We Three Kings

As a child, I was always so excited when this song was performed at church.  It always meant that the actual three kings would process down the aisle of the sanctuary.  I was in wonder over the whole thing.  Fred Simpson, a member of our church and community theatre star, was always one of the kings!  I just loved it.  And, btw, was I the only one who for years thought the lyrics were "We three kings of orient are bearing gifts we travel so far"?  I think not haha

Enjoy!

Christmas Quote

Christmas Quote

Christmas Quote

Jingle Bells - Manheim Steamroller

One of my favorite versions of the classic Jingle Bells.  I would never have thought of a slow version of the song, but this really works! Enjoy!

Let There Be Peace On Earth

A message we need to reminded of.  Simply Beautiful!

Christmas Quote of the day

The Candlelight Carol - John Rutter

The first time I ever heard this composition was when I watched one of the Christmas at St. Olaf specials on PBS.  They are wonderful concerts with glorious music from the college's many choirs, so definitely check it out when it comes on this year.  But I just fell in love with this anthem, as I have much of Rutter's music.  Enjoy!

All Those Christmas Cliches - Nancy Lamott

My history with Nancy Lamott goes back to college.  I heard one of her albums at a Christmas party, even though it wasn't Christmas music, and just loved it.  Bought it later that week and have shared her music with so many people....just ask Lorraine!  Anyway, when I discovered that she had put out a Christmas album I had to have it.  Her voice is so pure to me.  I love it.  Each song on the album is wonderful, but this is the one that stuck out to me.  It expresses how I feel about the holidays absolutely perfectly.  It always gives me a good balance of Christmas past and Christmas present.  Enjoy!

Recipe of the day - No Bake Key Lime Pie

I was searching online for a quick dessert and came across this recipe from Taste of Home.  It's not perfect, but it's easy and fairly tasty. 

No Bake Key Lime Pie
1/4 cup boiling water
1 package (0.3 ounce) lime gelatin
2 cartons (6 ounces each) key lime yogurt
1 carton (8 ounce) whipped topping, thawed
1 graham cracker crust

In a large bowl, add boiling water to gelatin; stir 2 minutes to completely dissolve.  Whisk in yogurt.  Fold in whipped topping.  Pour into crust.  Refrigerate, covered, until set, about 2 hours.  Serves 8.

Now, when I made this, it didn't set as much as I would have hoped.  I might put it in the freezer next time and serve it like an ice box pie.  One of the nice things about this, though, is that you can change the flavors with other gelatins and yogurts.  You can also make this using all low fat items as well.

Enjoy!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs ever.  I always start my holiday season off with Judy Garland's original classic rendition from the film Meet Me In St. Louis.  It really doesn't get any better than this.  I remember the first time I really heard this song, and it wasn't this version.  Of course, I am sure I had heard it before, but had never truly listened to the song yet.  I was watching an episode of Fame...remember that one?  haha  Debbie Allen was alone in a studio, seated at a piano, and she played and sang this song.  I was floored and just fell in love with it. And when I finally saw MMISL, I was in love with it.  Judy is just amazing, as is Margaret O'Brien.  Enjoy!

Quote of the day

Continuing adventures of just a waiter - dealing with deaths

Working in a senior community, death is a reality of the job.  And it's never the same.  Sometimes a death is expected.  Sometimes it's a complete shock.  We had a resident that recently passed away.  She had not been with us very long, less than 2 months.  She fell and broke her hip on a Friday and left this world the next Monday.  Up to that point, she was a vibrant lady, full of personality, and a joy in our community.  Everyone loved her and her death sent shock waves through the residents and associates.  But it's just part of the job.

We have to, as associates, help people adjust to these changes.  One of our residents recently lost her husband of over 50 years.  The person she shared her life with every day was suddenly no longer there.  She's a trooper, but you can, of course, see it in her eyes sometimes how much she misses her husband.  All we can do is be there for her when she needs us.  We don't want to force ourselves on her, though.  She needs to grieve in her own way and take all the time in the world.  It's not easy, but we do what we can for her whenever she needs us.  Another resident recently lost her son and that came with both pain and relief for her, because he had been sick for a long time.  We help her through and assure her that we'll be there for her.  It's what we do.

I had someone some to the front desk yesterday to inquire about a specific resident.  She lived in our assisted living facility and was one of my favorite people.  We developed a great relationship when i worked there.  And I had to tell this person that she had passed away about 6 months ago.  That was tough.  They went to college together and hadn't seen each other in years.  She was on this side of town and wanted to drop by and check in.  Needless to say, she was stunned at the news and at the fact it had been six months and she didn't know.  That was hard to do, having to tell her this news.  But again, it is simply something we do in our jobs.

Death is a hard part of life and a hard part of the job.  If we didn't care, then it wouldn't be hard.  And, personally, I'd rather it be hard than not.  The day that death becomes easy for us, then we're not doing our jobs as we should.

That is all.

Quote of the day

If He Walked Into My Life - Marin Mazzie

I just love a good Jerry Herman score.  His ballads are wonderful and if I had any kind of voice, whatsoever, I would sing them all the time.  Alas, I do not.  I happened upon this version on YouTube, combining two of my favorite theatrical elements...Jerry Herman and Marin Mazzie.  Enjoy!

Quote of the day

Continuing adventures of just a waiter - team building

I don't often talk about deficiencies at work, but today I do have one I have been thinking about a lot.  And, it's not a bad thing at all, just something that I believe we need to do at work.  That is team building.  In a senior community it is important that we act as a team.  It's good for the associates and I think it makes the residents happy when they know that everyone who works there is on the same page.

