Living In the Ch'ill

I Had No Idea!

2011-06-04T22:54:00.014-04:00

Recently my friend Donnie posted how many miles he's run (about 500) and ridden (about 1300) in the last year. I was pretty impressed. I started wondering how many *I* had run/walked in the last year...and why had I never thought of checking.

Well, I checked tonight. And guess what? I have run/walked 606.76 miles in the last 365 days!!! Unbelievable! Of course, some was walking (probably 30%) and there was no other exercise except for pilates, but I'm still pretty darn proud. That's probably about 550 more miles that I ran a few years ago.

I tried to check from 6/09-6/10 to compare, but I didn't get my watch until August of 09. From August '09 to August '10, I ran 402 miles. So the trend is definitely increasing...

Confessions of an Anglophile

2011-04-27T20:40:00.004-04:00

Ok, maybe not so much an anglophile, but rather a lover of royal weddings, particularly British ones. Why? It’s hard to put a finger in it exactly, but I think it started on July 29th, 1981, the day my father (a self-proclaimed history buff) woke my sister and me up at 4am to watch Charles and Di get married. “An historical event” he proclaimed.
Wow. What an event that was. I was instantly sucked in. Was it my British blood? My Episcopalian upbringing and its ties to the Anglican Church of England? Not sure, but probably just a great story of a young girl, only 6 or 7 years older than myself, who got to be a princess. Cool clothes, great jewelry and eventually a dysfunctional marriage. *Sigh* Not such a great life after all.
As for my girls, I’m trying to get them enthused (and it is working!). Why? Not because I want them to marry a prince (dear God, no thank you). It’s because it’s an historical event. Just like when I dragged them to hear Hillary Clinton speak in South Bend, Indiana. They reluctantly went, but complained most of the time (ok, maybe it was a downer because they just came back from choosing a puppy and really, what can compare to that?) Despite your political preferences, she was and is a figure in history and they will likely remember that event for the rest of their lives.
The other day, I was watching a replay of Charles and Di’s wedding. Guess what? My family (including my husband who thinks I’m ridiculous along with every other husband) all became interested. “Who’s that?” “What’s wrong with him?” “How old was the Queen then?” Thankfully, I could answer all these questions for my curious crowd. It’s kind of like my theory about strawberry daiquiris: most men will not admit in public that they drink them, but ALL men are willing to enjoy them in the privacy of their own home, or my home for that matter.

The Power of Being a Mom

2011-02-25T21:22:00.010-05:00

Last night my youngest just couldn't sleep. Let me just say that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, so I do have some sympathy for her. She's never been a good sleeper from day one, but now that she's 9, it's not too often that we have trouble.
It seems that allergies have kicked in, and she has a tickle in her throat that causes her all sorts of grief. She would come into our room, crying because she couldn't sleep, begging me to lay with her. Realizing that things would go nowhere fast if I didn't, I tried to placate her by laying next to her for a while. Of course we, as parents, have all played this game. It only works when you are there, and as soon as you leave, sleep is again elusive. There were a few rounds of this last night.
As I weighed this, I realized, why not sleep there all night? She and I may never get to sleep otherwise, and she's got a comfortable queen sized bed. So I packed up my cell phone/alarm, water and pillow and moved in. And you know what? The moment, and I mean the MOMENT I got settled, she was instantly asleep. I guess when she realized I was there to stay, she finally relaxed. That, I say, is the power of being a mom.

Captiva

2011-02-07T22:20:00.010-05:00

My hubby and I had the good fortune to escape the cold and kids for a long weekend. Due to a particularly nasty winter, I was looking for someplace warm that wasn't too far away. The verdict: Captiva Island.
Captiva is a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida, near Ft. Myers. It’s just beyond a better known island, Sanibel. I used to visit Sanibel as a kid while staying with my grandparents in Cape Coral. It’s well known for some of the best shelling anywhere.
Captiva is much smaller and less populated. Since you have to drive through Sanibel (low speed limits and no stoplights) to get there, it takes about an hour from the RSW airport even though it’s only about 35 miles away.
I chose a resort, South Seas Island Resort at the end of Captiva. It’s a large resort with a variety of housing options including hotel rooms, condos, houses, etc. The resort is huge, it takes up the last 2.5 miles of the island. There is a light blue trolley that runs most of the day and night that guest can use. Also, we rented bikes for $5/day which were awesome for getting around in the resort and out into town. You can get to just about any place on the island with a bike.
We saw an amazing sunset while sipping cocktails on the beach and watching the dolphins swim. We ran, biked and walked for exercise. We went on a kayak trip with a nature guide and saw and learned so much about the island and the natural residents. We paddled near the dolphins before they came into the harbor to play. And *gasp*, I was fascinated by many types of really interesting birds (especially the brown pelicans that would dive straight down in the water to catch fish), and not one of them tried to poke out my eyes! Alan saw manatees, which often hang out in the harbor during warmer weather. We enjoyed warm breezes, turquoise blue water and powder white sand.
The town of Captiva is a quaint beach town with good restaurants and little shops. It is surrounded by beach shacks and mansions alike. While we love Hatteras more than almost any beach town, this is a really nice alternative for the cold months of the year. It even has a small taste of Hawaii (minus the volcanoes and whales) with a fraction of the cost and travel time. Hell, anyplace that you see dolphins EVERY day is a place worth going.

(And for those of you who are counting…the shower at the resort was impressive. It was at least 6’2” and the water pressure was extraordinary.)

Culinary Tour Anyone?

2010-11-22T23:31:00.012-05:00

Last weekend, our good friend Kerry came to visit us in NC for the first time. He's a west coaster, former classmate of my husband's, groomsman in our wedding and all around great guy. I do believe this was his first trip to NC, so I thought we'd show him what it's all about. In a relatively short span of time (o.k., I admit, it was only about 24 hours), we introduced him to:

1. Cheerwine

2. Hush puppies

3. Shrimp and grits (Crook's, of course)

4. my homemade biscuit cinnamon rolls

5. Five Guys Burgers

6. Locopops
in addition to mountain biking, a tour of the oldest public university in the US, and a little more college basketball than he's used to.

Of course, I didn't immediately come to know all these things upon my arrival in NC 12 years ago, but I'm much more well versed now on the culinary pleasures of living in this state. For that, I have some great NC friends to thank, some native, some not.

Anyone else want to come visit?

Could it really be fall?

2010-09-29T22:36:00.008-04:00

Today I did a few things that I haven't done for a very long time...

1. Run on the treadmill. While it's been a long, hot summer, I haven't needed to run on the treadmill until today. All this rain is a welcome friend but it's a little soggy out there. Kudos to the Chapel Hill Carrboro Y for the awesome new treadmills-with personal TV/radio and ipod docks. Sweet.
2. Wear long pants on my day off.
3. Wear long sleeves.
4. Wear a RAINCOAT
5. Get a hot coffee. Decaf, nonfat latte from Starbucks. Sweet nectar of the gods, so happy to taste you again.

I'm ready for fall.

Pet Peeve du Jour

2010-07-30T22:46:00.003-04:00

One of my big pet peeves is email addresses for folks who work in corporations. Specifically, the middle initial. Most of them go like this;
jeandersen "@" blahblahblah dot com.
My problem is that I don't usually enter the full entry in my address book for people whose email addresses are their names. So when I try to find them, I suddenly have to remember their middle initial or I end up scrolling through dozens of "M"s (or whatever) to find the person. Waste. Of. Time. Just use something else (like the full name or a number after the name). Make my life easier, please. I'm just sayin'.

