Connor gets a chocolate and candy free Easter, it will be toys and noise and lots of fun for the wee man, but no sweets.
Health seems to be on people's minds, at their fingertips, people just trying to get a bit healthier. Everything from cutting out smoking to cutting out sweets. No huge major life changes, except for the cigarettes maybe, and the eye surgery, but lots of little increments. Walking, breathing, pesky eye surgeries are all part of getting sorted, of having a healthier frame of mind, frame of reference.
Christian has an almost new girl friend. Oh, sorry I got a little distracted, not overly excited or anything, no visions of future weddings and grand babies, just curious. So, back to health.
I read an article by Michael Pollan about how he could have any treat he wanted as long as he made it himself; french fries, ice cream, chocolate eclairs are all legal under his personal rule. I like that rule.
So, here's to a Happy Easter, a healthy future, and all the treats you can make. Now, I wonder how to make chocolate marshmallow bunnies...
Life isn't always roses and bubbles.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Story Tellers
It seems as though all my favorite people are story tellers. A lady at work told me she went to the Fifth Avenue Theater and saw Our Town.
Where is the story?
I would have told you about the ride downtown, where we parked, who I bumped into on the way, and the thrill of going to the theater. I would comment on the sets, lights, acting, how the production made me feel, and what we ate on the way home, in other words a story.
Story tellers set the stage, give you the background, tells you the story, produces a climax and a denouement, and sometimes even suggest a metaphor and moral. Yeah, that's what I like -- a story.
Life isn't always a painted toenail.
Since I have gone two weeks without smoking I needed, really needed, the Mood Booster class:
Did you know the three top mood lifters are water, sun, and stretching. Water as in going to...
Other mood lifters are:
being artsy
smiling or laughing
completing a task you have been putting off
taking a shower
going outside, or even just opening a window
taking a nap
eating
Eat as in:
needing to send a message to your brain -- whole grains
need motivation -- turkey, chicken
feeling fatigued -- water
irritable or poor memory -- bananas
feeling down -- oranges, grapefruit
anxious, or need more energy -- seafood
need a boost -- chillies are a natural high
So, they were offering a Mood Booster class at work and I signed up because it was time off the phone and I love the trainer. I tripped walking into class but didn't fall all the way down, tripping was embarrassing enough and set my mood slightly lower than it might have been other wise. And lo, who do I see sitting in MY CLASS but MY BOSS. Who knew she needed a boost to her mood? Sometimes you can't judge a taco by it's tortilla. Amanda did a great job of interweaving different medias so interest never lagged, nor did the sleepies set in as sometimes happens at meetings of other sorts, and she fed us: whole wheat bagels, bananas, oranges, and cereal and milk.
I was amazed at what I learned about control over my own moods. Damn, just flashing a different color changed me in slightly different ways.
The moral: Ain't life amazingly buoyant.
Where is the story?
I would have told you about the ride downtown, where we parked, who I bumped into on the way, and the thrill of going to the theater. I would comment on the sets, lights, acting, how the production made me feel, and what we ate on the way home, in other words a story.
Story tellers set the stage, give you the background, tells you the story, produces a climax and a denouement, and sometimes even suggest a metaphor and moral. Yeah, that's what I like -- a story.
Life isn't always a painted toenail.
Since I have gone two weeks without smoking I needed, really needed, the Mood Booster class:
Did you know the three top mood lifters are water, sun, and stretching. Water as in going to...
Other mood lifters are:
being artsy
smiling or laughing
completing a task you have been putting off
taking a shower
going outside, or even just opening a window
taking a nap
eating
Eat as in:
needing to send a message to your brain -- whole grains
need motivation -- turkey, chicken
feeling fatigued -- water
irritable or poor memory -- bananas
feeling down -- oranges, grapefruit
anxious, or need more energy -- seafood
need a boost -- chillies are a natural high
So, they were offering a Mood Booster class at work and I signed up because it was time off the phone and I love the trainer. I tripped walking into class but didn't fall all the way down, tripping was embarrassing enough and set my mood slightly lower than it might have been other wise. And lo, who do I see sitting in MY CLASS but MY BOSS. Who knew she needed a boost to her mood? Sometimes you can't judge a taco by it's tortilla. Amanda did a great job of interweaving different medias so interest never lagged, nor did the sleepies set in as sometimes happens at meetings of other sorts, and she fed us: whole wheat bagels, bananas, oranges, and cereal and milk.
I was amazed at what I learned about control over my own moods. Damn, just flashing a different color changed me in slightly different ways.
The moral: Ain't life amazingly buoyant.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Jean and 2010
Jean and 2010: all round and soft and full of vision.
Don't let Janice come take care of you...
Don't let Janice come take care of you...
