today herman goes to the dentist to get his wisdom tooth removed. that means he will be on his unique and self prescribed liquid diet tonight, consisting of campbell's soup and light beer. the man is a genius in such things and his expertise cannot be questioned. success rules! he will lose three pounds by tomorrow.
herman and maria have teamed up twice recently when playing scrabble. she's the only one that will have him as a partner. though an unlikely pair, they have, i must admit, proved to be a formidable duo. this is very strange since herman is known globally for his inability to spell or pronounce anything with the exception of the most ordinary words. he also has a natural ability to invent words, especially adjectives, a descriptive and entertaining talent, but not applicable in the precise world of scrabble. maria has to keep him in line.
lately he has been coming up with the spelling of unusual and difficult words. it's as if something has clicked in his brain. you can tell by the look on his face that he's as shocked as we are each time it happens. i asked him how to spell fillet mignon yesterday and he flipped it right off his tongue with no effort what so ever. you may think these are not difficult words but for us, anything that isn't spelled phonetically has always been out of our reach until this recent phenomenon. when my sister and her husband told him that they had seen an often misspelled word on television , the correct spelling tripped right out of his mouth. it's as if he's channeling some national middle school spelling bee champion.
he will be off to the dentist to get that wisdom tooth removed soon. he's concerned that his new found wisdom will be extracted along with the tooth. i told him he's a goof but then he said, "what about sampson?" hummmmmmm!
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Monday, January 30, 2006
elvis has left the building
good morning everyone. elvis has left the building. my sister has been here since friday and she just left a half hour ago. yesterday we went to see annapolis, the movie, not the town. it was pretty good. we ate lunch at panera's. she loves that place. i behaved very well, ordering soup and salad with dressing on the side and leaving half of the bread on my plate and half the soup in my bowl. in fact, i did very well the entire weekend until this morning. we went out for breakfast before they left. i left half the food on my plate but the food was not the optimum in quality or caloric content. i did the best i could.
we told the waiter we were in a bit of a rush because herman had to go to work. he left us waiting without coffee forever. when he finally brought the food it was stone cold. we didn't have time to return it and get another serving. we just ate it. it's hard to understand why the waiter couldn't get it to the table while it was hot since there was only one other party in the entire restaurant. that should have given us the hint, but lyle had seen the diner the other day when he and herman went to lowe's and wanted to try it. it looked like a very nice place and we all wanted to try it after he mentioned it, but never again. you live and learn.
today i'm just jelling out. a little re-entry after company leaves. laundry, paying bills, etc. hope everyone had a good weekend.
we told the waiter we were in a bit of a rush because herman had to go to work. he left us waiting without coffee forever. when he finally brought the food it was stone cold. we didn't have time to return it and get another serving. we just ate it. it's hard to understand why the waiter couldn't get it to the table while it was hot since there was only one other party in the entire restaurant. that should have given us the hint, but lyle had seen the diner the other day when he and herman went to lowe's and wanted to try it. it looked like a very nice place and we all wanted to try it after he mentioned it, but never again. you live and learn.
today i'm just jelling out. a little re-entry after company leaves. laundry, paying bills, etc. hope everyone had a good weekend.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
memoirs of a geisha
my sister arrived yesterday afternoon. we had a light dinner and crashed early because everyone was pooped. today herman and lyle went to play pool because lyle didn't feel well enough to play golf. his sciatica was bothering him. bobbie and i did some shopping. we both got socks, those really soft ones that you wear around the house.
later we went to lunch at baker's crust, then more shopping, then a movie. the man sitting behind me kicked the back of my chair periodically through the entire movie. jerk! we saw memoirs of a geisha. we both liked it very much but decided there's too much work and heartache involved in being a geisha. we'll stick to our mundane lives, thank you very much. after dinner we played cards. fun was had by all.
we haven't decided exactly what's on the agenda for tomorrow but i'm sure it will involve lunch and the spending of more money.
i'm sending a shout out there to the wwgg. good luck! let me know how you all do.
later we went to lunch at baker's crust, then more shopping, then a movie. the man sitting behind me kicked the back of my chair periodically through the entire movie. jerk! we saw memoirs of a geisha. we both liked it very much but decided there's too much work and heartache involved in being a geisha. we'll stick to our mundane lives, thank you very much. after dinner we played cards. fun was had by all.
we haven't decided exactly what's on the agenda for tomorrow but i'm sure it will involve lunch and the spending of more money.
i'm sending a shout out there to the wwgg. good luck! let me know how you all do.