There have been a few instances of team building in the last few months that I've seen.  The managers all got together for a day off campus, which I'm sure they needed.  They're a pretty tight group already, though, so I hope that they will take their team building experience and let it trickle down to other groups.  Several departments have done some things over the past few weeks and as far as I know, they were successful.  My department hasn't done one since I've been there, but I definitely feel it is a possibility...just a matter of scheduling.

The team atmosphere is vital to an organization such as ours.  And you can definitely tell a difference when everyone is on the same team.  When I worked exclusively in assisted living, we were a total team.  It was amazing.  Wellness, dining, care services, housekeeping, maintenance, management...we all had the same goal of ensuring a quality of life for our residents.  We had each others' backs.  If I needed help in the dining room, one of the RA's was there.  If wellness needed help setting up, I was there.  That kind of thing.  It was wonderful!

It's not nearly that way in the independent living but that's ok for now.  The departments can be divided from each other fairly easily.  We coexist just fine, but it doesn't always feel like a team and that is something I feel we need to work on.  There are moments, it's just not as consistent as some of the other buildings.  One of the reasons for that is that we have so many residents in that building, that each associate really must focus on their specific job.  And that's as it should be, but I think we can do better in our associate relationships.  I would love it if we could do some cross team building experiences so that people from different departments would be together.

All in all, this is not a complaint but simply an observation.  We have a good atmosphere, but I know that we can do more on a daily basis.

That is all.

A prayer for Veteran's Day

OBC recordings that should be wonderful, but in essence...suck

Nothing can kill the excitement of listening to a beautiful score of a musical quite as much as a bad recording of it.  It amazes me how, when you have brilliant material to work with, the outcome is awful.  Great theatre starts with what's on the page.  Great musicals start with what's in the score.  Why would you put effort into a recording that does not show off what the musical has to offer?  Since I don't produce musicals, I can't answer the question but I do think about it.  Here are a few of my pics for recordings that I think, for one reason or another, suck.

Fiddler On The Roof - Original Broadway Cast
What a ground breaking show this was.  A wonderful, poignant and joyous score.  So many great songs in this show.  And while I think it's great that Zero Mostel's performance was captured on recording, it's as if no one else in the show can sing.  And if they can't sing, they don't have the charisma that Mostel has to pull it off.  Maybe it was just a bad day in the recording studio!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8J5hNqELzI&list=PLQ_DwnwLPFEEjO5QyHihbVsNiH8GMc-ax&index=3&t=0s

She Loves Me
Even despite the amazing Barbara Cook in the cast, this recording falls flat.  For a show as charming as She Loves Me, something is missing that gives you the feel of this show.  For a jewel box of a musical, this recording is mechanical and unromantic...two things this show isn't!

Cabaret 1998 Revival
If you like sleeze and breathy vocals, than this is the album for you.  Kander & Ebb's deceivingly clever score is undermined by the theme of "look at how sexual and perverse we are".  Of course, if you enjoy seeing Alan Cumming being weird for the sake of being weird (which is a lot of the time), then you'll just love this!

A Little Night Music Revival
This is one of my favorite scores of all time.  It's lush and romantic, so how could they mess it up?  This recording is, in best terms, charm free.  Even Angela Lansbury, whom I adore, could not save it.

The Facebook diary dilemma

One of the things that I have found very freeing by taking back control from Facebook, is not having to document every little step I make in life.  I now am back to doing things without the worry of "OMG, I have to stop right now and post this on FB!!"  That gets to be exhausting.  And I really do not need the world to know everything about my life every single second of the day.  It is such a relief to have let go of that.

Now, I understand that many people...millions, actually.....enjoy doing this.  That is TOTALLY fine.  It works for them, just not for me anymore.  In many ways, I have always been a very private person.  The persona I put out there is not always who I really am in that moment or what I am feeling.  And while there are times that I need to be like that, documenting my life on FB just enhances that and I end up trying to live up to this expectation I make of myself based on an internet profile.  Not a healthy direction for me.

I do post on FB again, but not in the amount I used to.  I don't have to show you what I make for dinner every night anymore.  Some nights, yes, but not every one!  You don't need to know that I'm at Walgreens.  You don't need to know that I'm juggling my bills this month (which I'm not, by the way).  If I wanted to tell you this, I'll get in touch personally LOL 

As a result, I no longer have to carry my phone with me all of the time.  I actually set it down in another room when I get home.  I don't even use FB on my phone anymore, so if you see me on there that means I'm sitting down at an actual computer, which should explain the delays in responding to messages.  It's nice not to feel the pressure of listing every little thing in my life for the whole world to judge.  I can pick and choose what I share.  Yes, I have always had the power to do this, it's just taken me awhile to figure it out.  Kind of like Dorothy and the ruby slippers!

If I wanted a diary, I'd go out and buy one!

That is all :)

As I am now less than one month from the big ol' 45, I've been thinking a lot about birthdays lately.  Birthdays are important.  Old memories are reminisced and new memories are made.  I was going through some old photos the other day and came across many fun birthday pictures from my childhood.

We didn't really have birthday parties, per say, growing up.  I think I had two parties - one party, a roller skating party, I had with Darcy, whose birthday is in January, and the other one, a pizza party,  I had with the neighborhood kids.  Those were both great, but the ones that mean the most are the family parties we had.  And by party, that meant a birthday dinner, cake and presents.  Mom always cooked the favorite foods of whose birthday it was.  Mine was always....and I mean always....hamburgers.  They're actually still my favorite.  Bill usually chose lasagna, which was one of Mom's specialties.  Grandmother would make the cake and there was usually ice cream to accompany it.

And the gifts.  We never got a lot of presents for our birthday, but we got enough and they were always good gifts.  That was good for me, being a December baby!  And when we were very young, I would get a gift on Bill's birthday and he'd get one on mine.  That was a pretty fair thing to do, and it kept the peace between the kids!

