An Incident Has Come and Gone

It was a dark cold night; the night before Thanksgiving Eve, and I was driving quickly down the winding road. I still had a few errands to run before we left for Cape Cod the next day, so my mind was going through lists of things still left unaccomplished.

As I rounded a sharp corner, I slammed on my brakes. There before me in the stark light from my headlights were six turkeys, running across the road. They looked rather harried and in a great hurry, and stopped only briefly before continuing on across the blacktop.

The leader was a big turkey. Heavy and well-set, with a large neck and beak. His head turned around as my headlights hit him and his eyes looked wild and determined. He quickly ushered his fellow turkeys off the road as I sat, watching, visibly shaken, at what could have only been a dangerous break-out.

Yes, that was it, I realized, as I pondered the fleeing turkeys. There was a turkey farm just up the road and I knew that these few desperate creatures had made a break for it. It was a last ditch effort to live.

My son was in the back seat and we sat in silence for a minute, as we reverenced the escape of these few birds. Unfortunately their peers didn't make it. Thousands of them went under the knife the very next day.

It was tragic, but then I realized that I too was one of those who didn't care. I was one of the masses that bought my turkey, cooked it up and without a twinge of guilt, savored the flavor and the juices of the succulent meat.

Did I report those turkeys? Did I call the authorities and have them taken back to their prison to be slaughtered the next day?


No, I didn't.


I felt that I should give them their freedom....


....And as I soaked up my gravy on Thanksgiving Day, and delighted in the flavor of this magnificent bird....I could feel proud that I had saved just a few.

A Day In My Life

There is a blog that I like to read by Jennie. It has some great information on food storage and is fun to read, to boot. Of course, she writes every day and does writing for Segullah, so she is way out of my league, but I like to read her experiences anyway.

She challenged everyone to record a full day of what they normally do. It was supposed to be last Friday, but of course, it was the last day that I could go to my show, Jane Eyre, as well as a day that I set aside to work on my new business, The Cannon Theatre, and I....well....forgot.

I also had told her that I was doing it and she didn't even list me in her list of people that were going to do it, so,.....well,....I guess that even if I didn't do it, I didn't really feel motivated because she hadn't recognized me. (did that even make sense?---hmmm)

But, what the heck, I said to myself? I don't care if anyone reads it, I thought that it might be fun....AND I DID IT TODAY!

So, here is my day: (on Monday, anyway...)

5:30 a.m.-----My hubby's first alarm goes off.

5:45 a.m.-----His alarm goes off again---I nudge him to PLEASE get up!

6:00 a.m.-----Last alarm goes off and he gets up.

6:30 a.m.-----My alarm goes off. (my clock is 10 minutes fast---so don't get confused)

6:32 a.m. I get right out of bed----I am not one of those that goes back to sleep.

6:35 a.m.----On my way to get Aydan up!

But of course, I ought to get a load of laundry in before I do that.

6:45 a.m.----Walk into my little guys room....

....and climb in for a quick snuggle. (Aydan says that I look scary in this picture without makeup!---he's right.)

6:55---Aydan gets dressed while I let the puppies out.

6:58 a.m.-----go back into Aydan's room to check on his progress----whoa! What a mess!

7:05 a.m.-----Looks much better now!

7:08 a.m.-----Aydan doing a chore, putting the utensils away.

7:15 a.m.------Breakfast of cinnamon toast, hot chocolate and scripture reading for Aydan....

...And yogurt, with oatmeal in it and my favorite hot chocolate for me.

7:30 a.m.----After getting a snack in his backpack, and all dressed up for the cold, we wait for the bus. (It was 25 degrees that day!)

7:35 a.m.------Back inside to feed the animals---Mignon and Musette first...

.....Then Shadow and Marmelade.

7:50 a.m.-----Now I read for about 15 minutes, and then....yep....I go back to sleep.

10:00 a.m.-----I'm up and I make my bed, (its an obsession with me---I can't have an unmade bed during the day) put away some clothes, then get on my work-out clothes.

