Burn, Baby, Burn

Leaving my job at Curves may have been the best thing I have ever done for my health. I woke up this morning and I can truthfully say that my heel pain is better than it has been for a very long time. I guess standing up for 4-5 hours a night was not helping my Plantar Fasciitis and Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. I even worked out to Sweatin To The Oldies 4 yesterday without any heel pain. Things are looking up for me and my foot issues. I think I am going to do something I haven't been able to do for months and months which is workout two days in a row. When I finish this post I am going to go inside and crank up Disco Sweat which is one of my all time favorites.

It's amazing how easy it is to stop exercising. Why is that? Excuses come and I embrace them. "Oh, I can't workout today because of my heel pain" or "I can't workout today because I don't have the time" are two of my recent favorite excuses. Why is it so easy to stop doing something that has so many health benefits? You would think that knowing all I know about exercise that I would continue doing it no matter what. But no! I was busy thinking up excuses not to do it. Well, I'm done with that now. No more excuses for me. Hear that Richard?

I am going to take my time getting back to the track. Outside power walking is extremely hard on my heel and I don't want to set it off again but that's no reason to sit on my butt and not workout at all. I have large collection of workout DVDs that will raise my heart rate and make me sweat. I have enough Richard Simmons' DVDs to use a different one every day and that's what I'm going to do.

I used to say that I exercised every day because it gave me a calorie cushion. If I worked out hard for an hour a day I could pretty much (dare I say it?) eat what I wanted within reason and not gain weight. I want that cushion back and not hanging off my butt. I'm going to get back to exercising each day starting with cardio. I actually do yoga almost every day anyway but I need more so I'm cranking up my DVD player until my foot is completely healed (or heeled LOL) and then hopefully get back to the track soon. Maybe I'll go one day next week if I am still feeling good but for now, today, it's Disco Sweat in my living room. Burn, baby, burn.

So I'm back baby and it feels great.

The First Day Of The Rest Of My Unemployed Life

Today is my first real day of being unemployed. I gotta tell you I am lovin' it. LOL I've decided that my new job will be taking care of me so for my first day of work I am going to report into my new office (my living room) and I am going to TRY to do one of Richard's videos. I say try because I am still dealing with heel pain due to my Plantar Fasciitis and Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. I'm going to put in my orthodics and see what I can do. I'm thinking that I'll do Sweatin' To The Oldies 2. It is probably the easiest of Richard's videos but it also has some weight training and ab work at the end. Yep, I'm gonna start there.

I'm planning my meals today (thanks to Ang's summer challenge) so they will be as follows:

Breakfast-1/2 cup of eggbeaters with scallions and green onions, one piece of whole wheat toast and an orange.

Lunch-1 cup of veggie chili (lot of beans) with carrots, green peppers and one tbsp of low fat dressing.

Dinner-1 Morningstar Farms Chick Pattie, one cup of pasta with tomato sauce and cauliflower with ICBINBL spray.

Snacks-10 almonds and dried cranberries, an apple and string cheese.

Oh, this is good. A healthy plan for food and exercise will be done too (I hope). I may even throw some yoga in there for good measure.

What's the best part, you may ask? Well, there are two best parts. Best part number one is that I lost 2 pounds participating in Ang's Summer Challenge and best part number two and a really close second is that I don't have to go to work tonight. I'll be in Richard's chat. It's been a really long time since I've been able to make chat. Oh man, life is good.

On another note, I want to take a minute to congratulate Roger Federer for winning the French Open Tennis Tournament. I'm very happy for him. He's offically the best that ever lived and I am a fan. I also want to congratulate Tiger Woods for winning Jack's Tournament at Memorial Golf Course yesterday. He seems to be better than ever. Roger and Tiger are two of my guys and I'm happy to see them both win. I'm winning too!

One door closes......

My career as Richard Simmons has come to an end. Yesterday was my last shift at Curves and it was very hard to say goodbye to my ladies. They cried, I cried, everyone cried. I got loads of hugs and kisses, well wishes and phone numbers. I'm just sorry that I didn't get to see some of my favorite friends because it all happened so fast. Yesterday I was employed and today I'm not.

I am going to take my time in finding another job. I'm not going to take something that is not perfect for me. Curves was fun but it definitely not perfect. Working until 8:00pm was horrible. I missed seeing Pat when he got home from work and eating dinner at 9:00pm most nights and then going to bed was terrible. That is a sure way to gain weight and in the 18 months that I worked at Curves I gained 15 pounds. When I took the job I thought "oh, this is going to be great. I'll get lots of exercise" but in reality I didn't. I did lots of standing around, talking and watching other people work out. I guess I lost myself and became a Curves puppet. I allowed myself to be taken advantage of and treated badly by people who had no right to treat me that way. I started feeling worthless and two inches tall. I'm over that now.

