Weekend Recap

It has been quite a fun weekend. Roy's new camera arrived on Friday and he is one happy and excited camper. He is signed up for photography classes that begin in September. None of the following pictures were taken with his new camera. So, we celebrated the much researched and much anticipated arrival of his camera and backpack. On Friday evening Dena and I went out to dinner to celebrate her....___ birthday. Let's see, she is two years younger than me. Anyway, she picked out one of our favorite oldie but goodie places, Massas Grill. They serve the best fried shrimp and steak fries. We were a little disappointed to find that the tomatoes capresse is no longer a salad option but the raspberry endive salad was divine. Dinner conversation was not at a loss and we began contemplating our dessert options. Massa's is really good but their desserts are not calorie worthy. I mean if you are going to take a major step off the healthy eating plan, the dessert needs to be worth it. Foolishly, we thought, oh yes dessert at Grand Luxe. Ha ha ha...what were we thinking? No parking and the line waiting for a table was out the door. Plan B was Mama's Cafe. They serve some great coconut creme pie and cinnamon coffee. Perfect! After dessert, we waddled back to the car and headed to her place so that she could open her birthday gift. Had the scare of the evening while she was showing me her new computer and as I was turning to leave the room I stepped on something that made noise. First though, oh gee, I've stepped on Sassy (her cat) but it was this stuffed animal. A lion and it made all kinds of funny roaring noises. I almost wet my pants laughing so hard cause I might have set a new world record in the standing broad jump.

On Saturday morning, Dayspring our Sunday School class, celebrated Dena's and Carolyn's birthday at Pappasitta's. Yes, introducing more to the joy of the pecan pancakes. We all had a blast!

One can meet the most interesting people and decorations in the Pappasita's party room.

This is Dena and me posing for a pic.

This is Thuy, pronounced Twee. She is a blast and loves The Nord too. She's good people.

Of course a birthday isn't a birthday without the sombrerros and a Happy Birthday song at Pappasita's. No head lice were procurred from previous wearers of the sombrerro.

You be the judge. Either one of these two is very shy or one of them did not follow directions. If you guessed did not follow directions, you are correct.

Today was Back to School Sunday at Houston's First Baptist. We were asked to wear our team colors or shirts from a school we root or support. Roy graduated from LSU and University of Houston, but his "play" college he supports is Rice. I went to Southwest Texas State, now known as Texas State University and University of Houston. I was accepted at Baylor, love rooting for Rice but had to go with Old Dominion University. Why? Because they are the Monarchs. We support Team Monarch, so I ordered t-shirts from Old Dominion to proudly display that fact. Roy also wore a baseball jersey from Rice University.


These are our friends David and Emily. We went out to lunch with them after church today and had a great time. Love them! Yes, even though they wear the burnt orange, we still love them and will share a meal with them.

Ah Sunday evening, you came quickly. Sunday evenings when I worked were the hardest. It's the time when you close down the weekend and begin ramping up for the work week ahead. Tomorrow is the beginning of school for most here in the Houston area. The malls will be strangely but nicely quiet, the gym will be less crowded and Target won't be too bad until after school lets out. Summer has gone by too fast but I wouldn't be telling the truth if I told you I'm looking forward to the fall named months and the hope of cooler temperatures.

The Calm Before Shopping the Tax Free Weekend

I just got back from lunch, in The Bistro at The Nord. A fellow traveler on the journey of heart issues and I met. We talked about a lot of stuff but there was a smattering of shop talk of the heart kind in between our other subjects. There is all such manner of topics, meds, doctors, little chest pains here and there, fears, prescribed life changes and the such. Since we both have slimmed down considerably, we loved talking about smaller sizes. In fact after lunch we celebrated smaller sizes by doing some shopping on level 2 in Point of View. Even thought the special of crab mac and cheese was tempting, we both made the right choice of the crab stack. We sat there in my favorite booth in The Bistro and reveled in the generous gift of God of extending our lives and enjoying and giving our gratitude to Him for such a wonderful day. We were ensconced in that booth and several times as we compared our journeys and reminded ourselves of our treasured friendship, it likened the thought and comparison of the deep bonds that form in bunkers and trenches of those involved in war. Although we didn't do this verbally, as we talked and gave all glory to God for His goodness to us in the land of the living, we could have shouted...or maybe just said, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26





It seems life is to be lived in rhythms not balance. We need to be more in tune with the ebb and flow and seasons or even trans-seasonal times. It is more about managing our energy than it is about managing our time. It is being fully aware of what God is doing or saying to us. The other night David Jeremiah said something so interesting. He named Moses, Elijah, Job, the disciples and a few other Biblical people whose names now escape me and David J made the point that God spoke to them out of the storm. David Jeremiah said, when we are in a stormy season, know that the Lord is speaking to us, we have to stop listening to the wind, the thunder and storm noises to hear His voice and listen to the wise word He has for us. Speaking for myself, too many times I am running away from the sounds of the storm because storm noises can scare me. I'm seeking shelter instead of seeking Creator God in the midst of the storm.