10:15 a.m.-----Walk on my treadmill, and watch a DVD----usually a foreign film or some
independent film. (sometimes I do my Bowflex---you can see it in the back)

11:00-12:00 a.m.------Take a shower, find an outfit to wear, change my mind at least three times, do my hair and makeup and voila!----I'm ready to go!

12:15-2:30 p.m.-----Put sweaters on the puppies, straighten up a bit and then leave for Target---one of my favorite places on earth!

2:50 p.m.-----Arrive home and let the puppies run a bit while I take the bags in the house.

3:00 p.m.-----Aydan gets home on the bus. Maryn, my college daughter is there to greet him, as she is home for the holiday this week. (thats our house in the back)

3:05---Finally time for some lunch and time to do some e-mail checking!

3:45 p.m.----I head to my studio/theatre for voice lessons. This is the lobby area.

This is looking back toward the theatre from the lobby.

My theatre space....

....and my studio area.

This is one of my students, Nicole. ( I didn't get pictures of all of them---I forgot)

And this one is Maggie. (It looks like my turkey gobbler is coming out early---I guess that is what happens when I sing---terribly unattractive!)

7:00 p.m.-----Back home again to have dinner. I made pasta with shrimp sauce. (I had gotten the shrimp on sale at Target---I don't usually do something so fancy---if I have time to do anything at all!)

7:30 p.m.----Down time for Aydan with his Daddy----doing Math games on the computer. I am cleaning up, of course.

8:45 p.m.----Aydan is in bed, teeth brushed, and ready for prayers and lights out.

9:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.----Catch up on my TIVO from the weekend, as well as Monday's---Chuck is a favorite---and Jon and Kate Plus 8. (and I downloaded some videos on my You Tube)

My other daughter, Brinna, came over to spend the night, since she is taking Maryn down to the Cape tomorrow. (I had a picture of them, but I couldn't find it on my computer---as I had already downloaded the first ones and tried to add it later---oh, well) We are all spending Thanksgiving there----and are all looking forward to it! Finally, some time off!

I ended up staying up until about 1:30 visiting with them, and doing more computer stuff. I got ready for bed, then read for about five minutes, and turned out my light at 2:00 a.m.

That's my day!

I would like to tag a few people to do this----its pretty fun....aw, come on...you know you want to!

Hailey
Hannah
Jenny
Janene
Chris C.
Lisa
Lynne
Elly

Hmmm, I can't think of anyone else that reads my blog....and then these people don't read it regularly, so I will just wait and see....

Let me know if you do this, guys!

Stool Inspection 101

My sister, Janene, is a dietician. She is wicked smart, cute and has an amazing family....AND she is skinny to boot. You can see her life here.

One of the great things about having a dietician for a sister is that she e-mails me updates all the time about new trends in food, exercise, aging, and diet. I usually go to the links and do a quick read and some, I bookmark or print to set aside and remind myself that I NEED to start making that a habit or to remind myself why I eat wheat and whole grains when I can't stand them.

About a week ago, she sent me several links. I don't even remember what they were about, but in one of the articles I read, there were several questions about how you can tell if you are healthy or not. I always like to test myself, feeling that I will do pretty well, so I started reading the questions.

Question number two stopped me in my tracks....




**What shape should your stools be to know whether your body is healthy?**




Whaaaaaaa....... Ok, have you heard of this?

So, not only should I worry about my wrinkles, my dark circles, my spider veins, my intake of vitamins and calcium, my weight, my exercising, my gray hairs, my lack of sleep, my eating whole grains and fruits and veggies, my children, my income, and well.....you get my drift.

NOW, I have to start thinking about the shape of my poop!

Ok, so I suppose you are sitting on the edge of your.....er.....toilet.....wanting to know the answer, right? (drum roll, please)





Well, my lovelies, the answer is: "S" shaped!

You heard me right-----"S" shaped!



Ok, so now you can stop reading if you are not into potty talk. You see, I have become really "anal" about the shape, and have started checking it regularly since then. Seriously, folks---some advice when you go stool inspecting:

1. Be sure to check before you wipe, because the toilet paper covers up the shape and its hard to see through it. And lets face it---we DON'T want to try to rearrange it,......to check before flushing!

