So...Every year since I started doing The Dempsey Challenge, my year has a pretty noticeable pattern. I train all year, getting ready for the big ride, which is in October. Not so coincidentally, October is also when I am generally at my ideal weight for the year. I come home from the weekend, and take some time off for good behavior, biking only when the conditions are PERFECT and eating whatever I feel like. Before I know it, Thanksgiving has rolled around and then my son's birthday, and then Christmas. Well...Let's just say, I usually gain quite a bit of weight between my return from Maine and the time the kids go back to school after Christmas break. So, every year, when they go back, I get my chubbier than usual ass on the training bike in my TV room, and start getting in shape for that year's Dempsey Challenge ride, or just so I don't have to go buy any bigger clothes to stuff myself into.
That leads us to today. I did my first ride yesterday, and my second today. I decided to see how far I can get through the whole Grey's Anatomy Series while riding, before it is time to switch to the outside bike again. For those who don't know, I live near Buffalo, NY and I do NOT ride outside in the snow. Go ahead call me a pansy. I don't care. It is cold and wet and I really can't afford proper winter riding gear and snow tires. So, from the time it gets uncomfortably cold (under 40 generally) until it clears up in Spring, I do most of my riding in my TV room. But, that is neither here nor there....
Suffice to say, I am riding during the day while my 3 kids are at school and the hubby is at work. I start out riding 1 episode per school day, but will work up to probably 3 per ride by March. So, yesterday I started with Season 1 Episode 1. I remembered why I fell in love with this show. Actually though, I didn't start watching until Season 3. I think it was "Some kind of Miracle" one of the Meredith Drowning episodes, I can't remember which. I was flipping channels one night when I couldn't sleep, and there was Patrick Dempsey (you know, that guy from Can't Buy Me Love!) all grown up and sitting on a floor of a hospital crying. I stopped channel surfing and watched intently as these doctor's tried to save the woman he apparently loved. The next day I called my friend, Carmen, and asked her if she knew about this show. She said she had been watching it since it started and just never thought to tell me about it because, as a rule, I don't watch much TV. At that point, I had a 1 year old, a 6 year old, and a 7 year old, so if it wasn't food network or PBS/Disney, this was correct. But I was sucked in immediately. However I was confused, as I had obviously missed some VERY important stuff in the early seasons. Shortly thereafter I ordered seasons 1 and 2 on DVD and watched them in a marathon of evenings in the basement when everyone else was asleep. Season 3 was pre-ordered from Amazon. Soon enough I was all caught up on the episodes I had missed. And I had a new guilty pleasure.
Back to today. Today was season 1 episode 2. "The First Cut is the Deepest". As a scene with the Fab 5 interns sitting in the back hallway discussing their days came on, I got a feeling of nostalgia. That "Aww, I miss the old Grey's" twinge that I read so much about on Twitter. I am still surprised people yelling at Shonda Rhimes because she has "ruined" HER characters or killed them off, or that Grey's isn't what it used to be. Then I started thinking. Yes, I do miss those days of Grey's. And I also realize that it is a TV show that Shonda Rhimes and her team of really smart folks came up with that has kept me busy MANY a Thursday night. But I also realized, that as much as I miss those days on the Fab 5 hanging out, as much as I miss George and Izzie and Burke, as much as I hate some of the newer characters that came to Seattle Grace (especially April), well...although this is a TV show, it also mirrors life. People die, people break up, move away, and new people come into our lives that we may not love, but they are there anyhow! I mean hell, I reminisce about the good old days of college, partying, friends, not a whole lot of responsibility. It was FUN. A lot of it. I remember those times fondly, but you know what? That time has passed. I can't go back. I really wouldn't want to. I can replay it in my mind, look at pictures, etc. But my life has moved on. Some people from that part of my life are still in my life today, in different roles. Life never really stays the same for too long. Kids grow up, jobs change, we get older, we lose people we never dreamed would leave our side, and people show up that we never expected to meet. TV sometimes resembles real life after all. I mean the interns are no longer interns. I am sure the characters would remember those times somewhat fondly, if they were real, but even they have grown up and changed. Loved, lost, found things and people they never expected to find. So, I guess what I am saying, is maybe Shonda isn't doing any of this to torture the viewers, or because she hates certain "ships". Maybe, just maybe, she is trying to give us all something entertaining that resembles real life. A reminder to enjoy the things we love about today, because perhaps tomorrow you won't be able to enjoy the same things.