I am back to working on myself to be the best person I can possibly be. My eating has improved by leaps and bounds since I made the decision to leave Curves and have taken on Ang's summer challenge. I had an experience this morning that I haven't had in years. I got on the scale and the number was so unbelievable that I jumped off and got back on to make sure the scale wasn't wrong the first time but the number was there the second time too. 150. Is it really possible that I lost 5.5 pounds in such a short period with only weight lifting and yoga for exercise? I guess it is.

Once my foot pain calms down (if it ever does) I am going to go back to my daily power walks. I always felt great walking outside listening to Paul (The Beatles) or disco or Cat Stevens. I definitely miss it. That's for sure. In the meantime, I will continue yoga, toning and may even, dare I say it?, do one of Richard's tapes from chair. I'm hoping that now that I'm not standing for 5 hours a night my foot will start feeling better but in the meantime I am going to do the best that I can. You know, the F***ing Agreement. Do the best you can with what you have.

Well, the Curves door has closed and I'm excited to see which door will open next.

Thank you, Ang

I had a good food and exercise day yesterday. Committing to Ang's summer challenge has really made a difference in my eating habits over the last couple of days. I am eating real healthy meals instead of just grazing all day and I even did a hard toning session yesterday that I am feeling today. I guess that's a good thing. I am planning to do some yoga a little later today. Maybe it will help my mental status which sucks.

I just finished up my healthy breakfast which was an egg cooked with Pam, a piece of whole wheat toast topped with some ICBINBL and a very tasty orange. For me, this is a definite improvment over what I was eating. Now, if I can just keep it up....

Exercise is hard to do. My foot pain is still there and not being helped by having to stand up at Curves. The doctor visit didn't really help much and I'm feeling very down about all of this. Yeah, I know, exercise in a chair. Yeah, I know. The reality is it's not going to happen. If I'm going to exercise I have to enjoy what I do. I loved going to the track and walking but I can't do that now. I loved doing Richard's tapes but I can do that now. Exercising in a chair? I am not feeling the love there. I'll just do the best I can.

Each decision, whether it be about food or exercise, is made taking Ang's challenge in mind. Once again, thanks to Ang for going to all of that trouble and keeping me in line...somewhat.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

I went to the podiatrist yesterday and after an examination and an ultrasound the diagnosis is Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. It's like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome only instead of happening in the wrist it happens in the foot/ankle area. It is somewhat due to the Plantar Fasciitis but is actually a different thing. It is due to the flattening of my foot and is also considered an overuse injury.

After I was treated for the Plantar Fasciitis and was feeling better I really stepped up the workouts for the ladies at Curves. I was like a Richard Simmons clone. I would crank up the music and make them work really hard but in order to make the ladies work hard I was working hard too. I was bouncing around, doing lots of leg lifts and jumping and had cranked the aerobics up from low impact to high impact. The next thing you know, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. Ouch!

Dr Tanner sprayed my foot with a numbing agent and gave me a cortisone shot in the side of my heel. Surprisingly enough it didn't hurt at the time but started aching late in the afternoon yesterday. Today it is screaming so I'll be taking it easy. Thank god for my big screen TV and the French Open Tennis match. If I get bored with that theres always Paul McCartney dvds to be watched and drooled over.

Once I am feeling better I have to go shopping for some new shoes with, get this, heels. Dr T wants me in 2 inch heels to take the pressure off the Tarsal Tendon. In going though my shoes I realized that I only own one pair of shoes with heels this high. I live in sneakers or flats. I wish Kerry was home to go shopping with me. It would make it fun instead of work.

I'm trying to figure out some exercise for today. No aerobics but maybe some upper body weight lifting which I can do in a chair. Oy vey! Exercising in a chair. If I didn't feel like an old lady before I'm feeling it now.

If all this doesn't work and we do all of the allowed shots then I have to think about the S word. Yes, surgery. I'm thinking that before I do that I will find another pediatrist and get a second opinion. Foot surgery has the possibilities or ruining my life but I'm not going there yet. I am going to stay as positive as possible and hope it doesn't come to that.

