EosDiva

What to do in Portland...MAINE

2009-11-23T05:30:00.000-08:00

I am always looking for new things to do here in town - or out of town. I am not sure how this terrific resource escaped me, but here it is: Maine Today!

I have compnay coming for the week and this will be VERY useful!

The staycation

2009-06-06T16:58:00.000-07:00

You've heard the term - STAYcation. What is it? Well, those interested in the economy, it is the vacation that needs to be taken but is too expensive to leave somewhere exotic. So you STAY at home and spend your vacation there. While you may snicker at the idea of a vacation at home - here are a few tips that I can give you from a "staycationer" : My husband and I.

ONE - either go out for breakfast every AM or lunch. Provision your home with yummy dinners, but do it from a different store than you are used to.

TWO - limit your "honey do" list to only a day or 2. This week we worked a couple of days, and then took advantage of the great weather and sailed!

THREE - NAP either every day or take time to devour a book.

FOUR - put housework out of your mind - it will be there next week!

FIVE - take advantage of spending time with friends and family.

Taking care your yourself requires time away from work and the stresses that come with it. While we all love going away, taking a staycation is not only economical it is also a way of reconnecting with yourself and home.

STAY HOME!

Things you would never say in public

2009-05-29T15:24:00.000-07:00

Today I had one of those days where my mind was on a real kicker of things you WISH you could say, but don't. That old saying of "can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all".

While I was in the restroom I say a woman's little toe sticking out of her sandal, and I thought that while it looks uncomfortable, why would I want to see her bubble gum colored little toe waggle-ing out in the open?

Who parks their grocery cart at the checkout and then leaves to shop for more items and then get incensed that I got in front of her? What were you thinking girl?

Why is your face so, so,...I don't know, weird looking?

Why would you EVER go out in that costume? Oh that's your workout gear?

I know that most of this is silly and shallow, but don't tell me that you haven't had those moments too.

Life cycles and tragedy

2009-05-28T15:50:00.000-07:00

There are some events in life that make you stop in your tracks and force you to think about life. I mean REALLY take a look at life.

We all live a fast paced life. Let's face it. We are bombarded with the pressures of self image, career success, family and many more that I can't think of, but will later. Sometimes, this all catches up with us and we want OUT. Sometimes we just need a vacation from the routine. Sometimes we need to set more boundaries and take care of ourselves. Sometimes a trip or tow to the therapist helps. Sometimes, the proverbial "OUT", means just that. OUT...ENDGAME...DEAD...and I don't mean the natural causes kind of out either.

Suicide is brutal. You try to find the sense in it. You try to have some emphathy for the person. Then you have the sense of anger and sadness that the family must feel. Picking up the pieces of a family, trying to put it all back together, except there is one piece missing. The family isn't whole, there are the "what did we miss", "will I be like that?" and the simple and intense feeling of loss and mourning.

The lawyers arrive trying to sort the practical things out...the spiritual leader comes to sort the heart and soul out.

Deep inside I realize that suicide can be quite self centered.

Suicide makes you stop in your tracks and think about life, and about your family and friends.

Rain

2009-05-28T05:04:00.000-07:00

We are receiving some much needed rain this morning. Although it is the kind of rain that makes you want to stay in bed all day and read. That cold, raw feeling.

This is the time of year that I spend more attention on the weather. When I go outside I immediately think about the smell of the air ( is it briney smelling or grassing smelling) the temperature of the air on my skin, and the warmth of the sun on my face. Once I process all that information in my brain I transport myself to a moment on the boat that had similar weather characteristics. Most of the time my visualizations are of happy, exhilerating and carefree moments, other times, my visualizations are of less than perfect weather and how well I handled it.

Right now the rain is driving straight down. I remember the time that we stayed in Tenents Harbor, snuggled up and read and played cards while snacking on the previous nights blueberry pie.

The thing I love and hope I never need

2009-05-26T15:29:00.000-07:00

EPIRB. People pronounce it as EE-per-b. It stands for Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon.

It is also the one thing I love on the boat and hope I never have to use. The beacon is used in "dire situations" where your survival involves launching the beacon and leaving the boat. The beacon sends a position and emergency signal to the USCG where a search and rescue team will be alerted and sent. Chances of survival for crew increases with the use of an EPIRB - never guaranteed, but at least increased.

I purchased the beacon for my DH as a birthday present - a friend said to me "guess you plan to keep him."

I guess I will....

The Annual Circumnavigation

2009-05-25T13:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took our first sail of the season - we shook out the bugs, and made notes of what else needs to be done and what else needs to be loaded on the boat. My DS was a reluctant crew member, however when he realized that he was doing pretty well with sail trim, he perked up.

We joke about the Circumnavigation - as we sail around one of Casco Bay's Islands - Clapboard Island. It doesn't take very long in a gentle breeze, and sometimes PYC racing fleet, races around the Island during their casual Thursday night races.

Yesterday's little sail around one of Casco Bay's little jewels marked he beginning of a season for me. Summer on the coast of Maine.

Re-evaluation

2009-05-11T05:44:00.000-07:00

I have spent some time rebooting my head so to speak. Turning 40 was the time I was hoping that I would be roaring like a lion. Instead my body started to give me the proverbial raspberry, and I started seeing lines and sagging that just were not in existance a few years ago. I had to rethink how I was going to age. In reality, I had to THINK about aging and what that means.

For so long I have cruised along thinking that I am still 20 something and things just don't go wrong, and aging is for someone else. Taking care of myself was always something I thought I could do later.

