Umhhh Umhh

Sorry if my last post sounded terse. What meant to be tongue in cheek actually came out foot in mouth. I'll blame it on this cold I'm getting.

Darrell and I are off this morning to do laundry at the temple. I was told by someone whose credibility is faulty that I have to wear a dress. If I get up there with a skirt on and everyone else is in pants.... Anyway, should be interesting. I've never done laundry at the temple before. Think they'll let me put it in the dryer and come back in a couple of days to get it out and fold it--like I do at home??

Once home, I'm taking a nap!!

Okay, Okay

Apparently, my life is of far greater interest to some than I ever thought possible. So here is my week in review....

Monday

The weather predictors were calling for ice on Tuesday, so I made sure to get all my "rat killing" done. Rat killing is my mother-in-law's term for errands. Since I hadn't done so yet this year, I took the time to go to Melody's school and surprise her at lunch. It was actually pretty good. I had a chicken fajita (which was stuffed full), 1/2 an orange, tater tots, green beans, a cinnamon roll, and an ice cream sandwich. Oh, and chocolate milk! It was delicious--nothing like the stuff I ate when I was in school. And Melody's friends were really cute. I got hugs all around.

Before heading home, I stopped at Walmart. Couldn't be caught without my Diet Mt. Dew! I know that I can't drive on ice, so I was pretty sure I'd be home for a couple of days at least. Forget the milk and bread--I had to have my soda!

Tuesday

The predictors weren't wrong. We got enough ice to cause problems. I was especially disappointed since me and a long lost friend from high school had planned to have lunch together today. She was driving up from near Jackson which is a couple of hours away. Couldn't risk her safety, so our reunion will have to wait. It's already been almost 33 years; I guess a few more days won't hurt.

Wednesday

Snow this morning. Darrell was in a hurry to get to the shop and load his truck. He didn't make sure the garage door was all the way up before backing out. We (I mainly provided moral support and the odd "hold this") spent the next couple of hours messing with the door, taking parts of it apart, lowering it, and repairing it as best we could. Don't know when the guy can come fix it proper. Since the weather was so bad, Darrell stayed home from work. I never get anything done when he's home and this day was no exception.

Thursday

The best day of the week!! Audrey and I were able to have our reunion, since the ice and snow had melted enough for her drive up. We met at O'Charley's about 11:30 and spent the next four (yes, four!!) hours sitting there eating and catching up. It was like the years just melted away. My throat was sore from talking so much. I had a great time and can't wait to see her again. We are considering another reunion and asking more classmates to join us.

I was on such a high that I couldn't even get upset when I met Darrell at Holly's and discovered she had virtually no food in her house. Her van wasn't starting and Darrell was trying to get it running. He was unsuccessful, so we went inside. She had some kind of nasty looking stuff in the crock pot and was planning on serving that for dinner. Now I'm no Paula Deen, but what I make is edible. This stuff was disgusting. And come to find out had been sitting out since the night before. Holly's cupboards would have given Old Mother Hubbard a run for her money. Darrell and I went home and raided some of our pantry to get her through till Monday.

Friday

Most of today I spent at the computer since it's the end of the month.

Now you know why I haven't blogged. Not a lot going on. Except for lunch with Audrey, which should keep me "up" for a long time to come! Now aren't you glad you asked?

Namaste

I mentioned recently that I had purchased a couple of yoga DVDs. I love yoga. There's something about it that makes me feel so long and sleek and feminine. I wanted to share that feeling with you, so here are reviews of the workouts I've been doing.




First is 10-Minute Solution Yoga for Beginners. I bought this at Sam's Club for about $15. It has 5 workouts that are 10 minutes each. You can do one, two, or all five. I'm gonna give this DVD a 3 on a scale of 1-5. The workouts are okay and the instruction is good, but I just couldn't really get into it. If you take the DVD out of the player, you have to listen to all the beginning mumbo-jumbo every time you start it again. It can't be fast forwarded.







Next is The Firm Power Yoga. This one's about 35 minutes and involves several women at various levels, so you can follow whoever is at your level. This DVD is a little more intense and is a great workout. You will sweat and you will be sore. I give it a 4.







Lastly is Element AM & PM Yoga for Beginners. This is my favorite. I'll give it a 5. There are two workouts (obviously) of about 30 minutes each. The AM workout is energizing and the PM is relaxing. Both do exactly what they're supposed to do. I bought these last two at Walmart for $9 each.




If you don't want to feel like you're exercising or you're just not keen on a lot of jumping around, try yoga. If you don't want to commit yourself, you could check out some DVDs or tapes at the library and see how you like it. Have fun!