Tour of the Friendly Confines

2010-06-07T23:30:00.048-04:00

On a recent trip to Chicago, I checked to see if my favorite baseball team, the Cubs, were in town. Sadly, they were not. On a hunch, I checked to see if there were tours of Wrigley available and low and behold, there were. My friends were game, and we reserved our online tickets for $25 each.

While we arrived via the El in pouring rain, the excitement for me was palpable. The tour started in the Sheffield Grill, a restaurant within the ballpark. It started with a short DVD about the Wrigley, with snippets of past games, other sports played there (did you know the Bears played 51 seasons at Wrigley? and there has been hockey, soccer and ski jumping there?). Our tour guide, John, said a few words and off we went.
We first went by the batting cages and then to the bleachers where we heard some history of the Cubs, Wrigley, the owners, the national league and such things as the manually controlled scoreboard and the famous ivy. We learned about the neighboring buildings with bleachers on top and their relationship (now formal) with the Cubs organization. We then strolled around right field, up to a deck area and finally through the aperture to view the ballpark from above home plate.
We learned a bit about who sits where and then...wait for it...we got to sit IN THE PRESS BOX. Right next to where Harry Carey used to broadcast from. It was amazing. Saw the organ where live organ music still plays (first ballpark to do so).

We visited the locker rooms, first the visitors and then the Cubs. I stood in the Cubs locker room. Right next to Ryne Sandberg's jersey. Sigh. It was amazing. We then passed this secret little sink and urinal and made our way outside. We sat in the dugout. The actual Cubs dugout. We stood on the field. Sigh again. It was wonderful.
The ambassador staff was professional, friendly and knowledgeable. Our admission went to Cubs Care, mainly offering baseball programs to underprivileged and disabled youth. Outstanding.

If you are visiting Chicago, or if you live there I am betting you haven't done this yet. Do it. It's that special.

Orange Leaf Review

2010-04-11T22:39:00.005-04:00

We have a new frozen yogurt store in our neck of the woods. It's called Orange Leaf Yogurt, and it's located in Timberlyne Shopping Center. We visited it today for the first time.
This particular frozen yogurt store is a little different (I speak as an authority as a former employee of TCBY) in that you serve yourself. This is just a little dangerous, as it's hard to effectively control consumption for a couple of reasons:
1. They only have large cups, VERY large cups. Larger than the average "large" at other yogurt stores. The only other size is VERY extra large. It's hard to get the perspective right with such a large cup.
2. They have many, many toppings including candy, fruit, nuts, etc. The bad part about this is that they cut the candy in very large chunks. You'd be able to use less if they were cut smaller.
Toppings are also self serve.
3. They have many yogurt flavors to choose from: probably at least 10 or 12 flavors plus 5 or 6 swirls. You have to try more than one!
4. They charge by the ounce. When I was getting my yogurt, I restrained myself in serving (I am, after all an experienced yogurt server!) but wanted to try a few different flavors. I had a little bit of granola and a few chunks of Butterfingers. My total was about $3.50. Not bad, but again, I restrained myself and had plenty to eat.

The decor is ultra modern, clean and attractive (and orange, of course). Overall, a fun place for a nice dessert. The kids LOVED it (but what frozen confection do they not love?), and I thought the yogurt was very good. I like it when local businesses succeed, so give it a try. I'd certainly go back, despite the negatives.

Speedway

2010-03-17T22:36:00.017-04:00

Today my friend Julie and I ran on a racetrack. A historic racetrack just a few miles from my house. Who knew?

Occoneechee Speedway in Hillsborough was one of the first 2 NASCAR racetracks, built in 1949, the inaugural season for NASCAR. It is now a nature trail, Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail to be exact, with the center oval filled with 40 year old trees. The main trail is .3 miles from the parking lot and is a .7 mile oval. There are several other surrounding trails, a total of 3 miles. Not hilly at all, it's my favorite surface to run on...mulched with crushed gravel and pine needles. The trail is beautiful, coursing along the Eno River. You can even see the old grandstands and the flag stand where the checkered flag was once waved.

You might be wondering if being on a speedway made us speedier. Well, not really but it was cool nonetheless. Check it out.

Pet Adoption

2010-03-16T21:43:00.008-04:00

We recently adopted another dog from the Orange County Animal Shelter. I have to say, it was a very pleasant experience, and as they say, such a deal!

The adoption fee for dogs is $113, or $138 including a microchip. Wow. Microchip for $25? It was way, way more than that at the vet for our other dog. And to top it off, this fee included neutering (or spaying) which would cost a few hundred dollars elsewhere. Our dog also had his first shots and exam there.

The staff was extremely helpful, patient and understanding. They guided us through a few "meet and greets" and provided us with as much background as they could for our new friend.

While I know that not every dog is right for every family (I really encourage you to research the breeds they identify your dog as prior to adopting), you can see what they have online from day to day. Certain breeds will go quickly (within a day) so hop to it!

Jerry Brown...or shall I say Scary Brown?

2010-03-03T22:06:00.017-05:00

In this recent article, I discovered that former California Governor Jerry Brown is actually running for Governor of California again. Interesting.

As you might know, Brown has an odd history with politics...he dated Linda Ronstadt while he was the Governor, and was actually called "Gov. Moonbeam". He ran for President 3 times. The last time, in 1992, he was famous for having a 1-800 number for fundraising. Very unconventional at the time.

What you may not know, is I have had a personal run-in with the former Governor. In early 1993, my friend Becky and I were eating in a small cafe in San Francisco. I noticed Brown sitting in the corner with a somewhat skanky looking blond woman. I nudged my friend, who couldn't quite place him ("is that a famous podiatrist?"). We happily went on eating our gourmet sandwiches until a while later someone stepped on my foot. I looked up and low and behold, it was Jerry Brown. Stepping on my foot. You know what he said? Instead of "Excuse me" or "I'm so sorry" or even "Pardon me" he said "Oh, sorry, well, how could I not step on your foot... it's so big!"

Stunned. Flabbergasted. Shocked. Speechless. I'm not a big fan of Arnold, but given the choice (which I am not) I would certainly not vote for the 72 year old Moonbeam-foot stepper-insulter for Governor. I just don't think anyone that socially inept should be hold office.

In case you are wondering, yes, I have big feet, but they were only a size 10 (at the time). Now they are a tiny bit bigger....

Baby Tender Love

2010-02-08T23:19:00.008-05:00

Before you think this is a strange title for a blog, you have to hear about my doll. The Christmas when I was four, I received this doll, Baby Tender Love, along with her changing table. She was dressed in this exact outfit (which I always thought my Mom sewed for me but alas, the Internet has proved me wrong). The coolest thing about said doll (in an era when dolls had to do something to be cool): she pees. To be more specific, you put water in a bottle in a hole in her mouth, and it runs out her bottom. (Come to think of it, I think she had diapers, too, but I only had a limited amount of them so I basically had to feed her over the sink).

So guess what? I still have Baby Tender Love. My two daughters have never, ever liked dolls. They are now much too old for dolls, but my eleven year old recently took a babysitting class. Required supplies: a baby doll. Ha.

The day of the class I hunted down the doll and sent it off with A. She proclaimed it "creepy" but passed the class anyway. Now, she REALLY hates it and freaks out every time I just happen to accidentally leave it in her room, maybe under her covers... What's the big deal? So her skin is rubber and her limbs don't move. She was MY doll and I loved her. No idea why kids today can't see that.

Spinning. It's not your regular cycle.