Friday, January 27, 2006
the world is waiting.......
today my sister and her husband will arrive. i'm not sure what time they will actually get here. they will probably be leaving connecticut around 9 this morning. i baked a cake and made two of her favorite things, butternut squash and a big pot of black-eyed-peas.
last night patsy and bec came over. it was their turn to cook. patsy made her chicken barbecue and coleslaw. we also had a salad and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. when i weighed this morning i was down a half pound. guess i didn't do so bad.
bec has been working on a blog and wrote a long post the other night. when she tried to save it as a draft it disappeared. she is discouraged now but i told her to try again. what are the odds of it happening again? the world is waiting to hear from you, bec. give it another try.
last night patsy and bec came over. it was their turn to cook. patsy made her chicken barbecue and coleslaw. we also had a salad and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. when i weighed this morning i was down a half pound. guess i didn't do so bad.
bec has been working on a blog and wrote a long post the other night. when she tried to save it as a draft it disappeared. she is discouraged now but i told her to try again. what are the odds of it happening again? the world is waiting to hear from you, bec. give it another try.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
visit from the mind monsters
my eyes opened at 4 o'clock this morning. the mind monsters had come to visit again. they were just making their usual rounds. every week or two they show up in the most tender hours of the morning, always returning just when you think they've forgotten you. they sit on the side of the bed, whispering at first, and if you don't respond the way they wish, if you just lie there trying to go back to sleep, they jump on your stomach and stomp. your chest starts to feel pressure, and your stomach starts to hurt, and there is nothing left to do but rise and shine, as if it were your intention all along.
so, now i sit in front of the computer, my only friend in the wee hours of the morning, and we chase them away together. like peter and his gang, we draw our swords, swipe them deftly back and forth, making whizzing sounds through the air, double daring them to stick around a second longer. then they flee, like the cowards they are, they always flee, and our laughter tinkles on the morning air as they scatter to the four winds.
ok, enough of that!
today is thursday and i don't have to cook. well, at least i don't have to cook tonight because it's patsy and bec's turn. i have no idea what they will bring tonight, only that they will show up with something to feed herman and me. they come over every thursday night and we take turns cooking. sometimes we just pick up something or order out, but most of the time one of us cooks. i have to cook some today for my sister who will be here tomorrow but not tonight.
jacob will be coming tonight too, that's bec's little boy. i'll pick up some glue sticks and poster board for him at the dollar tree today. last week we got kid scissors and construction paper. he made lots of cut outs and now he needs a place to paste them. he is beautiful, brave and bold, all the good b words.
omigod, did anyone see oprah the other day. she had that scientist on that talked about the bird flu and a potential pandemic. it was enough to make you crawl under the covers and pull them up over your head, and stay there. it was the scariest darn thing i've ever heard, too much for me to wrap my mind around.
he said that the global economy would collapse, we wouldn't have enough health care professionals to take care of us, and we wouldn't be able to keep up with burying the dead. it was horrifying! no wonder i had a visitation from the mind monsters early this morning. this guy said that we would all be on our own if it happens, that we need to stockpile food and water. he said that most major cities only have seven days worth of chlorine, so we would be without water as early as seven days. he said that grocery stores are also only a few days away from having shortages if the trucks can't bring food. transportation would break down and people that are still healthy will not want to come out of their houses to work. he went on and on and on with nothing but bad news. essentially, we're supposed to stock up on masks, food and water and hunker down. there will not be enough vaccine in any meaningful way for the first year of the pandemic.
