A fitting tribute to George Bush

While the Juj is already showing signs of cabin fever, after schools closed early yesterday and remain closed today due to our "ice storm" (which isn't stopping my office from opening, albeit a couple of hours late), G-man was out surfing the web and found me this:

I think there's another ObamaMama out there who will probably enjoy this...

Never a dull moment...

I find my two mantras these days are This too shall pass and Never a dull moment (or the alternative "blessing/curse" version - May you live in interesting times).

It's been quite a start to the new year.  My employer filed for creditor protection; yes, that's Chapter 11 bankruptcy here in the U.S.  They are trying to reorganize, and it will mean layoffs with no severance, but for now, we still have jobs and benefits, so I just take it day by day. And I did get my Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, so that'll help me get my foot in the door for interviews, should worse come to worst.  (Funny how the euphemism for layoffs changes over time; I remember "right sizing" and "downsizing"; around 2001, it was "optimizing"; now it's "restructuring.")

I also began the year heavier than I have ever been, even when pregnant, so a couple of weeks ago, I started giving the South Beach diet another try (which should be good for my cholesterol anyway), and 'discovered' 'hot' yoga, which is great exercise, even if I don't really consider it yoga.  Luckily, I had also signed up for 6 weeks of classes with someone who teaches yoga in the tradition of Vanda Scaravelli, which has been a welcome yin to all the hot yoga yang.

The family has been suffering with cedar fever, an annual affliction for those with allergies in the West, especially Texas.  Not much fun, but we take our meds and grin and bear it.

And then my grandmother passed away this week.  My dad's mom had not been well for a long time, but she was strong and loving and kind, and passed gently, as she lived.  Much of the immediate family had been up to see her and take outside for a picnic at her nursing facility last Saturday, and my mom said although she couldn't really converse (her most recent affliction having been a stroke), she was smiling and communicative nonetheless. I'm glad she had the time surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; family gatherings are part of her legacy to me, part of the reason G and I have our Sunday suppers.

Anyway, I'm pleased she is no longer confused or in pain, and her love lives on in our extended family. Right now, my thoughts are with my dad and his sister, my beloved goofy aunt (I mean that in the most loving way!) and we all carry on.

In fact, my other grandmother's birthday is this week -- happy 84th, Grammy Mernie!  Looking forward to your visit to us in the spring...

And so, life goes on.  Of the most difficult things, I think, This too shall pass, and for the rest -- well, it's Never a dull moment!

(Oops -- and one little detail I forgot -- got in an accident taking the Juj to school Friday. No one was hurt, except my poor little car, but it means next week will include adjustors, rental cars, and body shops. )

Time flies...

(Time 'em doing what?)

Meals I've missed posting include a nice chicken mole, yellow rice, and boracho beans that we took to a New Year's Eve potluck, and last Sunday's 50's tribute: mini-meatloaves, pureed cauliflower, and french-cut green beans (which is a repeat meal).

I've also missed posting some cute (or perhaps annoying) things that Juj has said at school...

• Teacher (talking to a small group about world history): The Romans are probably the second most influential civilization on our own.
  
• J: What was the most influential?
  
• Teacher: The Greeks.
  
• J: Then how come our language is mostly based on Latin?
  

(The teacher who overheard and conveyed this conversation did not tell us what the answer to that; she was laughing too hard!)

At another time, he asked a teacher how to spell "lycanthrope" (which I hopefully spelled correctly), and the teacher was amused as apparently that's not a question he gets from most of his first-graders.

So on to this evening's low-carb supper with Ron & Elsa:

• Chickpea "Salad" with onion, red bell pepper, celery, parsley, lemon & olive oil
• Raw Shaved Fennel & Mushrooms with lemon, olive oil & Parmesan curls
• Prosciutto Wrapped Cod (pan "grilled" - simple and delicious!)
• Roasted Cauliflower & Capers
• Green Beans & Broccoli
• Almond, Mexican Chocolate and Lemon-Lime Ricotta Cream "shots" (mini-desserts, basically ricotta & Splenda with extracts, nuts, cocoa, juice and/or zest for flavors)