A squash recipe I plan to try. I like roasting it but it's time to branch out!
Savory Squash Soup
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Shrooms
I went stomping around in the woods today with Yogi Liz and her young son Jared. We had a great time! And didn't really get lost. Not much. Just once for a few minutes but we found the trail. Jared is a real trouper. We were out there a couple of hours and he never flagged. I took my camera with me--the first time in many months that I've taken photos. It felt good to have it out looking for things to shoot. Jared did some shooting too. That kid can really see stuff. And Light! He shot a photo of me in a log and mentioned that he thought it would be good shot but "a little dark by your eyes." He was right! I can't tell you how many times I've failed to notice how the light is playing on someone's face, only to discover it when I got home and loaded it up.
We walked around on an 85-acre patch of property that is currently being held in trust by some bank or something. One of the creeks... maybe six-mile?... runs through it, although it is pretty dry right now. And there are woods and meadows. Four-wheelers have been running around in there and we found some paths that had been mowed and/or bush-hogged through there. We speculated that perhaps the paths were cleared so that potential buyers could get around to see the property. It doesn't matter. We enjoyed the paths, both man-made and deer-made, and had a great time.
I came home and did a nice yoga practice that involved backbends and inversions. For the second day in a row I was able to do a headstand in the middle of the room and stay there for a little more than a minute. I'm pleased about that. I'll try to do one each day for a while I think. Yesterday in class we did a twisted head-to-knee pose (Janu Sirsasana) and I think I'll also try to do those for a while. It did great things for my side ribs.
We walked around on an 85-acre patch of property that is currently being held in trust by some bank or something. One of the creeks... maybe six-mile?... runs through it, although it is pretty dry right now. And there are woods and meadows. Four-wheelers have been running around in there and we found some paths that had been mowed and/or bush-hogged through there. We speculated that perhaps the paths were cleared so that potential buyers could get around to see the property. It doesn't matter. We enjoyed the paths, both man-made and deer-made, and had a great time.
I came home and did a nice yoga practice that involved backbends and inversions. For the second day in a row I was able to do a headstand in the middle of the room and stay there for a little more than a minute. I'm pleased about that. I'll try to do one each day for a while I think. Yesterday in class we did a twisted head-to-knee pose (Janu Sirsasana) and I think I'll also try to do those for a while. It did great things for my side ribs.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Call a Spade a Spade, Why Don't Ya?
I hate props. In anything. Especially in yoga. I like to have my hands empty in life and on the mat. Heck, I don't even like to carry purses! Will I ever be a backpacker? Probably not. That would involve carrying my house on my back. The word "carry" is just not part of my vocabulary. I like to roam through life with my hands swinging free and unencumbered.
I'm only willing to use a strap in yoga because the one I have is cool and soft and just the right length and feels good on my bare feet. It's silk. And yeah, it's helpful at times. But I still only use it when I have to.
So today we were doing extended hand-to-toe pose (Utthita Hasta Padangustasana). Here's a photo. We were using straps to hold our feet up. I did fine standing on the left foot, which is weird because that's the foot that's been bothering me. But I simply could not find my balance on the right foot.
"You could move to a wall," YL said.
"Yes, but you know I'm too stubborn," I said.
"You could let your ego go," she said. (or something to that effect)
Argh. She's right. I do have an ego thing in yoga. I am more flexible and also have quite a bit of strength. When I am unable to do some pose, I'm not likely to admit it.
"You know I hate props," I said.
"Well, girlfriend," she said. "You might as well lose the strap then too!"
yeah yeah yeah. She's right.
DARNIT!
I'm only willing to use a strap in yoga because the one I have is cool and soft and just the right length and feels good on my bare feet. It's silk. And yeah, it's helpful at times. But I still only use it when I have to.
So today we were doing extended hand-to-toe pose (Utthita Hasta Padangustasana). Here's a photo. We were using straps to hold our feet up. I did fine standing on the left foot, which is weird because that's the foot that's been bothering me. But I simply could not find my balance on the right foot.
"You could move to a wall," YL said.
"Yes, but you know I'm too stubborn," I said.
"You could let your ego go," she said. (or something to that effect)
Argh. She's right. I do have an ego thing in yoga. I am more flexible and also have quite a bit of strength. When I am unable to do some pose, I'm not likely to admit it.
"You know I hate props," I said.
"Well, girlfriend," she said. "You might as well lose the strap then too!"
yeah yeah yeah. She's right.
DARNIT!
Monday, October 05, 2009
Cold Busters
Everyone has their own way of coping with colds. Copious amounts of orange juice, hot tea, water, chicken soup, over-the-counter-medications, sleep, etc.
I get bored. At least my taste buds do. I get tired of having my mouth taste like the bottom of a birdcage for days. Orange juice and birdcage taste don't really work for me as a winning combination. I like hot tea but there's the whole caffeine thing. And of course I put sugar in there. So between the sugar of the orange juice and the sugar AND caffeine in the tea, I end up feeling kind of worse. Chicken soup is good, but can be a bit dull on the tastebuds too.
I pretty much don't use any otc meds for colds unless I absolutely can't sleep at night. I've always ascribed to the theory that letting the cold run its' course is better than beating back some of the symptoms only to have them rage back worse than before. Sinus stuff is notorious for that.
I stopped using sinus stuff a couple of years ago when we got hooked on neti pots. We each have our own (mine is a special one...green ceramic...theirs are plain white boring ones). Here is a link on WebMD about them. My Dad has used salt water to clear his sinuses for as long as I can remember. But he puts table salt in his palm, adds water, and sniffs it up. That's waaaay more painful. I like to use sea salt in my neti pot. For some reason it seems to be milder on my nasal passages. Mensa Boy adds a little baking soda to his with the salt. But I think he still uses table salt. I use the neti pot whenever I'm stuffed up or if my nose is running and I feel like I'm sniffing a lot. I could be wrong, but I feel like I'd rather rinse that junk OUT than sniff it IN. So when I start sniffing, I do another rinse.
This time I've also taken to using a sinus rejuvenation oil that came with my pot. It was there in the box and I just never seemed to think I needed it before. Last night as I got ready for bed I decided to give it a try. BETTER THAN VICKS! The oil contains green myrtle, inula graveolens, rosemary verbenone, eucalyptus dives, peppermint, spike lavender. I don't know what the second stuff is, but I don't care. You just tip the bottle on your fingertip and then touch just inside each nostril with your finger. You get a menthol-type of feeling down your nasal passages at first. I was able to get to sleep quite well with my nose clear and unclogged. Drug free, too. The bottle says you can do it 3-4 times a day so I've done it each time I've used the neti pot today. The oil is by a company called Baraka, which is the company that made my neti pot.
I've also switched up the tea drinking. Instead of just black tea, I've been drinking some Yogi tea that Yogi Liz gave me yesterday. She gave me two teabags each of the Cold Season and Throat Comfort teas. The Throat Comfort tea is very nice, but I wouldn't say that there is anything that sets it apart from the Twinings herbal teas, which are less expensive. But the Cold Season tea...now that's a different story. The blend of cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and clove really give the tea a heat that helps with the bronchial and nasal discomfort. I liked that. But dang, that stuff is expensive. I seem to remember that it's about $7 a box! Another tea I like, that Yogi Liz also hooked me on, is Stash's chai green tea. This tea also has that winning combination of cinnamon, cardamom, clove and ginger, along with some other goodies.