As with so many things in life, I didn't realize how important those times were in that specific moment.  I look back on them now and they truly were great.  And not just the kids' birthdays, but everyone's.  We always celebrated.  Since Mom's and Grandmother's birthdays were in the summer, we would often have larger groups for a cookout...some of the extended family and some cherished friends.  It's simply the treasure of being together that makes it so special.

I want to do that more often now.  Hosting birthday dinners would be incredibly fun for me.  And, like my memories, I don't mean anything huge.  Just a circle friends together to celebrate.  The older I get, the more that appeals to me.  I use to want a large birthday party, but now I'd rather have a few friends together to celebrate.  As an adult, those are the moments that I remember.  For several years Michael and I have gone to Fishbones with Bethann for my birthday...and some how always run into Jim Wren and his wife there....every time LOL 

I just like the idea of the smaller birthday celebrations for myself and for others.  Those are some of my greatest memories and now it is time to make more.  I just have to find out when everyone's birthday is!!

Continuing adventures of just a waiter - patience

By definition, patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble or suffering without getting upset or angry.

Patience is something you must have when working with the elderly.  During one's golden years, everything seems to slow down and move at a more moderate pace....the body, the mind, the whole package.  You cannot rush these people and that's ok.  They have lived this long and they deserve to be able to take their time.  Now, I say they don't move fast but there are some times that's not true...when the dining room doors open, it's like watching the horses at the Kentucky Derby come out of the gate!

Patience can take a lot out of a person, though, and you have to try really hard sometimes.  That's just how it goes.  Sometimes communicating can be difficult, but you have to do your best and take your time.  We have several residents that communicate differently and it can be very challenging understanding them or getting them to understand.  One of our residents has aphasia, the loss of ability to understand or express speech brought on by brain damage.  The fact is, she can understand and express herself, you just have to be patient.  You can't interrupt her or try to finish her sentences for her and you must speak slower than normal.  Aphasia can cause her emotions to flip like a light switch and she gets frustrated.  It's hard not letting that affect you, but you have to try your hardest to do that for her.

Another resident is deaf and has recently suffered several strokes.  Before her strokes, she could communicate very well and understand.  Now, not as much and, like a child, it can be difficult to get her to understand why she can't do things like she used to.  And then there are the residents with the beginning stages of dementia that we interact with on a daily basis.  Sometimes they go round in circles, working themselves into a frenzy of frustration.  They know what they want to say, they just cannot get the words out of their mouths.  You have to try your best to guide their thoughts and words.  It can be very straining, but it is so worth it when they are finally able to get out what they want to.

And then there is simply the daily interactions with the residents.  As they are elderly, they take more time with everything.  They've earned that right and they've earned our treating them with respect for that.  If you just take the time to listen to them, make them know that they have been heard, it makes a world of difference.  The reason it is so important to be patient is that it gives them dignity.  They are an important part of our world and they work very hard to be dignified in their old age.  We must do whatever we can to ensure they feel that way.  Patience is key.  And our patience not only gives them the dignity that they deserve, it gives us dignity in return.

That is all

Prayer for Thursday

Quote of the day

Wee Small Hours of the Morning - Carly Simon

I love this song!  Carly Simon's version is my favorite.  It is from the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack, which is an awesome soundtrack.  I actually had the soundtrack way before I ever saw the film, which has ended up being one of my guilty pleasure movies :)  I was introduced to this soundtrack by Mary Floyd, when she put Nat King Cole's Stardust on a mixed tape for me back in the day.  I often have this song playing in my head when I'm out on the porch with my coffee and black kitty very early in the morning, when all is still.  Enjoy!

Singing in the Rain - Good Morning

What a wonderful musical this is.  I watched a Larry King interview with Debbie Reynolds this weekend and it as fascinating.  Her impression of Meryl Streep was hysterical!  Anyhow, I decided to start off my day and week with this great number from the film.  Enjoy!

Thought for the day

Last month, I started working on a few goals towards a healthier lifestyle.  Some are small goals, some are larger ones.  I made the goals specific but not unobtainable.  I know myself and if I set the bar too high, I will come crashing down if I don't achieve it.  Now I did set some lofty goals for myself and I will continue to work on them this month.  I was successful in achieving one of my goals for October and I'm very proud of that.  My other goals still need work.  But I'm of the mindset that even though I did not get exactly where I wanted to be with them, I did make some progress and I'm very happy with that.

This month, I will continue on the goal that I achieved in October.  I will make a few more specifications in regards to my other goals simply so that I can help myself get to where I want to be.  I know I can do it.  And the people that I love know that I can do it.  Now, I just have to put down the coffee cup and pick up the water bottle! 

That is all :)

Recipe of the day - Spinach with white beans

This is a very easy recipe that I discovered in a Taste of Home cookbook.  It's a quick side dish to make on a weeknight after a long day of work.  Both Michael and I enjoy and I've share this with friends who also like it!

1 bag of spinach
1 can of white beans of your choice
1 clove of garlic, minced
olive oil

Drain and rinse the can of beans.  Saute garlic in olive oil over medium heat.  Once the garlic gets very fragrant, add the beans.  Cook until the beans are heated through.  Add the bag of spinach.  Saute spinach until it begins to turn a vibrant green.  Serve hot.

*You can use whatever white bean of your choice.  We like both northern beans and cannellini beans.  Northern beans tend to soften quickly and will be a bit mushier than cannellini, but both still taste great!

*Cook the spinach to your desired state of doneness.  For this dish, I don't let mine wilt too much, but that's just my personal taste.

Enjoy!

Some times I run across a quote that just fits!