Nordstrom and The Galleria in general had a calm about it today. Everyone is waiting to descend upon retailers tomorrow to start off tax free weekend. The mall had the feel of everyone already being back in school. Even Macy's was good. There must be a customer service emphasis at the Macy's in The Galleria. Customers are greeted from all over the store. They are even using paper shopping bags. Those bags are like gold, Jerry, gold. There is not a bag to spare, no spare bags except for huge plastic things that don't really do the job. Today, the Galleria Macy's didn't have what the Memorial City one has in some merchandise I was interested in purchasing. Wow, they ordered it online for me and included free shipping. Macy's is getting all Nordstrom-like. Very nice!



I leave you with this fun video. This could so happen in the parking lots and parking garages in and around Houston. Be careful out there all you brave ones attempting tax free weekend.

I Can't Take Another Sad Animal Story Right Now

With heat advisories in Houston and experiencing mid day energy depletion while out and about running errands, it is no wonder that I have been reading like a wild woman, indoors. I've been knocking off books in my to be read pile in record time. I started a new book yesterday and had to stop reading it when the main character accidentally shoots her dog. Maybe I will try to start it again but I don't know, it is tough getting past that. Over the weekend I read a book that I've anxiously waited for the release of, Let's Take the Long Way Home, a memoir of friendship. On the inside of the jacket of the book is this quote, "It's an old, old story: I had a friend and we shared everything, and then she died and so we shared that too." So, I know going in one of them dies so I was braced for that moment, but what I wasn't prepared for were words concerning the long time four legged friend of the writer and that precarious adventure. I was crying, ugly crying on Sunday night as I finished the book. Dang it, I was saddened by her friend's death but totally unprepared for the rest of the story. Last night I began Laura Bush's book and I really like it so far. Nothing sad better happen to an animal in her story, I just can't take it right now. It is strange how we can or how I can get so moved by animal stories. Maybe I was more sensitive because Buddy the cat has been much more loving and affectionate lately. She cannot get enough of me, my lap and having the side of her head rubbed.


This morning was my monthly massage with Diane. She has done a wonder with my shoulder. Her deep tissue massages are the bomb and it grieved me something awful to tell her I didn't think I could take it today. Being on blood thinners and bruising easily made that decision for me. It was still good. After drinking an Energizer smoothie, I was off to Anthropologie with a 15% off birthday coupon for my total purchase. I've had my eye on some small plates and bowls and a few other fun things. Of course I had to stop at Barnes and Noble, since I was so close. It was not a wasted trip. Now I'm fight the urge to nap.


Roy bought some purple hull peas on Saturday morning at the farmer's market and I made them on Sunday evening. So tonight, we will have the last of the leftovers, along with sliced home grown tomatoes. Nope, I didn't grow them but somebody at their home did. And it has been ever so delightful to have no sugar added ice cream with strawberries. We eat them according to the correct portion, so you know that means about a 1/2 cup of ice cream and a whole bunch of berries. No animals were hurt in doling out the half cup portion.

Quiet Thoughts

On Monday I had lunch with two friends from my tennis playing days. Only Patt is still playing tennis. Seems like so many that were so gung ho about tennis, myself included, no longer play. Many have taken up bridge or golf. There is only so much pounding you can take and I'm not talking about feet on the tennis court. At the time I played, tennis politics took up too much time and energy. At the end of our lunch we pulled out our calendars and made another date for lunch. Loved that! Typically, that is how every match ended when everyone would pull out their calendars and start throwing out dates months in advance to make games. Roy told me when I was in the early days of recovering from myocarditis that he was so glad he didn't have to make phone calls finding subs for all my tennis games.


This week I've been easing back into a routine of having "something" every day. A lot of my summer schedule has been numerous Dr visits for various reasons. Most days I'm able to ease into the day and most importantly keep stress to a minimum. It has been good for the body and mind but it tends to make me a little more boring. Oh well... This week I was scheduled to go back to the specialist but he had to reschedule due to a conflict. That is fine by me because it is giving me more time to adjust to the new meds.


