Wednesday, July 30, 2008

National Champions

 
Philadelphia Soul - National Championship
 
Sunday afternoon in the sunroom here in Cape Cod.  Watched our Philly Soul beat the San Jose Sabrecats for the National Championship which turned out to be a nail biter in the last few minutes.  Great game...great team..great year

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Cape Cod

Sunny walk, lunch at Coonamessett Farm, short shopping trip to Falmouth, afternoon watching Philly Soul win National Championship, thunderstorms and rain, dinner at Landfall....great day. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Cape Cod here we come!

Got the go ahead from the doctor to do "whatever doesn't hurt" (within reason and remembering to take more naps than usual).  So we're going to be up early on Saturday and heading up to Falmouth on Cape Cod.  Can't wait. July in Cape Cod?  Blue hydrageneas and daylilies blooming everywhere.  Long walks.  Morning latte and newspaper at Coffee Obsession in Woods Hole.  Sailing with Skipper and Peg.  Knitting in the sunroom of the house on Elm.  Getting to see Waffles the wonder schnauzer.  more long walks.  And as many lobster rolls as it is possible to stuff in my mouth!  The favorite so far goes to the rolls at the Clam Shack at Falmouth Harbor.  Picnics on the beach looking south to distant Martha's Vineyard.  sitting in the sun at Nobska Light.  and time spent with friends in the house on Elm.  Can't wait.

Birds of late July

The feeders are busy in my back yard as adolescent mourning doves, house finches, and young cheeky squirrels bulk up in the summer sun.  Birds I've seen this week:  northern cardinal, mourning doves (lots of 'em), song sparrow, house finch, catbirds, tufted titmouse, blue jay, woodpecker (probably hairy woodpecker), big greedy park pigeons, and my favorite for this week....lots of american goldfinches.  Bright neon yellow birds flashing across the yard from coneflowers to feeders and back...getting ready for their breeding season which is later than many birds. They are like flying flowers!

photo courtesy of www.finchworld.com

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

I ventured out

After 4 days of complete recuperation I ventured out for an hour to book group.  Jerry drove me and I came home early.  I did really great.  I'm tired.  But it really does help to move around...much less cramps and twinges. 

I love this book group.  I started it through our Newcomers Group almost 6 years ago now.  We meet one evening a month (with Augusts off).  We've read a wonderful variety of books,  have had wonderful conversations (on and off topic),  enjoyed great desserts and goodies, and drank our share of wine (one of the really good things about evening book group over the morning book group is the wine!).  Since last September we've had a little growth spurt in membership and the new voices are a wonderful addition.  I feel so fortunate to have this group in my life and I will miss it when I move to Florida.

 

 

Monday, July 21, 2008

I'm a lucky gal - good friends and great husband

Feeling better each day.  I actually have less pain but am more tired than I expected.  So I rest...play with photos on my laptop (thank heavens for my laptop) and nap.  And enjoy the attention of my fine friends who have called, dropped by, and sent cards.  It's been really nice.  Good books, trashy magazines,  treats, and flowers.  And fine conversation and giggles (although laughing and yelling (like for that darn dog who won't come in from the corner of the yeard) are hard to do at the moment...uncooperative abdominals).  And my wonderful hubby has been great.  Making sure I get good food to eat,  keeping me company,  running the errands.  A good man!  fortunate me!

Saturday, July 19, 2008

70 stones lighter

And that would be gall stones...not the British unit of weight measurement.  Surgery (laproscopic) went perfectly.  spent the night.  home by 10am.  napping, walking, drinking lots of water and napping some more.  glad its over.  sorry...for the gruesome of you...there will be NO pictures of the gallstones, i did not ask for them as a memento...I carried them long enough.

Back to napping with the cats.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Happy 7th Anniversary to Jennie and Aaron

Kiva

I wanted to let you know about Kiva (www.kiva.org), a non-profit that allows you to lend as little as $25 to a specific low-income entrepreneur in the developing world.
 
You choose who to lend to - whether a baker in Afghanistan, a goat herder in Uganda, a farmer in Peru, a restaurateur in Cambodia, or a tailor in Iraq - and as they repay their loan, you get your money back.  It’s a powerful and sustainable way to empower someone right now to lift themselves out of poverty.

I've been lending since November of last year.  It's a great organization.  Check it out:  www.kiva.org.