Ads on Facebook

One thing I find really creepy about Facebook, and now most any website you go to, is ads following you, like those portraits where the eyes follow you no matter where you go in the room.  I go to ebay a lot to look up things for fun.  I'm so wild, I know.  But the next thing you know, I'll get on FB and there it is....what I looked at, whether or not I was interested in buying it.  It is now staring me in the facebook.  It's just eerie.  I don't particularly like having my websites cross breeding.  That was on Ebay, and now I've moved onto something else.  Leave it where it was, for goodness sake.  If I'm that interested, I'll keep it in mind or I'll put it on a watchlist or something.  I don't need to be reminded somewhere else of the vintage butter spreader I just happened to click on.  I'm a big boy, I can be responsible for that myself.

It's just the fact that everything is way too interconnected for my tastes.  I don't enjoy having a non breathing entity following my every move, not that I particularly enjoy a breathing entity doing that either.  And heaven forbid I'm on my phone and autocorrect occurs.  I could be searching for party linens and autocorrect kicks in before I have a chance to fix it.  The next thing you know I'm looking at ads for panty liners for the next week on FB.  Drives me nuts!

That is all :)

Escapades in adulting - the car battery

As far as owning a car goes, there's almost nothing more frustrating than a dead battery or when the battery is dying and you have no idea what is going on with your vehicle.  I got in the car for work the other day and when I went to start it, I was having trouble getting it to go.  I finally got it started, but in the back of my mind horrible scenarios were running.  I could just see what little I had in savings being thrown out for some kind of major car work. 

I drove to work in an anxiety riddled state, praying that my car would make it there.  I once had a car that died on me during morning rush hour traffic.  I was in a left turn lane at a very busy intersection and it just went kaput.  I was so upset and embarrassed as I sat there not being able to move that I couldn't even turn on my flashers....in my state of nervousness I couldn't find them.  Eventually I did, but not before sinking down in the driver's seat as angry people pulled around me.  I did not want a repeat of that moment in my life.

I got to work without incident and pulled into the parking lot with that suspicious feeling that once I park and shut the car off, it was not going to start back up.  Ah, well.  Luckily, work that day went smoothly except for this dread about my car lingering in my thoughts.  I even went out to it during my lunch break.  I didn't try to start it, I simply stood beside it asking God, more like pleading, to let it start when my shift was over.  I did, though, open the door and the interior lights came on.  I took this as a good sign...my mistake LOL

When I went to my car after work, saying my little prayers, lo and behold....nothing.  The radio came on, the lights came on, the windows would roll down.  The rest of the car, not so much.  Thank goodness my coworker Tony had one of those handheld batteries (potential Christmas present here, folks) and brought it over and jumped me off. 

I drove away from work completely white knuckled.  Now I was REALLY praying that my car would make it somewhere.  Turned off the radio, kept the windows rolled up (in 90+ degree weather) and just drove, taking the shortest, quickest route to my destination.  Sweating bullets, needless to say.  My grip on the wheel tightened with each passing minute.  My mechanic is around the corner from my house, so if I could just make it there, even though he'd be closed, at least I would have some peace and mind and I could deal with it the next morning. 

I made it there, left the car and walked home.  I was just relieved that the car was parked.  I had the realization that I had not had a new battery in the 9 years I have owned the car, so that's probably what it was and it was time to replace, but I still had the nagging feeling that it might be something way more expensive.  But, it ended up being the battery and the next day all was right with the world.

I need to pay more attention when my car is telling me that it doesn't feel right.

That is all :)

Setting the table

One of the things about having antiques and vintage items, and this is important to me, is actually trying to use them. Whether they are used for their originally intended purpose or are repurposed does not matter because they are still being used.  Now sometimes things are just not in a condition to be used but I still want to keep them.  Like, I have a pair of jadite salt and pepper shakers from the 40's that I can't use.  The bodies are in good conditions but the metal tops have corroded and are too fragile to mess with so, they simply sit on the counter in the kitchen to look at.  They were Billie's and I enjoy having them and sometimes that's enough.

One area that I love using things is at meal time.  For most meals, we eat in the den in front of the tv.  Still, I'm using Mom's every day china she got when she was married.  It's very late 60's but I love it...oh the yellow, orange and olive green color combo of bygone days!  When we have people over for dinner, I love pulling out fun dishes to use.  I have them....so many of them...so why not use them.  It gives me pleasure and makes for a fun table.

I always take time when setting the table for guests to choose my dishes.  This may seem silly to some, but it gives me comfort.  Grandmother always had her table set beautifully and I feel more connect to her when I pull out some of her things to put on the table.  There's a memory in each dish and, frankly, they're pretty.  A lot of people don't take the time do things like this anymore and I honestly think that's part of what's wrong with society....rushing everything, but that's for another blog.

One of the drawbacks, I suppose you might say, is that the majority of the dishes I use cannot be put in the dishwasher.  Fine china and sterling are not meant to be in that appliance!  I have no issue washing dishes, so that doesn't bother me.  Glassware, thank goodness, can go straight into the top rack most times....whew.  I've blogged about washing dishes before, so you know I kind of enjoy that haha!

Anyway, this is one way I really do enjoy using my stuff.  Now I just need to find another occasion to pull out all of the stops on the table!  Hmmmmmm

That is all :)

Guess Who I Saw Today - Nancy Wilson

Just felt like starting my Wednesday off with another Nancy Wilson classic!  This is one of her earliest singles and it's just amazing!  I could listen to hear all day....and have before!  Enjoy!

