Wait Five Minutes….

If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change.

Yesterday was a total white out. Today is sunny and beautiful. The only proof of two blizzards in one week is three feet of snow outside and telecommunting because I can’t get to work.

As long as I remember, men would sit on their front porches and talk about the weather. “Yup, think it’ll rain today Vern?” And then they would spit out their chewing tabaca.

The difference between this blizzard and the last two blizzards this winter is that the husband is home! As such, I feel compelled to stay inside and have him direct snow removal operations.

Even the weather is politicized. How ironic that we live near Washington DC where there is record snow. I mean, I’m livin’ in history right now. This winter is on record as the snowiest ever recorded in Baltimore/DC. One inch of snow will paralyze the city, 65 inches over two weeks has effectively shut the government down. I would know, none of the government workers in my neighborhood have been to work all week.

And Washington DC is where the heart of the climate change debate rages on.

I know there are attempts being made to re-name this phenomena so that it actually fits the climate model. If it’s sunny, both sides use that as proof that their position is right. If it blizzards then that’s used to dispute the opposite side of the debate.

I think the worse thing about this weather debate is that it has successfully reduced the status of scientists to the level of lawyers and politicians. People use to respect the scientific community and what they postulate. But they – the scientists - have let themselves be seduced by power and potential economic largesse by attempting to define the political debate.

It’s unseemly, it’s low, it’s icky. It makes them look silly. It drives me bonkers.

Anyway, I don’t know what to believe. I guess I would say this: the weather always changes, even before the Industrial Revolution. We’ve only been monitoring the weather for a short time compared to the age of the earth. I guess if the climate didn’t change, we would still be in an ice age? Or maybe we wouldn’t have seven continents? Would Death Valley still be part of the ocean? Would Hawaii even exist if the climate there didn’t change?

I guess one man’s climate change is another man’s winter, spring, summer and fall.

You say potato, I say potato…

Here are my kids trying to get the ice off of the heat pump with the girl’s pink hair dryer yesterday.

It’s not like it used to be when I was a kid. I remember it snowing all the time! How ironic that I lived in Thailand, Jamaica and Algeria for most of my childhood…didn’t snow in those places. What I remember was the couple of years in upstate New York and in Pennsylvania. The husband says the same thing, but he’s from Indiana, where it snowed all the time. I know what my kids will say when they become adults.

“I remember it snowed all the time when I was a kid. Not like now.” Yah.

There’s the neighbor kids blowing our driveway because they say they are bored. Don’t worry, we gave them some money.

See that lump in the snow? That’s our pool. Or what’s left of the pool cover.

The kids will be out of school for the rest of the week because of the snow. The last two weeks, they have been in school 1.5 days. They are both thrilled and bored at the same time.

It’s tough being a kid. Who knows if we’ll even have winter when they are adults. They better enjoy it now.

My Body, My Mind

 

Today I’m upside down at Vision & Verb.

January 29, By Any Other Name

Is still a rose.

So my week?

Recently, I felt I needed a change. The urge was very strong at the begining of the week. I couldn’t articulate it. It was just a nagging feeling, no details, no specifics, no direction.

The middle of the week brought more conversation, more counseling, more discussion.

And ahhh…now the end of the week. Nothing’s changed. At least not yet.

And I’m happy about it. For I wouldn’t be able to hang out here as much if it did.

There is still a nagging in me for change but there’s also peace in knowing that I like where I am.

Except…

Though it wasn’t easy, I was successful in eating only salads on Tuesday. I was starting to get grumpy toward the end of the night. The husband reminded me that I told everyone in blogland my frugal diet plan so I was bound to commit to it.  To which I responded from the open refrigerator door, “So what?” Then I slammed it. Perhaps a little too hard. Hey, I was hungry.

But…

I lost TWO pounds this week. Now there’s a change. So that’s “so what” and it’s so satisfying. Two pounds a week is the recommend weight loss rate according to the AMA, AFAA, Congress and me.

And…

That Mediterranean fare from yesterday? It’s a pickled caperberry. Here’s a not-so-good photo of it after I’ve chomped on it. It was delicious. I don’t know why it’s not more mainstream Jodi, people are missing out!  It is not a caper I’ve ever seen before. I’m only familiar with the small-ish kind. My mother bought these, Lord knows how much they cost.

I apologize for my manicured nails. Or rather, lack of…

Here’s a quick lemon and capers dish.

1 lb thinly sliced pork loin
4 tbs fresh lemon juice
2 tbs capers
1 garlic clove
2 tbs olive oil
2 tbs butter
salt
pepper
your choice cooked pasta

Squeeze lemon over the pork. Add salt and pepper. Set aside. Heat olive oil and crushed garlic clove in a sauce pan. Once it’s hot, place pork into the pan. Put in the butter to melt, add in the capers. Turn over the pork and cook on the second side until done.

Serve over your pasta.

You can certainly use the capers that you are familiar with. These are big and pickled and may not be as accessible.

