Forwards

I rarely send or receive forwards via email. Yesterday two popped up in my inbox. One was about microwaving water which I will say was very interesting.  The other is this.

The  following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the  creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them. Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point. 1. Name  the five wealthiest people in the  world. 2. Name  the last five Heisman trophy winners. 3. Name  the last five winners of the Miss America pageant. 4  Name  ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize. 5. Name  the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress. 6. Name  the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do? The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies.. Awards tarnish.. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one: 1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school. 2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time. 3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile. 4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special. 5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier? The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money...or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most

Waiting for a Revelation

So the last few months, I've been trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

I read blogs. I read books. I brainstorm. I write. I talk to new people. I drink coffee and think about what I love, what inspires me, what interests me. I make notes and lists. I started taking vitamins. I exercise. I walk the aisles of Target.

I do all those things you read about when people have these "revelations". They find their passion and their life time calling. So far, I have not had a revelation. I think I might have come close one day but it could have just been the excitement of my first bite into a Reese's Big Cup. Have you had one of those? They are life changing. Highly recommend.

I thought 6 months was more than enough time to figure this out. I mean, that's 2 seasons, a couple of 3 day weekends and a major holiday worth of time. Still nothing.

I'm gonna keep trying though. I haven't given up yet. I know that there is something out there for me that I haven't quite put my finger on yet. Maybe if I go to the coffee shop, write a new list and eat a Reese's Big Cup all at the same time, maybe that's when the lightbulb will appear above my head! Or, I'll just have a lovely afternoon at the coffee shop and maybe that should be good enough for right now.

Stuck

Husband bought me a pair of cycling shoes this weekend. These are the shoes that have the little cleat on the bottom of them that you stick in the peddles so you become "one with" the bike. I'm very excited as it's supposed to change the way you cycle and helps you really get the most out of your class.

I'm also a bit nervous.

You're stuck in your bike. Literally you and the bike are all one piece.

What if I've had too much water and need to race to the bathroom during class? You just can't hope off the bike! Your shoes are stuck in the peddles. You have to turn them just so and listen for the click and then pull them out. This takes seconds but sometimes you don't have seconds. And really, who can think of turning and clicking and pulling when you have more important things on your mind like a restroom?

OR

What if you forget to turn your phone off and it rings in your jacket pocket hanging on the hook on the side wall? You're in the middle of some virtual race against everyone else on bikes that go nowhere and you need to hop off to turn it off and apologize to the class. What if you forget you've got your new magic shoes on and you try to escape and BOOM, you're on your face.

I envision these things. They could happen.

I think I'll pack my regular non-attachable-Nike's just in case.

Virtual Hills

So I've been going to cycle classes at the gym the past two weeks. I went 3 times last week and 4 times this week. This is very new to me. I'm not a gym rat and I have little to no coordination for aerobics classes. I love yoga but it's been giving my shoulder some issues so I had to find something new to get me active. Friends suggested I try Zumba. Apparently I met those friends after college because I stopped dancing after 4 years of ridicule and laughs at sorority events that I'm still working through!!

My neighbor cycles and raves about it so I thought I'd give it a try. It's an intense workout in a 45 minutes span - best bang for your buck if you ask me! I've felt pretty good in most the classes. On Wednesday though, we climbed a "virtual hill".

Hill?

Are you kidding me?

We climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro!

Maybe it was supposed to be fun because we were listening to some crazy rock version of Chariots of Fire but there were no Chariots Of fire, there was only Megan On Fire! My legs were Jell-O. My head was spinning. My face was beet red. My thighs were screaming. My heart was pounding. I've never been so close to death.

Here's what I looked like.


Before class Wednesday:

After Class Wednesday:

Homeland Marathon

Do you watch Homeland? We're a little late to the game but our good friends, J&H told us we would like it and once again they were right! Husband and I are hooked. On Sunday, we bought episode one on iTunes to "try it out". It's Thursday and we are now on episode six. We watch one a night except on Tuesday night when we had to watch two because we couldn't help ourselves. If Husband didn't work during the day, we'd have finished season one on Monday. Work so gets in the way!

It's a little intense and parts are a bit graphic and hard to watch. I like to watch an episode of Big Bang Theory afterwards to kinda clear my head before I go to bed. I'd rather think of of poor Leonard and his awkward nerd-flirting with Penny than about terrorist and plot schemes. But, that's just me. The story line is great though and the acting is superb. It'll hook you in right away so make sure you dedicate time for a marathon!

Check it out here.

Also, I think Morena Baccarin is beautiful. She plays Sgt. Brody's wife in the series.

Some-e-cards

I'm sure you have all seen or have been sent a card from Some-e-cards. I see them often floating around on Pinterest and they always seem to crack me up. I was on their website recently and a few made me laugh out loud. So, if you need a little laugh today, enjoy! If you don't need a little laugh today, I still suggest enjoying them.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Saturday, Husband and I went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

After I did the Rocky Run

and Husband got his photo with Rocky

We walked into the museum and say the most amazing collection and assortment of art.

 antique handkerchief holder

colonial door frame from a Philly home

wood fireplace and doorway

art nouveau ceramic fireplace

amazing glasswork

Czar of Russia's tea service

self-playing piano

a Fredick Kiesler piece

New Mexican Retablos

Picaso's Bull Fight
(photo taken especially for JMG)

A little Monet

"The Gossip" - isn't that a great name for this piece?

