Is There Any Hope for the Rest of Us???

Posted on September 1, 2010 by carma

Did you hear that my healthy hero Dr. Oz, was diagnosed with a precancerous colon polyp?  If Dear Dr. Oz who can do no wrong nutritionally can get a precancerous growth, how the heck are the rest of us gonna stay healthy???

Dr. Oz - My Constipation Guru

I’m back on the relatively healthy eating bandwagon, after slightly falling off at the end of my gluten free food foray.  I’m happy to hear that Dr. Oz will be ok, but this news is slightly disconcerting.  Last year I made one of those green shakes that he was raving about on his show.  I couldn’t make it past the first sip.  So if he’s been subsisting on that kinda healthy thing and STILL gets sick, I’m in big trouble…time to lay off the cheeseballs…

Speaking of health, I’ve made an appointment with a new endocrinologist for late Sept. She was kind enough to email me back and said that she also has Hashimoto’s — fingers crossed that it will be an informative visit, unlike my last one….

P.S.  Talk about unhealthy, have you seen the recent beach picture of Kelly Ripa?  eeeeegads – the girl’s skin and bones.  So very sad :-(

Posted in TV shows, health | Tagged , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Emmys & More

Posted on August 30, 2010 by carma

I didn’t catch the entire broadcast other than to glimpse at the TV while getting organized, but I do have a couple observations:

1.  Listening to the acceptance speeches makes me want to gouge my eyes out with a fork.

2. Jimmy Fallon totally rocked it – especially his Elton John and Billie Joe Armstrong impersonations.

3. One thing that was cringe-worthy:  the gay jokes, especially considering the audience.  When Lauren Graham and Matthew Perry made that gay quip when presenting, it fell completely flat, the same as when Neil Patrick Harris said that for the first time in Emmy history there were back-to-back gay hosts, insinuating that Jimmy Fallon was gay….UGH…

4. Another cringe worthy thing, Rita Wilson’s dress- oh, and shoes:

Does She Not Have a Stylist????

I don’t think it would have been possible to pick an outfit that could possibly be any less flattering…outside of spandex.

I started up again with my belly dance class tonight…and I can confirm that I don’t appear to be any better, despite taking classes with another instructor over the summer months…Sometimes you just need to come to the conclusion that it is fun to do something you enjoy even if you will never really be that outstanding.  For me, this is always a hard pill to swallow, but not as hard as those cranberry ones that always get lodged in my throat.

The folk art class was a lot of fun and I’ll be finishing up my second class this week (it is only a 2 class workshop) — We are making “angel art” – the instructor’s angels are cutesy and girly.  My style has always been more primitive in nature: Fact is, my angels are more reminiscent of Marilyn Manson.  I’ll post a pic when the piece is finished and you can see for yourself.  I’m hoping the market for Marilyn Mansonesque angels is a big one :)

Did you watch the Emmys or are you taking any interesting classes lately?

P.S. Now that I know your tire inflation habits, I’m leary of taking a road trip any time soon :D

Posted in TV shows | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

God, I’m Fun to Live With

Posted on August 28, 2010 by carma

Since I’ve been noticing a pattern lately, a pattern of people not reading blogs, I’ve decided I’m just going to post whatever comes to mind instead of planning things out, which will most likely include some of my (I’ve been told) annoying  habits.

This morning I decided it was time to check everybody’s tires for proper inflation, including the bicycle and unicycle :D since VC had already let me know those were low…(he no longer uses my hand pump since it is finicky and he ruined two tires trying to remove the nozzle)

However, on the Element, the wheel caps are such that it is impossible to use my handy dandy hand pump which I’ve used for years and permitted me to handle my own tire inflation.  Now I need to rely on MB to use his portable air tank.

So, I went out to the garage to check my tires only to notice they were all LOW!!!!!  I  have a penchant for proper tire inflation so I check them every few weeks.

This drives MB absolutely CR-A-ZY!!!!!  His actual quote from this morning:  “People have their own pet peeves in a marriage, and your’s is proper tire inflation.  I never even bothered with that until I met you.” (said with tone of deep disgust)

EXCUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSE ME!!!

I’ve seen way too many Dateline shows demonstrating the lack of handling that occurs when tires are even slightly underinflated, not to mention the increased stopping time.  It is the equivalent of driving drunk around the obstacle course.

Anyway, since he could care less, I check his tires for him regularly!!!  All he needs to do is fill (with his air tank) the low ones that I find with the pressure gauge.

Let me see a show of hands if you check  your husband’s tire inflation on a regular basis.

I thought  not.

