Bacon in the morning, bacon in the evening, bacon at suppertime...

I must confess, it's been going on for so many years and it's finally time for me to come clean....I've been having a love affair...shhhh... don't tell Roger, this is just between you and me. He's probably had a clue on more than one occasion, the scent of my love lingering in the air, the smile on my lips after a quick secret rendezvous in the kitchen, my refusal as I shake my head and push away his offerings trying to disguise the satiated glow on my face...I can no longer hide this secret passion of mine.....my lusting after bacon is finally out in the open...and the sad, sad truth of the matter, the thing I feared most is going to happen...I have to share my bacon with him now, there's just no getting around it :(

Since I am all about the confessions today, I may as well own up to one of my other HUGE faults...I don't share my favorite foods very well...and I never have. Yes, I will pull the normal adult-humans-trying-to-justify-their-faults card, and say it's a result of being one of six kids in a large family whose special food treats in life were far and few between. At least that's how this little kid perceived the situation and I'm really not exaggerating all that much when I say we had very little bacon in our house as we were growing up.

Along with being deprived of some of my other favorite foods like fried chicken, chocolate, nuts and hard cheese...bacon did not become my secret lover until I was an adult and found my own way through the grocery store and began to pay for the food that I ate. Not only was bacon a bit on the expensive side for the quantity that I chose to eat, it was pretty darn messy to cook and I've never been very fond of cleaning up greasy pans in the kitchen. Then came the invention of the microwave that allowed you to cook bacon with no fuss and no muss on a paper plate with paper towels to soak up the grease. Guess what, I went right out and bought me one of those new fangled $780 bacon cooking machines and quickly became addicted to the crunchy, salty flavor of my favorite form of pig...and so the affair began. You may be thinking, holy crap...who in their right mind pays that much money for a microwave (it was 1979 and that thing weighed 75lbs and was a huge monstrosity at 30x20), however, we had no choice of models at the PX in Germany, so we put one on lay-a-way, and paid it off just about the same time we took Stacey home from the hospital.


This paid for itself many times over and still worked when we moved on to a smaller more powerful model many years later--I loved my first microwave!

What new mom doesn't need a time saving appliance to help around the kitchen? My daughter-in-law Taryn's favorite coffee maker crapped out the day she brought Hopper home, and has since been making due with daily runs to the Starbucks around the corner.

So where was I.....oh yeah, me and bacon...I LOVED IT, I ATE IT....and then I found out all that fat was not good for me....HUH????? Now that's just not fair :(. I did indulge throughout our child-rearing years, but kept my lusting ways under wraps for the most part. And being someone who was always conscious of eating healthy, I denied myself the pleasure of delicious bacon for years. Flash forward to 2000 when we moved to Florida and reintroduced ourselves to the world of cruising and the much-loved idea of breakfast buffets. Although I almost always abstained at home, I allowed myself the treat while on vacation and was in heaven every single morning of each cruise, as I gazed longingly at those huge piles of crispy all-you-can-eat bacon....and I DID, at every opportunity. Just imagine how much fun I had on our transatlantic cruises with 12 mornings in a row of heaping plates of my favorite breakfast food. I'd run up to the buffet early, just as the sun was peaking over the horizon, to fill up a plate and take it back to the cabin to enjoy out on the balcony, while I watched the miles of Atlantic Ocean disappear behind the ship.




Just me and my bacon making memories to last a lifetime...in case you are wondering, the subterfuge began many years ago on that very first cruise ship when I would leave a sleeping husband behind in the cabin as I'd make my way through the buffet line. He was never the wiser and often times I'd join him later in the morning for a second breakfast with yet another serving of....you guessed it....bacon :)

Interestingly enough, even with such an abnormally large consumption of bacon over the course of each of our cruises, all that extra fat didn't seem to be causing me to gain weight. Could the nutritional researchers and the government have been wrong all along...was bacon and animal fat good for you???? Here I had been denying myself all these years and come to find out, I really didn't have to skimp on the bacon servings. As the honor bound consumer that I am, I've made up for lost years of eating my beloved bacon and cook it now at every opportunity.



Some mornings I eat traditional bacon and eggs with my own personal twist by adding greens

Apparently I've passed my love of bacon to our children, in particular my son and I share our passion for finding organic, humanly raised pigs to source our bacon. I love bacon at any time of day, and have been known to wrap it up with some avocado in a lettuce leaf for a quick snack. In most instances for Brian, it's a breakfast choice, and the bacon fat left over in the pan is a prized possession set aside for cooking later in the day. Yes, he is a good cook and appears to enjoy preparing food and taking a turn in the kitchen to feed his family. Stacey loves to cook and is also extremely comfortable and competent in the kitchen, but that's a story for another day.

Now that I have finally opened up the door to introduce you to my "hidden" secret, I thought you might be interested in seeing first hand, my morning ritual of "loving/cooking and eating the pork"


Whole Foods in a pinch when I'm out of Amos' good farm fresh pork--thank goodness on Monday we fill up the freezer again!



Brian introduced me to this thick variety


I like to chop it, cooks easier in the pan



A seasoned cast iron frying pan...nothing better




Spatter shield...always important!





My favorite green to cook up with bacon...it gets just as crispy as the bacon if you find the right variety



Chopped up into bite size pieces



The bacon is almost done...



Snap crackle and pop--the water in the Kale reacts to the hot grease




And it's quickly fried up and ready to eat


Time for breakfast!!!

So when you are thinking about cooking up a yummy meal any time of the day...just remember...bacon in the morning...bacon in the evening...bacon at suppertime...it's all good!

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Everything's betta with butta! Episode 1

So back in March, when I took an obvious but unexpected hiatus from writing this blog, a very simple decision I made one day, resulted in me taking a good hard look at something I had always taken for granted...my love-hate relationship with the f-word....FAT!!!! Not body fat...but instead food fat....which many believe are one in the same...but are they really??? For as long as I can remember, we've been conditioned to turn and run the other way, when we were faced with full-fat food options....do I choose healthy (low-fat) or unhealthy (full-fat)??? Well, even though I don't have any complicated weight issues, I'm still very conscious about what I eat and unbeknownst to me.....I've recently come to find out, we've been doing it ALL wrong for a very long time.

After months of research, an almost 180 degree reversal of how I previously viewed food, and a radical change in our shopping and eating habits, I've finally decided to begin writing about this new addition to our culinary life. We've reintroduced ourselves to the wonderfully delicious world of whole fat organic foods. I had actually considered starting an entirely different blog related just to food, (entitled what I instead chose for today's title and future episodes) and then I realized that eating isn't actually a separate part of my life. Try cutting the idea of the consumption of food from the rest of what happens to us on a daily basis...and you are missing a large portion of who we are as human beings. Not only does food sustain me 24 hours a day, it is my lifeblood and allows me to to sit here forming ideas in my head as I write. What made me think that this subject needed and/or warranted it's own individual "stream of consciousness" forum. I've written about food before during my daily ramblings...and even dedicated an entire travel blog to the food I consumed on a European cruise...quite frankly that's more than enough in my book. If the food lover in me can't quietly (yikes, did I just use the word quiet to describe something about me????) continue to co-exist with the writer/blogger in me, then "Houston, we have a problem"

So, putting all that potential psychoanalysis aside, I'm gonna keep on writing about all the "stuff" going on in my life as I have in the past...like it or not...please try to follow along regardless of the subject matter. I promise you nothing much out of the ordinary, except it might seem like I am focusing on our recent return to natural eating till the cows come home....and speaking of cows...have I mentioned the organic farm where we now get 50% of our food?

You will realize in a very short period of time, that my passion for this eating lifestyle takes up not only a very large space in my head, but also a very large space on the page. There is more information out there than even I thought possible, and I've been studying food, and our body's relationship to it, for as long as I can remember. My rekindled love of all things fat-related has opened up a nutritional world completely unknown to me in the past, and one that I have willingly entered into...I mean really, who doesn't love the taste of fat??? Let me just tell you if you haven't already figured it out for yourselves, fat tastes good for a very important reason....we need it to exist and not in the very small portions that we were led to believe. Mother nature isn't stupid (in the famous words of Tom Naughton-I'll formally introduce you to him later), foods rich in healthy fat appeal to our taste buds because the human body will not function properly without it...plain and simply, that's a FACT!!! So stick that in your low-fat vegetarian smoothie and drink it....sorry to be so harsh, but I was one (a vegetarian) and it's the worst thing we can do to ourselves.

