Fall Fever

I'm quite honestly a "summer," not a spring, fall or winter person. This week here in Greenwood we finally had some fall like days complete with morning fog, dew, rain and temps in the 50's. And if I'm being honest, I have been complaining that lake recreation has come to an end. I'm also lamenting the fact that I have been indoors on the days that are most gorgeous and 80 degrees. Many of you know that our daughter Bethany came home last weekend to celebrate her 21st birthday. It was a great time of BBQ, laughter and fall traditions. You see, Bethany is all about Autumn and has been for many years. Having a late October birthday fits her personality to a tee. So, when I speak of fall, or even think of fall, I see my daughter carving a huge Jack-0-lantern on the floor of my kitchen. She takes care to gather every pumpkin seed so she can roast them in the oven and sprinkle them with salt and/or seasonings. Last weekend she came through with delicious cinnamon and sugar pumpkin seeds! I'm afraid Bethany's love for Autumn is rubbing off on me. Just today, I whipped up a huge batch of Roasted Sweet Potato & Apple soup, italian herb focaccia bread and a crockpot full of Beef Vegetable soup. To top it off, I found myself craving some of her delicious cinnamon sugar pumpkin seeds. I think there's a pumpkin or two in my future. Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Just what is POO-POURRI?

I'm not normally one to recommend products, but this one caught my eye on Oprah. Of course, any thing Oprah recommends or puts on her favorites list is sure to be a hit with women. The product of choice is simply called POO-POURRI. It is not cheap, but it does what it claims to do.

Okay, POO-POURRI claims to create a barrier to embarrassing bathroom odors. You know what kind of odors I'm talking about here. The label of the bottle reads: There once was a young lad from Rhone whose odor he'd rather disown. Now he's taming his poo by annointing the loo and now happily sits on his throne! Corny right? It also tells you to Spritz the bowl before you go and no one else will ever know. http://www.poopourri.net/
Suppose you go to a swanky dinner party and have to use the bathroom. You like me will either look high and low for a can of Lysol or Renuizit or a match. You've also got to pray no one will enter the bathroom for 20 minutes and put the fan on high. With POO-POURRI all you need to do is this. To anoint: Shake well, lift throne (toilet) lid & seat, spray directly onto the surface water until covered (4-6 sprays). Proceed to use throne as usual. Now please note that this product is a blend of Natural Essential Oils. It is natural and non-toxic, biodegradable but for external use only. Avoid Eye Contact. Haha. It is also a choking hazard and must be kept away from children. It was never tested on animals and is actually made in the USA. So, here's the bottom line. I think it works but am afraid to ask my housemate for a second opinion. A .4 fl. ounce bottle cost me $14.95, but my bathroom smells lemony fresh. You be the judge. At least the spray bottle is recyclable too and comes in a convenient travel size.

GOD'S BLOGS

Have you ever lost something for say 2 months only to have it magically reappear just as you are about to re-purchase that item? Or better yet, after you've bought a replacement? Well, this past February I took a trip to Hawaii with my husband. For this trip I packed my all important U2 iPod and a book entitled, "God's Blogs," by Lanny Donoho.

About a month ago my husband searched through a suitcase of ours and found my Ipod. I'm telling you I was sure the thing had been stolen from our swanky hotel room in Waikiki. That was also the last time I saw my devotional book. I was really bumming about losing the book, yet rejoicing over my newly found iPod. My friend Cindy and I happened to discuss devotionals and I mentioned my lost book. Cindy is a generous person and she gave me her copy of said book with the inscription, To Denine: Let the lost be found! Man I couldn't believe she'd done such a nice thing for me.

A week later my husband found my copy of the book while rooting through another suitcase. I'm beginning to think I've lost my mind at this point, not just my personal belongings. The following Sunday I re-gifted my book to Cindy at church. We had a good laugh, an over 40 laugh if you will. Below is an excerpt from God's Blogs. The subject is Laughter and here it goes:
I put laughter in your system to make you stronger and healthier and happier, and it is, as I have said before, a great medicine that gives life. And postpones death.

I created funny. I created laughter. I created the ideas behind funny words, like...juxtaposition and funny people and I did it all for You.

Life's too short there on earth to take everything too seriously. So...look around, lighten up. I wanna see you laugh. And when you do, I'll be laughing with you. GOD

Reflection on 9/11

I'm sure that I am one of millions out there contemplating this life changing day. My heart goes out to all of those who have lost loved ones. My heart goes out to the thousands of workers who are now suffering ill effects from the debris, dust, ash and smoke they ingested during the days that followed the attacks. However, my heart was not as heavy today as at was in years past. Perhaps it is because I did not spend hours glued to the television screen this morning... perhaps because I was just too busy to truly reflect. I consider this a shame given the fact that a mere seven years have passed since 9/11.

My good friend Annette reminded me that as Americans we're to take time out to pray for our nation. Unfortunately, I did not hear of this appeal until after lunch time. Again, I found myself preoccupied and too busy to slow down long enough to pray.

When I arrived home tonight at 7:30 p.m, I had time to eat some pizza and to check my Facebook account. There I saw that another friend had sent me a piece of "flair" admonishing me to remember 9/11. So friends, it is now time to reflect, to remember and to pray for this great nation we do live in. Excuse me while I block out all of my personal distractions to pray.

Until next time, breathe.

Dad is Great

I'd like to follow-up on my week long birthday celebration so if you'll just bear with me, I'll make this brief:

First of all, root canals are of the devil! But and this is a big but, pain meds and antibiotics are truly miraculous.

Having said all that, I have not had the best week. Somehow I managed to develop an infection and/or mouth sores from all of that dental work. And so going to the dentist reminds me of Mr. Bill Cosby. Bill Cosby is one of my all time favorite comedians. While on pain meds two of his best routines came to mind. Nearly everyone has heard his infamous take on going to the dentist. "Mybba lip iz in my lap! Mybliiipizmybylap." Now he says rinse to cover his mistake of the drill slipping.

After my grueling 3 hours in the dental chair, I drove to the pharmacy to pick up said miracle drugs. I arrived home in pain as the novacaine had already worn off. I dragged myself to the sofa and popped some pills. When I awoke, my darling husband of 24 years was in the kitchen preparing a gourmet dinner for us to celebrate my birthday. I'll admit it was hard to think about food, any kind of food. But there he was seasoning filet mignon, baked potatoes and vegetables. And to top it off he had stopped by the Piggly Wiggly for a birthday cake. Not just any birthday cake, but a small, round double-layer chocolate cake with coconut icing. I started singing another Bill Cosby classic, "Dad is great, give us the chocolate cake." Oh yeah, my Man, now he's the greatest.

Until next time, breathe.

"The Musings of a Middle Aged Mom"

At my age birthdays are a scary thing. I know this because I've got one coming up way too fast. The days of 29 or even 39 seem almost mythical. Did my husband and children really throw me that "39 Forever Party?" or was that a figment of my imagination? And if it was real, hmmm, how many years ago was that?

Well, dear friends this year I've decided to write down a few thoughts on turning older before I forget them.

1. A relative today suggested to me that I view my impending birthday as not getting older, but growing younger. This is like. I'd like a Red Rider BB gun, please.
2. I've lost the last 30 days of my life, but have gained 8 pounds this month alone. I would not have known about the weight gain the evil Nurse Ratched insisted on putting my toes on a scale last week in the Rheumatology office.
3. Yes, I said Rheumatology, as in your grandmother's rheumatism. I can now predict the weather, thank you very much.
4. After 40, no one asks you what kind of birthday cake you'd like.
5. Facial hair is not something women talk about nearly enough. Instead of focusing on our men's hairy earlobes, I'd like to suggest that we encourage regular facial waxing just amongst ourselves. Nuff said.

For the record, that doctor's office scale lies... like a rug. Until next time, breathe.