Taking a few shortcuts on my way home from the wedding.
I love the look of these trees drooping over the road.
It's not a long trip home...just over 2 hours. But, I usually race through it, not taking in much of the surroundings. I've driven this road so many times, I can never count the times. And even though I'm thrilled not to live here in this tiny little town, I still see the quiet beauty of small towns.
C'mon-check out these happy kids...just 24 hours away from getting married and starting their new life together. Aren't they cute?
Tonight was about rehearsing. My pictures came out horrible! I am not a good action/portrait photographer. I manage to capture every strange face or every time the arm blocks the face, or when they choose to look away.
Ugh. I need help in this dept.
Good thing I had lots of Cuban Food at Don Ramon's afterwards...garlic makes everything right.
I decided to try some "dance sneakers" to improve my Zumba performance.
These shoes have pivot points on the balls of the shoe and no arch structure in order to provide a flexible foot movement.
Sadly, they didn't fit and I have to return them. You have to order them at least one size larger than normal, and even that was too small for me. Gonna try the local dance shop...
Junior League meetings usually mean some kind of potluck..and I'm afraid it's my fault. But I don't feel too bad, when this is what you get!
When I started going to meetings, they would be normal business meetings, usually at 6 or 7pm. But I was always starving. I was always running out of my house after work, not wanting to eat fast food. I remember my first meeting where I brought food. I bought at sandwich at the deli next door and everyone sat and watched as I wolfed down a sub, while we talked about fundraising or projects or whatever. Thereafter, I brought my dinner...I'll be damned if I wait until 9 o'clock to eat dinner when I'm starving!
Then, the following year I was on the Board, and I suggested I would bring some snacks. Someone else, said "Me too!" And all of the sudden we were rotating the job of bringing snacks to the meeting. And it was good.
We repeated the same at Board next year, and I had my own committee which I scheduled to meet at a local restaurant. Little by little I noticed a lot of other committees meeting at restaurants, or rotating the snack function. And by now, it's pretty common that evening meetings will come with snacks, or that you're welcome to bring your own dinner.
A group of us were supposed to go to the local theatre to see Footloose tonight...I was looking forward to watching an evening of brash young dancers breaking the shackles of the small town mentality, but the girl coordinating it didn't think there were enough people to get the group discount, so some of us just opted to take a run out to Captive for a dinner at the Bubble Room.
How can I explain the Bubble Room? It's kind of a kitchy place, where the theme is a cross between a collection of 30s to 50s memorabilia and Christmas stuff. Their servers are called "Bubble Scouts" (turn your sound off), and according to their website, they have something like 2,000 items on display.
The menu isn't large...there are about 10 appetizers, 10 entrees and 10 desserts...the food is decent in quality...not fine dining, but I think most people go because the desserts are good and it's fun.
My pick is always the Orange Crunch Cake, though many swear by the Red Velvet.
Anyway, it was a dark and stormy night, and the rain from Tropical Storm Bonnie was all around us that night. But hey, we Floridians...Tropical Storms are just minor annoyances...we enjoyed our evening, and left with cake. What more could we ask for?
I spent the evening with my fellow Junior Leaguers, trying to clean up our headquarters. After 40 years, apparently you accumulate a lot of stuff!
We spent a few hours looking through the stuff that previous members wanted to hold on to "for the future" -- and we, "the future," think it's mostly junk. It vividly reminds me of times when...
- we didn't have the internet to research
- when a book had a new edition every 20 years, so we kept books on training and human resources for "reference" and,
- when we kept records in metal filing cabinets.
That office was a time capsule...and it makes me think of what members 40 years from now will laugh at that we are doing now.
"Welcome to the jungle. It gets worse here every day..."
I don't know what to say today except: I don't know why I hate yard work, but I do. So, I frequently find myself asking why I purchased a home with so much yard maintenance. I could have bought a home with more moderate plantings, but noooo, I had to buy the Garden of Eden.
