November already?

What's on the agenda this week? Pull together a basket raffle at church in 10 days?! Blood/lab test for check up next week, (no, I haven't lost the requested 25 lbs., grumble), keep up with kid's homework, plan T-day dinner menu and schedule time to clean house, Xmas shop w/o impacting budget, work and anything else you'd like me to juggle while I'm at it? A few chain saws, maybe, just to make it interesting?

Hard to believe it has been 18 months since the colon cancer was detected and removed, but it has. Read an article last weekend that a controversial acne medication (Accutane) I took at 19-20 is now attributed to bowel disease. Could it be related to my cancer? Should I submit my case to a class action atty.? Unknown, but exploring the options. It would almost be reassuring that a medication caused it rather than something wacky in my genetic system, but I doubt it would be anything that would make me independently wealthy. Then again, who knows, would it be more worthwhile to be able to have full public disclosure or to be paid to keep quiet and what exactly is my silence worth? Interesting moral question...

Back to the doc visit... No symptoms to worry about, no big weight loss to report, but no great gains either, so we're hanging tough. Doc visit should be uneventful next Thursday but positive thoughts never hurt. Mom and I will go Xmas shop for boys after at Northgate, just like old times.

Lighter notes - Joe has been saving for months to buy an electric guitar. He also had to maintain a 3.5 GPA or better through the first grading report and have no missing assignments - WIN! Yesterday was Guitar Center day. He spent 3 hours there by himself with all of his $ in the world and came home with a beautiful candy apple red Ibanez guitar which is his new pride and joy. It plugs into a jack in our stereo system and he can play along with his favorite songs or just jam on his own. Nice to see a 14 yo boy jazzed about something good for a change. Of course, his Xmas list has all sorts of things like a tremolo bar, guitar case and such on it. So, I'm going to be spending lots of time and $ at guitar center this season, I can tell.

So off to plan and save and scrimp and indulge and all the usual chaos of life or something like it.
Peace, Blessings and grace!
Michelle

Return from Cursillo

http://www.olycursillo.org/

This is the link to find more information about the 3-day weekend event I attended recently. I'm not going to go all born-again new agey, but there are significant differences in place since I returned. The world is more vibrant, people are craving connection, songs on the radio are prayers if you listen hard enough and the face of God is everywhere - in a stellar jay on the deck rail, in the cashier at Safeway, in the woman next to you at the doctor's office and in your own family, spouse, children - yes, really, look hard...

Overall, on the weekend there were parts I really got into and parts I was not so hot about. Singing songs of praise, for someone who cannot hold a tune in a bucket - is moderately torturous; but having the opportunity to sing as a group at a new child's baptism was priceless. Having deep philosophical discussions like we used to have in college (without having to throw people in the showers to sober up) was something I had been missing for years. We just don't get that opportunity as women very often. The first night we were in a devotion of silence (me, silent for 12 hours...) and it was an adjustment. As I lay in bed the first night thinking "what am I supposed to get out of all this?" The message I got LOUD and CLEAR was "BE here, that's all." That I can do as I have no car, no wallet, no cell phone, and I'm in Olympia where I know no one.

The next morning we were awakened at 0 dark 30 and invited to break our silence after morning prayer and Eucharist. If we dressed quickly we were allowed to have tea or coffee in the sanctuary, so God and I had peppermint tea together. This could be the start of a new habit. But the morning prayer and silence has got to go, I'd not make a good Carmelite nun. We won't even get into the celibacy, obedience or poverty. We celebrated the Eucharist and were released from our silence! As one woman in the pew ahead of me said, "Oh good, I was going crazy with my own thoughts." Many of us were thinking the same thing. Our kitchen crew put on quite a spread from mini quiches to scones to oatmeal, yogurt, fruit and juices as well as the welcome coffee! We had the opportunity to get to know our table mates. I have always found this difficult, until I spied one woman's opal ring - "What a beautiful ring. Is there a story behind it?" became my conversation opener for the rest of the weekend.

We broke out into table groups by assignment and discussed many topics over the next two days about talks presented by persons among us on piety, prayer, faith, grace, sacraments, etc. After some discussions, we were encouraged to come up with a drawing that illustrated our concepts gathered from the talk and discussion. For example, after the talk about study we were asked to create a license plate to illustrate the talking points. Our group came up with PAGEMS - digging for gems among the pages of the Bible. We had a gifted artist at our table who came with her own materials and abilities we used freely - some of us are conceptualists and others can actually draw! We were the table of St. Bega a Celtic saint who fled to Northumberland to escape an arranged marriage and lived out her life in pious acts. Some days that idea would be appealing.

We had lunch breaks to socialize and a long break in the afternoon I used to walk with some of the women one-to-one and there were several 2x4 between the eyes moment when something would just pop into my head without conscious thought about it. I haven't yet processed all of them and need to do that before I can put them into words.