It's going to be very difficult for me to disseminate all the nutritional information that I've found over the last 4 months in this one blog post. So, in Episode 1, I'll start you off in the same way I stumbled upon the subject matter back in March...I found and watched the movie "Fat Head" which lead me to where I am today. Tom Naughton, a comedian and writer originally made a simple disclaimer movie regarding his views on what Morgan Spurlock purported to be the truth about fast food. This little idea Tom had, in a miraculous turn of events, has become the catalyst for movie watchers across the country to become more conscious of their unhealthy eating habits. I don't believe he originally set out to uncover all the unbelievable truths regarding just how important nutritious natural fats are for us. Who knew that eating fat could lead us to become so much more healthier than alternatively, although blindly, following the misinformation that the government and the medical industry has been "feeding" us for the last 20 years.

If you are a member of Netflix, you can stream the movie live, or order it to watch the DVD at home. If you have access to a computer, Hulu offers a free viewing of the movie online. Or as a last result, pay the $20 and order a copy. I've watched it so many times, I've lost track and although I initially viewed it through Netflix, I also own two copies and regularly loan them out to friends. It's information you will want to share with every person you encounter because it's that important! So, do yourself a favor and WATCH it now! I can promise you will never look at food in the same way again :). Here is the link to the website for further reading.

http://www.fathead-movie.com/index.php/about/
As I mentioned, there is too much info for one post, so stop back in again soon and I'll fill you in on how Amos and Annie help us to eat all manner of yummy foods...and don't forget...everything tastes betta with butta!



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Communication...put one word in front of the other...

At a very young age, before we are even able to move our lips in a way to make ourselves understood...we hear words. We are not quite sure what they mean, they fly through the air around our little ears, and yet they seem to be repeated over and over from the moment we are born until we take our last breath. We begin at a very slow pace to recognize those words, then we slowly begin to understand those words, then eventually we are able to say those words, and lastly, we are able to communicate what we mean to others with those words. Here's a question that has been baffling me for more years than I care to remember....why don't we actually use our words more often to communicate????

I'm sure you are familiar with the phrase...."out of the mouths of babes" and there was also a tv show years ago hosted by Art Linkletter in 1959 and then resurrected by Bill Cosby in 1995 called "Kids Say the Darndest Things". I know I enjoyed the pure innocence and loved to sit and watch these young children freely, honestly and with very little concern, say the first thing that popped into their heads when asked any manner of questions. We were entertained simply because those kids were able to say things we would never dream of repeating as adults. Most of us were taught as we grew up to either be quiet or to censor almost everything that came out of our mouths for fear of saying the wrong thing and never mind the truth or what is actually on our mind.

Interestingly enough, as we age and find ourselves in the last years of our life, we somehow revert back to our childhood habit of blurting out what ever is on our mind and we find the honesty in our words once again. Except by this time in our life, we are considered doddering old fools who just don't care what anyone thinks about us anymore. It's almost as if we have one last chance to tell the world how we really feel after a lifetime of pussy footing around the truth.

Human beings are the only living species that have been given the gift of speech and we muck it up during almost all of our entire adult lives. We don't say what we mean, and therefore we don't really ever know what the truth is and we never truly learn to actually communicate in the true sense of the word. We know in our hearts how we feel, and a good portion of us have continuous one sided conversations with ourselves and keep 95% of how we feel under wraps. Why.....because that is what we are taught and we think badly of others that speak their mind. Or perhaps we are jealous of how honestly and freely they state how they feel and/or we think less of them for not holding their tongues.

As adults, we judge people everyday by the words that come out of their mouths, and yet we wait with baited breath for those first few spoken syllables uttered by our children. And then sadly, once they've mastered the human language, we teach them to watch what they say and slowly swallow the honest words that come to their lips. What is wrong with this picture and can't we plainly see that we have become a society of polite people who are frustrated by holding back how we truly feel for fear of upsetting those around us.

I once saw a movie written and directed by Ricky Gervais called "The Invention of Lying" which affected me more than I could imagine. By using his comedic genius, he brought to light how as a society, we choose false statements over truth during more of our life than we care to admit. Or, as in most cases, we just don't say anything at all....because that is exactly what we were taught..."if you don't have anything nice to say....don't say anything at all" sound familiar???? Sadly, it's how I've actually lived my entire adult life, and I still do to this day. We are so concerned about hurting other folks feelings, and putting everyone else's concerns before our own, that we get lost in who we are or what is best for us. They say honesty is the best policy, however, no one really wants to hear the truth if it has the potential to be hurtful to others, regardless of how it makes us feel. So in essence, we are unable to be honest with ourselves, which keeps us in a vicious circle of a life without truth. How sad...and yet true.

How did we go from small children encouraged to use our words to adults that don't know how to complete a sentence that is 100% truthful. We avoid subjects, skirt the issue, play mind games and leave most of what we are thinking unsaid. In an effort to avoid being labeled "outspoken" or someone who has diarrhea of the mouth, we clam up and suck in our words before they are able to slip through our lips. We make statements under our breath, or chastise ourselves for thinking such unkind thoughts all the while knowing full well that we are being honest, if only in our minds. We learn to "keep it to ourselves" or share our thoughts with a few trusted like-minded people in our inner circle.

Is it possible to find a happy medium in our lives and speak the truth more and lose the urge to cover up or suppress it. Is honesty really the way we want to live our lives, or is it truly beyond our reach as humans trying to cope with the decisions that we've made. We joke and make light of things in an effort to show a glimmer of the truth lying just below the surface. I believe this is a common defense mechanism that all of us defer to when overloaded during certain types of situations. Could we possibly live and prosper in a world where truth was the only option and our communication skills were never questioned or lacking.

If there is one lesson I take away from all of this, it's to be more honest with myself and others, and to continually be able to convey those thoughts in a way that is beneficial to everyone. I can only hope that my children will teach their children that it is key to communicate and be honest with others, if you are first true to yourself. It's as simple as putting one word in front of the other....



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Life as we know it...

So many of my friends have been trying to describe to me just what being a grandparent feels like...and it's true what they say on so many levels, as I recently experienced and finally found out for myself. Well, actually...let me back up here a minute...I'm pretty sure I've known all along that it would be incredible to share the love of having grandchildren.

First of all, they start out as babies and I've always been in love with babies, no matter who they belong to...like most of the human population of the world, I'm a sucker for those sweet little faces. Although, I have to say, it goes a bit deeper than that, I'm very comfortable around babies and have no fear about my ability to care for them. Even with my own infants, there were rarely doubts in my mind that I would not have what it takes to raise them in the manner that would ultimately lead to their individual wellbeing as they grew up. I was confident that I could make sound decisions and had the necessary parenting skills to assist my children in the first 18 years of their lives before sending them on out into the world. Did I stumble along the way....of course I did, nothing else teaches us how to improve on our technique like a big bump in the road...and I had my fair share of those. However, the proof is in the pudding as they say, and now as we finally welcome the next generation of our family, I watch my adult children beginning the cycle once again.

Brian, Taryn and Hopper live in Chicago...and no one in the immediate family lives nearby, which at times is a hard pill for all of us to swallow. Ironically, it's a situation that we are dealing with, in pretty much the same way our parents did when we lived overseas and had our first child. We raised our children to be independent, make rational decisions about where they want to live and always hoped they would find a way of life that suits them, and each of us...parents, grandparents and great grandparents, have found ourselves doing exactly that. Across the miles....from Massachusetts, to Illinois, to Connecticut, to New Hampshire and Florida...each of us a pinpoint on the map and adding up the frequent flyer miles as we travel from one home to another. The reality that none of us will live in close proximity to the other, is one we have grown to accept, but not entirely without regret. The independence that we nurtured in our children, similar to the guidance we received from our parents, can at times, be a double edged sword.

In retrospect, I also see the benefits of a couple standing on their own two feet as they form a new family unit, without the constant intervention of the preceding generations. I myself know that I matured greatly in my growth as a new mom by not always having my own mother close at hand. I've witnessed grandparents over the years, of close knit families who live physically near each other, struggle to step back from influencing and assisting their grown children in raising grandchildren. In some instances, I have found the situations to be unhealthy for all parties concerned. There is a fine line and/or gray area in all family relationships that can be difficult to maneuver through, especially with addition of new members, whether it be children or extended family. As we continue to add branches to the family tree, the connections can be tenuous at best and new growth takes time to strengthen over the years.

Only three years ago, the first hint of things to come began to give us a glimpse of what is now our reality. First in the summer of 2008, with Brian and Taryn's engagement and then their fall wedding in 2009....followed in 2010 by Stacey & Scott's engagement and the news that our son would soon be a father in the spring of 2011. We are planning another fall wedding this year and recently welcomed our first grandchild, Hopper Higgins LaFlamme to the family on June 20, 2011.









