Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009

I can not remember being so excited to see a New Year. I read about Carly Simon taking a photo a day to track her days. So I hearby resolve to do so also.  I am so not ready to resolve to lose weight or any of the other not kept resolutions I have made in the past. 
Norfolk and Virginia Beach, 2 cities so tight together one ends at the same point the other begins, are very much into "Going green" and protecting the environment. The Chesapeake Bay is under a great environmental threat. This year Virginia is buying back licenses from crabbers to help protect the growth of the crab populace. It is just one of many attempts to Help The Bay! So when I saw this sign on top of the storm drain in downtown Norfolk I had to share it.  

Very little knitting this season. I am much more into the pattern and the yarn than giving a present. Instead we made topiaries and kissing balls for ourselves and others.  We stepped the season back a step or two and enjoyed the reason for the season. It all meant so much more, especially when son and friend came in at 6 PM Christmas Eve.  We have 2 children, one 42 and one 44. We have been together every Christmas except one. I consider us very lucky and very much loved.

Today was collards, black eye peas and hopping john. Did you have yours? I have never managed to eat one pea for every day of luck I want. 365 black eye peas is a lot! This year daughter made the meal. Her collards are heavenly and yes,  I did eat too much. 

Alphabet of me

this is for Vickie who always tells me, "It's time to post!" I found this and it was a lot of fun to do . . I think I learned a lot about ME!
 

Accent: I don't think I have one but I got a job as a radio disc jockey because I did not have the local accent.
Breakfast or no breakfast: Love it, eggs with spinach and salsa, oatmeal with fruit, french toast, eggs benedict, yum
Chore I don’t care for: Cleaning the toilet.
Dog or Cat: Dogs for me. we are on our second Rottweiler although I like other people’s cats
Essential Electronics: I use them all but often wonder what it wold be like to give them all up for a wk, esp the tv
Favorite Cologne: shalimar
Gold or Silver: Gold. but my daughter is a silver so I have the best of both
Handbag I carry most often: Vera Bradley in green, it was a gift but I want one in black
Insomnia: no, as long as I don’t drink caffene late or eat chocolate
Job: retired and happy
Kids: 2., one daughter and one son,  there were no other choices left so quit
Living Arrangements: Married. 2 bedrooms, 2 bath.
Most Admirable Trait: How can you judge yourself?
Naughtiest Childhood Behavior: my parents were very strict, so my worst was getting so engrossed in reading a book that I did not hear them
Overnight hospital stays: The birth of the kids, havng ankle bones pinned and set, 2 arthroscopic surgeries, knee relacement, rotator cuff surgery, eye operation and stay for rheumatic fever as a child, Whew
Phobias: heights even on the tv make my stomach turn over,
Quote: from Helen Keller, “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish snall tasks as if they were great ad noble.” Wow!
Reason to smile: My husband John can always make me laugh, he really enjoys life
Siblings: one brother who is deceased, I wish I had more
Time I wake up: 6AM every morning
Unusual Talent or Skill: I am so boring!
Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: I don't think there is one that I refuse to eat.
Worst Habit: leting the housework slide to knit, sew, read, needlepoint and on and on
X-rays: Back, Arm, Head. knee, mri of shoulder and knee
Yummy Stuff: Sushi, Chocolate, iced Coffee, creme brulee
Zoo Animal I Like Most: seals, ask John what they sound like. He does a super imitation

MY NEW TOY

Actually it is not a toy. . .more a lifeline. Walking is still a chore except for short chores and of course, shopping.  But this is a dream. It has 21 gears and can go like the wind as long as I power it with my legs. Therein is the key. I have been trying to ride every day.  But I have a long way to go to be able to ride with John.  I can manage 5/6 miles per hour. . . he can average 18. But I really enjoy it. How it will be when the winter winds blow, I don't know. But I am going o find out.

Some can walk on a treadmill and knit. I can not knit while biking .  only drawback!

I'M HOW OLD?

I have always been delighted when people say " You don't look that old!". But how do you know if they are telling the truth? Age has never bothered me, basically because each age brought new adventures. I also worked for 21 years with a group 20-25 years younger than me, so I  never related to my actual age. NOW, suddenly it is time for my 50th year high school class reunion. It can't be!!

 I graduated from high school in Morehead City, NC. My father was the commanding officer of the USCG cutter Conifer at Fort Macon and we spent 2 1/2 idyllic years there in Morehead City.  While we were there an opportunity came up to become a disc jockey after school and I took it. I also broadcast from a glassed in booth at a drive in on the oceanfront. What fun!! I had a class of only 70 some so I should know everyone at the reunion.