The journey I've been on has created quiet in me. I am content. The unnecessary "fight" in me has dissipated. That is not to say there isn't "fight" in me to function, live and be healthy, there is. It is the unnecessary "fight", nothing more than an energy thief that now seems to ebb more than it flows these days. In Isiah it says in quiet and confidence is your peace. The New Testament encourages us many times to seek peace, to pursue peace. So peace is a hard sought state and if it is going to be experienced consistently, it it pursued constantly. I've come to realize it is not a balance but a rhythm. I was telling a friend last night that these days I feel more like who God really created me to be. I'm comfortable in who I am in Christ and that overflow has helped put to rest all those things I thought I had to be. A little example is this: God created me funny...no that doesn't sound right, let's see...He created me to be humorous. That's better! I don't crave the stage, never really have, I'm more comfortable being humorous in conversations or in writing. Wednesday night Peggy and I did a promotional thing for the choir. It was fun but while I was on the stage I remember thinking, "what in the Sam Hill am I doing up here?" On the physical side of things the next morning I found myself with several large and painful bruises from the slap stick. I knew that since part of the parameters given to me health wise is to stay away from bruising, that for this season I will need to step back and let others take to the stage. And I'm not upset about that at all.

The idea that my blog has to be intentional in delivering biblical truths or holding forth a lesson for others is found in this quiet. If God uses anything here, to Him be the glory. I'm just sitting here sharing life and not waiting to be discovered by the thousands. This is a pleasant avenue to put some thoughts together, sometimes serious, sometimes random, sometimes funny and sometimes unnecessary. Then I have them put into book form and they are in the midst of my journals and the blog presence is to take the edge off. I would like my descendants to know that life wasn't always about the hard and difficult, which journal writing tends to drift toward, but there are many more days of joy, gratitude and experiencing generous days.


There are other areas that God is creating a change in but those aren't for the old Monablog. But the quiet going on inside of me is quite refreshing and welcomed.

What Comes First a Chicken or a Laughing Cow?

Roy and I are back on the straight and narrow path after taking a few detours and side trips that happened during the birthday week. It was encouraging after Wednesday's breakfast of two donuts and later that evening when dinner concluded with dessert, that I missed the simple foods that are the staples of our eating plan. On Thursday I was happy to go back to yogurt and fruit and no real sugary dessert after dinner. Now Friday night, a little side trip at Taste of Texas in the arena of bread was a delightful jaunt and apple crisp with cinnamon ice cream was a delicious diversion. Although it was fruit and the cinnamon in the ice cream helped to stabilize my blood glucose. I have real estate in the swamp to sell as well....


So, tonight for dinner I thought Nancy, well I could have thought Susan but I wouldn't have responded, Nancy why don't you make a delicious dinner of toast, tomatoes and egg beaters? I decided that instead of having a dinner from My Fit Food, I would make scrambled eggs and use egg beaters. Now something that I have found that works so well with the egg beaters is a wedge of low fat/low calorie Laughing Cow Cheese. And since I didn't have enough egg beaters to make a serving, I added one egg to the mixture. Now, have I ever mentioned that I have the attention span of a gnat? So sometime during getting my low calorie whole wheat bread into the toaster and returning to the scrambled egg mixture on the stove, I completely forgot about using egg beaters and adding the Laughing Cow Cheese. Since I forgot this vital information I began stirring the mixture and this thought pops into the old brain, "what is that white stuff there amongst the eggs?" Remember, I am forgetting I added cheese, using one real egg and the remaining mixture is egg beaters and of course I freak out. Oh my goodness, this is a HUGE chicken embryo that has been developing inside the egg. Oh no! I just participated in the abortion of a small baby chick! Oh and being the Bible scholar of weird and strange verses, of course this verse comes to mind. It comes to mind because it kind of, in a funny kind of way, has been my life verse during the past two years while I've been losing weight.

"Don't people complain about unsalted food? Does anyone want the tasteless white of an egg? My appetite disappears when I look at it; I gag at the thought of eating it." Job 6:6-7


I began to gag and choke a bit. I was in a hurry to dump this mess and retreat to the safe knowing of My Fit Food. Suddenly it hit me. I was reminded, oh yes, this white blob is not an aborted baby chicken, it is merely the by product of a laughing cow. Man, I began to laugh because this is not the first time I have had this happen while preparing scrambled eggs. A good reminder to Roy and to me, it really isn't safe for me to be alone in a kitchen preparing food.

Pictures From the Week

Here are a few pictures from last week.

Here are my Pappasita's Brunch Bunch


This is from Thursday at the Nord. Lisa P and I celebrated my %^ birthday. She is pouring some delicious Orange Dulce tea.

Friends know what ya love and Lisa P knows I love me some good jammies. How much better to have little lambies on my jammies, cause I love lambs.

Here we are after our lunch and the mess that is tissue paper. The bag says Rock On and we did.

Another view of the Pappasita's Brunch Bunch. I believe a few became believers in the goodness that is pecan pancakes.

Peggy and Lisa P ordered from the bar... pink lemonade.

