Life Balance: a feat we try to achieve while searching to be the best that we can we, while simultaneously raising our children to do the same. This is the equilibrium in our inner life force whereby our heartbeat matches the divine force that exists all around us. When this life balance peaks, our sense of peace, joy, love and wisdom acts as one with our very soul.
Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness--George Santayana
My 15th Halloween with my kids already. I can hardly believe it. This year I have a candy corn witch, a banana and a gangster. Yes, Maverick is trick or treating again. So if a 6 foot banana shows up at your door, don't be alarmed, just give him the contents of your refrigerator and you'll be fine. He doesn't eat much, just everything not tied down, especially skittles and Swedish fish, and maybe all your peanut butter and white bread too. He thinks a serving size of juice is a 2 quart bottle, but hey, he's learning to cook at his dish washing job, so maybe he will get refined tastes, like wheat pasta instead of ramien noodles. Yes, and I hope and believe in all the good things in life.
My costume this year is still the sweat pants, Red cross blood donor tee shirt and Aeropostle sweat shirt that I have been in about 8 months now. I used to get up, write, work out from 530 to 640, shower, get kid one up and yell at him to step closer to the soap today, pack my lunch, get kid two up and hook up her intravenous coffee, do my hair and makeup, yell at kid three to go shave and get a move on, let the dog out, sign papers, check email, unload dishwasher, reload dishwasher, start laundry, empty garbage, get something out for dinner, and leave for work; all in one hour.
Well, now, I roll over, crawl to the stairs, yell "Luke! Maggie! Get up, " stumble back to bed and pull the covers over my head. Luke makes coffee and hops in the shower. Maggie crawls in bed with me and says yet again that she is too tired to go to school. I turn on the news, cover up the dog, turn on a light, listen to the news, yell at Maggie to actually drink the coffee so she doesn't have to sit on the bottom of the shower to wake up, ask Luke to get something out for breakfast, yell up to Maverick to wake up and pile on more covers to keep warm while sipping my coffee. If I am lucky, I pull on sweats and drive the kids to school, but some days, (shh, don't tell anyone) I drive in my pink polka dot Jammie's. Then I get home, do Tai Chi, meditate to Wayne Dyer, do some writing and maybe look at job postings. Afternoons I do some more writing and a little house work, go to the park, visit the deer, come home, nap, and then do some more work. I am usually functional by 4 in the afternoon when the kids come home.
Well, that's all over for me now. One week of vacation before the I have to pull the big girl panties on and get back to work. Finally, someone believes I can do a job for them. Okay, so it took 12 hours of interviews and some whining to get the job, but at last, I have one.
Back to the gym and more regular schedules for me. Stop watching Leno and Conan. Actually get to sleep at a normal time. Eat real meals, not nachos for dinner. Know what day it is without having to consult a calender again.
Yes, its true, I do have abilities far reaching and its time to get there. Thank you to the Queen for networking and getting me a wonderful lead. Thank you to God for answering my prayers. And thank you to all my friends who helped me through this extended nap time. I couldn't have done it without you.
Now we just have to see if this is a trick or a treat of a job. But the really cool thing, after wearing silk long underwear, 2 pairs of socks and gloves to type at my last job----just a tad cold in the office--now I have my own thermostat. I am so excited. I can set my own temperature. I don't even have to fight with my always hot DH to turn it up. Wow.
Trick or treat, I'm ready. It was this or I would have gone out collecting candy tonight as a bag woman. Thank God for this, children really don't need to be scared tonight by me. Have fun, and save some snickers for me.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Beauty
Life Balance: a feat we try to achieve while searching to be the best that we can we, while simultaneously raising our children to do the same. This is the equilibrium in our inner life force whereby our heartbeat matches the divine force that exists all around us. When this life balance peaks, our sense of peace, joy, love and wisdom acts as one with our very soul.
Let the beauty we love be what we do. ~Rumi ~
Took Maverick out on a photo shoot last night for his class. Took 5 pictures of the area and then we ran to get them developed at a quick place. Mrs. no-mechanical ability needs to see why her computer gifted child can't upload his pics. But still, as a Mom, who has a child taking pics on the last possible day before the project is due, in the final minutes of daylight mind you, we do what we can. We get thru this crisis and then suffer with whatever needs to be fixed later. Nothing but tenacious I am.
So we are there in the drug store, getting the photos and I pay. And the smiling child (who knew 7 year olds could work there) hands me a coupon. Have a nice night. I look eagerly at the coupon. One time it was buy a lipstick, get one free, so I am anticipating the fun. Not tonight, oh no, What I scream, as I read it. Sign up for AARP free?