Wednesday Check In

I kept my promise to Laura and called my podiatrist Dr Tanner for an appointment. My heel pain is back in a big way and it's getting in the way of my life again. I can't walk, run or do one of Richard's videos because the pain is too much to bear. It's frustrating and depressing. I'll never lose the 15 pounds if I can't exercise. I have enough trouble losing weight when I'm feeling well and not in pain. I will welcome the cortisone shot that is probably coming. Anything that will allow me to get back to the track and back ON track is on my list of things to love.

Today I am starting my day with Joy's Hatha class at the Yoga Source. I can do most asanas without foot pain. Note I said most. Pushing back into down dog is painful as is plank and some others. I'm hoping most of the class will be laying down or sitting. That I can do. I can aways do yoga.

Downward facing dog in Juliana's studio

I'm off from work today so after yogaI think I will crank up my Ipod and do some strength training. I can sit and lift weights. Yeah, I can do that. Maybe a good weight lifting session will help me with my motivation which has left the builiding now that I can't exercise. If nothing else it will give my metabolism a needed boost. I'm busy needing boosts and kicks in the butt. Please... feel free to take aim....rear back....and kick me in the butt.

Hey Ang, thanks for making me your blogger of the week. I am honored that you feel I actually have something to give to the world. That helps. You are the best.

Saturday Afternoon Date

Usually Pat plays golf on both Saturdays and Sundays especially now that summer is here and the rates have gone down but not today. We woke up to rainy skies and some thunder too. The weather station says we will have rain all day today and possibly tomorrow too so we decided to go on a date today. We are going to the movies to see the new Star Trek flick which I hear is really good. Pat and I are trekkies so I'm sure we will both enjoy it. What could be better than Spock on a rainy afternoon? Well, Paul would be better but this is almost as good.

Paul in 1990 in Miami-Yep, I took this picture.

Spock in the 60's-Live Long and Prosper

Geez, I can't even remember the last time I went to the movies. I'm thinking it might have been the last Lord Of The Rings movie and that was a long time ago. Years ago. Movies have become so pricey lately that we are very picky about what we go to see. It's easy to spend a lot of money especially if you hit the candy counter. NOT!!

I will not buy any popcorn or candy at the movies. Not only would that ruin my healthy food plan but it would also put a hole in my pocket. Movies have gotten expensive lately. $9.50 just to get in. I will throw a bottle of water in my pocketbook so I won't spend money on that either.

We are planning to go to the 4:15 show which will put us out right around dinner time. Pat will probably want to go to Tijuana Flats for dinner. I can get a black bean burrito made "power light" which means they change out the full fat cheese and sour cream for fat free and they make it on a wheat tortilla instead of flour. That burrito weighs in at 288 calories which isn't bad. It's the chips and guacamole that's the killer so I just won't order that. Yeah, that's what I'll do.

Sounds like a fun Saturday afternoon date with my honey. Donncha think?

Never Give Up

Well, it's started. Kerry left on Monday afternoon and I haven't stopped eating since. It's actually amazing the amount of food that I can consume without really thinking about it. I let the loneliness I felt for my daughter overwhelm me and started eating. And it's the worst kind of eating. Emotional. What gets me is that I am aware of it. I know I'm doing it but don't or can't stop. What's up with that? Huh?

Breakfast is good. It's always good. I always have either a half of a bagel with one tablespoon of whipped cream cheese and an orange or a bowl of oatmeal with berries. Sometimes I even go all the way and make myself a mixture of Egg Beaters with onion, mushrooms and any other kind of veggie and a piece of toast. All of these are pretty good choices for a healthy breakfast. I do indulge in too much coffee in the morning but as for as food goes I think my breakfast choices are pretty good. After that I am screwed.

I don't really eat lunch. I start my grazing and it doesn't stop until I start getting ready for work. Now I have to ask myself is it grazing or binging? Does it really matter? All I know is that I don't really eat a real lunch. I just go for whatever is around. Fruit, cheese, almonds, lots of bread and rolls. Sometimes, every now and then, I'll have some soup or leftovers from the night before but I never stop there. I just keep going, eating until I get ready for work which is usually about 2:30. I've tried to change this but I keep going back to my bad habits.

Now looking at this a little closer it seems that I have food difficulties from lunch time to dinner time. OK, now that's about 4 hours or so. Maybe I need to find something to do during this time of day so that my head doesn't end up in the fridge looking for something that isn't even there. I wish I was more like my unbelievably talented and crafty friend Laura who makes beautiful jewelry. I've tried knitting, crocheting, painting by numbers and many other things. I'm just not very crafty so I always struggle and finally lose interest. I guess I need to find something interesting I can do during the time when I usually end up looking for food. I need to change things up. Not something that comes easily to me, change. I will try though. It's all about trying. Right? Like Richard always says "Never give up".