Thought for the day

Money rules the world.  It controls almost every aspect of our lives, whether we know it or not.  So, why is it hard for me to keep any?  LOL  I love my job and I work very hard, but the money always seems to be just out of reach for me.  Hmmmmmm, I wonder.  Michael went to a lunch and learn program at Elon yesterday about debt relief.  He picked up a lot of great information from the speaker and I was eager to hear it.  Everything he told me made perfect sense, it's now simply a matter of implementing that.

But, I realize, and have to keep in control, the fact that I need to start small and work my way up with it.  It will not happen over night.  That's just a dream and I cannot set a goal that is too big that if I fail, I will cave.  I'd like to think that I know myself well enough to recognize my own faults that way. 

My first goal is to find one or two things to financially eliminate.  I have a few channel subscriptions that I can take a serious look at and either pare down or get rid of all together.  We have already explored some different options over the past few days with that, which is good.  Also, my vices.  I need to take a serious look at them and figure out ways to get them under control.  I can totally do that, it's just a case of mind over matter.

The 2nd goal is to figure out which debt to get paid down completely, first. I pretty much know this one.  I have 2 student loans.  One is HUGE, the other is manageable.  Guess which one I'll pick?  You got it!  If I work out my budget correctly, I can pay some extra on it and get it taken care of.  It will just be a question of discipline for me.

I have a definite plan and goal for myself financially and I can make it happen if I just work at it.  Money, or lack thereof, scares me and cause a lot of anxiety.  I've had a few meltdowns lately over it, but I will make it through...at least until the next paycheck!

That is all

Quote of the day

Recipe of the Day - Cucumber Salad

Even though summer is now officially over, cucumber salad is a summer dish that can be enjoyed all year round.  I think that it works especially when you have cucumbers that are off season and not quite as flavorful as the rest of the year...this really perks them up!  It is light and refreshing and wonderfully easy.  I found this version on the Stay At Home Chef website and we both enjoyed it.  I hope that you do too!

Cucumber Salad
2 cucumbers, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon sal
1 red onion thinly sliced
1 cup distilled white vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/s cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons minced dill

Season cucumbers with salt in a large bowl and let sweat for one hour.  Drain off liquids and then toss the cucumbers with the red onions.

In a saucepan over high heat, pour in vinegar and water.  Stir in sugar until it is dissolved, 3 to 5 minutes.

Pour over cucumbers and onions.  Stir in dill.  Cover with plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.  Serve cold or at room temperature.

*I end up only using half or a quarter of the red onion.  Most of the time, red onions are way too big to use the entire thing and will overpower the dish.

Enjoy!

Thought for the day - soon to be 45

Sometimes it's nearly impossible not to compare yourself to other people.  At least, that is the case for me.  I'm learning, though, to incorporate these comparisons into building a foundation for myself from which to grow.  Other people's circumstances are out of my control, naturally, so I take these comparisons and simply enjoy them and see what I can add to my life.  It may sound silly, but in my head it makes sense!

Recently I brought to my own attention the fact that I'm going to be 45 on my next birthday.  Somehow it does not seem possible to me.  Nothing wrong with being middle aged, but so many times I still see myself as a young man full of hopes and dreams, constantly losing my way on my journey and wondering what I will be when I grow up.  I do believe that we never truly stop growing up until we draw our last breaths, so I'm still good in that department.  Anyway, I've been thinking back to some of my family and it's interesting for me to see where they were when they were my age.

When Dad was 45, in 1985, he had been married for 17 years.  He had a 5th grader and a freshman in high school.  He had multiple degrees and certificates and worked full time at the Union County Mental Health Clinic. 

When Mom was 45, in 1989, she had been married for 21 years.  She had a freshman in high school and a freshman in college.  After many jobs throughout the years, she began work as Director of Crisis Assistance Ministries for United Way of Monroe.

When Grandmother was 45, in 1954, she had been married for 21 years.  She had a 15 year old son and a 10 year old daughter.  She taught private kindergarten with Deane Baucom.

When my Great Grandmother was 45, in 1912, she had been married for 28 years.  She had 7 children, 2 of which had died, ranging from age 3 to 26.  Her 2 eldest children, both girls, were married, but no grandchildren yet. 

To me, they achieved a lot by the times they were 45.  I'm very impressed and inspired by what they did.  I will make some achievements coming year of my life.  I'm not sure what those will be, but there definitely will be present!  I want to add to my lifeline so that I can look back and say that I did something when I was 45.  I'm excited to see where this part of my journey takes me!

That is all

Quote of the day

10 of my favorite places to eat in Greensboro

Like most people, we really enjoy eating out.  We don't do it as much as we use to because I enjoy having a nice kitchen to cook in and frankly, it's cheaper.  But, we do venture out a few times a month to take a break from dinner at home.  These are 10 of my favorite places in Greensboro to go eat.  I tried to keep away from chain restaurants and stick to local places.  Not that there's anything wrong with chain restaurants.  I enjoy quite a few of them, but I wanted to stick to places solely in Greensboro for this list.  Maybe we'll hit up one of these places over the weekend!  Or maybe we'll find a new place to add to this list.  We shall see!

1.  Nazareth Bread Company

4507 West Market Street

Their food is simply amazing.  I've never had anything I have not enjoyed there.  Their kabobs are all delicious and great sides...hummus, tabouleh and my favorite, their slaw...very tangy.  Prices are great and you get a huge amount of food that should make for at least 2 meals, but never does!

2.  Emma Keys

2206 Walker Avenue

If you want a great burger, this is the place to go!  I've had several of their burgers and they're all great.  It's nice to have a good burger joint around the corner.  We love taking company there and they often request it, too.  And when the weather's nice, they've got a great outdoor seating.  The James Taylor is my favorite!