As we encounter each change in our family dynamics, we continue to grow ourselves...taking on new roles and finding our way through the never ending challenges of life as we know it.





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How far do you stretch your neck???

Have you ever wondered what causes us, as human beings, to have such an intense curiosity as to almost cause a car accident in order to slow down and view someone else's unfortunate circumstances?

Let's see what Wiki has to say...

"Rubbernecking describes the act of gawking at something of interest. It is often used to refer to drivers trying to view the carnage resulting from a traffic accident. The term refers to the craning of a person's neck in order to get a better view. Rubbernecking has also been described as a human trait that is associated with morbid curiosity. It can be the cause of traffic jams (sometimes referred to as "Gaper's blocks"), as drivers slow down to see what happened in a crash. It is also a cause of accidents as drivers become distracted and change their rate of travel while other drivers are also distracted. Rubbernecking has also come to be used more generally to describe voyeuristic interest in someone else's "business" or difficulties."

We should all face facts, it's not just when we are our driving along the highway that people feel the need to know....it's really in all aspects of our life. Case in point, how many folks found themselves tuning in to CNN or the weather channel to watch the most recent season of winter storms and the results of all the natural disasters that have occurred recently? No matter what the source of the information happens to be, we all seem to be great big sponges soaking up all these random facts that very often never affect our individual lives.

I will be the first one to admit that for many years, I was completely fascinated with every intriguing detail of a well written true crime novel. For me it was always the whole package, not just the carnage that resulted from the actions of the convicted felons. I found myself following the footsteps of investigators, family members, witnesses and in some instances, depending on the author's chosen style of writing, even the criminals themselves. Most all of it was so far outside of my own personal realm of possibility, that I considered myself a voyeur of sorts, peeking into this world of the unknown. It would not be until years later that the horrifying and often times gruesome reality began to affect me. And, as with everything else that interests me at one time or another in my life, at some point I just grew bored with this type of novel and moved on to other subject matter reading material.

As I've mentioned several times, I don't watch the news...nor do I read the newspaper, other than glancing at the headlines of the Palm Beach Post each day as I walk into the mail room at work. Its such a time consuming effort to either sit with the tv on and/or pick up a paper to catch a glimpse of what is going on in the rest of the world. I find that very little of the information is ever good news, and 99.9% of it never contributes in any way, shape or form to my own life. There are only a few times that anything I read will even bring a smile to my face, and most stories just simply make me sad...and that is not how I want to spend any portion of my day. Believe me, I am aware of plenty of things that occur on this earth, (because nothing ever changes), I manage to not spend my precious time dwelling or focusing on them. Unless of course, I am forced to...ah, yes....that would include the day I spent in court this week on jury duty.

In one word....PAINFUL....but then again, when have I ever been known to describe any situation in only one word...not an easy task for me. Well, here's a few more.....boring.....intrusive....insulting...intimidating...inquisition....uncomfortable...inconvenienced...misleading....exhausting....I could go one, but I will spare you.

Now before you go all "civic duty" on me (as one of my coworkers did-and I almost wanted to knock her upside the head....oops, I mean tell her how I really felt-but instead I held my tongue-why do I do that????), I did sit on a jury for a medical malpractice case, for 10 looooong days. I was the jury foreman (NOT by choice), and unfortunately, due to one of the male members of the jury, it ended in a mistrial. While some (translation=very little) of it was interesting, a good portion of it was extremely repetitive, and looking back, I would have preferred to skip the entire experience. However, I've been thrilled that for the last 10 years, since we moved to Florida, up until last month, I had never received a summons. Well, after this past Monday, I will NEVER respond in person to a jury duty summons EVER again.

I knew that the 30 of us were pulled from the few hundred people in the jury pool for a criminal trial, when I saw police officers in the hallway outside the courtroom. That not only made me very uncomfortable, I was also unsettled after recalling what had occurred 10 years ago. My first clue that the case could get ugly was before I even entered the courtroom and we all witnessed a teenage boy come flying through the doors running in the opposite direction from the sheriff.

We all spent a good portion of the remainder of that day inside the courtroom and needless to say, it was not a very pleasant experience. At the end of the process, I was very happy to not be chosen (I might have pissed off the judge when I made a few statements about my intense dislike of firearms) to sit on the jury for this trial. Although after being interrogated by the eloquent prosecutor, humble defense attorney, the obnoxious and somewhat bored judge, I felt like I had just been on trial myself. As the convicted felon (repeat offender--surprise, surprise) sat in front of us, we were each questioned individually for hours on end. Let me remind you, I spend 40 hours a week in the circuit civil world, and there is a very definite reason I have never had any desire to be involved in the criminal justice system.

Please do not misunderstand me, I took my previous jury duty very seriously and was saddened for the plaintiff when the mistrial occurred. However, that does not change my opinion regarding the aspects of being personally involved as a juror in a criminal trial. In the same way that I choose to ignore the local news, not any part of me wanted to know what this person had done in his past or what had occurred to bring him before a judge once again. I was fully prepared to allow any of the other potential jurors to take a spot before me, and answered every question honestly and "to the best of my ability" which obviously resulted in the favorable outcome I was hoping for...to spend any additional time or days at the courthouse was certainly not my goal.

It is obvious when being involved in these types of situations, which folks are only too happy to be privy to the details of a plaintiff or defendant's life and would like nothing more than to be picked for a jury, whether criminal in nature or not. I've assisted with selecting a jury on several of our cases and it's really never a pleasant experience for any of the parities involved. To be perfectly honest, I'm not all that fond of the time I'm required to spend in the presence of any judge....which can only mean I must be in the wrong profession!!!!

It is human nature to be curious, however, I consider the options a bit more carefully before putting myself in the uncomfortable position of deciding to look a little closer at the details of the lives of those around me. With plenty in my life still ahead of me to enjoy and experience, there's really no reason, nor do I want to spend any additional time, focusing on much more than that. Since I had two bones in my neck fused together in 2007, I just don't feel the need to stretch it as far as I did in the past...perhaps my rubbernecking days are just about over.

It's all relative...

At the end of my normally crazy work week, in addition to getting 48 hours off for good behavior, I had a very nice personal reward waiting for me. We had planned on spending Friday evening enjoying a meal at a local restaurant with some overnight guests. My cousin Frank and his wife Kathy were on their way through town and stopped for a very brief visit before jumping on a plane early this morning. Because neither my nor Roger's work schedule allowed for time off during the day, we only had a short 12 hours to spend with them, and we intended to make the most of it. We met as soon as both of us returned home from work, and chatted while getting ready to head out for a great dinner along the shoreline.

The usual catch-up conversation of relatives of our age revolved around the adult children of each family, weddings past as well as future and then of course the upcoming birth of our grandson. We all readily agreed how wonderful this time in our 50's can be as we watch the family begin to grow again, and how much we look forward to seeing everyone married and starting families of their own.

I sometimes stumble over describing our recent numbers...how we've grown from 4 to 6 and how we will very soon be a family of 7. It's not just a simple issue of addition, although I have been known to experience problems with basic arithmetic....it's more than that for me, we were 4 for so much longer than we have been 6 and although the transition was a gradual one, I still sometimes forget, even while viewing photographs of our six smiling faces.

Change, even a gradual one, can sometimes take a bit of time to become accustomed to and the subtle differences we will eventually be required to come to accept....please understand I am no longer in any way, shape or form, referring to our growing family...I'm only discussing me at this point.

In my quest to simplify my morning routine as I prepare for work, I like grabbing the easiest outfit from my closet and just running out the door. For me, that had always been a suit, either jacket and slacks or jacket and skirt. In years gone by, it was the standard dress code for most law firms, and I had a closet full of them. They especially came in handy for court appearances, which have become less of an occurrence during my time with this particular company, until January when we spent 2 days before the judge. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed throwing on a suit and giving little thought to what I would wear to work. Even though during the last month, while being assigned to this off-site project, I've been wearing mostly jeans and comfortable casual clothes, I still held the thought in the back of my mind that I wanted to add more suits to my wardrobe.

I had assessed my clothing budget and decided what would work and how I would go about transitioning back to this old routine of dressing each day. And then came the fun part, going shopping and actually searching for my suits. I had purchased two new ones in January, and was on the look out for 2 more today. I prefer simple designs with clean lines, and a comfortable fit and tend to always gravitate towards Jones New York, Nine West and Calvin Klein. Easy enough...I grabbed 4 suits and headed to the dressing room.