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Snow at Grrenleaf - First day of Spring
The camping trip was great until the first day of spring. Thursday and Friday were beautiful. On Friday (the last day of winter) the temperature was 72 degrees, we were sitting around a fire in shorts and t-shirts. Then Friday night the weather changed from spring to winter, it began to rain. Saturday morning it was cold and damp and still raining. Brittany and I decided to leave a day early, so we packed up our belongings and headed for OKC. (The ice chest we had placed in front of the cabin had disappeared, I told Brittany it was so cold nothing was going to spoil on the way home.) We drove in rain, sleet and snow and it continuing snowing on Saturday afternoon, there was about 3 to 4 inches on the ground in OKC before it was over. Summer and Jeff also left on Saturday. Amber and her family and Marc and his family stayed until Sunday. There was about 12 inches of snow on the ground at Greenleaf, Jerry and Jane came home on Monday.
I'm so glad I came home on Saturday, we saw several wrecks and numerous vehicles in the ditches on I-40.
I am doing okay with my therapy, I'm still going twice a week. Now for the lastest, I went to the eye doctor on Tuesday and they cannot improve my eyesight anymore with glasses, the cataracts need to be removed. So I'm going to schedule surgery,just haven't decided when. They can only do one eye at a time. BOY, I guess 2010 at age 70 is when everything is going to fall apart.
No more good news for today. Jan I don't know when Brittany and I will be coming to Seattle, however I don't think it will be in June.
I'm so glad I came home on Saturday, we saw several wrecks and numerous vehicles in the ditches on I-40.
I am doing okay with my therapy, I'm still going twice a week. Now for the lastest, I went to the eye doctor on Tuesday and they cannot improve my eyesight anymore with glasses, the cataracts need to be removed. So I'm going to schedule surgery,just haven't decided when. They can only do one eye at a time. BOY, I guess 2010 at age 70 is when everything is going to fall apart.
No more good news for today. Jan I don't know when Brittany and I will be coming to Seattle, however I don't think it will be in June.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Barking Frog
Well, the San Juan camping trip didn't happen, but Jan's 2009 birthday dinner at the Barking Frog did happen. Amazing.
They called their ambiance romantic, humm, maybe, I didn't think it had ambiance of any kind, romantic or otherwise, or atmosphere, or charm, or view, or much of a waiter, but it was amazing food. I didn't know what half of the menu was describing. What the heck is Orecchiette or Rapini? I dunno, noodles and something, but earthy, yummy and flavorful. My dinner consisted of:
Roasted Beet Salad, Orange Supremes, Toasted Hazelnuts, Laura Chenel Goat Cheese, Vanilla Honey Drizzle
Chicken Leg Confit &Toasted Wheat Orecchiette, Cipollini Onions, Butter Braised Carrots, Rapini, Chicken Demi Butter Sauce
Chocolate Molten Cake, Woodinville Wine Infused Ganache, Hazelnut Ice Cream
AMAZING, all due to the Dine about Seattle special that was running for the month of March, and my friend Lynn, of course. Thanks Lynn it was amazing.
I was disappointed by the fact we can't camp on the 12th and discovered disappointment is a funny thing, it isn't devastating but it is the blahs, it kind of drags your heart down and you have to beat your wings a bit to rise up again.
So, I had a crawling race with Connor down the hall way: he won and my knees are still killing me. I won't be doing that again in the near future. Roger did my taxes, they are DONE. I had coffee with Mary, lunch with Ian. I made an emergency pant run to University Village the day Ian forgot his pants. There is a story there that I will have to tell you later, the good part was it was an exquisite day, the sun was shinning, I saw Mt Rainier all the way down, I was yanked out of my rut, and I was able to admire Ian's first designed window. I haven't seen Christian. Stephanie went on her annual spa weekend with her mum and sis. I haven't a clue what I am doing on Easter. And Stephanie sent me the link to Connor's photographs. Roger and Stephanie had a professional photographer follow Connor around for a few snaps. If you love me you will look at at least 10 then you can skip the remaining 116. Stephanie said to enjoy...
http://davidfrankphotography.zenfolio.com/
Speaking of links, I keep meaning to post the links to my friends blogs so you can compare how other folks are doing it.
http://www.nwartist.blogspot.com/ Lynn's is spiritual.
http://bigmoosemontana.blogspot.com/ Mary's is a budding family blog.
http://sandy-lifeisbeautifullifeiscrazy.blogspot.com/ Sandy's is the hardest working blog around. Truly a community service blog, she always has a prayer, an adoptable dog, movie previews, our complete book club reading list, stories about local folks overcoming, places to donate for charity, and a little about herself and her husband and best friend Jim.
May we all have a friend, it is so much help with those disappointing blahs.
I heard there was a blizzard during the Greenleaf trip. What happened?