Not so. I think my body finally gave me a time out and said, get some real help. I found a a wonderful doctor who practices integrative medicine and really listens.

In the past month I have slowly recentered myself, my body likes me again (mostly) and I have begun to see a different me - someone who I think I could age gracefully with.

It's Spring and I am building a fire

2009-03-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

It is March, and here I am cold and contemplating a fire in the stove to warm my bones. The calendar tells me its spring, and I am ready to shed the extra layers, but my bones and nose tell me not to.

It has been a challenging winter here in Maine. The snow is one thing, but the ice and bitter cold that we have had really points to the reason why so many "more mature" head south. I was thrilled that my parents decided to spend 3 months in Florida, and secretly I was envious of their situation. Am I "more mature" yet?

But here we are, just barely into spring, the wind howling at 40mph, white caps showing in channel near Portland Headlight, and a windchill that is in the teens. What I do know is that the floats will be going in at the boat yard soon, and that in a few weeks the boat will get launched and the lovely briney smell of the ocean will once again be in the air and there will be plenty to do in the garden.

So, I'll take advantage of this time, build a fire, read more, take a nap here and there, start my seedlings and wait patiently for warmer and sunnier weather.

The long break...

2009-03-23T04:29:00.001-07:00

I know - August was my last post. I have no good excuse, except I felt uninspired or felt that there are some many other blogs out there that are better.

I have fogotten that I am keeping a blog for myself and no one else.

Since my last post I have seen:

A new President
A severe downturn in our economy (I am beating a dead horse on this one)
The Wonders and beauty of Israel.

The best of those three would be Israel.

Morning Light- living vicariously

2008-08-08T05:49:00.000-07:00

I always get goosebumps when I watch this trailer. What and adventure for this crew.

Light House perspective

2008-06-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

Maine receives thousands of tourists a year, visiting our coastline and mountains. One of my favorite places in the whole world, is Coastal Maine, however, I prefer my view to be, unobstructed. To obtain this kind of view, I board my sailboat and let the prevailing winds take me away.

This is Portland Headlight, the country's oldest commissioned Lighthouse in the country. Boston has an older Light, but its station on a tiny island, and therefore in a different category.

Portland Headlight is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world and to get a seaman's perspective of this valuable light, you need to go to sea. A tourist's perspective you might ask? Get behind a fence.

Portland Headlight is a seaman's most important navigational tool while approaching Portland Harbor in the fog. Take a look at this photo and imagine: No sky, no rocky coast - just thick fog. This light will sound a horn when the air density reaches a certain level, and of course the headlight can be seen THROUGH fog.

The perspective of this photo is one of a vessel departing from Portland Harbor, leaving the lighthouse to "Starboard" (the right,)and then heading out slightly to "port" (the left) and entering the shipping channel and crossing the territorial water mark.

My name is Greta...

2008-05-13T05:19:00.000-07:00

Greta Schmidt. I was born in Bournstadt Germany, and I am an AstroPhysicist. Currently I am traveling to London to attend a conference and meet about a grant.

Or am I?

This is the cover name I was assigned when I entered the International Spy Museum. This is the real deal and not some cheesy place that you meet a "James Bond" and call it a day (although 007's Aston Martin is there from one of his many movies). This museum gives a an appreciation of those who live multiple lives and do work for our government invisibly. Remember Valerie Plame?

There are many spy artifacts from history and much to read about spies. Marie Antoinette was even a spy. Messages would be coded in the seams of her dresses and when sent out to be repaired or cleaned, well, you get the picture.....

The name is Greta. Greta Schmidt.

Eos - A new Dawn

2008-05-13T05:01:00.000-07:00

I have talked about this and dreamt it. Now it is a reality. I now have a VW Eos.

I don't think I have ever been so IN LOVE with an object as this. She is smooth, fast, good looking and is (I dare say with some shallowness) the ULTIMATE accessory. Trying to shrink your carbon footprint with this car is hard, as you want to drive in it all the time.

It does, however, get VERY GOOD mileage.

Food Raid

2008-04-17T04:37:00.000-07:00

I knew that something was wrong when I stepped into the kitchen. The bottom drawer of the Kitchen Island was open, and it looked very empty. My eyes scanned the dining room area and found to my disappointment, a ripped up box of cookies. I knew, that where there is some destruction, there usually is more.

I climbed the stairs up to my room and found a package of whole wheat bagels, gone. I then thundered downstairs to find my Poodle with a bag of chips in her mouth ready for consumption. She immediately dropped the bag, and leaped up to the couch and placed her head on the pillow. She was now going into "power pout" mode.

I scolded her, and her eyes told me she knew she was in deep trouble. Pieces of bagel and cookie stuck in her long curly ears. She was a mess. She was a cleaver poodle - getting the drawer open that had all of her favorite forbidden foods. But she was going to pay the price for this food raid.

When it was time to go to bed, poor Poodle, behaved like a person who ate too much at Thanksgiving. She shifted in her bed, her stomach rumbled and she sighed a lot.

I am sure she was wishing she had a zipper or button to undue because she was so uncomfortable.

Beautiful Gym and Beautiful People

2008-04-16T04:35:00.000-07:00

OH MY. The Equinox Gym is more than some place that you go to workout and get fit. At least that is what the website looks like. Gosh, if simply going would make me look as good as I feel after a WEBSITE visit, this would be nirvana. Take a tour and let me know what you think.....Just one visit to the site inspired me to buy an EQX mix of music from iTunes. Go figure.

A Bad Day and Diva Models gone ooopps.

