Hot Tub Party

I guess I’m very hard to please.  

 A normal person would probably LOVE being assigned nightly hydrotherapy, for their arthritic neck and back…    In layman's terms that’s Hot tub time!   

 Yes, most normal people would love to hear the words…. “Heat therapy, Massage and hydrotherapy, are very effective in relieving chronic back pain.    Just sit still in the hot tub, with the jets on your neck for 7 ½ minutes and then your lower back for 7 ½ minutes…” (a girl is not supposed to be in 104 degree water longer than 15 minutes…I think it makes girl soup)

 Ok, the people that know me well, have already seen my dilemma...   for those that don’t, it’s the phrase…sit still that causes the problem.

I don’t want to hurt anymore, so I try really hard to sit there, with nothing to read, type, write…the relaxing sound and feeling of hot bubbly water all around.. so I do sit still, for about 4 seconds, then I wiggle a little, this way and that…water splashing in my face…yes, I complain… jets are too strong, they scoot me around too much…you name it, I can’t be tamed.   

I’m outside, so I look at the stars and try to find the constellations, I try to write a blog in my head, (I won’t remember it when I get out, but that’s not the point)…  I try to get the paper I’m supposed to be writing for class, all lined out and well thought out in my head…

I try to concentrate on Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God.  This is my favorite verse, and it applicable in ALL situations...   that helps a little, but, I gotta tell you, I’m bored and ready to get out in 5 minutes…tops.

How old am I? Three??    

Maybe I will go get Elizabeth to get in with me; at least I’ll have someone to play with!

50 year old iPod

I turned 50 years old a few weeks ago.  It’s weird.  I feel 30.  I heard something about   “50 being the NEW 30”.   I like that...  Still dealing the mental game of that, but oh well...

I started getting serious about eating healthy and exercising last year, and for the most part, it has worked out well for me.  I run occasionally, do some Jillian workout videos. (She’s about 35, stands 5 ft. 2.5 inches tall and weighs 117…   I’m 50 now, 5’3” and weigh… not 117.) I do some light lifting of weights, go to yoga and other classes at the city’s rec center, but it’s just easier for me to step out the door and walk or jog.  I’m not skinny, but I’m healthy and that’s the point. 

I don’t ENJOY running; the panting, side stitches and chest pain it brings is not fun, so I thought adding music to my regimen would be beneficial, since I like to sing and dance to it. I decided to update my iPod and go with it, just to keep me on track for a longer period of time.  So off I go last night, into the cool crisp air, about to run and become strong…  My newly updated iPod was blaring in both ears, which were covered with gray ear mitts. I’m inspired to do this!    Right off the bat, I hear George Thorogood, singing   “BBBBAD to the Bone”     yeah, that’s right!! I’m bad!  I’m going out!  

So I’m running along, being bad to the bone, feeling pretty good after the initial pain of running had subsided, and here we go with Joan Jett... And I DO love rock and roll, ‘cause I’m bad to the bone!! Oh yeah, I’m rolling!!

I’m jogging a little, singing, “He was with me, Yea,  me, singing ...  I love rock and roll, so put another dime in the juke box baby!”   I love ...   pant pant     yea.  Me…  singin...     pant pant pant   I  .  love . rock.  wheeze.. and.  wheeze..   roll…… so put another…  pant pant ...    dime . in. the..juke..box…  stop…   walk walk…..fall onto neighbor’s lawn in front of the lighted Charlie Brown Christmas tree… 

While I was resting, JLo popped in and started singing to me… “ It’s a New Genera-tion…  of Party People.”  Right, party people.. Now ain’t that just the truth?  I rolled off the lawn and got to my feet and started again… and then Destiny started telling me that I am Bootylicious;  that was all I needed for my second wind.

I’m going into my second mile now, and I’m feeling strong, and doing ok…Michael Jackson is telling me that I CAN beat it…

Just Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It No One Wants To Be Defeated
Showin' How Funky Strong Is Your Fight

I want to be funky strong, so I keep going…. I am so inspired by now and singing it loud and strong,(when I am just walking) and feeling proud!  I’m going to “Whip It, and whip it good”.

As I passed a group of “I know everything and am the coolest thing on the planet” 13 year olds, I was singing out loud with Bob Seger  “Still like that old time rock and roll…that kind of music just soothes the soul, I reminisce about the days of old, with that old time rock and roll”.  They looked mortified. So mortified, in fact,  they all stopped texting each other, and  started to dial 911. I shouted out over my shoulder, as I sped passed them at 3.4 miles per hour, “you wouldn’t understand!”

 Jogging more, singing along to the “The Love Shack”, feeling good, but slowing down…ok, I’m walking now and  getting a little winded.  I am kind of wondering where that “Chrysler as big as a whale, that seats about 20” is right now, and wonder if it could swing by and give me a ride back home.