3.  El Camino Real Mexican Grill

4131-E Spring Garden Street

Good quality Mexican food.  Their homemade guacamole is wonderful.  Tucked away in a little strip mall on Spring Garden, it's easy to drive by without even seeing it. But, get there early as it fills up quickly at dinner!

4.  Tandoor

4612 West Market Street #A

Their lunch buffet is one of the best deals in town.  Each dish is flavorful and fresh.  The staff is friendly and attentive.  There's plenty of seating and it's easy to get a table.  If you like Indian, this one is for you!

5.  Pastabilities

1726 Battleground Ave.

Granted, we haven't been here in a long time, but it's still one of our favorites.  They have an eclectic pasta menu.  Their appetizers are great, too.  But, my favorites are always the specials Jason does each night.  You never know what they might be and they're always delicious and worth every penny you'll spend.  I would recommend getting their early, as it gets crowded and it can be quite noisy, but even if you have to wait, it's worth it.

6.  Fish Bones

2119 Walker Ave.
I don't get to Fish Bones a lot, but I love it.  It's almost always crowded unless you go at off hours, so I don't get there as much.  But, I love there catfish and their burritos.  And it's nice to have another great restaurant just around the corner.  The past few years, I've ended up here for my birthday.  We'll see what happens this year!

7.  Ichiban Grill Supreme Buffet

3020 W. Gate City Boulevard
Finding a good Chinese buffet isn't always easy, but we enjoy this one.  There's tons of food, both Chinese and other things.  Even when it's crowded, there's always room.  They have great eggrolls and I love their mushrooms in duck sauce.  And Michael can satisfy his sushi cravings there as well!

8.  Binh Minh

5211 W. Market Street
If you like Vietnamese food, this place is hard to beat!  Another gem tucked away in a little strip shopping center, it's also easy to drive by without noticing it.  The staff is great and everything I have eaten there has been wonderful.  It's a place we love to have dinner with friends at and also introduce new people to it!

9.  Ghassan's Fresh Mediterranean Eats

1605 Battleground Ave.
They have great Mediterranean food.  It's not exactly fast food, but it's close.  Their gyros are so good!  We like to go there when we go to Ed McKay's next door.  It's good food and kills 2 birds with one stone when we're in the mood to eat and shop!

10. Smith Street Diner

438 Battleground Ave.
This downtown diner has great comfort food.  Their pancakes and biscuits are huge!  It gets very crowded on the weekends, but I think it's worth the wait.  I always eat there whenever I'm on jury duty...which has been yearly lately haha.  My 2 favorite dishes are their country fried steak and their homemade cornbeef hash (not the regular hash, but the homemade).  It's a wonderful place and hope it stays around for a long time!

Before the Parade Passes By

I have always enjoyed this song.  In fact, pretty much any Jerry Herman score I'm going to love.  He simply writes things that are beautiful and this is not exception.  For so many years, listening to this song I felt it a song of regret.  Now, with my 45th birthday approaching, I finally understand it.  It will be my mantra this year, no doubt!  Enjoy!

A Very Good Year - Sinatra

Starting off my week with one of my favorite songs.  This is actually my favorite Sinatra song.  He has many great hits, but something about this one just resonates with me.  It's very haunting, yet very beautiful.  You know me, I love those songs that make me think and reflect!  Enjoy!

Soup weather

It really does now, officially, feel like fall!  When the season first changed, we were still in 80 and 90 degree weather and now things have finally cooled down some.  Today, for me, is the perfect fall day.  It's cloudy and rainy with a good chill in the air.  Nothing too cold that one cannot go outside and enjoy some coffee on the porch, mind you.  Just cool enough to remain pleasant.  Gotta love it!

Fall brings back so many good memories for me.  Friday night football games, marching band, high school play contests, sweater weather, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc.  And it's that much closer to Christmas, my favorite!  Fall was always Mom's favorite season.  She never really explained why it was, nor did she need to.  It just was.  Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday and I think that played a part in her feelings.  So, I suppose that I come by my fondness for fall naturally.  I'm happy to accept that.

It's also the start of soup weather!  Now, I know you can make soup any time of the year and yes, I do.  There's just nothing like making that first pot of soup when the cooler temperatures arrive.  And today's the perfect day for it.  I love making soup and I love the fact that it lasts several meals.  Nothing wrong with being thrifty LOL  I have some really good recipes for soups and chilis.  We love pumpkin curry soup and white bean chicken chili.  But, which soup to make today?

Being that it's Mom's favorite season, I opted to make her vegetable beef soup.  Granted, I already had half of the ingredients, which does factor into my cooking process, but still I love it.  I haven't made it since last winter, so it was due its turn on the stove.  Memories of Mom making big pots of soup are dear to me and now I'm adding my own memories by making her recipe.  Just the smell of it is absolutely divine.  Nothing extravagant, just simple good soup.  Things like this are not only good to eat, but are good for your spirit.  Ah, fall.  Thanks for bringing me good memories and good soup weather.  Now, if only I had a tureen.  Maybe, next year!

The Lord Bless You and Keep You

It's a rainy Sunday morning here.  I've been listening to With Heart and Voice while I have my morning coffee.  What a nice way to begin the day and end a long weekend for us.  The music made me want to hear some John Rutter.  I always enjoyed singing his pieces in choir at church.  Good memories and good times!

affirmation on social media

By taking a break and cutting back on social media, one of the things that I have been seriously looking at is the need for affirmation.  We all have it and I am no exception to that.  We all want it and, honestly, it's a great feeling when it comes.  For me, though, there is a lot of pressure when it comes to social media and affirmation. 