They called their ambiance romantic, humm, maybe, I didn't think it had ambiance of any kind, romantic or otherwise, or atmosphere, or charm, or view, or much of a waiter, but it was amazing food. I didn't know what half of the menu was describing. What the heck is Orecchiette or Rapini? I dunno, noodles and something, but earthy, yummy and flavorful. My dinner consisted of:
Roasted Beet Salad, Orange Supremes, Toasted Hazelnuts, Laura Chenel Goat Cheese, Vanilla Honey Drizzle
Chicken Leg Confit &Toasted Wheat Orecchiette, Cipollini Onions, Butter Braised Carrots, Rapini, Chicken Demi Butter Sauce
Chocolate Molten Cake, Woodinville Wine Infused Ganache, Hazelnut Ice Cream
AMAZING, all due to the Dine about Seattle special that was running for the month of March, and my friend Lynn, of course. Thanks Lynn it was amazing.
I was disappointed by the fact we can't camp on the 12th and discovered disappointment is a funny thing, it isn't devastating but it is the blahs, it kind of drags your heart down and you have to beat your wings a bit to rise up again.
So, I had a crawling race with Connor down the hall way: he won and my knees are still killing me. I won't be doing that again in the near future. Roger did my taxes, they are DONE. I had coffee with Mary, lunch with Ian. I made an emergency pant run to University Village the day Ian forgot his pants. There is a story there that I will have to tell you later, the good part was it was an exquisite day, the sun was shinning, I saw Mt Rainier all the way down, I was yanked out of my rut, and I was able to admire Ian's first designed window. I haven't seen Christian. Stephanie went on her annual spa weekend with her mum and sis. I haven't a clue what I am doing on Easter. And Stephanie sent me the link to Connor's photographs. Roger and Stephanie had a professional photographer follow Connor around for a few snaps. If you love me you will look at at least 10 then you can skip the remaining 116. Stephanie said to enjoy...
http://davidfrankphotography.zenfolio.com/
Speaking of links, I keep meaning to post the links to my friends blogs so you can compare how other folks are doing it.
http://www.nwartist.blogspot.com/ Lynn's is spiritual.
http://bigmoosemontana.blogspot.com/ Mary's is a budding family blog.
http://sandy-lifeisbeautifullifeiscrazy.blogspot.com/ Sandy's is the hardest working blog around. Truly a community service blog, she always has a prayer, an adoptable dog, movie previews, our complete book club reading list, stories about local folks overcoming, places to donate for charity, and a little about herself and her husband and best friend Jim.
May we all have a friend, it is so much help with those disappointing blahs.
I heard there was a blizzard during the Greenleaf trip. What happened?
This Trip Din'na Happen!
The San Juan Island County Campground was booked for the 12 by a graduation class. Who knew.
Logistically it didn't make sense to start camping on Sunday the 13 only to leave for the night to pick-up Mike and drive back Monday morning. So I didn't reserve a campsite. We will still do the kayaking on the 14th and play around Mukilteo until then. I might work Sat and Sun to preserve some of my PTO.
I'm a little sad it didn't happen as I dreamed it would, but life isn't always a saltine cracker. We can talk, read, watch movies, walk, take a nap, dance if YOU want to, and I can take you to one scrumptious Happy Meal at The Palisades for a first seating. We will find a new trail to blaze, a new ferry to ride, a new hill to clim_, er, a new hill to look at. Or if you book a campsite, we will look you up. It is still a fabulous place and I hope each and everyone of you put it on your "do before I die list." It's not the Pyramids or the Taj Mahal, but wonderful.
Humm, interesting, two world famous tombs...
Anyway, I'm a little sad, but I'll get over it and life goes on. I can't wait to see who I see and do what I do and feel what I feel and try what I try -- this little June excursion.
p.s. We can drink wine at my house...
Logistically it didn't make sense to start camping on Sunday the 13 only to leave for the night to pick-up Mike and drive back Monday morning. So I didn't reserve a campsite. We will still do the kayaking on the 14th and play around Mukilteo until then. I might work Sat and Sun to preserve some of my PTO.
I'm a little sad it didn't happen as I dreamed it would, but life isn't always a saltine cracker. We can talk, read, watch movies, walk, take a nap, dance if YOU want to, and I can take you to one scrumptious Happy Meal at The Palisades for a first seating. We will find a new trail to blaze, a new ferry to ride, a new hill to clim_, er, a new hill to look at. Or if you book a campsite, we will look you up. It is still a fabulous place and I hope each and everyone of you put it on your "do before I die list." It's not the Pyramids or the Taj Mahal, but wonderful.
Humm, interesting, two world famous tombs...
Anyway, I'm a little sad, but I'll get over it and life goes on. I can't wait to see who I see and do what I do and feel what I feel and try what I try -- this little June excursion.
p.s. We can drink wine at my house...
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Orcas Video
An orcas video from my friend Mary. Since we are looking forward to our up coming whale watching trip enjoy a little preview.
http://www.king5.com/video/featured-videos/RAW-Orcas-swimming-near-West-Seattle-87528977.html
http://www.king5.com/video/featured-videos/RAW-Orcas-swimming-near-West-Seattle-87528977.html
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