So all this got me to thinking that it might be time to try the Yogi Tea recipe in the back of a Kundalini yoga book I've been reading. Here is the recipe:
This is great stuff! Whole cardamom can be hard to find. I buy mine from Penzey's online (because we don't have a store), but I'm thinking you could probably locate it in Indian or Asian grocery stores. Also, Yogi Liz suggests keeping the spices that you strain out. She makes another smaller batch with that as a way to stretch the bucks. I've put all but the ginger slices into an old Penzey's spice jar in the fridge.
So that's what I'm sipping as I write this. I think the black pepper really kicks this up to a whole new level of immunity-boosting. I don't add milk. I may try that. But I'll add it one cup at a time.
So. The soup. The chicken soup I've always made when someone has a cold has always been just run-of-the-mill. Simmer a bird, add onions, celery, carrots, bay, salt, pepper. Then add noodles or rice. blah blah blah. If your mouth already is bored, this soup, while good, is not really going to wake it up.
So I went back to the ginger. Mensa Boy hadn't gotten home with the ginger root for the tea yet, so I pulled out the minced, jarred ginger I have in the fridge. I whisked in a good heaping teaspoon-worth. Then I crushed up three big cloves of garlic and tossed in a pretty good-sized helping of red pepper flakes. I could actually TASTE this soup. This time we just poured it over basmati rice in our bowls. I didn't bother with the carrots and celery. I didn't hear any complaining!
So that's what I did today. Oh, and the sleeping. Lots of sleeping. And the cookies. Did I not mention the cookies? I end up munching on cookies periodically through the day when I have a cold. Birdcage-mouth, you know.
I get bored. At least my taste buds do. I get tired of having my mouth taste like the bottom of a birdcage for days. Orange juice and birdcage taste don't really work for me as a winning combination. I like hot tea but there's the whole caffeine thing. And of course I put sugar in there. So between the sugar of the orange juice and the sugar AND caffeine in the tea, I end up feeling kind of worse. Chicken soup is good, but can be a bit dull on the tastebuds too.
I pretty much don't use any otc meds for colds unless I absolutely can't sleep at night. I've always ascribed to the theory that letting the cold run its' course is better than beating back some of the symptoms only to have them rage back worse than before. Sinus stuff is notorious for that.
I stopped using sinus stuff a couple of years ago when we got hooked on neti pots. We each have our own (mine is a special one...green ceramic...theirs are plain white boring ones). Here is a link on WebMD about them. My Dad has used salt water to clear his sinuses for as long as I can remember. But he puts table salt in his palm, adds water, and sniffs it up. That's waaaay more painful. I like to use sea salt in my neti pot. For some reason it seems to be milder on my nasal passages. Mensa Boy adds a little baking soda to his with the salt. But I think he still uses table salt. I use the neti pot whenever I'm stuffed up or if my nose is running and I feel like I'm sniffing a lot. I could be wrong, but I feel like I'd rather rinse that junk OUT than sniff it IN. So when I start sniffing, I do another rinse.
This time I've also taken to using a sinus rejuvenation oil that came with my pot. It was there in the box and I just never seemed to think I needed it before. Last night as I got ready for bed I decided to give it a try. BETTER THAN VICKS! The oil contains green myrtle, inula graveolens, rosemary verbenone, eucalyptus dives, peppermint, spike lavender. I don't know what the second stuff is, but I don't care. You just tip the bottle on your fingertip and then touch just inside each nostril with your finger. You get a menthol-type of feeling down your nasal passages at first. I was able to get to sleep quite well with my nose clear and unclogged. Drug free, too. The bottle says you can do it 3-4 times a day so I've done it each time I've used the neti pot today. The oil is by a company called Baraka, which is the company that made my neti pot.
I've also switched up the tea drinking. Instead of just black tea, I've been drinking some Yogi tea that Yogi Liz gave me yesterday. She gave me two teabags each of the Cold Season and Throat Comfort teas. The Throat Comfort tea is very nice, but I wouldn't say that there is anything that sets it apart from the Twinings herbal teas, which are less expensive. But the Cold Season tea...now that's a different story. The blend of cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and clove really give the tea a heat that helps with the bronchial and nasal discomfort. I liked that. But dang, that stuff is expensive. I seem to remember that it's about $7 a box! Another tea I like, that Yogi Liz also hooked me on, is Stash's chai green tea. This tea also has that winning combination of cinnamon, cardamom, clove and ginger, along with some other goodies.
So all this got me to thinking that it might be time to try the Yogi Tea recipe in the back of a Kundalini yoga book I've been reading. Here is the recipe:
- 2 quarts water
- 15 whole cloves
- 20 black peppercorns
- 3 sticks of cinnamon
- 20 whole cardamon pods (split the pods first)
- 8 fresh ginger slices (1/4" thick, no need to peel)
- 1/2 teaspoon regular or decaf black tea leaves (approximately 1 tea bag)
- Dairy or soy milk and honey or maple syrup to taste
Preparation:
Bring two quarts of water to a boil. Add cloves, cardamom, peppercorns, cinnamon, and ginger. Bring to a boil, then pull back the heat to a simmer and cover. Cook for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, add black tea, and let cool. Strain and store in the refrigerator. Reheat when you want a cup and add milk and honey to taste.This is great stuff! Whole cardamom can be hard to find. I buy mine from Penzey's online (because we don't have a store), but I'm thinking you could probably locate it in Indian or Asian grocery stores. Also, Yogi Liz suggests keeping the spices that you strain out. She makes another smaller batch with that as a way to stretch the bucks. I've put all but the ginger slices into an old Penzey's spice jar in the fridge.
So that's what I'm sipping as I write this. I think the black pepper really kicks this up to a whole new level of immunity-boosting. I don't add milk. I may try that. But I'll add it one cup at a time.
So. The soup. The chicken soup I've always made when someone has a cold has always been just run-of-the-mill. Simmer a bird, add onions, celery, carrots, bay, salt, pepper. Then add noodles or rice. blah blah blah. If your mouth already is bored, this soup, while good, is not really going to wake it up.
So I went back to the ginger. Mensa Boy hadn't gotten home with the ginger root for the tea yet, so I pulled out the minced, jarred ginger I have in the fridge. I whisked in a good heaping teaspoon-worth. Then I crushed up three big cloves of garlic and tossed in a pretty good-sized helping of red pepper flakes. I could actually TASTE this soup. This time we just poured it over basmati rice in our bowls. I didn't bother with the carrots and celery. I didn't hear any complaining!
So that's what I did today. Oh, and the sleeping. Lots of sleeping. And the cookies. Did I not mention the cookies? I end up munching on cookies periodically through the day when I have a cold. Birdcage-mouth, you know.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Stir-Fried Tofu and Peppers
I wish I had taken a photo of this before we ate it. It was gorgeous. And a winning supper, too!
Apparently the original recipe calls for beef, but this tofu version was delicious. Tofu is a hard sell for my guys but I think I'll try it on them. Peppers are a piece of cake. They like those. We've had sausage and pepper pasta several times lately.
Stir-Fried Tofu and Peppers
I discovered this feature on the NY Times called "Recipes for Health," and I'm going to make a point of checking for new ones every couple of days. The next one I think I'll try is Pasta with Walnut Sauce and Broccoli Raab.