On Facebook, there is always that inner monologue going on in my brain as to how many people have liked my post.  As more time passes and the likes don't come as I hoped they would, I start to feel bad about myself.  Why isn't anyone liking it?  Whether it be a meme or a pic or a post or what I'm doing or listening to, Facebook almost always ensures that it's never liked enough and could be more.  They even send you summaries on which of your posts were liked the most.  And now that I have left that competition, I'm like what's the big deal?  It's a post.  It's not my life.  It's not me.  And that feeling is pretty amazing.    And there was also the inevitable comparisons with friends who get more likes.  I know people who can post a selfie from the driver's seat of their car, and granted they've posted like 75 identical pics of this, and they'll get 300 likes in 2 minutes.  It's so random and would build up resentment that I couldn't bring myself to like the pic, whether or not it was a good repeat of a previous post.  And taking away that need to compare myself to someone else, constantly, is so absolutely freeing and liberating!  When I do get on FB now, it's a totally different feeling for me and I actually enjoy it more now that I'm no longer trying to impress anyone or myself.

And what I've discovered is that yes, I enjoy affirmation of my achievements, opinions and happenings, but I don't need them from a non breathing entity.  I want affirmation in my real life, which means I need to work on my real life in order to get them.  Actual human contact.  Talking to someone about something going in my life and getting a reaction is so much more rewarding than a 4 sentence post on FB.  And there's nothing wrong with people wanting that affirmation on FB.  It is what it is.  I just know that it's not how I want to get it anymore and I feel much better having made that choice.

That is all :)

The Continuing Adventures of Just a Waiter - MADE cards

Even though I am no longer a waiter at HG, I am going to continue under this title because I like it.  And, who knows, I may end up back in the dining room some day.  It has happened before so who's to say it won't happen again.  Hopefully it won't, just so that I can continue to move forward and upwards at work.  That is the plan, anyhow.

We have these things at work called MADE cards.  Its name comes from our motto Making a Difference Everyday.  I get to say that about 50 times a day whenever I answer the phone at work...woohoo LOL  Anyway, the MADE cards are for employees.  People can fill out a card for an employee if they see them doing something special, going beyond the duties of their jobs to make someone's day better.  It can be something they've done for another employee or a resident or just something for HG itself.  Points are assigned to each card every month and each point is worth one dollar.  So, after you rack up so many points, you will get a little something extra on your check.  Basically, it is free money for doing something for someone else.  I can live with that.

I, personally, need to be better about writing out MADE cards.  I do not do it nearly enough, even though I see things all of the time that warrant a card.  I have to keep reminding myself that writing MADE cards is about giving, not receiving.  I don't get that many cards, which is fine.  That's not why I do what I do.  So, I don't want to get into that trap of "well, they didn't write a card for me when I did something....etc".  It's an easy trap to fall into.  When I do get them, though, it's very special because someone noticed.  One of my favorite ones was from one of my favorite residents that she wrote to me on the day she died.  It was simply thanking me for being nice to everyone in the dining room at assisted living.  I kept that one.

Saying "Making a Difference Everyday" isn't just repeating our motto. It is truly the core of what our company is about.  Now, that doesn't happen all of the time.  That is simply human nature.  Not everyday is going to be perfect, but we should be doing whatever we can to make it better.  That is what we stand for.  When it comes down to it, if each associate does not have a reason to write out a MADE card each day, then we are not doing the job we should be doing.  We are not doing the job I know that each and every one of us is capable of doing.  We can make a difference, even in the smallest areas of daily life.

That is all

Nancy Wilson - You Can Have Him

Some days you just want to come home from work and relax.  And nothing helps more with that relaxation than the sweet, silky vocals of Nancy Wilson.  This is from her live performance at The Coconut Grove.  The album is called The Nancy Wilson Show!  It's definitely worth a listen if you not really heard her much before.  What an impeccable artist!

Elton John's Aida

I'm getting my morning started with some coffee and showtunes...go figure!  This morning, I'm listening to Aida by Elton John.  This is a great score with lots of fun and beautiful music.  Heather Hedley is pretty amazing and was well deserving of her Tony Award as best actress.  I still will never figure out how a show that wins the Tony for Best Score is not even nominated for Best Musical.  That year was kind of disastrous as far as that is concerned.  Anyway, here is one of the highlights from this fun score.  Enjoy!

Thought for the day

Despite being on the downside of a cold, it's always nice to wake up in a good mood.  I woke up before my alarm this morning, which is still set pretty early even though I'm off of work today.  I need to be up to make sure that Michael gets up on time, otherwise he might sleep til noon!  I started the coffee and went on the porch to put some food out for black kitty.  Having my first cup of coffee on the porch, enjoying the cool autumn weather and black kitty up in my lap, I thought about how good life is today.  I'm not really sure why I had that sudden feeling, but I love having that.  

I've got a lot of things I need and want to get done today and I anticipate getting most of them done.  I can relax in the fact that the bills are paid and there's still some money in the bank account, finally.  Michael is enjoying his new job and that's just incredible as it's been a long time since he was stuck in an undesirable situation for so long.  I'm loving my job at the moment, even though there are times of frustration.  We're heading out of town later this week for a few days at the beach and, despite the weather being iffy, it will be so nice for us to get away together.  And Squirt is going with us.

It's simply been one of those mornings where I realize how blessed I am.  I will not take it for granted anymore because not everyone is as fortunate as I am. Life is good and will only get better from here on out, no matter what is thrown my way.  I am rebuilding an excellent foundation for my life and look forward to each new day.  Now, onto getting my day of blissful domestic duties started!  Have a wonderful day ya'll!

Quote of the day

Recipe of the day - Easy Southwest Spinach Dip

I made this the other day and really enjoyed it.  Actually, I made it up the other day LOL  Lois was telling me about a dip that she had eaten at church a few weeks back and I thought it sounded good.  I got what I thought should be in it and threw it together.  I'm sure that this recipe is out there somewhere, but I was just winging it and throwing it together, which is not something I would normally ever do in the kitchen.  Luckily, it turned out well.  Enjoy!