Have I mentioned my issue with over-eating, chocolate, cruise food and sitting for extended periods of time....well...you guessed it...my evil ways have finally caught up with me, as well they should have!!! I've been eating like a bored teenager and indulging in one too many loaves of olive bread and I really don't care....WOW....this feeling is just not right (I'm listening to a boat go by on the river and the radio is blasting those lyrics...just thought I'd use them here since they seemed to fit)

My normal size actually DIDN'T fit, and for pretty much the first time in my life, I didn't think twice and just went back to the rack and got the next size. Now before you all breath a sigh of relief, and/or slap me upside the head and try to explain that it is normal as we age to add a few pounds now and then, STOP, because I finally agree that it's OK and I'm gonna go with the flow for once. I'm not going to get on the scale, I'm not going to change my eating habits, I'm not going to search for a new way to drop 5 or 10 lbs...I'm just gonna accept the extra "junk in my trunk" and enjoy the fact that it looks good on me--at least that's what my husband says.

I mean in all honesty, why does it really matter what size I am, the rest of the world doesn't seem to care one way or another....so why do I spend any amount of time contemplating my own girth???? You may even be wondering why you are wasting your time reading my never ending drivel today...and you will probably just want to line me up against the wall and shoot me for even broaching this subject....and I wouldn't even blame you, not one little bit. Have I mentioned I really shouldn't be writing in the state I've been in the last 4 weeks????

Oh what the heck...I'll continue on at the risk of alienating all those who thought they once loved me...because most women of my age don't discuss the size they wear or even their weight for fear of shame and the judgement of others. It must be just about time to load those bullets into the gun you will want to shoot me with...you see....I grew from a 4 to a 6....HORRORS of all HORRORS...stop the presses....the world will now come to an end...I now have jiggly bits, as the Brits are so famous for saying, and I am equally famous for NOT liking such things when I look in the mirror!!! I guess it must be time to get rid of that nasty mirror :)

The good news of the day (other than everyone cheering out there that Joanne is finally becoming "normal"--is that really even possible???), I saved a ton of money on what I like to refer to as WAY over-priced designer labels. Who in their right mind pays full price for anything??? I know I NEVER have. No kidding, these suits have a sticker MSRP of $280 and $240 and I paid (yes, I know--another faux pax--talking about the price of things--people just need to get over that and share news of the great buys they find) $48.99 & $49.99...hey it's my budget folks, take it or leave it.

So after all is said and done...family size is all relative....the size of my bottom is all relative and spending any amount of time with relatives is priceless....that's my story and I'm sticking to it....did I mention that during the acceptance process and to celebrate my "gradual change" I pulled into the drive-thru at Arbys for a Angus Beef sandwich on the way home...another first for me....so in my small little world, as 4 transitions to 6 yet again....it's all relative...

And the award goes to....

At this time of the year when all the flashy award shows are being broadcast from LA, I'm reminded of a few superlatives that I encounter during the course of my day....oh, crap...I almost forgot to mention, in case you might miss the innuendo..... this is going to be a rant with a capital "R" capital "A" capital "N" and capital "T"

Continue at your own risk...you've been forewarned.

There is a very specific reason that I've chosen to be absent from this blog...I have not been very good company lately and did not want to spread the "love" too much among family and friends. The old saying "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" is one I highly recommend, and I feel a very reasonable standard to live by...sometimes. There are occasions, however, when even I can't hold my tongue...I bet you are not even a little bit surprised by that statement!?!?

As a few of you already know, I am still deeply involved in this big "project" at work, which keeps my mind numbed for 8 hours at a stretch. I am never more happy than when lunch time rolls around and we are let out of the "box" (for lack of a better term) for a brief reprieve before returning to complete our shift after feasting on whatever libations have been set before us. Yes, I've been responsible for feeding my crew lunch on most days, gotta keep the troops happy :) In addition to the cases of water I can be found schlepping to our remote location, others have provided all manner of snacks to include pretzels and chocolate, which I use a strange combination thereof to get myself through the last hour of my day. I wonder if an ever expanding waistline would qualify as a worker's comp issue??? Think I could charge the company on my expense report when I buy the next size of pants??? What....these are valid questions...or maybe not :(

So, we are coming to the end of the 4th week of operation "Boxed In" and yes, I did just make up that title...can't tell you much more because then I'd be out of a job for sure....hmmmm not such a bad idea....wow...I'm really spiraling down the old rabbit hole today. I am frequently asked several questions by my fellow worker bees (the folks that have been "volunteered" by their supervisors to assist our group with this project)...here are just a few:

How long will all of this take?
How many of the **** are there?
What are you going to do with the **** when we are done here?
Why are we ***** all of these?
How long has this been going on?
Are the **** still ***** ?

Please understand these are all very valid questions, and I do my best to answer them to a certain point and with a fair bit of vagueness (is that even a word???), because quite frankly, some of them, I am not in any way, shape of form, in a position to answer at this time.

As much as I would love to be a bit more specific, I'm unable to say much more and I have no idea when I will finally be able to say adieu to this lovely little cement building and return to my comfy little cubicle full time. I do know, I'll be there for a full 8 hours tomorrow and have been allowed a reprieve for Monday because I was the lucky recipient of a Summons for jury duty...how sweet is that...I could get picked to sit on a jury....WOO HOO I know I'm excited. I don't see enough legal mumbo jumbo during my own daily 9-5 each day, so let's just add more on top of the toppling work pile I already wade through.

I digress...I was making a comparison between the awards doled out for best actor, supporting actor and film each year...to the silliest, most unique and least difficult question I am asked each day. Today, not unlike many days of the week, I was asked what I like to refer to as the SQOTD, better known as the Stupidest Question of The Day....and the award goes to....yeah, well I'm not actually going to tell you who asked it...I'm walking a fine line here folks....but I will say....this "someone" is higher up on the food chain than me, and has a habit of also sharing these silly questions with other staff members, not just me!!!!

The reality is, I am not just one of the many worker bees, I'm also in charge of staffing this project and updating the constantly changing schedule of every person who has assisted us during the last month. Filling those daily time slots has caused my knees to scab over, bleed and scab once again, as I beg my co-workers each week to provide us with much needed hours at our off-site location. I thank them all repeatedly and profusely for every single minute they contribute to the effort.

Interestingly enough, how ironic is our timing...this week happens to be yearly incentive award week, when annual salary increases and bonuses are disclosed to employees. Of course, these are completely confidential, and again, I could be dismissed for discussing any details. I will say, my history of compensation from this company has always been a favorable one, although like everything else in this economy, it moves at a snails pace.

So on a day like today, when the foolish questions are flying around at the speed of light, I'm still not sure if I wouldn't be better suited to spend my senior years on a nice quiet island in the Caribbean, with a couple of fishing lessons under my belt, a 500 pound bag of rice and a manageable pup tent pitched under the stars.

I would be remiss if I did not state for clarification purposes, that on most days I am very pleased to be working for a Fortune 500 company that itself has been awarded accolades year after year for many superlatives in the industry. This company, together with 15,000 employees all working together towards a common goal, also continues to contribute to a national solution for protecting the environment for future generations.

Oh, did I forget to mention that today is my 6 year anniversary with the company....not sure if I have over stayed my welcome....or not....and the award for holding on to one's sanity goes to....

Then he will know....

My friends have been telling me for years, and my own parents and in-laws have always agreed, that there is absolutely nothing better than being a grandparent. I certainly have felt the "grandmother pangs" of holding someone's infant in my arms during the last decade, knowing that some day, in the not too distant future, I would be gazing into the eyes of my own grandchild. As much as it is difficult for others to explain what this new "version of love" will feel like to me, I have found it equally as challenging to explain to our son, just how overwhelming his own love for his child will be.

Perhaps it has something to do with how vague the various feelings and intensity of love we have each experienced, and it may be better described by a few of the actual moments themselves....

When the baby kicks and for the first time he is able to feel his child's movements by placing his hand on his wife's growing tummy...then he will know

The day that Taryn turns to him to say, "it's time" and they make their way to the hospital....then he will know

When he sees his son's face and hears his first sounds....then he will know

When he reaches for his son's tiny hand and those little fingers wrap around his big finger....then he will know

When his son opens his eyes to look up at his daddy for the first time and is soothed by his voice....then he will know

When he holds his son in his arms and is able to calm him from whatever has caused him distress...then he will know

When he glimpses those first few baby smiles and realizes his son is actually happy to see him and smiling AT him....then he will know

The first time those chubby little baby arms reach up for him and without any spoken words, he is needed....then he will know

When those sweet little baby lips utter the word "daddy" for the first time...then he will know

The love we have for our children and how they complete our lives, is like nothing else I have ever experienced. This is only the beginning for these new parents, they have so many years ahead of them to share the love they have for each other with their son. I know so far, it has been a great adventure for both of them.