 

 

Thursday, July 17, 2008

3 Years Ago

3 years ago this month Jason and I took a great 2 week trip through Ireland.  This is one of my favorite pictures (and memories) of that trip.  Jason and a westhighland terrier that adored him on the steps of Castle Craig just outside Galway where we stayed for 3 nights. 

Good friends

I had such a great evening last night with 3 of my galfriends, Marda, Mariadela, and Em.  We had dinner at Tangos and laughed and talked and laughed and talked and even cried a little.  We talked of weddings and illness,  new roofs and gallstones,  the New Yorker cover and the demise of good taste,  mothers...fathers....friends, rubber ducks, and good books we've read.   A good group, we four...only thing better would have been Peg making 5.

 

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

My First Check!

Yesterday, I  received my first check for the sale of one of my photos...or rather the use of one of my photos.  From a magazine/newspaper/ezine called Creative Loafing in St. Pete/Tampa.  It appeared in a May edition...a line of kayaks on the sand in Dunedin, Florida.  I was happy with publishing the photo...getting the check is icing on an already really good cake.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Success by baby steps

I've been working out doing Pilates for a number of years now.  The past year and a half I got more serious to try and get my back in better order, trim up, and get stronger.  Every now and then I could see progress but there were just certain things I thought my body would just never do.  The last few weeks, I've seen myself do things I never thought I'd do comfortably...all the hard work is paying off...I'm so pleased (to say nothing of my much happier back!).  And I couldn't do it without all my great teachers and trainers at Pilates and More in Wayne, PA.  Carol, Barb, Jenn, Jacelyn, Val (from the old days) have all helped me get to where I am today and we're still going!!!  yipeee yeahooo.

Connecting

I love blogging. And I like that some of my friends and family have blogs of their own.  I really like goodreads.com, flickr.com, even facebook!  All different ways of staying connected with friends and family who live far (and not so far).  There are a circle of 5 of us on goodreads where we post on a regular basis what we've read (and how we liked the book) and what we want to read.  I find that what people choose to read and what they have to say about it is like a small window into their heart and soul.  It gives me a fuller impression of who they are and what is important to them.  I have a growing circle of family and friends on facebook.com which gives us a chance to see each other through photos and just infomally connect on a more regular basis.  On top of that I've found old friends from high school and college on facebook...something I wouldn't have been able to do otherwise.  Pretty cool!  Flickr.com gives me a window into the world of thousands of photographers which is both inspirational and educational.  Connecting...I like it!

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Soul is headed for Arena Bowl

The Soul beat the Cleveland Gladiators 70 - 35...the team is headed for the Arena Bowl in new Orleans on July 27th...A convincing win.  A very happy crowd.  A great 5th Season.  It's been fun! 

!

Go Soul!

 

My wonderful diet!

Since our annual physical at Mayo Clinic in June, I have managed to drop 5 lbs (afer gaining 10 over the last year.  I've had several friends ask me "what is your secret"...here it is:  The Recipe for My Wonderful Diet.

First, you mix a little gallstones that keep you from eating fatty things with  a .5 mcg synthyroid pill to wake up the sluggish thyroid I didn't know I had.
 
Then you eat foods that are good for bringing Jerry's blood sugars and cholesterol levels to more desireable levels (lots of fruit and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats and fish) , 
 
You start sharing restaurant meals with Jerry so neither of you eat to much (because its REALLY important that he lose about 15 lbs), And you start dishing up small portions at home.
 
You start reading labels so you eliminate transfat (okay...it isn't joke they really ARE bad...all that transfat settles in your stomach fat!!!) and increase fiber and find all that hidden sugar.
 
You try to rememberto carry around little healthy snacks (gnerally high protein, low fat)  for when you are suddenly RAVENOUS at inopportune times. So you don't binge when its meal time.
 
I cut out all soft drinks and most alcohol (but not all) and stick to water and iced tea and lattes with non-fat milk.  Oh...yes...non-fat milk...cut out whole milk and 2%...go with 0% or 1% if you must.
 
And then you try really hard to be more active on a regular basis: for me lots of walking and more pilates. . 
 
Oh...and I started taking B-12 and Calcium (again) at the request of my doctor because of GIRD medications that I take that "retard" their absorption in your stomach.  Turns out both contribute to keeping your metabolism at an even keel (not slowing down). so Jerry and I are both taking them.
 
