MIA

Sorry that I have been missing in action lately.
I do, however, have a good excuse. I was busy getting ready for company, had company for a week, and then had the stomach flu. So, two weeks went by and here I am crawling out from under my pile of mail and everything else I’ve been trying to catch up on this week. Lots going on!

I’m hoping that once you look at this photo, all should be forgiven (for my absence that is). This is my nephew and he lived with me for six days. It was awesome having him here.



I haven’t seen him since he was 3.5 months old and now he is 8 months old. It is amazing how fast he changes. He is such a happy baby so it was a joy to have him around and I miss him terribly now that he is back home in Boston. I will say, I don’t know how you Moms do it; I was exhausted.

Not to ignore the rest of my family, it was awesome to have my sister with her husband (parents to the little man) and my Mom and her boyfriend and my Grandma in town. The week flew by! We had a graduation party for Casey (sister) at my house. She graduated from the U of M and is moving to Baltimore for a job with Cargill. I am so sad to see her go. Her 4 years here flew by. I wish we had more time to hang out; we’ve had a lot of fun cooking and just chilling out. I was so happy that Casey decided to come to Minnesota for college and will miss her terribly. I will say I am very proud of her and am excited to witness her journey going forward.



On Sat. we celebrated my Grandma’s 90th birthday at my uncle’s house. My Grandma is an inspiration. She lives alone in LeMars, Iowa (the ice cream capital of the World), walks a mile a day, plays cards regularly, still drives, has a very active social life,is very fashionable, and hits the fitness center once in a while. She is a very strong and gracious woman. I love her spirit. I can only hope to be as with it as she is at her age.



There were about 25 of us (9 kids) at her party on Sat. It turns out that one of the kids was secretly (unknowingly) spreading the gift of the stomach flu, of which 85% of us got and spent the next couple days ill. Not good. Even worse is that my husband got it. Let’s just say he is somewhat of a grumpy sick person.

Anyway, I am going through family withdraw. I wish we weren’t all so spread out across the USA and that we lived closer. But, I guess it makes the time that we do have together that more focused and special.

This is basically my brief recap of the reason for my absence. I’m back and back on track. More postings coming soon.

Time to think of myself as an Athlete

Well, it is official. I am registered for my first triathlon. It is July 17 – which is less than 11 weeks away. My cousin Nicholas talked me into the triathlon; as this is not something I sought out on my own or have ever thought about doing. For him it is an even bigger challenge (he lost his leg below the knee last Oct.) I figure if I can at least keep up with him then I will be in good shape. I’m certainly not in it to win it but I am in it to finish it.

I’m very nervous, yet also excited about the challenge. I need something to get me in gear and to keep me focused. I’m also hoping this will help me lose that stubborn 10 pounds that seem to be stuck to my butt and spreading to my belly. I’m not talking only the physical training but I’m talking about trying to be good to my body and eating healthy. No more junk and processed food, it will slow me down and clog up my body. I want to be light on my feet.

The “race” is in Okoboji, Iowa. It starts at 7:00 a.m. with the swim (.6 miles), then the bike ride (18 miles), and ending with the run (5.5 miles). Just so you know where I am at today…. I can jog 3 miles, although I stop frequently and I think I average 14 minute miles. As much as I try to blame Miko (my dog) because she likes to stop and sniff and mark her way, I enjoy the break. I am pretty sure I cannot run 1 mile without stopping. I definitely need to work on that. The biking portion seems reasonable. I go to spin class about 3 times a week. However, I realize this is not the same as riding my “real” bike down the road, let alone riding it after a brisk swim. The swim has me petrified. I love water and I love swimming but I think I’m kind of an in-and-out type of girl. I do not use any of the official strokes when I swim; in fact, I think my motion in the water resembles more of a doggy paddle. Not sure how to train to perfect my strokes either. I have no clue where to swim? I live near a lake but it will not be warm until mid-June and my gym does not have a pool. I need to figure that one out. My cousin just warned me that waiting until late June to start the swim portion of my training regiment might not be such a good idea.

