This evening I baked pumpkin muffins for my family to have for breakfast, some to send to my husband's office and some for me to bring to school tomorrow. I've made the recipe before, so I whipped them together, pressed sunflower seeds onto the tops of the muffins and put them in the oven. The house smelled divine - I was really getting into the whole spirit of the day, it being Halloween. The jack o'lanterns were lit, I put candles out to guide the trick or treaters in and waited for them.
No goblins, witches or scooby doo's showed up, much to my disappointment...we live between two neighborhoods so I didn't expect too many - last year we had eight. I had hoped we would have some repeaters and some new kids...maybe next year! I still had the muffins to look forward to...
I took the muffins out of the oven, let them cool in the tins for 15 minutes per the recipe instructions, then put them on racks to fully cool. I made a cup of coffee for my husband and brought him a muffin, like a good wife... A few minutes later I heard "Sue? The muffins are stuck to the papers...but they're delicious!" He then said maybe if they cooled until tomorrow they might come out of the papers more readily. I tried one and he was right...about a third of the muffin stayed in the paper. If I left them for a week they might come out of the papers...!
I will be billing them as my low-calorie muffins as 1/3 of the calories stay in the paper. As I pondered this I wondered what my lesson was in the evening's events. What could I glean from this in my quest to find my rudder?
I came up with two ideas: Attitude and Notes. I will note in my calendar to begin Halloween preparations a week ahead of time so the kids can see as their school buses or their parents drive them by and they'll know "that house" will be a good one to go to for trick-or-treating. I will note in my cookbook (we call it "The Book" because I write down all recipes that we enjoy) that this recipe is not one to use cupcake papers with because they stick. I remembered that I didn't use the papers the first time...
Lastly: Attitude. My house smells wonderful. And we have a chocolate stash that will last a couple of months at least!
Were my preparations in vain? Absolutely not! Onward and upward!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Everyone Has a Story
One of my favorite programs is CBS Sunday Morning. It's a 90 minute "magazine" that has 5-15 minute stories about interesting topics that are rarely controversial but always interesting. This past Sunday one of the lead stories was about everyone, regardless of where they live and their "station" in life, has a story. Two locations were chosen by an astronaut who had a globe with him. He turned the globe and pointed his finger to two different locations without looking and his choices were noted by his associate. A reporter was sent to the locations and upon his arrival in the two countries (sorry, don't remember those either) he picked up a phone booked, leafed through and put his finger down on a name. The two people they interviewed had fabulous stories...simple people like you and me with complex lives like we have (and many of us think that nobody else's life could "possibly" be as complicated as outs...).
This got me thinking: we are a sum total of our life experiences and I decided to blog about one or two that came to the front of my mind. The first was in 1964 and the Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan Show. I remember thinking that these guys were WILD! I was 7. I had only been exposed to musicals (Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, etc.) and classical music but I knew one thing: Their music was fabulous! And their hair was way cool. I remember my mother saying "That crap won't last" and thinking after she said it that I hoped she was wrong. She was. And I was happy she was!
The second thing was the Northridge Earthquake in 1994, 30 years later. I awoke to my waterbed sloshing like mad and thinking that my then husband was stuck in the bed, but then I heard my teenage daughter yell "earthquake!", it was my first and, happily, my last. We were 30 miles from the epicenter but it still caused a huge crack in one of our interior walls but more than that, it put a crack of fear in my heart. I had been living in the high dessert in California for 18 months and wasn't happy there, I missed New England and my family dreadfully. When we turned the news on and saw the devastation I decided that, as soon as I delivered the baby I was carrying, we were packing up and leaving this Godforsaken place. Sam Kennison, the late comedian, once said "God made desserts but he didn't intend for people to live in them" and he was right (in my opinion). I cried for days, undoubtedly due in part to being pregnant and having crazy hormones, but also the instability of the ground beneath my feet. I was in a store when a strong aftershock hit and rather than retain composure and calmly walk toward the exit, I bolted and reaffirmed my decision to leave the State.