The biggest nugget I received from the weekend is overwhelming sense of being loved and cared for by the women on the team and by God. The second was that I don't have to do everything - I need to find what fits my ideal and pare away things that I have no time talent or passion for. That is going to be hard to make happen, but I can see that in order to keep a reserve for the things I want to do, it is necessary.

GRACE, Peace and Blessings! ;-P
Michelle

Autumn vs. Fall

When it comes to fall, I prefer the word autumn. It rolls around the palate like a smoky brandy, coaxing images of vibrant scarlet, merlot, burgundy and an occasional golden chardonnay array of leaves emerging when the sugar supplies are compromised by cold temperatures. The changing colors dangle like earrings from the branches of free-formed sculptures briefly until their connection to the stem is severed by a crisp overnight chill and they twirl and drift to the forest floor below. Leaving behind striking postures of twigs, branches, blight, knots, abandoned bird nests that give each tree structure, feature and often if viewed long enough, a face.

Dropped leaves provide the smell of autumn – overripe blackberry, mingled with ashy decomposing loamy leaves, the minty crispness of the air and faint hints of burning wood from fireplaces inhaled during lingering walks in the woods to view nature’s spectacle. The blanket of fallen leaves give nutrients for the hibernating plants below and the sound of walking through fallen leaves evokes a sense of childish wonder, some regret that summer has passed, and anticipation of the celebration of holidays that center our yearly traditions.

Snuggling deep into polar fleece, lovingly knit keepsake wool, cozy knit sweaters to ward off the chill that pinks cheeks and cracks the delicate skin of lips, the view is breath-taking. The final reaches of sunlight arrive before we think they should in time dissolving into a delightful palette of changing sunset hues – lavender, fuschia, rose, periwinkle, hyacinth, daffodil – reminders of the spring buds seen so briefly. As time evolves to sneak us into waking earlier and spending less time hibernating comfortably, as minds and bodies are drawn against nature.

Fall by comparison is, and always will be, a verb of varying capacities. Fall is not fallen into; it is jumped into with both feet, as jumping into a pile of raked leaves. We fall in love, fall off a swing, fall down stairs or off the wagon. Fall is never the gentle description of some passing without consequence. Fall is dramatic and life-changing and full of power and takes time from which to recover. Fall is a childish word used in essays and composition and poetics in the classroom because it breeds action and thought and memory. After all, what rhymes with autumn?

2009MDM 10-8

Pumpkin Bread recipe

This may be a record of three entries in one week. I feel like such an over-achiever, but the bloom will fade once I'm back on normal schedule next week, so don't get too used to it. My cousin Janelle sends me recipes from time to time and this arrived on 10/01 and was just beggin to be baked yesterday. It's going to be delivered to 4 pals today because if I eat it all myself, I'll be back in the bad graces of my doc. Anyway, the recipe is here in it's entirety, I noted the tweaks I made in it, and it's very moist and good with tea on dreary mornings.

Coconut Pumpkin Nut Bread
Ingredients:
3.5 C all-pupose flour
2 C packed dk brown sugar
2/3 C white sugar
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
1 C veg oil (or I substitute 1/2 c. applesauce and 1/2 c. oil)
2/3 c. coconut milk (in the ethnic aisle of most grocery stores)
2 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. ground nutmeg
1.5 t ground cinnamon
2/3 c unsweetened flaked coconut (I substituted sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds)
1 cup chopped walnuts

*I added 1/4 c. ground flaxseed to flour

Heat oven to 350. Grease and flour 2 loaf pans. Combine all ingredients but coconut and walnuts until well blended. Fold in coconut and walnuts. Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 1 hour and 15 mins using toothpick test to desired doneness. Remove from oven and cover tightly with foil and allow to steam 10-15 minutes. Remove foil and cool on baking rack. Fabulous with peanut butter and a cup of tea! ;-P

Peace and Blessings!
Michelle ;-P

Rambo = Superman?

Had my birthday yesterday and my in-laws' check brought a manicure and pedicure into my near future. In south King County, the proprietors are mostly SE Asian at all the local nail salons. I popped into one near our Lowe's thinking "how much business would be attracted here for this service?" I can't see my local contractor coming in for a nail fill and polish change, eyebrow wax or "manscaping", but I digress...

We got into the business of my raggedy toes and the tech asked if I wanted to watch a movie. I asked her which of the movies was her favorite and she said "RAMBO." I shrugged, never seen it, heard it was really violent and asked her "Are you a Stallone fan?" She replied, "It has great picture of Viet Nam and surrounding lands." Cinematography? OK, I'm in. She started the movie and yes, it is horrifically violent. Since we were the only two people in the salon, I asked her if the depiction of the actions of the Viet Cong army was accurate as far as she knew. she nodded and said "I saw it as a child. We hid in rice paddies, the jungle, tunnels and caves."

