2014 Winter Olumpic Fun

Okay -- this is going to be fun. And, who are we kidding? IT'S NOT LIKE I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO DO. The weather sucks and everybody I know is suffering fro cabin fever. So getting into the winter Olympics will be a nice diversion...

It is always fun to see the teams march in the opening ceremonies -- and the USA Ralph Lauren uniforms did not disappoint. I thought our team looked terrific...

After being criticized last time, Ralph Lauren had these uniforms made in the USA -- but it was hard to find manufacturers because most of them have SHUT DOWN because of offshore competition

The German team hit it OUT OF THE PARK.And I love the "rainbow" affect.

And HOW ABOUT ALL THAT BATHROOM drama??  The late night comedians are having a hey day with the lack of flush toilets. Just knowing that people have to put their used toilet paper into a trash can is changing the way I watch the games...(I have to hold my nose)...

Really, Russia?? 

This is what the drinking water looks like...

One reporter was disturbed when there was no running hot water in her hotel room. When they finally DID get the water to work, the hotel desk called her room to say when she took a bath, be careful not to let the water hit her face, as it could cause some burning...

Hey -- here's the first personal benefit of the 2014 Winter Olympics -- I AM SUDDENLY VERY GRATEFUL to be living where I live.  Even with the cold temperatures, and big snow drifts.  Our indoor plumbing works perfectly....And before this week, I had NO IDEA HOW GRATEFUL I WAS...

2014 Winter Olympics

I cannot believe it's been four years since the last winter Olympics. It really is bizarre when you think about it. That we sit in front of our televisions for hours on end, and cheer for people we never heard of who are competing in sports that we have never seen in person -- and likely never will. Bobsleigh, luge, skeleton? And, of course, everybody's favorite -- curling.

I told myself I was NOT GOING TO GET SUCKED IN THIS TIME...

But hey -- who are we kidding? It's been a brutal winter here in Iowa -- our temperatures are still well below zero and we have a mountain of snow outside our door...

So last night I decided to make some popcorn and, once again, immerse myself in the WINTER OLYMPICS...

And it has been very entertaining to hear about the bathrooms, and the food, and the security for the athletes...

Who can forget the excitement of Apollo Ono??? I loved rooting for him...I can hardly wait to root for the new team!

Figure skating is always a favorite. And because they have Scott Hamilton doing the commentary -- WHATEVER HE SAYS is what I think...

Last night, even before the opening ceremonies, they had the freestyle skiing event. That mountain with all the bumps...and then jumps...

While watching the freestyle skiing event -- those kids were zooming down the mountain at warp speed, their knees bouncing up and down, up and down -- then they do a flip up in the air...

I've been having some knee pain, so I said to John, "I just realized that I'll never do freestyle skiing."

John, "That's just now hitting you?"

Me:  We should have our own Winter Olympics in Princeton, Iowa.  Let's see who can get out of their Lazyboy the fastest...


 

Harry and the Native

In Tequesta, Marion and I went out for breakfast one day at a place that will go down in my life history as the BEST BREAKFAST RESTAURANT I HAVE PERSONALLY EVER BEEN TO...

Harry and the Native.  Marion knew I was going to love it...it is MY KIND OF JOINT...and I'm going to let the pictures tell the story.....

There was an inside dining room...

And an outside dining room...

Of course, a girl from Iowa MUST CHOOSE the outside dining room...and Marion agreed...

Both dining rooms had walls COVERED WITH SIGNS. I could not stop laughing...here is just a sampling....

AND THE BEST news is that the food was as delicious as the signs were funny!!

I love when this happens....You go into a place, and one look at the menu tells you there is a culinary master at the helm. An interesting menu, with fresh choices, hearty portions and beautiful presentation.

Marion ordered poached eggs with fresh fruit...

But, of course, I had to opt for the alligator hash (with poached eggs)

Biggest Loser

Last night was the Finale for the Biggest Loser. I was delighted to see that Rueben Studdard lost over 100 pounds.

Although I have watched the show all season, I didn't have a clear favorite. It was a very inspiring group of contestants -- and Tumi looked AMAZING...

There were three finalists, two guys, Bobbie and David, and a 23-year old woman, Rachel. She started the show weighing over 250 pounds...and won the show by getting down to 105....

OMG...!! WHAT HAPPENED?? Rachel looked wonderful on the make-over episode. How much time passes between the time they tape that episode and this Finale? Because this girl looked like she hadn't had a bite to eat for a very long time. It seemed like she could barely walk up the steps to the scale.  If she had to go one more day, she'd be so weak, they'd have to bring her out on a stretcher...

Gillian looked shocked when Rachel walked out on the stage...I don't think this is going to be a good thing for the show...

And it was NOT inspiring to me....(I felt so bad for her, I'm eating a sympathy Snickers even as I write this...)

Google Made her do It

I am delighted to announce that I have been invited to be part of Nancy Zieman's blog tour for her new autobiography, Seams Unlikely!!