2008-04-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

Its real impressive when a model can throw a shoe and not miss a beat. Then there are the other women. I LOVE my tiger danskos. Sheesh!

I am a super star - are you?

2008-04-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

I love this song - I can feel like the frumpiest suburban housewife, and it makes me feel...Diva Like.

Killer Scale

2008-04-08T04:40:00.000-07:00

The scale came down and started chasing me. It finally found me buried under the covers of my bed and sat on top of me. The dial on the face of the scale started to spin wildly and then it slowed down at 190, then 200 then 240.

I woke up wondering if it was true, or just a bad dream.

Ah, Bad Dream.

Waist Management

2008-04-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

OK, I think I get it. Weight management (or Waist Management as some like to call it), like sex, is 90% mental and 10% food. I get it. Really, I do now. I get it that I could only lose weight for so long if I remained analytical and made weight loss ONLY about the food. I never, EVER addressed the metal aspect of food.

I eat when I am stressed - salty foods please - and sweet foods when I am sad or very mellow. Funny, how I am rarely EVER enticed by a gallon of ice cream, but if shown a bag of doritos, I WILL arm wrestle you for them and I WILL win.

Stress, low level or high, is NOT healthy for a lot of reasons, and one of them is simply to keep your body at a healthy weight.

I get it now.

Home Alone

2008-04-01T14:38:00.001-07:00

Hum, life is SO HARD these days. I make sure I look good, bark at those pesky squirrels, and then, I get SO TIRED!

Wake me when you get home. Wait, maybe you shouldn't - I need my beauty sleep

In the Kitchen

2008-03-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

I feel like I have been in the kitchen a lot recently. Once I get dinner going, I realize that I need to make something for the dog.

Cooking for the dog? You bet. My dear Poodle has been diagnosed with a sensitive tummy, and now I have her on a home cooked diet/dehydrated raw diet. I have tried numerous "organic" foods, read all the labels, and then once I trial the Poodle on the new food, we are back at the vet trying to calm the inflammed tummy. My experiment this month was to see if I could get Poodle on "organic and natural" dry kibble. Things seemed fine until, well, its the POOP.

I watch my Poodle's poop like a new mother watches her infant's diaper contents. Is it runny? What is the color? What does it look like?

Poodle's poops were certainly not normal, and required her to go out multiple times a day. She would then go and tear up the toilet paper in the bathroom like she needed it, but couldn't manage to use it for lack of opposable thumbs.

Now that she has been on her Mommy's Home Cooked Gruel, things are terrific. Here is my recipe if you are interested (and it tastes great for your OWN lunch seasoned with some soy sauce):

1LB Ground Dark Meat: Turkey

3 Carrots - 1 inch chunks

2 stalks of celery - sliced

1 Apple - diced

1 bay leaf

1 cup Quinoa or rice (Quinoa is a great high protein wheat free and gluten free grain from the aztecs)

Brown the meat, add the remaining ingredients, and then add 2 cups of water. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Makes enough for a 44 lb dog: 1 1/2 C per serving 2 times a day.

Remember, if thinking about going to a home cooked meal, check with your vet about appropriate vitamin supplements. Poodle gets a muliti vitamin, calcium supplement and Bcomplex (2 times a week) Additionally, add 1 tsp of olive oil to your best friends meal. It is GREAT for them!

Variety is great for dogs and adding an egg to their meal 2 or 3 times a week is great.

The Epiphany of a Run

2007-12-12T04:42:00.001-08:00

There was a time not so long ago that if asked if I ran, my answer would be, "YES, to refrigerator". My goal this past Fall was to see if I could train for a 5K foot race, and learn to like (if not love) running.

The 5K was a success, and I set a new personal record (PR) by running almost 2 minutes faster than a 5K I did in 2002. Four days after the 5K, I convinced my Mom and Sister-in-law to run in a 4 miler race on Thanksgiving. That was a very difficult race as I had never run 4 miles, AND the course was challenged with hills. However, I finished under 50 minutes, and had a huge sense of accomplishment.

My runs are not painful anymore and now I look forward to them. My time running is a time for me to get away from the distractions of life for a little while and really focus on me. How am I breathing? How do my legs feel? Is it possible to push my self a little more? How are those goals I set for myself doing? Look at me! I am running!!!

Recently I had a very stressful meeting and all I could think about was going for a run so that I could sort things out in my head.

I have reached my earlier goals for running – and now I have set some new ones for the winter and the spring.

Keep running, and run faster.

I am a resident Alien

2007-12-10T13:03:00.001-08:00

Oh sure, the title of this blog is going to get the attention of Homeland Security, so if you ARE HMS please read on and know that this is just an interesting post. Maybe

Religion can make one a resident alien at some point in life. I have issues with the religion of my childhood/adulthood and don't feel comfortable in church. I don't feel like the church really is interested in questions, but simply doles out what you need to do to be a "good" person. Is there really a heaven? What about hell? The forgiveness of sins when you are a child? I cannot wrap my head around is the Immaculate Conception either.

So many questions, and know one to answer them for me – intelligently. Blind faith – that is what I hear. Just believe. Well people, if someone tells you to jump from a plane, are you going to have some questions prior to the jump? Will you make the jump if these questions are not answered? I doubt it.

My husband and son are Jewish. Now here is a faith that I am comfortable in, and feel like my questions can be answered. The community is welcoming, the environment is about learning and questioning. I have considered converting, but my Christian family prevents me from doing so. The criticism and disappointment would be too much, and then there is the emotional aspect of giving up a religion that has been with you for so long, even though you have issues with it. Love the ole' clunker of a car, hate it's idiosyncrasies and it runs OK (not great), but will it last for as long as I need it too?