i'm a little ray of sunshine this morning, aren't i? well, kiddies, off to prepare for my sister's visit. maybe i'll pick up a few extra bottles of H2O. how bout you?
so, now i sit in front of the computer, my only friend in the wee hours of the morning, and we chase them away together. like peter and his gang, we draw our swords, swipe them deftly back and forth, making whizzing sounds through the air, double daring them to stick around a second longer. then they flee, like the cowards they are, they always flee, and our laughter tinkles on the morning air as they scatter to the four winds.
ok, enough of that!
today is thursday and i don't have to cook. well, at least i don't have to cook tonight because it's patsy and bec's turn. i have no idea what they will bring tonight, only that they will show up with something to feed herman and me. they come over every thursday night and we take turns cooking. sometimes we just pick up something or order out, but most of the time one of us cooks. i have to cook some today for my sister who will be here tomorrow but not tonight.
jacob will be coming tonight too, that's bec's little boy. i'll pick up some glue sticks and poster board for him at the dollar tree today. last week we got kid scissors and construction paper. he made lots of cut outs and now he needs a place to paste them. he is beautiful, brave and bold, all the good b words.
omigod, did anyone see oprah the other day. she had that scientist on that talked about the bird flu and a potential pandemic. it was enough to make you crawl under the covers and pull them up over your head, and stay there. it was the scariest darn thing i've ever heard, too much for me to wrap my mind around.
he said that the global economy would collapse, we wouldn't have enough health care professionals to take care of us, and we wouldn't be able to keep up with burying the dead. it was horrifying! no wonder i had a visitation from the mind monsters early this morning. this guy said that we would all be on our own if it happens, that we need to stockpile food and water. he said that most major cities only have seven days worth of chlorine, so we would be without water as early as seven days. he said that grocery stores are also only a few days away from having shortages if the trucks can't bring food. transportation would break down and people that are still healthy will not want to come out of their houses to work. he went on and on and on with nothing but bad news. essentially, we're supposed to stock up on masks, food and water and hunker down. there will not be enough vaccine in any meaningful way for the first year of the pandemic.
i'm a little ray of sunshine this morning, aren't i? well, kiddies, off to prepare for my sister's visit. maybe i'll pick up a few extra bottles of H2O. how bout you?
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
she'll be coming round the mountain!
oh, my god! it's so windy it's scary. i can't believe the gusts we're having right now. the pine trees in the yard next door are swaying to and fro in a most impressive way, and herman just called to say it's snowing in the east end. burrrrrr!
today i'm busy, busy, busy, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. this is a job i hate, but my sister and her husband are coming for a visit on friday. so, that means today is cleaning day and tomorrow is shopping/cooking day. the fun never stops. actually, it will be fun once she gets here. the boys will go golfing and the girls will lunch, shop and go to the movies. what could be more fun?
my sister is nine years older than me which means we did not spend a lot of time growing up in the same house, but as happens with many siblings, when our mother died we each sought someone that was grieving the same loss. with the loss of a parent one suddenly realizes that time is finite, and it gives us a since of urgency. we feel the pulse beating, the seconds ticking, and some of us decide to stop procrastinating. we reach out today instead of waiting for tomorrow. my sister and i did this.
we have similar coloring and in general we resemble each other, however, our tastes are completely different. our homes are different, our tastes in books, art, clothing and men are completely different. she drinks tea and i drink coffee. she likes pastels, i go bold. she is conservative and i'm liberal. two people could not be more different, yet we share a bond that allows us to have a deep and committed relationship with someone with whom we would never do so otherwise.
there are times when we don't understand each other at all, but on another level we always have a connection. sometimes we simply have to look at each other to know the other's mind, and like most siblings, we can bitterly criticize one another, but no one else is allowed the same liberty in our presence.
she will be here soon. soon. soon.