2010-01-23T20:05:00.005-05:00

My friend Julie invited me to a class this morning at the Y called CardioPump. It consisted of about 45 minutes of spinning and then about 55 minutes of weights. Wow. I learned a few important things this morning.
1. A spinning class is in no way, shape or form like spinning on a stationary bike.
2. Despite what I told myself before entering the class, you can't fake it.
3. They make you (gasp) stand up on the bike (and it makes your quad scream).
4. Always, always bring a towel.
5. Channeling your inner Lance is helpful.
All in all, a crazy good but hard work out. I'll definitely try and go again...that is if I can walk tomorrow.

Pentago

2010-01-21T22:22:00.007-05:00

My kids got a great new game for Christmas. Amongst all the other electronically powered toys like Zero Gravity Cars, Rockband and various Wii games, they received an extraordinary game called Pentago.

Pentago is so simple it's brilliant. "Minutes to Learn, Years to Master" is it's tag line and couldn't be more true. Two players, two colors of marbles and a board with sections that twist. Place a marble, twist a section. Try to get 5 of your marbles in a row. Easy to play but lots of strategy if you really want to think about it. This game has received numerous awards, all well deserved in my opinion. Check it out, great for all ages.

It's the LAW, people!

2010-01-21T22:14:00.002-05:00

Today was a rainy, cold, dark day. On my trip from my office in Chapel Hill to the Surgery Center in Durham, I saw 8 (EIGHT) cars without their lights on. On the way home, I saw an additional 3, one of which was a Town of Chapel Hill vehicle.
According to North Carolina State Law, and the law of many (if not all) other states, if you have your windshield wipers on, you MUST HAVE YOUR LIGHTS ON. Get with it people!

More Thanksgiving Memories

2009-11-19T21:56:00.016-05:00

Thanksgiving has various connotations for different people. In my mind, it involves family, food, drink, cold weather and church. Sounds strange, I know, but the church I attended my whole life, St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, always had a Thanksgiving morning service (btw, really bad timing for those who are cooking a turkey, which was, I dare say, just about everyone ). Most notably, there was always a bagpiper who always played Amazing Grace. When it came to the lyric "...that saved a wretch like me", my sister and I always sang "...that saved a wench like me".

When I moved to San Francisco, one of my most memorable turkey days involved martinis, The Grateful Dead, hosting 10 people-dining in my bedroom (the largest room in our apartment) with a flower sheet for a table cloth. Several childhood friends also living in the area came, but they were required to bring their own chairs and plates. Our counter space was so limited I had to put the turkey pan on the floor when it came out of the oven and we concluded the evening with a Port and cheese plate (courtesy of Tracy) and flirting with my future husband by telephone.

Last year, I blogged about Thanksgiving in Hawaii. Quite memorable. I feel like I've expanded my horizons with a day that involved dolphins, maitais and an ocean. There is always something to be said, however, about traditional holidays with family and friends. After all, who else is going to help you with all those dishes?

Disney!

2009-10-06T21:33:00.007-04:00

We recently went to Disneyworld again, this time with the kids. Since I'm training for a 1/2 marathon and have to log a certain amount of miles, I wanted to find out just how much I walked in a day.

Day in question was Thursday, first full day at DW. I started my GARMIN 450cx watch at 10am, after we had walked to the boat launch (from the Wilderness Lodge), taken a boat then a monorail to the Grand Floridian for an early morning breakfast. Monorail ride back to the Magic Kingdom, then the watch was started.

I didn't turn it off on 2 trips on Splash Mountain (.49 miles each) and 2 trips on Big Thunder Mountain RR (.53 miles each). I also did not turn it off inside, winding thru lines when there was no GPS signal. At the end of our time at MK, we took a monorail to the transportation center and I turned it off there.

The total distance between 10am and 5pm was almost 12 miles. Subtract the rides (about 2 miles) and the monorail ride (about a mile) and you get 9 miles of walking, just for the first 7 hours. We then went to Epcot and walked for another 4 hours (my GPS was out of battery by then, so no data).

The moral of the story: wear comfortable shoes. For those of you who need further clarification, that means NO flip flops.

Sleep, part deux

2009-08-19T21:44:00.005-04:00

So today I had my visit with the cognitive behavioral specialist. It was really quite interesting. We talked a bit about sleep hygiene, a subject I was already familiar with. We also talked about the role my husband, the reflux sufferer, is playing in this dilemma.

The most interesting part, and probably the most helpful, was to put my problem in perspective. So what happens if I can't sleep? I'm tired the next day but I can function. I usually can sleep the next night, a fairly full night. I guess removing the anxiety of worrying about the lack of sleep goes a long way to being able to fall asleep.

I learned some relaxation techniques also, but that one pearl will probably be the most helpful.

Sleep!

2009-08-18T13:30:00.001-04:00

As some of you may know, I’m a bit of an insomniac. I generally don’t have trouble staying asleep, but falling asleep is a different story. It drives me crazy these days, as it’s gotten a little out of control.
My natural biorhythms dictate that I stay up late and wake up late. I remember vividly in my childhood being sent to bed at 7:30 every night until about 4th grade. Guess what? At 7:30 I just wasn’t tired. Oh, the games I used to invent in my room late at night, waiting to get tired.
As an adult, I often would like to go to bed early but know it only means more time waiting to fall asleep. On a good day, I am awake for 20-30 minutes before I’m out. My husband, conversely, falls asleep in 20-30 seconds. No kidding. Drives me nuts. Recently I had two nights almost completely without sleep.
In a recent Journal of the American Medical Association, it was suggested that people with insomnia see a cognitive behavioral specialist. I happen to know a really good one. I made an appointment for later this week to see what suggestions he has to offer. Stay tuned!

Things you get to do when your kids are at sleepaway camp...

2009-08-07T21:25:00.005-04:00

1. Watch The Forty Year Old Virgin at 7pm.
2. Play Green Day as loud as you want, any time you want.
3. Sleep until the very last minute before you have to get up and go to work.
4. Eat dinner sitting on the couch, watching TV.
5. Have control of the remote. What a concept.
6. Avoid all episodes of Hannah Montana and The Suite Life on Deck
7. Exercise, out of the house, at the same time as your spouse.
8. Date night. Enough said.
9. Enjoy the odd silence that is a lack of bickering between siblings.
10. Miss them, just a little. OK, a lot.

Loco for Locopops!

2009-07-28T21:27:00.008-04:00

There's a great place for a neat treat in Chapel Hill (and Durham) called Locopops. They offer a fabulous variety of Mexican-style popsicles, in such flavors as chocolate brownie, cookies and cream, mojito, cherry lime, strawberry-kiwi, pomegranate tangerine, etc. (One time Alan tried Avocado flavor. Hmmm. It tasted exactly like a nice, ripe avocado. That unfortunately does NOT translate to frozen dessert, btw.) I highly recommend visiting one of the several locations and trying them out.

When we were there tonight with my niece and nephew, my nephew started telling us about the history of Popsicles. Apparently in 1905, an 11 year old boy named Frank Epperson mixed soda with a stick and accidentally left it out overnight. His creation was originally called the Epsicle. 18 years later he started the Popsicle company. It's summer in North Carolina and all I can say is Yea for Frank!

So here's a thought...

2009-07-21T19:47:00.008-04:00

A few years back, I did a television gig in New York. During the prep in the wee hours of the morning, a professional makeup artist was applying my makeup. She was amazing, she camouflaged my deep set eyes and made my skin look flawless. She truly was an artist. When I asked her if she had always wanted to do this, she told me when she was 5 years old she used to steal her mother's makeup and bury it in the back yard so she could play with it later.

That started me thinking about my childhood, and I recalled practicing surgery on my stuffed animals at age 6, often pretending I just completed a grueling 6 hour operation on the lucky (to have me) creature (OK, so I admit the operations were not on their feet but who could guess that?). My friend down the street, Nancy, used to organize kickball, soccer and ghost in the graveyard games for the whole neighborhood. She is now a very enthusiastic recreational therapist.