God, I must look bad. I mean, I know I need to start buying the hair dye in 50 gallon tubs. My irish heritage shining through with white roots every 2 weeks now. And the lip hair, really needs a tub of Nair again, it could be braided its so long. And well, mabye I am skimming on the moisturizer. 7 months out of work tends to make you buy the 99 cent one gallon all purpose moisturizer-car lube special. And well, who needs makeup on a boring Monday night, right? And the sweats held together with a safety pin by the one big hole; that probably wasn't a good idea either. And oh, nice, I have an old Red Cross blood donation shirt on, something most seniors wear. And I'm holding a coupon. And I have the really big, multi-purpose purse/lunch bucket with me. And the cheap sneaks. Gawd, I look like a bag lady tonight!!!!!
I don't even thing AARP would have me. I look too old. I look like, oh my, my mother. And my grandmother before her, God rest her soul. The safety pin in the pants is the kicker. Jeesh. Mom always complained that Gram wouldn't wear the nice clothes they bought her, but kept on wearing the old rags instead. And would blow her nose, and miss the garbage can with the kleenex. What's that on the rug? Excuse me, that is not mine, no its must be the kids. I would never be so messy (Please be quiet about that Mrs. Queen, no one is as neat as you.)
All right, time to go back to work already. I have a kick ass interview Thursday. Everyone pray for the bag lady.
I'll keep you posted. Time to go, um, lots of shopping to do. Anyone have a coupon for L'Oreal hair dye and Nair? And a Girdle.
Let the beauty we love be what we do. ~Rumi ~
Took Maverick out on a photo shoot last night for his class. Took 5 pictures of the area and then we ran to get them developed at a quick place. Mrs. no-mechanical ability needs to see why her computer gifted child can't upload his pics. But still, as a Mom, who has a child taking pics on the last possible day before the project is due, in the final minutes of daylight mind you, we do what we can. We get thru this crisis and then suffer with whatever needs to be fixed later. Nothing but tenacious I am.
So we are there in the drug store, getting the photos and I pay. And the smiling child (who knew 7 year olds could work there) hands me a coupon. Have a nice night. I look eagerly at the coupon. One time it was buy a lipstick, get one free, so I am anticipating the fun. Not tonight, oh no, What I scream, as I read it. Sign up for AARP free?
God, I must look bad. I mean, I know I need to start buying the hair dye in 50 gallon tubs. My irish heritage shining through with white roots every 2 weeks now. And the lip hair, really needs a tub of Nair again, it could be braided its so long. And well, mabye I am skimming on the moisturizer. 7 months out of work tends to make you buy the 99 cent one gallon all purpose moisturizer-car lube special. And well, who needs makeup on a boring Monday night, right? And the sweats held together with a safety pin by the one big hole; that probably wasn't a good idea either. And oh, nice, I have an old Red Cross blood donation shirt on, something most seniors wear. And I'm holding a coupon. And I have the really big, multi-purpose purse/lunch bucket with me. And the cheap sneaks. Gawd, I look like a bag lady tonight!!!!!
I don't even thing AARP would have me. I look too old. I look like, oh my, my mother. And my grandmother before her, God rest her soul. The safety pin in the pants is the kicker. Jeesh. Mom always complained that Gram wouldn't wear the nice clothes they bought her, but kept on wearing the old rags instead. And would blow her nose, and miss the garbage can with the kleenex. What's that on the rug? Excuse me, that is not mine, no its must be the kids. I would never be so messy (Please be quiet about that Mrs. Queen, no one is as neat as you.)
All right, time to go back to work already. I have a kick ass interview Thursday. Everyone pray for the bag lady.
I'll keep you posted. Time to go, um, lots of shopping to do. Anyone have a coupon for L'Oreal hair dye and Nair? And a Girdle.
Monday, October 6, 2008
World Crisis
Life Balance: a feat we try to achieve while searching to be the best that we can we, while simultaneously raising our children to do the same. This is the equilibrium in our inner life force whereby our heartbeat matches the divine force that exists all around us. When this life balance peaks, our sense of peace, joy, love and wisdom acts as one with our very soul.
Good morning, happy fall Monday. Turn on the news again and its the world financial news again. Crisis. Take all your money out. Doomsday is near. Save yourself, but don't jump off the cliff. Blah, Blah, blah.
Near as I can tell, the ones telling us all how to handle all our money are men. Doomsday alerts abound now because the end is coming. See, they won't have beer money and are getting worried. They won't know what to do, how to survive.
Men really don't know how to handle crisis. Women get training at an early age, its called bad hair days. We wake up late, have trouble moving but go through the motions, get dressed, get our food, mentally make our to do lists, feeling we can handle the loss of time until we get to the bathroom and look in the mirror. Hair everywhere. Twenty directions all at once, curls when we have straight hair, a drooping flop when we have waves, grease when we have hair so brittle we buy conditioner in 5 gallon buckets; women have been through it all and survived. We are tenacious, we persevere, wearing barrettes and hair bands when our hair is one inch long. We get wigs when we loss all our hair due to illness or simply go with a pretty bandanna if we want.