I also know, we have some pretty incredible years in our future as we take on this new role. The thought of being a grandparent has always brought me a warm fuzzy feeling, when I think of my children raising their own families.The wonderful news in October, that Brian and Taryn were expecting a baby, was music to our ears. The anticipation over the last 4 months has been shared by the members of our clan as we all sit back and enjoy the exciting beginning of the next generation. I can't believe in less than 16 weeks, we will meet this sweet little baby boy, who already has found a very special place in our hearts.

As much as we are all waiting patiently for a glimpse of our grandson, there is yet another moment that will bring a tear to my eye...cause my heart to skip a beat....and for a split second, I'll be unable to take a breath.....the very first time I see my son holding his own child in his arms...and then I will know...

The apple doesn't fall...

You can call it a coincidence, and/or stretch it a bit and label it irony. What I happened to read after my own particularly trying day, on my daughter's Facebook page, brought a smile to my face, as it most often times does. Her sense of humor never ceases to amaze me....I love how she stumbles upon very interesting and tilted views of the world, and makes them her own. I continually find that we share similar opinions regarding what occurs around us on a daily basis....hmmm...I wonder how that has come to be???

At almost the exact time today, we both must have been feeling a bit closed in by our surroundings and circumstances...she made reference as follows...

"today's silver lining: just measured my office and am now thankful for the extra 24 sq ft that I have in comparison to the average prison cell"

I, on the other hand, had a strangely similar prison related thought today, under the guise of my 8 hour workday. Not having had a conversation with Stacey pertaining to either of our current work situations, how very odd we both arrived at the same conclusion on the same day.

To give you an idea of where I am coming from...try this on for size and then let me know how you feel...

1. Scan badge
2. Proceed through gate
3. Enter building
4. Sign in
5. Retrieve box
6. Sit down
7. Remove handful of folders from box
8. Remove items from folders
9. Remove staples from items
10. Sort items
11. Return small portion of items to folder
10. Stack items
11. Repeat from No. 8 above, repeat, repeat, repeat
12. Stand up with sorted items
13. Walk to scanner with stacked items
14. Load stacked items into hopper
15. Push buttons...repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat
16. Replace items in original folder
17. Return folders to original box
18. Repeat from No. 6 for 8 more hours....

Yes, we had a break for lunch and I did occasionally stroll over to the junk food table to grab some candy....and yet, my routine felt exactly as automated as it sounds. Going through the motions reminded me of 30 years ago when I worked at a candy factory in Germany to earn some extra spending money around the holidays.

Just when you thought my job sounded so interesting and exciting (well maybe you didn't, who really knows for sure????), I've been tasked with a project, along with an ever-rotating group of co-workers (misery loves company), to leave our otherwise comfy surroundings and travel to another location, a few days each week.

While standing in front of the scanner midmorning, I had a vague feeling of what it might feel like stamping out license plates in a place of detention. However, it wasn't until I found myself outside the building during our lunch break, and I happened to glance up and noticed the fences were topped by barbed wire, that I finally said out loud..."yup, I'm in prison."

So, with my trusty IPhone tuned into my favorite Pandora station, and my earbuds securely settled close to my completely numbed mind...I continued through my work day. If not for those tunes dancing in my head, and my toes tapping to the music, my brain would surly have exploded before the 8 hours were completed. I do not seek your pity, because let's face facts...I have a job....I have a job....I have a job....and consider myself very lucky to be able to repeat that phrase to myself and to just about anyone who will listen to my crazed words.

It has been a very long time since I have spoken on behalf of either of my children, however, it's not only a matter of how close to the tree those apples are falling...I know for a fact that there are no small office walls or barbed-wire fences that can completely hold back the imagination of either of these two women, no matter where we happen to physically be each day in our lives....

If you can't stand the heat....

A recent note from my mother in law making mention of her intention to bake a sweet treat for Valentines Day, reminded me that our oven will be out of commission for at least a couple more days and here's why....

I know this is no laughing matter and could have very easily had a much more serious outcome, if not for the quick response of my safety conscious husband. There is nothing like coming home, getting off the elevator, walking towards your front door only to catch the first faint whiff of something cooking. Was that bacon I detected....who was cooking today? You never really know because as you make your way down the outside walkway, you pass by each condo's kitchen window. Could it be our place...I wondered if chef Roger was busy in front of the stove? Oh he was busy alright...little did I know what urgency had kept him preoccupied the last 1/2 hour and it had nothing to do with any food either of us would be eating. Although I really don't cook anymore, I'm not averse to tasting a few bites of some of what he whips up every now and again.

Apparently, he'd had a brain storm and decided to cook some bacon in the oven. I recall him mentioning it just made too much of a mess frying it in a pan on top of the stove....famous last words!!! Personally, I think the microwave works perfectly fine...no muss, no fuss...and the paper plates can be thrown away!!! Considering we rarely have bacon in the house, I'm not quite sure what exactly prompted him to buy some. If you'll recall, I buy my 'pig' BBQued from the market! Interestingly enough, the bacon cooked just fine, it was what happened after he removed it from the oven, that is the "hot" topic here. Whatever was in the bottom of the oven (we keep some aluminum foil in there to catch any spillovers), quickly produced a fire, actual flames with smoke, which led to his brief encounter with our fire extinguisher.





Roger's Nuclear Power Plant Fire Fighting Training came in handy that afternoon

Of course the smoke immediately set off the fire alarm, which is located right outside the kitchen door in the dining room. Our entire place quickly filled with smoke, Roger could no longer see inside our small kitchen. All of this occurred at around 4:20, which is very close to the time I leave work and begin my 5-10 minute commute back home. It was amazing that he had all the smoke cleared out before I stepped off the elevator...all that remained was the wonderful smokey chemical stench, with a hint of bacon thrown in for good measure. I'm happy to say, that a few days later, our kitchen just held the faint scent of an outdoor BBQ, which was not particularly unpleasant.

Initially, the smell inside the kitchen/dining/living area of our condo was pretty nasty, and on most evenings it would have been simple to just head to the bedroom, close the door and flip on a movie. Unfortunately, I had brought work home with me and it was necessary to spread out my laptop, binder and folders all over the dining room table, which was now covered in a light dusty film of fire fighting residue....lousy timing for sure. I spent the next 3 hours working to complete a project before I was finally too exhausted to continue...our bedroom smelled so much better and the bed felt pretty good too.

If that wasnt bad enough, our pictures on the fridge of our children were covered with a fine film of fire extinguisher dust. I had just spent last Saturday cleaning all the nooks and crannies around the kitchen and found some of the remnants of his last kitchen/dining room fiasco...what I refer to as the relish mustard hurricane that rained down upon our home, where no surface within a 10 yard parameter was safe from fallout...think ceiling fans and ceiling here!!!!! Believe me...this always happens when I am not home and luckily I'm able to avoid the initial disaster area. Although his best cleaning efforts are very much appreciated...I'm thinking if he had his glasses on, he wouldn't have missed so many spots.

If nothing else was learned that afternoon, it's how important a fire extinguisher can be to your safety at home. Having never been involved in a kitchen fire before, and not knowing if the extinguisher was in working order, he sprayed a test shot out the kitchen window to see if it would function properly. Obviously it was sufficient to put out the fire, and there's a faint white mark that needs to be wiped off of the walkway outside our window. And just to let you know, our condo building is well equipped and there are several fire extinguishers up and down each hallway to be utilized if necessary.





Right outside the kitchen window...good to know it's there!

Apparently, our upstairs neighbor came down after he saw smoke billowing up towards his balcony to check and make sure everything was ok. Every condo dweller's nightmare is an uncontrolled fire somewhere in the building where they reside. We all have to hope that each resident is as diligent and as well equipped to handle this type of emergency as Roger was this week. It is comforting to know that our local fire station is about five hundred yards from the parking lot behind our building. Living in such a tiny community keeps all the local governmental offices literally in our own backyard.





You can actually see, from our front door, another extinguisher on the wall, one is hidden a bit further down, and finally one by the elevator...4 on each floor. Until the other day, I'm not sure I ever paid that much attention.

I gave up cooking many years ago when the kids left home....perhaps Roger should consider following in my footsteps...or at least stick to stove top items. This is certainly not his first "mess" in the kitchen...just ask him about the exploding tupperware container of boiling red jello...some foods are meant to be stirred not shaken. When things get this hot, it might just be time to hang up the oven mitts and get the heck outta the kitchen...but not until AFTER he cleans the inside of that oven!!!