The reactions of friends were strange when I told them we were leaving. The predominant thought was "You're going where there are blizzards and hurricanes! Do you know that??" They were amazed that I would choose to go there. I pointed out that with blizzards and hurricanes we get at least 72 hours' notice. Earthquakes might give five seconds' notice. I'll take a blizzard or hurricane any day.
Now, of course these two experiences are not all that have made me who I am, they are just the first two I came up with. (There are plenty more - like when I joined match.com and started dating...lots of stories there which I will share at some point in time...)
So, as people cut me off in traffic or are a million miles away in thought, I am thinking that maybe they have a life experience going on (or not!) and try to take everything with a grain of salt...or a bucket of salt...or some tequila and salt!
This got me thinking: we are a sum total of our life experiences and I decided to blog about one or two that came to the front of my mind. The first was in 1964 and the Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan Show. I remember thinking that these guys were WILD! I was 7. I had only been exposed to musicals (Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, etc.) and classical music but I knew one thing: Their music was fabulous! And their hair was way cool. I remember my mother saying "That crap won't last" and thinking after she said it that I hoped she was wrong. She was. And I was happy she was!
The second thing was the Northridge Earthquake in 1994, 30 years later. I awoke to my waterbed sloshing like mad and thinking that my then husband was stuck in the bed, but then I heard my teenage daughter yell "earthquake!", it was my first and, happily, my last. We were 30 miles from the epicenter but it still caused a huge crack in one of our interior walls but more than that, it put a crack of fear in my heart. I had been living in the high dessert in California for 18 months and wasn't happy there, I missed New England and my family dreadfully. When we turned the news on and saw the devastation I decided that, as soon as I delivered the baby I was carrying, we were packing up and leaving this Godforsaken place. Sam Kennison, the late comedian, once said "God made desserts but he didn't intend for people to live in them" and he was right (in my opinion). I cried for days, undoubtedly due in part to being pregnant and having crazy hormones, but also the instability of the ground beneath my feet. I was in a store when a strong aftershock hit and rather than retain composure and calmly walk toward the exit, I bolted and reaffirmed my decision to leave the State.
The reactions of friends were strange when I told them we were leaving. The predominant thought was "You're going where there are blizzards and hurricanes! Do you know that??" They were amazed that I would choose to go there. I pointed out that with blizzards and hurricanes we get at least 72 hours' notice. Earthquakes might give five seconds' notice. I'll take a blizzard or hurricane any day.
Now, of course these two experiences are not all that have made me who I am, they are just the first two I came up with. (There are plenty more - like when I joined match.com and started dating...lots of stories there which I will share at some point in time...)
So, as people cut me off in traffic or are a million miles away in thought, I am thinking that maybe they have a life experience going on (or not!) and try to take everything with a grain of salt...or a bucket of salt...or some tequila and salt!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Progress Noted!
I have completed my first two weeks of school...48 hours of a 600-hour course. The most glaring thing I have dealt with is three hours of homework each evening... Oh and there's the keeping our smocks clean - they are white. White!
There are a few things I've learned: the first is that most of us haven't changed our skincare habits in more than ten years! And, I must admit to not changing my make-up application in as many years. Perhaps it's time for a fresher look.... Lastly, not to bore anybody (myself included) there is no longer a need to pick or squeeze our faces...there are products that will do that and not leave scarring or draw blood. Something to think about.
Lastly tonight my thoughts are on leaves. We have just over an acre of land and it is heavily wooded. Autumn is a beautiful time of year, the sights, smells and sounds are fabulous. It's a lot of work, but I love it. Tomorrow my daughter and I will get to work on mulching and clearing the leaves so that we can tuck the yard in for the winter. (Something wonderful happens this year when I'm done with the yard work...I can begin making the space for my studio in our cellar...I get shivers of joy just thinking about it!)
Two nights ago I pulled into the driveway about 9:00 and saw our coyote, Wiley, running through the yard. He travels alone and is, of course, very skittish. Fortunately he and Roxy have not met up on the homestead, and although he is small methinks he would be dangerous. Roxy, being a true boxer, would chase him down, right up to the invisible fence anyway! It would not be a good thing. So, while I'm happy to host Wiley's run each evening, I try to keep an eye out so Roxy is safe.