We don't need Rogaine, we have our inner strength to carry us through and our girlfriends to make us feel okay about it. See our girlfriends will tell us it looks okay when we whip out the curling iron and make Farreh Fawcett waves in our stick straight hair, covering up the lion's mane we woke up with. Our girlfriends will laugh with us and remind us of our youth when we whip out a hairband when the hot flashes hit and our hair falls faster then Wall street when told their bonuses might be taken away. Our girlfriends will call us "skunk head" for the streak of white hair which showed up overnight in our bright red hair.
We know how to make each other feel good and go on. We still make our lists, multi-task and overcome despite serious illness making it hard to walk. We get up and drive our kids to appointments we made months ago rather then stay in bed because we feel we might puke any minute. We cook meals out of the remnants of a fridge so bare from unemployment that the food bank must surely want to bail us out, and then we share them with our new neighbors and 5 kids who have nothing to cook today.
We do it all and always have. Financial crisis or not, we go on. We learn how to make soup of leftover bones and make a happy meal out of macaroni and day old bread. We have birthday parties and fantasy play time to make our kids happy, even when we want to cry. We work the extra 20 hours to get the big project finished at work and come home to do laundry and pack lunches. We don't lay don't and cry over the money, we keep going.
We keep going because we know we will get through. We lean on chocolate when we need to and we give up things all the time for our kids and neighbors and coworkers in need. We may have to use mascara on our hair lines to stretch out the dye jobs now, or we might scrap the ends of the foundation bottle rather then buy a new one, but we'll do it.
Maybe we need to pass some tips to those heads of corporations who feel that can't go due to being only worth $70 billion instead of $140 billion. Maybe if they knew how to find a dinosaur picture at 6 a.m. or make homework reappear from the dead, we wouldn't be in this mess.
Let's all give them a shoebox and some paint and have them make a diorama at 5 a.m. I think restarting their creativity is all we need get over this. That, and giving them a bad hair day to make them smile. Or maybe they just need some chocolate to stop whining.
Or a bottle of wine, and a long distance call to a girlfriend who pees while talking to you. That would make them stop whining for sure.
Good morning, happy fall Monday. Turn on the news again and its the world financial news again. Crisis. Take all your money out. Doomsday is near. Save yourself, but don't jump off the cliff. Blah, Blah, blah.
Near as I can tell, the ones telling us all how to handle all our money are men. Doomsday alerts abound now because the end is coming. See, they won't have beer money and are getting worried. They won't know what to do, how to survive.
Men really don't know how to handle crisis. Women get training at an early age, its called bad hair days. We wake up late, have trouble moving but go through the motions, get dressed, get our food, mentally make our to do lists, feeling we can handle the loss of time until we get to the bathroom and look in the mirror. Hair everywhere. Twenty directions all at once, curls when we have straight hair, a drooping flop when we have waves, grease when we have hair so brittle we buy conditioner in 5 gallon buckets; women have been through it all and survived. We are tenacious, we persevere, wearing barrettes and hair bands when our hair is one inch long. We get wigs when we loss all our hair due to illness or simply go with a pretty bandanna if we want.
We don't need Rogaine, we have our inner strength to carry us through and our girlfriends to make us feel okay about it. See our girlfriends will tell us it looks okay when we whip out the curling iron and make Farreh Fawcett waves in our stick straight hair, covering up the lion's mane we woke up with. Our girlfriends will laugh with us and remind us of our youth when we whip out a hairband when the hot flashes hit and our hair falls faster then Wall street when told their bonuses might be taken away. Our girlfriends will call us "skunk head" for the streak of white hair which showed up overnight in our bright red hair.
We know how to make each other feel good and go on. We still make our lists, multi-task and overcome despite serious illness making it hard to walk. We get up and drive our kids to appointments we made months ago rather then stay in bed because we feel we might puke any minute. We cook meals out of the remnants of a fridge so bare from unemployment that the food bank must surely want to bail us out, and then we share them with our new neighbors and 5 kids who have nothing to cook today.
We do it all and always have. Financial crisis or not, we go on. We learn how to make soup of leftover bones and make a happy meal out of macaroni and day old bread. We have birthday parties and fantasy play time to make our kids happy, even when we want to cry. We work the extra 20 hours to get the big project finished at work and come home to do laundry and pack lunches. We don't lay don't and cry over the money, we keep going.
We keep going because we know we will get through. We lean on chocolate when we need to and we give up things all the time for our kids and neighbors and coworkers in need. We may have to use mascara on our hair lines to stretch out the dye jobs now, or we might scrap the ends of the foundation bottle rather then buy a new one, but we'll do it.
Maybe we need to pass some tips to those heads of corporations who feel that can't go due to being only worth $70 billion instead of $140 billion. Maybe if they knew how to find a dinosaur picture at 6 a.m. or make homework reappear from the dead, we wouldn't be in this mess.