I don't know Ms. Rhimes personally. I have never met her. I have gotten a couple of tweet responses from her, and once had my question chosen to be answered on a pod cast. But, aside from those small blips of interaction, what I read in interviews, or have seen in her podcasts, I don't know her any better than I know the Queen of England (which is not at all). However, I highly doubt that she hates her characters, even the ones we are meant to hate. They all came from her head. I also doubt she wants to purposely piss off the fan base of Grey's. And I have many many Thursday nights of entertainment to thank her for. Friendships that were actually formed based on a mutual love of the show. And sometimes even, for making me look upon my own life with new eyes. Generally my best thinking happens either on my bike or in the shower. Two of my favorite places to be alone with my thoughts. Today, watching old Grey's made my bike ride a very thoughtful one. My mind was racing almost as fast as my feet.
Today's ride made me realize I am thankful for the good times in the past, and look forward to good times in the future. Both in my real world and in the imaginary land of good looking doctors who tend to get in the way of buses or thrown under planes, when they aren't steaming up the on call room or an elevator. It made me think of people who have come and gone from my life and look back on how far I have come from the me that I was 10 years ago, or 20 years ago. So thanks to all who are responsible for that. There are too many to name. And thanks to those who are yet to come.
Spin
ready to spin 100 miles
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Farm Fresh Food Fun
We get an assortment of veggies from our CSA (community Supported Agriculture) every week. I pay them to grow stuff for me because no matter how good my intentions are, I kill plants, it is just what happens. I LOVE that we joined a CSA though! It is fabulous. Although I don't know what exactly will be in the coming week's distribution (all depends on mother nature) I have SO much fun experimenting with new ways to use the abundance of veggies that we receive. Usually I end up canning or freezing some to help get us through the winter, and then we eat as much as we can fresh! This week I had two particularly lovely experiences.
The first was with Eggplant. Yep, there is always the old standby Eggplant Parmesan, and I have put it into a tomato based sauce with zucchini, summer squash and other veggies, but this week I went outside the box, and made a variation of a Caprese Salad. I started with a bed of Arugula, sprinkled in some basil, and then of course, the fresh mozzarella. Then I used a BEAUTIFUL large heirloom tomato (called a Mr. Stripy) and threw in some chopped Asian pear for good measure, I love pear in a salad. What about the eggplant you might ask? Well, I took that, and cut it into strips. Dredging the strips first in flour, then egg, then Panko breadcrumbs, and pan frying them in some light olive oil. I let them rest a bit when they were done cooking, on a paper towel covered cooling rack, and then put them on top of my salad, and drizzled the whole thing with a very nice vanilla fig balsamic that I had in my cupboard. There is a great olive oil and vinegar store in the Village of Hamburg where you can get almost any flavor you want! I highly recommend checking them out and playing with flavors! This one paired wonderfully with the salad. It was a delicious take on the typical Caprese salad, which my family needed a break from, and I will certainly make that again!
My second experience came with the Acorn Squash. I love squash. Baked and straight out of the shell, mashed or pureed with honey or brown sugar, you name it, I will eat it if it is squash. However, today, I was in the mood for risotto. So, I incorporated that into my lunch planning. First I grabbed half an onion and a couple of cloves of garlic (also from my CSA) and sauteed them in butter and olive oil. Threw in a handful of mushrooms as well, a few chopped up basil leaves, and about 1/2 cup of white wine with the arborio rice. After the wine evaporated. I added in the first cup of chicken stock, and stirred often, and in between, put a halved and seeded acorn squash face down in some water and microwaved for about 12 minutes. Once the first cup of stock was absorbed, I put another cup in and stirred again until it was gone. 2 cups wasn't quite enough, so I added another 1/2 cup. That gave the rice the right consistency. It was ready for the finishing touches. I scooped out the squash and pureed it in my food processor, then added it to my pot, with a little heavy cream (just a splash I promise!) and about a half cup of grated Parmesan cheese. When I fed it to my kids for lunch, my oldest daughter (12) told me that "this doesn't belong on a lunch plate at our house, it belongs in a 5 star restaurant!" I guess I wasn't the only one who loved the way this turned out!