This stuff is growing out of control. I may wake up tomorrow with my bed overgrown with vines and my room littered with the leaves and detritus from oak trees. I am scared.
OK, this restaurant's mascot seems to be a characterization of a Mexican dude, greeting their guests with a coppery wave of the hand.
, just waiting to play you "La Cucaracha" on his horn.
They spent a lot of money on this. Just in case you didn't know by the name of the restaurant, or the giant chili pepper in the sign...they serve Mexican food. I like to call him Captain Obvious.
Yep, this is the year of celebrating 40 year olds!
All my fellow friends born in 1970 are turning 40 this year and one-by-one their parties are filling my social calendar through the year.
This Sunday was my friend Lisa's birthday over in Fort Lauderdale. Through a strange turn of events during the day, I found myself with a flat tire, running around town trying to get a replacement, and the finally racing to a rental car place to grab some kind of vehicle to make it to the party. I made it just in time, and I think Lisa was super-happy I got there...and honestly I was happy, too. Lisa was one of my college roomies and we have been in touch ever since. She's got a great sense of humor, and even though we could not be more politically different, we still get along really well! : )
One of the best parts of the night was when I won the "Who Knows Lisa Best" contest. I knew I was a lock...but I stayed humble.
Lots of fun today. My friend Ana and I took a bit of a road trip, killing two items from our mutual "must-do" do list.
First, we went to the movies. No, not that exciting, I know. But this theatre lets you order full lunch or dinner and eat it in the movie theatre! Yippee! We shared a bunch of dishes and carried them into the theatre on our little trays and just pigged out while watching "Grownups" with Adam Sandler. Loved the experience. Gotta go back soon!
Then, we did the really fun thing we wanted to do...we both are fans of photographer Clyde Butcher. He is a renowned large-format photographer, famous for his images of the West and of the Everglades. He literally has a darkroom that is as big as my house. What he does is amazing. His original gallery is in the Everglades and has three small rooms of his photos. We just lingered over the prints, talking about what we liked about each one. Ana chose one of her favorite signed reproductions and purchased it.
One of the best things about visiting the gallery is taking the 10 minute nature walk in the back of the gallery property. I took a load of pictures of this cypress swamp, and really enjoyed seeing it. This is very typical of the Everglades.
Here's the whole slideshow with comments...just a couple of notes:
-- the little things sticking up in the picture above here are called "cypress knees." this is how the tree grows.
--there's a big hanging fern in one of the first few pictures. this is a staghorn fern. they can weigh hundreds of pounds. my friend is standing next to is for scale.
--we loved all the noises of the swamp. you can actually hear frogs and birds and alligators grunting out there.
--we're looking foward to attending Clyde's annual swamp walk on Labor Day. check it out on his site!
It's hot. Africa hot. Like, as in, soon, Africa is going to start saying, "Man, it's hot. Florida hot."
And everything in my world is wilting in the heat.
I walked out today after a brief rain passed over the house, leaving the driveway steaming from the heat and water. When I went to take my picture, I found my lens had fogged up, leaving me with a neat-o image of my hibiscus bush.
I feel just like this flower at this time of year. Can't even hold my head up. Yowser, it's burning up out there. Stay inside, for the love of Pete.
Earlier this month I made my triumphant return to the gym. Yes. You may applaud.
There was much fanfare when I signed my year's contract at the local mega-gym. I had been a member of this place before, but left after the enormity of the place left me a feeling a little adrift. I had been going to a great smaller place but the location had me blowing off working out when I thought of adding my commute to the actual workout time.
So I came back to mega-gym for reasons of proximity. Apparently I need to have literally no excuses when it comes to making myself go to the gym...and these days I am almost completely unaffected by its slight meat-market tendencies because this gym has a womens-only area where the battle of the sexes is left behind.
I've made little use of the locker room, as I normally come and go in my gym-wear, which is, of course, a couture Chanel track suit...but I decided that I do need to lock some stuff up from time to time, so I've done what I've done countless other times when I've joined gyms. I bought a gym lock.
