$5 a day

What will that buy you? A cup of Fivebucks (as my friend calls it). A “Meal Deal”. A gallon or 2 of gas? Or training. I added up what I’ve spent on training thus far and that is about what I’ve spent. And what have I GAINED? Well, let’s look at what I’ve LOST first
The following prescriptions: Novac, Atenol, Lipitor, Amantadine (energy for M.S. symtoms - usually used for Parkinson's disease), Avonex and Celexa

Other things such as walking with a cane, 70 something pounds, and a “poor me” attitude.
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As far as what I’ve GAINED – well, life! Everyone who has known me for years comments on the fact that I look years younger. You know, having the weight of the world lifted off your shoulders tends to do that to you. When you are used to waking up every morning crying because you just honestly don’t know how you’re going to get through the day and now you wake up laughing to a smiling puppy (yes, he really smiles) ready for the first morning walk BEFORE coffee, how can you put a price on that? Well in my case I can. $5 a day.

Training may not be for everyone. But for some of us, it is literally a lifeline. I am a very spiritual woman, and my “inside” was very strong; however my outside was falling apart. It took me a long time to realize that I am responsible for this vessel called a body. As I told a friend, eventually you have to get up off your knees and do what you’ve been told to do or you will just end up with bloody knees. I can cry and complain about “it isn’t fair”, but something my Dad told me after my divorce is still true today. “Whoever told you that like was fair was a liar.” But you know what? It is what we make of it. Don’t like your life? CHANGE IT. Some people only need training for a brief time to get the basics and find out what they need to better themselves. Some of us have NO IDEA what to do, and need the tools you give us. ALL of us need to get off our duffs and DO something.

While I may not do this forever (unless I win the lottery – wait, is that $5?) I have learned the tools to continue the journey on my own. And that I WILL do. I look forward to not only taking, but LEADING classes while in my 80s. Get ready, because a lot of you will want to take that class.

And I’ll let you. For $5 a class. ;)

March to the Arch

March to the Arch September 11, 2010. I was fortunate enough to meet up with the group of people at the end of the March to the Arch. My friend and I parked near the Arch, and then walked to Union Station where we were able to join the walkers, and walk BACK to the Arch with them. It was such a humbling day. As I was stumbling while walking I was beginning to have a pity party. Then I thought of the huge sacrifice made on that day and WHY we were walking, and I decided I didn’t care if I only walked one block, I would do so with me head held high.

I met up with a new friend on the walk - a woman I began emailing at the suggestion of her trainer. She is a Lymphoma survivor, and had never worked out a day in her life. She is doing FANTASTIC. I told her soon we will be making the Cougar Rounds together. ;)

I was able to wear my Superman tee-shirt in honor of my favorite Marine, Jared McGowen – a DFM trainer, and walk with him a bit. When you see him, ask him the meaning of the Superman shirt. (Look, up in the air!)

The friend who went with me on the walk just recently mentioned needing to start working out again – so we have been meeting up on Saturdays at the gym closer to her. It is wonderful for both of us because it gives me a change of pace, and makes BOTH of us get up on Saturday morning and go (thanks Linda). :)

At the end of the walk I met a wonderful woman in a wheelchair who also has MS. We were able to talk a bit and I was able to share part of my journey. We are going to become cyber buddies first, and then I said next year I don’t care if it is 100 ft.; we are going to do part of the walk together. I KNOW it.

I’ve said all of this to show that there is someone next to you who just needs some encouragement. Sometimes it’s just a friend wanting to regain her health. Sometimes it is a new friend who is desperately looking for hope. But look around today and find someone who needs what you have. And give it to them. You will never regret it. And as you walk today, remember what a blessing the simple act of walking is.

Thank you to all of our first responders.

Let's talk about fall food recipes.

Labor Day is over, so it's Fall, right? Ok, maybe not officially, but I'm so ready for Fall. The changing of the leaves. The crisp early morning walks with Dom watching him chase leaves for the first time in his life. :) And the fall foods mmmmmmmmmm.........

But I am still into my summer salads. And that's the good thing about foods being shipped in - while I love to eat what is grown locally it is nice to have foods from other regions too. When you eat "clean" as I do it can take a little bit of creativity (and time) to not get bored with the same old same old. Here are a few of the things that I do.

Arrrrrrrrrrrugala

Sounds pretty cool, doesn’t it? Now imagine it in an Ertha Kitt voice. Purr it with me….arrrrrrrrrrugggggggggala.

The days of the boring iceberg lettuce salads I grew up with are gone. I eat a large salad with chicken at lunch most days and have learned to mix it up a lot. These days I am on an arugula kick, with spinach and romain as the base. Then the sky is the limit. If I’m really hungry I’ve been known to add boiled (cooled) potatoes. Or leftover barbeque. Tofu. Strawberries. ANY berry. I tried watermelon one day but that didn’t cut it for me.

But now it is getting to be soup weather. I have large soup pots, and can take all day to make a pot of soup. The wonderful about soup is you can freeze all the leftovers and by adding new ingredients make it a completely new meal. I love adding Curry to soup, hot sauce, sour cream, or whatever is around to make it a new and different. I usually start by boiling my chicken in onion, celery, garlic, carrots and spices. Then let it cool, drain veggies out, and retain liquid as stock. I shred the chicken, add it back to the to stock, then start layering veggies. Whatever floats my boat or looks good at the farmer’s market. Like I said, it can take HOURS to make, but it is so relaxing and a wonderful way to spend a fall afternoon. Besides, it’s not like you have to be standing over it all day. Just let it do its thing while you do yours. Serve it with some cheese, crusty bread and it just doesn’t get much better.

Last night I was feeling bored with the same old same old, so I started looking at what I had. Hmmm…leftover chucky pasta sauce I’d made, chicken breast, cauliflower. VIOLA! I boiled the cauliflower really well. Drained it – then mashed it like you would mashed potatoes. Some people add chicken stock and spices. Others add butter and sour cream. When it was well mashed I added some parmesean cheese and set it aside.

I baked the chicken breasts with the pasta sauce on top (WELL coated) and more parmesean cheese on top. When the chicken was baked, I let it cool a while. Then I placed it on TOP of the mashed cauliflower. Oh my goodness…. was that ever good.

So share with me some of your favorite recipes. It’s fall, I’m ready to cook!