Well, now that my tummy is full, and my blog post is written, I am off to decorate a cake and head to a birthday party!
Catch you later! Eat well my friends!
The first was with Eggplant. Yep, there is always the old standby Eggplant Parmesan, and I have put it into a tomato based sauce with zucchini, summer squash and other veggies, but this week I went outside the box, and made a variation of a Caprese Salad. I started with a bed of Arugula, sprinkled in some basil, and then of course, the fresh mozzarella. Then I used a BEAUTIFUL large heirloom tomato (called a Mr. Stripy) and threw in some chopped Asian pear for good measure, I love pear in a salad. What about the eggplant you might ask? Well, I took that, and cut it into strips. Dredging the strips first in flour, then egg, then Panko breadcrumbs, and pan frying them in some light olive oil. I let them rest a bit when they were done cooking, on a paper towel covered cooling rack, and then put them on top of my salad, and drizzled the whole thing with a very nice vanilla fig balsamic that I had in my cupboard. There is a great olive oil and vinegar store in the Village of Hamburg where you can get almost any flavor you want! I highly recommend checking them out and playing with flavors! This one paired wonderfully with the salad. It was a delicious take on the typical Caprese salad, which my family needed a break from, and I will certainly make that again!
My second experience came with the Acorn Squash. I love squash. Baked and straight out of the shell, mashed or pureed with honey or brown sugar, you name it, I will eat it if it is squash. However, today, I was in the mood for risotto. So, I incorporated that into my lunch planning. First I grabbed half an onion and a couple of cloves of garlic (also from my CSA) and sauteed them in butter and olive oil. Threw in a handful of mushrooms as well, a few chopped up basil leaves, and about 1/2 cup of white wine with the arborio rice. After the wine evaporated. I added in the first cup of chicken stock, and stirred often, and in between, put a halved and seeded acorn squash face down in some water and microwaved for about 12 minutes. Once the first cup of stock was absorbed, I put another cup in and stirred again until it was gone. 2 cups wasn't quite enough, so I added another 1/2 cup. That gave the rice the right consistency. It was ready for the finishing touches. I scooped out the squash and pureed it in my food processor, then added it to my pot, with a little heavy cream (just a splash I promise!) and about a half cup of grated Parmesan cheese. When I fed it to my kids for lunch, my oldest daughter (12) told me that "this doesn't belong on a lunch plate at our house, it belongs in a 5 star restaurant!" I guess I wasn't the only one who loved the way this turned out!
Well, now that my tummy is full, and my blog post is written, I am off to decorate a cake and head to a birthday party!
Catch you later! Eat well my friends!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Hot stuff
I realize I have fallen WAY out of touch with my blog posting. However, my recent experiences with all of the lovely produce from our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) has made me want to share some of what I have been doing with it.
Our farmer, and now friend, Marty (whose lovely wife, Carolyn also helps grow our garden goodies) was mentioning that a lot of folks don't want the hot peppers in our weekly distribution. And when they say HOT they mean it. These peppers look harmless, but they are Hungarian Wax Peppers, and can bring tears to my eyes after just a bite or two. I love to stuff them with cream cheese, panko and cheddar, but, even I have to admit that they pack a WALLOP, and usually I leave behind about 1/2 of the pepper to save my taste buds, throat etc.
BUT....I have done my research, and found another very easy and yummy use for these peppers. Today I took a couple dozen of these beauties, and put them on my grill until they were charred (about 15 minutes, flipping halfway through). After I charred them, I placed them in airtight containers, wrapped in wet paper towels and let them self steam a bit (about 3 hours actually while I ran some errands and dealt with some other veggies that were over populating my kitchen.)....When I returned to them, I peeled the now loose charred skins off of the peppers, split them open, and used a knife blade to gently scrap out the veins and seeds. I then placed them in zip top snack sized bags (1 or 2 peppers to a bag dependent on size), and put the whole lot of bags inside one big Ziploc Freezer bag, being careful to remove excess air from the individual bags as well as the big bag to help avoid freezer burn.
