Rant and Rave Wednesday

Wednesday, November, 11, 2009...


Any readers following me on a regular basis know if it's Wednesday, it's time to Rant and Rave about the past week. Without further adieu, here are my Rants and Raves from the past week:

Rave: In the US it's Veteran's Day and although I'm not a fan of war, I appreciate everything a veteran has done for me to have the freedoms I have today.

Rave: Some really nice weather for November in the Northeast. It's freakish, but I'm okay with that.

Rave: I'm seeing Yoga Girl, a.k.a. my sister, this weekend. We're going to a cooking class at The Silo in New Milford with Rick Rodgers, an amazing instructor and cookbook author. This was my birthday gift.


Rant: I called the Silo to get the time of the class and they don't have us registered. They are investigating.


Rave: Two wonderful bloggers gave me awards. Miss Nobody not only gave me one, but THREE awards. You really should go check her out if you haven't. She writes about her life and will from time-to-time share some of her writing pieces. She's young, but has a very insightful soul putting her years beyond her age (55 Word Fiction).

Green Eyed Momster bestowed the You are Wonderful Award on me. Green Eyed shares the good, bad and painful with her readers, but is taking a break from blogging for a bit. She needs to recharge and I respect that. When blogging becomes a chore or exhausting, one should stop. I think people forget that.

Rant: Stinkin small fuzzy animal (want to blame the bunny, but I think the bunny has a friend) who is eating my brussel sprouts AGAIN. I thought I foiled the bunny and his gang, but I was wrong.

Rant: Insomnia. Last night. It sucks. Enough said.

Rave: Mad Men. The finale was Sunday night and the writers did a fabulous job at tying up all the loose ends. Every episode during the season I'd wonder what they were going to do with so-and-so's character, but the finale answered my questions. However, it's not just the finale, it's the writing. They master capturing the social impact, particularly events had on people (e.g., Kennedy's assignation,) while other life events (marriages and divorces) are downplayed making it very interesting. It's a show that makes you want more.

That's it for me. Any Rants and Raves you want to share? I would love to read them. Just click on the linky thing for anyone that wants to participate in Rant and Rave Wednesday. Please be respectful and do not use the linky thing if you are just promoting your blog (yes, this is another Rant of mine).

Holiday Conversations

Monday, November 9, 2009....

With the holidays right around the corner, I am wondering what the topic of conversation will be this year at the Thanksgiving table.

In the past, we have discussed the side effects of drinking soy milk. I didn't realize this, but apparently it enlarges the size of a woman's breasts. Who knew. I didn't.

Past Christmases the family would play the game "Mystery Date" and every time someone got the nerd at the front door, they have to drink a shot.

Recently, YogaGirl told me about a website that is just gross. Pop That Zit is all about squeezing zits, draining sinus infections and other things -- so gross, but like a car accident you are sucked into their videos and keep watching when you should turn your head.

After going through the website with YogaGirl on the phone, I knew our other sister, the nurse, would love it. We emailed her the link and she LOVED it. Loved it is an understatement.

I'm hoping she has forgotten all about this website when Thanksgiving comes around. Puss + turkey = gross dinner.

What Do You Get When You Mix a 6 lb 12 oz Can of Potatoes and 6 Women?

Thursday, November 5, 2009....


You get amazing conversation and food collected for a good cause.

Last month, I decided to extend the Weight Watcher promotion of donating a pound of food for every pound lost by inviting friends over for a tasty dinner (well, I hope it was -- no one died and many have signed up to come for November's dinner). Because I lost 6lbs, every guest was to bring 6lbs of food for my local food pantry.

One friend, D, went shopping at Restaurant Depot where all food is larger than life and among the items was a 6lb 12oz can of sliced potatoes. I'm not a restaurant owner, so, I was both intrigued and amused by the can (yeah, I'm sometimes easily amused at stupid stuff).

I think I was so amused by it because I couldn't imagine Bill and I sitting down for a 7 lb meal of potatoes. Last I knew, we weren't giants.

Know what the best part of the can was? The recipe for scalloped potatoes on the back.

The conversation at the table was mixed, but at some point focused to a guy my friend met online. He was affectionately named 'Seahorse Guy'.

She hadn't met him, but he already told her that he raised seahorses as a hobby. He explained the process to her and my gf, D, blurted out something like "Oh. My. God. What a boring guy."

Personally, I was amused by Seahorse Guy, but I like quirky people (although, I think dating a guy who went on about his love of raising seahorses would be too much for even me to handle).

I really loved D's comment. She's been married almost 20 years and hasn't dated since college. She doesn't have a clue of what it is like to date in your mid to late 30s. If she did, she might have thought he wasn't half bad.[Before I get slammed with comments about women being whack jobs, I'm only speaking from my experience -- seriously, one guy (8 minute dating event) told me he likes his job because he likes to be in big trucks -- I thought I was on Sesame Street. Needless to say, I did not choose to see him again]


I also learned it is the male seahorse that gives birth and a bunch of other factoids that have quickly left my head.

Since the dinner, my friend, L, has gone out with the Seahorse Guy and she's coming to my next dinner. She mentioned she was going to take a break from dating for a bit, but am looking forward to her misadventure with him.

When I dropped off the food, the reason for the dinner sunk in. The waiting room was packed. People in line for food, others for winter coats and when I handed the volunteer the food, I was asked what church I was from. It's probably because of my angelic looks.