For now, I will live, love and learn in our the Jewish Community – even though I am a Christian.

Junk Genes

2007-11-05T16:41:00.001-08:00

Three years ago I was diagnosed with lower back arthritis at the ripe age of 38. It was a blow to my ego, and a small reminder that middle age was bearing down on me like a locomotive. I started taking glucosamine, fish oil, and stretching. The pain in my back hasn't gotten terribly worse in the last few years, but I feel like I have to work HARDER to stay well.

Sleeping has been difficult these last few nights, after a run of great painless sleep I was getting a bit smug. "I've got this thing figured out!" Alas, I was wrong, and was on the phone to my massage therapist and chiropractor BEGGING to get me in sooner rather than later. It seems that I am spending more time taking care of myself in staying PAIN FREE than "The Real Housewives of Orange County" do keeping their boobs up.

So now I am to sleep with a pillow between my legs, take glucosamine, fish oil, and get beaten up my massage therapist and chiropractor regularly. I suppose it's OK, if you want to continue walking without looking like a 100 year old woman. Although for one day (or maybe 2) I would LOVE to see what the "real housewives" are really like and if their boobs and bodies are really that good and if they are really THAT shallow.

So, I have "junk genes" and maybe THEY have "junk in the trunk".

My Brother and the JC Penny pose

2007-11-01T15:19:00.001-07:00

My brother and I have a long standing giggle over family photos past and present. We love the JC Penny catalog poses from the past and some of our family photos are reminiscent of those poses.

I could hardly contain myself when I received an email with about 10 photos from a 1977 catalog. Here are a few to share.

Both of these photos just scream, "she wants me" don't you think?

I wonder what we will be laughing at in 30 years? I am afraid to even ponder.

Damsel in Distress

2007-10-26T11:27:00.001-07:00

Hello FC (Favorite Contractor), how are you? Oh, me? I am fine! Well, maybe not FINE, but pretty good. Um, maybe not pretty good. Oh heck, FC, I am a DAMSEL IN DISTRESS! What's wrong? I am SO GLAD you asked!

I went in to use my most favorite powder room sink and discovered that it is almost hanging off of ONE bracket. Apparently, the individual that installed it originally (Not me, honest) decided that hanging a sink without a stud or the use of drywall anchors was a good idea. 8 years later, I have a sweet sink that is listing to one side and ready to land in my lap when I go to the bathroom. I decided that this could be fixed fairly easily. I was wrong. Every tool that I could get my hands on was in my little tiny powder room and I was using both of my hands to work and using my forehead to brace the sink with. I managed to turn the water supply off to the sink, but that is all I was able to do. That's when I thought that it might be prudent to call a professional: FC.

I felt like I was using the "bat signal" only instead of a bat, I was shining a hammer. FC giggled when I told him of my predicament. He said that he could possible come on Monday or Tuesday of next week, and I was THRILLED. Yes, this Damsel will take whatever day you can fit me in!

After I hung up with FC, I carefully cut two pieces of wood to the brace the sink until Monday, put all the tools away, brushed off my pants, put my sweater back on and went on to bake some bread.

Hope Springs Eternal in a Bottle

2007-10-26T06:11:00.001-07:00

Every morning I look in the mirror and pray that the bottles of potions in my medicine cabinet will do their magic. Erase fines, smooth skin texture, even skin tone out, and give me skin that is youthful, firm and glowing. I love mornings because the day is fresh and it's too early to screw things up. I love skin care and makeup in the morning because for just a day (or 2 or more) I hope to keep myself looking like I can still get carded.

Some of my most favorite product lines are:

Of course, if there is ANYTHING out there that promises me to look like I am 20 again, I will buy it. Skin care junkie, I am.

Fuel and Food

2007-10-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

The sign read "This house is warmed by biofuel". There are more and more signs like this as well as fuel tanks scooting around with their "BioFuel" signs and graphics on the side of their shiny trucks. People are certainly hearing the call to be more "green" and to rely less on fossil fuels, and more on "food fuels" but at what cost?

Look around and you will find fuels made of corn and take out containers made of corn. Soybeans are becoming popular as well as a form of "biofuel".

My question is this: If there is more money to be made by farmers to grow crops for fuel, then what happens to those areas that were used to grow "eating"crops? Will fuel prices go down and food prices up?

Clearly we have an energy problem that will not go away with the population of the world increasing. Will have enough food to sustain ourselves AND to sustain our cars and homes?

I think I am going to put another sweater on and stop eating corn.

Plogging

2007-10-25T04:36:00.001-07:00

Running Log

September 6th 2007: Coach has us running 3 minutes and walking 2 minutes for a total time of 20 minutes. I think my legs will fall off. What have I done?

October 6th 2007: Coach now has us running 10 minutes and walking 1 minute. What an improvement! Lungs are ready to explode. Decided to call this running thing "PLOGGING" as I am plodding along and jogging. No speed records yet.

October 25th 2007: Plogging continuously for 30 minutes (OH MY GOD, call the newspapers!). Friend asks if I would do a triathlon in the spring. How many days do I get to finish it?

Health and Wealth

2007-10-24T04:30:00.000-07:00

A cousin of my DH once said that 'you spend the first part of your life acquiring wealth, and the second part of your life expending wealth for health'.