Now what, you ask? Well, I did a trial run of this recipe the other day with just a few peppers. And the results were fabulous. Most of these bad boys are probably destined for some batches of Chili in the Winter, or perhaps a Mexican rice dish, or even nachos. The test batch has proved to be DELICIOUS in scrambled eggs, and the beauty of it is that during the process of charring, peeling and cleaning out the innards, the heat level comes way down to a much more tolerable to the average palate.
So, bring on the HOT peppers, I have learned to tame them!
Here's hoping you're eating as well as we are this summer!
Our farmer, and now friend, Marty (whose lovely wife, Carolyn also helps grow our garden goodies) was mentioning that a lot of folks don't want the hot peppers in our weekly distribution. And when they say HOT they mean it. These peppers look harmless, but they are Hungarian Wax Peppers, and can bring tears to my eyes after just a bite or two. I love to stuff them with cream cheese, panko and cheddar, but, even I have to admit that they pack a WALLOP, and usually I leave behind about 1/2 of the pepper to save my taste buds, throat etc.
BUT....I have done my research, and found another very easy and yummy use for these peppers. Today I took a couple dozen of these beauties, and put them on my grill until they were charred (about 15 minutes, flipping halfway through). After I charred them, I placed them in airtight containers, wrapped in wet paper towels and let them self steam a bit (about 3 hours actually while I ran some errands and dealt with some other veggies that were over populating my kitchen.)....When I returned to them, I peeled the now loose charred skins off of the peppers, split them open, and used a knife blade to gently scrap out the veins and seeds. I then placed them in zip top snack sized bags (1 or 2 peppers to a bag dependent on size), and put the whole lot of bags inside one big Ziploc Freezer bag, being careful to remove excess air from the individual bags as well as the big bag to help avoid freezer burn.
Now what, you ask? Well, I did a trial run of this recipe the other day with just a few peppers. And the results were fabulous. Most of these bad boys are probably destined for some batches of Chili in the Winter, or perhaps a Mexican rice dish, or even nachos. The test batch has proved to be DELICIOUS in scrambled eggs, and the beauty of it is that during the process of charring, peeling and cleaning out the innards, the heat level comes way down to a much more tolerable to the average palate.
So, bring on the HOT peppers, I have learned to tame them!
Here's hoping you're eating as well as we are this summer!
Friday, September 9, 2011
You Spin Me Right Round, Baby, Right Round...
So...This blog post has been in my head a lot lately. I needed to write it down. I have decided that my life has been in a spin a lot lately this past year, and also my body. Now that life has calmed down, and I am once again settled into my own house, with all of my own stuff and relatively back to normal, whatever that means, I am also now back to Spin Class.
Something occurred to me about spin class. It takes a special kind of crazy to be one of those people, who like myself, LOVES going to spin class. It is almost masochistic if you will. If you have a good instructor, you will come out of that spin room red in the face, sweating from every pore imaginable (and some you never knew existed) and absolutely grinning ear to ear. It becomes something your body and mind crave. Like chocolate, but much better for the hips. Now, I am no Lance Armstrong . Nor am I Ted King (although honestly I think the domestiques have way more balls than the GC riders for the most part, they sacrifice their whole ride to see their leader to the end). However, I am a strong rider on a road bike. I can climb some serious hills (my regular nemesis hill is a Cat 3 by Tour De France standards), and ride out a "better than your average bear" pace on a flat. However, spin is a whole different world. They do things on those bikes that, in all likelihood, would land me in a hospital if I attempted them while riding my Specialized Allez Dolce down the roads of Western NY. And spin class is not for the meek. At least not my spin class. The teacher plays the music LOUD! And we sing along, and she shouts out to us and asks for answers. She doesn't beat you with a paddle if you don't answer or anything, but we all answer because if it came down to it, I am fairly certain she could take EVERY SINGLE ONE of us in a brawl.