To market, to market to buy a fat pig

It didn't take me very long, after we moved to this southern part of the country, to realize that the "seasons" are completely reversed from what I had been accustomed to up north. Just to clarify, I'm not talking about the actual seasons as they relate to weather, it's the social season I'm referring to. Up north, the theater season took place in the summer...the festival season took place in the spring, the county fairs took place in the fall, and the green market season was from spring to fall. The time to be outdoors for most folks to enjoy the wonderful warm weather, is usually from Memorial to Labor Day.

Down south, it's just the opposite...just to name a few...the county fairs are in January and February, the theater season is all winter, and the local greenmarkets are currently in full swing. It appears to also be related to the "snowbirds" (the retirees who live here only part of the year--and in my humble opinion people who have the best of both worlds) that "migrate" to Florida each fall...it's referred to as "in season" by us year round residents. Interestingly, my grandparents and Roger's grandmother, were snowbirds for many years. My mother's parents spent time in the Miami area and Roger's father's mother wintered south of Orlando in Sebring. I often ask myself how this seasonal retired-family-member-migration-southward, ended at our parent's generation. How cool would it have been to take our kids to visit their grandparents in Florida each winter? I'm thinking our own grandchildren will most certainly have an opportunity that Stacey and Brian missed.

As I mentioned in many of my blog postings, this is truly my favorite part of the year and I always look forward to the outdoor happenings around town. Not to say we don't have many activities out-of-doors in the summer, it's just not considered high season and there seems to be less to do during the varying degrees of intense heat of those months.

Before we moved away from downtown West Palm Beach in 2004, we would spend many Saturdays at the Green Market browsing through the stalls and carrying home, among other things, my favorite loaf of olive bread from one of the local bakers. Imagine that...we actually took the 1.5 mile roundtrip walk from our condo into town each weekend. Now we are about 4 miles away from our local market, which is held on Sundays...and the same vendors tend to cover both venues.


Big pan of paella...popular spot


Organic accessories...who knew?


Preserves and honey have found a niche

The market has grown considerably over the years, there tends to be an equal amount of food being offered, as well as trinkets, clothing and plants.


Just in case you need a taste from Copenhagen



I saw no one serving food in that outfit


A bit of New England can be found as well


Yes, there is actually something green at the green market.

It's always important to support the local economy by purchasing from mom and pop business owners at our neighborhood weekend markets.


Cute handmade items


Apple cider doughnuts

As I wander through the stalls, a few in particular always catch my eye...and my nose too. Darn those yummy smelling ribs...most afternoons I can pass them by....not this past weekend.


I did buy a fat pig...well maybe just a small portion of one...I made it last for two meals if that counts for anything???

And of course, it just wouldn't be the same experience if I didn't come home with fresh baked loaf of bread...asiago, cranberry walnut or olive...it makes me hungry just thinking about it.


The big cheese bread I love....come to momma!

I'm not really a big shopper for anything other than food, but I still appreciate the local artisans that showcase their talents which are usually unique to the area.


Carved Marble Turtle Lamp


Handmade glass jewelry

Parking can sometimes be an issue....this past weekend, I guess I expected smaller crowds because of the big sporting event being broadcast that afternoon. You may have heard of it before....ummm, I think they call it the Super Bowl. I was hoping for an easier time finding a parking spot at the town center, no such luck.


Pretty good crowd on SBS


The bakery vendors are pure evil to my waist line :(

I do know one thing for sure, if I keep eating entire loaves (not all at one time!!!) of bread--I won't just be at the market to buy pork...I mean a fat pig, I'll be looking like one!!!! Sad to say I can't continue to purchase from certain vendors...or I'll be oinking my way to the fat farm...step away from the BBQ ribs...oops wait a minute...he has something a bit healthier...chicken on a stick anyone???


These guys cook up a mean BBQ


Oh look fruit...that's healthy!?!?

What's really in a name???

Pick a name...any name...

It's like that card trick when you are presented with a deck of cards and you are expected to pick just the right one from that neat little pile spread out before you.

With a baby boy ready to make his appearance in only 4 short months, his parents are now tasked with choosing the perfect name for their newborn. Never an easy decision to make, one most of us have struggled with at one time or another. I recall thinking to myself...will we pick the right one? Will it fit this new little person until the end of their days on earth? Will my son or daughter like the name they have been given when he or she grows old enough to form an opinion about such things?

The first thing we did as parents-to-be, was buy one of those baby naming books with all the "meanings" listed beside each choice. Of course that is no longer necessary with the Internet at our fingertips, and boundless research options as far as the world wide web will take you. You can even wander through websites that offer the history of popular names throughout the ages, it's quite an interesting group listed by generations.

I find I play a bit of a name game when speaking to someone on the phone who I have not yet met in person. I am usually able to determine what age group they fall into by the name they have been given. Female names seem to give it away easier than men for me sometimes...let's face it, how many women do you know named Jennifer, Jessica or Amanda that were born before 1970? And going back further, how many named Judith, Joan or Anita were born after 1970? Quite honestly, some just stand the test of time no matter the decade you happen to be born in...but what's really in a name?

Middle names are truly the icing on the cake and seem to be decided with such ease...sometimes even before the first names are chosen. I find in many instances, they are significant in some way, most often as a tribute or in memory of a loved one...family members who have passed and others who may be living. Interestingly enough, my parents (Josephine and John) chose to have "fun" with all our first names (Jack, Joanne, Jim, Jerry, Justine and Jeffrey) and left the decision of picking a middle name up to us when we reached the mature old age of 12. I recall looking through a book of saints names (yes, they must be "sainted" and/or sanctioned confirmation names for catholic church) to figure out what sounded good with Joanne...ummmm, I came up with Stephanie???? Add that to my married last name...and you certainly have a mouthful. Thank goodness middle names are rarely mentioned during our adult life...only that pesky little initial follows us around forever....but what's really in a name?

Who knew that choosing a first name that sounds well with the last name could be so difficult. Too many vowels or consonants, in the wrong configuration, just don't sound right as they roll off your tongue. Most of us who change their name when they marry, don't really have much of a choice in the matter....can I offer anyone an 'N' or an 'M'....I happen to have a few extras just laying around :) Don't get me wrong...I was more than happy to stop being one of the JJ's!!! (my maiden name is Joseph---just think of what a uniquely sounding name my mother has had to deal with since she got married)

This sweet little baby boy will soon have the honor of being the first grandchild of the next generation of our entire family clan, and has the auspicious duty of carrying on my married name. Our son, happens to be the last known male across the rather small branches of my husband's family tree, and we are more than thrilled that he has graciously chosen to perpetuate the family name. If not for him...it would quietly disappear....but what's really in a name?

I'm guessing that Taryn and Brian are going to be figuring that out in the very near future. How nice that half the battle is done....some might say, the most significant part of this little boy's name is already figured out for them....but again, what's really in a name???

Stepping outside the "Box"...well I'm trying to anyway

While we were on our cruise a few weeks ago, late one night I flipped on the tv to see what free movies they had to offer. I figured I'd start watching something, then quickly fall asleep....none of the titles really seemed interesting and it had been a very long day. I found one that had slightly intrigued me, when it had been in the theaters last year, so I decided to give it a try.

Not long after I began watching, I realized it took place back in the 70's and I don't happen to be a big fan of american films set in different time periods, but I plodded on just the same. I knew in advance that it had a strange sci-fi overtone, however, at the time I didn't really care all that much. There was definitely a point where I simply asked myself "Joanne, why are you watching this junk?" Unfortunately, I was hooked and had to find out how the writers planned to end this sad story. Little did I know, that the movie was actually based on--and a remake of, an old twilight zone episode. That certainly explained a lot!

Although towards the end of the film, it was much heavier on the sci-fi than I would have preferred, I found a very interesting message hidden deep in the movie. Well, perhaps it wasn't really disguised all that much...as I recall a main character actually made a statement that solidified in my mind that this movie might have a bit more meaning than I had originally given it credit for...who knew???

It was my final consideration after the credits began to roll, that led me to keep the small idea in the back of my mind. I agreed with some of what the writers were making an effort to portray, their view of our society matched my own...as well as mirroring my current situation. What small steps could I make to change what I considered to be a slight flaw in my daily existence?

Before I try answering that question, I should first disclose the title of the movie...it was "The Box"

Wiki says...