2. Try to eat lots of "ruffage" so you can have a bowel movement several times a day, that way you can check more often.

3. Ok, so I can't think of any more advice to tell you. You are on your own.


I suppose that you are all wondering if I am healthy.




Well, that's for me to know and you NOT to find out! But do let me know how it goes for you. I am anxious to see.....er.....read.....how your inspections "turn" out.

Ok, I'm All For Change, But...

...Not if it happens to be my makeup!

I get so annoyed when I have been using the same foundation or powder or my favorite eye shadow, and then they decide to stop making it or decide to change the formula that they have been using for the past....say....10 years!

I use a lot of Loreal makeup. I like their cosmetics----its not too expensive and I have always had good luck with them.

Now, I guess that I need to remind my readers that I am very high maintenance. I like to do my "face" everyday and obsess if I am caught without my makeup on.

If you need a reminder, there is this story.

Well, about a month ago, I went to get my usual face powder, as mine had run out. I usually have to get a new one about every two months. I went to CVS---the drugstore that we have out here. Yes, that is all it takes to get my makeup----go to the drugstore----easy, breezy,....yes, you guessed it....Cover Girl. (puh..lease...don't tell me that you don't know THAT commercial!)

Except that it was my favorite Loreal powder----which was now marked with these words:
"New formula!"

Ok, I didn't even question this product---I have been using it forever.

Bottom line----it sucked! I found my face getting oily after about two hours, and had to re-powder it over and over. So much for change...

Now, I have been trying to find a new powder. I have already tried the Revlon brand, and another Loreal type. I just got a Cover Girl powder yesterday and I am trying that now.
I could use some feedback to what you all use out there. I have already had to try to find a new foundation, because Loreal has stopped making the kind that I have been using for about----well, I guess its been ten years...

And....I had to find THAT particular foundation after they stopped making the foundation that
I originally used.

Oh, I am still grieving that original foundation---it covered so well, was light and gave me no breakouts, was smooth and well.....just went on beautifully. and it didn't sink into

So----PLEASE----some suggestions? I feel as if I am losing a part of myself, if my face isn't at its best out there in the world...seriously....

P.S. I am keeping a log of my outfits and makeup every day, so I can do a blog about my style now---just so you can tell how insane I am and fanatic about it----weird, I know, but thats how I roll.

A Big Week All Around

This last week started with Tech Rehearsals, then Dress Rehearsals, and finally the opening of "Jane Eyre, the Musical". It was a success!

Squeezed in between were the tryouts for my new play, "A Little Princess" at my little theatre, The Cannon Theatre.

Then to top it all off, I had a gig in Ware last night.

Where?

Ware.

Yes, I said....where?

Ware.

What? Thats what I said! Where?

Ok, so we had quite a bit of fun with this as a band before the gig started, but Rick made us promise not to use it during the show....but it was tempting.

I had to get up early for choir rehearsal at church this morning, and I must admit that I didn't think that I was going to make it through church today, as exhaustion was taking over.

I managed to make it, though, get home, eat, and take a 2 hour nap.

Now I feel ready for this week. It will seem quite like a week of leisure, after many months of rehearsals three times a week---I will be having only one rehearsal a week for my new play. Maybe I will have more time to finally do some blogging or catch up on blog reading.

I am pretty far behind.

Politically Savvy

Aydan came home a few days ago telling me that he had voted in his classroom. I had no idea that he had discussed these things in his class, and WE hadn't talked much about politics, so I was very curious to see who he had voted for.

"McCain", he replied. I sort of chuckled a bit, but since we had to leave to go to voice lessons, we didn't talk much more about it.

But, later that evening, when he was catching up on his TIVO----he likes Ace Of Cakes----there was an advertisement on about how Obama was going to raise taxes if he becomes President.

"NOW THATS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!", he vehemently stated. "Thats why I VOTED for McCain!"

I didn't want to burst his bubble and let him know that all politicians are dishonest and everything that they say in ads aren't necessarily true.

He'll discover it soon enough when he grows up....