Let's all give them a shoebox and some paint and have them make a diorama at 5 a.m. I think restarting their creativity is all we need get over this. That, and giving them a bad hair day to make them smile. Or maybe they just need some chocolate to stop whining.
Or a bottle of wine, and a long distance call to a girlfriend who pees while talking to you. That would make them stop whining for sure.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Body Plumped
Life Balance: a feat we try to achieve while searching to be the best that we can we, while simultaneously raising our children to do the same. This is the equilibrium in our inner life force whereby our heartbeat matches the divine force that exists all around us. When this life balance peaks, our sense of peace, joy, love and wisdom acts as one with our very soul.
"I am realistic - I expect miracles." --Dr. Wayne Dyer
Five thirty in the morning found me trying out Body Pump at the gym with all my talented friends. I hadn't been in a month and they all gave me beautiful hugs. Then Mrs. Happy Nurse whispered that I should really watch the squats; do too many at too heavy a weight and you could find your legs screaming the Hallelujah chorus every time you bend to go. Great. So I tried to take it easy and learn the techniques of lifting and moving at that hour of the morning. Unfortunately for me they don't mainline the caffeine for you and you need to just keep on doing the lifting so you don't look like a major wimp. So I kept moving, trying to make the weight as manageable as possible since I haven't lifted in over 6 months. I kept adjusting down until I found I was looking for a -5 pound weight, which they only have in virtual reality games and cartoons. Soon even the bar became too heavy. Get to the end for mat work, yeah, happy to lay down again on the floor, but no, now they expect me to do pushups. Does it count if you only go up and down 2 inches?Hmm, seems to me I had boyfriends in the past that worked out okay for.
Afterwards, my ego was so deflated with the shape my 40 something body is in. I think the wine at Classic movie nights is catching up to me, or maybe its the candy we made for last week's theme (sponge candy with gold sprinkles and lollipops...and the movie was? anyone? Wizard of Oz.) Tai chi class on Saturdays is looking more my speed, but now maybe even the deep breathing might be a challenge. And to steal a line from Mrs. Nurse after her first class, can someone please come over and lift my arms so I can brush my teeth? Ow, who knew you needed muscles just to do that AND to pee.
I guess Body Plumped is more my speed this week. My knees are 80 but my spirit is 20. I expect miracles all right, I just didn't know I needed them just to pee.
Go me! One exercise class down, thousands to avoid. And millions more to conquer in my lifetime. Let's go team, it's fall and we need to get in shape for those Christmas cookies.
"I am realistic - I expect miracles." --Dr. Wayne Dyer
Five thirty in the morning found me trying out Body Pump at the gym with all my talented friends. I hadn't been in a month and they all gave me beautiful hugs. Then Mrs. Happy Nurse whispered that I should really watch the squats; do too many at too heavy a weight and you could find your legs screaming the Hallelujah chorus every time you bend to go. Great. So I tried to take it easy and learn the techniques of lifting and moving at that hour of the morning. Unfortunately for me they don't mainline the caffeine for you and you need to just keep on doing the lifting so you don't look like a major wimp. So I kept moving, trying to make the weight as manageable as possible since I haven't lifted in over 6 months. I kept adjusting down until I found I was looking for a -5 pound weight, which they only have in virtual reality games and cartoons. Soon even the bar became too heavy. Get to the end for mat work, yeah, happy to lay down again on the floor, but no, now they expect me to do pushups. Does it count if you only go up and down 2 inches?Hmm, seems to me I had boyfriends in the past that worked out okay for.
Afterwards, my ego was so deflated with the shape my 40 something body is in. I think the wine at Classic movie nights is catching up to me, or maybe its the candy we made for last week's theme (sponge candy with gold sprinkles and lollipops...and the movie was? anyone? Wizard of Oz.) Tai chi class on Saturdays is looking more my speed, but now maybe even the deep breathing might be a challenge. And to steal a line from Mrs. Nurse after her first class, can someone please come over and lift my arms so I can brush my teeth? Ow, who knew you needed muscles just to do that AND to pee.
I guess Body Plumped is more my speed this week. My knees are 80 but my spirit is 20. I expect miracles all right, I just didn't know I needed them just to pee.
Go me! One exercise class down, thousands to avoid. And millions more to conquer in my lifetime. Let's go team, it's fall and we need to get in shape for those Christmas cookies.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Smile Day
Life Balance: a feat we try to achieve while searching to be the best that we can we, while simultaneously raising our children to do the same. This is the equilibrium in our inner life force whereby our heartbeat matches the divine force that exists all around us. When this life balance peaks, our sense of peace, joy, love and wisdom acts as one with our very soul.
