Caleb and Owen seemed to thoroughly enjoy watching Elf with us last evening. I think the adults were enjoying it as well … at least this one was. I think it might get added to our Christmas classics short list.
This is what I imagine every time I see companies going overboard with marketing schemes and promotions that say nothing about the quality, utility or aesthetic of the product being offered. It’s likely close to the conversations that went on (go on?) at the investment firms and banks that created the real estate crisis . . . just substitute “sub-prime mortgage instruments” for “billing errors”. I really wish honesty could trump greed more often . . . I guess that’s what heaven and hell are for.
So we decided we needed to take off some weight, Larry and I. Me more than Larry. But still. Time to get the house in order while there’s still a little bit of skin tone left to keep us from looking too much like shar-pei puppies. Larry found a great app for the iPod called “Lose It” that has become a new hobby round these here parts. After entering your current weight, sex, height, birth date and your target weight, you can choose how much you hope to lose per week (1, 1.5, 2 pounds) and it tells you how many calories a day you need and the date on which you should achieve your goal. And then you enter the food you consume during the day and it calculates the calorie count.
It’s been a revelation, y’all.
We eat a fairly healthy, varied diet and it’s been really frustrating to see the lbs. adding up. But to actually see what the caloric value of the foods that we shove in our pie-holes during the day–even those healthy “bites”– add up to has been an eye-opener. Those almonds we roast, unsalted? I now count out 14 almonds to make a 97 calorie snack. My glass (or two or three) of wine? 125 calories per. Shit. Larry’s peanut butter sandwich-bedtime snack? Diet buster. The coconut covered dates we bought at Mustard Seed? 127 freaking calories per. The vegetarian wrap I had at Mustard Seed? (spinach tortilla, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, avocado, hummus) I figured out was nearly 600 calories thanks to the crazy-high tortilla calorie count. Larry’s platter of California rolls? Equally high (thanks, white rice). See? Who knew? We are already more aware of what we’re consuming and we’ve only been doing this for a few days.
So why am I babbling about this now? Well, for one thing, I’m done obsessing about my hair: transition to natural gray is complete. It is what it is. I’m still looking for a good style, but not obsessing. So I thought if I sort of put this new eating thing out there that I’ll feel more obliged to keep it up. And I can bitch about it here ‘cuz no one really reads this on a regular basis, anyway.
That’s what we’ve been up to lately. That and slipping on the dirty-gray ice that has blanketed everything. Thank the gods the weather’s warming and it should GO AWAY in a day or so. So I’m off to prepare our vegetarian Moroccan Stew tonight, because I’ll be damned if I’ll give up my glass of house red. If I cut back on the quinoa side dish, I can have two glasses…
I remember watching Mike and Cliff play together even before we moved next door to him: Mike, green-eyed with hair bleached whitey-blond in the summer sun; Cliff, dark coffee complexion and laughing brown eyes~they looked like negatives of each other. I remember Mike, Jeff, Cliff, Daquita, Anthony and probably Missy attempting to dig a tunnel from the sidewalk to our apple tree. Oh, and throwing those damned apples. When did they grow apart? I don’t remember, exactly: I think it was when Cliff’s parents divorced and he moved away. Maybe it was a natural divergence in interests, though. Or was it race? I don’t know. Hadn’t really thought much about it, I guess. Life gets busy and it’s easy to just compartmentalize memories and move on. I’d run into Cliff’s mom now and then, and, of course, see his dad as we handled outdoor chores. We kept loose tabs on how the kids were doing, Cliff, and Anthony, and Daquita. Beautiful kids. Great potential, these kids of ours. We had seen Anthony and ‘Quita in recent years, but haven’t seen Cliff for what~10? 15? years.
And then last week we read that Clifford Cummings, Jr. had been stabbed during a home invasion and had died at the hospital. Cliff, of the laughing brown eyes and wiry frame. Cliff, who ran a recording studio now. Cliff, veteran of the Gulf War. Cliff, Mike’s childhood friend. Gone just like that.
Mike came home for the funeral, to say goodbye. When I went up to her, Antoinette just said “Don’t make me cry!” and we hugged. What could be said, after all, between us? What do you say to a mom who lost a 38 year old son to an act of such elemental violence?
I just wish we’d stayed in better touch over the years, that’s all.
I just wish I’d known Cliff as an adult.
I just wish knives and guns weren’t the goddamn go-to responses in arguments.
White Summons –
Common Pleas Court
Jurors summoned on-call for the week of December 21, 2009 through December 23, 2009: Your service for the one week period has been completed with sincere thanks of the Court for your time and consideration. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
We just got home after spending a few days in Virginia with Jean, Bob, Ben and Stephanie at the beautiful Roadruck home in the Shenandoah Valley. I don’t know what was more fun–touring the area with Ben and Stephanie as our guides, visiting the area wineries, or just hanging out at their house, watching Aida and playing “Cranium”. It was a fantastic visit, filled with lots of gorgeous Virginia scenery and belly laughs, and we can’t wait to go back.
Here are some pictures of our trip–from samplings at the wineries to the spectacular views on the Skyline Drive. Missing are pictures of Ben and Steph’s house, and all the improvements and decorating touches they’ve added since they moved in just 6 or 7 months ago–Ben’s been honing his carpenter skills and made a couple elegant luggage racks for the guest bedrooms; Stephanie has matted and framed some of her amazing photos in many of the rooms; and they’ve both worked on painting and personalizing their home so that it is warm and welcoming.
Thank you, Ben and Stephanie, for being such gracious hosts!
Watching Disney’s “Peter Pan” with Caleb while Owen & Grandpa take much-needed naps, I am surprised at the political incorrectness of a childhood fave. The depiction of Native Americans in caricature and dialect is pretty bad, and makes Cleveland’s Chief Wahoo mascot look practically complimentary. I haven’t mentioned anything to Caleb, since he hasn’t reacted or commented, but I feel some moderate culture shock. The parents won’t have to worry that next time I’ll rent “Song of the South” for the grandsons’ viewing pleasure. This was icky enough.
Speaking of culture shock, I got my Golden Buckeye Card in the mail today. Goody.
Congratulations, Sebastian. Good job. We’re very proud of you.
<click on the picture for more photos>
Kindergarten Graduation
Sebastian is top row, rightmost.
It’s been many years (35? 38?) since we owned just one car, but after due consideration, we decided it was time to downsize our fleet. The Taurus (the AuntHelenMobile) was just sold to a lovely lady from several blocks away, who is thrilled to have my white baby and will take good care of her.
So: one car again. Full circle.
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