I therefore started wondering, what are my kids doing now that might be a window to their future? My oldest plays with animal figures all the time, coming up with different adventures. There were never dolls, only animals with her. She used to say she wanted to be a veterinarian, but now she says zoologist. Interesting.

As for my younger daughter, I'm very curious as to how this will turn out because of an incident at school last semester. A few of my friends let me know their kids were asking for money because my daughter was selling things at school: lollipops, pencils, erasers, etc. She often participates in bake sales (items baked by the older one who apparently is going to not only be an animal expert but baker and bartender one day too) and makes some significant cash for a kid. Sales? Perhaps. We nipped the selling in school in the bud, of course...and she was asked to stop at her afterschool program...

Some people love her entrepreneurial spirit. I personally do, but also wonder about how much she pushes the envelope. Time will tell, of course. Check back with me in about 15 years and I'll clue you in as to just how close I was.

The Best Dog in the World

2009-07-11T12:47:00.007-04:00

Today we lost our dog, Maggie. Maggie was a shepherd sheepdog mix of some sort, a beautiful dog with long black hair, a white chest and beard. She was quite certainly the best dog in the world.

Maggie was born April 1st, 1994 and she was my first dog. She lived to be 15 years old, not too shabby for a large dog. We adopted her in June of '94 from the Santa Clara Humane Society in San Jose, CA. We were both residents at Stanford at the time, and although taking care of a puppy was a lot of work, Mags made it all worthwhile.

She adapted well throughout the years to our lives, hiking and running with us, playing with her neighbor dogs, and playing well with the kids when they came on the scene. She quickly grew out of jumping on people and she never much chewed things. She knew exactly how much to bark, how to look scary to strangers at the door, but was friendly to anyone we accepted into our home.

Those of you who knew her may have been lucky enough to see her awesome tricks...sit, down, speak (of course) but she could also balance a cookie on her nose while shaking your hand and flip it up and catch it in her mouth. She would often talk to us, especially as she got older, and would not let you ignore her if she really needed something. She could even say "I Love You". I swear. It was awesome.

Of course there were the intangibles...the things you just can't describe with words about a true member of your family. But ponder this- people used to tell us they were reluctant to get a dog because they knew it wouldn't be a great as Maggie.

So, I hope you can see she was the best dog ever. I am thankful we had her, and that she's again chasing squirrels like she used to do so well in her early years.

RIP Maggie Bocko 4/1/1994 - 7/11/2009

Our Mother's Daughters

2009-06-09T22:20:00.008-04:00

In the book A Girl Named Zippy, the author Haven Kimmel describes her life in Mooreland, Indiana, population 300. Her family is an unusual mix of much older siblings, a father who refuses to go to church but expects his daughter to, and a mother who attends Quaker church services for multiple hours a week but otherwise doesn't get off the couch. For all intents and purposes, the author hates school, church and any shoe gear.

In the second book, aptly entitled She Got Up Off the Couch, her mother receives a sign via a public service announcement on television and goes to college. She has to beg for rides, learn to drive, buy a VW Bug (this is in the 70's), learn to ride a bicycle with hand brakes, navigate her way through college classes full of young people and generally become her own person. Actually, she becomes an independent person, for the first time in her life.

I can't help but wonder how deep an influence this change in her mother had on the author's life. She went from a child whose mother was likely depressed, and never did anything for herself. She ended up with a mother who received undergraduate and masters degrees, later becoming a teacher. Her daughter developed a deep love for college while observing her mother in the environment, and later received multiple degrees herself. I would venture to guess these books would not have been written had her mother not gotten off the couch.

This makes me ponder what influence as mothers our choices have on our daughters' lives. The example I hope to set for my kids is this: even though you may end up staying home raising children (which is a wonderful thing to do), don't ever lose the ability to be independent, support yourself, and provide financially for your family should it be necessary. You never know what life may bring, and the ability to adapt can provide you happiness in and of itself.

Book Review

2009-06-09T21:55:00.005-04:00

I recently read two books written by Haven Kimmel, A Girl Named Zippy and She Got Up Off the Couch. They are a reflection of growing up small in a small town, Mooreland, Indiana (pop. 300).

The author, born in 1965, describes her quirky childhood in this smallest of towns. She is an incredible raconteur, relating comical, quirky stories that vividly describe the decidedly unusual circumstances under which she was raised. There were countless laugh out loud moments and I wholeheartedly recommend these books.

Moral Decline?

2009-05-21T21:25:00.003-04:00

I'm as liberal as the next Chapel Hillian...I'm in favor of a woman's right to choose, same sex unions, equal pay for equal work, premarital cohabitation, sex ed in schools including contraception and abstinence, etc. Generally speaking, I try hard not to judge other people's behaviors, but this story just got me.

Mia Washington, 20, of Texas recently revealed that her twin boys, 11 months old, have different fathers. The mother said she thought they looked different and took them for a DNA test. She then admitted to her fiance (who is the father of one of the boys) that she had a fling with someone else (whom she is thankfully not identifying) at the time she got pregnant. (In case you were wondering, the technical term for this is type of twins is heteropaternal superfecundation.) Some studies show that up to 1-2% of all fraternal twins have different fathers. Others say it's one in a million. Her fiance has decided to raise both boys as his own. Ms. Washington has a 4 year old son from yet a different father and is expecting another child.

Despite my liberal views, I almost feel like this is a symbol of moral decline. I really cannot believe I am writing these words, but for some reason this story really set me off. Perhaps it's the pride exhibited by the mother that irritates me most. If it were me, I certainly wouldn't nationally publicize my promiscuity.

To put it simply, medical marvel, yes. Something I'd want to be famous for, no.

That Song

2009-04-28T22:01:00.012-04:00

Every once in a while my family will become hooked on an artist, an album, a song. It starts innocently enough, a song that may or may not have been popular on the radio (generally speaking, radio stations are terrible here, with none that I have found playing anything interesting or progressive, but I digress) and may have inappropriate lyrics for the younger set. We buy the CD, and the song gets requested over and over and over again by passengers in the back seat of my car until every word is memorized and beyond.

The first such song I recall is "Follow Me" by Uncle Kracker (Uncle Kracker was later arrested as a sex offender in Raleigh, ewww). The lyrics had undertones of infidelity but an addictive phrase:
All you know is when I'm with you I make you free
And swim through your veins like a fish in the sea

The most recent artist, album, song combination is Jason Mraz, We Sing We Dance, We Steal Things. The song, "I'm Yours" is number 2 on the CD. "Play number 2" is the first thing requested in my car these days. The favorite phrase in this song is:
Open up your plans and damn, you're free

Personally, I think the interest in that phrase is the desire to say a "bad word" and get away with it. We also really like the way he scats and sings I'm Your-za...

2009-04-23T23:17:00.004-04:00

Call it unenlightened, but I really don't understand a culture where a man can divorce his wife by saying "I divorce you" three times as they can in Saudi Arabia. Even worse, check out this story...divorce by text message. Good grief. I'd like to think marriage is more sacred than that in any culture.

WHERE do they come up with this stuff?

2009-04-14T22:57:00.004-04:00

As I was working one day in my kitchen, I noticed someone in my house watching a show on Animal Planet called Groomer Has It. Basically, it's a reality TV show about dog groomers, competing against each other. There are catty contestants, strange tasks, and judges that try to create drama that shouldn't exist.

I mean really. Can we please go back to sitcoms?

Scrambled, please.