It's a super-cool WordLock, so I don't have to remember any numbers. Cool, eh?
I was sort of putting it off because it's almost a reminder of all the other times I've bought locks for the gym...and then proceeded to go a few times and conveniently "forget" I'm a member. But it had to be done, and I thought I'd try this lock, which I found n Facebook. (Yes, advertising DOES work!)
I don't care for water. Much like the scene in Baby Mama (after the ad), where Amy Poehler takes a sip from glass handed to her by Tina Fey, and spits it out, I often feel like yelling, "What is this? It's horrible!"
But these little packets of lemon, lime and orange flavor make choking it down just a little bit easier.
I know that the Coca-Cola corporation and other mega-brands have ruined my taste buds for all time, but I guess I have to drink water, so a little flavor makes it easier. Just look the other way, while I add a packet of crystals to my water when we go out to eat together. And then, let's awkwardly resume our conversation about whether Darth Vader could beat Magneto.
Can you? At some point bananas are just too brown to be enjoyed. I would make banana bread except I don't feel like baking. Or washing the dishes. I'm not feeling like doing anything.
Another thing I didn't want to do...Today was all about meetings I was not prepared for. I am going a little soft in my old age. I just go through periods of time where I don't want to be a do-er. And today is one of those days that requires me to be "on." Meetings need prep and thought and I just wasn't having it today.
The best thing that came out of today was that one of my meetings was a lunch meeting and they catered in these awesome sandwiches, so now I have a new place to check out.
Yeah, trust me, you didn't want this picture to be more explicit. I needed a few knick-knacks, so I stepped into the ol' dressing room for few quick-changes. Didn't get too much -- still feeling like shopping is an indulgence that doesn't fit in to my short-term savings plans.
But I love the way stores smell and the feeling that I could go home with something new. I feel like an alcoholic. That must be it...I'm a recovering shop-aholic. Somebody, get me to a meeting!
Now that I've got a new Mac, I wanted to get a few tips on the OS. So I brought myself down to the Apple store for a little Mac 101.
I was in class with two other people, both of whom were way over 65. Good for them!
But, we were on obviously different levels of knowledge and the trainer was a young girl who really doesn't know how to train and she tended to train to the highest level of knowledge instead of the lowest level of knowledge. Rookie mistake.
Also she had the typical case of 20-something marble-mouth. A lot of mumbling, followed by "You know?" The older lady next to me really had no idea so I felt bed and helped her. At least the class gave me the few tips I needed to know and so now I'm a little clearer about how to translate my old PC habits into Mac ones.
I try to stay out of trigger shopping stores like Barnes and Noble. When I go in there, I want to move in, and purchase every book. But I've really stopped buying so many books, because I read them in a few days and then they go on the shelf.
I want to form some kind of book co-op where I decide to buy a book with at least one friend in order to reduce the expense and have a lot fewer books to put on a shelf.
I went with my friend Shirley...
We were trying to identify a nice book of yoga poses, so she could learn some more about it as she begins doing yoga classes at the gym. Some of the books are hysterical...there was one called "Big Yoga," which was essentially yoga for fat people. The best pose was definitely Lion Pose.
Then we found a picture of one person helping another person do a headstand, which esstentially left the helper staring down at the poser's nether regions. I almost peed on myself when she announced, "I think this would really strengthen our friendship," as she flashed the image of the awkward yogis.
Right next to the Yoga section is the Human Sexuality section...notice a trend:
Every damn one of these books is either pink or red. Wow. Helloooo, marketers, wonder if you're using any visual cues to market your books?
I didn't end up buying anything, but there were sooo many temptations:
Chocolate covered Altoids! I have no memory of acquiring these and I'm sure they're too old to eat, but yum. They're curiously strong and chocolatey, I expect.
This is Stephen. He is my financial advisor. He is also my friend of about 20 years. We heart him.
We heart him because he makes me make smart choices that are in my best financial interest. He knows that my goal is to not be a poor, sick old woman. Rather, I wish to have a Golden Girls-style compound with a few of my friends, where I will play the Bea Arthur character and wear flowing clothes to hide my aging belly, and make quips about my mother and my roommates.
