7 Quick Takes (Vol 9)

It's Friday again and time for Quick Takes. Make sure that you go over to Conversion Diary and see what everyone else is saying.

-1-

Ever have one of those weeks where you just can't find your "blogging voice", if you blog that is. Well, this was my week. The old blogging muse packed her bags and took a trip to Bermuda or somewhere. I am hoping that she will be back soon.

-2-

Have you ever heard of a 50x50 list or a 60x60 list? It is one of those lists that you make for yourself that are things that you would like to do or accomplish by that date. I have a number of friends who have now done one of these but I am not sure about this. As we all know, I love lists. I love making them, looking at them, contemplating them and crossing things off of them. But, I am not sure that I want to do one of these lists. If I do one and then it gets close to the time when I turn 60 (MANY years from now) will I be depressed that I might not have accomplished everything? The other thing is can I come up with 60 things that I really want to accomplish by the time that I am 60? What do you think?

-3-

I was struck this week by a comment made by the late George Carlin. "Aren't you sick of being told who your heros oughta be? Being told who you oughta look up to? I'll choose my own heros than you very much." Sometimes George Carlin really hit the nail on the head. I think this will most likely show up as a longer post at some point. I haven't spent much time thinking about who my heros really are, which is sort of sad to say. I think this will be a good exercise for me because I think I need to articulate who are my heros and why.

-4-

I have been in the mood lately to trying new recipes. I just felt in such a rut, using the same recipes all the time. When the kiddos were younger being creative in my recipes wasn't always good. My girls aren't all that picky as eaters but you just don't want to rock the boat. So you make the same things month by month. But now we only have one still at home and so I feel that I can branch out and it is really fun. This week I tried popovers for the first time and they were awesome. I will post a picture later along with the "popover post". You can't imagine an entire post on popovers but it is coming so be ready. I also figured out a recipe for Raspberry Balsalmic vinaigrette and it was REALLY good. Oh yeah, and we had home made Chicken Pot Pies which turned out pretty well if I do say so myself.

-5-

How in the world did my house get filled up with all this stuff. No, I am not a hoarder so don't worry that we are wending our way around the house using small aisles inbetween all the stuff. I just have more stuff than I need or want. We are going to be moving in the next year or so and I am trying to weed through all this stuff and make the decision what goes with us. But that also brings another problem for me. What to do with the stuff. I try to give most of it to Good Will or find someone who needs it but there are some things that may need to be sold somehow. I hate garage sales and don't think the money that I make is worth the cost in time in getting ready and actually having the sale. So, I may have to find a friend to glom off of. Anyone want to volunteer? I will bring cookies.

-6-

I have had a life long, or at least adult long battle with my weight. Looking at cheesecake makes me put on weight. I love bread and butter more than just about anything. Potato chips are little slices of heaven. Get the picture. But almost two years ago I had an epiphany that if I didn't get a handle on this that I would enter middle age in very poor health. My knees were already barking in the morning. So, I joined the local Curves that is right around the corner. I really like Curves and it has been a great help, I have lost about 15 pounds in the last two years and managed to keep it off. But now I seem to have reached some sort of immovable plateau. I could work out every day and the weight doesn't budge. Plus I don't think that I am getting enough endurance training. So, I am trying to rethink the workout plan. Curves 3 days a week and treadmill 3 days a week? Then when it finally gets warmer I can walk outside 3 days a week. The other alternative is to cancel the Curves membership and move across the street to Snap Fitness which is open 24/7 and where I can make use of a personal trainer. What to do, what to do.

-7-

Because I am stumped for a #7 you will get a little "what happened on this day" history lesson. So, on this day in 1952 Elizabeth became Queen of England upon the death of her father George VI. Aren't you impressed and interested. If you want I can tell you all the Kings and Queens of England from George I and forward. It is just one of those odd facts that I seem to be able to pull out of my head. I know that some day it will be the thing that wins me big money on Jeopardy!, that I can tell you that it was George III-George IV-William IV-Victoria-Edward VII-George V-Edward VIII(who abdicated)-George VI- Queen Elizabeth II.

See you next week.