Rant and Rave Wednesday

Wednesday, November 4, 2009....


Any readers following me on a regular basis know if it's Wednesday, it's time to Rant and Rave about the past week. Without further adieu, here are my Rants and Raves from the past week:

Rant: I had a miserable ear infection which got in the way of meeting some great bloggers on Sunday.

Rave: The meds are kicking in and I'm feeling about 90% better.

Rave: Unplugging for 24 hours. Granted, I wasn't able to follow my own rule for 24 hours, but it was a great experience (have to admit, it was a bit odd to be untethered).

Rant: Day Light Savings Time - Darker earlier - sniff, sniff.

Rant: Once I'm 100%, I'll be spending my time raking, raking and raking.

Rave: Neighbors with no boundaries finally sold their house and have moved out.

That's it for me. Any Rants and Raves you want to share? I would love to hear them. Will Work for Shoes, Da Jersey Boys and Green Eyed Momster have posted their own R&R Wednesday. Check them out.

One Focus....

Monday, November 3, 2009....

Why is it when you're sick, you can only focus on one thing? Well, that's the case with me.

Today, I wanted to catch up on blogging, but can't get passed the fact I'm hungry and want some Indian food.

Since I don't see lamb vindaloo or onion nan falling from the sky into my kitchen, I'll settle for some soup.

Dang the Next Iron Chef America competition for being all about Indian food and dang my DVR for taping it.

Today Sucks....

Sunday, November 1, 2009....


Today I was supposed to go into NYC and meet some fellow bloggers and cheer on another blogger running the NYC Marathon, but couldn't. Instead, I'm home on the couch with a horrible earache - actually, a staph ear infection.

It started Thursday and got progressively worse every day. I knew when I got up yesterday if I didn't go to a doctor I'd be miserable today. No way did I want to miss out on meeting fellow bloggers (heck, one drove 8 hours) so I planted my butt in the waiting room of a local hospital's walk-in medical center and waited.

Here's what I experienced while at the walk-in center for 2 hours --

1) A lot of waiting to be checked-in. Not sure what that was about, but 40 minutes and only 2 people ahead of me before my insurance info was taken.

2) A lot of waiting once you were brought into your own exam room.

3) A little boy Timmy, who thought it cool and brave to fall on his head, create a huge opening, but scream & cry when told he needed staples.

4) Discovering that Timmy could cry and cry and cry without anyone ever touching him for 1/2 hour.

5) Feeling horrible and wondering why his parents didn't tell him how 'cool' the staples were going to be (this kid was into the cool factor).

6) Having the PA (Physician's Assistant) examine me and tell me that they are going to treat me for both inner and outer ear infection (yes, I was in a lot of pain). Me, thinking I hope they give me some good drugs to dull the pain.

7) Having the doctor come in after PA, check out my ear, listen to lungs (was a bit confused about that connection) then tell me I might need surgery before disappearing for 5 minutes. WTF???

8) Me, now feeling like little Timmy, have tears welling up (I have a justifiable fear of surgery) and begin breathing techniques to calm self down before doc gets back.

9) Learning he wanted me on IV drug, but Cipro and Bactrim are prescribed. This is when I'm told I have a staph ear infection (didn't have a clue what it meant, but his deadpan expression told me I should be very concerned). I was also informed if the swelling on my face didn't disappear that evening, I needed to get to the ER.

10) Later, I called my sister the nurse, to find out a staph infection in the ear can spread to the sinuses which can go up to the brain and kill you. Glad I didn't know this in the medical center.

11) For the rest of the evening, my husband kept looking at my face, not in a lovingly way, but to monitor my swelling. I can only imagine what he would have been like if we had kids together.

Today, my ear hurts. My jaw is stiff. It is not fun to chew food and my ear canal is swollen.

In a roundabout way, I am thankful I was supposed to meet up with some bloggers. If I wasn't, I probably would have avoided going to the doctors and heaven knows what would have happened. For this, I will even congratulate Otin on the Yankees' win last night.

Unplugging....

Thursday, October 29, 2009.....

About 8 years ago, my sister and I started an annual (well, almost) tradition this time of year -- we go to Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts.

It's been 2 years since our last journey, but I'm really missing it this year. I know, I can hear people saying, 'Oh, LMB can't go away to an amazing spa for one week. Boo hoo - Get a life.'

I get it. In fact, I constantly say the same thing to me. However, I have to tell you what I really appreciate about this trip is that it gives me the time to truly reconnect with me.

I journal, catch up on reading by a glorious fire, try out new lifestyle changes, eat healthy, exercise, and yes, I fully embrace spa treatments.

The management and staff are wonderful -- always smiling, always nice.

So, for one week, I take 5 days of it to regroup, and it is wonderful. I come back refreshed and also with some great tips to live the life I want. In addition, I get to refocus in a beautiful location with no interruptions or nasty people to push my buttons.

Today, I am going to try to recreate this scenario for 24 hours. My husband will be out-of-town tonight and I planned a day I might have had at the spa. I'm unplugging my phones, t.v. and computer for 24 hours. If this goes well, I might consider doing this for an entire weekend right before the holidays gets into full swing.

I'm looking forward to reconnecting and pampering me with NO interruptions.

Till Friday....