Reveal Your Inner Poet

If you read my last post, you saw one of my favorite poems at the end. Searching for it had me looking through an old folder from high school. I would copy poems that struck a chord with me and keep them in this folder. I also wrote poetry. Doesn't every teenaged girl?

Did you ever write? Stories or poems? Who were your favorite poets? I love Sara Teasdale, Rod McKuen, and ee cummings. Share!

Here's one for you young moms. I found this when I was a young mother and it helped.

The Test
Susan F. Shaw

What is a home without handprints and mess?
No toys, no clothes, might make me guess
Are these children being permitted to grow
In mind, in body, and even show
Emotion, understanding, patience, and love,
Or are they confined and held like a glove?

Our children are robust, eager and willing.
No different from others and it would be silly
To expect perfection; complete understanding
Of adult situations; in fact even maddening

To see them grow up without first fumbling
Over the scattering of toys, their messes with food,
Clothes under their beds, and always good moods.

To think our children wouldn't need us to guide them,
Arms outstretched to stand behind them.
So for the price of handprints and mess
A home for the children,
For parents a test.

Crap!

Sorry if that title offended you. That's the only word I could think of to express the way I'm feeling right now!

Apparently, there's a list out there titled "Beverly is old and here's the proof". Let's just take a peek at it. Last year I hit the big 5-0. I recently had a physical and received the ultimate package in the prodding and poking department. I now qualify for those two annual tests which shall remain nameless. To add insult to injury, I found out today that I have high cholesterol. After doing some internet research, I've found the best way to combat this latest news is--drum roll--more exercise and healthier eating habits. Duh!

More exercise isn't that hard. I actually like to work out and sweat. I recently bought a couple of yoga DVDs that I really enjoy. I put on exercise clothes and tennis shoes as soon as I get up to help motivate me. Sometimes that works, sometimes not.

Eating healthier. That's a problem. I'm pretty picky. What I should be eating is lots of veggies and fruits, whole grains, and beans. I hate beans--except green beans and sugar snap peas. I especially hate legumes--navy beans, pintos, etc. Yuck! I can stomach them sometimes if I put enough ketchup on them. Most fruits are okay, but vegetables are another story. The ones I prefer aren't the ones I should eat (read starchy).

Worst of all--cut down on refined sugar! That makes up most of my diet!

Okay, I'm done. That'll be my rant for the week. I have a poem I found in high school that applies to just about every aspect of life (both large and small) and this is no exception.

I can't go on.
I mean I can't go on.
I really can't go on.
I swear I can't go on.

So I guess I'll get up
and go on.

Cold Feet and Hot Flashes

For almost 40 years now, I've had a friend who comes to visit every month. I call him Fred. That's not his real name, but it's an easier name to say than his real one. Fred has never been very punctual (sort of has his own schedule) and I never know how long he'll stay. His appearance is not always convenient or welcome, but there has been more than one occasion when I was overwhelmed with relief that he showed up! Too often his arrival is painful; however, if I have chocolate handy, it's more bearable.

I have not really needed Fred for many years, but he still shows up. Usually at a time when I least want him around. I think he's starting to realize my antipathy for him, as he is beginning to allow more time between visits. Sometimes he shows up just when I think he's never coming back. Instead of coming himself, though, he's sending his friends. I don't really know their names, but I have to call them something, so I'm appealing to you for help to think of what that should be. Maybe if I describe them, that'll help you decide.

One of them steals in mainly at night to wake me up. I'm sleeping soundly when all of a sudden this slight burning sensation begins in my mid-section. Before I know it, that feeling has spread quickly throughout my entire body. Right now, it only lasts a minute or two, but before it's over, I feel like I'm going to spontaneously combust. Darrell has laughed at me on one more than one occasion when I've leaped out of bed to start throwing off clothes! All my life, I've slept under at least a sheet. I have to have some type of cover. Not any more! It might not be so bad if it only happened once. But this friend is wicked and comes back again and again. The other night he woke me up no less than six times!

The other friend makes his appearance off and on during the day. Like right now. My hands and feet get so cold I can hardly feel them. My hands are cold up to the elbow. And I can't get them warm no matter what I do. It's like I've been playing out in the snow for hours without gloves or shoes. It's bone deep cold. Sitting on them makes no difference. I've even resorted to washing dishes to warm up my hands! That's true desperation.

Since they aren't as prevalent as the two above, I'll just briefly mention the friends who randomly make their appearance. There's Achy (who brings joint pain), Gassy (no explanation necessary), Puffy (helps me retain water), Sleepy (siphons off all my energy), Grumpy (again no explanation necessary), and Dopey (brings with it brain fog and steals my memory).

So, help me, girls, what do I call these new friends? Looks like they're going to stick around a while. I've found some OTC medication that's helping, but hasn't succeeding in keeping these guys away for good. Yet, anyway!!