Isn't THAT the truth. When we are younger, we think of ourselves as superheros. Strong, healthy, unbeatable. As we hit our 40's and 50's we still think of ourselves as superheros, but the body sometimes fails us. Weekend warriors we are, but we need to be taken in for tune ups a little more often! Rats.

I have had more therapeutic massages for my back than I thought I would ever have in a lifetime, and my breakfast consists of a "pre-breakfast" of vitamins and joint supplements. Open my DH's medicine cabinet, and he has his own collections of medications and supplements. Some days I wonder if after taking all of those pills and capsules if he would rattle if he jumped up and down.

The Mammogram

2007-10-23T04:41:00.000-07:00

I have entered that place in life where you get a call reminding you that you need to schedule your annual mammogram. No one EVER called to remind me of my annual PAP smear - I wonder why?

My theory is that who finds PAP smears amusing? No one. Just the thought of one makes me cringe. Mammograms, they are quite amusing really. I think that some sick biomedical engineer thought it would be great to squish womens breasts between 2 plates and see what happens. The design probably came to the person after a bad breakup.

Sure, we have heard all about how uncomfortable it is. Imagine having someone run over your breast with a car tire, and there you have it! My boobs get saggier every year because we stretch them and squish them for a photo!

This year was EXTRA fun though. The first set of images that the technician took were not "great" as she put it and that she would need to do another image or 2. This time though, could I wear "the sticker" on my nipple.

Sticker? Imagine a circular sticker with a nice silver ball on the end, and then you stick this on the end of your nipple. Nice image huh? Disposable pasties!!

Really, the mammogram is more fun than anything I can imagine. Looking down at your breast under a piece of glass is comical.

Bookmaking and Age

2007-10-22T16:31:00.000-07:00

Making a book is not as easy as you might think it is. Making a book and writing a book are 2 different things. An author might write the book and then have some one assemble it INTO a book.

Today I spent the day learning how to make a drum bound book. There was a lot of cutting, measuring and gluing. A few of my friends that have already MADE books, decided that we could get together and make a book and socialize for the day.

I was the youngest person in this class - as our collective age for the 4 of us reaches 249 years. JP was our matriarch of 80 years, with a mind of 30. She is a woman that I NEVER WANT DIE. I love her. Her creativity and wit are truly refreshing. We chatted about everything from Oral contraceptives for 11 year olds to how you grow certain flowers in the garden. She makes a killer soup too. JP is who I want to be when I am 80.

NR is only 72 and has the same vigor and mind as JP, while HD is a teenager at 55. HD gave up a law practice to do what she loves: jewelry design.

I AM the baby of the group, and I relished it. These woman have seen heartbreak, sorrow, and joy. They are willing to live each day to it absolute fullest, and willing to share it with anyone who shares the same energy and passion. Learning from them is an honor.

Get ahead on a Vespa

2007-10-22T05:32:00.001-07:00

I LOVE these vintage Vespa commercials. They have been in my dreams a lot lately too. The Vespas, not the girls. :)

Dreams

2007-10-20T07:54:00.001-07:00

I wonder why we dream? Some people keep dream journals to keep track of all their dreams and then reflect back on them and decide what it all means.

Then again, sometimes a cigar is just that - simply a cigar. No deep meaning there.

My dreams are much to detailed and vivid to write down, and I like the idea that there are thoughts in my head that are only MY THOUGHTS.

Besides, if I wrote some of my dreams down, the journal might catch on fire.

Playing the flute

2007-10-18T04:39:00.000-07:00

I look forward to tonal warm ups when I practice. The purpose of these warm ups is to get your mouth and lungs ready and to improve vibrato and tone. Then there are the finger exercises which are a bit more difficult, but still something I love to do. When I was younger, I HATED these exercises, but as an adult, I have a different view and a different feel.

The lower octave notes are my favorite. There is a misconception that the flute is all about "the high stuff" but really, the flute can be quite lusty and warm on the low end. The vibrations of the lower octaves can be felt right to your core and can be warm like caramel to your ears.

The higher notes are beautiful, but don't have the same effect as the lower. These notes are like spring flowers, bright and full.

What I am reading now.....

2007-10-16T15:39:00.000-07:00

I had a great run of what I call "potato chip reading". Books that have a great story but are probably not going to make anyone's book club reading list. Some of the books I have devoured in recent weeks have been:

"Trans Sister Radio" - topic involves gender re-assignment
"The Twilight" Series by Stephanie Meyer - Handsome "good" vampire falls in love with a human.

Both books were definitely a bag a chips - I simply couldn't put any of them down. Now I am reading "We the Living" by Ayn Rand.

I would not normally have selected this book, however, my book club has selected it. If some of what I read can be categorized as "potato chip reading" then my book club's selection of reading tends to be "moldy organic food". Harsh huh?

In my book club's defense the selections they had are books I would NEVER have picked up in the first place and therefore, stretch my mind.

I am done with the stretching though. This month's book I read the last 10 pages before even getting 50 pages into the book.

Want to know a secret?

2007-10-16T15:28:00.000-07:00

I am a closet fan of Madonna and have been so for longer than I care to admit. Her music makes me feel so good that I could move forever. Ah, and this happens to be yet another song that keeps me running....figuratively and literally.

You look familiar...

2007-10-16T05:58:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine told me that while on a business trip he had the most interesting experience on the plane. "Interesting Experience" can encompass a lot while traveling these days by plane, but this is actually very funny.

My Friend, CF sat down in his seat and then as the plan filled, so did the seat next to him. The gentleman look familiar, but yet, CF couldn't place him. After half the trip was over he said to the gentleman, "excuse me, but you look so familiar....."