A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. ~Phyllis Diller
A friend of mine will often say "Smile" to me to end an argument of some sort. Well, actually to shut me up on a subject when I am screaming with rage on the inside, but politely saying "Whatever" to his face (whatever is the new f*&K you a?%hole.) Of course, I tend to do anything but smile, like maybe scream in the shower instead or make the kids clean their rooms NOW because I am sick of the 5 foot deep river of clothing cluttering the landscape! Honestly, do they really believe kicking the clothes under the bed, shoving the dirty dishes in their dressers and throwing 3 comforters on top of their 3 week old dirty sheets is cleaning? Whatever happened to just shoving it in the closet?
So telling me smile has always just irritated me to no end because its more like an insult from your 3rd grade teacher than a help. So, I always tended to not do it when asked and get myself more pissed off, adding scowling and screaming to the list instead of just calming down. He told this again to me recently, and I paused for a minute to consider the act. Smile. Hmm, I do tend to take it for granted. Pay attention to this I thought and think. Pay attention.
I started performing creative exercises from a book called the "Artist's Way." In the beginning it talks about slowing down and paying attention, noticing the details. Giving thanks to our creator for the details. Hmm, smile is certainly one of them, just as walk, breath and type are things to notice. Notice the movements. Give thanks.
Strange things happen to our bodies everyday and until they do, we tend not to notice the details and give thanks. My next door neighbor, Mr. Thruway, has an inherited foot disease that rots the veins in the feet. Eventually circulation stops. Most of his family has died of this. He got to the point last winter when he wasn't walking. But fortunately for him, they have many cool new vein surgeries. He had one on his feet and within days was walking again. For months, he couldn't do the lawn work, trim the hedges, wash his truck, ride a bike. Now I see him out there doing this, and he has the biggest grin you ever saw on his face. He is so grateful to walk again.
A cousin of my husband woke up one day with hands the size of melons. Carpal tunnel. She has had surgery which helped but did not cure the hand. She still has lots of trouble and is disabled now. The simplest thing like holding a book to read is hard. How many times do we even think to give thanks for our hands? I love to read, and can't imagine getting pain from holding a book.
I've taken over the cooking chores since I've been home, cooking on a daily basis. Before, it was mainly on weekends. I got to the point I was real tired of it again. What had brought me joy, wasn't anymore. Just a boring daily task now that I wanted out of. No matter that it brought nourishment to my family. No amount of joy at my cooking and baking seemed enough. I had taken cooking for granted and was mad I had to do it.
But a month or so ago I gave thanks that I could cook and started being grateful when I did. Gave thanks for the simple tasks like running to the car, driving to the store, buying food and then cooking it. I even play music and sing while I do it now.
Why the change? A friend from the gym, Mrs. Sunshine, came down one day with a weird disease from a virus called guillain barre syndrome. It attacks the nerves in the body and she suddenly could hardly walk, or move or eat. Everyday tasks were horrendous. Terrible pain racked her body and awful headaches. She could not do much at first, and things like caring for the family and cooking were impossible. Her face has been immobile and she can't smile.
I've cooked her some meals to help them out. Not much really since I was cooking already. But I gave thanks and was happy that I could. I smiled for her and hoped it helped her and her family in some small way.
Don't take today for granted. Notice the details. Help someone you know smile instead of fight. Appreciate the hands, the feet and the wonderful daily chores we can do with cheer like cooking.
And for my friend Mrs. Sunshine, let's all make tomorrow Smile Day, and smile for her. I know her smile is 1 million watts bright on the inside because she is well on the way to healing. Thank God for that. Give thanks to God tomorrow by giving someone else your smile, its contagious.
A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. ~Phyllis Diller
A friend of mine will often say "Smile" to me to end an argument of some sort. Well, actually to shut me up on a subject when I am screaming with rage on the inside, but politely saying "Whatever" to his face (whatever is the new f*&K you a?%hole.) Of course, I tend to do anything but smile, like maybe scream in the shower instead or make the kids clean their rooms NOW because I am sick of the 5 foot deep river of clothing cluttering the landscape! Honestly, do they really believe kicking the clothes under the bed, shoving the dirty dishes in their dressers and throwing 3 comforters on top of their 3 week old dirty sheets is cleaning? Whatever happened to just shoving it in the closet?
So telling me smile has always just irritated me to no end because its more like an insult from your 3rd grade teacher than a help. So, I always tended to not do it when asked and get myself more pissed off, adding scowling and screaming to the list instead of just calming down. He told this again to me recently, and I paused for a minute to consider the act. Smile. Hmm, I do tend to take it for granted. Pay attention to this I thought and think. Pay attention.
I started performing creative exercises from a book called the "Artist's Way." In the beginning it talks about slowing down and paying attention, noticing the details. Giving thanks to our creator for the details. Hmm, smile is certainly one of them, just as walk, breath and type are things to notice. Notice the movements. Give thanks.
