Ahhhhhh….it’s Saturday

Workout:  nothing yet today.  Friday:  none.  Thursday:  30 walk at lunchtime.

Ahhhhh….it’s Saturday morning.  That means coffee on the deck.  That means a yummy breakfast (eggs over-easy, toast with butter and fresh berries).  That means peace and quiet.  That means increased mental energy and calm. All the better to plan the day.

Gotta love Saturday mornings.

Let’s see, what happened this week?

I went to see Friends with Benefits with Younger Sis.  Loved it!  It was a completely fun, giggly rom-com and perfect for a girls’ summer night out.  I’m now a big fan of Mila Kunis.  She has crazy-fabulous energy, gorgeous eyes and a Lauren Bacall voice.

Loved her in Black Swan too.

Justin Timberlake, I do love too, but mostly I like his music and the crazier characters he plays in movies (read:  Sean Parker).  Don’t love him as a romantic comedy lead.   However, if you don’t love his version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, then you don’t love music.  It’s absolutely brilliant.

Plans for the day include getting some exercise, bagging up some clothes for donation, and grocery shopping.  For HEALTHY FOOD!  It’s been a bad week for convenience food.  PM S.  What can I say?  It seems to get me every month.

I’m also thinking about what kind of fitness plan I want to put into place for autumn.  Workouts this summer have been a bit hit-and-miss although I try to move every day.

I think I miss the gym.  There!  I said it.  I really wanted to change things up this year – do something different!  I’ve had some kind of gym membership for the last 25 years and I’m one of those people who actually used it (mostly).  I did lots of yoga this year but lost interest after a while.  However, I’m going do more after reading an article on how yoga increased the bone density in the spines and hips of middle aged women.  That’s me.  If I can find the article again, I’ll post it, but I may have read it at work.  I’ve also done lots of walking, a little running and regular stretching.

But it’s not enough.  I need to have a more regimented plan.  Since I’m almost 50, you know.

I have no idea where this gym is, but isn’t this a great weight room?

Oh, and someone flirted with me this week.  The Boss’ step-son.  While fixing my computer.  He’s our IT guy at work.  He’s newly single (actually in the throes of a messy co-hab split).  Nothing to take seriously, but definitely good for this 49 15/16ths girl’s ego.

Strange Evenings

Workout:  2 miles

I’m having a very strange evening.

I’m watching So You Think You Can Dance.  Final 6.  Twitch just guest-danced.  God, I love Twitch.  Have you SEEN him??

I’m also doing laundry.  Load 2 just finished in the dryer.  Load 3 still in the washer.

If that’s not enough excitement for one girl on a summer evening, I’m also working on a client proposal that needs one final document….which I’m waiting for from Obnoxious Sales Guy.  I told him it had to be in my hands by 9:00pm because that’s when I turn into Cinderella, or the Wicked Witch or some other very beeeyotch-like female.  He should be very afraid if it doesn’t arrive in time.  Very afraid.

Do I earn enough to be working on a lovely summer evening.  N. O.

But that’s just the kind of employee I am.  Stupid and over worked.  Sadly.

By the way, only two weeks from today until I turn F-I-V-E  O-H.

How a year does fly by, doesn’t it?

A thought on being almost 50…..when I sit on my butt all day and then I sit on my butt all evening, I am stiff!  Creaky.  Unsteady.  Weak.  I guess I better not do this often.  Geez, what’s it going to be like when I’m 80?

Sigh……

A Makeup Free Day

It’s been a relaxing, lounge-y day…..spending time at home, gardening, tidying, reading ( The Help ), and primping!

There was a morning pedicure on the deck – Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Cinna-Something.  Can’t remember the name but it’s a groovy color.

Followed that up with a mini-facial.  Boots Botanics Clay Mask.  It’s just a so-so product but anything that soaks up the extra grease is a good thing.  Isn’t this oiliness  supposed to slow down sometime soon?  Aren’t peri-menopausal women supposed to have dry skin?

And last but not least, a root touch up.   Miss Clairol in medium brown.  If I’d known how much time and effort my hair would require after I started going gray, I would have enjoyed my pretty virgin hair more in my 20’s!

Just a word or two on makeup, which I did not wear today…..

I have really oily, problem skin all my life.  Lots of TLC required to keep it looking semi-decent.  And some exceptional makeup products.  These are my favorites…

Lise Watier 24 Hr. Glam Mascara.  This baby does not run or rub off no matter how sad the movie or steamy the day.  Exceptional product.

Vichy Dermablend Foundation.  This has a beautiful feel, tons of pigment and nothing nasty to irritate skin.  A little goes a looooooooong way.

Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes Pencil Liner.  This stuff goes nowhere once it’s on.  Best liner ever.  No raccoon eyes.

Clinique Black Honey Lip Gloss.  This gloss looks good on everyone.   It’s been their top seller forever.  You can’t go wrong with this no matter what you’re wearing or where you’re going.

And of course, MAC eye shadows.  Nothing outperforms these babies.  Tons of pigment.  I stay away from the shimmer (at my age) and the girlie shades, like baby blue and neon green.

That’s my All Star lineup.  Some are expensive, but they’re worth every penny.

And sadly, it’s time to prep for another work week starting tomorrow.  Summer weekends are so short.

Enjoy a lovely holiday Monday night.

Relaxing Mondays!

Workout:  5 km this morning (before it gets too hot!)

Is there anything better than a summer Monday morning on the deck with a great cup of coffee?  There is a warm breeze, but I’m sitting in the shade and enjoying the fact that I’m not at work!!

Doing a little surfing this morning and here are some interesting articles….

From  Runningintoshape.com, here is an article about a young women who went from 100+ pounds overweight to a beauty queen who won the swimsuit competition.  Originally, I was a little freaked out by the picture (check out the bony chest), but after a little research, I found an article on Bree Boyce that pictured her healthy fit figure.   Very inspiring.

Also on the subject of healthy weight, here is an article at Weighty Matters about how we consumers seem to give up our common sense when we want something unhealthy – like potato chips – and the manufacturer adds a healthy nutrient (and puts it on the label).   Interesting phenomena. The author of this blog, Yoni Freedhoff, is an obesity physician here in Ottawa.

On a completely different subject, and because Royal weddings have completely obsessed me this summer, here’s a fun article on Zara Phillips and Mike Tindell\’s wedding on the weekend.  I loved the tone of this wedding, royal protocol be damned!  How fun is this?

And finally, on the subject of common sense, did anyone really think that Jesse James\’ and Kat Von D\’s relationship was going to work?  The guy has a history of hookers and cheating.  Seriously?  C’mon Kat, every woman deserves better than that.

Amusing diversions on a Monday morning because (did I mention this already?) it’s a long weekend, it’s Monday morning, and I’m not working!

Yay!

I Love Long Weekends!

Workouts:  ummmm…..none!

I’ve been socializing non-stop since Thursday.  Ahhhh, it’s the best part of summer.  A little hard on the a$$, but I’m going to enjoy it while I can.

Thursday evening was drinks in the back yard with Younger Sis and BIL (and Golden Retriever Barbie) before they left on holidays.  I’m keeping an eye on their house for a week.

Friday night, I went to see Cowboys and Aliens.

If you click on the link above, you get the groovy music and scenes from the movie, which was fun!

Can I just say two words?  Daniel.  Craig.

Two more words.  OH.  MY!

The back view is almost as pretty as those gorgeous blue eyes.

Saturday evening, I invited Best Friend and her husband over for steaks on the BBQ.  This is a bit of a departure for me because for many years I didn’t eat beef.  Not a philosophical issue, or even a health/diet issue.  More of a flu/sick stomach issue after eating beef.  It ruined me for years.  I’ve finally gotten over it, although it will never be my favorite food.

It was a perfect summer evening.  We sat on the deck enjoying the breeze and drinking wine.  It was absolutely lovely.  Ahhhhh…….summertime.

Harry Lives!

Workout:  30 minutes before work this a.m.

I just cried my heart and my eyes out tonight.

With joy and sadness.

With joy because Harry lives!  With sadness because it’s so hard to say goodbye to Harry in the end.

If you haven’t figured it out, I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 tonight.

I’ve been a fan of Harry’s since the first book came out.  I don’t like to jump on hype bandwagons, but I do love to read.  I’ve waited for each book and each movie with great anticipation.  There aren’t that many things in life that give that much joy, but J.K. Rowling has been the universe’s gift to all who read.  The books truly are brilliant and magical.

Do you know that I have a high school girlfriend who is “Christian”.  She grew up in a family with no alcohol, no movies, no dancing, no parties.  She has married and is raising her family this way (although she did have a few crazy years when we moved away from home and became roommates.  Lord, if her mama only knew!!!).

She refuses to let her children (now teens) read the Harry Potter books.  They are about black magic and witchcraft, she says, which will contaminate her children’s souls.  Her pastor says so.  Oh dear.

I am grateful for my parents’ encouragement to read, for the gift of words and ideas, and for their ability to let go and let us make our own decisions about what we will think.

And because this was given in a strict Roman Catholic household, it was a true blessing.

My deep thoughts on pop culture, literature and religion on this fine summer day.  🙂  Especially with a glass of wine on the deck.  How Irish of me!

50 = Old….Older?

Workout:  30 min. walk before work.

Brace yourself.  I’m going to grumble and bitch now.

I’ve done a bunch of Google searches in the last few days on being over 50.  Searches like:  best vitamins for over 50.  Best stretches for over 50.  Best fashions for over 50. Best foods for energy over 50.

Every single search turns up a website catering to folks who are grey haired and retired!!!!  What is that about??  Seriously!

These folks are adorable but on the day I turn 50, I’ll only be 12 hours older than the day before when I was  a “Sex And The City” 40-something babe.  OK, I might be slightly over stating that, but not by much.   I don’t have grey hair, an aging husband and a handicap sticker on the car.  I’m not in menopause (not that there’s anything wrong with that!).  And I’m not in the market for a hip replacement or orthopedic shoes.

Have I just not been searching in the right places?  What am I missing?

You don’t even want to know what “sexy 50 year old” turns up.   Good God!  Don’t go there.

There definitely needs to be a new definition of “OVER 50”.  Just sayin’.

There.  Bitch session over.

No Title – Just Stuff

Workouts:  Wednesday – nada; Thursday – three rounds of each floor of  Bayshore Shopping Centre in the A/C (not sure how far but that’s the only way I was going to get some miles clocked when it’s 110F outside); Friday – nada; Saturday – 2 miles + shopping at The Rideau Centre; Sunday – 2.5 miles (so far)

I think I picked up a  bug last week – definitely feeling yucky.  It wasn’t the “Back-to-Work-Blues-After-Holidays” and it wasn’t the heat which I love.  Not sure, but I’m feeling a whole lot better this weekend.  🙂

The heat finally did break here, and it’s a lovely Sunday morning.  The flowers are perking up and there is a cool breeze.  I hope it breaks for all those suffering in the US.

Do you see a theme in my workouts?  Shopping malls.  Definitely a great way to get some activity when it’s too hot to be outside.  A little hard on the wallet, but I restrained myself.

The shopping trip yesterday was with Younger Sis to pick out a birthday gift……yes, 50 is rolling around fast!  I decided I want a watch.  I picked out a beautiful one, but I don’t get it until the actual day.  That’s the way we do things in our family.

I fell in love with this watch ….but at $695, it was beyond my budget, never mind my sis’s.  That’s a mortgage payment!! We don’t give big gifts in our family – small and thoughtful is the way to go.

But I love this watch………..  😦

You can’t really see from the picture, but it’s very sparkly.

Also this week (since I was a slacker with posts), I finished not only The Girl Who Played With Fire but also the Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest.   Yes, I just couldn’t put them down.  AND…..I rented the Swedish movie version of the The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  Because I’m obsessive like that.  And yes, it had English subtitles.

I hope the American version is better.  Just sayin’.

With Daniel Craig, how could it not be?  🙂

Must record the date in my calendar…..

Off to the market for fruit and vegetables.   Have a lovely Sunday.

Short Post

I got mentioned on a Buzz blog for The Habit Factor.   Interesting!

I am still working the program, by the way.  Small habits every day, like fitting in some sort of activity and documenting it.  Like keeping a food journal.  Like stretching out my bionic ankle every morning.

Just thought I’d mention that I’m famous and you can see it here.

A Sympathetic Shoulder

Workouts:  Monday – 3 miles at a leisurely pace after dinner.  Tuesday – 45 min. walk before work, 20 min. stroll at lunch and 30 min. walk after dinner.  It’s a gorgeous day – can you tell I need to be outside?

I had a long chat with one of my coworkers, Proposal Girl, today.

This is me at work.

In fact, my coworkers have nicknamed me Lucy.  It could be because I have an office with a door.  I’m the resident therapist.

You know, I also think it’s because listening skills are a dying art.  No one knows how to listen any more.  I’m a good listener.  Sometimes it does not serve me well.

Today, I’m sad for Proposal Girl.  She’s extremely stressed at work – she has to work closely with Obnoxious Sales Guy.  When he bugs me, I just close my door.  Go away, Obnoxious Sales Guy.

But I was happy to listen to Proposal Girl today.  She also has an extremely high-maintenance family and her mother lives with her.  Yikes!  She struggles with her weight and is trying to keep to Weight Watchers (with some success).  And she has a bad marriage behind her with no interesting romantic prospects ahead.

I’m happy to lend my sympathetic shoulder.  Happy to.

It also makes me appreciate my calm and lovely life.  I love my house.  I tolerate my job (but really like my boss).  I have nice friends, some money in the bank and my 15 year old Honda starts every single morning.  I have a great family and if I don’t have a sweetie at the moment, well, that’s just fine (for now).

Blessings, including this lovely day.