Today I hung out all day with Yogi Liz. We started with her morning yoga class and capped the day with her evening one. Both classes were an introduction to Yin Yoga, which I've been doing on my own for several months now. I may regret doing two in one day...I'll know tomorrow, that's for sure!
Apparently the original recipe calls for beef, but this tofu version was delicious. Tofu is a hard sell for my guys but I think I'll try it on them. Peppers are a piece of cake. They like those. We've had sausage and pepper pasta several times lately.
Stir-Fried Tofu and Peppers
I discovered this feature on the NY Times called "Recipes for Health," and I'm going to make a point of checking for new ones every couple of days. The next one I think I'll try is Pasta with Walnut Sauce and Broccoli Raab.
Today I hung out all day with Yogi Liz. We started with her morning yoga class and capped the day with her evening one. Both classes were an introduction to Yin Yoga, which I've been doing on my own for several months now. I may regret doing two in one day...I'll know tomorrow, that's for sure!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Glee!
I stumbled upon this show on Fox the other day and was instantly hooked. Here is the website.
An adorable Spanish teacher (Will, played by Matthew Morrison) decides he will take over the high school Glee club after the former teacher is dismissed. He was in the club when he was in high school and has those glory days stuck in his head. "Back when I was here at this high school, the Glee club ruled!" he proclaims to the student body at an assembly.
The Principal agrees to let him work with the club, but he has to PAY $60 a month to keep it going. And monitor detention for several months. He is up against a malevolent cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester, who is played by Jane Lynch of "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind," as well as many other comedies by Christopher Guest. Sue wants Glee to fail because her budget is cut to allow for some of the expenses. One showdown between Sue and will starts with:
"Sue: Iron tablet? It keeps your strength up when you menstruate.
Will: I don't menstruate.
Sue: Neither do I."
The music is fantastic and every character has something that makes you want to say they are your favorite. You've got to give this show a try. Go to Fox on Demand and watch each episode. The main problem I'm going to have is watching on TV. We don't have surround sound. But when I watch on my laptop I have a nice sound system with a subwoofer so the music really stands out.
An adorable Spanish teacher (Will, played by Matthew Morrison) decides he will take over the high school Glee club after the former teacher is dismissed. He was in the club when he was in high school and has those glory days stuck in his head. "Back when I was here at this high school, the Glee club ruled!" he proclaims to the student body at an assembly.
The Principal agrees to let him work with the club, but he has to PAY $60 a month to keep it going. And monitor detention for several months. He is up against a malevolent cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester, who is played by Jane Lynch of "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind," as well as many other comedies by Christopher Guest. Sue wants Glee to fail because her budget is cut to allow for some of the expenses. One showdown between Sue and will starts with:
"Sue: Iron tablet? It keeps your strength up when you menstruate.
Will: I don't menstruate.
Sue: Neither do I."
The music is fantastic and every character has something that makes you want to say they are your favorite. You've got to give this show a try. Go to Fox on Demand and watch each episode. The main problem I'm going to have is watching on TV. We don't have surround sound. But when I watch on my laptop I have a nice sound system with a subwoofer so the music really stands out.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
"I Don't Know about Tomorrow
I just live from day to day."
The words to an old Gospel hymn by Ira Stanphill, circa 1950.
Recently we've had a lot of things happen at our house. Complicated stuff. Nothing life-threatening, mind you. So don't worry about that. We've just found ourselves in situations where we are given opportunity to help some guys who have needed us.
We feel fortunate that we can help. Fortunate that we have the means to help.
But a question I get asked by friends and family is "what are your long range plans in this situation?"
Yesterday I felt kind of beaten down by that question. It's a reasonable one, but one I just could not answer. It's a question that I myself would normally would be asking. I'm a planner, a plotter, an organizer. And so my lack of a plan, and being asked about having one, kind of weighed on me. I began to feel inadequate because I don't have one.
But after talking it out, praying it out, thinking it out, I've come to the conclusion that, for now, it's best to just not have one. To just roll with the punches. To take each day...each minute...as it comes.
"I don't know
About tomorrow
I just live from day to day
And I don't borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to gray
And I don't worry about my future
For I know what Jesus said
And today He walks beside me
For He knows what lies ahead
Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to under-understand
But I, I know, I know, I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds, who holds my hand
Oh yeah, yeah, yes, hey, yes
Who holds my hand"
The words to an old Gospel hymn by Ira Stanphill, circa 1950.
Recently we've had a lot of things happen at our house. Complicated stuff. Nothing life-threatening, mind you. So don't worry about that. We've just found ourselves in situations where we are given opportunity to help some guys who have needed us.
We feel fortunate that we can help. Fortunate that we have the means to help.
But a question I get asked by friends and family is "what are your long range plans in this situation?"
Yesterday I felt kind of beaten down by that question. It's a reasonable one, but one I just could not answer. It's a question that I myself would normally would be asking. I'm a planner, a plotter, an organizer. And so my lack of a plan, and being asked about having one, kind of weighed on me. I began to feel inadequate because I don't have one.
But after talking it out, praying it out, thinking it out, I've come to the conclusion that, for now, it's best to just not have one. To just roll with the punches. To take each day...each minute...as it comes.
"I don't know
About tomorrow
I just live from day to day
And I don't borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to gray
And I don't worry about my future
For I know what Jesus said
And today He walks beside me
For He knows what lies ahead
Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to under-understand
But I, I know, I know, I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds, who holds my hand
Oh yeah, yeah, yes, hey, yes
Who holds my hand"
Monday, September 07, 2009
Begin day: Yoga. End Day: Yoga
That might have been too much. I think I will need to take a day off tomorrow. I am sore. It's a pleasant soreness that tells you that you have been working out, but this soreness also tells me "Hey! I could really use a rest here!" And so I will.
My friend Terri has taken to calling my left foot the "foot of doom." I think that's pretty funny. And the humor has helped me to let go of frustrations with it. Actually, the foot has been getting better and better and really has not bothered my yoga practice too much this past week. I just have a lingering wish that I could stop the anti-inflammatory medication. It's keeping me from sleeping very well. It kind of jazzes me up. Not really much, but just enough to keep me from sleeping for very long.
Mensa Boy's knee took a turn for the worst yesterday morning and he's been a little miserable. But now this afternoon he said it started to feel a bit better too, so he's going to do some of his physical therapy exercises here in a bit.
Wow, this turned all medical all of a sudden. What am I? 80?
My friend Terri has taken to calling my left foot the "foot of doom." I think that's pretty funny. And the humor has helped me to let go of frustrations with it. Actually, the foot has been getting better and better and really has not bothered my yoga practice too much this past week. I just have a lingering wish that I could stop the anti-inflammatory medication. It's keeping me from sleeping very well. It kind of jazzes me up. Not really much, but just enough to keep me from sleeping for very long.
Mensa Boy's knee took a turn for the worst yesterday morning and he's been a little miserable. But now this afternoon he said it started to feel a bit better too, so he's going to do some of his physical therapy exercises here in a bit.
Wow, this turned all medical all of a sudden. What am I? 80?
Saturday, September 05, 2009
A Fun, Soul-Satisfying Day
It was, it was. A soul-satisfying day.