The Coldplay Concert.

Kerry is leaving to go back up to Gainesville this afternoon. Once again it was totally fantastic to have her home. We had a lot of fun as usual most of it either in front of the big screen TV or shopping. Yeah, we did lots of shopping.

The highlight was definitely the ColdPlay concert at the West Palm Beach Amphitheater. It was really an amazing show. They are a very talanted, british and somewhat Beatlesque (which is a true compliment coming from me) band. There are four of them just like The Beatles. The very cute frontman, Chris Martin is a vegetarian like Paul and is married to Gwyneth Paltrow. Lucky Gwyneth Paltrow.



We had really great seats. They were located in the front row of the second section right behind the private boxes so we could really see and had leg room to boot. At one point in the concert the boys ran up to a small stage setup very near us and we were able to get VERY close. It was very exciting and brought me back to the last time I saw Paul. Yes, my Paul. I snuck up to the third row and was very close. Very close. I saw him and he saw me....well, back to Coldplay.

This is Paul McCartney in 1993

OK...back to Coldplay

They played my two favorite songs which are Fix You and The Scientist so I was happy. Kerry was totally ecstatic during the entire concert. We stood and danced and sang for two hours. Kerry lost her voice (strangely familiar). They even sang I'm A Believer which was a fun
addition for us old folks.

When the concert was over Coldplay had a new fan (me) and we were each given a free CD which contains 9 live songs that they played at our concert. It is a very nice souvenir and I am playing it as I write this blog. Getting out of the venue was a total nightmare but looking back on it, being stuck in traffic for 2 hours with Kerry was just another chance for us to be together. For me, that's the only thing that matters.

Frontman Chris Martin

Loneliness And Eating

Kerry got home on Friday night and it is soooo good to have her home for a little while. It makes me realize that a lot of my eating issues have to do with her not being here aka loneliness. Thinking back on my life that is a recurring theme. Hmmm. Very interesting.

When I was a kid I would come home from school and my mom would be there waiting for me. She was always so happy to see me. She would have milk and cookies or some fruit waiting for me because she knew I would be hungry. We would sit and talk for hours. We would laugh about things that had happened during the day to me at school and her at home. She adored the ground that I walked on and I loved her more than anyone. I remember those times like it was yesterday.

When I got to be about 9 years old my dad opened up his own business. He needed my mom to help out in the office so she went to work every day and couldn't be there waiting for me when I got home anymore. My grandmother lived upstairs from us in a separate apartment but it wasn't the same as having my mom there with me. I was lonely and I started to eat.

It didn't take very long for me to gain weight and by the time I was in 6th grade I was overweight and taking crap from the other kids. I remember that I would come home and eat until my parents got home from work. Then we would eat dinner and dinner was always a heavy meal of meat and potatoes and when I say meat I don't mean chicken. I'm talking steak, lamb chops, briskit, beef stew, flanken. I think you get the idea. So that meant that I ate for hours while I sat by myself watching TV.

I stayed overweight until I was 40 years old. A few years after having Kerry I found Richard Simmons and with his help I was able to lose my weight. He became my weight loss guru and friend. I don't think I could have done it without his help and attention.

Richard and me last March

Kerry was a kid and there was so much to do. She took piano lessons. She became a girl scout. She started playing soccer. She joined the band. She kept me very busy and was there as the best company anyone could ask for. We would sit at the kitchen table and talk for hours just like I did with my mom. I kept my weight off without even really having to think about it. It was easy.

Kerry left for college in 2005 and I cried for three weeks. She had a boyfriend here so she started coming home every other weekend. I loved that. She also called me 5 times a day so it was almost as if she hadn't really left at all. I kept kept my weight off easily during this time.

Kerry and me at Hoover Dam

She broke up with her boyfriend 2 years later and stopped making those weekend trips home. I found myself sitting in front of the TV eating and my weight started to escalate. My beloved Lhasa Apso Mac also died around this time. This is something I still haven't gotten over.

Mac and me

I found Richard's online clubhouse and was able to get back on track and keep my weight down. I got a lot of support from the webbies and also met some of my very best friends. They are always there for me when I need them but they all live so far away. I wish they lived closer.

