to run more than a few miles without feeling this extreme pain again.  So, I finally went to see a bone and joint doctor.

Unfortunately, I got news that was worse than I expected.  Yes, I have shin splints.  But they are so severe that I’ll be doing six weeks of physical therapy for both legs.  But the issues didn’t end there… after closely examining an x-rays (on the right), my doctor concluded that I have a periosteal reaction occurring in both of my legs.  The periosteum is the thin membrane that surrounds all bones.  A periosteal reaction occurs when there has been trauma to a bone or the periosteum.  Essentially, the body begins to grow a thick layer of new bone over the irritated area in order to prevent further injury.  My doctor explained that this can happen because of a few things, even shin splints, but is commonly found with stress fractures in larger bones.  He couldn’t identify any clear fractures from my x-rays, so I am headed in for an MRI this afternoon to investigate even further.

Even though I probably could have guessed what he said next, it was still crushing to hear: “This half marathon is not something you’re going to be able to do."

I knew it was coming from the moment he put my x-rays up and he got a concerned look on his face.   Even so, having my marathon dreams dashed with one sentence made my stomach turn in knots.  I asked a lot of questions and wrote a lot of things down, trying to stay emotionless.  But, when I left, I did what any other young person who has been working their ass off for months and then told three weeks shy of their race that they can’t participate would have done: I got into my car and cried my eyes out.

For that afternoon, I felt extremely defeated.  I worked so hard for weeks, missing events with family and friends to train, using up all my free time with workouts (that I loved, by the way).  I was 100% dedicated to the CrossFit Endurance program.  I gave up my favorite foods and was exhausted each night when I finally went to bed.  I was so proud of my progress in the gym… and then it was all taken away from me.  I was finally going to tackle my weakness, and now the opportunity was gone.

So I spent the evening (and the next few days) being miserable.  But slowly, my perspective began to change.  Scott (from StoneWay CrossFit), who has been training me for the half, was encouraging: “we’ll keep going,” he said.  “Don’t let this stop you.” 

What he said, even if it was just his immediate response, has stuck with me for a while.  Of course he was sympathetic as well (he compared this to being SO excited to be going to Disneyland, and then being told you can't go right before you leave... so true), but he said what I needed to hear: "Don't let this stop you."

And I won’t.  I will not let this get me down.  Sure, I won’t be in this race, but I won’t let that stop me from treating myself right.  The marathon wasn't the only thing I was training for.  I AM proud of my progress in the gym – some of my lifts have gone up 30+ pounds in my 7-weeks of intense training.  My clothes fit better.  I was excited to get back to the gym every time I went – even if it was the second time of the day.  I rowed a 5k one weekend and a 10k the next.  I discovered that with a bunch of my lifting, I can lift more than my body weight.  I worked HARD toward a goal – toward one of my fears.  And it was empowering.  I learned that I have been selling myself short for years - I used to look at the task of rowing 400 meters with dread...  But now?  Now I can say I rowed 10,000 meters without stopping one weekend.  I did that.  I can do that. I won’t let an injury completely sideline me.

I might have been stopped short of the finish line, but this certainly isn’t the end of dedication to fitness for me.  Doctor says I can’t use my legs for anything more than walking for the next 2 weeks?  OK.  I’ll do all upper body stuff till then.  I’ll work on perfecting my hand stand push ups and my pullups.  Doctor says I can’t run for at least 8 weeks?  OK.  I’ll just row instead.  And maybe sign up for Tough Mudder.  This isn’t the end, it’s just a speed bump, something I have to adjust to for a while.

So, I am extremely sad to say that I won’t get to run the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon this year.  I had a little mourning period, and now I am moving toward new goals.  I won’t let this stop me.  I wasn't just training for a marathon - I am training to feel good about myself.  To be strong.  To be fearless (and I don't care how ridiculous that sounds).

Are you still training for the RNR or another race?  Still running?  I’d love to cheer you on!  Tweet me @BonjourDanielle and let me know how it’s going.  And when my next big athletic event happens (and it will!), I’ll keep you posted.

Thanks for all of your support and encouragement!  It means the world to me.

XODanielle

Tired of passers-by urinators in the alley behind their locksmith shop, a guy from Allentown, PA, decided to install a surprise shower for future would-be public urinators.

Is he a Hero or a Jerk?

I saw this on facebook this morning. Would you do the same if you were "meanest mother in Wyoming"?

Yes, I tested these at my desk.  And yes, I checked to see if anyone was looking before I figured out what nostril I breathe out of (just watch the video and you'll understand).

BODY-BRAIN TEST :

XODanielle