MB should be so lucky as to have such a diligent wife ;-)   I could use a wife like me :-)

Hey, I’m really liking this type of post where I come out smelling like roses!!  Note to self:  Do more of them.

P.S. I’ve been spending less time on the computer due to a bad carpal tunnel flare up due to addressing 700+ invites at work this past week, which is why you may not be seeing me as often.

Posted in Car | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

In the Event of the Untimely Demise of MB’s Wife

Posted on August 26, 2010 by carma

In response to my previous post about the nameless wife, my invisible blogging friend from Italy, Alessandra, has been kind enough to write a proposed obituary/epitaph about me:

She was a nice, funny, lovely person.
A loving mother and wife.
She wrote very meaningful posts, for the amusement of a lot of “invisible friends”
And yes she had a part-time job too  ;)
Her uniqueness made the world richer.
We’ll always miss her wit.
May she rest in peace.

Isn’t she the sweetest?? I especially like that she included mention of my part-time job ;-)

To return the favor, I have written one for her as well:

Here lies Alessandra,
Loving mother, wife, sister* and cousin*
Friend to everyone she met (those visible and invisible)
Beautiful inside and out;
She did NOT resemble Julius Cesar when she was young (nevermind if you’ve heard otherwise)
She extolled the virtues of bidets
Mopped around her kids
Taught interested parties about Italian bureaucracy
and provided plenty more tips of the random variety
The future’s in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change…
She will be truly missed.

*I’m assuming that she has brothers or sisters and cousins; I do not know this to be factual.

If anyone else is interested in a free obituary, please contact either one of us :D

I swear I never know in what direction this blog is going to go from one day to the next!!

One direction I wish it would go is in the direction that would update my Link Within posts!!!


Posted in Uncategorized | 23 Comments

I Mean No Disrespect

Posted on August 24, 2010 by carma

…but do you find it odd all the coverage devoted to the death of Martin Short’s wife today??  It’s on the front page on my Yahoo homepage and just about every other news source.

….and do you find it further odd that the writers keep referring to her as “Martin Short’s wife” instead of using her name in the headline?

I should hope when I kick the bucket that the newspapers at least have the courtesy of using my name, rather than “MB’s wife.”  I also hope that I can come up with an accomplishment or two before then…

—————————————

P.S. Congratulations to  Lucy winner of the 16 x 20 canvas print!  Woo-hoooooooooo!

True Random Number :  11

P.P.S. Anyone else watching Shaq VS ? Gotta love Shaq when he has “a plan” :)

Posted in Current Events | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Being Bratty (Part Deux)

Posted on August 23, 2010 by carma

I don’t know about you, but I find this series refreshing.  Hey, at least I’ve moved on from vacation constipation!!

Anyagitation, this morning I had an appointment.  It was an appointment that was three weeks in the making.  I’ve made no secret of the fact that I periodically see a “life coach” ;-) to help with my anxiety (so I can avoid medication).  The appointments are few and far between, since to be honest, I’m not sure that they are all that helpful, as was probably clear from my vacation post.

I arrived a few minutes early and exchanged some friendly banter with a woman in the elevator.  I went to the office, nodded to the receptionist and had a seat.  Several minutes later it occurred to me that the “coach’s” door was closed.  It then occurred to me to ask at the desk.  Sure enough, I had been double booked for the appointment (with friendly elevator lady), or as I later found out, my appointment was non-existent since she forget to write it down.

Way to make me feel important!!!

She should be paying me to listen to my clever stories :D

I was given the option of coming back in an hour since she had a cancellation, or rescheduling.  In my mind, I’m thinking, “hmmmmmm…make things easier for her, or make her wait another week for her money.”  I chose the latter.

I figured I may as well not inconvenience myself.

I got on the highway to drive to pick up some groceries and something flew up and hit my windshield. Karma???  Luckily there was no damage, but I was stressing because MB’s went out a few weeks back.

Anyway, I have a few concerns in general, namely:

(1) That she resembles a morning show host. And when I mentioned the likeness to her she had no idea who I was talking about; yet anyone with a modicum of awareness knows who this person is – even if they don’t watch morning shows; and

(2) That I always feel like I have to go on the defensive about my blogging since I think she believes it is tantamount to “communicating with invisible friends”

Anyone else relate (to any of the above)

P.S. Still time to enter my canvas print giveaway!

Posted in Being Bratty | 26 Comments

Passion

Posted on August 23, 2010 by carma

That’s the theme for the giveaway blogs photo contest. I scratched my head and then settled on this picture which embodies my son’s passion for juggling combined with my passion for Charleston, SC. It also references his love of Ketchup :D   Enjoy.

