This is part of an email I received from my friend Mario today in response to my email to him, asking about his recent trip to Paris. I found it very entertaining and thought I would share one man's view of Paris.
Paris was wonderful. And get this…while riding the very crowded Metro during rush hour, I was conveniently sandwiched between trois jeunes hommes très beaux. (well, younger than me) Talk about your gift with purchase.
I never knew riding the subway could be so much fun. Every direction I looked, I got a view of beautiful France.
Each one with remarkably great skin, a hint of stubble, gorgeous eyes and rosy cheeks that looked freshly pinched …and they even smelled like they bathed and used cologne. They smelled even better than a loaf of freshly baked croissant…with melted butter. And let me tell you, I love my carbs. What can I say? "Paris...je t'aime"
Oh…the city was gorgeous, too.
So, merci bien, Mario for that slice of Parisian life!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Fog Juice
Yesterday I went looking for fog juice at Target. One would think that on Halloween fog juice would be a hot seller. One would, you know. After all, you need fog juice for the fog machine that makes that graveyard you've set up in the courtyard to look scary. Fog juice is a very important ingredient for Halloween at the Haunted Larson Lodge and Cameron put it on my shopping list, right after hair color and before deodorant.
But, alas, there was no fog juice at Target. You know what was on the shelf where the fog juice used to be? Something much, much scarier....
Christmas lights.
But, alas, there was no fog juice at Target. You know what was on the shelf where the fog juice used to be? Something much, much scarier....
Christmas lights.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Linens
How many sets of sheets do you need? I mean, how many are too few, how many too many? Should there be one set for every month or every season? Changing them at least weekly, of course, but do you leave the bed naked while they wash and put the same ones back on? Or do you buy all the same kind so there is always a fresh set but the bed always looks the same? Or change it up and surprise your husband with a new look every week?
I ask because I always want to buy sheets. I can't stay away from the linen section. That 100% cotton, 300+ thread count king set on sale just beckons to me. And now that we're back in California with our king bed that isn't a California king, those king sets are harder to find here. Shouldn't I buy them just because I don't know if I'll find them again when I really need them? Buying them on the Internet isn't the same. I have to hold the package in my hand, really see the color and read the label. Does it have deep pockets? What's the thread count? Where is it made?
And how do you know when you need new sheets, not just want them? Do they wear out? Does the elastic go? That hasn't happened to me, but maybe because I have too many sets so they never get a chance to wear out. Again, what's too many?
And we use a down comforter, so duvet covers just open up all kinds of possibilities. How do I know if I have enough duvet covers or if I have too many? Or not enough? These I change with the season and the weather. Different weights and textures: flannel versus flat weave versus denim weight; casual versus formal versus seasonal themes. That means as soon as the weather cools off the flannel fall leaf patterned duvet cover goes on, as do the matching flannel sheets. (And the electric blanket, but that's a different topic.)
Just yesterday I bought a set of hotel-white 350 thread count sheets and a new lightweight duvet cover in pewter and white - a totally new color scheme for me. I'm kind of excited about a new look. But it's October - do I put on the new white sheets now, before the flannel sheets come out or should I wait until next spring, when the flannel comes off?
Maybe this is why I have anxiety? I think I need to remove the question mark from my keyboard now. And perhaps I shouldn't write at midnight on a Sunday. My sage green 400 thread count sheets and the summer weight green and white duvet cover are waiting. I think I'll change those tomorrow. Maybe I'll try the white sheets. Maybe.... oh, good grief and good night.
I ask because I always want to buy sheets. I can't stay away from the linen section. That 100% cotton, 300+ thread count king set on sale just beckons to me. And now that we're back in California with our king bed that isn't a California king, those king sets are harder to find here. Shouldn't I buy them just because I don't know if I'll find them again when I really need them? Buying them on the Internet isn't the same. I have to hold the package in my hand, really see the color and read the label. Does it have deep pockets? What's the thread count? Where is it made?
And how do you know when you need new sheets, not just want them? Do they wear out? Does the elastic go? That hasn't happened to me, but maybe because I have too many sets so they never get a chance to wear out. Again, what's too many?
And we use a down comforter, so duvet covers just open up all kinds of possibilities. How do I know if I have enough duvet covers or if I have too many? Or not enough? These I change with the season and the weather. Different weights and textures: flannel versus flat weave versus denim weight; casual versus formal versus seasonal themes. That means as soon as the weather cools off the flannel fall leaf patterned duvet cover goes on, as do the matching flannel sheets. (And the electric blanket, but that's a different topic.)