Fast forward to now. Kerry is up in Gainesville most of the time. I still hear from her 5 times a day but feel lonely most of the time. I miss having her here, in person to talk to and to be with. I find myself struggling with my weight. Here I am sitting in front of the TV eating again. It's just like it was when I was a kid and my mom went to work. Lonely and eating. I wish I could get over all of this but the struggle continues.

Shopping with the kid

Kerry is home for the rest of the week and since she got home my eating has been great. My eating was great when I went to LA to hang with my fellow fabbies also. I need to get a grip on this. If I don't I'll be just like I was in 6th grade. Overweight and taking crap from people.

The Fabs in LA a month ago

Now It's My Turn

I was working at Curves last Tuesday and I was telling the ladies about Pat and how sick he had gotten. I told them that I took care of him, gave him his medicine, made chicken soup and keep an eye on him. I also said that I was very happy that I had been lucky and not caught whatever it was that he had. One of the ladies, Betsy, said "Well, it's not over yet. You still could be incubating something." Well, guess what? She was right. I was incubating something. Now I am full blown sick. Whaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!! Yep, that was me whining!!

I feel like crap and I have to work tonight anyway. One of my co-workers is out of town and Lisa will not care that I am sick. She will tell me to stay behind the desk and tell everyone that I am trying not to get them sick. Lisa doesn't work double shifts and she is working this morning so I am not even going to bother calling in sick. I also have to work tomorrow morning. I just hope I am feeling better then.

On a happier note, Kerry is coming home tomorrow for about 10 days and I can't wait. We are going to the Coldplay concert In West Palm Beach on May 15th and I am really looking forward to that. We will also go window shopping. Note I said window shopping. Money is tight and the days of frivolous spending are gone. I'm sure Kerry will talk me into something. :)

The face I can't say no to. The kid!

I Have A Sick Little Boy On My Hands

Pat came home sick yesterday. He doesn't get sick often but when he does it's usually a doozie. He can be very stubborn and usually won't give into the symptoms of whatever he may have. He also never admits to being sick unless he really feels terrible.

I got home from work last night before Pat got home. He was visiting his mother who came down to her condo in Delray for a little vacation. She has been down for two weeks and is catching her flight back home this morning so last night was Pat's last chance to spend time with her. She's 86 years old now so you never know if the last time you see her will the the LAST time you see her so even though he was sick he went to see her. He was sure to stay away from her and not infect her. No hugs, no kisses, no human contact.

When he came home, I took one look at him and I knew he was sick. I asked him how he was doing and he answered "I feel terrible. I am as sick as a dog". At that moment I knew he was really really sick. I ran to Walgreens and got him some Nyquil. I got him into bed, tucked him in and gave him his medicine. Just like he was a little kid and I was his mommy.

Pat and his mommy :)

We turned on the big screen TV and switched between Tiger Woods (go Tiger!!) on the Golf Channel and Game 6 and a must win game for the Miami Heat (go Heat!!). Pat fell asleep right after half time. I fell asleep hoping he would be feeling better but that did not happen. He woke up feeling horrible and is laying in bed sleeping as we speak.

I am going to go food shopping today to get the nessary ingredients to make my mother's chicken soup. It always made me feel better when I was a sick kid which is how Pat is feeling right now. A little jewish penicillin may be just what he needs. I hope so because it's looking like it's going to be a very long weekend.

So far I am feeling good. If what Pat has is just a regular old form of the flu I should stay well because I got a flu shot this year and Pat didn't. If what Pat has is just a regular cold I'm on a slippery slope. If it's the Swine Flu we are both screwed.

My Yearly Mammogram

I have an appointment at 8:15am for my yearly mammogram. My mom developed breast cancer when she was 75 and it was the beginning of the end for her. She never really came back from the stress of the surgery and two years later I found her dead in her bed. It was a terrible time for me. Mom was my best friend and my rock. She is gone 12 years now but I still think about her and miss her every day of my life.

I make sure that I go for my yearly mammogram because I don't want Kerry to go through what I did with my mom. When it comes to this test I don't procrastinate as I do with many other things. When I get the letter from the Coral Springs Women's Wellness Center that says that I'm due I make my appointment right away. I also don't sweat the results. I just go, get my boobs squished and then put it right out of my mind until the results come in. I decided a long time ago that I wouldn't start to worry until I had something to worry about.

So, I'm going to get into the shower (no deodorant or powder) and get dressed. I don't want to keep the medical staff waiting. Maybe I'll call Michele when it is over and meet her for a cup of coffee. Then it's off to Publix to get a few things that I forgot when Pat and I went food shopping on Saturday. When I get home I will get in some exercise and then it's off to work in the afternoon.