Two yoga classes this morning. The first was an hour long and was primarily moon salutations. Those are hard work if you want them to be. And I did, so it was. After a 45 minute break, the second class began. That is a 90 minute class and we did several rather yin-like poses, where you sink into a pose and then hold it for a few minutes. There were yang bits, which were primarily standing poses like the warriors and triangle. But the yin bits were very timely for me, since I was tired from the first class and had run out of time to eat anything for breakfast that morning. Yogi Liz has a very soothing voice, which is pleasant to listen and relax to. That voice has become all the sweeter for me this summer too, as it is now not just the voice of my teacher, but also the voice of my friend. I had a very hard time rousing myself from Savasana in both classes as a result.
The afternoon began with a very nice lunch of leftover steak in a salad of greens, organic tomato and croutons I made from a stale croissant, dressed with blue cheese dressing. Then a nice nap.
After the nap Mensa Boy and I ventured out to Target, World Market and Harris Teeter. It was a fairly quick trip, as his knee was pretty sore. After we returned, I put a loaf of bread in the oven and changed for a hike in the woods with Liz, her son Jared and their dog Rusty. We tramped around for more than hour, battling spider webs, sticky plants and bugs. We decided we'll do it again when the leaves are starting to change.
For supper Liz made a frittata and we had naan, which we made out of the same bread dough recipe we've both been using for bread. I think I've found a new obsession in naan. It was delicious and easy and we stuffed ourselves silly with it, washing that and the frittata down with a Muscato Blanco from California. We ate this sitting on their lovely screened-in porch, which hangs out into the woods behind their home. We listened to the ciccadas and cats and the occasional neighborhood dog. We capped the evening watching 6-year-old Jared play Wii mini golf for a bit.
And now it's 10 p.m. and there are still two days left of the weekend. Cool.
Two yoga classes this morning. The first was an hour long and was primarily moon salutations. Those are hard work if you want them to be. And I did, so it was. After a 45 minute break, the second class began. That is a 90 minute class and we did several rather yin-like poses, where you sink into a pose and then hold it for a few minutes. There were yang bits, which were primarily standing poses like the warriors and triangle. But the yin bits were very timely for me, since I was tired from the first class and had run out of time to eat anything for breakfast that morning. Yogi Liz has a very soothing voice, which is pleasant to listen and relax to. That voice has become all the sweeter for me this summer too, as it is now not just the voice of my teacher, but also the voice of my friend. I had a very hard time rousing myself from Savasana in both classes as a result.
The afternoon began with a very nice lunch of leftover steak in a salad of greens, organic tomato and croutons I made from a stale croissant, dressed with blue cheese dressing. Then a nice nap.
After the nap Mensa Boy and I ventured out to Target, World Market and Harris Teeter. It was a fairly quick trip, as his knee was pretty sore. After we returned, I put a loaf of bread in the oven and changed for a hike in the woods with Liz, her son Jared and their dog Rusty. We tramped around for more than hour, battling spider webs, sticky plants and bugs. We decided we'll do it again when the leaves are starting to change.
For supper Liz made a frittata and we had naan, which we made out of the same bread dough recipe we've both been using for bread. I think I've found a new obsession in naan. It was delicious and easy and we stuffed ourselves silly with it, washing that and the frittata down with a Muscato Blanco from California. We ate this sitting on their lovely screened-in porch, which hangs out into the woods behind their home. We listened to the ciccadas and cats and the occasional neighborhood dog. We capped the evening watching 6-year-old Jared play Wii mini golf for a bit.
And now it's 10 p.m. and there are still two days left of the weekend. Cool.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
I Have No Idea How to Title This
Today's recap:
We left for Mensa Boy's knee surgery (torn medial meniscus) at about 8:15, dropping Taylor at school. As we pulled out of driveway, we stopped and said goodbye to Nate, who was packing for his move back to Erskine.
The surgery went well. I think MB had more fun than I did. The surgery center waiting room was a bit of a zoo this morning...have I mentioned how much I had places like that? And wondered aloud why everywhere we go there must be TV showing tabloid journalism? It was a bit like a bus stop in there and I still feel a little of that bus-stop style grime on my person.
While there, I fielded phone calls from Nate about his room situation at Erskine. Somehow, they neglected to give him and his roommate a room. Huh. The guys had emails from Erskine this summer with their room assignments. They had both paid fees. It was not pretty. Nate vacillated between wanting to explode and sinking into despair. He gutted out the day, living out of his car and talking to me on the phone and texting Erin. Finally around 2 they got a room in the freshman dorm with a promise to be on the waiting list for an upperclassmen one.
MB's surgery went well. Before they took him in they gave him the happy juice in the IV and I commented that his eyes were starting to roll around in opposite directions. "must....save...world..." he muttered. After the surgery was over the nurse said "He was good. Happy. Smiled a lot." I told her he's that way all the time.
On the way home with a prescription for Demerol, we decided to have it filled at our Harris Teeter. I would pick up a sandwich and MB looked forward to going into the store because he always wanted to ride in the little carts. But HT's pharmacy said it's against SC law for them to fill scrips signed by a physician's assistant. YIKES! By this time I was just tired and hungry and anxious to get the scrip before MB's pain set in. So I dropped him at home, and drove back up into NC to get that filled. Have I mentioned how much I dislike CVS pharmacy? They are a study in slowwwww. I did get a good meal though, finally. I ate at the Amazing Wok while I waited the 40 minutes to get the Demerol.
So now we are all home. I have some chicken stock cooking from bones from Sunday and we'll have a light soup supper and settle in with the tube.
We left for Mensa Boy's knee surgery (torn medial meniscus) at about 8:15, dropping Taylor at school. As we pulled out of driveway, we stopped and said goodbye to Nate, who was packing for his move back to Erskine.
The surgery went well. I think MB had more fun than I did. The surgery center waiting room was a bit of a zoo this morning...have I mentioned how much I had places like that? And wondered aloud why everywhere we go there must be TV showing tabloid journalism? It was a bit like a bus stop in there and I still feel a little of that bus-stop style grime on my person.
While there, I fielded phone calls from Nate about his room situation at Erskine. Somehow, they neglected to give him and his roommate a room. Huh. The guys had emails from Erskine this summer with their room assignments. They had both paid fees. It was not pretty. Nate vacillated between wanting to explode and sinking into despair. He gutted out the day, living out of his car and talking to me on the phone and texting Erin. Finally around 2 they got a room in the freshman dorm with a promise to be on the waiting list for an upperclassmen one.
MB's surgery went well. Before they took him in they gave him the happy juice in the IV and I commented that his eyes were starting to roll around in opposite directions. "must....save...world..." he muttered. After the surgery was over the nurse said "He was good. Happy. Smiled a lot." I told her he's that way all the time.
On the way home with a prescription for Demerol, we decided to have it filled at our Harris Teeter. I would pick up a sandwich and MB looked forward to going into the store because he always wanted to ride in the little carts. But HT's pharmacy said it's against SC law for them to fill scrips signed by a physician's assistant. YIKES! By this time I was just tired and hungry and anxious to get the scrip before MB's pain set in. So I dropped him at home, and drove back up into NC to get that filled. Have I mentioned how much I dislike CVS pharmacy? They are a study in slowwwww. I did get a good meal though, finally. I ate at the Amazing Wok while I waited the 40 minutes to get the Demerol.
So now we are all home. I have some chicken stock cooking from bones from Sunday and we'll have a light soup supper and settle in with the tube.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Riley at Lander University
It's been a wild ride getting Riley ready for school this past week. And none of it would have been possible without the help of our church and other friends.