"The Box is a 2009 American science-fiction psychological-thriller film based on the 1970 short story "Button, Button" by Richard Matheson, which was previously adapted into an episode of the 1980s incarnation of The Twilight Zone. The film is written and directed by Richard Kelly and stars Cameron Diaz and James Marsden as a couple who receive a box from a mysterious man who offers them one million dollars if they press the button sealed within the dome on top of the box."

As I'm sure you can imagine, this movie did not have a happy ending...people died....alien life forms abducted what was "left" of the couples who pushed the button..and the audience was afforded a front row seat to witness all that is wrong with the human race. I, however took a slightly different feeling away from the movie than the obvious message that we were hit over the head with...I concentrated on the slightly less significant "box" concept and took it to heart.

It's not rocket science...it's pretty basic...we live in boxes, drive to our jobs in boxes, work in boxes (I have the pleasure each day of spending 8 hours in a cubicle), cook our food in boxes (ovens and microwaves), store our food in refrigerated boxes, sleep on box springs, stare into boxes while watching tv and when working on computers (no, they did not exist in the 70's)..and last but not least...when we die, they bury us in a BOX!!!

At this time of year, when the weather is so very kind to those of us residing in South Florida, I always make more of an effort to spend additional time outdoors. The blistering heat that forces us to run from one air-conditioned "box" to another, is forgotten these few short "winter" months. Since returning from a vacation full of fresh-air adventures, I've felt pretty boxed in lately and decided today was a perfect time to remedy the situation.











The fresh air and bright sun flood inside as soon as we open the door

Although I'm the first one in this family to turn off the air-conditioning each fall and throw open the windows...I don't always remember to refresh and revisit the one open air space we have the pleasure of calling part of our home. Some southerners refer to it as a lanai...I call it what I fondly remember enjoying as a child in Connecticut...our screened-in porch.









Sunshine on my favorite spot...the open kitchen door reminds me chores are done for the day

Today it was time to rearrange, clean up and reintroduce myself to my favorite place to hang out...our cozy little "front room". I never tire of watching the boat traffic float by and seeing the pelicans dive for fish, or listening to the water lapping against the wooden docks.








Early morning boats going down the river on the way out to sea

We open the front door, the kitchen door, most of the windows and sit back to listen to the breeze blowing through our home. Being on the 4th floor affords us a clear view over the tops of the palm trees and out to the distant inter-coastal waterway.









Feet up and enjoying a quiet afternoon "outside"

So, in reality I've not been able to completely discard my boxes....however, I have succeeded in removing one of the walls that surrounds the world that I live in. I know I should make more of an effort to walk to the library, bank and store. If we lived in the city, I would easily ignore the car and allow my feet to lead me to each one of those locations. The sad fact...all of those places are completely within a few blocks of our home. Last week we went to dinner at a place no less than 3 city blocks from our front door...and we got in the car to go there, even after my insistence that we walk. What is wrong with us????












A bowl of sweetness always tastes better eaten in the fresh air

While a very large portion of the country is currently being forced indoors due to the extreme weather conditions...I am foolishly ignoring my obvious opportunity to spend time in the beautiful sunshine, and leave my boxes behind, if only for a short period of time. I will continue to remind myself that it's never to late to take that first step outside of the box...









The sun begins to set in the west...just another day in my paradise...

Stay safe

As I sit here tuned into the weather channel for the 2nd morning in a row (yes, I am the person who does not usually watch broadcast television-Netflix does not count!), I'm aware more than ever how this winter has affected family and friends. It has also re-confirmed just how annoying commercials are...I really don't miss them.

Ironically, just 11 years ago, I was living through the last bad winter of my life. I recall the unending storms that seemed to hit every single weekend. The timing allowed us to go to work each day (woo-hoo), but kept us housebound on Saturdays and Sundays. It actually contributed to our decision to head south......that long cold winter, along with our March vacation in Orlando, eventually led us to our current life in Florida.

You may be wondering why this year I appear to be more concerned about the affect weather is having on our family up north. Well, in that last 10 years, our grown children have always bravely muddled through the severe winter weather that mother nature has bestowed upon them (except for that short period of time Stacey broke from tradition and lived in Florida soon after graduating from college). They've accepted that staying home and playing it safe during blizzard conditions is naturally a part of living in the northern part of the country. The winter of 2010-2011 is just a bit different for each couple, for two very specific reasons....a growing active puppy for Stacey and Scott, and a soon-to-be-born baby for Taryn and Brian.

Not only are they now responsible for their own well-being during these nasty winter snow/ice storms, they also must consider how their plans are affected as it relates to ever expanding additional family members. The newest member of the family, Otis, seems to love romping through the white stuff, however, his mommy and daddy might not be venturing out into the cold freezing Boston temps each day, unless his over active puppy energy was not forefront in their minds.


On the other hand, our future grandchild has a nice, warm, cozy and safe spot close to his/her mommy's heart and is oblivious to the cold raging outside the windows of his/her Chicago home. Although the baby is busy growing big and strong, mommy and daddy's daily scheduled events have been hampered by this lousy weather.

On that note, I will continue to send warm thoughts and love to everyone up north suffering through yet another debilitating winter storm. Stay safe...only one more month and the weather should calm down a bit..... life should be back to normal...we hope :)

Why?

When things are a bit nutty in my world, I find a simple escape and lose myself in either a good long novel or find a movie that interests me. Thank goodness for Netflix and the endless stream of cinematic entertainment that it affords the movie lover in all of us. I learned early on from my parents of the joy to be found in finding an entertaining movie, and passed my love of film and theater to both of our children.

I never really know what will strike my fancy, or what particular genre will pop up on the Netflix listing whenever I turn on the tv and enter the world of my trusty little Roku. For whatever reason this week, I've stumbled upon a few thought provoking, intriguing movies and one particularly heartbreaking documentary. Although I've recently made a conscious decision to avoid the media in almost all of it's incarnations, it in no way keeps me from viewing an in-depth, research driven documentary on almost any given day. I rarely discriminate in my choice of fascinating subject matter, and consider it to almost be a form of continuing adult education. Having never been a big fan of history as a student, I welcome and embrace these learning opportunities whenever they present themselves.

I recently found myself standing on the well worn cobble-stone streets of San Juan, and spent a few hours discovering the history of its citizens as well as the military installation at San Cristobal Castle. I was reminded of my own personal loosely based link, to the wars that have been fought since what seems like the beginning of time. Having experienced the first part of my married life as the wife of man enlisted in the Army, I may be a bit more aware of the harsh reality faced by members of the military, and their own families. I still recall as a young bride of 18, walking through the very same streets in Germany, where Hilter once gathered and marched his Nazi troops to battle. When we were stationed overseas from 1978 to 1981, the wall dividing east and west Germany still existed. It was very apparent to me on one particular day when I inadvertently discovered, during a simple shopping expedition, that I had traveled within the 10k border zone. A highly guarded boundary separated this once solid european country, where I resided with my family, which had been split as a result of a world war.

I have always been thankful, now more than ever, that Roger's service to his country ended shortly before the United States was involved in the Gulf War. There were many times in the early 90's that I found myself watching a newscast about the conflict, knowing how my own husband could have easily been part of that deployment of soldiers.

I'm never more aware of this, nor is the fact very far from my mind, than when I happen upon a documentary as eye opening as the recently released and Oscar nominated film called Restrepo. Watching the movie alone, in my darkened living room one evening this past week, I was immediately transported to that remote location and fully immersed in the reality of the war torn country these soldiers are still bravely defending. I find it extremely difficult to actually describe every emotion I felt while I witnessed, from a third person perspective, the horrors of this ongoing war. These men will be forever scarred, both mentally and physically, by their tour of duty while stationed in this remote small corner of the world. I am saddened on every level, for the families of those who lost their lives during the constant gun battles fought in that valley. I don't believe I've ever witnessed such a realistic view of what the citizens of this country commonly refer to as the ongoing war in Afghanistan.

Please correct me if I'm wrong....as far back as the history of all civilizations have revealed to us, aren't all military conflicts based on either political, land-based or religious issues? Is it no wonder with how I feel about the senselessness of war, that I've chosen to distance myself from all things political and/or religious? I believe I am not alone in my personal perspective and perception.....there are many of us who will continually ask the question....Why?

Shake It Up!!!

Ok, so I made it through my first week back at work after being gone for 4 days on vacation. To be perfectly honest, and I really try to live by the old saying that honesty is the best policy, "made it through" is pretty darn close to how I feel right now on this Friday evening. What is in store for me tomorrow, well....unfortunately, not exactly what I look forward to every Friday night when I come home from work. There will be no full 48 hour reprieve from my job for me...no sir!