I know you were hoping for recipes and a diet plan...but that's what I'm doing...And I've lost 5 pounds in a month...and yes, without being hungry, or feeling cheated  (okay that is not true,,,I miss ice cream...that will reenter my diet in some form once those durn gallstones are gone).  The only negative is having to think more about what I eat and when. 
 
There you have it...share meals and eater smaller portions, eat more fruits and vegetables and whole grains, don't drink your sugar, get your thyroid checked, move more, get rid of that transfat, take your vitamins and
 
develop gallstones...voila...instant weight loss.
 
 
 

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Too Many Numbers

Does anyone remember when we only had to remember a few phone numbers?  Our own (1...no fax...no cell), our best friend, and work.  That was it...3.  Now in this family alone we have 2 house phone (one for the fax) 6 cell phones (me, jerry, jerry's car jason, yaric, and mom) and up until retirement we had Jerry's work phone .  And then don't get me going on passwords!!!  I have a list of passcodes and user names (encrypted...no looking) and id#s for things like frequent flyer clubs etc....it is now 80 lines long....80!!!! 80!!!!   And I wonder why I can't remember where I put the pill bottle I need to take in to refill at the pharmacy!  geeesssh!

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Tuesday, July 8, 2008

My favorite Book for the Summer!

I was waiting  in line at my local bookstore when I spied a pile of books entitled "Queen of the Road".  Being an avid traveler and lover of memoirs, I picked one up. I read the first 2 pages and forgot why I wanted the book I held in my other hand.  I was hooked...laughing out loud in the check out counter line!  "Queen of the Road" by Doreen Orion is a hysterically funny laugh out loud as well as thoughtful and touching  memoir about a mid-40ish woman who was convinced by her much loved husband to get in a customPrevost bus for a years adventure around the United States (a huge step for a self-proclaimed "bus phobic" woman). Thus she tries to figure out how to fit just 1/2 of her HUGE collection of shoes, 2 cats and a dog, satellite internet connection, a TV (which they then seldom watched) and other "necessities" of her pre-bus life into the world's skinniest apartment on wheels. Their adventures (both travel and personal) and their personal discoveries into what really matters to them are heart warming and thought provoking. And in the end, it is a love story of a couple learning about themselves, each other and the world around them on the Great American Roadtrip.  Oh, and by the way...the "Queen" makes killer martinis...recipes included! 
 

Monday, July 7, 2008

Siamese Eggs?

Jerry made fried eggs and canadian back bacon this morning.  When he cracked open the eggs...we found twins!!!  Twin yolks!.  I wonder what the chicks/chick would have looked like???

New Favorite Book!!!

 Queen of the Road by Doreen Orion. This is a hysterically funny laugh out loud as well as thoughful and thought provoking book about a mid-40ish woman who was convinced by her much loved husband to get in custom bus for a years adventure around the United States (a huge step for a self-proclaimed "bus phobic" woman). Thus she tries to figure out how to fit just 1/2 of her HUGE collection of shoes, 2 cats and a dog, a satellite internet connection, a TV (which they then seldom watched) and other "necessities" of her life into the world's skinniest apartment on wheels. Their adventures (both travel and personal) and their personal discoveries into what really matters to them are heart warming and (as I said above) thought provoking. A great read!!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Soul Win!

Just by the hair on their chinny-chin-chin...the Soul squeaked by the New YOrk Dragons to get to the next round of playoffs on July 12th.  So 3rd round playoffs...yippee yahoo...

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Happy Anniversary Quebec~

Today is the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City....the bells pealed all across the country today at exactly 11 AM....

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Tuesday, July 1, 2008

LIke a Rolling Stone

Okay...I've got a date with destiny...Friday, July 18th...i'm getting my gallbladder out. 
 
The doc looked at my ultrasound and said "have you seen your gallbladder? (with a slight bit of incredulity to the tone of his voice". ) Me: ummm.  No.  Doc: "it's REALLY full...must be at least 50 stones".  me...ummm, really?  doc: yep,  really! needs to come out.  Me: ummmm...OK.
 
Yes..it's true..I actually was minimally verbal!  (I know you all would have like to see that...well you missed your chance!)
 
Having it done at Bryn Mawr...will spend the night (you get better pain stuff that way)...home Saturday morning!.  I liked the doctor...he's done something 3000 of these surgeries!!!!  wow...
 
so that's that from Stone central (How I wish I was referring to Mick, Ronnie, Keith, and Charlie)