2009-03-18T22:43:00.003-04:00

I have a question. What happened to all the different preparations of eggs? When I was a kid, we had eggs on the weekend only. There were poached, fried-over easy or sunny side up, scrambled, and the quirkiest of all, soft boiled in an egg cup. Hard boiled eggs were around for lunch, often diced in egg salad.
So here's the deal. We eat scrambled eggs. We eat hard boiled eggs. That's it. No soft boiled, no poached, no fried and certainly no egg salad. Trust me, I'm OK with all this, mostly because I don't like the other kinds, and I'm afraid of salmonella from undercooked eggs...but I'm wondering-do other people (besides my parents) still eat the other kinds?

Ash Lane House

2009-03-06T23:01:00.003-05:00

My friend Alisa just posted a video about the house her family used to live in in Fresno. It made me recall my first childhood home, on Ash Lane.
My parents bought this house in 1966, a modest split level home on an enormous pie shaped lot on a cul-de-sac. It had 3 bedrooms, and mine looked out over the huge (flat, of course-this was the Midwest) backyard through eyelet curtains. In the yard there was a screened porch which hosted dinner at the picnic table every night in the summer, and lots and lots of grass to mow. There were 2 apple trees which bore rotten fruit, and 2 cherry trees which grew those super sour cherries wonderful for making pies.
There probably wasn't a more extreme example of suburbia around, but my somewhat sheltered "Leave it to Beaver" lifestyle was not just a product of the just house, but rather the home. It could have happened anywhere.
Sentimentality towards our houses is well entrenched in our family, with my father driving us by the house he grew up in for 30 years after it was sold. When we moved from the Ash Lane house in 1979, we drove by every Sunday on the way home from church. I was completely devastated a few years later when I watched the house burn in a major fire, later learning that the family dog died in my old bedroom. Even worse, just last year I felt the horrific pain of the same owners when their son took his own life in the backyard.
I find it difficult to marry the extremes of memories, knowing the horrible memories the current owners must carry in their hearts. I hope they have had enough good times to outweigh the bad, and that I never forget the magic innocence of that life.

Facebook Friends-of Friends

2009-02-12T21:58:00.005-05:00

So I'm a Facebook addict. I admit it. The interesting thing is that there is a whole subset of people out there that I have never met but I feel like I know.
I have about 80 friends on FB. They all have their own friends too, with some overlap. When I comment on a friend's status, their other friends can comment also. I get notice of these comments.
Over the last several months, I have become acquainted with these folks, ones I've never met but strangely want to meet now. I know their sense of humor, which I believe to be one of the most revealing human qualities. Love that. So all you friends of mine, when your Facebook friends come visit, let me know. I may just want to meet them.

A Total Rip-Off

2009-02-04T17:35:00.002-05:00

Nothing. We got nothing. No snow. Oh, the disappointment when I woke up this morning. I think I was more upset than the kids.

The Magic of Snow

2009-02-03T22:23:00.002-05:00

As a kid growing up in Chicago, there was plenty of snow. As an adult living in North Carolina, there is not. The ironic thing is, I feel almost exactly the same way now that I did then, just on a slightly different scale.
It took a lot to close schools where I grew up. On the order of feet, not inches, of snow was required to give us a day off. I vividly recall my sister and I listening anxiously by the radio, to either WGN or WLS, praying for the announcer to say "district 28" as one of the closings. It didn't happen often enough.
Tonight, we are waiting for a storm. We could get anything from a trace (a total rip-off), up to 6 inches. There is a buzz of excitement in the house, as we wonder what it will look like in the morning when we wake up. Instead of huddling around the radio, we will likely check WRAL's website for school closings.
As little feet snuck downstairs earlier tonight to catch a glimpse of the first dusting, it made me recall the excitement I felt as a child. Personally, despite the fact that I'm now a self employed adult and will lose business, I'm hoping for snow. Lots of snow.

SANDWHICH

2009-01-28T21:58:00.006-05:00

Today I had the pleasure of lunching with my friend and former next door neighbor, Margaret. She suggested we go to SANDWHICH, a restaurant in downtown Chapel Hill I've always wanted to try.
Obviously, they serve sandwiches, homemade on homemade breads. They have such sandies as: chicken with pesto on foccacia; sweet potato with prosciutto, collard greens and goat cheese; and Niman ranch pork with mustard gravy and caramelized onions amongst others. All ingredients are fresh with free range meats and organic veggies.
I ordered the 1/2 sandwich (chicken salad) and soup (a wonderful pea soup-don't gasp, I LOVE pea soup). It was served with some marinated carrots, homemade potato chips, a drink and a large chocolate chip cookie. Everything was delicious.
The best part of this local treasure is the people, the owner carried our trays and helped us find a place to sit in a very full restaurant. Lovely. Hope you can visit soon.

Ahhh...the Coat

2009-01-26T21:40:00.003-05:00

The other day my friend Jill and I went to a sort-of-secret store. My Overstock Boutique opens to the public only once a month, and is located in a warehouse in Mebane. It has racks and racks of high quality designer clothes on consignment from various boutiques. These are genuinely high end clothes that are exceedingly expensive at full price.

The deal is this: everything is at least 50% off, many items with much deeper discounts. Some items were just a mere $10. It is truly a warehouse, with makeshift dressing areas and an open back area without heat.

We had barely gotten there, learned the "rules of shopping" and I saw it. A beautiful, charcoal belted coat with front pockets made by Theory. It was made of virgin wool, angora and cashmere. Ahhhh. It was the softest coat (other than the fur coats worn by elder members of my family when I was a child) I had ever felt. It was also still quite expensive.

After we had looked through the whole store and I only had a handful of things to try on, I took it into the dressing room to just try it at the urging of Jill. So I did. Wow. It was perfect. Gorgeous, smart, sharp, slimming, and warm and comfortable to boot. It is the kind of garment that makes you want to go to New York because you feel so hip.

I made a decision that I would only buy it if they could cut the price in half again (25% of the original price). The owner did it with a smile on her face. Ahhhh. It's mine. I will have it forever and a day (unless I wear holes it in from just touching it so much). New York anyone?

Yard Sale

2009-01-22T21:41:00.004-05:00

This past weekend I went skiing for the first time in almost 12 years. Happily, there were no broken bones.
I learned a new term on this ski trip. "Yard sale" refers to one of those skiing or snowboarding wipeouts where everything (skis, poles, hats, etc.) are strewn about, much like people's junk is strewn around in a yard sale.
My question is this: when did that term come to be? I had never heard it, but then again, I haven't been skiing in quite some time. I checked with some other folks today who haven't been skiing in several years as well, and they had never heard of it either. Anyone?

Big, Bright, Orange Sun

2009-01-22T21:24:00.005-05:00

Today as I was driving west down Rosemary Street to pilates class, I was blinded by a HUGE bright orange setting sun. It was incredible, one of those rare sights that not only makes it difficult to drive, but makes reach for your camera.

So I did. At a stoplight, I reached for my Blackberry. Unfortunately, the car in front of me blocked my view. As I inched forward in evening traffic, I wasn't able to get a good shot. When I finally reached a peak in the road, the sun was down. Missed it.

What can we conclude from this? That the earth rotates faster than traffic moves at rush hour in Chapel Hill, of course.

Science!

2009-01-14T21:41:00.004-05:00

My girls have this amazing science lab teacher, Ms. Templeton. She has the students do the coolest experiments...much more advanced, fun and interesting than anything I ever did at that age.

Today I was working in my kitchen and I came across a baggie (contents poorly pictured, right). I just about had a heart attack when I realized what it was. I remembered that SOMEONE mentioned yesterday that they dissected owl pellets (vomit, for lack of a better term) in science lab and theirs had a rodent skull in it. Note the skull at about 9 o'clock, nose pointing up and large eye sockets. Yum.