As most folks know, when you are away from your desk for anything more then a day or two, the piles waiting for you upon your return, are just not pretty. Not to mention the avalanche of emails that you must wade through just to get up to speed on current issues. If I was really smart, I'd read them while I was out of work and get ahead of the game...then again that would be foolish because I would never truly get a break from the hustle and bustle of my all consuming job responsibilities. They have me for 40 hrs a week, 48 weeks of the year...if I can't completely steal away from that place for a measly 160 hours every 12 months, then there is something wrong with what I commonly refer to as my life.

Of course it didn't help matters any, that I was doing work outside the office during the week before I left for vacation. And now looking towards the month of February, it appears that I will once again be working outside the office, for approximately 2 weeks. Another project to add to the already busy case load of work that crosses our desks on a daily basis.

And that my friends, is why tomorrow morning when I would usually be dilly dallying around the house in my robe and slippers enjoying a quiet Saturday morning, I will instead be sitting in my all-to-familiar cubicle wrapping up 2 weeks worth of work, as I prepare for the month ahead. Some days, work feels like a merry-go-round and I'm the "lucky" recipient of the never ending ride of a lifetime.

I often times wonder how to make sense of the hectic pace we are expected to keep at work each day. I know how lucky I am, during these difficult economic times to have a wonderful job that contributes to paying the bills, helps to keep food in the fridge and a roof over our heads. However, after spending a few days in the Caribbean, witnessing the simple lives of those who choose a less complicated existence, I'm not always so sure that this is ultimately "it" for me. Does everyone come home from a vacation feeling the same way as I do?

Roger and I have often joked about running away and living on an island somewhere...then of course reality sets in, and we put our nose to the grindstone and continue to plod on. I actually feel like when we left Connecticut, we were searching for a slower way of life that would carry us into our senior years, and to a point, we have. However, being empty nesters 10 years ago when we moved, was a huge contributing factor to our state of mind. Here we are at 51 and 54...still more than a decade away from any retirement plans, and we find ourselves longing for a less hectic pace...at least I do at times.

On Tuesday afternoon at about 5pm when I arrived home after what can only be described as the day the other shoe dropped, I turned to Roger and for the first time in 33 years of marriage I said to him, "you are taking me out for a drink." For anyone that knows me, this was so far out of character, that even my own husband knew not to do anything other than ask me where I wanted to go.....clearly I had a place in mind. Of we went to find a 2-for-1 chocolate martini happy hour special at Carrabbas, which just so happens to be about 3 minutes from home. A loaf of crusty Italian bread, some tasty herb infused olive oil for dipping and two martinis later, I was mellowed out and ready for a great night's sleep. I had finally found a solution to ease my transition from vacation mode back into the workplace. I'd think about the logistics of what was ahead in the morning...and I knew with certainty that the world would look rosier as the week wore on. By Wednesday mid-day, I was able to get my head around the enormity of the project and realized I would have support in tackling everything set before us. I knew it was just a matter of time before my initial misgivings would quickly fade into the background.



Although a drink every now and then is something I'm only familiar with indulging in on vacation, somehow I think that may be changing. I don't like the idea of drinking and driving, so having the "fixings" at home will be a plus. When we were on the ship, I found and purchased a cute little martini shaker with the company's logo on the side. I figured it was time to bring a bit of that martini fun home to help remind me that no matter where I am, after a long busy day, something sweet and tasty helps the medicine go down. I found a recipe, will be purchasing the ingredients and fully intend to indulge whenever the spirit moves me and I have enough energy after a long day at work to just Shake It Up!

Final thoughts

As long as we have been spending our vacation dollars and using up all our vacation days at sea, we are still pleased to continue to find new information regarding the world of cruising.

--On our last day, my hubby came across a miniature version of the printed daily schedule that fits easily in your pocket (instead of ripping the full size Celebrity Today page in half and folding it up like an accordion)
--We enjoyed the 2 for 1 drinks 10pm-midnight in 5 bars throughout the ship on Tues & Wed (port days).
--I personally was a bit put off by one of the guest enrichment speakers soliciting good reviews at every turn. Not to say he was not entertaining, I just don't necessarily feel the need to be reminded that he is looking for a full time job with the cruise line.
--We had a time change on first night (lost an hour) and 2nd to last night (found the hour we lost)
--My husband is a big fan of the oceans ahead program and enjoys speaking with the ship's navigational and engineering staff
--Late night comedy is repeated throughout the cruise--if you love to laugh...don't miss it
--Brunch in MDR usually on sea day (for us, the day we pulled into San Juan because we docked at 2 pm)

So many things we intended to do, had them all on our list, but missed due to lack of time, a conflicting time schedule, an exhausting day and/or our need for sleep

--Karaoke nights
--Liar's Club game show
--Persian Gardens (steam room)
--watch feature film in Celebrity Central
--Dancing with the Stripes
--70's party
--Edge (production show)
--Eclipse (production show)
--Senior Officer's Cocktail Party
--sushi in the buffet
--free bag of wash/fold laundry (we need to pack less, let them wash it, and repeat an outfit)
--backstage tour
--cooking demonstrations
--wine and cheese concert on the lawn (7:30-8:30 pm evening of San Juan port day)
--Motown pool party

Clearly many great reasons to book a back-to-back!!!!

Day 7

One final lazy and breezy morning on the balcony...Rog slept through all my photo sessions :)


Last sea day morning for breakfast I finally decided to visit the Oceanview Cafe, then I was bound and determined to relax most of the day.




Yes, there is a lawn on this ship, and it appears it's that time of the year when they "replant"





Clearly, not much growth is allowed...dirt level seems a bit low...interesting









Wow, they even have "garage" for the lawn tools

I'm not fond of coming home from vacation so exhausted that I need time to recuperate before resuming my normal work schedule. That being said, I found a cozy cocoon chair in the solarium and spent the entire morning napping, reading and munching on the delicious muffins in the Aqua Spa Cafe. Rog decided to attend the bridge tour around 9:30, than I joined him for the engine control room tour around 12:30. I was back upstairs to grab a quick plate of wings, then it was time to get changed for the Captain's Club reception in the Sky Lounge at 1:30. Next up, Elegant Tea which is served at 2:30 in Murano on the last sea day. A couple ladies from our CC roll call joined me for a lovely afternoon tea and a nice glass of champagne. We all thoroughly enjoyed listening to the soothing string quartet while indulging in a never ending procession of sweet and savory treats, served by the white gloved wait staff.







My Champagne and
High Tea friends







Our view from the lounger in the Solarium

As you can see from the back-to-back afternoon schedule, it was probably a smart move on my part to lay low and rest during most of the morning. While I was out of the cabin at tea, hubby started his packing...something we both always dread doing at the end of each cruise.

I had one more scrap booking session to attend at 4:45, then it was time for our final dinner in Blu. Over the course of the last week, we had some exceptional meals in this venue, it will be very difficult for us to eat in the MDR again after such a wonderful experience. Aside from the obvious delicious food options, we loved how quiet and calm the entire setting is, away from the crowded dining room. Arriving at just about anytime in the evening, having my husband's meal requests honored and meeting a new couple at each meal, suited our needs perfectly. I must say that my favorite dishes were the lobster appetizer, soft shell crab appetizer, lobster tail entree and blackened tuna entree served with forbidden rice. My hubby and I are not "meat and potatoes" folks, so the menu options appealed to us on every level. I only heard great comments regarding the food from everyone else we spoke to during the week. The service was top notch across the board, as it is in all eating venues.

After having missed a few shows during the week, we were set on heading to the theater early enough to get a seat. I've never seen such a large group of passengers filling the audience to capacity, long before the shows were scheduled to start. Karen Grainger was part of the final show, she sang a few songs in her own voice rather than impersonating other entertainers. Her surprise duet with Paul Banya brought the entire audience out of their seats for a standing ovation.

Before saying our goodnights, we stopped to indulge in a bit more of the gelato. The deserts in Blu are very light and I had no problem supplementing my sweet tooth even that late in the evening.

We completed our packing, had the suitcases out in the hallway by 11pm. We made plans to have our final breakfast in Blu, then wait until we could no longer put off the inevitable debarkation process. We spent a couple minutes walking through customs, then we were in a taxi on our way to pick up the car.

It's 10:30 and I'm feeling the need for another morning nap as hubby drives north on 95 towards home. The weather is drizzly and overcast, with temps inching their way to the 70's, but neither of us mind as we both hold on to the afterglow of a wonderful week of memories cruising on board Celebrity Eclipse.