On top of the physical challenge, my biggest concern is what to wear and how to transition. I’m not happy to be starting with the swim. Nothing like shocking your body and muscles at 7 a.m. by jumping into a cold lake. One bonus is that it will hopefully wake me up as my body doesn’t like to function until well after 8 a.m. So, I start in a swim suit and bare feet. Then, I have to figure out how to dry off and get into some biking shorts and a sports bra. From there I will need to transition into running shoes and shorts and I would love to have my iPod as I’m convinced I run faster with rockin’ music. And where will I store all this stuff? I’m getting hung up on the logistics. If anyone out there has some advice, I am all ears.

So here’s to Penelope the athlete. Wish me luck as I prep for this thing. I will let you know how it is going. Meanwhile, I’m going to go eat my last handful of chips before my healthy kick kicks in tomorrow. That would be Thursday, May 6. Officially.

Eat a Rainbow

Two years ago I took a nutrition class for a semester at the local community college. It was a class that I never took in college but that had always interested me. One of my main goals was to actually improve my personal nutrition and learn to eat healthier. Well, it worked for a while, and I still only make sandwiches with 100% whole wheat bread, but it didn’t take long to slip into my some of my old habits (i.e. chocolate and wine as food groups). If I took anything memorable away from the class, it was the advice to “Eat a Rainbow.” What that basically means is that try to have as many colors in your meals as possible. With fresh fruit so available at Farmer’s Markets this spring summer, it will be so much easier to do. It is healthy, and the more colors you incorporate into your dishes, the more beautiful they get (and presumably the more vitamins you get). I made a mixed green salad the other night with tomatoes and green beans (and steak and blue cheese) and the colors just popped! Eating a rainbow is good for you and pretty! That said, I had this written and was ready to post it when I got the following email…… Gotta love Maxine.


Yesterday I went to the doctor for my yearly physical.
My blood pressure was high ...
My cholesterol was high .....
I'd gained some weight, and I didn't feel so hot.
My doctor said eating right doesn't have to be complicated
and it would solve my physical problems.
He said: Just think in colors.
Fill your plate with bright colors. Try some greens, oranges, reds, maybe something yellow, etc.
So I went right home and ate an entire bowl of


And sure enough, I felt better immediately.
I never knew eating right could be so easy !!!

The timing of this email couldn’t have been better. This cracked me up as this is the perfect “rainbow” food group – just add a glass of sparkling wine for a complete “meal.”

My Chuckle Buddy

Seriously…. everyone should have a chuckle buddy. This little monkey can brighten my day instantly. I first saw him in the Dallas airport and didn’t have room in my bag to buy him. I found him again at a toy store in Palm Springs. His laugh just puts me in a good mood no matter what. When I first got him, I had an injury on my face (long, clumsy story). Anyway, I had put a Band-Aid on my face (upper lip to be exact) to keep the sun off of it. I looked like a fool and was walking towards my husband’s office to show him how stupid I looked. On my way, my little chuckle buddy caught a glimpse of me from across the room and started cracking up (at the Band-Aid mustache on my face of course). It stopped me dead in my tracks and I about died laughing with him - we’re talking tears here – I was laughing that hard. He was way out of range (he has a sensor that goes off if you are within a certain distance from him) so it was totally unexpected. I went from grumpy to giddy in an instant. He reminds me not to take life too seriously and that it is okay to just laugh to lighten the mood. He has been well worth his $20 price tag in his ability to make me smile and relax. For fun, I actually just left a voicemail for my Dad at work with only the monkey laughing. He will crack up. See, I can spread joy and laughter! Watch this video and he will brighten your day too. Happy chuckles!


Update - I spoke to my Dad and the belly laugh on his voicemail when he got into work made him "laugh his a** off." Ha, ha - I love it! Also wanted to throw a disclaimer out there that the monkey video is the first video I've ever taken so hopefully my videography skills will get better.

Stand Up Straight!

So, they say it takes two weeks for a new habit to stick. Well, I REALLY need to work on my posture. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror the other day and I’m totally slumped over. Not an attractive look! So, I’m dedicating the next two weeks to standing up straight at all times (walking, driving, sitting at my computer, even lying down).

Repeat after me: “stomach in and shoulders back.” That is what will be going through my head for the next two weeks (and hopefully will continue on naturally after that). I also need to remember to hold my head back – I look like a turtle the way I hold my head forward.