today i'm busy, busy, busy, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. this is a job i hate, but my sister and her husband are coming for a visit on friday. so, that means today is cleaning day and tomorrow is shopping/cooking day. the fun never stops. actually, it will be fun once she gets here. the boys will go golfing and the girls will lunch, shop and go to the movies. what could be more fun?
my sister is nine years older than me which means we did not spend a lot of time growing up in the same house, but as happens with many siblings, when our mother died we each sought someone that was grieving the same loss. with the loss of a parent one suddenly realizes that time is finite, and it gives us a since of urgency. we feel the pulse beating, the seconds ticking, and some of us decide to stop procrastinating. we reach out today instead of waiting for tomorrow. my sister and i did this.
we have similar coloring and in general we resemble each other, however, our tastes are completely different. our homes are different, our tastes in books, art, clothing and men are completely different. she drinks tea and i drink coffee. she likes pastels, i go bold. she is conservative and i'm liberal. two people could not be more different, yet we share a bond that allows us to have a deep and committed relationship with someone with whom we would never do so otherwise.
there are times when we don't understand each other at all, but on another level we always have a connection. sometimes we simply have to look at each other to know the other's mind, and like most siblings, we can bitterly criticize one another, but no one else is allowed the same liberty in our presence.
she will be here soon. soon. soon.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
so, how is that job going?
i was cold all day yesterday, i mean serious shivering the entire day. when i got into bed last night it was with a heating pad. i cranked it up and pulled the covers up around my chin. herman thought i was crazy. he wasn't cold at all. today i will layer up until i'm unrecognizable if the same thing happens.
this morning at 5 am i hit the gym again. it seemed to be harder this morning for some reason. i thought it was supposed to get easier. maybe i should eat something before i go up there. i seemed a little wimpy. the skinny little aerobics instructor came in a few minutes before i finished my workout, and her skinny little devotees were filing in as i left. snark! snark!
i went to lunch yesterday with patsy and bec. patsy had chili and bec and i had tomato basil soup. it was a bisque soup and i liked it very much. we all had a roll with it. slurping, dipping, sopping and munching took place. i asked bec how she likes her job, but i can't seem to get a satisfactory answer from her. i will be asking her again soon. she must be doing well though because she bought the rolls for patsy and me. thanks, bec.
herman had the williamsburg route yesterday. he left at 8:30 in the a m and didn't get home until after 8 last night. he's still sleeping, poor guy.
this morning at 5 am i hit the gym again. it seemed to be harder this morning for some reason. i thought it was supposed to get easier. maybe i should eat something before i go up there. i seemed a little wimpy. the skinny little aerobics instructor came in a few minutes before i finished my workout, and her skinny little devotees were filing in as i left. snark! snark!
i went to lunch yesterday with patsy and bec. patsy had chili and bec and i had tomato basil soup. it was a bisque soup and i liked it very much. we all had a roll with it. slurping, dipping, sopping and munching took place. i asked bec how she likes her job, but i can't seem to get a satisfactory answer from her. i will be asking her again soon. she must be doing well though because she bought the rolls for patsy and me. thanks, bec.
herman had the williamsburg route yesterday. he left at 8:30 in the a m and didn't get home until after 8 last night. he's still sleeping, poor guy.
Monday, January 23, 2006
most unhappy day of the year????
yesterday was weigh in day at weight watchers. patsy, bec, christine and i joined on the first weekend after the new year. we meet every sunday morning at 8:30 am, climb on those scales, and accept the news, good or bad. the scales don't lie. so far we've all had consistent losses. herman doesn't weigh in with us but he's doing his own version of the program. he calls it the light beer diet, and i guess we should listen to him because he's losing faster than any of us. it just isn't fair. men are blessed with those hummingbird metabolisms and women can never compete with that. wha, wha, wha!