Riley is part of Nate's group of friends. He has been living with a family on the other side of our neighborhood off and on for the past year. He's an unaccompanied youth...the official term.
This summer Riley came to me and asked for help getting everything squared around at Lander in Greenwood, SC. He'd been accepted quite late...July 27...and wasn't sure what to do because he had missed deadlines for orientation and housing applications, etc. He also did not have financial aid package.
And I noticed that he couldn't see. Glasses were broke, last contact ripped. No transportation...his friends drove him to work and back.
With the help of Dr. Long, O.D. we got him fixed up with glasses. Hope Carter, his financial aid officer at Lander, helped us with his financial aid. Chandler Darling, Asst Director of Housing at Lander, helped us with the housing waiting list. Belair United Methodist Church gave him $1666 to put on his tuition bill and cover textbooks for the next year. Many friends came forward with dorm room supplies.
Riley is now (unofficially) our third son. We'll be his permanent address and emergency contacts. He'll stay with us during breaks and visits back to Indian Land. Lander is about 30 minutes from Erskine so Nate will be his transportation and overall helpmate. We feel very fortunate to have Riley as part of our lives. He's a very nice, gentle young man with a soft voice and calm personality. He's quite independent, just needing a little assistance every once in while with complicated stuff. The boy owns his own pots and pans!
So. The wild ride part. Here's where the entry can get long.
On Tuesday or Wednesday Riley had been told that he didn't have a dorm room assignment. He was on a waiting list. He thought he was going to have to just stay home. He had no idea what to do next. So I called Gayle Summey, our pastor, who is also from the Greenwood area. She put me in touch with the director of the Wesley Foundation on Lander's campus. Within a couple of days we had the name and phone number of a family that would take Riley into their home for a few days and provide him transportation to and from campus.
So we decided we would take him Sunday night since freshman orientation is Monday. I also emailed Chandler Darling to ask her if anything could be done to help Riley, due to his status as an unaccompanied youth. It was funny how I picked her. I went to the Lander website and there was a photo of all the housing people. I just liked how she looked. And she wasn't the top gun...I never think it's really good to go straight to the top. She's second in command. So I emailed her and she emailed back that same night. She thanked me for bringing his status to her attention. She couldn't promise anything but they'd consider it.
Saturday morning I sat down at my computer at 6:30. At 6:52 an email came in from Lander. It was a copy of an email they'd just sent Riley telling him they had a dorm assignment! I was so excited I ran into Riley's room and jumped on him as he slept. So we scrambled around and got the van packed to move him. None of us, including Riley, had ever been to the campus and we had no idea what the dorms were like, so we packed everything as though he were moving into something similar to Nate's room at Erskine.
Nate, Riley, and their friend Mitchell followed in Nate's car and we made the trip. It's about 3 hours.
When we arrived we found that Riley had been assigned to an upperclassman apartment right across from the main complex of buildings. Each apartment has four students in it. There is a small living room, bath, and full kitchen with refrigerator, microwave and stove. We found one bedroom locked so we moved him into the other room.
Then we headed out for lunch. When we came back we found the occupant of the locked bedroom there. It turned out he's also a freshman...he's from Clinton, which is about 30 minutes from school. Riley's apartment key is supposed to open his bedroom door, so that's why that door was locked. Riley was supposed to share the left bedroom with Daniel and there will be two other students in the right bedroom. AHA!
So when we left Daniel and Riley were getting acquainted and Riley was going to see if he could get the key problem resolved. He'll move his stuff across the hall then.
I felt sad as we pulled away from Lander. I was a little sad when we took Nate to Erskine last year, but not quite as much as leaving Riley. I knew Nate had a car, needed to get away from Indian Land, and would call us anytime he needed help. But Riley doesn't have a car and he never asks for help. He also is new enough to living with us that I'm worried he may not call if he needs something. But by the same token, he's more independent than Nate. More of a problem solver. He'll be okay. I'll be okay.
Riley is part of Nate's group of friends. He has been living with a family on the other side of our neighborhood off and on for the past year. He's an unaccompanied youth...the official term.
This summer Riley came to me and asked for help getting everything squared around at Lander in Greenwood, SC. He'd been accepted quite late...July 27...and wasn't sure what to do because he had missed deadlines for orientation and housing applications, etc. He also did not have financial aid package.
And I noticed that he couldn't see. Glasses were broke, last contact ripped. No transportation...his friends drove him to work and back.
With the help of Dr. Long, O.D. we got him fixed up with glasses. Hope Carter, his financial aid officer at Lander, helped us with his financial aid. Chandler Darling, Asst Director of Housing at Lander, helped us with the housing waiting list. Belair United Methodist Church gave him $1666 to put on his tuition bill and cover textbooks for the next year. Many friends came forward with dorm room supplies.
Riley is now (unofficially) our third son. We'll be his permanent address and emergency contacts. He'll stay with us during breaks and visits back to Indian Land. Lander is about 30 minutes from Erskine so Nate will be his transportation and overall helpmate. We feel very fortunate to have Riley as part of our lives. He's a very nice, gentle young man with a soft voice and calm personality. He's quite independent, just needing a little assistance every once in while with complicated stuff. The boy owns his own pots and pans!
So. The wild ride part. Here's where the entry can get long.
On Tuesday or Wednesday Riley had been told that he didn't have a dorm room assignment. He was on a waiting list. He thought he was going to have to just stay home. He had no idea what to do next. So I called Gayle Summey, our pastor, who is also from the Greenwood area. She put me in touch with the director of the Wesley Foundation on Lander's campus. Within a couple of days we had the name and phone number of a family that would take Riley into their home for a few days and provide him transportation to and from campus.
So we decided we would take him Sunday night since freshman orientation is Monday. I also emailed Chandler Darling to ask her if anything could be done to help Riley, due to his status as an unaccompanied youth. It was funny how I picked her. I went to the Lander website and there was a photo of all the housing people. I just liked how she looked. And she wasn't the top gun...I never think it's really good to go straight to the top. She's second in command. So I emailed her and she emailed back that same night. She thanked me for bringing his status to her attention. She couldn't promise anything but they'd consider it.
Saturday morning I sat down at my computer at 6:30. At 6:52 an email came in from Lander. It was a copy of an email they'd just sent Riley telling him they had a dorm assignment! I was so excited I ran into Riley's room and jumped on him as he slept. So we scrambled around and got the van packed to move him. None of us, including Riley, had ever been to the campus and we had no idea what the dorms were like, so we packed everything as though he were moving into something similar to Nate's room at Erskine.
Nate, Riley, and their friend Mitchell followed in Nate's car and we made the trip. It's about 3 hours.
When we arrived we found that Riley had been assigned to an upperclassman apartment right across from the main complex of buildings. Each apartment has four students in it. There is a small living room, bath, and full kitchen with refrigerator, microwave and stove. We found one bedroom locked so we moved him into the other room.
Then we headed out for lunch. When we came back we found the occupant of the locked bedroom there. It turned out he's also a freshman...he's from Clinton, which is about 30 minutes from school. Riley's apartment key is supposed to open his bedroom door, so that's why that door was locked. Riley was supposed to share the left bedroom with Daniel and there will be two other students in the right bedroom. AHA!