At that point, I ventured that I was sure we had made munerous mistakes and that I didn't think we were right in most military decisions. We delved into the most fascinating conversation about politics, American policy in Viet Nam and the way the Vietnamese see the Rambo character similar to our concept of the hero in a Western or Superman. It is depicted as they WISH it would have turned out - with "an army of one" of the rescuers staying after his tour was over to disseminate who was telling the truth, who was helping the Vietnamese and who was blatantly lying to the world powers and wreaking vengeance on the perps. I'm sure there were those that did and were forsaken by their government and considered lost in more ways than one by their families.

The people were never sure of the intention of Americans they encountered because some had been ambushed by VC, were on drugs, mentally war-shocked or just depraved. When there was a humanitarian or relief effort troop to come through, no one was sure they could be trusted. There was no one to ask for help and no one to rescue the civilians living in constant fear, mistrust and despair.

In the course of our discussion we were joined by a woman from Thailand and one from Laos and their added perspectives were wholly enlightening. When I shared the ages of my boys 11 and 14, all three women said they would have been taken from us and forced into military service or killed, if they resisted or ran away. Kids were often sent first into mine fields to trigger the claymores set by other troops. I would have been killed, violated or pressed into service in supporting the armies. The Vietnamese/Laotian family fled into Laos with the clothes on their back and all the money they had in the world and started over with nothing after paying bribes to stay, often over and over to the same people/warlords/gangs. The Thai lost contact with many family members and has never heard from them again - presumed dead.

I need to explore this subject further, I'm fascinated with the exchange we had. I've always felt as an outsider in nail salons, I felt like we were having a UN discussion. Our history books seem to have been edited by military retirees. I went in for spiffy nails and emerged with lots to think about. When I shared with the boys later, their eyes widened at what their roles would have been. Once again, I come to realize we are blessed at the time and place of our birth.
PEACE and Blessings!
Michelle ;-P

I know it's September - but we've been busy

So much for my idea of regular entries, but we've been blissfully busy with visiting family from all over the US, new homework curriculum, errands, raising boys, church, housework and all the usuals that everyone else in the world also deals with. In other words, I really don't have a good reason for no entries, just many feeble excuses.
On the high notes of the past few weeks, went to Poppy on Capitol Hill with some dear BRA Chix and it was a hoot - a comedy of errors, but a hoot just the same. An overpriced culinary experience, but a comedy of errors. An experience for our memory books, but a hooting comedy of errors. From the delay in our reservation to $10 watermelon mojitos to the store next door with the really "eclectic clientele" to just being in Capitol Hill with two moms from Maple Valley and Issaquah - an experience, the eyes were as big as saucers.
Much giggles, lots of jabber and 3.5 hours to get all of our yakking in while our dinner was delayed and our appetites grew immense. So much for savoring the culinary experience - I inhaled dinner when it arrived and after two glasses of champagne and a mojito on an empty stomach was doing good to remember where we parked.
We traveled to Ellensburg last weekend and had the opportunity of sitting in road construction backups for 3 hours. We developed the game of "what's up with that?" Where you view something odd (usually in the back of a pick-up) and develop a back story. For example, we spied a black Ford 150 pick up with six taxidermied deer heads in the bed, three plastic garbage cans, a snowboard, a TV (not plasma or flat screen), an over-sized cooler and a snowboard. My son guessed "He must be a taxidermist." The next son guessed he was moving. Husband Dan pegged the snorter with "He looks recently divorced - as in like about an hour ago. His ex said 'Here's all your stuff in the garbage cans, get those stinking deer heads outta my double-wide and take the snowboard you got me for our last anniversary. You can have the TV in the bedroom too. Because I'm nice.' " We're coming up with lyrics to a country song on our next road trip. Who says travelling with the Meekers is not an adventure?
We hit the Puyallup fair and the boys brought Dan's helmet cam to film some ride footage. Joe spent about $25 trying to get an electric guitar by ringing a beer bottle with a plastic ring. And we explored the culinary wonders of the Fair. And toured the Brain with Weird Al as our guide. Enough for one day, I think.
In the coming weeks, mom turns 42, escapes for a retreat weekend in Olympia with no Y chromosomes about and then another family escape to Hood Canal for a weekend of wine, rest and relaxation at a cabin on the beach! I've been craving beach time for months so really looking fwd to that one! All is well with health, the weight is not dropping by leaps and bounds, but it is no longer increasing, so all is well. Need to get to the gym and cement that habit this week with some sweat and effort, so will check in again soon.
Peace and Blessings!
Michelle

Summer 2009

Nick is relearning cursive in preparation for his 6th grade college prep curriculum new school and HATING it. He's raking me over the coals daily about 5 lousy pages and whining to beat the band. But I am persevering and being CONSISTENT. My thought is this process may teach him not to procrastinate and if he gets his work done well and promptly, his time is his own. If he chooses to learn it, he'll be well ahead of the game.