we all received our good news with good cheer. any endeavor of this sort is always more fun when you have friends with whom to celebrate your successes. we have adopted a fifth loser into our group. her name is willoughby and she has the most weight to lose. i'm extra happy she has joined us because until she joined our ranks i boasted that distinction. christine has only a few pounds to lose, patsy's modest goal is fifteen pounds ( she's already looking slimmer) and bec says she will lose twenty, and i need to lose..... well...... a bunch. let's just leave it at that.
this morning i pulled myself out of bed, dressed and headed up to the gym. it was cold, dark and raining. i got out of the car and had to hopscotch my way to the gym door, avoiding huge puddles of water as not to get my new shoes soaked. that happened to me once before with a brand new pair of shoes, and forever more they squeaked with every step i took until i finally bought a new pair.
as i was working out i listened to msnbc. the news woman said that today is officially the most unhappy day of the year. it is the day that all of the christmas bills start rolling in, the worst day for weather, and the day that most people realize they are not going to keep their new year resolutions. just listening to her was depressing, but then i figured she gave me the bad news while i was actually maintaining my new year's resolution, so how bad could it be?
we all received our good news with good cheer. any endeavor of this sort is always more fun when you have friends with whom to celebrate your successes. we have adopted a fifth loser into our group. her name is willoughby and she has the most weight to lose. i'm extra happy she has joined us because until she joined our ranks i boasted that distinction. christine has only a few pounds to lose, patsy's modest goal is fifteen pounds ( she's already looking slimmer) and bec says she will lose twenty, and i need to lose..... well...... a bunch. let's just leave it at that.
this morning i pulled myself out of bed, dressed and headed up to the gym. it was cold, dark and raining. i got out of the car and had to hopscotch my way to the gym door, avoiding huge puddles of water as not to get my new shoes soaked. that happened to me once before with a brand new pair of shoes, and forever more they squeaked with every step i took until i finally bought a new pair.
as i was working out i listened to msnbc. the news woman said that today is officially the most unhappy day of the year. it is the day that all of the christmas bills start rolling in, the worst day for weather, and the day that most people realize they are not going to keep their new year resolutions. just listening to her was depressing, but then i figured she gave me the bad news while i was actually maintaining my new year's resolution, so how bad could it be?
Saturday, January 21, 2006
what's that sound you hear?
that sound you hear is my new leaf turning over.
i got up bright and early yesterday. nothing particularly unusual about that as my entire family suffers from this affliction. we all rise at the crack of dawn as if our very character is defined by this habit. at one time or another each of my siblings has called me before 6 AM, only to chirp into the phone with the most syrupy voice imaginable, " good afternoon, did i wake you?" i've trained myself to come out of a dead sleep saying, "of course not, i've already done two loads of clothes and i'm just waiting for daylight to go for a jog." nothing less would do.
i pulled on my workout clothes which consists of ancient sweat pants and a faded tee shirt. while this part of my attire may be lacking in style, my new shoes make up for it. they are the best to be had and they cost me a weeks worth of groceries. my best friend's daughter, bec, helped me pick them out and assured me they were worth the investment, and when i bemoaned the price i think her exact words were, "welcome to my world". i guess she's used to forking over the big bucks to stay in shape. it's never been a big priority for me but it's becoming one now. it's kind of like buying a baby grand. it's incumbent on you to take lessons and practice, practice, practice until your little fingers fall off; ownership of such a fine thing seems to require one to strive for excellence. in other words, ownership of such an extraordinary pair of shoes means i must be committed.
i got in the car and drove up to the fitness center which is one minute from my house. that's another reason that i must be committed; i have no excuses about weather, expense, or accessibility. i can work out, rain or shine, the cost is inconsequential because it's covered in our community dues, and if i lived any closer the parking lot would be in my front yard. the universe has concluded that it's time for me to get in shape.
bec, has taught me how to run the elliptical machine and unbelievably, it's my drug of choice these days (not caffeine or chocolate). i swiped my key across the electronic eye, entered the gym in total darkness, and hit the light switch to my right, and there was light. i was happy to be alone. i hate the mornings when the aerobics class is in session in the adjacent room. the grating sound of the skinny little instructor's high pitched voice would peel the paint off a brand new car as she squeaks out, "one, two, three, one, two, three." god, somebody shoot me now, please.