Yea Ms. Templeton!

Job Satisfaction

2009-01-12T21:51:00.003-05:00

Let's face it, we all have "those days" at work. No matter how much you love what you do, there are just some days, that to put it bluntly, bite.
Today wasn't extraordinary in any way until the end. A client came to my office. He was initially a bit hesitant, but left with a genuine smile on his face and a definite look of appreciation. His happiness made me appreciate him. That is what I would term job satisfaction.

Insomnia

2009-01-11T23:57:00.002-05:00

Ever since I was a kid, I have had trouble falling asleep. I generally don't have trouble staying asleep once I'm there. In fact, I have trouble waking up...but that's another story.
As a kid, I would dream up all these wild scenarios I would act out in my room until I could fall asleep (my parents sent me to bed at 7:30 every night which didn't help). As an adult, the 20-30 minutes average I spend each night thinking about how I'm going to fall asleep are not as fun...I am mostly resentful for a few reasons: my husband falls asleep in literally 20 seconds; I have to get up early for work; I know I'm going to be tired, etc.
I will periodically take Benadryl (helps my allergies also) and on a rare occasion will take Ambien. To take Ambien, you have to have a full 8 hours to devote to sleep. The trouble is, by the time you realize you can't sleep, you have WAY less than 8 hours left until you have to get up. So I usually have to have been sleep deprived for a few days, and plan it all out before I can take that medication. Probably a good thing...
The bad news tonight: I took a nap today. I'm screwed.

I WAS SEVENTH!

2009-01-08T15:04:00.005-05:00

Although many of you probably have seen this already, I love this video. A little snippet of the mysterious racing world.

Click here to see.

I was seventh before this post, now I'm not.

Oh, the pressure

2009-01-06T22:43:00.004-05:00

OK, so a fellow blogger recently redesigned his blog. The list of blogs he reads used to be in alphabetical order. I was midway down, as it went by first names. The new design lists the blogs with the most recent updates first.
That means that if you're busy, overtaxed or just plain not feeling creative, you'll slip down the list. Why I've even noticed this, I'm not sure, but I can tell you I now feel this pressure to write more. I'm guessing that was the idea.

New Year's Eve

2009-01-02T23:13:00.004-05:00

I've always thought that New Year's Eve was a bit overrated. Don't get me wrong, I've had some really nice New Year's (including this year) but on the whole, not a huge holiday for me.

There was one, many, many years ago (before I met my husband) which was shaping up to be quite interesting. The interesting factor ended quite abruptly with the consumption of too much champagne. I learned my lesson. No champagne this year at all.

One of my BEST New Year's was at my friend's house when we lived in California. We had a seafood extravaganza in her beautiful home. It was a really lovely evening with good food, friends and merriment.

It seems, though, that as we were watching the Tar Heels play last night right until just after the clock struck midnight, our great evening could have been on any date, not just December 31st. I guess it just goes to show you that good food, drink and great friends can happen any day of the year. We don't need no stinkin' holiday for that.

Poem

2008-12-28T16:39:00.004-05:00

Here is a poem I love. Written by a 9 year old.

Snow

Snow is in the air,
It tickles my tongue,
Now there is sun and
I am done.

Snow slowly starts
melting away.
What bliss it was
to be carried astray
in snow.

-AB, age 9

I ask as people are running around in shorts on this 70 degree day, is it too much to ask for a little snow?

The Family Guy Christmas

2008-12-27T23:08:00.009-05:00

Ok, my husband loves the show The Family Guy. Watches it all the time. Much like I used to watch Sex and the City all the time.
Anyway, the show is starting to grow on me. I saw an episode the other day that pretty much summed up the Christmas experience for moms, to a certain extent.
Basically, Christmas is total chaos. The dad accidentally gives away all the Christmas gifts and there is a major accident involving the dog, Brian, the oven and the fire extinguisher. Lois, the mom, retains her calm demeanor throughout until she tries to clean up the mess. Her daughter mentions they are out of paper towels. Lois goes off the deep end. She yells something along the lines of "YOU THINK THIS CHRISTMAS SPIRIT JUST HAPPENS???? I WORK SO HARD IT COMES OUT OF MY BUTT!!!" Then she runs off, takes the star off the tree in the town square, and gets shot with a tranquilizer gun.
All I can say is, I hear ya Lois. I feel for you Lois.

Thanksgiving Traditions

2008-12-10T19:59:00.006-05:00

Thanksgiving for me always means family, friends, cooking, cold weather and lots of food. A not-so-common tradition that began with my sister is to eat cold pumpkin pie the morning after Thanksgiving for breakfast. Even if it sounds strange, it is truly delicious.

For the first time this year, I celebrated Thanksgiving while on vacation in a hotel. I have never even had Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant, much less at a hotel in a tropical climate. I worried about this for quite some time and even thought I'd have to cook a full-on Thanksgiving dinner upon my return home. I have to say, though, once we were seated oceanside and I ordered a maitai, I was OK with it. Really, I was.

The other day I happened to make pumpkin pie sans the crust. I got home from my run this morning and was looking for breakfast. I suddenly remembered my strange tradition and had the tastiest breakfast. Yum. For those who doubt, don't knock it until you try it!

Holiday Craziness

2008-12-09T23:25:00.003-05:00

As I begin, (yes, begin...we were traveling over Thanksgiving therefore I am now just BEGINNING) my holiday shopping, I wonder how it will all get done. I also wonder when the stress will really kick in. So far, I've only ordered stuff online. I'm already a little overwhelmed and I haven't physically gone anywhere to shop yet.

Each year I take on too much...too much shopping, baking, decorating, preparing and socializing. It's my way, as I love this time of year and I value our family traditions. I also love sharing this time with family and friends.

The desire to make it all happens stems from many things, not the least of which was the year my daughter didn't get what she wanted for Christmas. I can still recall the disappointment in her voice, and it has been YEARS. Painful, it was. She got the item the next year, but I'm still reeling from the incident.

I'm sure other parents out there feel the same pressure, especially in a financial crunch time. I guess we need to focus on the spirit of the season, not the craziness that goes with it. Despite that, I'll still end up making at least 14 batches of spritz cookies. My family and friends will undoubtedly be happy ;)

I'm Spelling Impaired

2008-11-17T21:47:00.009-05:00

I'm a terrible speller, and I really want to be a good one. I have always wanted to be great at spelling...especially since my best friend in third grade, Tracy Geers, won the district spelling bee. My sister Sue got second place in the fifth grade division. I also love the movie Akeelah and the Bee. Sometimes I even feel I can channel Akeelah and imagine myself as an extraordinary speller.

I think there is something inherent about being a good speller, either you got it or you don't. I guess I'll have to make up for that shortcoming in other ways...perhaps with being an extraordinary baker?

(Notably I only had one misspelled word in my first draft. Not bad for me.)

Separation of Church and State

2008-11-17T21:15:00.011-05:00

I recently heard that a Roman Catholic parish priest in Greenville, South Carolina has been denying holy communion to any parishioners that voted for Barack Obama.
As a non Roman Catholic christian I find this terribly offensive and I dare say, even unchristian. My interpretation of Christianity includes, amongst other things, welcoming everyone to the table. This would include people of all age, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and political beliefs. As some might say "we are all God's children". Apparently, that doesn't ring true if you're a parishioner at St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Of course it doesn't surprise me terribly because only Roman Catholics (as opposed to all baptized Christians) are welcome at the communion rail in any Roman Catholic church. I always found that odd and exclusionary, as Roman Catholics are welcome to our communion rail. Sigh.