Peggy observed that if she had raised the glass just a little more, it would look like Lisa was drinking from the nose.

This is Michael. He was our waiter at Taste of Texas on Friday evening. Dena and I celebrated my %^ birthday. It was all good. If you know Dena, there is always a to go box in her hand when she leaves a restaurant. Not this time.

Here we are on the way to licking the platters clean.

Today I Am %^ Years Old

Today I am %^ years old. Buddy Lee and I share a birthday but she is only 3, I mean #, today. She might be younger but I think I'm getting the better celebration on our birthday. This morning Roy got up early and made a donut run to Shipley's. During the past year while losing weight the only food and this is only if donuts are considered a food, that I craved was iced cake donuts. Believe me, my Simpson's watching has been curbed because in almost every episode Homer has a pink iced donut....argh....donut. Sorry, had to stop my drooling. So this morning because it is my birthday, Roy went out and brought home iced cake donuts for my birthday breakfast. Can I tell you they were delicious! Yes, I ate two. Anyway, I ate them with a knife and fork to prolong all the goodness of those cake donuts for as long as possible. My long time friend since high school, Mary Madeline, called this morning and we had a fab-u-lous time visiting. The Facebook birthday wishes have overwhelmed me with such kind words. I am most blessed with wonderful friends!

Tonight Roy is taking me out to dinner. My choice of place was made solely on a dessert choice. I did think to weigh this morning before tackling a day of forbidden sugar and I have lost another pound. Makes the total of 127. Of course tomorrow's numbers will be totally different both weight and blood glucose wise. But, I know it is only one day that I'll be taking part of stuff that is not normal consumption for me these days.

For a change of pace work out wise, I did some cardio in the pool yesterday morning. It was tight timing in between the two groupings of old ladies that monopolize the pool and won't let you read because they want conversation. While drying off I did visit with Fern. I'm thinking of going out there again today but I missed the morning window of time, so I will opt for the afternoon slot after the old ladies retreat and before the young people converge.

Love that later this week I also have a couple of birthday dinners with friends. Ya gotta love the extendomatic birthday. Well, I just got a call that flowers are being delivered and they are in the office. Since it is my birthday I'm still in my jammies. Guess I better get dressed or throw on my bathing costume complete with cover up and get on down there and pick them up.

Maybe I will wake Buddy up from her second mid morning nap and give her some birthday treats. She'll think the flowers are for her because she is always interested in flowers in vases.

Thoughts on the Back Burner

Another morning breakfast at Buffalo Grille. After early morning Dr appointments I go there at least for toasted cinnamon coffee and sometimes a complete breakfast. Most mornings Buffalo Grille is crowded but it was especially crowded this morning. Could it be the right combination of business breakfasts or after work out breakfasts and school's beginning soon so let's all go out to eat? Yes, it seemed so. Most mornings Buffalo Grille looks like a male private school only in dress. Almost every man eating there has on khaki pants and a light blue shirt. I have no reason to go to business school because I have become quite business savvy in the loud overheard discussions among the men who breakfast.


After breakfast I headed out to the Land of Sugar for a much needed haircut and highlights. I ran a few errands out there before my hair appointment. The added surprise of running into a tennis buddy at Whole Foods really made my morning. Kathleen doesn't play much tennis anymore but she was always one of my favorites to play with back in the day. We had a few moments to get caught up and of course we made those never going to happen lunch plans. For many of us the reason we played tennis was just to go out to lunch afterwards. After all the hair stuff I stopped in at Super Target. I cut short the trip because of all the back to school crowd. Also stopped at the Christian bookstore and Academy.

Meanwhile Roy had taken the day off because the replacement foundation of our bed was being delivered today, the dryer repairman was coming, our front door was getting fixed and a light fixture replaced over the sink. The electrician never showed but everything else was taken care of. Since I hadn't had lunch and it was getting into senior citizen dinner time, Roy went and picked up a thin crust veggie pizza and it was absolutely delicious.


When the morning dawned and I was privileged to have a few moments to think, pray and process. I had some deeply spiritual matters that I thought I might bring to the blog today. As the day has moved on, those deeply spiritual matters have taken a back burner in my mind. Maybe for another day or maybe not.

Not Much to Report-Now There's a Catchy Title

Hostess 100 calorie cupcakes I heart you. Skinny Cow Carmel Truffle drizzled with chocolate ice cream bar, I heart you. Those two items are so very needful in helping me stay on track in losing weight. As of this morning I have lost 126 pounds. I'm getting closer and closer to the goal. Seems a bit of a slow down in the journey, but that's fine by me. It gives me time to begin changing my mindset from losing to maintaining. That will be harder, maintenance.