Bon appetite!

I’ll see ya tomorrow bloggie peeps.

Drumroll Please…

I’d like to apologize for this late giveaway winner announcement. There were circumstances that were not under my control.

So without further ado…the party shoe that I bought? Number 4. The others were beautiful but my no fun, pragmatic side took over. And the people who mentioned number 4 (Margie, Maureen and Ann) in their comments were entered into a drawing and the winner is…Ann. Congratulations Ann. I hope you like your ornament.

Let me just also editorialize, that it’s slightly disturbing how well my boss knows me. One day I’m going to shock everyone. Just wait and see.

I don’t have photos of the party because I didn’t go to the party. The only thing that would keep me from going to a party for which I had bought shoes for is not the blizzard of the decade and it’s not the fact that my date was stuck in Texas and couldn’t make it home because of that blizzard, it’s because I was slightly ill. Ill enough to go to the hospital.

But I’s al rite now. Ain’t nothin’.

I love this photo. I took it while at the hospital of the husband. There were a lot of other sick people there so I was put in the hallway. His expression says, “You sure know how to cause drama during the holidays don’t you?”

So the blizzard and my little hospital visit have put me slightly behind – alright – very behind in my Christmas preparations. But I in spite of the fact that this phrase is way over used, I’ll say it anyway.

“It is what it is.”

Two days left. But who’s counting? Merry Christmas!

Please Help Me Choose A Party Shoe & Giveaway

You may not believe this, but I don’t shop at brick and mortar stores very often.

1) Blue sequined 5 inch heels. Great with jeans don’t you think? Love the bow.

 

It’s a drive to get to the mall and my days are taken up with driving to other places, like the grocery store and equestrian meets.

2) These are more classic but quite blingy. There’s a gold and silver pattern on them.

And at times when I do go…it’s rush, rush and rush some more.

3) What do you think of this purple princess?  Holy cow they were high.

Ahhhh…my poor aching feet thank me.

4) This one has little glittery sequins. I love it.

I did stop at a store this week to try on some shoes to wear to a Christmas party this weekend.

5) Look at this one! Va va va voom! Red hot for Christmas.

I’m wearing a little black dress with some slight ornamentation on the neck. I’m also wearing a black cashmere sweater over it. It’s one that I’ve worn many many time before. But it’s warm.

6) I wonder what animal died for this shoe?

And you know what? The same dress that I’m wearing for the party will be worn to go to church on Christmas Eve.

7) I love these shoes…love them. There are little sparkles on the shoes. It’s the silver twin to number 1.

Okay, tell me, which one will I wear? Hmmmm? Sorry about the pedicure job. I’ll redo the toes before the party! The right guesses will be entered to win a 2008 White House Christmas ornament. I don’t have a photo of it, but it’s cute!

My last giveaway was up for a total of 24 hours. I’ll leave this one up a little bit longer. Until 9 pm Monday night. Or thereabouts…

And I’ve said it many times before, thank you for coming by. It just cheers me up and makes my day to read your comments.

Merry Christmas! And what are you wearing to your Christmas party this weekend?

White House Christmas Ornament & Congratulations Margie

Oh what a day it’s been! Won’t go into detail now but it had something to do with the sister, wrestling, shaving and birthday presents left on a school bus. We just got home - literally - and the girl had to do her homework so I had to wait a few minutes before I could post this. And please forgive me, but I just took these photos about two minutes ago.

But I won’t bore you.

Congratulations Margie! You made the right guess as to which photo I should enter into the iHeartfaces contest this week. You have won a beautiful, I mean beautiful 2009 White House Christmas ornaments. I’ve been collecting these for a while and I love them. We live not too far from Washington DC and if you have never visited this town, you should. It will make you a patriot and proud to be an American.

Here’s the back of the ornament.

So Margie, I love that you have a sister that blogs with you. And I love your photos, they are full of emotion. And I love that you come and visit.

As I do for all of you who come here. It means so much to me. I started this blog just to post photos and document my life digitally. It’s an outlet for my creativity and it’s turned out to be so much more. Thank you so much for coming and leaving comments and making this so much fun.

I have an ornament from last year to giveaway this week. All you have to do is tell me which shoe I should buy. I can’t make up my mind. What else is new?

But right now…I’m going to bed. Margie, please pass me your snail mail address. I just love your site!

Please Help Me Choose A Pet Photo & Giveaway

Here I go again.

I am an indecisive, vacillating , wishy-washy individual, except when I have to choose a husband. Wait…I was wishy washy then too. (But it had nothing to do with the husband.) Anyway…

Help me choose a pet for this week’s iHeartfaces contest if you don’t mind…for if you do…I have a little something for you at the end of the post.

1) The irrepressible Tuk Tuk. Gosh he’s cute. And mischievious. And so is the girl.

This is my favorite…but keep looking okay?

2) Tucker in my boss’s office. She hasn’t said anything to me about it yet by the way.