And that was only on a small portion of floor one. What an amazing museum with such a wide collection of artifacts. The variety of the art is what intrigued me. I thought I was the only one who thought fireplaces were art - I'm so glad I'm not alone anymore!

Fancy Pants

It was so much fun to get all fancied up on Friday. I don't think we, as a society do it nearly enough in 2013. Now, I 'm not sure I want it Downton Abbey style when you get dressed up for dinner every night . . . but, it would be fun to have more events that everyone puts their party clothes on. It always seems to me that you go places dressed up and then there is that one guy in jeans or in Arizona's case, a guy in shorts throwing the whole thing off. Go find your uncomfortable shoes People and party on with the rest of us!

Husband and I had a great time at our black tie extravaganza in Philly on Friday night. I wore a dark blue velvet dress I had but I wore it with some bold red lipstick that made me happy. Doesn't Husband look dapper in a bow tie?

Side Note: we had to do emergency surgery on Husband's tux in the lobby of our hotel. His button popped off as we were walking out of our room! Nothing like a quick stitch before a big shin-dig. As our friend, Tim Gunn would say, "Make it happen".


Oh, and check out the fancy pants venue we were at:

Mosaic tile wall in entry

Rad chandelier above our table

Bags are Packed

Husband is taking a 1/2 day and we're hopping on the train with our overnight bags to Philly.

We were invited to a black tie event tonight that we're both very excited about. Husband has his tux all ready and I pulled a long blue velvet number out from the depths of the closet. Philly is supposed to have a high of 36 degrees today with light snow flurries. That'll be interesting with my open toed shoes but I'm sure a little sip of something will warm me right up!

I had to get my nails done for the big party. I went sparkly for the festive occasion.

Husband and I are excited to stay in Philly on Saturday and do some tourist stuff and enjoy an afternoon snack of mussels and beer.

I'm sure I'll have to pop into Anthropologie at some point to see if they have anything I need.

The only creature not excited about the trip we're taking is Miss P. Look at that sad face by our bags. Oh, it hurts my heart but we'll be back soon!

35 in 2013

I know, I know it's not even close to my birthday. How can she even think to be writing about her birthday which is 10 months away? But, when the clock struck 12:00 on New Years Eve and I thought of the year ahead, She had a martini in her hand, so her thoughts may have been a bit fuzzy about my life, where I was and what I was doing and then all of a sudden, I thought, I'm going to be 35 this year!

WOWZA! She finished her martini quickly upon this thought.

As you all know, at the beginning of January, I sat down and wrote out my resolutions for the year. The first thing on that list was Take Care of Myself. Cuz you're getting up there, sweetie, 35! The past few months I've been waking up achy. Just feeling old and uncomfortable. I'm not ready for that. So I've made some changes. Dying your hair? Getting a Tattoo? You know you want your nose pierced! 

So, here's what I've been doing:

• I joined the Y and started taking a spin/cycle class this week. I was nervous as I have never taken this class. The great thing about the instructors at the Y is that they introduce themselves and ask if anyone is new and if they need help getting set up. Or in your case, keeping your feet in the peddles!
• I started taking my vitamins again. I hate vitamins. They always seem so GIANT and taste like grass. Makes you long for the days of the Flinstone chewables, huh? A doctor in Phoenix had told me try a certain kind and I remember liking them. So, I bought them again and have been faithful.
• I started drinking more water. I used to drink a ton of water in Phoenix because it was so darn hot! But once I moved to PA, I kinda forgot about it. I think I thought all the rain would just soak into me here. And you say you're going to be 35 - not with funny thoughts like that, kid! 
• I have been eating more fruit. Remember what that did to Adam and Eve!
• I have only been having alcohol on the weekends. Your Irish friends are judging you.
• Finally, I bought eye cream. Finally, is right , sister, those eyes of yours were screaming "I'm gonna be 35 this year and it shows!!!"

And after making all these changes, I feel really good! So, maybe 35 won't be so bad after all. And of course she has to end it by bringing up her birthday! Some people never grow up!

Lancaster Central Market

Every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday they open the doors to the Lancaster Central Market. It's the oldest continual farmers market in the nation. I go every Tuesday and Friday (skip Saturday because of the crowds). I buy all of our meat, cheese, milk, fruits, veggies, etc there. I rarely find myself at the grocery store anymore. Most of the vendors are Yankees, but some are Amish and others are Mennonite. The Amish make donuts and zucchini casserole that are to die for. My favorite apples come from a Mennonite family farm - the biggest Pink Lady apples you ever have seen! The fresh produce and meat is really a luxury and popping over to the little candy shop never hurt anybody!

Here's a sneak peak into the Market. These pictures were taken on a Saturday so the large pan of missing donuts is the norm!

center of downtown

great building

local farmer's produce - best brussle sprouts!

all organic vendor

local tomatoes

just herbs

small local vendor

grass fed beef

Amish casseroles

cheese!

better than Wheat Thins - ask my dad!

chocolate, strawberry, orange and vanilla MILK

best donuts EVER

donuts at 9:32am Saturday - lots missing

new to the market: bacon donuts

a mean cup of coffee

 the spice & tea guy

it wouldn't be PA if there were no pretzel vendor

just candy

 the string licorice is a hit with Miss E & Mr P

flower ladies

our favorite apple spot

just turkey all day every day

such a great place