There are a few things I've learned: the first is that most of us haven't changed our skincare habits in more than ten years! And, I must admit to not changing my make-up application in as many years. Perhaps it's time for a fresher look.... Lastly, not to bore anybody (myself included) there is no longer a need to pick or squeeze our faces...there are products that will do that and not leave scarring or draw blood. Something to think about.
Lastly tonight my thoughts are on leaves. We have just over an acre of land and it is heavily wooded. Autumn is a beautiful time of year, the sights, smells and sounds are fabulous. It's a lot of work, but I love it. Tomorrow my daughter and I will get to work on mulching and clearing the leaves so that we can tuck the yard in for the winter. (Something wonderful happens this year when I'm done with the yard work...I can begin making the space for my studio in our cellar...I get shivers of joy just thinking about it!)
Two nights ago I pulled into the driveway about 9:00 and saw our coyote, Wiley, running through the yard. He travels alone and is, of course, very skittish. Fortunately he and Roxy have not met up on the homestead, and although he is small methinks he would be dangerous. Roxy, being a true boxer, would chase him down, right up to the invisible fence anyway! It would not be a good thing. So, while I'm happy to host Wiley's run each evening, I try to keep an eye out so Roxy is safe.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Today is the 1st Day of....Blah, blah, blah....
I know you know what I mean...
So, rather than be trite I will get right down to business...though I'm not sure what the business is hence "finding my rudder"...
I am 53 years old and I'm starting school tomorrow...my daughter Jen told me she was going to buy a new lunchbox for me, I had mental pictures of the Barbie lunchbox I had in the 1960's... It would have to be Esthetician Barbie as that is the course I'm taking. I haven't been to school since, gasp, 1976 when I finished my executive secretarial course at Stone School of Business (now Stone Academy). It will be a bit of a shock, I'm sure, particularly since I will undoubtedly be the oldest in this class...I bet my classmates will expect maturity and confidence. Well, I can fake THOSE!
I am a newlywed...John and I have been married for almost two years and together for five (wait, does that make seven??) We often tell people we've been married for 37 years because, between us, that's how many years we have in other marriages. But let's not go THERE... I hope we get 37 years, he's my best friend, smart AND handsome. Okay...I'll stop. We bought a house that we are renovating with the intention of flipping in five years when we retire. Yep, I'm going to school five years before retirement. I've been a secretary for 30 years and it is past time for something new so on to the next career!
So, my blog will be musings about Life, my life in particular: I am a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend. I've lost 200 pounds after gastric bypass in 2002 (lots of stories THERE!). My husband and I met on Match.com (stories there TOO!).
Come with me while I find my Rudder....
So, rather than be trite I will get right down to business...though I'm not sure what the business is hence "finding my rudder"...
I am 53 years old and I'm starting school tomorrow...my daughter Jen told me she was going to buy a new lunchbox for me, I had mental pictures of the Barbie lunchbox I had in the 1960's... It would have to be Esthetician Barbie as that is the course I'm taking. I haven't been to school since, gasp, 1976 when I finished my executive secretarial course at Stone School of Business (now Stone Academy). It will be a bit of a shock, I'm sure, particularly since I will undoubtedly be the oldest in this class...I bet my classmates will expect maturity and confidence. Well, I can fake THOSE!
I am a newlywed...John and I have been married for almost two years and together for five (wait, does that make seven??) We often tell people we've been married for 37 years because, between us, that's how many years we have in other marriages. But let's not go THERE... I hope we get 37 years, he's my best friend, smart AND handsome. Okay...I'll stop. We bought a house that we are renovating with the intention of flipping in five years when we retire. Yep, I'm going to school five years before retirement. I've been a secretary for 30 years and it is past time for something new so on to the next career!
So, my blog will be musings about Life, my life in particular: I am a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend. I've lost 200 pounds after gastric bypass in 2002 (lots of stories THERE!). My husband and I met on Match.com (stories there TOO!).
Come with me while I find my Rudder....
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