The gentleman smiled and said, "Do you like baseball?"

CF responded, "Sure! I love baseball"

The gentleman, TG, continuted, "well I work for the Red Sox"

"Oh, that's great, but what do you do?"

I am the Team Captain and Catcher - Jason Varitek.

OHHHHHH, I didn't recognize you without the mask!

TG (Jason) and CF exchanged pleasantries and an autograph. The Autograph, (done on a page of CF's agenda) resided in CF's planner for a long time until he met my DS.

One night while we were having dinner with CF and his DW, my DS and CF discussed at length the Red Sox. He realized that DS's passion for the sport was pretty special for a kid at 11years.

Sunday, CF awarded DS the prized autograph, framed.

Baseball really does have a certain magic, as friendships are made and being a kid is what we go back to.

Thanks CF, and Thanks Jason.

What would they be doing if not making millions?

2007-10-15T17:33:00.000-07:00

My appreciation for baseball has changed DRAMATICALLY in the last 3 years. If you asked me if baseball was worthy of watching, I would look at you as if you had 20 heads. My opinion of baseball was " are you nuts? A bunch of man-boys playing a game a getting paid MILLIONS while being able to be FAT?" Yeah, well, what a difference a few years make, and you can thank my DS for the change of heart.

Change of heart? I would categorize it as a change of religion. Like all of a sudden, a Christian believes that Jesus was just a "dude" and not the savior. Oh yes Virginia, it has been that life altering.

I am a Red Sox Fan, and have fallen into the abyss. Along with that I also volunteer for the local Little League organization as an umpire. Yes, you read correctly, UMPIRE.

So, while we are taking turns biting our nails watching the 3 of 7 games against Cleavland, I was thinking: What would they be doing if not making millions for playing baseball. Yes, it takes talent and athleticism to hit a ball rocketing at 97mph, and it take brains to make the play. But, what IF, lets say that:

Jason Varitek wasn't a Catcher? (How about CFO for a major company?)
Dustin Pedroia? (Pharmacist for CVS)
Manny Ramirez? (OK, he simply has to be Manny, but I would think a Hairstylist and Anesthetician)
David Ortiz? Psychoanalyst
Dareck Jeter? Landscaper
Curt Schilling? Minister
Matzuzaka Chef

I think it's my turn to bite my nails and relieve my DH. He is a certifiable mess with the playoffs!

I really need this scale

2007-10-12T12:36:00.000-07:00

I have a SICK relationship with my bathroom scale. So bad, that my friend TOOK the last one I had away from me because I was on it 2 - 3 times a day. Sick, I realize this. But LOOK at the scale I can get NOW!

Check out the website that makes this wonderful bathroom tool.

James Bond and Running......

2007-10-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

This is what is getting me through my runs recently. I wonder how many times I can listen to is during a 5K?

I love the Bond Movies and I think our "new Bond" is the best yet. Don't even bother taking me to a "Chick Flick".

Interesting and Inspiring: What's your secret?

2007-10-12T05:23:00.000-07:00

Go Fug

2007-10-12T05:10:00.000-07:00

I love this site. I am addicted to the site. It is really pathetic, but really fun. if you have any interest in woman and fashion, please take a look. What is Hollywood thinking?

What do you think about when driving?

2007-10-12T04:49:00.000-07:00

Every six weeks I have a day that I am in the car more than I am doing anything else. The reason is pretty funny as it has NOTHING to do with work. It has to do with the fact that my standard poodle gets groomed every 6 weeks, and her groomer lives about 45 minutes away. Sure, you can giggle at that one, but I challenge you to live with a poodle who KNOWS that she just had the worst haircut of her life. Moping and depression in a poodle is not pretty. Period.

With all my driving on grooming days, I do a lot of day dreaming and thinking. Yesterday I had some music playing and was transported to a place in my life that was simply dreamy and lush. It was filled with electric caresses and heat. A special place in my mind that I retreat to frequently.

Then I went on to thinking about impending surgery, bills, and tasks that need to get done. I get a phone call about "Did you pick up......?" and then I arrive at the groomers and pick up a very happy dog.

My ride home is filled with thoughts of the "Did I do, did you do...." and then I put my music on and retreat to my special place - a place where I am smiling and happy.

Who has been in my house?????

2007-10-11T04:39:00.001-07:00

This video has been around the internet and on GMA. I still want to know who has been in my house.

Missing friends

2007-10-11T04:26:00.000-07:00

I have some friends that recently moved. They moved only a few hours away, but it seems like another country!

While I know that life moves and changes, I have such a hard time with change like this. My friends anchor me, and make me feel safe. The friends that I have are really my adopted family as my "real" family lives so far away.

I realize that a few hours drive is not a lot, but I do feel like there is an energy that is missing in my day.

6th Grade is going to kill me

2007-10-11T04:14:00.001-07:00

My DS is in 6th grade. I finished this grade YEARS ago, but it seems that I need to go through it again.

I remember 6th grade. I had spelling lists, math problems, and book reports. I remember getting ready for those spelling tests too. My mom would drill me in the dark morning hours of the fall before school. I liked spelling. It was repetitive and when I wrote the word it would somehow get burned into my brain.

Fast forward to 2007 and the 6th grade class of today. Math homework for DS is a 2 week project of curating pie graphs, pictographs, bar graphs and line graphs from the newspaper and week publications. No photocopies are allowed, no text books, and only 2 graphs may come from the internet. A total of 8 graphs must be presented in book form with each graph having a question page that must be answered. Creativity counts for this as well as interpreting the graphs.