Just yesterday I bought a set of hotel-white 350 thread count sheets and a new lightweight duvet cover in pewter and white - a totally new color scheme for me. I'm kind of excited about a new look. But it's October - do I put on the new white sheets now, before the flannel sheets come out or should I wait until next spring, when the flannel comes off?
Maybe this is why I have anxiety? I think I need to remove the question mark from my keyboard now. And perhaps I shouldn't write at midnight on a Sunday. My sage green 400 thread count sheets and the summer weight green and white duvet cover are waiting. I think I'll change those tomorrow. Maybe I'll try the white sheets. Maybe.... oh, good grief and good night.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Yes, yes, I'm here
So, where were we?
When last we met I was working on the weight thing. Still going, down 22.6 pounds as of today. Yeah, I know it's slow, but isn't it better than being up 22.6 pounds? 30 more (or so) to go. At this rate, I'll be there for summer 2010. That'll work. Gives me time to clean out the 4 sizes of clothes in my closet. I won't have to shop for a long time.
Somehow life ran away with me in the last 5 or 6 weeks. Or I with it. Let's see if we can get back on track.
September was a very challenging time. Two of my dear friends lost their mothers and my second cousin decided to end his life. My cousin is - was - a Catholic priest in Japan and had recently been struggling with mental illness. He destroyed his computer files that held 40+ years of geneology research for which he had traveled the globe. He also destroyed much of the art work he had done during his 20 years in Japan. His remains will stay in Japan. We don't know the details and his siblings don't want to know. I bet he is getting quite a scolding from my great-aunt about this one. We can only think that he was very, very ill and not the man we knew all these years. God bless him and his siblings he leaves behind.
On a much brighter and hopeful note, the charity Long Beach Basket Brigade held their - our - first ever fundraiser in September and we raised somewhere around $12,000, or about 50% of the cost of providing 600 baskets to hungry families in Long Beach at Thanksgiving. Work to go on that front, BUT I have the Pathways to Independence fundraiser next weekend to focus on, so I'll get back to that after Pathways. And, course, my full time job takes some time out of my week.
Which brings me to the other twist September brought - I've developed anxiety. Me. Yes, me. The one who CAN be all things to all people all the time and who can't do a half-assed job because that's just not done. I win awards, I excel, I am the role model, I am the leading practice, I am the overachiever, the leader, the example. I've been through far more stress than a couple of fundraisers balanced with work. A LOT more. And I've been just fine, thank you. Ask my former therapists!
The doctor tells me that racing, flight-or-fight feeling I have, that live wire buzzing inside that wakes me up at night and feels like someone is pushing a stick on my solar plexus is, indeed, your garden variety anxiety.
I'm still not buying it. I think we need Dr. House.
When last we met I was working on the weight thing. Still going, down 22.6 pounds as of today. Yeah, I know it's slow, but isn't it better than being up 22.6 pounds? 30 more (or so) to go. At this rate, I'll be there for summer 2010. That'll work. Gives me time to clean out the 4 sizes of clothes in my closet. I won't have to shop for a long time.
Somehow life ran away with me in the last 5 or 6 weeks. Or I with it. Let's see if we can get back on track.
September was a very challenging time. Two of my dear friends lost their mothers and my second cousin decided to end his life. My cousin is - was - a Catholic priest in Japan and had recently been struggling with mental illness. He destroyed his computer files that held 40+ years of geneology research for which he had traveled the globe. He also destroyed much of the art work he had done during his 20 years in Japan. His remains will stay in Japan. We don't know the details and his siblings don't want to know. I bet he is getting quite a scolding from my great-aunt about this one. We can only think that he was very, very ill and not the man we knew all these years. God bless him and his siblings he leaves behind.
On a much brighter and hopeful note, the charity Long Beach Basket Brigade held their - our - first ever fundraiser in September and we raised somewhere around $12,000, or about 50% of the cost of providing 600 baskets to hungry families in Long Beach at Thanksgiving. Work to go on that front, BUT I have the Pathways to Independence fundraiser next weekend to focus on, so I'll get back to that after Pathways. And, course, my full time job takes some time out of my week.
Which brings me to the other twist September brought - I've developed anxiety. Me. Yes, me. The one who CAN be all things to all people all the time and who can't do a half-assed job because that's just not done. I win awards, I excel, I am the role model, I am the leading practice, I am the overachiever, the leader, the example. I've been through far more stress than a couple of fundraisers balanced with work. A LOT more. And I've been just fine, thank you. Ask my former therapists!