Declare with me, all you 50 year old friends of mine!!  “I will keep running/walking, I will sing loud to songs I love and I will stay healthy! And to you,  all you 13 year olds that think I am crazy, you  will understand why,  because  when we” Rock and Roll all night, and Party Every Day,”  we will have enough stamina to last past 9 PM!!

Disclaimer: Jennifer Lopez and Destiny were already loaded... my "iPod" is really the preloaded music on a free  thumb drive thingy I got at Bath and Body Works a few years ago, for spending more than 25 dollars…so, C’mon, really?? You believed I loaded jlo and Destiny??  That's awesome because that proves how I can pull off being young!!   I did add the good ole', classic rock, all my myself.   ;)

Moving into the 19th Century

I have been in the business world for a long time. It started the summer I graduated from high school in 1908. ;)

 I started working with my, retired from teaching (at that time), drama teacher. He  taught me how to knock on doors of homes that had signs of children, and offer the world that could be opened to them by the World Book Encyclopedia. I eventually became a Division Manager with that great company, and had a huge territory to cover. I trained new sales people, visited with librarians in schools all over Texas, went to meetings and conventions all over Texas and the U.S. and other exciting business activities.  To keep myself on track and on time for all these events, I kept a calendar/notebook. 

My family called it my brain.  Rightfully so, because if I didn't have my brain, I was truly lost.

I used my brain for everything, including getting my kids to school and sports events, church activities, even planning dinner.

I was constantly looking for the most effective and convenient brain for my needs.  I tried the desk size, the pocket size, the full size paper size; all of them! 

When I got into real estate, I decided that the Desk size, two pages per day, was the PERFECT brain for me! I would have a schedule and a page and a half to write down conversations and reminder follow ups for phone calls and appointments. It was Perfect!

Now, fast forward to 2011.  Everyone is all about the iPad and fancy technical toys.  I was still using my written brain. Except, I didn't have it when I needed it.  I had personal, work, volunteer and school stuff.  I was keeping them all in different places it seemed.  Some in my brain, some on my home computer, and some on my work computer.

I like to write, and have so many projects in the works and have a note book for each; one for the Bible Study on Naked eating, one for the study of "Deborah, women in leadership", one for "speaking in Tongues; the nasty ways we speak to each other", one for blog ideas, and one for my book. ... I was more confused than ever.

  SO, my husband got me a blackberry, to try to help me move slowly into this century...   It took a lot of screaming on my part, but I started learning how to work the thing, and am proud to say, I can text on it, read my email, and oh course, use it to make a phone call.  

Earlier this week, I started venturing further into the world of the Blackberry, and found a button called, "Word To Go", which was pretty cool, because I was looking for a place where I could write down a note to myself..(I didn't have my brain with me).  It took a little blood, but I did figure out where I can keep a list of details, on different "pieces of paper", and keep all my notes separate.  I can also put ALL of my activities on one calendar, and keep, said calendar, with me at all times!!

I can say, that I am a little more updated than I was yesterday.  I can also report that I have one folder for my notes for my book, one for each bible study, blog....and, well, you know..

 I'm so excited and feel so accomplished!

  Does the world know about this??  It needs to!  Awesome!

  

Eating Nek'kid

A lot of you know I wrote a Bible Study on eating naturally. I originally entitled it "Eating in the Garden of Eden". Yeah, I know, that seems kind of boring. While I presented my study at a woman's conference this past spring, the name kind of morphed into ~ Naked Eating~....That just sounded more fun.

I promised those women that I would update some recipes every once in a while, so this blog is one of the promised updates..

Background for newbies... Naked eating is a simple concept of eating foods that God made; as He made them, natural.. ie, baked potato out of the ground, no sour cream!;  beautiful broccoli...no cheese to cover up the wonderful flavor...lettuce, tomatoes etc., in a bowl...no ranch dressing...(use lemon juice if you have to have something to cover the sweet taste of natural flavor)
...and so on..you get the point.

I also believe that the herbs we grow in our backyard, are Gods natural food... So many benefits from them! so I use those often as I can.

There are obviously not a lot of recipes to share because the food is ..well...plain.  But I tried something tonight that was extra good, and thought I would pass it along to all the "naked" fans...


Oregano Baby Bellas

very simple...  I bought fresh Baby Portabella mushrooms at the grocery store.
When I got home, I sliced the mushrooms and put Extra virgin olive oil in a pan and laced it with Garlic...tiny tiny pieces of garlic.
Next, I sprinkled in some crushed Oregano leaves...

 Enter, Baby Bellas, and saute until they turn the color of brown you prefer in your mushrooms. 

I was surprised that this made up, whim of a dish, tasted FANTASTIC! They mixed perfectly with the naked, steamed, fresh green beans and salad that we were eating along with our Salmon.  