I looked up the top 50 from those days and some immediately made a memory. Some must have been from an alternative universe. Remember 45's? Careful, you will tell your age! So here are some immediate thoughts. 
1. Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu), Domenico Modugno-I remember the Bobby Rydell version
2. All I Have To Do Is Dream/Claudette, Everly Brothers-great brother act
3. Witch Doctor, David Seville- drove me crazy
4. Catch A Falling Star/Magic Moments, Perry Como-"put it in your pocket", oh yes!
5. It's All In The Game, Tommy Edwards recorded by some of the greats
6. Return To Me, Dean Martin I can still sing this one
7. It's Only Make Believe, Conway Twitty  he never stopped singing this
8. The Purple People Eater, Sheb Wooley-don't play this again
9. Get A Job, Silhouettes- "get a job, get a job" classic lyrics
10. Little Star, Elegants an original do-wop
11. Stood Up/Waitin' In School, Ricky Nelson
12. He's Got The Whole World In His Hands, Laurie London still hear this today
13. Twilight Time, Platters - I love to  listen to this one
14. At The Hop, Danny & The Juniors my head starts bobbing with the beat
15. Yakety Yak, Coasters-" yakety yak, don't talkback" more classic lyrics
16. Poor Little Fool, Ricky Nelson didn't think much of him but a #1 hit
17. Wonderful Time Up There/It's Too Soon To Know, Pat Boone oooh those white bucks
18. Just A Dream, Jimmy Clanton not the same one as Carrie Underwood
19. Sugartime, McGuire Sisters  be my lil sugar and love me all the time
20. Rockin Robbin, Bobby Day Jackson 5 sang this also
21. Tom Dooley, Kingston Trio - I became a fan of folk music that lasts to today
22. Sweet Little Sixteen, Chuck Berry rockin on the bandstand
23. Topsy II/Topsy I, Cozy Cole what a drummer
24. Looking Back/Do I Like It, Nat King Cole the dreamiest of voices
25. Book Of Love, Monotones - I love this sound
26. Tea For Two Cha Cha, Tommy Dorsey Orch. & Warren Covington
27. Tears On My Pillow, Little Anthony & The Imperials - same with this one
28. Short Shorts, Royal Teens who wears short shorts??
29. Great Balls Of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis could not stand the man
30. Lollipop, Chordettes  oh, lolli, lolli, lolli
31. Splish Splash, Bobby Darin - "I was taking a bath" 
32. Who's Sorry Now, Connie Francis debuted on American Bandstand and straight to #1
33. My True Love/Leroy, Jack Scott you can hear this on you tube
34. Do You Want To Dance?, Bobby Freeman yes, yes, yes I do
35. To Know Him Is To Love Him, Teddy Bears oh my
36. April Love, Pat Boone- I think we all swooned 
37. Rebel-'Rouser, Duane Eddy-don't remember this
38. Oh Julie, Crescendos
39. The Stroll, Diamonds- danced to this many a night
40. Hard-Headed Woman/Don't Ask Me Why, Elvis Presley
41. Shared - Peggy Sue, Buddy Holly and Oh Lonesome Me, Don Gibson

so there are a few rememberances, I know I'll have more, lookup your year and indulge in some sweet memories.

I' m off to go back in time to some really fine days!

Fruits and Vegetables

A book found its way into my hands 3 1/2 weeks ago. It was put there by the nutrition NAZI that has taken up residence in my kitchen. No that's cruel, she is a newbie nutritionist with all the zeal of a crusader. I had often wondered what prompts someone to become a vegetarian but I never thought it  was as easy as reading a book.

My daughter has a number of allergies and food sensitivities. You know, you've heard many speak of "can't eat wheat, corn, dairy, eggs, etc."  I am due for another knee replacement in late September. So at one of her friends urging she read "The Swiss Secret to OPtimal Health" .  My refrigerator looks like the produce section at the grocery. The coffee pot is unused, the bar is closed and the sugar is out of the house. I have never felt so good.  Vegetables that I never knew existed have appeared on the table. Vegetables I never thought of eating raw are now favorites. 

My Cuisinart and steamer are almost worn out from all the activity.  Wow!. I'll keep you updated on our adventures in nutrition healing our bodies  but for now  we are all proponents of this approach.  More to come.

Knitting, biking and all that jazz

Greetings,
I truly did not realize it had been so long since I blogged. I guess I had nothing to say!!

I am bringing you today my latest Finished Knitting for Ravelympics. A deadline sometimes is a good thing. It really pushes the finishing. My good friend Cheryl and I decided on Super Bowl Sunday, while we were at a yarn sale, to knit a pair of clogs with the bounty we found. Finally Ravelympics pushed us to cast on. These were so worth it.

The ones on the left are Cheryl's and the ones on the right are mine.  I had never felted before but I had the top loader washer. We started at 1030 and finished posting to Ravelympics at 4.

In between I smelled at lot of wet wool but was fascinated as all those lovely stitches disappeared.  My clogs are not nearly as bright as shown but it was a very sunny day. Since the photo was taken Cheryl put our clogs in the dryer to felt them a little more and it worked so well. I have formed them to my feet so nicely. It is almost worth wishing for cold weather, almost.

Now I have some lovely Malabrigo that is crying to be a felted bag. I am on my way!!

just a little drink

It was a happy, sunny, relaxing soak in the pool after a bike ride.

What is that noise?


It had better not be that dog in my Budweiser again!