This brings me to my next point. While it takes a special kind of crazy to love spin class, it takes a REALLY REALLY special kind of crazy to properly teach a spin class. I have had at least a dozen different instructors in spin classes. Trish, my Monday and Wednesday morning gal, she ROCKS. Despite her gleaming smile and mildly, but not annoyingly, perky demeanor, she means business. Her class is not a casual ride. Usually it is 13-15 songs, ranging from AC/DC to Lady Gaga to Andrea Bocelli. You never know what you will be listening to, but it is always appropriate for the task at hand. When we climb, she cranks up her tension and climbs right along with us. And she sweats her ass off too. I hate when I see an instructor walk out of class looking like they just came from freshening up. She works with us. And also, she doesn't use a McDonald's headset to bark orders at us. Nope. She just yells right out over the top of the very loud music or waits until in between songs and tells us what to expect next song. She is that REALLY REALLY special kind of crazy, and I mean that in the most loving way ever. You see, after the first spin class I ever went to, I swore I would NEVER do that again. Turns out I just didn't like the instructor, because apparently I AM a special kind of crazy, and I DO love spin class!
So, back to life. Even when my world seems to be spinning so fast that I am just hanging on for dear life, I have found spinning wheels is a great relief. Be it in spin class, on my road bike or just on the trainer while watching some old seasons of Grey's Anatomy on DVD, the high you can get from spinning those wheels is far better than whatever drugs people take to escape their realities. It is far healthier too. And maybe you don't think you are the special kind of crazy, and maybe you aren't, but there is only one way to find out. As Freddie Mercury once put it in the illustrious Fat Bottomed Girls song......"Get on your bikes and RIDE!"
Something occurred to me about spin class. It takes a special kind of crazy to be one of those people, who like myself, LOVES going to spin class. It is almost masochistic if you will. If you have a good instructor, you will come out of that spin room red in the face, sweating from every pore imaginable (and some you never knew existed) and absolutely grinning ear to ear. It becomes something your body and mind crave. Like chocolate, but much better for the hips. Now, I am no Lance Armstrong . Nor am I Ted King (although honestly I think the domestiques have way more balls than the GC riders for the most part, they sacrifice their whole ride to see their leader to the end). However, I am a strong rider on a road bike. I can climb some serious hills (my regular nemesis hill is a Cat 3 by Tour De France standards), and ride out a "better than your average bear" pace on a flat. However, spin is a whole different world. They do things on those bikes that, in all likelihood, would land me in a hospital if I attempted them while riding my Specialized Allez Dolce down the roads of Western NY. And spin class is not for the meek. At least not my spin class. The teacher plays the music LOUD! And we sing along, and she shouts out to us and asks for answers. She doesn't beat you with a paddle if you don't answer or anything, but we all answer because if it came down to it, I am fairly certain she could take EVERY SINGLE ONE of us in a brawl.
This brings me to my next point. While it takes a special kind of crazy to love spin class, it takes a REALLY REALLY special kind of crazy to properly teach a spin class. I have had at least a dozen different instructors in spin classes. Trish, my Monday and Wednesday morning gal, she ROCKS. Despite her gleaming smile and mildly, but not annoyingly, perky demeanor, she means business. Her class is not a casual ride. Usually it is 13-15 songs, ranging from AC/DC to Lady Gaga to Andrea Bocelli. You never know what you will be listening to, but it is always appropriate for the task at hand. When we climb, she cranks up her tension and climbs right along with us. And she sweats her ass off too. I hate when I see an instructor walk out of class looking like they just came from freshening up. She works with us. And also, she doesn't use a McDonald's headset to bark orders at us. Nope. She just yells right out over the top of the very loud music or waits until in between songs and tells us what to expect next song. She is that REALLY REALLY special kind of crazy, and I mean that in the most loving way ever. You see, after the first spin class I ever went to, I swore I would NEVER do that again. Turns out I just didn't like the instructor, because apparently I AM a special kind of crazy, and I DO love spin class!