The doctor tells me that racing, flight-or-fight feeling I have, that live wire buzzing inside that wakes me up at night and feels like someone is pushing a stick on my solar plexus is, indeed, your garden variety anxiety.
I'm still not buying it. I think we need Dr. House.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Added incentive
So I've told you about the Weight Watchers and as of last week it was -18.2. Slow and steady. Really, really slow, but beats gaining 18.2.
I wear the same thing to every weigh in. Every one. People at the meeting probably think that's all I own. I don't care. I'll have to change soon as I can now take off the shorts without unbuttoning or unzipping them. But I'll wear them until I have to hold them up.
Today I joined a team of 5 women in a Long Beach weight loss challenge. Apparently someone, somewhere, said that people in Long Beach are fat. Long Beach, California. No offense to my friends who live there or who started life there, but have those same people who called Long Beach fat ever been to Wisconsin? Iowa? Mississippi? Really. I have. I'm telling you, Long Beach is not full of fat people.
Anyway, this challenge is to get Long Beachians/Long Beachers/Long Beachniks to slim down. So we pay $5 a week for the weigh in, we pay an additional $5 if we miss a weigh in AND we pay $2 for every pound or fraction of a pound we gain. The team with the greatest percentage of weight loss wins somewhere around $20,000. SCORE.
You can follow the challenge at www.justinrudd.com and it's called "Long Beach Losers". Our team name is "Winners at Losing". Okay, so I had to come up with a team name on the spot and it's not the most creative, but it will describe us.
Just in case you're wondering, I have no intention of PAYING to gain weight. The additional weekly weigh in also means I can't do the Saturday splurge and still recover for the WW weigh in on Friday or Saturday. No more margarita with guacamole and chips for Friday night dinner after weigh-in. No, now I have to answer for Wednesday, too.
Today I ponyed up my $65 to pay for the whole 13 weeks (commitment!) and stepped on the scale. BUT, I didn't wear my WW weigh in outfit (that weighs 1.8 pounds). Nooooo, I had on a heavy linen blouse and work trousers. Sneaky, eh? NEXT week I'll wear something lighter and then the NEXT week, something lighter still.
Until I have to hold up my clothes.
I wear the same thing to every weigh in. Every one. People at the meeting probably think that's all I own. I don't care. I'll have to change soon as I can now take off the shorts without unbuttoning or unzipping them. But I'll wear them until I have to hold them up.
Today I joined a team of 5 women in a Long Beach weight loss challenge. Apparently someone, somewhere, said that people in Long Beach are fat. Long Beach, California. No offense to my friends who live there or who started life there, but have those same people who called Long Beach fat ever been to Wisconsin? Iowa? Mississippi? Really. I have. I'm telling you, Long Beach is not full of fat people.
Anyway, this challenge is to get Long Beachians/Long Beachers/Long Beachniks to slim down. So we pay $5 a week for the weigh in, we pay an additional $5 if we miss a weigh in AND we pay $2 for every pound or fraction of a pound we gain. The team with the greatest percentage of weight loss wins somewhere around $20,000. SCORE.
You can follow the challenge at www.justinrudd.com and it's called "Long Beach Losers". Our team name is "Winners at Losing". Okay, so I had to come up with a team name on the spot and it's not the most creative, but it will describe us.
Just in case you're wondering, I have no intention of PAYING to gain weight. The additional weekly weigh in also means I can't do the Saturday splurge and still recover for the WW weigh in on Friday or Saturday. No more margarita with guacamole and chips for Friday night dinner after weigh-in. No, now I have to answer for Wednesday, too.
Today I ponyed up my $65 to pay for the whole 13 weeks (commitment!) and stepped on the scale. BUT, I didn't wear my WW weigh in outfit (that weighs 1.8 pounds). Nooooo, I had on a heavy linen blouse and work trousers. Sneaky, eh? NEXT week I'll wear something lighter and then the NEXT week, something lighter still.
Until I have to hold up my clothes.
Monday, August 24, 2009
What should he do?
My husband, who was unceremoniously laid off from his job (three guys in India will be doing his work, namaste), has a new job. This is a very good thing. It doesn't pay quite as much as the old job, but the benefits and security are pretty good. And it pays a whole lot more than no job. A whole lot. So, all and all, this is really pretty good. We get to keep our house, our cars and our lifestyle. See? Good.