We had a meeting today and established a bunch of short term goals that I need to work on in the next year. It feels good to make decisions and then actually set to work on them. Planning is good. I recommend everyone have a Stephen in their life. It doesn't matter how much money you have...it's about how much you want to have. Get one.
In my foolishness, I went back to Zumba tonight. Here's how I felt:
Notice how alarmed Pippin looks...he's thinking, "Oh my God...who's going to feed me now that Mommy's dead?"
I really struggled through this second class...it was my 3rd day in a row of exercise (Monday, group power class and cardio, Tuesday and Wednesday, Zumba), and there are little muscles in my hips and thighs that are complaining mightily at this startling turn of events. One day, we're languishing in our flabby glory and the next, there is an unsustainable amount of movement.
So today, I am in pain.
My shoes are woefully inadequate for this class, and I've noticed that the ladies who frequent Zumba are wearing some other special shoes -- they almost look like orthopedic shoes. Must ask. Later. After showering and sleeping. I may sleep in the shower just to save time.
Yesterday, I made my triumphant return to the gym after a year's absence.
And today was my first Zumba class. I've always avoided these big aerobics classes because I tend to feel I'm so out of shape, I'll just end up standing there, panting, and ready to pass out.
However, none of this happened. Admittedly, I probably didn't do all the moves at 100% energy, but man, this is a fun, fun class and I really could not believe I made it through. I like the class so much, I can't stop singing the songs in my head.
Our instructor has an inhuman ability to move her hips, and even though I'm Cuban, I find myself slightly too prudish to do some of the thrusting and shaking these Latin beats require. I just do a slightly more demure version of the grinding she does.
Anyway, I fell over my feet more often than not, but I'm kind of into it...I'll be back for class tomorrow!
I like buying accessories...most of mine are longish necklaces and earrings. I don't tend to buy bracelets because I think they look stupid on my arm. I will wear them from time to time but honestly, I think they sort of highlight my man-hands. Maybe I need to try some more chunky bracelets to make my hands look smaller.
A few of us got together to watch some fireworks on the 4th, after stuffing our faces with a yummy dinner. It all went perfectly to plan...
-- Great Dinner? Check
-- Stopped drizzling about an hour before fireworks? Check
-- Great view of the fireworks from my friend's marina? Check
-- No mosquitos, despite the rain and humidity? Double-check
Can't ask for anything more...
It was hard to take good shots of the actual fireworks, as I forgot my nicer camera...
So I tried to do a little camera dancing for the effects, and a few came out neat.
We're having a pre-4th get-together with some friends, when all of the sudden the gentlmen in the group feel it's a good time to show their skillz at the Wii.
Perhaps it was the song choice, but as Simon would say on American Idol, "You're a bit pitchy."
OK, this is post #3 this year about product changes...I get it, OK. I like my products to stay the same. Sheesh.
Today I received my new order of mineral makeup to find its now coming in a new set of colors and in a new container (that is really NOT better), I find myself breathing a sigh filled with equal parts tolerance and frustration.
Is this some kind of test? OK, this is the last time I'll bitch about it...now I'm off to make sure this new color doesn't make me look like this is the first time I've ever tried makeup.
Today is the half way point of my little photo/blog project. And I've learned a few things...
1. making yourself take pictures every day is eventually a pain, but it does make you think about the "potential pictures" in your environment.
2. I don't always feel comfortable carrying my big camera into stores, restaurants and other places, even though that's the camera I really want to be practicing on. I kind of fear possible confrontation with store employees who must be wondering why I am taking pictures of weird stuff in their stores.
3. at the end of this year, there will be an interesting look back at how I spend my time and what I think about. Will I like it? I don't know.
Anyway, from here I need to push myself further. It won't be possible every day, but maybe I need to force some opportunities to take better pictures. Who knows what pictues I will be able to take...from here on out there be dragons, my friends...