So, back to life. Even when my world seems to be spinning so fast that I am just hanging on for dear life, I have found spinning wheels is a great relief. Be it in spin class, on my road bike or just on the trainer while watching some old seasons of Grey's Anatomy on DVD, the high you can get from spinning those wheels is far better than whatever drugs people take to escape their realities. It is far healthier too. And maybe you don't think you are the special kind of crazy, and maybe you aren't, but there is only one way to find out. As Freddie Mercury once put it in the illustrious Fat Bottomed Girls song......"Get on your bikes and RIDE!"
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
New Year's Resolution Revolution
This year, I am not going to say that I will lose 10 lbs (though I'd like to lose 15). I will not say I am going to work out an hour every day. I am not going to promise not to cuss, or to not buy things I don't absolutely need. Instead, I am determined to make this the year of Pay it Forward.
I encourage you, if you are reading this, to do it too. With the hate and evil deeds that have been happening for years, but seem to be more frequent recently (i.e. the Arizona shootings), I think a little bit of good in the world will go far. So, pass it on and see how great it feels to do a good deed.
So far, I have been doing pretty good with my pay it forwards. I paid for lunch for a Vietnam Vet who was sitting a few tables away from us at Friendly's when I was at lunch with the kids. That was my first Pay it Forward of the year. Not sure it was paying it forward though, as he has already sacrificed much for me and all of us. As much as I would have loved to see his face when the waitress told him his bill was taken care of, I asked her not to tell him until after I left. I don't want recognition or thanks from him or any of my other pay it forward recipients. I just hope that they feel good about the act, and then in turn are encouraged to pay it forward to someone else. Wouldn't it be a lovely chain reaction if we all just started doing nice things for strangers and family? Some are bigger gestures, some are small. I've paid for the car behind me at Tim Horton's a couple of times. A cup of coffee may not seem like a big deal, but who knows what that little surprise can do for someone. You may just give them the boost they need to get through the day.
I remember a day that seems like yesterday, yet at the same time seems SO long ago. Tom and I were still living in Vermont. The girls were about 2 & 3, and Finn wasn't even a thought at that point. We were sitting in Ramunto's Pizza, one of our favorite spots for lunch. The girls were being goofy, but not obnoxious or out of hand. There was an older lady watching us periodically, and I thought the whole time that she must have been annoyed at the girls laughing loudly and dancing to the jukebox music. I couldn't have been more wrong. As the lady left, she walked over to me at our table. She reached out her hand and handed me a $20 bill. She said "I remember the days of small children, enjoy it while it last. Take this and buy something for your family." Then she hurried out the door. I did have time to thank her, but her actions stunned me. She wasn't watching me in annoyance because my kids giggling was disturbing her lunch, she was reminiscing. She inspired me to pay it forward then. I started with small acts randomly. This year, my goal is to do them whenever I can. Little or big, a kind deed can really brighten someone's day. I learned that first hand.
So, my friends, I challenge you to Pay it Forward with me! When you're clearing the snow off your car in the parking lot after a long day of work, clear the car next to you too. Help someone carry their groceries, leave a surprising tip for a waitress who needs it, bring food to a shut in. We all have something to give, even if we have little in the bank. Give of yourself, it will warm your heart and just may change a person.
Here's to a year of good deeds! Happy 2011!
I encourage you, if you are reading this, to do it too. With the hate and evil deeds that have been happening for years, but seem to be more frequent recently (i.e. the Arizona shootings), I think a little bit of good in the world will go far. So, pass it on and see how great it feels to do a good deed.
So far, I have been doing pretty good with my pay it forwards. I paid for lunch for a Vietnam Vet who was sitting a few tables away from us at Friendly's when I was at lunch with the kids. That was my first Pay it Forward of the year. Not sure it was paying it forward though, as he has already sacrificed much for me and all of us. As much as I would have loved to see his face when the waitress told him his bill was taken care of, I asked her not to tell him until after I left. I don't want recognition or thanks from him or any of my other pay it forward recipients. I just hope that they feel good about the act, and then in turn are encouraged to pay it forward to someone else. Wouldn't it be a lovely chain reaction if we all just started doing nice things for strangers and family? Some are bigger gestures, some are small. I've paid for the car behind me at Tim Horton's a couple of times. A cup of coffee may not seem like a big deal, but who knows what that little surprise can do for someone. You may just give them the boost they need to get through the day.