Hurry up and wait. Now!

2008-11-14T18:11:00.002-05:00

So this is something that is, at this very moment, aggravating me. I planned particularly well today, covering all my bases for the approaching event for which I am currently in a holding pattern. Phone calls were made, things were written. I am in no way at fault for this delay.

As the day went on, it became one of those "hurry up and wait" days. I sit here, blogging, somewhere fairly far from home, bored to tears. I should be dining with my family, perhaps at home or one of our favorite spots. This is after I've checked my email (11 times) and Facebook (12 times).

Sometimes days like this are your fault, but other times you can't avoid them. It truly amazes me that no matter how hard you try or how well you plan, so much of your life hinges on the actions of others.

Thank goodness for the Internet...

Yea! or is it Yay?

2008-11-12T21:47:00.004-05:00

I have noticed recently that most of my friends, when proclaiming joy, spell the word they use Yay! I have always spelled it Yea! and was starting to feel a little ignorant. I had never even heard of the other spelling before seeing it on my friends' facebook pages. I decided to investigate.

According to Merriam-Webster's online dictionary, Cambridge Dictionaries Online, and several others, yay is not a word. yea, on the other hand, is a word.

I found a few references that acknowledged the word yay, including dictionary.com , but it refers to the word as an alteration of yea. Wiktionary.org says that yea is an alternative spelling to yay, and also mentions that yay can refer to size, as in "He was yay high".

I guess it can be a matter of preference, but it seems that the more traditional dictionaries don't even acknowledge the word. So Yea! I'm not ignorant. Phew.

BTW, when I spellchecked this document, blogspot highlighted every yay as an error...

Rock & Roll

2008-11-06T21:21:00.006-05:00

Last night we had the pleasure of seeing the musical "Rain", a tribute to the Beatles. It was a great show, with all live music and singing.

It got me thinking about a class I took in college at Indiana University. History of Rock Music was taught by Glenn Gass, Professor of Music at IU. Indiana is one of the most extraordinary music schools in the country. It was the first class of its type in any music school and was wildly popular amongst undergraduate students. It took until my last semester in school before I could coordinate my schedule to be in that class.

Dr. Gass inspired every class to understand the influences of early rock music on the music we listen to today. In the first class, he asked "Who likes Elvis?". About 1/3 of us in the class raised our hands. By the last class of the semester, he would yell "Elvis!" and the entire class would respond "King!".

Who would know the influences that rhythm, gospel and the blues had on present day music? The African American artists of the 50's influenced Elvis, who changed the face of Rock & Roll because he was white, and could sing and dance like his black counterparts. His race made him acceptable in the mainstream, therefore he enjoyed a success that was difficult for his predecessors.

Buddy Holly, one of the most influential factors in Rock & Roll, died prematurely in a plane crash in February of 1959 (the day the music died). He influenced countless artists, including a teenager who attended his second to last concert in Minnesota. That boy, Robert Zimmerman later became a star in his own right, Bob Dylan.

In early 1964, our country was still grieving the loss of John Kennedy. The arrival of the Beatles to the US and their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in February was the lift the youth of our country needed to relieve themselves of the grief they felt. The changes in the Beatles' music during the 60's were so distinctive that the style of various songs would indicate the year they were recorded.

I feel very fortunate to have been exposed to different genres of music, classical and rock alike. I will always appreciate the education I received from Glenn Gass in that class. It has enhanced my perspective of all types of music. Thanks, Glenn. It sounds cliche, but you rock.

Election Post Mortem

2008-11-06T16:40:00.005-05:00

Love that phrase...post mortem because it really refers to autopsies, which I always found fascinating during that phase of my education. I really don't intend to dissect the election or results, but I think this event had a profound effect on many of us, especially in North Carolina, and my interactions with family, friends and clients were quite interesting.

My thoughts are this: we live in a country where we all have the right to vote, and the right to vote for (I almost said "choose" but that wouldn't be correct) whichever candidate is the one each one of us wants.

There are many of my friends who are strongly on one side of the fence or another, and I admire their ability to take a stand. My personal feeling, though, is that everyone is entitled to whatever choice they want, and I'm not going to be offended if they have different political views than I. It almost keeps me on my toes, forces me to examine why I made the choice I made.

It's the same feeling I currently have about religion. Believe what you want. Whatever you choose is right for you, and I won't be offended if you have a different god/savior/greater being than I. There is not just one "truth".

I would make a terrible evangelist.

The Wonderful Pomegranate

2008-10-27T21:49:00.006-04:00

There has been a lot of buzz about the pomegranate over the last few years, as it's benefits have been marketed heavily in the US since 2004. This unusual fruit provides a large amount of polyphenols, which may have antioxidant effects for us.

Although sometimes difficult to eat (peeling and picking out those little seeds can sometimes be frustrating), they are delicious. The juice is great, and can be mixed with many other liquids (more on that in a moment).

Interested trivia about the pomegranate, according to the website jewishrecipes.org, there is a lot of symbolism with this fruit:

It is said to have 613 seeds, the same as the 613 commandments of the Torah.
Ancient Egyptians were buried with pomegrates.
Grenada was named from the Spanish and French words for pomegranate
The hand grenade was named after the pomegranate, largely due to the shape, seeds(fragments) and color.

So here's one of my favorite things about pomegranates: the juice, mixed with vodka makes a damn good martini. Good for you, too.

Jane's Pomegranate Martini recipe:

3:2 ratio of 100% pure pomegranate juice (I use Langers from Costco)to vodka (I use Skyy).

sugar to taste

Shake well and freeze. It develops a nice slush. Let it sit out for 10 minutes or so before consuming. Serve with fresh pomegranate seeds if possible. Drink responsibly.

OK, it's not really a recipe 'cause I make it to taste, but you get the general idea.

More Kiwi Puppy Class

2008-10-27T21:24:00.003-04:00

So here is more puppy free play time at puppy kindergarten. It really is code for "let's pick on Kiwi time".

Old Friends

2008-10-26T21:29:00.016-04:00

Dan & Terri

Greg & Sarah

Colleen

Over the last week or so I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing several old friends. I always feel lucky to see one old friend, but 5 or 6 in just over a week is extraordinary.

First, I got to see Colleen. I've known Colleen since about 1992, well since 1996. Our kids are 2 days apart and we are often (luckily for me) mistaken for sisters.

When we were in Santa Cruz, I got to see Judi, my old boss, mentor and friend. She graciously let us stay in her wonderful beach house. I've know Judi since 1993.

This past weekend back in North Carolina, our great friends Terri & Dan returned for a visit. We met them as we were building our first house in Chapel Hill, way back in 1999. They moved almost a year ago back to Iowa and we miss them terribly, this is their first time back.

I recently reconnected with an old high school friend, Lisa. Although I didn't get to see her, I had a nice long computer chat with her last night. Great to catch up, especially when you're still on West Coast time!

To top it off, one of my graduate school friends came through town this weekend. I've known Greg (aka Chewy for his large stature and formerly longish hair) for almost 20 years (wow). He lives in Canada and was passing through town with his lovely wife Sarah. It was great to see Chewy, haven't seen him in more than 6 years.

I'm thankful that these great folks take time out of their travel schedules to see us...we're lucky. Very lucky indeed.

More Vacation Photos...

2008-10-22T21:30:00.006-04:00

This is the view from the top of Mt. TamalpAIS in Marin County, CA. Note San Francisco downtown financial district, the Bay Bridge, etc.

Top of Mt. Tam: Donnie, Ashley and Jane. Note the lack of "Bunny Ears" in this picture.

Jane and Colleen at Muir Woods in a giant redwood.