So that's my day today. Don't forget to get your yearly mammogram. It can make the difference between life and death.

The Cyber Cruise

As I am writing this blog entry Richard Simmons is on his Cruise To Lose. Once a year he takes hundreds of people who need help with losing weight on a fun filled one week cruise. He has been doing it for years now. He teaches people about portion control, he holds exercise classes and has motivational classes all on a gorgeous cruise ship in exotic ports of call. I wish I could go but money is always an issue and I go on my LA trips instead. It's more fun.

When it is time for the Cruise To Lose and Richard takes to the seas his website has what they call the "Cyber Cruise". The clubhouse members get all the information and motivational tools that the real cruisers get and we are supposed to pretend that we are on the cruise.

Links are posted so that you can see the ship and ports of call. You go to your make believe cabin, you dine in the make believe dining room, you play craps in the make believe casino and you go on make believe day trips to the islands that the real cruise is at that day. It's all good fun and if you particiapte you can lose weight. OK! Now you've got my attention.

I've tried in years past to take part in the Cyber Cruises but it never kept my attention. I guess my imagination isn't that vivid or maybe I just don't have the time to be posting on the make believe cruise board about the make believe cruise. It just hasn't worked for me in the past but as always I had to check it all out at Richard's website.

This year's Cyber Cruise has some interesting things going on. Things that I need like tips to help you take your weight loss seriously and the revisiting of reasons why you want to lose weight in the first place. Richard is providing daily worksheets that make you think about the actual things that you are going to do in order to stay on program. These are helpful things for me. I guess it's just the slap of reality that I need to get me going again.

An important aspect of the Cyber Cruise this year is a worksheet called Facing The Scale. As I was filling it out I got a feeling of deja vu. I felt as if I had done that before. I searched through all of my Richard Simmons stuff which is an extensive collection and I found a sheet just like this in my old Deal A Meal life plan only it was called a contract with myself. I had filled it out all those years ago and I had actually made it to my goal weight so maybe that's one of the missing components for me. I haven't made a contract with myself.

I sat down and filled out all the paperwork that has been provided on the Cyber Cruise. It's made me think about things in a new but old way, if you get my drift. I've decided to continue with the paperwork for the rest of the week. It may be a very good thing for me after all. Thanks Richard. I'll keep ya posted.

Soccer Saturday Night

I was looking through the entertainment section of the newspaper on Saturday looking for something to do that night. Pat and I don't really go out that much other than to go out to eat and I was really ready to find a movie or new club to go to. I was flipping though the Sun-Sentinel when all of a sudden there it was. A story about the Miami Football Club playing their season opening game at Lockhart Stadium and I knew what I wanted to do.

Yep, I love soccer. I have been a soccer freak ever since Kerry started playing on her under 11 rec team. Yeah, that's a long time ago. I went to every game she ever played and even became team mom for her under 15 through under 18 years. I lived for those soccer games and I know that she played the last few years for me. She knew how much I loved going to the games and practices and being the thoughtful kid she was she played even though she would have quit if she had her own way.

When the MLS teams were assigned and the Miami Fusion started playing at Lockhart I was thrilled. Pat and I started to go and quickly got addicted to those games. I was about to buy season tickets when the news came that the team was folding. I was totally bummed about it. It never made any sense to me that places like Columbus, Ohio and Salt Lake City had soccer teams and Miami with our large hispanic population couldn't keep the Fusion going. I continued to follow MLS on TV but quietly missed the Fusion.

I was so happy to see that the Miami Football Club is now up and running and playing half of their games in Broward County at Lockhart Stadium. It was one of the very first stadiums built just for soccer. It's always been a great venue to see a game. As soon as I saw that ad I turned to Pat and said "We are going to a soccer game tonight". There was nothing to talk about. We were going.

We got to the stadium and there was a total party atmosphere going. There were only about 2000 people there but they were partying for sure. Once you paid and walked in you were handed these noise making things to show your team spirit with. It was mostly the hispanic community as they are huge soccer fans. They were drinking beer, making noise, waving flags and just having a great time. I had so much team spirit that I broke my noisemakers.

Diego Serna playing for the Miami Fusion

We found great seats in the stands and out came the players. It was such a great game. We won 3-1 and our biggest star, Diego Serna, had a great night with one goal and two assists. I yelled and screamed so much my throat was sore when I woke up Sunday morning. It was a wonderful time and I will definitely be going again. Yeah, I love soccer.