i tugged my hoodie off, put my car keys in the pocket and hung it on the rack by the door. i walked toward "my" elliptical machine, hitting the power button on the television as i passed. i climbed on the machine, propping my water bottle up in front of me, and punched the button that said "fast start" as i heard the exterior door open and someone enter. it was a man, an african american man of enormous stature with an open, smiling face that would make a mother weep. he said good morning and began to peel off his clothing, piece by piece until he was down to jogging shorts and a tee. he was as fit as a person could possibly be, good health positively oozed from every pore.
he chose a tread mill. i think he was training for the 5k run that will soon take place in our community. we worked out, side by side, silently and companionably, each of us in our own zone, pumping away. he moved with ease and grace while i chugged along, exerting effort with every stride. when i finished and headed out the door he was in a full run, showing no signs of stopping, barely breaking a sweat, leaving me to wonder one thing and one thing only..... did he pay as much for his shoes as i did?
bm
i got up bright and early yesterday. nothing particularly unusual about that as my entire family suffers from this affliction. we all rise at the crack of dawn as if our very character is defined by this habit. at one time or another each of my siblings has called me before 6 AM, only to chirp into the phone with the most syrupy voice imaginable, " good afternoon, did i wake you?" i've trained myself to come out of a dead sleep saying, "of course not, i've already done two loads of clothes and i'm just waiting for daylight to go for a jog." nothing less would do.
i pulled on my workout clothes which consists of ancient sweat pants and a faded tee shirt. while this part of my attire may be lacking in style, my new shoes make up for it. they are the best to be had and they cost me a weeks worth of groceries. my best friend's daughter, bec, helped me pick them out and assured me they were worth the investment, and when i bemoaned the price i think her exact words were, "welcome to my world". i guess she's used to forking over the big bucks to stay in shape. it's never been a big priority for me but it's becoming one now. it's kind of like buying a baby grand. it's incumbent on you to take lessons and practice, practice, practice until your little fingers fall off; ownership of such a fine thing seems to require one to strive for excellence. in other words, ownership of such an extraordinary pair of shoes means i must be committed.
i got in the car and drove up to the fitness center which is one minute from my house. that's another reason that i must be committed; i have no excuses about weather, expense, or accessibility. i can work out, rain or shine, the cost is inconsequential because it's covered in our community dues, and if i lived any closer the parking lot would be in my front yard. the universe has concluded that it's time for me to get in shape.
bec, has taught me how to run the elliptical machine and unbelievably, it's my drug of choice these days (not caffeine or chocolate). i swiped my key across the electronic eye, entered the gym in total darkness, and hit the light switch to my right, and there was light. i was happy to be alone. i hate the mornings when the aerobics class is in session in the adjacent room. the grating sound of the skinny little instructor's high pitched voice would peel the paint off a brand new car as she squeaks out, "one, two, three, one, two, three." god, somebody shoot me now, please.
i tugged my hoodie off, put my car keys in the pocket and hung it on the rack by the door. i walked toward "my" elliptical machine, hitting the power button on the television as i passed. i climbed on the machine, propping my water bottle up in front of me, and punched the button that said "fast start" as i heard the exterior door open and someone enter. it was a man, an african american man of enormous stature with an open, smiling face that would make a mother weep. he said good morning and began to peel off his clothing, piece by piece until he was down to jogging shorts and a tee. he was as fit as a person could possibly be, good health positively oozed from every pore.
he chose a tread mill. i think he was training for the 5k run that will soon take place in our community. we worked out, side by side, silently and companionably, each of us in our own zone, pumping away. he moved with ease and grace while i chugged along, exerting effort with every stride. when i finished and headed out the door he was in a full run, showing no signs of stopping, barely breaking a sweat, leaving me to wonder one thing and one thing only..... did he pay as much for his shoes as i did?
bm
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