The past few weeks have been transitional weeks because of the addition of new meds with tighter dosages and milligrams. Each time they increase the dosage, a huge headache comes with it. I've also experienced my blood glucose dropping, severely and quickly. The worst incident happened on Monday and it nearly wiped me out. I go back to the Dr on Friday, so we'll see how things are going. On a positive side, I treat myself to breakfast at Buffalo Grille after each appointment. If that cinnamon toasted coffee doesn't put you in a happy mood, well that is if you are a coffee drinker, I don't know what will.

A trip to the Nord was in the plans this morning. I had 2 pairs of pants and a shrug that are too big for me now. So back they went. I also had some Nord Notes with me and with some of those I bought Angel Innocent and some leggings. Much to my surprise, it was raining when I came out of the store. I thought all the rain was coming yesterday. It's Houston, so weather can always be a surprise.

Well, there are some books calling out to me so I had better go read.

It Was A Dark and Stormy Night

I like these pictures that Roy took the other night before we had a bit of a storm and some rain.

Domestic Diva...Well The Closest I'll Ever Be to Being One

This past weekend may go down as my most domestic weekend ever, well in giving domestic advice. In the span of 24 hours, first, I gave sound wisdom to a friend on why she should buy a Dyson vacuum cleaner. Macy's had several models marked down to some of the lowest prices I've ever seen this past week. I gave another friend my recipe for purple hull peas. Then Roy and I cut and froze the freestone peaches I bought on Friday for another day when the only good fruit choices in that season is apples and oranges. And although this isn't considered domestic, I did get a tech like question about computers on Saturday evening by another friend. And surprise, I actually could answer it! Being on the domestic diva roll maybe I should have done a few other domestic duties. Nah, I was worn out after all my domestic goodness. Ironing sheets will just have to wait...for a long time...maybe the 12th of never and that's a long, long time.

Part 2 Sunday Morning

Part 2 of Sunday morning. I think this might be the last stand of ancient carpeting of First Baptist Church. Come to worship the Lord but be amazed by the many types, colors and sometimes downright ugliness of the floor coverings of Houston's First Baptist. A couple of years ago I did a post on the different styles of carpet and wondered if maybe we were the display area for Carpet Giant or Jack's Carpeting. But I do know the red squares is original to the church. Roy didn't take this picture for the carpeting but for the sun beaming through the lower windows. I really like this picture but had to say something about the early ugly.


Now we are outside the Fellowship Center. See, there are two different styles of carpeting in this picture. Remember it is early because this coffee station is a happening place once all the people are coming in for Bible study or a service. Beige carpet on one of the most heavily traveled hallways...who if anyone was thinking this out because of the wear and tear and massive coffee stains that have to be happening.

Sound check. Roy took this picture when he was supposed to be praying for the services, but I'm glad he did.

Here is the choir in the 9:30 service. We are wearing our Houston Project t-shirts.

Emily and I like to sit and sing together. That's Emily on my left and she also was my raft riding partner a few weeks ago. We look like we know what we are doing.

Here is Lisa P. This is about the best picture of her. Roy said he couldn't focus on her long enough to get a good picture. It is true that Lisa P can move but it is also true that Roy is the longest focus-er in the universe.

I'm not puckering up for a kiss but it is one of the many oohs in our songs. Oohing might just be my strong suite.

Sunday Morning

Thought I would post a few pictures Roy took as he walked to church last Sunday morning. He arrives to Houston's First Baptist early because he prays in the Worship Center for the services. Roy does this every Sunday.


Here is our hallway at about 7:45 AM. Well, it's our hallway all the time not just at 7:45.

Walking on our street.

Our condos actually look like multi floor townhouses but they are not.

Roy has arrived on campus.

This was not taken at 10:00 AM when there isn't any parking. Come before 8 and you get your choice of spots. Although now that I have written that, it is counter intuitive to the request that we park off site.

Roy takes pictures of birds and trees because he knows how happy they make me.

Freeway construction has been finished for several years. We are happy that the traffic isn't as bad as it once was. Of course on Sunday morning this isn't really busy until after church.

Thursday Thoughts Once Again

This week in the late night hours I've been awakened by the joy-filled styling of a song bird. The little bird has a great repertoire and sings straight through for about 45 minutes. The singing coincides with moonbeams streaming through our bedroom windows as the moon is in perfect relation to beam its reflecting light right onto our bed. I always want to wake up Roy so that he too can revel in God's nature exhibition going on in our home, but he has an early wake up most mornings and I don't think he would appreciate it. He seems to like the stories the next day when I'm describing all the brilliance and the song rejoicing of God. Besides, Roy has never said next time that happens, wake me up.