Which brings us to my other model prisoner, Joe is spending his summer surfing YouTube endeavoring to write something to videotape and post and is stuck in the development phase. He is getting dragged to the gym with me on occasion and finds it amusing, mostly. Filmed one sequence of 1st Day at the gym but hasn't posted it yet. He did OK on grades this year, got by on the skin of his teeth. He is doing better than Nick at getting his job list for the day done so he can let his brain cells ooze out in front of the computer for the rest of his day.

Overall, I'm trying to stick to my goals of eating more whole food, getting daily exercise/activity and not the boys out no matter how much I'd like to from one day to the next. We've done a few fun things, EMP, parks, beaches, picnics. Dan is taking BOTH boys to Grand Coulee next weekend, so that will give them some major bonding time in an enclosed vehicle (not my idea of fun) and they will both take their required summer reading books to distract them from buggin each other. And I get two days of momming to boot!!

So much for ambitious goals

It's been quite a week, month, year. Today marks one year since our family trip to SD, a mere year and three weeks after my semi-colon surgery. The boys are out of school for the summer, one needs to relearn cursive writing over the summer and is busting my chops about it daily. The other made b's and c's for grades by the skin of his teeth, or mine. So, now it's summer with days of "he's been on the computer for two hours, it's my turn now." THIS is why summer is only 8 weeks long. Kids would not survive if it were longer.

It has been a crazy week with the loss of Ed McMahon, Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, it's kind of like remembering where you were when Elvis (supposedly) expired. At least the focus is off the Jon and Kate scandal for a milisecond. The summer will be spent helping pals who are facing big challenges this year. We have one pal whose job was eliminated JUST before she went in for major shoulder surgery (medical coverage extended, graciously) and another who goes in for extensive breast biopsy after July 4. So while last year I was benefitting from support from others; this year will be necessary to complete the karmic circle and give support as needed. Thankfully, I've adjusted job to accommodate and if it turns out to be moot, I'll have more family time to "enjoy" with the boys. May require medication or mediation, but we'll hope the trips to the gym help. So far, I've lost only 6 pounds (or less depending on the mood of my scale) but almost 12" overall in a month of conscious eating and focused exercise.

I've been taking a week off to regroup, refocus and recommit before getting back on track and juggling the new schedule to see where planning, exercise, support strategies are all supposed to fit in again. Change is good and this change is long overdue and will have far-reaching effects on my mind, body and spirit. So far daily exercise and food journaling are the big secrets for me.
Welcome to come along for the ride.
Peace and Blessings ;-P
Michelle

And the results are in (don't worry, it's good)!

"No cancer cells detected in biopsy sample." I had the nurse read it twice, so I got the words right. No colonoscopy for... three years (unless I am symptomatic), and my oncologist said I'm good to go for six months until he runs my labs again, but he would like to see me lose 20-30 pounds - and I didn't kick him. I see him again in November just before T-day, that being as good a time as any. Don't know what they biopsied, but it was nothing to write home about, probably some gum I swallowed 20 years ago.

The proactive lifestyle begins now. I had a year to be reactive and stumbled along through it mostly until about last October, so now I'm calling the shots and it will be more healthy and less sedentary; more whole foods and less proccessed; more quality and less quantity... of course after tonight's celebratory Krispy Kreme's are gone, which should be about 10 minutes after Joe arrives home. The boys and Dan may be looking to be adopted.

Thanks for the support, prayers, hugs, warm fuzzies, etc. And if you think this means the forced retirement of the BRA Chix, no way! Now, our new mission is the creation of anecdotal evidence of just how cracked we are in the process to get in shape, more fun and frolic and less time spent in and around hospitals. AMEN!

Peace and BLESSINGS! ;-P
Michelle

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

I'm not even a big Tom Petty fan, but this song has been running through my mind all week. I tried distractions, staying busy, exercising, cooking for others with challenging times approaching, and still at 3:00 a.m., there is the thought, "So, what is this?" Having the chased by animals dreams like I had when first diagnosed, but instead of bears; it's bears one night and gorillas the next, go figure.

Was chatting with a pregnant friend this week and we are both in the same boat. I'm waiting for pathology report to come back and she's waiting for her "egg to hatch". Both are hoping for uneventful deliveries of both items. I called the endoscopy clinic to see if the report was in, and it is; so they transferred me to a charge nurse "who could go over the results with me." When she came on it was obvious she was reading the report as we spoke and she said that until the doctor who performed my colonoscopy has read it, they can't release any info. "Is she there to read it?" I asked. "No, she has left for the day." At 3:00?!?!? With a pathology report on her desk?!?!? "Can I get a hint? Are the words 'not cancer' in there? Will my oncologist have the report in time for our appt Monday MORNING?!?!?" Frustration factor was high.