Click on the badge on the right hand side of my blog -- if I did it right, it will be a live link and take you directly to Nancy's Blog Tour -- with all the information, and hyperlinks telling you how YOU CAN WIN A BOOK.




THIS IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN....

February 4 Nancy Zieman

February 5 Eileen Roche

February 5 Pat Sloan

February 6 Melissa Stramel

The Best Grandmas

Many of my friends are Grandmothers now. Most of us don't know how it happened -- because we NEVER thought we'd be this old. But -- there you have it.

GRANDMOTHERS....

But, truly -- it's the best job I ever had.  My generation is doing a helluva good job, and our grandchildren are SO LUCKY to have us....

Marion has taken her granddaughters to New York City. I can HARDLY WAIT...

Phyllis writes letters to her grandchildren...Patsy teaches hers how to garden and can. They BOTH share their love of sewing.

My Ya Ya Sisters are long distance Grandmas. They SENDS things, Sandy is famous for her homemade cards, Linda ALSO took her granddaughter to New York City (apparently, THAT is my standard for good-grandma-moment, eh?)...

Kathy's home has always been that soft place for her grandchildren....(and, as it turned, out, for ROSS as well)

My sister-Grandmas. Ronda had ALL her grandkids every single Monday (her only day off) for years. It was a mayhem they will never forget. Deena has a family dinner EVERY Wednesday night...now with eight grandchildren (the oldest is 6), they love the COUSIN CHAOS...

Deb took her granddaughters to New York City (yes, I know it's a recurring theme) -- and she also MAKES THEM fabulous quilts, embroiders their curtains, jackets, clothes....

Sue spent two years of her life remodeling her family's farmhouse so when her grandchildren visit, they can sleep in the upside-down room, go sledding and have the childhood memories SHE had growing up.

Pat and Violet are both Grandmas that go that extra mile. Pat has 4-year old Harper at her house once a week, they paint together, and then she hangs the art on a long hallway wall....Violet has a namesake grandchild, Violet...and of course, she provides ALL THE VIOLET clothes a child could wish for...

Here's what I really, really believe. We did the best we could while raising our children. But when you know better, you do better. And, if you're doing it right -- when you get older -- YOU KNOW BETTER. The time we spend with these precious grandchildren is what will be remembered....it's how you make a difference in this world.

Grandmothers are supposed to do the things parents don't have time for. And I don't think the job of Grandmother has EVER been as important as it is today.  Because the young parents are so busy.  Both Mom and Dad are working, and they have tons of after-school activities, not to mention all that important non-stop texting on their cellphones...

I'm just saying...the Grandmothers I know take the time to roll out canned biscuits to look like dinosaurs. They cook with their grandchildren, then set the table, and eat the meal sitting AT that table and having conversation. Pat took Harper on her first city bus ride, Judy does jigsaw puzzles in the middle of the night when Morgan can't go to sleep...

SATURDAY....!!!

For me, LIFE IS GOOD.

And I certainly know that luck has a lot to do with that. I AM A VERY LUCKY PERSON.

But make no mistake -- I also am a careful planner -- and long ago, I realized I was in charge of my own happiness.

For example -- I choose jobs I am good at, and I give 100%.  If I feel unappreciated, or the job requirements move beyond my skills, I start to get a pit in my stomach -- and I know it's time to move on.

I also believe hobbies are important.  But they're like jigsaw puzzles.  As much fun as they are -- nobody enjoys doing the same puzzle over and over again.  Which is why I love sewing and reading.  They are hobbies that have definitely morphed with me throughout my adult life...

And I have incredible women friends in my life. I value them...and we take care of each other....in sooo many important ways. But I don't keep score. I am quite happy to be the one who initiates the phone calls or visits. That's never been a problem for me.

The most important thing IS SIMPLY DOING IT.

You cannot say you are a reader if you never pick up a book. And you cannot say you are my friend if you never take the call or spend the time.

NIKE had it right. JUST DO IT is a wonderful motto for life. 90% of any accomplishment is because SOMEBODY SHOWED UP...and the older I get, the more I understand the truth of this...

Life isn't something that just happens to me.  Each day of my week has a purpose and a plan -- something-that-makes-me-happy.  And I have long lived by the rule that every single day, I do something unexpected and kind for another person.  

Monday is cleaning day (thanks, Carrie) -- Tuesday is breakfast with my Ya Ya's -- Wednesday I cook, Thursday I write -- well -- you get the idea.

And Saturday is my Bert Day. I look forward to it all week.  We start with breakfast, download our life, kick about, go to auctions, treasure hunt, do a little day-trippin. We've been doing it for over 20 years...and I'm happy to say, there is no end in sight.

Because we both know the importance of JUST DOING IT...

But my Bert/Saturdays didn't just happen.  Believe me -- there was some kicking and screaming. Both our husbands did their share of pouting...but, after years of JUST DOING IT...at this point, our families all know the drill.

So -- to honor my Saturdays -- here are some pictures of random treasure...some of it I brought home,  but, because Bert has better judgment than me, a lot of it didn't make the trip...