So when we left Daniel and Riley were getting acquainted and Riley was going to see if he could get the key problem resolved. He'll move his stuff across the hall then.
I felt sad as we pulled away from Lander. I was a little sad when we took Nate to Erskine last year, but not quite as much as leaving Riley. I knew Nate had a car, needed to get away from Indian Land, and would call us anytime he needed help. But Riley doesn't have a car and he never asks for help. He also is new enough to living with us that I'm worried he may not call if he needs something. But by the same token, he's more independent than Nate. More of a problem solver. He'll be okay. I'll be okay.
Family Dinner: BC
Before
College
This dinner took place Thursday night. We had a big taco night with all the kids.
That's Erin, Nate's girlfriend, there behind Mensa Boy. She has actually started college now. She's attending USCL and has classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Nate, of course, is next to her. He goes back to Erskine on Tuesday.
On the other side of me is Riley. We took him to Lander yesterday. I'll tell more about his college odyssey in my next post.
Taylor, naturally.
And in the forefront is Mitchell. He's a USCL student too but is taking a semester off to work.
We had a blast with everyone around the table passing bits and pieces of taco fixings and of course they all talk video game jargon so most of the time Mensa Boy and I just smile politely and nod.
College
This dinner took place Thursday night. We had a big taco night with all the kids.
That's Erin, Nate's girlfriend, there behind Mensa Boy. She has actually started college now. She's attending USCL and has classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Nate, of course, is next to her. He goes back to Erskine on Tuesday.
On the other side of me is Riley. We took him to Lander yesterday. I'll tell more about his college odyssey in my next post.
Taylor, naturally.
And in the forefront is Mitchell. He's a USCL student too but is taking a semester off to work.
We had a blast with everyone around the table passing bits and pieces of taco fixings and of course they all talk video game jargon so most of the time Mensa Boy and I just smile politely and nod.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Inspired by Julie/Julia by way of Yogi Liz
So. I saw the fantastic movie, "Julie/Julia." And it turns out buddy Yogi Liz also saw it the same weekend, several states away.
Liz said she was inspired by the movie to pull out her vegetarian cookbook and start cooking from it every day. I know what she made the first two days, but haven't asked what might be today's meal.
So I says to myself I says, "Well, I've got a cookbook I asked for and haven't cooked one single thing out of it. It's "The New Moosewood Cookbook." Now, anyone who has read my blogs at all since 2003 will know I could never get by with going vegetarian every day. And I also don't like to get stuck in some sort of culinary routine. Even if it meant something different every day. I have food commitment issues. But I figured it couldn't hurt to try to cook some stuff from this cookbook.
So here it is, page 3, first recipe, "Cream of Asparagus Soup"
2 lbs fresh asparagus
1 1/2 Tbsp butter
2 cups chopped onion
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp flour
2 cups water
2 cups hot milk
2 tsp dill
1/2 tsp tarragon
White pepper to taste
Break off and discard the tough asparagus bottoms. Slice off the tips and set them aside. Chop the remaining stalks into 1-inch pieces.
Melt the butter in a medium-sized skillet. (I ended up dumping it into a larger skillet. Go ahead and just start with the larger one) Add onion, asparagus stalks, and salt. Saute for about 20 minutes over medium heat. When the onions are clear and soft, sprinkle in 2 Tbsp flour, while stirring constantly. Continue to cook over the lowest possible heat, stirring frequently, another 5 to 8 minutes.
Add water, stirring constantly. Heat to a boil, then turn down to a simmer. After about 5 minutes, sprinkle in the remaining 1 Tbsp flour, mixing well. Cook another 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Puree the soup with the milk, bit by bit, in a food processor or blender. Return the puree to a kettle or large saucepan, and season with dill, tarragon, and white pepper.
Cut the reserved asparagus tips into small pieces, and steam until just tender. Add these to the soup, heat very gently (don't cook or boil), and serve immediately.
We had some stale bagels lying around, so we toasted those and buttered them for a crunchy side. The only thing I'd change is less dill. I did not have dried, but I had fresh. It was just too dilly. But then, neither of us are big fans. I wouldn't leave it out altogether, though.
This recipes makes 4 or 5 servings. When we called the guys and Erin to the table, we told them it was asparagus soup. "Oh, we're fine," they all said. Good. More for us!
Liz said she was inspired by the movie to pull out her vegetarian cookbook and start cooking from it every day. I know what she made the first two days, but haven't asked what might be today's meal.
So I says to myself I says, "Well, I've got a cookbook I asked for and haven't cooked one single thing out of it. It's "The New Moosewood Cookbook." Now, anyone who has read my blogs at all since 2003 will know I could never get by with going vegetarian every day. And I also don't like to get stuck in some sort of culinary routine. Even if it meant something different every day. I have food commitment issues. But I figured it couldn't hurt to try to cook some stuff from this cookbook.
So here it is, page 3, first recipe, "Cream of Asparagus Soup"
2 lbs fresh asparagus
1 1/2 Tbsp butter
2 cups chopped onion
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp flour
2 cups water
2 cups hot milk
2 tsp dill
1/2 tsp tarragon
White pepper to taste
Break off and discard the tough asparagus bottoms. Slice off the tips and set them aside. Chop the remaining stalks into 1-inch pieces.
Melt the butter in a medium-sized skillet. (I ended up dumping it into a larger skillet. Go ahead and just start with the larger one) Add onion, asparagus stalks, and salt. Saute for about 20 minutes over medium heat. When the onions are clear and soft, sprinkle in 2 Tbsp flour, while stirring constantly. Continue to cook over the lowest possible heat, stirring frequently, another 5 to 8 minutes.
Add water, stirring constantly. Heat to a boil, then turn down to a simmer. After about 5 minutes, sprinkle in the remaining 1 Tbsp flour, mixing well. Cook another 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Puree the soup with the milk, bit by bit, in a food processor or blender. Return the puree to a kettle or large saucepan, and season with dill, tarragon, and white pepper.
Cut the reserved asparagus tips into small pieces, and steam until just tender. Add these to the soup, heat very gently (don't cook or boil), and serve immediately.
We had some stale bagels lying around, so we toasted those and buttered them for a crunchy side. The only thing I'd change is less dill. I did not have dried, but I had fresh. It was just too dilly. But then, neither of us are big fans. I wouldn't leave it out altogether, though.
This recipes makes 4 or 5 servings. When we called the guys and Erin to the table, we told them it was asparagus soup. "Oh, we're fine," they all said. Good. More for us!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
The Fish Market in Baxter
It was girls night out last night and we went to the Fish Market in Baxter. I'd never been there. But I can tell you, I'll go back again and again in a heartbeat. I thought about my sister a lot while I was there because she loves to go to good seafood restaurants.
Pricey, though. My salad was $6, my scallop dish was $19 and then we had creme brulee. With a tip, my own single meal ran me $40. And it would have been a lot more if I'd had to pay for my wine. But girlfriend Jennifer had a coupon for a free bottle of wine. I still feel guilty about paying that much out of our family's budget for a meal for just me. I won't do that very often. I think the guys ate sandwiches last night. Of course, they were probably as happy with that as I was with my scallops.
I have to tell you, I rarely order scallops because they have to be cooked exactly right. And these were. There was a delicious sauce on them, which I'll have to look up because I can't remember but it was some kind of fruit. They were served with lightly steamed whole green beans and nice bed of spaghetti sauce cushioned them on the plate. NIRVANA!