So I did yard work, helped a neighbor girl get her bike chain unstuck and went to dinner with my boys and Aunt Mindy. Then I made the mistake of watching part of the Farrah Story. It was depressing and irritating - mostly that Jacklyn Smith has aged better than Kate Jackson... No, really, unlimited resources to travel the world after cures not available to most people. Designer clothes and first-class travel right after liver tumor ablation, sick as a dog (OK that is similar to everyone else's experience). The one thing it did RIGHT for me is I've decided the pity party is over. Today I do not have cancer, if this changes on another day I'll take the steps necessary to deal with it. For today, I'm healthy, I feel good and I can do what I need to be healthy, have fun with my boys and attend to the many tasks at hand.

I'll let you know when I know, as usual.

Peace and Blessings!
Michelle ;-P

1 year, already?

It has been a busy month, which accounts for no posts this month. What a difference a year makes - on the good side I'm exercising regularly, eating somewhat better than I have in the past and the system seems to be in "good chi" - balance. Every Monday in May, I had a step in the process of 1 year survivor checkups to complete. Blood work at the cancer center, a lovely double colonoscopy prep and procedure with two doses of "happy drugs" - I don't even remember getting dressed to leave the clinic and Dan's been messing with me that he let me walk out w/o pants. I'll get him back in 5 years. The final step in that process is next Monday when I meet with the oncologist to decipher all the data and see where my path leads me from here.

On a sad note, the night before my colonsocopy, I attended a memorial service for a pal from high school. Matt was a kid who was larger than life and had many factors counting against him, divorce, ADD, hearing loss, learning disabilities. He could have used his imposing size and these excuses to be the class bully. Instead he was the class teddy bear. He had an amazing gift for uniting kids in our class who existed on the fringes of the social stratum, giving us nicknames to unite us in his family of friends.

Even in his death, I was connected to friends of Matt by facebook as we planned his memorial at our high school chapel. That is a heck of a legacy, to be able to unite people even when you are no longer living. Eternal peace to you Mattie and many blessings on your family and children.

The day after my procedure, I attended a tea party fundraiser for the American Cancer Society at Salty's. We heard from a mom whose child was diagnosed with brain cancer who took that diagnosis and founded a non-profit research organization to focus on pediatric brain cancers. We were also addressed by the chaplain from Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, herself a breast cancer survivor - presented with just the right blend of humor, faith and fact. Her book "It's
Not About the Hair" originated from her emails keeping people up to date on her progress, sound famliar? Of course, my family at the table said, "You could do the same thing!" Yes, but would that be beneficial to the greater good and be a step forward in my healing. Something to think about and consider, but I am still sorting through the rocks and gold nuggets in the baggage that I have resulting from this long strange trip. I guess the biggest would be that the more people you share a burden with, the lighter it is to carry. With enough love, humor and faith, all things are bearable and work out as they are intended.

Peace and Blessings ;-P
Michelle

It's Spring and that means Birds and Bees

Birds and bees? Who coined that phrase? We had some minor incidents lately that made me sense the need to have a "CHAT" with the boys was necessary. Where do you start? Well, we ended up starting in the middle because with one boy just 11 and one almost 14, the interests and development is in different time zones.

I started by going to my library for research on what was avaialble and ended up with 15 rather graphic book titles in my possession. My 11 yo was VERY selective in what he would carry out of the library and "needed a bag". After weeks of review and getting the pants scared off me a few times - "chicken parties," "Sexting," "Rainbow" games in middle schools. If you don't know what these are, google them. Our teens are more likely to catch an STD than get pregnant, many of which can cause infertility if not treated. And teens will be quiet about symptoms thinking we'll overreact that they are sexually active. Things have changed in big ways since our days.

After reviewing books, I have 3-5 to recommend by age ranges.
For ages 8-11 It's Perfectly Normal - Robie;
For 12-15 The Guy book: an owner's manual for teens (written like a car owners manual - 14yo found it amusing AND informative) he shared with me some of the amusing parts as convo starters, so that was a plus.

One fact that I read that has stuck with me is this. We think moms should talk to girls and dads should talk to boys. Speaking to the opposite sex parent about these issues gives them practice for when they talk to a potential mate about these delicate topics; and discussion is key before any further activity happens. So while that may be a plus or a minus, the figures are that boys who have discussions with their mothers are more likely to put off having sex than boys who only talk to their dads. I don't know what the dads are saying, but it seems mom has more effect here (as usual).