Strange things happen to our bodies everyday and until they do, we tend not to notice the details and give thanks. My next door neighbor, Mr. Thruway, has an inherited foot disease that rots the veins in the feet. Eventually circulation stops. Most of his family has died of this. He got to the point last winter when he wasn't walking. But fortunately for him, they have many cool new vein surgeries. He had one on his feet and within days was walking again. For months, he couldn't do the lawn work, trim the hedges, wash his truck, ride a bike. Now I see him out there doing this, and he has the biggest grin you ever saw on his face. He is so grateful to walk again.
A cousin of my husband woke up one day with hands the size of melons. Carpal tunnel. She has had surgery which helped but did not cure the hand. She still has lots of trouble and is disabled now. The simplest thing like holding a book to read is hard. How many times do we even think to give thanks for our hands? I love to read, and can't imagine getting pain from holding a book.
I've taken over the cooking chores since I've been home, cooking on a daily basis. Before, it was mainly on weekends. I got to the point I was real tired of it again. What had brought me joy, wasn't anymore. Just a boring daily task now that I wanted out of. No matter that it brought nourishment to my family. No amount of joy at my cooking and baking seemed enough. I had taken cooking for granted and was mad I had to do it.
But a month or so ago I gave thanks that I could cook and started being grateful when I did. Gave thanks for the simple tasks like running to the car, driving to the store, buying food and then cooking it. I even play music and sing while I do it now.
Why the change? A friend from the gym, Mrs. Sunshine, came down one day with a weird disease from a virus called guillain barre syndrome. It attacks the nerves in the body and she suddenly could hardly walk, or move or eat. Everyday tasks were horrendous. Terrible pain racked her body and awful headaches. She could not do much at first, and things like caring for the family and cooking were impossible. Her face has been immobile and she can't smile.
I've cooked her some meals to help them out. Not much really since I was cooking already. But I gave thanks and was happy that I could. I smiled for her and hoped it helped her and her family in some small way.
Don't take today for granted. Notice the details. Help someone you know smile instead of fight. Appreciate the hands, the feet and the wonderful daily chores we can do with cheer like cooking.
And for my friend Mrs. Sunshine, let's all make tomorrow Smile Day, and smile for her. I know her smile is 1 million watts bright on the inside because she is well on the way to healing. Thank God for that. Give thanks to God tomorrow by giving someone else your smile, its contagious.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Classic Movie Night
Life Balance: a feat we try to achieve while searching to be the best that we can we, while simultaneously raising our children to do the same. This is the equilibrium in our inner life force whereby our heartbeat matches the divine force that exists all around us. When this life balance peaks, our sense of peace, joy, love and wisdom acts as one with our very soul.
"I'm ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille"---Sunset Blvd often mis-quoted quote
Bright lights and cans of Spark Malt Beverage--that's how it all began. We went camping at Allegany State Park and went on a long hike to the bear caves. Well, no actual hiking took place due to the rain and Soccer Mom showing up and introducing us to "Spark." Try having one of those on an empty stomach at 11 in the morning, and you too will be mis-quoting old movies like Sunset Boulevard. It was so bad, it took me 3 days and the Internet to remember the title to the movie was "Sunset Boulevard." But who could forget William Holden and the chimpanzee?
Well, it got Mrs. Chevy and I thinking that our wonderful daughters had no clue about some of the best movie lines out there, let alone the plots, the stunning clothes and the unforgettable kisses. Classic Movie night was born. Once a week, we meet to view old movies. One of us brings the movies and picks the theme, while the other picks the food and drink to go with the theme. It's a hoot just to see what we come up with.
Last night was movie noir night...black foods and drinks to match. Mysterious Spark beverage with weird extra things added showed up again. Black licorice. Dark chocolate. Extra Dark. Blackberry juice for the girls. Salsa with BLACK beans. Crackers with BLACKberry jam. Fun stuff. And the movies? "Spellbound and Notorious." We couldn't find Alfred in either one. But boy, did we replay the gun scene at the end of Spellbound 20 times! Poof, the black and white film goes to red.
Another night we had foods with the word Thin. Thin Mints. Girl Scout Thin Mint Hot Chocolate to drink. Thin Spaghetti. Wheat Thins. Thin pretzels. Thin crust Pizza. Almond Thin cookies. And the movie was "The Thin Man" complete with Myrna Loy and her dog Asta.
We watched "The African Queen" and went to Africa for Watermelon slushies and hummus on crackers. We danced to "The King and I" and "My Fair Lady" while eating English biscuits. Mr. Chevy ate ribs while we watched Kathryn Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in "Adam's Rib." We just guzzled our Tom Collins and laughed at the dresses, hats and hair.