Gotta run.
Pricey, though. My salad was $6, my scallop dish was $19 and then we had creme brulee. With a tip, my own single meal ran me $40. And it would have been a lot more if I'd had to pay for my wine. But girlfriend Jennifer had a coupon for a free bottle of wine. I still feel guilty about paying that much out of our family's budget for a meal for just me. I won't do that very often. I think the guys ate sandwiches last night. Of course, they were probably as happy with that as I was with my scallops.
I have to tell you, I rarely order scallops because they have to be cooked exactly right. And these were. There was a delicious sauce on them, which I'll have to look up because I can't remember but it was some kind of fruit. They were served with lightly steamed whole green beans and nice bed of spaghetti sauce cushioned them on the plate. NIRVANA!
Gotta run.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Sock Drawer Wars
It wasn't really a war. More like an insurgency, if you think about it.
Mensa Boy was out of town. Some of his very nice SmartWool socks were in the wash. When they came through the process, they "ended up" in my drawer. They are very nice socks. Very comfy especially when one is wearing a special shoe on one's BROKEN FOOT.
But. I was busted. Yesterday I lost my attention and opened my drawer while MB was standing nearby. He spotted the migrant socks right away.
"Uh, those socks. Can I have them back? Or do you need them for your foot?" he asked.
Sure. I could have played the BROKEN FOOT card. But I didn't. I would have felt too guilty.
Mensa Boy was out of town. Some of his very nice SmartWool socks were in the wash. When they came through the process, they "ended up" in my drawer. They are very nice socks. Very comfy especially when one is wearing a special shoe on one's BROKEN FOOT.
But. I was busted. Yesterday I lost my attention and opened my drawer while MB was standing nearby. He spotted the migrant socks right away.
"Uh, those socks. Can I have them back? Or do you need them for your foot?" he asked.
Sure. I could have played the BROKEN FOOT card. But I didn't. I would have felt too guilty.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Why I Still Think of Him as Sweetie Boy
Taylor has been quite sick this past 10 days. No complaining. Takes after his father. Just moping around coughing, not being a bother. He went to school the first day because he wouldn't dream of NOT.
At 1:30 he appeared in my office. Red in the face, low-grade fever, coughing, eyes glassy. Said he felt light-headed. I took him home. He was sad that he hadn't been able to stay to have his first class of building construction with Mark Bonda. Before we left I asked if he needed any books. He said he'd left them in his English class. So I went down there, knocked on the door, and asked about them. "They are right there, " she said, pointing to a seat.
"Would you get them for me?" I asked. "I don't want his classmates to know his mommy came to get his books."
And so she did.
After consulting with another mom in the building, I decided to take him to the doctor on Tuesday. It turns out he has sinusitis. So we went to Target and, while we waited for his prescription, we picked up the rest of his school supplies. One of the items he needed was an agenda.
As we were looking at all the agenda/planner choices (and there are a staggering number), we happened upon one that had school year dates, boxes big enough to write in, and yet the entire book would fit in his cargo pocket. "This is it!" he exclaimed. "We (the agenda and him) were meant for each other!"
He's so cute.
So on the way home I told him that I had made a point of not going into his classroom to get his books. I didn't want to embarrass him in front of his classmates.
"You wouldn't embarrass me, Mom," he said. "Everyone knows who you are and they all think you are cool."
(((melt)))
At 1:30 he appeared in my office. Red in the face, low-grade fever, coughing, eyes glassy. Said he felt light-headed. I took him home. He was sad that he hadn't been able to stay to have his first class of building construction with Mark Bonda. Before we left I asked if he needed any books. He said he'd left them in his English class. So I went down there, knocked on the door, and asked about them. "They are right there, " she said, pointing to a seat.
"Would you get them for me?" I asked. "I don't want his classmates to know his mommy came to get his books."
And so she did.
After consulting with another mom in the building, I decided to take him to the doctor on Tuesday. It turns out he has sinusitis. So we went to Target and, while we waited for his prescription, we picked up the rest of his school supplies. One of the items he needed was an agenda.
As we were looking at all the agenda/planner choices (and there are a staggering number), we happened upon one that had school year dates, boxes big enough to write in, and yet the entire book would fit in his cargo pocket. "This is it!" he exclaimed. "We (the agenda and him) were meant for each other!"
He's so cute.
So on the way home I told him that I had made a point of not going into his classroom to get his books. I didn't want to embarrass him in front of his classmates.
"You wouldn't embarrass me, Mom," he said. "Everyone knows who you are and they all think you are cool."
(((melt)))
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Apparently Unembarrassable
My boy. He started high school. Well actually he officially starts Monday. Friday was Freshman Orientation. They got their locks, they got their books, they visited teachers. They ate pizza.
Staff have been asking me if he will be horrified if I acknowledge his presence at school. Each time I've said that he and his brother have always seemed glad to see me there. In fact, they have, at times, asked me to come to school.
So I decided to test it out. "Watch this," I said to a staff member.
And I walked up to the lunch table where Taylor and 7 or 8 of his buddies were munching on pizzas. I squeezed my way in between Taylor and buddy Eric, curled my arms around their shoulders and said "HI!" In my perkiest voice.
They introduced me around the table. Each friend saying something to me.
Made me proud.
Staff have been asking me if he will be horrified if I acknowledge his presence at school. Each time I've said that he and his brother have always seemed glad to see me there. In fact, they have, at times, asked me to come to school.
So I decided to test it out. "Watch this," I said to a staff member.
And I walked up to the lunch table where Taylor and 7 or 8 of his buddies were munching on pizzas. I squeezed my way in between Taylor and buddy Eric, curled my arms around their shoulders and said "HI!" In my perkiest voice.
They introduced me around the table. Each friend saying something to me.
Made me proud.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Yoga: Definitely Not for Sissies Part II
Kundalini. Yup. That's the yoga style I spent an hour with this morning. And I think I'm still trying to catch my breath. I finished the DVD at 9:37 and it's now 10:09.
Yogi Liz brought me three DVDs that she thought I might like to try while I deal with this stoopid foot thing. One was on Yin, which I've been doing for some time now...usually on Sunday afternoons. One was Yoga Mind & Body, which is Erich Schiffmann, whose book I've been studying for some time now, and the third was a Kundalini DVD.
I really have not known anything at all about what Kundalini is. I've heard the word and that's pretty much it. But this morning I found out that it's a very intense floor practice involved breath and movement. The heart was definitely getting a good workout this morning.
After doing this practice, I feel much more optimistic about my ability to keep up my exercise while waiting for the foot to heal. It has definitely been hurting MORE now that it's in the walking shoe, but he warned me that would happen. What is NOT hurting more is the fracture. What IS hurting more is the plantar fasciitis, which has been acting up all summer because I've been walking around barefoot all the time.
So, I'll just do what I can. I probably won't go to too many classes because I think it's hard on the teacher to have someone that constantly needs accomodations, and it's distracting to the other students. I know pretty much for sure that I'm not going to the intermediate class tomorrow night. I may still go to Liz's classes because they are more for beginners. We'll see.
The short of it is that I feel better in my brain and am pretty much ready to stop mourning the foot and just move on.
Yogi Liz brought me three DVDs that she thought I might like to try while I deal with this stoopid foot thing. One was on Yin, which I've been doing for some time now...usually on Sunday afternoons. One was Yoga Mind & Body, which is Erich Schiffmann, whose book I've been studying for some time now, and the third was a Kundalini DVD.