Kerry's Recital

Kerry's Senior Recital! How is it possible that so much time has gone by? I remember the first time we went to Gainesville to meet the UF clarinet professor, Mitchell Estrin. Kerry was a junior in high school and had been playing clarinet since 7th grade. She had become a complete band geek from the first moment that she entered the musical world. She knew who Professor Estrin was and she also knew she wanted to study under him.

It turned out that Mitchell Estrin was THE person in the clarinet world. He played in the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Berstein as a very young player. He was a child phenom, really. He was taught by another very famous clarinet player named Stanley Drucker. He got married and had a son that he didn't want brought up in New York City so he accepted a professorship at the University of Florida. Kerry got very lucky to study under such a talented clarinet player and all around wonderful and caring man. It made me feel better to know that Professor Estrin was there with Kerry just in case she ran into trouble and needed a parental figure. It made her feel better too.

Now, five years after that meeting it was time for Kerry's college senior clarinet recital. I was so proud of her I almost busted out of my seat. The recital hall was pretty full and Kerry came out in the BCBGMaxazria teal colored dress that we had bought a long time ago just for this occasion. She had straightened her hair and she just looked gorgeous.

She played beautifully for an hour with only a couple of breaks. Speaking of breaks, I had my camera out to take pictures of the occasion and it jammed(piece of crap). I only got a few pictures taken on my camera. I am waiting for Kerry to email me the pictures that I took on her camera. I will post them as soon as I get them.

The only picture of the recital that I got on my camera

When it was all over Pat and I took Kerry and Zac to a restaurant that had fabulous vegetarian food . I ate way too much rich and gooey food. Richard would be horrified. (See more about this on F*ing Agreement blog) I know I was. The four of us laughed during dinner and then went back to our room and took pictures with Kerry's camera. It was a very proud and happy moment but also a bittersweet moment too. Kerry's clarinet career is now over and it just seems like life is happening a little to fast for my liking. First soccer, now clarinet. Gone with the time.

Pat and I woke up early and took Kerry out for breakfast of eggs and hash browns, her favorite. When breakfast was over we said our goodbyes and then we hit the road. We got back home at about 6:00 whipped but happy to be home. Rigby was glad to see us too. He ran around like a maniac. I guess he missed us.

Now it really is back to my old life......or maybe something new. Hmmmmm....

LA-Bits and pieces

Hi Everybody! I'm back:)

I have been back from LA for a few days now but I am still finding it difficult to get back to my old life. I can't stop thinking about all the fun we had and how much time we spent laughing. I don't think I have ever laughed so much in my life. There are so many highlights to this trip that the whole week was a highlight. There were no lowlights but a few things stand out in my mind. I will tell you about one of them today.

Vennie, Claudia, Beth and Laura with the Starline Tour bus

Laura, Beth, Vennie and I decided to take The Starline Tour of the "Stars Homes". Of course the first thing that I asked for was for our Driver, George, to take us to Paul McCartney's house. George told me that Paul lived in Malibu and we were not going in that direction. Bummer, Major disappointment. One of the other passengers pipped up and said that he was friend's with Paul's girlfriend's ex and was invited to the wedding. I responded with "what wedding?" It turns out that Paul is planning to marry Nancy Shevall next year. Am I jealous? You bet!! Am I happy? You bet!! I just want Paul to be happy and he looks like he is. I AM still waiting for my phone to ring. After all, we all know that Paul would be much happier with me. :)

Paul and Nancy

Anyway, we took a 2 hour bus tour of the starts homes. The bus itself was an open air bus so the passengers were taking in the gorgeous LA weather and we really could see. We saw Ringo's home, Tom and Katie's old home, Jennifer Aniston's home, The Playboy Mansion, Lucille Ball's home, Merv Griffen's home. Just about everyone's home you could think of, both old hollywood and new hollywood, was included on this tour.

Laura sunbathing after climbing stairs

We were taken up into the mountains in order to get a really good look at the Hollywood sign and the LA skyline. The bus dropped us off almost all the way up but we had to climb up lots of steep stairs to get all the way up to the top. The view was really gorgeous and well worth the climb. I had been in a stair climbing mood all week(Richard's influence on me) so I was happy to take the stairs any chance that I got. Believe me, I had many opportunities.