My DS had some trouble with procuring some of the required graphs, but he did it.

I did have to explain what Aortic Stenosis was and what "rate of return" is in real estate (yes, he had to look at some of DH's medical journals and then there was the business page of the NYTimes)

Anxiety set in for DS and I began to think about the the true value of this project.

While the idea for this project was OK, the execution of it is pretty poor.

In a word, this project really BLOWS.

Misadventures of Chloe the Wonder Poodle

2007-09-24T07:34:00.000-07:00

I have a beautiful black standard poodle. Here name is Chloe, and she can be quite the little princess diva as well as be an unrefined food scavanging mutt.

While I was away last week, my dear poodle consumed about 30 capsules of fish oil. Her coat is now thick and lusterous as well as soft. She also REAKS of fish. If you get about a foot away, she really smells like she has been hanging out at the local fish mongers store.

No kitties have been follwoing her YET, but I am burning candles and spraying air freshner everywhere in the house!

Running 101

2007-09-10T09:27:00.001-07:00

It takes a lot to get me motivated, and running is something that really has NEVER done much for me in the way of motivation. I hate running. I hate running like I hate liver, and needles in my eyes.

In 2002 I trained for my first 5K and so far it has been my last race. At the time, I had joined a women's training group for the 5K, and unfortunately joined in mid-training session. Joining a training session mid way through and only a few weeks prior to a race is not the way to go, and so my hope of 'learning to love" running just never made it. My running days soon ended after the 5K as I sprained my ankle pretty badly falling down a flight of stairs. I was putting on lipstick if you can believe it.....

Fast forward to 2007. I still hate running, but I want to try again and see if I can't change my mind about it. I won't fall down the stairs this time and I again joined a women's running group. This time I joined right at the BEGINNING.

My goal in running now is to run the 5K Turkey Trot November 18th. Let's see if I can do it in LESS than 38minutes....I don't want to paramedics on bicycles to push me along....OH, that is another story altogether.

Ok, now where is that lipstick?

Suburban housewife dreams

2007-09-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

One night the dream might be about going to a neighbors house at 2AM and drinking vanilla milkshakes and the next is about something entirely different. Sometimes you wonder if the housewife loses her sense of self and womanhood, and then there is the dream the confirms that, "Yes, Virginia, you are still a woman...at least in your dreams".

Those dreams can be vivid (Oh, like a milk shake isn't?) but they can be so vivid, there is the wonderment of "was it real"? The slow sensuous kisses, the electrifying caresses, and the firmness and heady feeling of it all, like a glass of red wine sliding down your throat and never wanting it to end.

Until you wake up, and realize that it was a dream - a delicious and naughty dream.

The end of a season and the beginning of another

2007-09-05T07:42:00.000-07:00

My sailing season is almost over, with one more cruise planned for the year. The sailing season here in New England is short, and with the few weeks we have, you cram as much as you can into the season so that you can safely hibernate for the winter. That is when you wait each month for your favorite sailing magazine to come through the mail and you savor each an every page in front of a fire and dream of chartering a boat in the Caribbean to escape the grip of winter.

Winter is a season we tolerate. My attitude is "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" and that's where I look forward to snow boarding, and dread snow SHOVELING.

Until the first flake flies and the boat is put away for the season, I am going to soak up as much as I can before hibernation starts.

I still want a scooter, but.....

2007-07-19T15:55:00.000-07:00

I can hardly stand it. I LOVE this bike. It is the "Red Betty" by Electra Bikes.

I may trade my new bike in for this one!

Rain and Camp

2007-07-19T15:43:00.000-07:00

My DS is at overnight camp now for 2 weeks. When I dropped him off I was reminded of what my first overnight camp experience was like. I made friends, had a blast (can't remember what exactly we did though) and had a raccoon go through my bag and get my milk dud candies my mom had given me. I remember sleeping on bunks that were set up on platforms with a covered wagon type covering over it and I remember that mealtime was not all that great.

I wonder what experiences DS will have? I can't wait to hear about it.

The last few days have been very quiet here at the house though. The Dog can even sense the quiet. Life without DS around is really strange....

Rain is falling steadily now. If I were on the boat it would sound like one of the Indian rainsticks you can buy at the Discovery Store. However, I am not on the boat, but looking out of the window of my office and see that the gardens are getting their much needed rain, and hoping that DS is having some fun - in spite of the rain.

Where oh where have I been?

2007-07-18T14:14:00.000-07:00

: A lot has happened since Paris was sprung from jail....I have been on vacation, AGAIN.

This vacation was of the sailing type however. We sailed for 2 weeks along the coast of our beloved State of Maine. I know have said this before, but this area is one of the best cruising grounds in the world.

We sailed a total of 210 miles over 2 weeks, and made as far as Mount Desert Island and Matinicus Island. There were plenty of stops in between as well as plenty of exploration. Our standard Poodle came along on this 2 week adventure, and she proved to be a terrific boat dog - even if she fell out of the boat once and slipped out of the dinghy once!

The most memorable sail was a 35 mile screech from Matinicus Island to Boothbay. Our speed averaged 7.5 knots/hour over the ground even while towing a dinghy. OH, and did this all IN THE FOG.

I am here for a little while and then we take off for a one week cruise. Shorter, but still just as much fun!

Paris Hilton and Bail Money

2007-07-18T14:12:00.000-07:00

: I have had to bail a few friends out from jail in my lifetime - two to be exact, and neither was named Paris Hilton.