I remember a day that seems like yesterday, yet at the same time seems SO long ago. Tom and I were still living in Vermont. The girls were about 2 & 3, and Finn wasn't even a thought at that point. We were sitting in Ramunto's Pizza, one of our favorite spots for lunch. The girls were being goofy, but not obnoxious or out of hand. There was an older lady watching us periodically, and I thought the whole time that she must have been annoyed at the girls laughing loudly and dancing to the jukebox music. I couldn't have been more wrong. As the lady left, she walked over to me at our table. She reached out her hand and handed me a $20 bill. She said "I remember the days of small children, enjoy it while it last. Take this and buy something for your family." Then she hurried out the door. I did have time to thank her, but her actions stunned me. She wasn't watching me in annoyance because my kids giggling was disturbing her lunch, she was reminiscing. She inspired me to pay it forward then. I started with small acts randomly. This year, my goal is to do them whenever I can. Little or big, a kind deed can really brighten someone's day. I learned that first hand.
So, my friends, I challenge you to Pay it Forward with me! When you're clearing the snow off your car in the parking lot after a long day of work, clear the car next to you too. Help someone carry their groceries, leave a surprising tip for a waitress who needs it, bring food to a shut in. We all have something to give, even if we have little in the bank. Give of yourself, it will warm your heart and just may change a person.
Here's to a year of good deeds! Happy 2011!
Friday, December 3, 2010
I'm not perfect
It's no surprise to you or me
I'm not perfect - but you see
I accept this fact each day
Try to improve in some small way
So judge me if you want
I know you will
It's some weird void
You're trying to fill
At least I know where I stand
And on my feet I always land
I never claimed to be flaw free
I just try to be the best ME
I'm not perfect - but you see
I accept this fact each day
Try to improve in some small way
So judge me if you want
I know you will
It's some weird void
You're trying to fill
At least I know where I stand
And on my feet I always land
I never claimed to be flaw free
I just try to be the best ME
Friday, November 19, 2010
Moving Right Along
So, as I have been packing these past couple of weeks in preparation for our move, one song has played over and over in my head. All of you Muppet fans have guessed it I am sure...I can't get Fozzie Bear and Kermit the Frog out of my head, as they travel in search of their dream, and maybe get a little lost along the way. Every time I start to panic about the fact that, while we have sold our house and need to be out of it by December 13th, well, we don't have a new house yet, this song comes to mind. You see, our house that we were going to buy seems to have fallen through. So, our current plan is really not a solid plan. We are packing most of what we own into storage and staying with my parents (who live one block over from us now) until the details sort themselves out! Are you beginning to see why Fozzie & Kermit are playing a role in my minimal sanity? I am. I couldn't figure out why this song kept popping into my head until I thought about "The Muppet Movie" and that song in particular. Basically in the song, they get a bit lost and sidetracked on their way to LA, but it's all ok because they have their friends with them to get them through.
For me, it's even better. Not only do I have my friends to remind me to breathe when I start freaking out, I also have my family with me on this road trip. My husband, Tom, and my three great kiddos, wherever we go, we are going together. And also, my parents who have opened their doors to the 5 of us, for as long as we need to find a house we can agree on. They are truly happy to get to have us even closer than we already are and I am looking forward to it as well. So, even though I am not sure exactly where I am going, I do know that I am movin' right along....
Moving Right Along
For me, it's even better. Not only do I have my friends to remind me to breathe when I start freaking out, I also have my family with me on this road trip. My husband, Tom, and my three great kiddos, wherever we go, we are going together. And also, my parents who have opened their doors to the 5 of us, for as long as we need to find a house we can agree on. They are truly happy to get to have us even closer than we already are and I am looking forward to it as well. So, even though I am not sure exactly where I am going, I do know that I am movin' right along....
Moving Right Along
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