Easy Southwest Spinach Dip

Ingredients

8 ounces of spinach

8 ounces of cream cheese, softened

1 can of black beans, drained

1 cup of salsa

Garlic powder

salt

pepper

Chop spinach and saute until wilted, then set aside.  Combine cream cheese and black beans until well blended. Stir in salsa.  Add spices to your taste.  Then fold in spinach.  Chill and serve with chips or crackers or vegetables.

When I mixed the cream cheese and black beans, I used a potato masher and that worked out great!

The brass sconces

My cousin, Isabel Wolfe, lived on Church Street in Monroe, NC.  Church St. was the main historically homed street in our town.  Isabel's family home was one of those houses, a lovely 2 story white home.  When Isabel died, her estate was a mess as far as her family was concerned, but that's a story for another time...or at least an update on a previous blog.  Anyway, she had an appraiser come in and price all of her antiques.  She had made lists of people who wished to purchase some of her things after her death.  Fine, whatever. 

Across the street from Isabel lived Robert Deese.  He was a local business man and antiques dealer.  He and his wife, Donnie, and their family lived in one of those huge white houses with the enormous columns in front.  I never went into the house, but it was just lovely from the outside.  Fast forward 6 years to when I met Mr. Deese.  There was a small house near the high school that had an antiques shop in it.  It was going out of business as the owner was retiring, so there was a big sale.  Grandmother and I went and that's when I met Robert.  He and Grandmother had known each other for years and they spent a good bit of time catching up.  I did not add much to their conversation, but I definitely listened.

Of course, the subject of Isabel came up.  Robert was one of the people that she had listed as buying pieces of hers after her death.  He mentioned that he thought he still had some of her things stored that he was planning on selling at his shop in Cameron, NC.  This particularly caught my interest.  I was going through a time when I wanted to keep family heirlooms in the family.  I don't know why that was of importance to me, but it was.  He told Grandmother that he was not sure of what all he had remaining, but knew there were a few pieces.  The conversation ended and that was the only time I ever saw Robert Deese in my life.

A day or two later, I wrote to Mr. Deese.  I told him how much family pieces meant to me and that if he ever was looking to sell the things he had that belonged to Isabel, I would love to purchase them.  Granted, I was 15 at the time and probably couldn't afford his prices, as he was a high end antiques dealer, but I still wrote none the less.  The following week I was mowing Mrs. Nash's yard, my high school job, when Mom pulled up into her driveway to talk to me.  She told me that Robert was so impressed by my letter, that he called Grandmother and told her so.  He also told her that he would find those pieces of Isabel's and bring them to her that day so that I could look at them.  And that's exactly what he did.

After mowing, I went home and showered and Mom and I went to Grandmother's to see what all it was that he brought.  I was quite excited.  He had brought a pair of turkey foot lamps, brass sconces and 3 pieces of art.  They were all lovely.  The art was a painting of fruit in an antique frame and 2 Gibson Girl fashion prints.  We, and by we I say Mom and Grandmother, decided that we would buy the lamps and the sconces.  The check was written and the purchase was made.  I felt quite accomplished with myself over the whole deal.

The lamps were put in our living room, as were the sconces.  And these sconces were old and very heavy.  They were made to last.  I got them for myself when Dad got remarried and have loved them.  Right now, they are in a box in my garage....along with so many other things.  Hopefully one day I will either place them back on the wall or find someone else who will cherish them as much as I do. 

That is all.

Quote of the week

Escapades in Adulting - the car radio

I feel that, growing up during the last quarter of the 20th Century, that I am a member of the last generation who got to actually enjoy the radio.  At least, the radio that plays actual music.  Going on road trips meant hours of music and interesting shows.  Nowadays, not so much.  In some ways, I should be thankful for that because today's music, if you can all it that, does not need too much air time.  But that's not the point, it's the principle of whole thing.

I got in my car the other day to go meet Dad and June for dinner.  I had a drive of a little over an hour ahead of me, so naturally, the car radio became my friend.  Btw, my cd player no longer works in my car so I am at the mercy of the radio.  I like to give stations a good, fighting chance before I change the channel, at least 20 minutes.  The first 2 stations I listened to, both in the allotted 20 minute time span, played exactly 2 songs each.  2 songs!!!  The rest were commercials.  And not even good commercials. 

I thought to myself, where's the music?  Where did it go?  While I'm happy that your used car lot is having a Welcome October sale and that Olive Garden has brought back its endless pasta bowl, I want something with a melody and maybe a few lyrics.  Is that too much to ask?  I'm happy that your weight loss product is such a success, but how about playing some 80's music on your 80's music weekend?  Wanna talk?  Fine, but bring back Casey Kasem.  At least he talked about music.

I ended up listening to NPR and sports radio.  I made it long enough in NPR until another depressing episode of This American Life came on so I switched to AM and found some sports show.  They were talking about college football, which I know nothing about.  But at least they stayed on topic, which I was happy for.  I might have actually learned something, but don't place any bets. I'm guessing I should get my CD player fixed or learn to embrace the silence when I'm in the car.  Ah, well.

And don't get me started on local morning radio.  It's basically one long ad for body hair removal.  Good times!

In The Garden

Starting out my day with another of David Baroni's pieces.  I have always enjoyed the old hymns we sang in church.  When I was a child and my Uncle Bill's family would come visit, many times he and Mom would spend an afternoon playing and singing these hymns for Grandmother and Aunt Sara.  How I wish I could go back and hear that once more!  Til we meet again.  Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf7WRTmDK4Y