I really have not known anything at all about what Kundalini is. I've heard the word and that's pretty much it. But this morning I found out that it's a very intense floor practice involved breath and movement. The heart was definitely getting a good workout this morning.
After doing this practice, I feel much more optimistic about my ability to keep up my exercise while waiting for the foot to heal. It has definitely been hurting MORE now that it's in the walking shoe, but he warned me that would happen. What is NOT hurting more is the fracture. What IS hurting more is the plantar fasciitis, which has been acting up all summer because I've been walking around barefoot all the time.
So, I'll just do what I can. I probably won't go to too many classes because I think it's hard on the teacher to have someone that constantly needs accomodations, and it's distracting to the other students. I know pretty much for sure that I'm not going to the intermediate class tomorrow night. I may still go to Liz's classes because they are more for beginners. We'll see.
The short of it is that I feel better in my brain and am pretty much ready to stop mourning the foot and just move on.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Whaat! No Jazz? Three Weeks You Say?
Yup. That's what he said. He actually said "3-4 weeks" but I have a selective obeying problem.
I have a stress fracture of the 3rd metatarsal on my left foot. I don't know how I did it. But it is my "landing foot" when I practice handstands. I could have just crunched that baby once, which might not have been so bad except that I've been pounding the feet all summer with yoga, jazz, hiking, dogwalking, etc.
So what's done is done. I am stylin' today with a navy blue velco shoe and a black "smart wool" sock. I am so glad Mensa Boy loves those socks. They should keep my foot dry in the hot, unforgiving environment in that shoe. I had to put an Birkenstock insole in there too because it's so flat that my plantar fasciitis is just screaming. The right foot is decked out as usual in my favorite black sandal and my toes are colored with the OPI shade called "I'm Not Really a Waitress." The main thing is that I know I'm going to wear long pants until this over. I'll feel way to conspicuous in shorts or crops.
I went to yoga last night after the appointment. My dear friend Liz is all about finding ways for anyone to do yoga no matter their issues. We did a great floor routine that worked the abs and back muscles. Almost no standing. A couple of down dogs, in which I just made sure my feet were flat on the floor and not flexed. It's great when you have such a compassionate, smart teacher.
This morning I go to the wild and wooly town of Lancaster. I'll be at the district office for the annual updates about computer systems and data entering student data. There are always little changes that happen in July when we roll to the new year.
It's been exciting at the school. Lots of new kids coming in. I thought the economy would slow that down, but apparently not. Sure, there are some coming back home after leaving the district. They are moving back to be with family again. But there are plenty of kids that are just moving here because Mom or Dad bought a house here. We will have an enormous freshman class. As of Tuesday night we had something like 186.
I have a stress fracture of the 3rd metatarsal on my left foot. I don't know how I did it. But it is my "landing foot" when I practice handstands. I could have just crunched that baby once, which might not have been so bad except that I've been pounding the feet all summer with yoga, jazz, hiking, dogwalking, etc.
So what's done is done. I am stylin' today with a navy blue velco shoe and a black "smart wool" sock. I am so glad Mensa Boy loves those socks. They should keep my foot dry in the hot, unforgiving environment in that shoe. I had to put an Birkenstock insole in there too because it's so flat that my plantar fasciitis is just screaming. The right foot is decked out as usual in my favorite black sandal and my toes are colored with the OPI shade called "I'm Not Really a Waitress." The main thing is that I know I'm going to wear long pants until this over. I'll feel way to conspicuous in shorts or crops.
I went to yoga last night after the appointment. My dear friend Liz is all about finding ways for anyone to do yoga no matter their issues. We did a great floor routine that worked the abs and back muscles. Almost no standing. A couple of down dogs, in which I just made sure my feet were flat on the floor and not flexed. It's great when you have such a compassionate, smart teacher.
This morning I go to the wild and wooly town of Lancaster. I'll be at the district office for the annual updates about computer systems and data entering student data. There are always little changes that happen in July when we roll to the new year.
It's been exciting at the school. Lots of new kids coming in. I thought the economy would slow that down, but apparently not. Sure, there are some coming back home after leaving the district. They are moving back to be with family again. But there are plenty of kids that are just moving here because Mom or Dad bought a house here. We will have an enormous freshman class. As of Tuesday night we had something like 186.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Connecting
Today is the first day of my regular school schedule: 7 - 3:30 or 4:00 (depending upon how long a lunch I take). I'm glad. The 10-hour days are just not that great. Usually I'm worn out by Friday and don't do much special that day.
But last Friday I did go hiking on the Anne Springs Close Greenway with my friend Liz. I posted some photos on Facebook of a few things we encountered while there. Our original plan was to kayak on Lake Haigler, but it started raining while we were hiking to the lake. So we ended up just hiking around in the woods for a while.
The kudzu is in bloom now and boy are those flowers pretty. And they smell so good! Kind of a cross between sweet peas and honeysuckle. I was amazed. I guess I'd never been close enough to kudzu to know that it even blossomed and flowered.
Saturday I did the jazz and yoga thing and then went to lunch with my friend Paula. My new favorite place to hang out is Back in Thyme in Fort Mill. I know they have a website but I can't find it right now. It's basically just an old house they've converted to a coffee shop. They also have sandwiches. I had a wonderful albacore tuna wrap. And I like their coffee. I have their house roast coffee with a double shot of espresso added. So far I've not sat inside the shop, but there are several rooms, all decorated comfortably. I like sitting on a little stepping-stone style patio that has a round table with an umbrella. The only drawback to that spot is that there seems to be an ant home underneath it.
Sunday was church and then Cassie and I went for supper in Ballantyne to a cafe called "Sweet Tea Cafe." It was quite good. There are several little restaurants cropping up around the area where the Catholic church is.
So it was a busy weekend, full of opportunities to connect with friends before buckling down to 205 more days of work! And speaking of that...it's time to go!
But last Friday I did go hiking on the Anne Springs Close Greenway with my friend Liz. I posted some photos on Facebook of a few things we encountered while there. Our original plan was to kayak on Lake Haigler, but it started raining while we were hiking to the lake. So we ended up just hiking around in the woods for a while.
The kudzu is in bloom now and boy are those flowers pretty. And they smell so good! Kind of a cross between sweet peas and honeysuckle. I was amazed. I guess I'd never been close enough to kudzu to know that it even blossomed and flowered.
Saturday I did the jazz and yoga thing and then went to lunch with my friend Paula. My new favorite place to hang out is Back in Thyme in Fort Mill. I know they have a website but I can't find it right now. It's basically just an old house they've converted to a coffee shop. They also have sandwiches. I had a wonderful albacore tuna wrap. And I like their coffee. I have their house roast coffee with a double shot of espresso added. So far I've not sat inside the shop, but there are several rooms, all decorated comfortably. I like sitting on a little stepping-stone style patio that has a round table with an umbrella. The only drawback to that spot is that there seems to be an ant home underneath it.
Sunday was church and then Cassie and I went for supper in Ballantyne to a cafe called "Sweet Tea Cafe." It was quite good. There are several little restaurants cropping up around the area where the Catholic church is.
So it was a busy weekend, full of opportunities to connect with friends before buckling down to 205 more days of work! And speaking of that...it's time to go!
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