He starts September 8th. That's two weeks away. Heck, it was three weeks away from last week when he got the start date.
So, what should he do while he waits? This is pretty much it for any vacation time for the next year as he has to start with only 2 weeks of vacation a year. Soooo, how cool to have two (and it was three) weeks to do ANYTHING you want. What would you do?
Cameron has full flight benefits and a valid passport to go anywhere in the world. Yes, anywhere he can find a seat and he has 21 years of senority (mine) to get him to the front-ish of the line and maybe sit in First Class. He has a long list (the "uber list") of things to do around the house, like finish the bathroom he started remodeling early this year. Or build a fireplace mantle that he was going to do three years ago. He could clean the house, as we let the house cleaner go when he lost his job in April. He could catch up on his Facebook posts and answer those cause and friend requests. He could play golf EVERYDAY if he wanted. He could grocery shop and plan exquisite (WW friendly) meals for his beloved.
What is he doing? Nothing. Oh, he's getting some sleep, watching TV, on the computer, bugging me. Okay, so right this moment he is fixing me dinner. That's good, too.
BUT, he has TWO WHOLE WEEKS!!!!
I'd have a suitcase packed so fast and be out the door like a whirlwind. Here I come Chicago, London, back to Australia, Hawaii, Atlanta, Miami. Heck, I might even visit my new friends in Texas. FREE time off? To do anything and go anywhere??
Men. Don't understand them. But I do appreciate the meals.
He starts September 8th. That's two weeks away. Heck, it was three weeks away from last week when he got the start date.
So, what should he do while he waits? This is pretty much it for any vacation time for the next year as he has to start with only 2 weeks of vacation a year. Soooo, how cool to have two (and it was three) weeks to do ANYTHING you want. What would you do?
Cameron has full flight benefits and a valid passport to go anywhere in the world. Yes, anywhere he can find a seat and he has 21 years of senority (mine) to get him to the front-ish of the line and maybe sit in First Class. He has a long list (the "uber list") of things to do around the house, like finish the bathroom he started remodeling early this year. Or build a fireplace mantle that he was going to do three years ago. He could clean the house, as we let the house cleaner go when he lost his job in April. He could catch up on his Facebook posts and answer those cause and friend requests. He could play golf EVERYDAY if he wanted. He could grocery shop and plan exquisite (WW friendly) meals for his beloved.
What is he doing? Nothing. Oh, he's getting some sleep, watching TV, on the computer, bugging me. Okay, so right this moment he is fixing me dinner. That's good, too.
BUT, he has TWO WHOLE WEEKS!!!!
I'd have a suitcase packed so fast and be out the door like a whirlwind. Here I come Chicago, London, back to Australia, Hawaii, Atlanta, Miami. Heck, I might even visit my new friends in Texas. FREE time off? To do anything and go anywhere??
Men. Don't understand them. But I do appreciate the meals.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
G'Day from a temporary Sheila
One of the many nice things about visiting Australia is they speak English there. Mostly.
It's actually - at times - a lot like the States. Aside from insisting they drive on the left side of the road, but not being able to make up their mind on which side of the sidewalk they should stroll, they use English words as we do, but have very interesting ways of putting them together. Let me share a few idioms used by my friends during our visit, just so you'll know what I'm talking about when they creep-oh-so-naturally into my conversation that won't sound affected at all. Mate.:
"It's a bit 'how's your father (pronounced 'fatha' of course)" - tacky, aging, lipstick on a pig, bawdy, could also mean casual intercourse taken to an extreme. I can't stop using it (not to the extreme) for all and any situation and it's making Cameron nuts. I say it just to say it. He's now insisting on telling me how his father is every time I say it. That won't stop me. I just think he's being a bit how's your father, myself.
"Daggy" - worse than how's your father, it also means a nerd when shortened to "dag". Like Cam. Well, he keeps asking me "Who's your nerd?", so he's my dag.
"Bee's dick" - a very, very, very, teeny, weeny, itsy-bitsy unit of measurement. "The bloody stinga was a bee's dick away from getting me".
"Stinga" - any of the bajillion jellyfish in Australian waters that can - and will - maim and kill you.
"Damper" - it was on a menu and the most I could figure out, it's a biscuit. Really, do I want to eat something called a "damper"? Sounds like a wet nappy. Or something you put dirty clothes in.
"Nappy" - diaper. Wet or dry.
"Tomato sauce" - ketchup. Well, it's descriptive, but not the way we use the term.