For parents, What Every 21st century Parent needs Know (from the author of From Diapers to Dating, and The Big Talk also good books recommended by a mom/teacher/counselor pal) - I like her format and writing style; The real truth about teens from hooking up to friends with benefits - written by an editor of Seventeen well-written, kind of scary but very factual. (I was shocked by some of the things in the current issue of Seventeen), realistic and timely, but still a wake up call for me.

For Moms with Boys - the Underground Guide to Teenage Sexuality; male writer guy perspective, good backgorund info. for us mom's who feel out of the loop.

For kids 15-20 SexSmart: 501 reasons to hold off on sex - good for those what "would you say/do if" opportunities. I also found the 5 Love Languages of Teenagers helpful because those languages change as the kids age and it make sense to reevaluate from time to time.

Hope you find my research helpful to share. I found a few books that weren't worth my time or energy and sent them back. I was looking for basic, easily presented information on both sexes without ramming convictions, morals or hang-ups that was presented respectfully and informatively to let the kids process information and open discussions. I also wanted books that tackled tough and uncomfortable issues - self-exploration, homosexuality, pornography, etc. I think all of these books do that on a variety of levels.

Initially, I hoped to scare the pants on my boys past he age of 25. Now I just want them to have accurate information and parents who have informed them to the best of our ability. I am hopeful that our example, willingness to teach, listen and love will make more of an impression than the media messages they are bombarded with in the world each day.

Peace and Blessings,
Michelle

Movie Madness

Call me old school, but I like my movies to entertain, not make me think about the plight of the world or make me regret spending the admission for something that is not even entertaining. If I want to learn, I read or listen to NPR. Movies are for escape, what was the only industry not to suffer during the 1930s? The movie industry - but it also cost about $.10 to see a movie then too. I saw Slumdog Millionaire last evening and spent much of it traumatized, which I guess was the point. This won Best Picture? When did the criteria slip to shock and revulsion at America from entertainment? When I got home explained it as part Quiz Show, part Pulp Fiction, part Passion of Christ and part Born in Brothels. About accurate? Earlier in the week I described The Curious Case of Benjamin Button as part Forrest Gump, part Legends of the Fall and part Grumpy Old Men. I did enjoy the "Did I ever tell you I've been struck by lightning 8 times," guy.

Over the last week, I have seen 3 movies. For some reason, I've been on a movie fix for the past several months. Maybe it's because I discovered a rare find in Federal Way $1 and $2 admissions to movies that are new to me. I was always a big fan of the family run small theater who gave their public a break in the wallet department. Since I rarely see them on opening weekends and usually am 2-3 years behind the general public on my Netflix list. In the past month I've seen Australia, Benjamin Button, Slumdog Millionaire and then went into shock at paying $10/person to be tortured with Aliens and Monsters in 3-D - all the boredom, all the yawning coming right at you all the time. I'm tired of the "I'm a beautiful butterfly!" in every kid's animated feature to alleviate the nobody dies in kid's features.

I'm going to be looking for a comedy in the future until I'm good and ready and look at all the spoilers. Now I'm shocked, Oprah is twittering during her show. It's one thing for me to surf and watch half-heartedly, it's quite another for her to twitter while producing her show - the nerve! I guess I'm ranting today, time for a chill pill.
Peace and Blessings ;-P
Michelle

80s prom for Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk 4/11/09

Pal Mindy told us about a FUNdraiser for a 3Day Walk for Breast Cancer team. We went to an 80s prom in West Seattle to rock to the band Ready, Set, GO! There was a plethera of day glow dresses, vans and Converse hi-tops. The music was all of our favorites and we could not only UNDERSTAND the words, but sing along, badly but it was a good time and the gals had about 50-75 people in attenDANCE, so it was successful in their efforts. Dan even attended just to enjoy the tunes. We found out the next day he was suffering from pneumonia and he went directly to the Urgent Care.

Businesses benefitting non-profits - hope it catches on!

I hit on a new trend this week and found great results from both trials. With economic pressures abounding from all directions, some businesses are taking a look and their bottom line and stretching it to benefit others in the community - businesses donating a portion of their profits to non-profits.

In Georgetown is Lect's Soup Stop - 5327 Denver Ave S. www.lectssoupstop.com. Every day they make a FABULOUS Country Vegetable soup (fresh chopped, not frozen veggies like okra, carrots, potatoes, celery, peas, etc. and a flavorful, hearty broth) and a special soup of the day, ranging from Clam Chowder to Italian Wedding Soup and many delectable versions in between. Weekly menus come with your lunch and are also avaialble on line to plan according to your cravings. A $5 bill gets you the best deal in the city, a sizeable bowl of soup, served take out with a roll, salt, pepper and butter in a handy carry container, soft drinks are available from coin-op machines on the north side of the building and NEW this week - cheese paninis - had a sample and it was tasty, filling and just grilled to the melt-in-your-mouth stage.