Last night I booked our May vacation for 2011. Instead of going to the Biltmore, we are going to Rosemary Beach. We got our confirmation this morning from the owner of the cottage. She said May is a great time to be at Rosemary. Roy and I are both excited about the trip. Since my tanning days are long gone, he is really happy that I'll not be requiring an extended amount of tan time each day. As for the Biltmore, we are considering a before Christmas trip. It will all depend on scheduling and my health if we go this year or next.


I finished reading The Swan House and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Immediately I began reading The Dwelling Place which is a sequel to Swan House. The characters from Swan are now adults with adult aged children and there seems to be some issues from the past that are coming to the point of resolving.


The next few weeks holds several Dr appointments. After Tuesday's blood work they have upped my dosage on a new prescription. It is a good thing that food relates to me as fuel right now. There are so many new, even healthy items, that I cannot have much of as long as I'm on these meds. Fluid intake is another thing to monitor. If I drink too much water it makes my heart work too hard. So it is a tip toe kind of thing. One ubiquitous theme seems to be that all medicines now come with a warning of 'may cause dizziness'. Every single one of my 8 plus prescriptions says this. When I get my highlights later this month, I'll ask Stevie if we should go a lot more blonder so that I will fit nicely into the description of dizzy blond.


I was learning some info from a friend in trying to help me decide if I would upgrade sitemeter or not. Leaning towards not. Personally, I'm beginning to use Google Reader much more. I've always used it to read some blogs but mostly I still read the old fashioned way by clicking right onto the blog. A lot of blogs come to my email and I read them there, but it seems stilted. Google Reader speeds up the process but it is like holding a book instead of E-reading. I know I have a lot of readers that read the old Monablog on Blogger, Google and other readers. In the less personal world of online socializing there is something more personal about clicking onto the actual blog each time and checking in with a friend whether I have met them in person or not. Just some thoughts rolling around the brain this morning.


Roy asked me what I would like for my birthday and without thinking I quickly responded an iPad. He has wanted to buy a Kindle for me for the longest time but now I'm thinking that it would be worth the extra money to have something that does more than the Kindle. Anyone want to weigh in on an opinion?


This fall Roy is going to take a photography class on Saturdays. He is beyond excited about this. Since buying a Canon Power SX 20 for his trip to France in the spring, he has blossomed in his mad picture taking skills. Thus he is upgrading to some big honkin' fast camera with multiple lenses soon. Probably before the class. Wait there isn't any probably about that. His pictures bring me great joy. Last Sunday he did a photo thing on his way walking to church. Love them! Need to post some here and onto Facebook.


Once again I'm cleaning out drawers of too big clothes that will make their way to Faith Center or Goodwill. All this weight loss is making me look like a neater more organized person. Key phrase, look like. So far 124 pounds lost. So, the blogging diversion is soon finished and I'll have to address those drawers. Maybe first, I should read a chapter in The Dwelling Place and then work on drawers. Yep! Sounds like a plan.

Breakfast at Tiffany's...I Mean at Pappasita's

Now in times past my thought of a great Saturday morning was sleeping in, easing into the day and taking it easy. Since we've begun our Saturday mornings at Pappasita's, I believe the perfect Saturday is one that begins with pecan pancakes, chips, and ice tea. Ah yes, Pappasita's you've made a Saturday early riser out of me. Well, not that early of a riser, but most Saturday mornings you can find Roy and me, oh beginning about 9:45 or 10:00 at the Pappasita's on I-10. This past Saturday we changed up our menu items somewhat but of course my breakfast is including pecan pancakes. I cannot tell you how excited and thrilled I was when I saw Susan Kirby and her friends make their way to a table. I was really excited and wanted to rush right on over, but you know, I acted all cool and waited...at least until they had been served chips and salsa. Then I made my way over to say hi.

These are not the best pictures because they were taken with my BlackBerry, but they contain the message, if not a blurry message. These are the delicious pecan pancakes. I do not use all the butter and bring sugar free syrup to cut down on calories. This is my indulgence each week and as soon as I have taken the last bite, I'm already looking forward the the next Saturday.

Roy ordered the huevos con carne this week and instead of fried potatoes he got fresh fruit. It was great fruit. None of that hard honeydew melon or watery cantaloupe.

Now this picture was not taken on Saturday but at the Inn on the Biltmore Estate. The picture I took of Roy did not turn out well, so I substituted this. Just like he substituted fresh fruit for fried potatoes.

How do I love thee pecan pancakes? Let me count the ways.

This is Daisy. She is awesome! She is from the New Orleans area and came to Houston during all the Katrina happenings. She is funny and she is a great waitress. She gets the credit for getting us to Pappasita's on Saturdays. I mean I feel sorry for all those waiting for tables at Denny's, IHOP, 59 Diner and Buffalo Grille.