"Marinara" - what they *HORRORS* put on nachos (go for the bean mix). And on spaghetti. See, they are a lot like us. When they eat spaghetti.
"Pissing pick handles" - raining really hard. Sounds like it would hurt, too.
"Pegged up" - hung on a clothes line, as in "do you want your wet swimmers pegged up?"
"Swimmers" - bathing suit
"Bonza" - cool!
"Breaky" - also seen spelled "brekky" - breakfast, typically involving eggs and bacon.
"Flat white" - good coffee! Brewed coffee (or espresso) topped with a warm, creamy milk top. Smooth and velvety and mmmmm.
"kip" - a nap, as in "taking another kip, Katie?"
"buoy" - well, same as in the States only they pronounce it "boy"
"Backpackers" - a whole cult of young 20-something travelers that travel the country having way too much fun, carrying all their goods in a backpack and drinking beer. Drinking age is 18 Down Under. One of the backpacking places we passed had rules posted for those staying there. Among the rules? "No nudity in public". Sounds fun. One of the other rules seemed to be the female backpackers were required to wear shorts that were far smaller than any nappy, that required some type of wax treatment and which were unbuttoned in front. Sounds scary.
So, when you ask me about my trip, I'll tell you that I avoided the backpackers and the stingas and that I pegged up my swimmers when I got out of the water. However, I thought I was going to need a nappy when a car coming at me on the left was just a bee's dick away from giving me a permanent kip. All in all, it wasn't the least bit how's your father or daggy, just totally bonza, mate. No worries.
It's actually - at times - a lot like the States. Aside from insisting they drive on the left side of the road, but not being able to make up their mind on which side of the sidewalk they should stroll, they use English words as we do, but have very interesting ways of putting them together. Let me share a few idioms used by my friends during our visit, just so you'll know what I'm talking about when they creep-oh-so-naturally into my conversation that won't sound affected at all. Mate.:
"It's a bit 'how's your father (pronounced 'fatha' of course)" - tacky, aging, lipstick on a pig, bawdy, could also mean casual intercourse taken to an extreme. I can't stop using it (not to the extreme) for all and any situation and it's making Cameron nuts. I say it just to say it. He's now insisting on telling me how his father is every time I say it. That won't stop me. I just think he's being a bit how's your father, myself.
"Daggy" - worse than how's your father, it also means a nerd when shortened to "dag". Like Cam. Well, he keeps asking me "Who's your nerd?", so he's my dag.
"Bee's dick" - a very, very, very, teeny, weeny, itsy-bitsy unit of measurement. "The bloody stinga was a bee's dick away from getting me".
"Stinga" - any of the bajillion jellyfish in Australian waters that can - and will - maim and kill you.
"Damper" - it was on a menu and the most I could figure out, it's a biscuit. Really, do I want to eat something called a "damper"? Sounds like a wet nappy. Or something you put dirty clothes in.
"Nappy" - diaper. Wet or dry.
"Tomato sauce" - ketchup. Well, it's descriptive, but not the way we use the term.
"Marinara" - what they *HORRORS* put on nachos (go for the bean mix). And on spaghetti. See, they are a lot like us. When they eat spaghetti.
"Pissing pick handles" - raining really hard. Sounds like it would hurt, too.
"Pegged up" - hung on a clothes line, as in "do you want your wet swimmers pegged up?"
"Swimmers" - bathing suit
"Bonza" - cool!
"Breaky" - also seen spelled "brekky" - breakfast, typically involving eggs and bacon.
"Flat white" - good coffee! Brewed coffee (or espresso) topped with a warm, creamy milk top. Smooth and velvety and mmmmm.
"kip" - a nap, as in "taking another kip, Katie?"
"buoy" - well, same as in the States only they pronounce it "boy"
"Backpackers" - a whole cult of young 20-something travelers that travel the country having way too much fun, carrying all their goods in a backpack and drinking beer. Drinking age is 18 Down Under. One of the backpacking places we passed had rules posted for those staying there. Among the rules? "No nudity in public". Sounds fun. One of the other rules seemed to be the female backpackers were required to wear shorts that were far smaller than any nappy, that required some type of wax treatment and which were unbuttoned in front. Sounds scary.
So, when you ask me about my trip, I'll tell you that I avoided the backpackers and the stingas and that I pegged up my swimmers when I got out of the water. However, I thought I was going to need a nappy when a car coming at me on the left was just a bee's dick away from giving me a permanent kip. All in all, it wasn't the least bit how's your father or daggy, just totally bonza, mate. No worries.
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