Bethy at the top of the world

We (Vennie, Laura, Beth and me) made a special request to stop by Richard Simmons' home. George didn't know where it was but we did. He turned the bus on to a street up there in the hills and there it was. Richard's home!! We wanted to get out and ring the bell. One of the passangers on the bus even offered us $50 to do it. We would have done it for free anyway. Mean ole George wouldn't let us out of the bus. Tour rules you know. LOL

At one point, we pulled up in front of Michael Jackson's home and a limo pulled up right behind us. The gates opened and the guards just stood there waiting. We assumed that the limo behind us was carrying the Gloved One. All of a sudden the Limo pulled around us and sped down the block and the gates closed. I guess Michael didn't want to make an appearance with the tour bus sitting there. He's lucky he made this decision because if I had my chance I would have called him names and been really mean to him. After all, he stole The Beatles catalog of music from Paul years ago and any Paul McCartney fan worth his or her salt hates Michael Jackson.

Laura pointing at a celebrity home

We were driving around and the bus stopped in front of Patrick Dempsey's house. We sat there for a while looking around trying to see him. We could see that he had children's toys in the front yard but no Dr McDreamy. George decided to pull the bus away and all of a sudden from the other direction came a red Porche. It was Patrick Dempsey!!!! Right on my side of the bus!!!He waved to us. I was in heaven. Dr McDreamy!! OMG!! He really is gorgeous especially in person. He had shaved off some of that McDreamy stubble and you could really see his face.

Me, Vennie, Laura and Beth with LA behind us

OK, I've seen Paul in person 10 times, met Richard Simmons so many times that I can't count and now I've seen Patrick Dempsey in person. I'm a very happy girl.

Next installment to follow....

My To Do List

It's getting close. I leave in one week and I am starting to get nervous. It is the usual travel anxiety that I feel once a planned trip gets to be about a week away. I know it's close because Pat mentioned it this morning. He tends to ignore things that he doesn't like until the dying end.

So much to do....so little time.

1. Go bra shopping. This is a must. I can't travel with floppy boobs.

2. Work on my taxes. I want to get it out in the mail to my accountant before I leave.

3. Cook food for Pat. This is something that I do to make life easier for him while I am gone.

4. Go to the podiatrist. I have an appt on the monday before I leave.

5. Go through my closet and see what I have.

6. Wash the things I find in my closet.

7. Take Rigby to the groomer. He's getting long again.

8. Color my hair.

9. Get my eyebrows waxed.

That's my starter list. Now If I can just get at least one or two of these things done every day I'll be ready to go a week from today.

Hang on Fabbies. I a comin.....

My time with the kid

What a glorious few days they were. From the moment Kerry hit town life was fun again. She started talking as soon as she got home and didn't stop until she pulled out of the driveway with her dad this morning. Well, I guess that's not completely true. She stopped while she was sleeping:)

We shopped and shopped and shopped some more. We watched Sex and The City reruns and the movie too. We read Vogue together, had lunch together and laughed our asses off at all the cosmetic surgery we saw at the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton.

The kid, my heart and soul

She brings out the best in me. She is my heart and soul. She is my happiness and my future. She is my joy and my very best friend in the world. I watch in awe of her as he travels all over in the pursuit of becoming a doctor and helping the world.

Today she went to Washington DC for a conference. In the summer she will be going to Athens, Ga for another medical convention and then it's off to Gambia. Yep, Gambia as in Africa. She is raising money for mosquito nets to bring to the people there. They can't afford them and apparently the mosquitoes are a source of many different nasty diseases. She also hopes to learn some things to help her in her career.

So....here I am, alone and feeling lonely. I go through this every time Kerry comes home for any period of time. It usually takes a few days to get back to myself. At least I go on vacation in 2 weeks. I'm feeling like I need one.

Going For A Test Run

I gave my orthodics a test run at the track this morning and it went very well. Dr Tanner told me that he wanted me to start out slow and do one mile the first day. I had been away from the track for so long that I couldn't just stop after one mile so I did two miles. It felt good. No pain...yet. Now I'm off to yoga class and then later I have to work. That will be quite the test. Hopefully I won't be feeling any pain by the end of the night.

On another note, Kerry is coming in from Gainesville tomorrow for a few days. I can't wait to see her. It's been two months since I laid eyes on my girl and that's too long for this Mom. I am giving up free yoga day on Saturday to go shopping. I am so looking forward to shopping and talking and laughing with the kid. It's gonna be great. I'll only have until Wednesday though. She will be taking off to Washington DC for an AMSA convention and then back to Gainesville. I gonna try to take Monday night off so that we can spend that night together and the Kerry can come with me to Curves on Tuesday night. I'm going to be making the most of the time that we have together.