MMMM... Eatin' nek'kid is the BEST!  

Chronicles of a Runner (BBWWWAAAA ; makes me laugh just writing it)

I woke up at 3:30 am and could not go back to sleep. I read, watched some late night infomercials, and snacked on almonds. But that was only because all the Merlot Brownies, from the week before, were already gone.


As I was watching the news, the weather reports were declaring another day over 100 degrees in Texas and even at 5:30 AM, it was already 86. Man, it's hot in  Texas.

I had lost some weight over the past year, and a lot of it was due to running/jogging/walking, but because of the aforementioned heat, I have not been doing any of that lately. My waistline was showing that fact.
Because I was sleep deprived,  I had the great idea that, since I was up, I might as well try to run again “while it was still cool”. HA ! Yeah right...
So I ate a bowl of cheerios, with no sugar and low fat milk so I could “carb up”! I also added whole wheat toast with peanut butter so I felt I was sufficiently fueled for the big run.

OK. First, let me explain the word, “running”. I use this very loosely. When I say “running” I mean, walking at a brisk pace.. most people don’t normally walk this fast. Then start to jog a little. Jogging means …Lift legs quicker, but don’t move FORWARD any faster. I jog until I can’t breathe, usually about 3 or 4 minutes, then I slow to a walk, until I can breathe again, or the side stitches go away, which ever is last. Then repeat three more cycles, usually takes one hour to get maximum health effect.

Here is the time line.

6:00 start walking down my street… start jogging process…

6:09 Is it an hour yet? Can’t breathe…sweating

Then I turn a corner and think, “Oh good, Bethel school road, it goes down hill”  forgetting that what goes down, must come up…

And now the Cheerios kicking in, side stitches….wheat toast with peanut butter…"shouldn’t that be enough to stay fit?? why am I doing this?"

6:10 can’t breathe, walk at brisk pace for 10 minutes

6:20 run, again

Cycle for three more minutes

6:23 Cool down: walk slowly through all automatic sprinklers that have come on since leaving the house, this takes another 15 minutes.

6:38 Bang on bedroom window to wake husband, because I have locked my self out of the house. He hears and lets me in. I race for the shower, (see above for definition of “race”) but get disctacted by the comfy bed, and I fall into it, exhausted and sweaty.


Funny thing is, I’m not new to running. I have been doing some form of running, on a semi regular basis, since I was a teenager… why is this so hard… Isn’t it better on the psyche to just be satisfied with who you are?


But, I will follow the above schedule religiously, at least once a week, and be well on my way to healthy bod!!

Happy Running!

Hell in Texas?

Some people believe hell to be a place of eternal fire...

Texas may be hell on earth at this moment, if that is true.

I have always liked the phrase, "If I can't make it to heaven , I'll just go to the closest thing,  Texas!" because  I love living in Texas and being a Texan..it comes with a reputation of toughness, other states only long for.

But right now, Texas is burning.  

We have been fighting raging wild fires, all over the state, for almost two weeks now.  We have lost two firefighters, battling the blazes, and 150 homes in North Texas alone, according to the latest broadcasts. Fires are roaring around Austin, Dallas area and all over West Texas.It scares me, because of the high winds and heat; brave men and women sacrificing their lives to protect us and our homes.  We just can't seem to control it; we can't, because we are little little beings and we are not in control. 

Sooo... here’s the scene..

God is in heaven, listening to Job and his “buddies” sitting around

trying to figure things out that are way too big for them to understand...

Then Lisa says, “So, Where is the rain, to put out the fire??” AND

THE LORD SPEAKS:

JOB 38
Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:
“Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man; I will question you,
and you shall answer me.
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?

READ for yourself all that God has to say here. It is very humbling, when you find yourself losing faith and questioning God.


http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2038&version=NIV

The fires scare me to death.. I have to keep remembering while I’m asking for rain, God’s got it…

TEEN AGERS

Because "teens"..AGE US"??   Is that where that name comes from??

Why is it ,the moment they hit 17, they are now old enough to "be their own boss", to old to be told how to speak to adults respectfully, or "not be required to check in about their whereabouts, or actions"... but still need to be fed and watered??

We love all of our dear children. They all have their own special talents and attributes...

 One, teaches me about faith in God, and is a wonderful spiritual example to me;
one is a perfect and beautiful mother;
one has a heart of gold and is brilliant,
and the last one makes me laugh constantly...

but I gotta tell ya, those teen years are challenging, to say the least... 

                                            I'm tired. 

 Homework fights, boy and girl friend fights, get a job and pull your own weight fights...Tattoo and piercing fights...the late night "I'm in jail" call...   whew!~  

                                          I'm tired!

I'm on my fourth and final round..   If I survive this one in two more years, my husband and I are going to Europe...  we have already saved $6.35 toward the trip, and we are super excited!!

I hope we make it!