Well, this was where I slept. I thank Ben for giving up his bed during my visit. Colleen thought it very ironic that we were going to a race and I was sleeping in a racecar bed...

Wonder which one is more comfy...

My First Day at the Races....

2008-10-19T23:58:00.014-04:00

Ok, so many of you might I'm referring to horse racing, but alas, it's auto racing. Not typically my scene, but I have to say it was really interesting.

I was visiting my friends Colleen & Adam and Beth in the Bay Area this weekend. Coincidentally, my friend Donnie Barnes (a racecar driver) was racing this weekend at Laguna-Seca in Monterey. Colleen and I were invited to witness this great event...all I can say is Wow.

We were very fortunate to be able to stay at my friend, mentor and former boss Judi's beach house in Santa Cruz. Ahhh...so soothing and wonderful to be staying on the ocean. We saw dolphins and a whale today (but I digress-- thank you Judi & Jay)

The race was the Mazda Mx5 Championship (I think) and was a 45 minute race with a field of 30 racers. We were able to see the cars and drivers in the paddock before the race, and then Ashley (Donnie's wife), Colleen, Hilary, Scott and I went to the grandstand to watch the start. OK, so Ashley was a cool as a cucumber (she's watched a lot of NASCAR) but Colleen and I (being new to the racing thing) were a little on the nervous side. Glad we didn't see the "metal to metal" contact that happen. We were happy that everyone was safe and sound at the end. Donnie did really well, moved up to 12th from 19th position at the start. Unfortunately, due to certain penalties...they bumped him back to 13th. I'm sure he'll eventually explain on his blog if you want to know the details.

On the way back from the race we visited everyone's favorite fast food place, In-N-Out Burger. While I won't say if I actually consumed dead cow, but it was fun none the less.

Colleen and I resisted the urge at the track to buy a sweatshirt that said "Race Chick" but Colleen is starting a new fashion trend by wearing Piloti racing shoes. Such a fashion diva, that Colleen.

All in all a fun day at the races. You never know, I might even be hooked...

For those of you that may not understand (Colleen), below is a video. Just push the arrow button and watch the action!

I Love Our Nation's Capitol

2008-10-13T11:18:00.016-04:00

World War II Memorial
Korean Veterans Memorial

Washington Monument

Recently I traveled to Washington, DC for a short weekend meeting. Most of my time was spent in a hotel conference room, but I was lucky enough to spend some time outside, and even luckier that our hotel was fairly close to the Mall (not the shopping type, but rather the one by the Smithsonian).

Saturday morning I went for an early run around the monuments. It was one of those days, just enough chill in the air that you don't get hot and just the right amount of sunshine to make you feel good about being outside. I saw the WWII Memorial, est. 2004, for the first time as well as the Washington Monument, the Capitol, and the Lincoln Memorial.

That evening, at about 9pm, my long time friend Marlene and I went walking around the monuments at night. We saw the above ones as well as the Vietnam Memorial and my personal favorite, the Korean Veterans Memorial. These are the words on the ground next to the statuary garden:

Our nation honors her sons and daughters

who answered the call

to defend a country they never knew

and a people they never met.

and nearby:

"Freedom is Not Free"

Wow. Statements like these, and the monuments themselves never fail to amaze me when I go to Washington. They have a huge impact on me and my general overall impression of the country. It also brings to mind that no matter how much you disagree or agree with a war, the ones fighting for us deserve our respect.

As an aside, as I was running I wondered what I would say if I saw George W out running with his secret service (I didn't, but I did see someone who looked a whole lot like Karl Rove). Finally, I came to the conclusion that I would tell him that running on these concrete paths is terrible for your joints, and they should think about a rubberized surface for the trails around the monuments... At this point, what else can be said?

There's always next year...

2008-10-06T19:33:00.000-04:00

Well, another year of baseball has come to a close for Cubs fans. Sadly, it didn't end in the way we wanted it to. It never does. Never.

Living with disappointment is something our group learns to accept. This year was almost as painful as the five outs away from going to the World Series/fan (who I will not further name because I really feel sorry for that guy) interferes with catching the ball year, 2003. Billed as the best team in both the National and American Leagues this year, the Cubs were predicted to win the World Series. They didn't even win a game in the National League Division Series. At least we didn't get our hopes up for too awfully long this postseason.

We used to identify with Red Sox fans, but no longer. They seem to have won a few World Series in recent years and thus have broken their curse.

Our curse, The Curse of the Billy Goat, began in 1945, the last year that the Cubs went to the World Series. they ejected Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis and his pet goat (pictured above) from Wrigley Field due to fans complaining about the odor. He stated at that time there would never be another World Series at Wrigley Field. The last time the Cubs won the World Series was 1908. One hundred years ago. *Sigh*

I have been alive for 40 years (yes, I admit it, I am 40) and have been waiting my whole life for the Cubs to win the World Series, or at least go to the WS. I really feel sad for my Dad. He's 79 and he's been waiting his whole life for a Cubs WS win. I hope he gets to see one in his lifetime. I hope I get to see one in my lifetime.

Puppy Kindergarten

2008-10-02T23:12:00.000-04:00

We are lucky enough to have a great puppy, a six month old Golden Labrador (that's a cross between a golden retriever and a yellow lab) named Kiwi. Overall, she's a great dog. Family friendly, food motivated and fun. The part about being food motivated should make it easy to train our 50 lb. friend. The problem though, is the excitement level she raises herself to when she enters the training facility at the Orange County APS.

Sniff, sniff. Tug, tug. Pant, pant. Bark, bark. We usually spend most of the hour trying to avoid choking the poor creature from her pulling on the leash. Of course that's why we're there, but you feel just a little bad when she can't breath.

As long time dog owners, we appreciate a good dog training class, with plenty of owner education on how dogs think, socialize and interface with humans. We also appreciate the exercise our furry friend gets.

One of our favorite things about this Senior Puppy class is puppy playtime. All 8 dogs in the class are let off the leash and have the run of the room. There is such a wide variety of dogs...a goldendoodle, a jack russell, a boxer, a golden retriever, etc. Kiwi sometimes gets picked on...she often rolls in a submissive position and lets the other dogs have their way with her. She goes home exhausted with exhausted but happy parents.

This cell phone video shows Kiwi and a few others...one of her tamer moments at the class.

Irrational Fears?

2008-09-29T22:57:00.000-04:00

We all have our fears in life. Snakes, spiders, heights, and falling to name a few. One of my fears seems a bit strange to most.

Birds. They scare me. Their scaley claws, sharp beaks, mocking attitude and their general lack of warm n fuzziness just don't appeal to me.

Truth be told, I was forced to watch Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds as a young child (by my mother who passed on her irrational fear of birds to her youngest daughter). Despite the profound effect it had on my psyche, I still think it is one of the best scary movies ever made.

This photo was taken in Hawaii at a meeting. One of the exhibitors had a booth full of large birds that attendess could be photographed with. Me personally...well...I took 10 steps back took several shots and left to go check out the shoes...much more in my comfort zone.

Desire to Blog?

2008-09-29T00:51:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I'm not all that convinced that I WANT to blog, but suddenly, in a fit of insomnia, I feel the NEED to blog. In the not so distant past, I imagined blogging about various aspects of my life. Things are a bit different now, but I guess there is still a small part of me that might have something to say.

Tonight after having some good friends over for dinner, I had some other good friends over to watch The Sex and the City Movie. I've always loved the series, and also loved the movie. I realize in these small fragments of my life that I have great friends and family. I truly mean great. Makes me feel damn lucky, and someday I will be able to repay all the kindness I have received.

Maybe it's time for ambien...or a boring book. It's late!