This one is a favorite because of the color.

3) My girl with Limerick…I wasn’t helping her at all.

It’s my favorite tacking picture.

4) And here’s Limerick’s eye lashes. I love this photo as you can tell.

It’s my favorite black and white of a horse.

5) And here’s Pete, who I can learn to like if he wins me the coveted top ten position.

It’s my favorite picture of Pete.

6) Dr. Tortoise from the farm…every winter he disappears. He must go to the beach.

She’s my favorite turtle.

7) The cat after he’s munched a bluebird or two. He only wishes…

My favorite so far.

Here’s Boone! It’s my other favorite.

I love animals. Can you tell?

I have more…but I’ll stop here..

Let me know which one is your favorite! The one with the most votes will go in. And it doesn’t have to be my favorite one either.

If you vote for the photo I choose, I have a little giveaway for you. It’s to thank you for coming by. And it’s the Christmas season! So let me know in the comments which one you think I should enter. See you tomorrow…

Corner View ~ Thanksgiving Yoga

I’m sitting back to relax after a really long day and opened my computer to find some wonderful and kind comments on my last blog. Thank you. But I read my daughter’s little comment and I feel compelled to explain.

When she said her butt hurts it’s because it is what every little equestrian girl complains about and in just about every language. Because they ride a lot, and their little bums are sore a lot. So…moving on.

This week’s Corner View theme is about eating out. But here in the United States, it’s Thanksgiving time. And no one eats out. Everyone is stressed because they are trying to cook something that they haven’t cooked in a year to impress people they would not normally spend time with.

But that’s the cynical view of things.

Or on a happier note, they travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to make sure they spend time with people they love and don’t normally don’t see during the year. And this is the one time where they can really sit back and watch mom cook them a huge delectable meal. As in my case.

Yesterday, my yoga class was completely full. I’m not sure which of the above applied to whom…but I’m sure what whatever the case, everyone needed a little bit of relaxation. A little cleansing breath to gird their loins for what is to come in the next couple of days.

Gird their loins…it’s my new favorite saying now. It’s biblical you know.

Look at the husband. He’s facing the opposite way as the rest of the class. Snicker, snicker.

None of the above photos were taken yesterday, but they illustrate the point.

I think that celebrations are only stressful because we don’t celebrate enough. Which is why I continually party during the year, in order to not feel stressed during those mandatory party times. If you exercise constantly, it doesn’t hurt so much when you finally get out to jog around the block.

But this year, it won’t hurt at all because my mother is doing the cooking.

So take your example from the husband. Just relax and have fun this Thanksgiving. He does the corpse position very well doesn’t he?

Namaste and Happy Thanksgiving to my blogging friends. You mean so much to me.

Thanksgiving Lettuce

I just got off the phone with Neighbor Janet. I am hosting the homeowner’s association Christmas party in my home and she called to see if there is anything she can help me with.

Neighbor Janet is tasked to co-host December’s bunco game as well as make appetizers for the HOA Christmas party, in the same weekend. And she’s cooking Thanksgiving dinner for her family.

And she called to see if there’s anything she can do for me. That lady is beyond sweet.

So anyway, the lettuce. I bought this “living lettuce” to see how long it would actually last. Because that’s how I am. As it turns out, I had it for almost a month. And when I went to actually eat it, it was still fresh. And alive. Because it’s “living lettuce.”

It’s actually very cool. How much lettuce do we eat at one time anyway? And it goes bad so quickly. It’s great to have something last this long, and you actually eat the entire thing instead of having to throw half of it away. I think it’s the root ball on it that keeps it “alive.”

I can’t tell you how much I paid for it. But whatever it was, it certainly was worth it.

So buy living lettuce now. It will be fresh until you are ready to make Thanksgiving dinner. And if you are as busy as Neighbor Janet is this season, you will be glad that it’s one less thing you have to do.

Just sayin’.

My Sweet Tiffiany

My good friend Tiff is one of several people with whom I don’t like to be in a photo.

And this is why. She’s a hard body.

She teaches body combat.

And it’s as painful as it sounds.

B-O-D-Y COMBAT. Yes, it’s painful.

She’s one tough woman.

And body combat is a class that makes you reach into your most primitive instincts to smash someone’s head in. It’s not at all civilized.

I used to teach kickbox. And long ago, I was a student of Tang So Do, a Korean self-defense discipline. That was so long ago that I can barely remember the lactic acid in my muscles.

Until I started taking Tiff’s class.

After what happened to me last year, I want to get my survival instincts back.

And now I can’t move. I’m not kidding. See Danny in the corner? He says he goes to the class and pretends he’s in a bar fight.

You either have to do body combat more than once a week or not at all. It makes you that sore. But it’s fun.

However, if anyone ever came up to take my purse, I’d say, “Hey! I got that on sale!”

Then I’d kick their butt. Thankyouverymuch.

Drop what you are doing, and go punch something. Right now.

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