Lisa at Cranberry Flats, since you asked, no I've never been to Greece, but guess what
I'M GOING IN 3 WEEKS!!!
Yes, friends, I'm downing a bunch of Dramamine, packing my dual voltage hot rollers (ok, a girl has to look her best at the Parthenon. I mean, how often do I get to do this? Besides, this will be nothing next to my sister, who, and I know she'd laught at this, is HIGH MAINTENANCE! She'll have her nails and brows done before this trip!), stuffing my TOS back issues into my carry-on for reading (if the Dramamine doesn't put me to sleep), and I'm heading to Greece.
My DS and I are going with some other family members, who: A. speak Greek fluently; B: have international drivers licenses (so I don't have to drive on those narrow mountain roads) C. are fun traveling buddies.
The rest of the family is staying home. Unfortunately, international travel is quite cost prohibitive. So, the oldest is going as an early graduation gift. So, if any weirdos are reading this thinking no one will be in our house, I hate to disappoint. Cuz, this means my MIL is coming to stay off and on while we're gone. Yes, you dont' want to mess with anyone's MIL *snicker*
We'll be gone almost 3 weeks and will visit several islands, the villages where my parents are from (yes, I'm really Greek, despite the blonde hair and blue eyes), and visit all the historical places.
I'm very excited, but a bit nervous. Once there, we're taking 3 puddle jumper flights from island to island.
I'm concerned....do they have tools with which to maintain the planes on these little islands?!
We have teased my DS16 endlessly about this being a wife-hunting trip. That his grandmother is going to do the initial interview and the girl must come from her village. We told him we are expecting to plan a big fat Greek wedding just for him.
It's going to be a trip full of laughs, I can't wait. My family is so much fun. Course, after 3 week, we might be climbing over each other once we land back at Kennedy and head our separate ways back home :)
I'm just so excited. We haven't been on a real vacation (well, except to the coast 2 years ago) in 5 years.
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Last year I tried to grow a strawberry plant in a planter. I think we finally got something green growing out ot the planter about 2 inches - that happened about mid-August.
So, this year, I get brave and plant a single tomato plant in a nice big planter. Water it often. Give it Bloom Booster. Stake it up. I'm really feeling like this grow-our-own-food thing is really going to work.
I'm thinkin', "Yeah, I'll be servin' up those tomato sandwiches, healthy salads, canning and freezing little 'maters."
And, the little tomatoes, they did appear.
Well, so did the Japanese Beetles.
I looked out yesterday and all of the top leaves (down to the tomatoes) were stripped off the plant.
Gone. Poof. No more little yellow flowers.
And, it got better.
My mom gave me 50 cucumbers from her garden last weekend. This week, my MIL brought me zuchinni from her garden. And, what do I have? a tomato plant stalk.
Yeah, well, I may not be able to grow veggies, but I'm gonna be able to put my feet behind my head. (see previous yoga post)
Okay, before I tell you about my yoga experiences, please don't get all concerned about me buying into that whole new age - eastern philosophy stuff that can often go along with yoga.
Being around yoga people, I have heard some of the talk, lingo, whatever you call it, and I have to tell you, I'm fascinated.
Well, not fascinated as in, "Wow, I want to believe that stuff, too." But more, "How in the world can you believe that? How does your brain arrive at that line of reasoning? How can you talk about inner peace and such and not use the word God or Jesus?"
Besides, I could never be a true Yogi with a Love Your Mother Earth sticker on my gas guzzling Explorer nor give up my hormone-infested food from Food Lion (where it's much cheaper to shop so I can use the savings to buy $4 /gallon gas) for all organic food bought at Earth Fare.
Anywhooo....I've done like 3 yoga classes (we meet once a week and I do stuff in between). At 48 years old, I have learned the following:
A. I cannot stand on one leg without the aid of a brick wall.
B. God did not create my toes to be reached by my fingers.
C. Hugging my knees, rolling back on my back and returning to a sitting position only works one set of muscles in my body - those that control air escaping from the lower area of my body as I roll on my back and try to return to a sitting position. Go ahead, try it, right now, you'll see what I mean.
Seriously, though, yoga is very interesting. I figured after playing tennis on a regular basis and walking about 15 miles per week, yoga would be a breeze. I actually break a sweat doing "downward doggie".
So, as part of my pre-menopause campaign for better health, I will stick with it and in a few short months, I 'll post a photo of me with my legs behind my head. Yeah, now that will get ya' coming back here on a regular basis.
Electrically speaking, this is not my week.
First there was the issue with the outlets and lights that didn't work, but then started working.
Then, yesterday a.m. I smelled that funny electrical smell and tried to sniff it out.
Then, my computer just shut off....*poof*
DD said the cutest thing today. She has started on a basketball team (which is only 6 minutes away! So much more bearable than the hour drive to soccer practice.)
Anyhow, they have practice this Saturday at 10. DD asked me today, "Mom, is practice at 10 in the morning or in the night?"
I really wanted to LOL, but couldn't because she was so serious, and it was obvious she just doesn't quite understand how late 10 p.m. would be. Thankfully, DS15 wasn't there because, well, you know how 15yo brothers can be...it would have been difficult for him to refrain from saying something 15 year oldish!
Speaking of basketball. You should see DD out there...she turns into a different child. She wouldn't stop yelling, "Pass it, pass it!" I have no idea where she learned that. We finally had to call her aside cuz it was getting to be a bit loud and frequent!
So, I'm off to go throw $50 out the car window for a new power supply in my computer. UGH! Why do these things happen so close to big expense times!!
Would you believe we baked Christmas cookies yesterday, and I didn't eat ONE! Course, my body is still recovering from the big bag of peanut m and m's I ate in one sitting last week while watching a movie. Yeah, one of those mega bags...yup, I ate it all.
Do you know what kind of pressure I'm under trying to keep my MIL's plants (that I"m babysitting) healthy?
About 10 minutes before MIL was coming over today, DH announced, "My mom's on the way over."
There was no way any of the 15 pots could have dry soil when she arrived. I think she can sniff dry soil in the air. KWIM?
And, you see, I have a reputaiton of killing plants. She gave me a beautiful plant she had rooted to put specirfically in our front hall. Well, I thought a cold rain in 34 degree weather would be a great way to not only water the plant, but dust off the leaves.
Well, the leaves got dusted alright, they also got frozen.
So, the pressure to keep the rare "gorgeous purple" clematis perky and blooming is great. And the helibores - oh, my, those came from the yard of her oldest and dearest friend who passed away a year ago.
I even have the plants on a Miracel -Grow feeding regimen.
Oh, the shame, if the gardenia bush doesn't bloom profusely!
And, bless her heart, she even brought me a pair of gardeing gloves today.
So, now I have no excuse - I have a hose, 2 wattering cans and gardening gloves. she has equipped me with all I need to babysit.
I've heard of the happy gardener or the green gardener, but now there is the nervous gardener!