All of the articles out there say that standing up straight makes you look slimmer, taller and more confident. Well, today, I just realized another perk. While walking around the lake with my new posture, my husband asked me if I had a new bra on. Ha! Apparently, standing up straight also makes your chest look larger.

Now I’m going to look taller, slimmer, and bustier! Cheers to that!

Here are some guidelines for good posture: http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/ergonomics/guidelines-improve-posture

Second Guessing

Yes, I am still dwelling on losing that essay contest. When I entered, I debated between two entries. I picked the one I submitted because I thought the sparkling wine was more of a focus of that memory. Now I'm wishing I had submitted this one....... It happened on the same trip - the next day in fact - but in reading it I thought the sailors stood out more than the sparkling wine - although they both added to the memory. Let me know what you think.

After a leisurely day strolling around Varenna, Italy my husband and I headed to a quaint restaurant for dinner. The small restaurant could probably seat 40 people (max). Our indoor table for two was seated next to a table set for 30. We were a little concerned it was going to be a noisy wedding party but thought maybe we would be done before they got there and proceeded to sit. The waiter poured us a complementary glass of Prosecco (I love that tradition in Italy). The Prosecco was light and refreshing with a good flavor to it so we decided to order a bottle. We ordered the marinated octopus salad for an appetizer just the power went out. Not missing a beat, the waiter lit all the candles and it was business as usual. It was very magical to be in a dark, cave-like restaurant lit only with candles. As we were about to toast to a great trip, the lights came back on and in walked a sailor; then 29 more! The table was set for the Italian Navy! As we tried to enjoy our romantic dinner by candlelight, with our bottle of Prosecco, we were continually distracted. My back was to the table of sailors and I kept seeing my husband smiling and laughing at the antics going on behind me.

Here are the highlights:
• Every time the power came back (it was on and off many times throughout the evening) on the navy would burst into song. Be it happy birthday, the national anthem, or twinkle, twinkle little star...
• They were doing funny things with their hats (making them into bread baskets, flipping down the brim and using their napkins as face masks (making them look like bandits about to rob the place), using them as bandanas, etc…)
• They got into a bread fight with the bread in the baskets.
• One guy behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said he liked my hair.
• Another guy apologized for ruining our romantic date (which I assured him they weren’t).
• They were giving toasts and teasing each other.
• One guy developed a crush on me and decided to shower me with gifts. The first time he walked by on the way back from the bathroom and handed me a fake flower from a bouquet in the bathroom. The next time he offered me a huge painting that he had taken off the wall (this got him in trouble with the lady of the house who scolded him). That didn’t stop him because the next thing he offered me was a fire hydrant.
• Amidst all of this liveliness going on in the dining room, I witnessed the chef come out of the kitchen, yell at the lady of the house, throw his apron on the ground and storm out. Essentially quitting with a dining room of hungry sailors (and us).

This craziness did not put a damper on our evening at all. The chef eventually came back, after I presume a shot and a cigarette. We ended up ordering another bottle of Prosecco, which paired well with our fantastic meal (I had homemade pasta with lobster and my husband had the local fish dish).

We were there for a little over three hours. We had a great time. The service was slow but it didn’t faze us at all. Our glass was always full and we and we had live entertainment that I would’ve paid money for.

As we got up to leave, the entire Italian Navy stood up and serenaded us and thanked us for putting up with their antics. We thanked them for the song and the entertainment and stumbled out into the night. I say stumbled because 2 bottle of Prosecco had us feeling a little tipsy!

FYI - if there are any women reading this – yes, these men were HOT. They were men in their mid-30s; not boys.

Some memories can be recreated but as for this one, there is no way.

If you are curious about the winners of the essay, here is the link: http://content.corkd.com/2010/03/29/corkd-icswi-announce-winners-of-the-sparkling-wine-vacaction-of-a-lifetime/

Disappointed but not Discouraged

Well, I just found out I did NOT win the Sparkling wine memory contest. I will admit that I am disappointed but it was a fun exercise nonetheless. It is always fun to reflect back on my memories and it will not be the last essay contest that I enter. Thanks for keeping your fingers crossed for me. I think I might go drink some sparkling wine to cheer me up!