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Juggling on the Pier, Charleston, SC

This is an entry to the giveaway blogs photo contest sponsored by Uprinting.com

*his shirt says “I Put Ketchup On My Ketchup” :-)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

There’s No Need to Ohhhhhhhh and Ahhhhhhhhhh. Really.

Posted on August 22, 2010 by carma

Here is the cabinet I found in a junk pile and repainted.  MB has taken to calling me Fred Sanford, but I swear it is hard to resist picking up cute stuff that might be a diamond in the rough. Such as this cabinet that I found in a pile labeled “FREE”:

Photobucket*that mishmosh of cabinets/hideous flooring is in our basement – don’t judge ;-)

It is a good indication that I am getting over my “Billy Bob Thornton-like Fear of Antiques,” although this piece (not an antique) was so grimy, that MB cleaned it for me with some diluted bleach before I touched it :D

After a quick coat of primer:

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and the finished product. I confess that I ran out of paint so it still looks a little rough:

Photobucket

I probably should have taken the picture from some distance away, but you know my photo issues. With hosting elsewhere it is a pain in the patootie to take the photo, resize and reload.

The reason I decided to paint it yellow was a pictorial spread in Elle Decor where designer Nate Berkus suggested that this color can add an unexpected “pop” to chocolate color furnishings, which is what I have in the family room. (I think the yellow he used was more of a pale, creamy yellow – but I had this one on hand)  In the end, though, I decided it would work best as a diabolo string/small juggling prop storage unit in the juggling area, hence the puzzle piece mat.

We decided to paint the wall Lyndhurst Duchess Blue (my, my) while VC was away at camp to cover up the scuff marks from club handles hitting the wall.  Now he is afraid to juggle there because he doesn’t want to mark it up again, which is ridiculous since it is his juggling space. I’m sure it won’t take long for the room to get some “character” once again…

Does your S.O. chastize you for picking up little “gems” at roadside? Do you like to refinish things or prefer brand spankin’ new?

Posted in Furniture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

The Dream Police They Are Inside of My Head

Posted on August 20, 2010 by carma

Yesterday’s post brought to mind another issue that plagues me from time to time — a recurring dream where somebody is pressing down on me while I am in bed and I can’t get up.

I looked in up on one of those Dream Dictionary sites (of course!) and evidently it means that you are super-stressed.  No surprise there.  The last time it happened was on our Grand Canyon trip. We had stopped in Moab, UT (if you’ve never been there, I highly recommend it!)

During the middle of the night I woke up screaming at the top of my lungs, which freaked out MB.  (VC slept through it like he does his alarm clock every day)….I think he was most concerned that someone else in the hotel would have heard it ;-)

So to summarize – now we have discovered that not only do I get constipated on trips, I also get so tensed up that I scream during the night.  I’m really fun to travel with :D —–> anyone wanna travel cross country with me to BlogHer 2011 (kidding!)

P.S. I had another lightbulb moment when I realized this also happens when I stay with family members.  (the C thing) — again, no surprise there!!!!  That’s when my stress level is ratcheted up to the MAX.  Do you get constipated when visiting your family too???? (I can tell at least 1 person is wishing I would move onto another topic, but this one is sooooo much fun!)

P.P.S. Check out my giveaway!

P.P.P.S. Yes, Link Within is showing the same 3 posts it showed the last time I had it up – and they aren’t exactly my three most stellar ones :-(

Posted in Dreams | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

Dr. Oz Is A Wise Man

Posted on August 18, 2010 by carma

Don’t scoff.  I am an occasional Dr. Oz watcher/worshipper.  I was watching the show on Monday – having gone back to bed after VC left for school. Ohhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Jealous???

It was near the end of the show during the “Ask Dr. Oz” segment that my ears perked up, as someone was asking the question I’ve wondered for years?

Why is it when you travel that you become constipated??

Any guesses?

It’s because your body tenses up so much that things aren’t relaxed enough to happen!

Exactly.  When I travel things such as getting stuck in Boston during the heart of rush hour set me off.  The rental car getting stuck in gear while driving is another stressful occurrence.  Not to mention, my mind goes on overdrive to ensure everything goes smoothly. I put the “P” in proactive.  It does lead to a ton of stress, and evidently not much pooping.

(All along, I had surmised it was because you eat foods you don’t normally eat when on vacation.)

So there you go. Another quality blog post.  ;-)

I really hope Dr. Oz is as sweet in real life as he is on the show.  Don’t spoil it for me if you know otherwise from reading US weekly…

What would you ask Dr. Oz?

Posted in TV shows | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments