No Online Spending

So... I am learning that it is very hard to keep up with this 101 in 1001 Days list that I started back in October 2008. Months go by and I forget to update the list. I do feel it is important to track my own progress. But this got me to thinking about item number #80 and it's a doozy: Give up all shopping via the internet for one month. I think July or August is the month to try this since June is winding down and I just had a little point and click session this morning with The Body Shop's website. For me, the problem is getting those tempting little emails that say, "SALE" or "FREE SHIPPING."

But on a positive note I can cross off the following #'s:
3. 30 minutes of exercise 3 times a week. Swimming in the lake and walking are very helpful.
6. Get ready to jump out of an airplane before my 45th birthday!!!
7. Tell my wonderful husband that I love him every day. No brainer right?
14. Refuse to let my physical ailments define who I am and what I can do. Again, swimming across the cove hurt like the dickens, but I am glad I did it.
23. Work on my critical spirit. I am thankful to Pastor David for challenging sermons on this subject.
#40 Join the YMCA. We never go!
#60 Attend & celebrate Bethany's graduation from ACC. She was not able to walk but we are celebrating her achievements and congratulate her success!! We are proud of Baby Girl.
Well, there you have it. A brief update. And I will attempt to keep my fingers away from the mouse in the next 30 days. Perhaps I should unsubscribe to those pesky stores. Until next time-Breathe.

Tequila Lime marinade coming up

This is one of our favorite summer recipes. A perfect Mojito and some coconut jasmine rice complete the meal. Summertime and the living is easy folks.

3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon lime zest
Small handful fresh cilantro, leaves and stems chopped fine
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup gold tequila
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin or chili powder
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Meat choices:
1 1/2 pounds large or jumbo shrimp, cleaned and deveined
4 swordfish steaks, 1/2 inch thick or 1 1/2 pounds sea scallops, cleaned and threaded on wooden skewers
Allen and I almost always use this marinade for shrimp or fish. You can leave the shell on the shrimp if you prefer to peel and eat after grilling.
Mince garlic with salt to form a paste, chopping in lime zest and cilantro.

Transfer to a small bowll and whisk in lime juice, tequila, and spices. Pour into heavy duty Ziploc or a glass baking dish. Add fish or skewered scallops and cover or zip bag tight. * Soaking the skewers will keep them from burning and add to the flavor.
Marinate in the refrigerator 30 minutes, turning once. Remove from marinade. Grill over very hot coals till cooked to taste, about 2-3 minutes per side, depending on thickness.
*Serve with hot jasmine rice. For coconut rice, add a splash of lite coconut milk, 1/4 cup grated coconut and a sprinkle of mango powder. Cumin also works in place of the mango powder.

New Friends & Family

Last week John's family arrived from California. My husband was quickly inducted into the family, Mi Familia, as they say in Spanish. No matter how you say it, families are great fun.

John's family includes Mama Luz, Dad Alfonso, brother Marcos, niece Trini and nephew Giovanni-(I hope I am spelling names correctly here). Allen was taught the fine art of making homemade tortillas by Marcos. He came home with the secret recipe, a bag of special flour and the charge to make homemade tortillas often!

Our family is growing and changing as well. Erintitus has arrived, a recent college grad and Bethany's Kenya partner. Erin will be spending her summer with us here on Lake Greenwood. Even though it is only June 18th, the summer fun is well under way. I've a feeling we're in for some boating, tubing, tortilla parties and a whole lot of laughter. And did I mention trips to WH? Mi casa es su casa.

The Stupidity Award goes to....

Forrest Gump's mama used to tell him, "Stupid is as stupid does," and with good reason. Mama was doing all she could to prepare her son for the real world with all of its pain and suffering. My mama never said those exact words to me, but today would have been a good day for her to tell me, "Girl if you had a brain , you'd be harmful." Not a nice saying, but an appropriate one.

Today, I followed through on a harebrained idea; one that could have cost me my life or possibly a limb or two. Today, I decided to swim from my dock to the other side of the lake and back without the aid of a life vest, noodle or even goggles. And there were jet skis and boats whizzing by as I struggled just to stay afloat. I quickly developed a headache after water hit my eardrums. I had trouble breathing while doing the crawl stroke because hair fell on my face every time I needed to come up for air. Had I worn goggles or a swim cap I might have avoided this pitfall.

It took me forever just to reach the buoy for our cove. I realize that I could have given up and turned back to home but my stupid, stupid pride wouldn't let me. Turning back in my oxygen-deprived brain equaled Failure of the worst kind.

You see, I'm a fish or at least I think I'm a fish. I've been swimming all my life and I enjoyed swimming many laps when we had a family swimming pool. It seemed like I could go forever without tiring. Yes, today my mother would have said, "If you had a brain, you'd be harmful." Harmful to myself that is.

My muscles will tell the real story tomorrow am. And if I'm not too terribly sore, I may practice swimming out to the buoy once again and turning for home. That way I can get 30+ minutes of cardio without drowning in the process. My husband says there are other ways to get cardio without risking life and limb. Stupid is as stupid does, Forrest.

Top Ten things I've learned living in SC

Okay, so my husband keeps telling me that I have picked up on a lot of southern ways in the 19+ plus months we have lived here in SC. He also keeps teasing me and telling me that I need to blog about my transition from a D*@!*%$n Yankee to Carolina Girl. I know full well that I will never be fully accepted as a "southerner," but I'm fine with it. People here have been very welcoming and I love the friendliness or southern hospitality. I love it when my bank teller asks, "What else can I do for you Mrs. Ziegler?" Frankly, it is one quality I find missing in my northern counterparts. So, here in Dave Letterman fashion is my Top Ten List for the South:
1. It's never Hi or Hello; It is always Heyyyyyyy. Howyadoin?
2. Steak and baked potatoes are a big deal, especially when served with ranch dressing/aka special sour cream.
3. It is impolite to blow your horn while driving behind an idiot. Nope, no matter what, do not lay on that horn. People glare you for acting like a Yankee!
4. It is however, common courtesy to wave to perfect strangers on the street or on the lake as you pass each other on your boats, Sea-Doo or other watercraft vehicles.
5. SC is divided into 2 camps: USC fans and Clemson fans. Upon moving to SC one must immediately declare loyalty to a college team--I will refrain from telling you which team I chose.
6. Mud-bogging. Pickup trucks. Big pickup trucks with monster truck wheels.
7. Shag dancing is something to be learned; one cannot fake these dance moves for very long.
8. Rebel Flags, American Flags and South Carolina flags abound. Not always in this order.
9. It is imperative that you learn how to mash a button. It is also good to know that you are "fixin to do something or fixin to go somewhere." These are very important phrases.
10. It is either Ya'll or Y'all depending on whether you imply all ya'll or y'all. All you all know what I mean.
I could go on, but these are just a few observations. Of course I do realize that BBQ is king down here, as is hash, shrimp and grits, sweet tea, pimento cheese, corn bread, black eyed peas, collards and the like. Good stuff and I am grateful to be here in the land of Dixie!