But that is not the best part - proceeds from soup sales benefit local charities serving fellow citizens - through the 7028 Life Enhancement Charitable Trust (there's the LECT), "One of its goals is to provide glasses, hearing aids and dentures to people who would otherwise have to do without. LECT's Soup Stop also donates our soups to the Union Gospel Mission." And the opportunity to donate is right on the counter while you wait for your delectable soup. So, you get served a healthy hearty lunch and humanity gets served with necessities of life. Which brings me to my next discovery - the Humanity Salon in Kent.

The Kent Reporter last week featured the Humanity salon which allows patrons to choose to donate 20% of their service fee to six community partners - Big Brothers/Big Sisters, The Hope Chest, Washington Women's Employment and Education, the Kent Food Bank, World Vision, and Katherine House. Humanity Salon is located at: 109 2nd Ave S., Kent WA 98032 (253) 981-4182, webiste is www.humanitysalons.org And, even better, the haircut I walked out with has generated more compliments from women of all ages and walks of life than anything I've done to my hair for years! So I look better, the food bank benefits from my haircut - the world is a greater place when we all pitch in and help each other.

Give one or both of these businesses a whirl and I'm sure your karma will be as healthy as your appetite and tresses.

Peace and Blessings!
Michelle

Proud Momma Moment

Joe's competing in the Seattle Regional Spelling Bee this Sunday afternoon for the second year in a row, and he has actually been studying. This is the last year he will be eligible to partiicfpate and he came in about 25th out of 60 participants last year. I will figure out how to record his spelling segments and post them somewhere. His plan is to Rick Roll the audience if he misses a word and goes down in flames... that would go on YouTube.



Last year he got out on "camouflage" (he forgot my "lame mnemonic" of a mouse rolled in a camo flag) and the next week we were at GI Joes and I saw a pair of camo Chuck Taylor hi-tops and HAD to get them for him as an inside joke. Now he has two more pairs and never wears anything else.



He's competing in a Battle of the Bands event at School Friday (he's the lead singer and plays acoustic guitar for Overdrive) and the grades are acceptable in 4 classes, mildly horrid in two classes and better in the class he botched last quarter, go figure. I could never successfully balance all six classes either, but I can't tell him that. I have to be the hard-nosed parent expecting more and demanding better grades when I really want to tell him I know it's a b**ch balancing everything, but this is life. We all have to find balance in work, home, family, friends, social, housework... often more than six things at once.

***

It's not often I forget to post a blog entry - but I did, so now you get the update to the SPelling bee as well as the notice. The good news is we won't be whisking off for a trip to DC anytime soon. The bad news is Joe was eliminated in his second round with the word "bravura". My ESP just wasn't in tune apparently and it was not in the cards. He requested all available information about the word and I think hearing that it was Italian threw him so he tried to work in every possible vowel (brevieura) which is how it was pronounced.

He was disappointed, drowned his sorrows in a few Thomas Kempers, pizza and cupcakes at his consolation/victory party with family and friends. This was his last opportunity to compete as he will be 14 and complete eighth grade this year. The end of an era. Joe and I started attending the annual spelling bee when he was in first grade and even then he would keep track of the words and get at least half of them right. He's done us proud getting to the Regionals twice in two years.

IBS eating guidlines? Worth a try.

Denise found some really good articles about cancer prevention and items to include in our diets, at http://health.msn.com/health-topics/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100233884&imageindex=1. The good news is I have incorporated some of these items into our routine, some cause me a bit of distress, but the end is worth the means, right?

I've spent a few weeks learning a lot about IBS and other colonic maladies that I thought might make sense to incorporate into my diet the guidelines that others have developed work well for them. Since no one seems to be making progress on dietary info for colon cancer survivors.

Here's what I found out. Since my system is now shorter/compacted, it is trying to do the same amount of work - get all the nutrients out of my food in less time. As soon as I begin eating anything, I get abdominal cramping signaling the digestive system to begin working, how most of us would describe "bowel urgency". The cramping gets worse when I eat a "trigger food" (which can be almost anything, usually high in fat and low in nutrients) or when there is a slack space in the digestive system so the muscles contract more in an empty section than in a full section. I've been combating this by eating more often and filler foods (not always nutritionally dense foods) - hence my weight gain. Apparently, that is not the way to go, as my pants have been telling me for months.

The new plan is to follow IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) guidelines and extremely limit my exposure to red meat, dairy, eggs, and fried foods. Yea, looks like fun if you've ever seen my dinner plate. Green salad is now a last course part of my meal and white, sourdough, or french bread begins every meal. On the plus side, my fondness for peppermint or chamomile tea is a natural digestive calming tonic, so I'll be carrying those with me more often. Fiber supplements help keep the "slack" out of the system and minimize cramping. Overall, I'm looking at more soluble fiber foundations for my dietary needs. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and absorbs the excess water in the digestive tract making things move more smoothly overall.