This is Nathan. He is awesome too. He is the fastest waiter on foot. We saw him run next door one Saturday to get butter from Pappadeux and he was sprinting by the time he came back into Pappasito's. We kind of messed him up this past Saturday by changing our menu choice, because we don't usually use or need any stinkin' menus.

I think this is Sherry. She made me go through a list of potential friends we might know before getting to post this picture, that she posed for. I could not publish the actual eating of the pancakes, let's just say ever see fish in a feeding frenzy? Enough word pictures. I love that they had the pancakes as an appetizer. I am duly impressed!

Here are Susan and friends. They were celebrating Jena's birthday. Right after this picture was taken the wait staff came with the sombrero and the Happy Birthday song and complimentary dessert. I mean really, what a way to have breakfast. Breakfast at Pappasita's includes all the best of both worlds, chips, salsa, tomatilla sauce, pancakes, eggs and bacon or jalapeno sausage.

So when you are feeling a little Luke 24:41- like when Jesus asks the disciples, "Do you have anything here to eat?" And if the answer on a Saturday morning is just some Lucky Charms, Count Choculha and 3 day old milk, be like Martha, be a whirlwind and get on down to Pappasita's. Then sit there like Mary, for you will have chosen the one thing needful, well, needful to start a great Saturday.

Not all Pappasita's do breakfast on Saturday mornings. Please check with your local Pappasita's. I do know for sure the one at I-10 and the Beltway serves on Saturday. I also hear the French Toast is delicious. I can't bear to try it because that would mean I'd have to do without pecan pancakes. Guess I need to be more like Abraham and leave the land of sUR-up on pecan pancakes and have faith that the land of French Toast and sUR-up would be a blessing too.

Anniversary Sale at The Nord 2010 Edition

Pictured above is the delicious crab stack that I had for lunch at Nordstrom today. It was just the right ingredients to provide energy and strength for the difficult task of shopping the first day of the Anniversary Sale. In past years I have participated in the presale but to tell you the truth, I have no clue what size I will be in the fall, so that wasn't going to do me any good. I really thought I might try to make the 8:00 A.M. opening, but got there a little after 9:00. I still scored my favorite parking place and that in itself was kind of surprising. My first stop in the store, the jewelry department. I got a watch and a pair of earrings. Then I went to the handbags and found a yellow purse on sale. For over a year, I have been on the search for a yellow handbag and found it today, along with a small evening purse that will go with just about any outfit. I don't need one too often but it is nice to have one now. Since it wasn't very busy, I went to the men's department and got Roy 3 shirts. Had to bring something back for him. Got some birthday gifts purchased and it was just about then I realized I was starting to feel a little low blood glucose wise, so I stopped in at The Bistro for an early lunch.


Round 2- Took my bags out to my car and then went back into the store because I hadn't even hit the second floor yet. Tricky trying on clothes but between Mary (works in Narrative) and me, I think we picked out pants, jackets and a couple of tops that will last me well into if not past winter. I don't need a whole lot of dress up clothes since most of my fall and winter days are spent in work out clothes. Left the dressy pants there for alterations, they are letting down the hems.

I think I will have several Nord Notes to add to my collection after today's purchases. You don't use them during a sale when you get double points. I go back and use them while the sale is on but the double point promotion is over.

I was very lonesome today because Lisa P and I usually hit this together. Our favorite booth in the Bistro today had two girlfriends eating lunch, one was black and one was white. Gave me such a gratitude moment to God for that special sight. Texted Lisa P right then to share this happy reminder of us. We'll be there together laughing, talking, shopping and eating soon.

Adventure Has Just Begun and It's Not Too Bad

Like many of you knew better than me, I survived the trip to and from the medical center yesterday. For assurance, I used my GPS on my phone. It was sort of amusing to use it since the only other time I put it to use was several Fridays ago when I-10 was flooded. Again I used it more for back up as Dena took us through a heavy industrial area and for me, scary back roads of Houston. Of course Sharona Sprint, that's what I called the voice giving me directions to the medical center, was having to do a lot of re-routing and new route announcements because I was not taking her advice of using freeways to arrive at my destination. In all the medical center traffic, I was so thankful that Roy and I had made the dry run several weeks ago because I saw two times where I would have messed up. This would have been going into the wrong parking garages. The sidewalks are full of pedestrians and most of them, old. My out loud mantra, along with discussing my route options with Sharona was, if old people can do this, I can do this! Now to many of you, I am old. No, I'm talking about people who shuffle their feet while wearing sensible shoes and have on their winter clothes because they are cold. On a side note, I know so many of you all are surprised about the detour, something that is really interesting is the role changes that come along with age. When men are young, they seem to have much more say and control over family health issues and decisions. The family is leaning on them for help and wisdom to get through the illness or deciding on the options for successful results health wise. Seems like the very old, who are also very early for their appointments, are now guided along by the woman. In the Dr offices I've been in recently, this phenomenon has become more apparent, at least to me. Those old women are bossing their men about. They tell them where to sit, then tell them to go up to the receptionist window and pick up business cards, and just as the man slowly begins to sit down again, the woman tells him to go back up to the window and correct their sign in time to several minutes earlier. If there is any paperwork to be filled out, God help that man because his wife is telling him what to write, giving him all the dates of his surgeries and illnesses and in a fit of aggravation, takes over the form filling out but directs the man to go back up, again to the receptionist, and ask for a better pen. Older women rock in the waiting room.