Paris is in a solitary cell for 3 weeks without her blackberry and Ferragamos. I don't feel too bad for her, but then, maybe I do. I mean, how can you hold an individual accountable for their actions if there is NOTHING in between their ears? Perhaps I am a little harsh, and perhaps this is the kind of living arrangement that Paris needs to slow her social life down. OR, this is another way for her to make more money.

Who knows, and I suppose I shouldn't care.

All I know is that in my last post I made a comment about how life is good in that I didn't need bail money - and I still don't!

Interesting that a Billionairess by the name of Hilton couldn't buy her way out of her scrape. I have faith in the legal system after all.

Does this make me look fat?

2007-03-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

This is basically what my DH was asking me last night as he got ready for bed. He was trying on a new bathing suit (a "Jammer" if you are a swimmer) and he was examining himself in the mirror - presumably to make sure that he might still have the look of a 20-something and not his real 45 year old self.

"I think I have a paunch! I better get to work on that..."

I lay in bed thinking that this is what women do EVERYDAY to ourselves. We look for redemption and approval from the scale and refuse to even try on a bathingsuit unless the lighting is perfect (thank god for mail order swimsuits).

So I reassure my DH husband that he, at 45, looks pretty good. However, I do remind him that as a woman I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for him. His worry about how good his body looks is something I have been doing just about all my life.

Welcome to the club.

Middle Age Changes

2007-03-05T04:58:00.000-08:00

My body had been going through some changes, and none of them are good. I thought that turning 40 meant that I would be roaring like a lion and taking the world by the balls.

Yeah, Right.

I have been slowing losing weight over the last 2 years, and my goal has been to be at my pre pregancy weight. Slow is good in my book. No deprivation, and when the weight is lost in this manner, its unlikely to show up again. Well slow took on a WHOLE NEW MEANING this fall.

Losing weight has been relatively easy. I follow the prescribed program, and Poof! weight is gone. This fall, I started my program in earnest again after a fun filled summer. I followed the prescribed program and, wait, there is no POOF! Hum, frustration begins.

While I am suffering from weight loss frustration, I noticed that my monthly cycles are not arriving in the usual timely manner. Instead of coming every 4 weeks on a Tuesday (yes, I could time them to within a day) they started arriving every 7-9 weeks.

I called the doctor, and she was perplexed too. "40 years old? Too young to be in peri menopause". I was then put on oral contraceptives to see if that would straighten things out. I started the first month with bleeding 2 weeks out 4, and then the second pack was only 10 days of bleeding. This is so much fun! After another call the doctor, she said "you need to see a gynecologist". Terrific.

I am also an emotional wreck. I can't stand the up and down emotions that I have been feeling, and I am always hot at night.

My gut tells me that it is all related to peri menopause, but then again, maybe its some weird tumor.

My DH is suddenly sad though. He said that if it IS "The Beginning of the End", I will now not be able to have babies anymore.

WHAT????? BABIES????? I may be going through menopause and have to worry about heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and all this other crap and you are sad that I won't be able to have BABIES???

Where is that hormone surge when you need it. I need to scratch someones eyes out.

Married with Man

2007-03-02T05:42:00.000-08:00

How do couples stay married? Do they stop talking, or does one partner just decide that they would rather take a back seat?

I have been married for almost 15 years and I am finding that even though I feel more comfortable in life, I also get a little resentful. Resentment in a relationship is like a bucket of cold water on a fire. I have also found that in 15 years of married life, I am quite a bit different than when I was first married.

Marriage started out as a simple contract so that family bloodlines could be preserved. Usually it had nothing to with love, and everything about producing a baby boy.

So how did we get from contractual relationships to this "happily ever after", hopelessly in love, married for 50 years idea that people have?

Is it realistic for humans to mate for life? Is it natural?

I am not so sure on this one.

Freedom and snowboarding

2007-03-01T05:14:00.000-08:00

My DS is a snowboarder. He started 3 years ago when he was 7, and now that he is 10, he doesn't even remember ever being on skis.

My DH (dear husband) broke his hip 2 years ago, and through a series of unfortunate circumstances, skiing or snowboarding were out for us. HOWEVER, our DS was able to go snowboarding with a school program. This year, my DH has to finally get his hip replaced, which put us on year 3 of "no winter sports". DS was getting anxious. Would we EVER get out on the slopes as a family?

Five years ago, I thought it would be great to try snowboarding. It looked cool. The people who do seem so self assured. However, I never did it. Until this year.

I made a promise to DS that even though Dear Dad was going to be out on the "injured list"again, I was going to take him snowboarding. In fact, I told him that I would give up skiing altogether, and just snowboard.

DS was floored when I made this promise. It is a promise I kept too. I started riding on January 15th, and I haven't regretted it one bit. There is a steep learning curve to the sport, however, I haven't felt this free since sailing. It isn't just the freedom of gliding down the slope and carving big turns, it is also the power your body has.

"Mom, you're doing it!" is what I hear a lot now when we ride together. DS is a far better rider than I, but I am catching up. He makes the sport look so easy and graceful. I want to look like that someday soon.

Freedom, grace and power.

A new Beginning

2007-02-12T17:37:00.000-08:00

Eos ("dawn") was, in Greek mythology, the Titan goddess of the dawn, who rose from her home at the edge of Oceanus, the Ocean that surrounds the world, to herald her brother Helios, the sun.

I would like to think of myself as a girl at the edge of a new dawn, exploring and discovering who I truly am. The Ocean brings me peace and fulfillment.

Join me in my new dawn.