My staples are
Grains: limited WHOLE WHEAT - rice, pasta/noodles, Oatmeal, barley, Fresh white breads (French or sourdough), rice cereals, flour tortillas, Quinoa, Corn meal, Potatoes,
Veggies: Carrots, Yams, Sweet potatoes, Turnips, Rutabagas, Parsnips, Beets, Squash and pumpkins, Chestnuts
Fruit: Avocados, Bananas, Applesauce Mangoes Papayas (natural digestive enzymes)
Meat: Soy, White poultry meat,
Milk: soy, rice or oat milk. Cheeses, soy, rice or almond substitutes.
Be on the lookout for recipes utilizing these components.

Fish and Poultry in limited amounts, very little red meat as well as much smaller, more frequent meals to stay full and not let a lag in the process develop (that's also where the fiber supplements come in).

I don't expect changes as far as your cooking or when we have meals together. I just may bring more of my staples to add to the meal and may take less and don't want to offend anyone. The recipes I bring are bound to have at least one "Surprise ingredient" from now on; more than likely soy. I need to be more aware and diligent in staying away from foods that will not feel good later. Apparently, my system is a trial and error system and I think I've hit all the errors so it's time to start making some good choices and see where that takes me.

Hopefully, when I start putting better things in again, the urge to exercise will be easier to encourage. I'll let you know how the road is going.

Peace and Blessings,
Michelle ;-P

Querulous about Sesame St. characters?

quizfarm.com/quizzes/new/Calixta/which-sesame-street-character-are-you-many-outcomes

Too funny, this is a very in depth quiz about your mannerisms and preferences to determine which Sesame St. character you are most similar to. I'm most like Telly monster who is not one of my faves, nor the one I would have predicted. Anyway, it was an interesting way to waste 10 minutes. Enjoy!

You need a what by when?

Homework assignments. Are they more for parents or the kids? Are these teachers demented or just torturing us because they spend 5 hours a day with our kids? Will other kids learn history better because my 10 yo son wears a buckskin trousers? I don't think so, but I digress...

Nick arrived home last week with the announcement that he needs to be transformed into 16th century explorer, Louis Joulliet (travelled the Mississippi River in a canoe exploring for a trade route to China for the spice/silk road - now you know as much as we do) for a wax museum/report for social studies, but he doesn't know when it is. I didn't even know who Joulliet was until we had to get 3 report resources, but that was the task for LAST week.

First stop, mom uttering expletives against the teacher who assigned this task, second stop - the thrift store circuit. After 3 stores and lots of possibilities, including a$25 fake leather Western style jacket with tons of fringe, we ended up with a suede vest, sheepskin lined (all synthetic) for $3.00, some tan velour ladies stretch pants or $3.00 , a thermal top and our piece de resistance for $7.00, killer Eskimo mucklucks with fur and lacings in a mens' size 10. So he looks a little like a Neanderthal clown. Two hours of sewing work at home adding rustic-looking fringe to the top and pants sideseams, they look amazingly like buckskins and even more important Nick is pleased with the result.

What did our moms do without thrift stores and eBay? While I was busy channeling my grandmother and mother-in-law who each were "da bomb" at wacky school assignments, scout activities and costume production. If I had anything my mom couldn't handle, she would send me to my grandmother's house to complete the job. Gigi and I had a great time making diorama book reports, cooking native dishes and finding costumes for all sorts of events. She even rented me a white wig from a costume store to be Dolly Madison in one of mom's old prom dresses and such. She kept lots of my mom's dressy stuff and square dancing costumes to be reprised for use by the next generation.

Thrift stores in my youth were VERY scary places only the marginalized of society went to for purchases. In my 20s and 30s, I was a Goodwill groupie and Value Village vixen - that was my clothes horse stage when found I could afford a lot more on my meager paychecks there than even Ross. Then the pall was removed from Value Village when they became a franchise store and the prices rose with it. Gone were the days of finding a Jones New York outfit for $5 or a black velvet dress for new Years for $15. But by then I was looking for "mom clothes" that would be tragic to have ruined with "kid liquids".

The bidding starts at $50 for the first 4th grade parent with the foresight to call me in preparation for next year. Or maybe I'll start the "save it for the next generation" box...

Peace and Blessings ;-P
Michelle

New Year's Resolution #1

Yes, it's February 3, I figure if I don't make one until now, I won't break it as early. There is a strategy in my procrastination. I resolve to write here more often. At least once a month... if I have anything interesting to say, and even if it's just random rambly ramblings because then I won't have broken my resolution. How's that for circular logic? P/B ;-P