Maybe we'll watch "Key Largo" and eat Key Lime pie, who knows? It's a hoot and a way to connect to a simpler time, when everything was hinted at, when the pictures told the ideas and the themes were creative. Its a nice way to match our moods and go back in time to deal with the everyday. Hmm....I think we'll get "Psycho" for the next time we fight with our husbands. Everyone can use a good shower scene.
"I'm ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille"---Sunset Blvd often mis-quoted quote
Bright lights and cans of Spark Malt Beverage--that's how it all began. We went camping at Allegany State Park and went on a long hike to the bear caves. Well, no actual hiking took place due to the rain and Soccer Mom showing up and introducing us to "Spark." Try having one of those on an empty stomach at 11 in the morning, and you too will be mis-quoting old movies like Sunset Boulevard. It was so bad, it took me 3 days and the Internet to remember the title to the movie was "Sunset Boulevard." But who could forget William Holden and the chimpanzee?
Well, it got Mrs. Chevy and I thinking that our wonderful daughters had no clue about some of the best movie lines out there, let alone the plots, the stunning clothes and the unforgettable kisses. Classic Movie night was born. Once a week, we meet to view old movies. One of us brings the movies and picks the theme, while the other picks the food and drink to go with the theme. It's a hoot just to see what we come up with.
Last night was movie noir night...black foods and drinks to match. Mysterious Spark beverage with weird extra things added showed up again. Black licorice. Dark chocolate. Extra Dark. Blackberry juice for the girls. Salsa with BLACK beans. Crackers with BLACKberry jam. Fun stuff. And the movies? "Spellbound and Notorious." We couldn't find Alfred in either one. But boy, did we replay the gun scene at the end of Spellbound 20 times! Poof, the black and white film goes to red.
Another night we had foods with the word Thin. Thin Mints. Girl Scout Thin Mint Hot Chocolate to drink. Thin Spaghetti. Wheat Thins. Thin pretzels. Thin crust Pizza. Almond Thin cookies. And the movie was "The Thin Man" complete with Myrna Loy and her dog Asta.
We watched "The African Queen" and went to Africa for Watermelon slushies and hummus on crackers. We danced to "The King and I" and "My Fair Lady" while eating English biscuits. Mr. Chevy ate ribs while we watched Kathryn Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in "Adam's Rib." We just guzzled our Tom Collins and laughed at the dresses, hats and hair.
Maybe we'll watch "Key Largo" and eat Key Lime pie, who knows? It's a hoot and a way to connect to a simpler time, when everything was hinted at, when the pictures told the ideas and the themes were creative. Its a nice way to match our moods and go back in time to deal with the everyday. Hmm....I think we'll get "Psycho" for the next time we fight with our husbands. Everyone can use a good shower scene.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Cooking Kids or is it Kids' Cooking?
Life Balance: a feat we try to achieve while searching to be the best that we can we, while simultaneously raising our children to do the same. This is the equilibrium in our inner life force whereby our heartbeat matches the divine force that exists all around us. When this life balance peaks, our sense of peace, joy, love and wisdom acts as one with our very soul.
Summer and the living is easy. Cooking switches between the fun and the inventive and the quick and lazy. Now that the kids are older, I can often say "why don't you cook tonight." Luke will whip together something tried and true like eggs and turkey bacon; Maggie gets out the cook book and starts reading. The other night she pulled out Campbell's Summer Recipes, all using Campbell's soup. She made a nice chicken and rice dish which had tomatoes--oh, skip the tomatoes, Maggie hates them; peppers--use the fresh from the garden, nope Mom, I don't want to--golden corn Campbell's soup--oops, don't have that, use cream of chicken...still, it was the classic chicken and rice which is a favorite standby for a quick easy dish. Maverick even ate it when he came home from a long night of dish washing and said it was good.
Maggie has learned my habit of looking at recipes and making them work with A) What we like to eat ; B)What we have on hand and C)What is the cheaper version of the expensive ingredients listed (like who has fresh tarragon hanging around the fridge waiting to be used???)
I love collecting different and unusual cook books and reading through them. My favorites are the church cookbooks. Today I was reading "Tried and True;" a collection of recipes from the Heritage Village, Gerry New York, circa 1983. It contains lots of favorite wisdom's as well as recipes, like the following:
Dear Father, Help me to:
Forgive the wrongs in others,
Forgive the faults I see;
That I may be forgiven,
The faults that are in me;
--From Allie Musgrove's Scrapbook 1898-1983
The woman of Heritage Village collected over 100 pages of great recipes, everything from Sister Parktan's Brown Bread to Watermelon Rind pickles. You can just taste the love and laughter in the recipes and the occasions they made them for. Bucket of Muffins for 25? Church bazaar of course. Creme de Mynthe Cake? St. Patricks day dinner. Potato Chip Cookies? The grand kids are coming. Scalloped mushrooms and baked chicken almond casserole? Company on the way, bake the Dr. Bird Cake for dessert.