OK, now where was I in the original thought, oh yes, found valet parking and was into the building in a breeze. The wait in the waiting room was expedited because all the million and two forms had been filled out at home. In a flicker of time I was escorted back to the small patient room and I was leaving behind an older couple. The woman leaped into action by making the short trek to the receptionist area in record time, declaring that they had been waiting longer than me. I barely heard the reply of, "Mrs._______, your appointment isn't until 3:00." I was tested, listened to, and talked with for just about two hours. Almost all the nurse practitioners and medical techs in the office are male. So every time the door opened I thought it was the Dr. After all the tests and talks, both to me and to the referring Dr, the cardiologist came in and visited with me about my heart and the path we're taking to remedy some of the long going issues. Now this post has gone on for a bit of time, so I'll share the first step in the journey. First thing to be addressed is my irregular heart beat. I'm at a very high risk for stroke and he was surprised I hadn't had one in the past two years with all the irregular that's been a lifestyle of late. The silver lining in driving to the medical center and the stress that it caused gave the medical staff a great opportunity to hear and test that old familiar out of sync beat. Awesome, because my heart seems to get shy or it straightens up for a lot of my appointments. You could see it beating, lurching and vibrating all over the place. The process will take several months and if all is successful, we'll move on to the next issue to be addressed.


This is the building that the Dr's office is in. While attending Rice baseball games, I've taken many pictures of that building and the surrounding skyline. Of course, I can't find any of the pictures.


This is the view I had from my small waiting room. It is the stadium where Rice plays baseball. In between things I took this picture and sent it to Roy. During baseball season Roy would like me to coordinate my appointments with Rice's baseball schedule and he would be oh so happy to accompany me to those appointments. He seems genuine only in his love of college baseball by his request. Roy is very caring and proactive in my health care and well being. Ha, just wait until we start wearing sweaters every where and show up for appointments way too early, he will happily find his role has changed if my observations prove correct.

An Adventure I Would Like to Experience in the Burbs Not the Med Center

I awakened this morning and discovered I was involuntarily shaking and shivering like I was cold. Buddy was trying to help by sleeping close to me. Wait, she was probably cold and just using me for added warmth. Or could she be like the cat in the nursing home because she slept by my side all night. In the summer, her habit is sleeping at the end of the bed. Odd thing, I wasn't cold yet I couldn't stop the shivering. I think it was all those pent up nerves from weeks of knowing that today is when I foray into the dreaded Medical Center. If you have time around 1:15 that's when I will begin travel to my appointment, please say a prayer for me. I'm not nervous about the appointment, I'm nervous about finding my way to and hoping it is not full, valet parking. The stress of the parking garage totally overwhelms me. I didn't used to be this way. Now, if I have to gut it up and do it, I will. Oh my... If you work in the Medical Center, I am putting you on alert to stay in your offices for you own safety for the afternoon.


Yesterday, I had a massage and it felt so good after experiencing sore muscles from riding behind the jet ski on a raft. Diane really attacked my shoulder and back muscles. Very nice. Afterwards I made a quick trip to Anthropologie and found a couple of sale items that needed to come home with me. On my way home a stop at Barnes and Noble seemed to be in order. Of course some books came home too.


I'm just going over all the papers and records that I'm taking with me to the Dr office. I felt like I wrote a thesis when it came to the medical records part. Just made an official list of all the medications and vitamins I take. I'm lucky to have any morning time after reading everything that has to be taken in the A.M. Not trying to be a Dr pet or anything, but I also included my weight loss, nutrition information and work out schedule with and without a trainer. I've even thought ahead and will wear a button blouse with a cami just to make things easier for all. It sounds like I'm obsessed with this appointment and maybe there's some truth in that statement, but I'm anticipating answers and paths to keep my heart in the best shape possible, for the longest time possible. I have hope, peace and joy in the Lord (of course). People, there are too many "to be read books" in my pile and I'm going to read them all.