Nowadays we tend to drop by the Wegmans superstore and pick up chicken teriaki to bake and salad for the side. We skip the heavy desserts and munch on chocolate fudge Hershey kisses and cherry M&M's (or Lays Potato chips if you are the Queen). Gone are the 6 course meals with delicious desserts. One friend's Mom, Ruth, always had 2 or 3 desserts on hand. I remember when her son Sean came home from boot camp, she had Boston Cream Pie, Brownies, and chocolate chip cookies on hand. I still make her Grasshopper pie and remember all the trouble she went to make enough for her oldest son's wedding shower. Dinner at Ruth and Bernie's was always a treat. I pull in that love and cook on Sunday's, thinking of the way her house always smelled of the love and looked like sunshine, even on the darkest days.
I look to pass the love of food and cooking to my kids, and teach them to make the best of whatever you have on hand. Use the laughter, pull in the smiles, fold in the friendships by talking on the cell while cooking, add in the family by using the old recipes and making them new again, and best of all, to share them with friends and family. Whatever we are eating gets shared with the friends they have in the house....Maggie's BFF always seems to show on Sunday's, what's up with that? Beans and franks Monday's just don't cut it I guess. And Soccer Boy manages to show up for Taco night. It's time I showed him how to cook it I think.
Good food, good friends...now if I could just teach them to clean up when they cook. Hmm, my Mom used to say that to me. Still does.
Some things never change. Ok Mom, I'll clean it up in a minute, honest.
Summer and the living is easy. Cooking switches between the fun and the inventive and the quick and lazy. Now that the kids are older, I can often say "why don't you cook tonight." Luke will whip together something tried and true like eggs and turkey bacon; Maggie gets out the cook book and starts reading. The other night she pulled out Campbell's Summer Recipes, all using Campbell's soup. She made a nice chicken and rice dish which had tomatoes--oh, skip the tomatoes, Maggie hates them; peppers--use the fresh from the garden, nope Mom, I don't want to--golden corn Campbell's soup--oops, don't have that, use cream of chicken...still, it was the classic chicken and rice which is a favorite standby for a quick easy dish. Maverick even ate it when he came home from a long night of dish washing and said it was good.
Maggie has learned my habit of looking at recipes and making them work with A) What we like to eat ; B)What we have on hand and C)What is the cheaper version of the expensive ingredients listed (like who has fresh tarragon hanging around the fridge waiting to be used???)
I love collecting different and unusual cook books and reading through them. My favorites are the church cookbooks. Today I was reading "Tried and True;" a collection of recipes from the Heritage Village, Gerry New York, circa 1983. It contains lots of favorite wisdom's as well as recipes, like the following:
Dear Father, Help me to:
Forgive the wrongs in others,
Forgive the faults I see;
That I may be forgiven,
The faults that are in me;
--From Allie Musgrove's Scrapbook 1898-1983
The woman of Heritage Village collected over 100 pages of great recipes, everything from Sister Parktan's Brown Bread to Watermelon Rind pickles. You can just taste the love and laughter in the recipes and the occasions they made them for. Bucket of Muffins for 25? Church bazaar of course. Creme de Mynthe Cake? St. Patricks day dinner. Potato Chip Cookies? The grand kids are coming. Scalloped mushrooms and baked chicken almond casserole? Company on the way, bake the Dr. Bird Cake for dessert.
Nowadays we tend to drop by the Wegmans superstore and pick up chicken teriaki to bake and salad for the side. We skip the heavy desserts and munch on chocolate fudge Hershey kisses and cherry M&M's (or Lays Potato chips if you are the Queen). Gone are the 6 course meals with delicious desserts. One friend's Mom, Ruth, always had 2 or 3 desserts on hand. I remember when her son Sean came home from boot camp, she had Boston Cream Pie, Brownies, and chocolate chip cookies on hand. I still make her Grasshopper pie and remember all the trouble she went to make enough for her oldest son's wedding shower. Dinner at Ruth and Bernie's was always a treat. I pull in that love and cook on Sunday's, thinking of the way her house always smelled of the love and looked like sunshine, even on the darkest days.
I look to pass the love of food and cooking to my kids, and teach them to make the best of whatever you have on hand. Use the laughter, pull in the smiles, fold in the friendships by talking on the cell while cooking, add in the family by using the old recipes and making them new again, and best of all, to share them with friends and family. Whatever we are eating gets shared with the friends they have in the house....Maggie's BFF always seems to show on Sunday's, what's up with that? Beans and franks Monday's just don't cut it I guess. And Soccer Boy manages to show up for Taco night. It's time I showed him how to cook it I think.
Good food, good friends...now if I could just teach them to clean up when they cook. Hmm, my Mom used to say that to me. Still does.
Some things never change. Ok Mom, I'll clean it up in a minute, honest.
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