The RU grows ever nearer, and I spend a lot of time on the net planning and making lists. All is going well, but it is time-consuming (my ironclad excuse for not working on my memoirs, although I did write a few paragraphs this morning).
Summer is here at last, and we had Joe and Kathie and Josh up for a chicken and corn BBQ last evening. They brought us a wonderful gift: their neighbor is remodeling her kitchen (copycatting Kathie, who just had theirs done!) and was getting rid of a nice 3-year-old dishwasher; they nabbed it for us, to replace our horrible old built-in that came with the cottage. Our handyman crew of Mark and Del will be here tomorrow to install it and we are very grateful!
Today I start my water aerobics classes (twice a week) at a local club pool; and Saturday I did a full hour of Pilates training (including on that scary machine, the "Reformer" -- which John calls "The Enforcer") -- it was actually a lot of fun!
I hope everyone is getting as excited as I am about the end of July revelries in Carmel Valley; we can't wait to see you all.
Monday, 14 June 2010
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Pomp and Circumstance in Junior High
What celebrations! What glory! We grandparents are astounded!
You young whippersnappers may not realize this, but in my day, there were no Junior High Graduation Ceremonies. Oh, we celebrated, all right – whooped out the school doors and ran for home on the last day of school, slipped into old shorts and tee top outfits, raided the freezer for ice cream bars, and flopped on a lawn chair to plan nothing but the endless days of summer ahead of us.
Having attended the formal commencements of our two grand pre-high-schoolers, Danny and Josh, on Thursday, I'm here to tell the world that it's a whole new era.
Danny Drysdale's midday ceremony was out of doors at the Cabrillo College campus, south of Santa Cruz. He was part of a large graduating class, but the process ran very smoothly, on a sunny, breezy sports field (parents and grandparents to the bleachers, graduates to the chairs on the grass). Afterward, the Drysdale parents took us old folks out to a lunch celebration for Danny's posse of buddies, and their parents and grandparents, at a nearby pizza parlor – the boys behaved better than the adults! The restaurant owner came by our table to tell us that these kids (who hang out at his place often after school) were the best behaved bunch he'd ever had in his restaurant: kudos to Julie and Bryan and the other parents in attendance!
The Drysdale celebration was twofold: that day Stephanie (who is just finishing her four years of high school this June) had learned that she's been admitted as a freshman at the University of Washington in Seattle! She starts college in September, and will have her Uncle Frank and Aunt Linda as mentors in the northwest, and cousins-in-college Caitlin and Justin, as buddies.
After we elders checked in at a Ramada Inn in Marina and had a brief rest, we then regrouped and went to the gymnasium of a local high school for Josh's evening commencement ceremony. As we entered, Kathie asked one of Josh's teachers where we ought to sit (in the bleachers again, of course) to get good photos. He said, "Josh is going to be in the front row – he's one of the 20 students from this class being honored for high academic achievement at this school – so sit right over there near the front, on the left side." With prideful smiles, we marched over and got good vantage places.
When the ceremony began, and when Josh walked up to accept his award as one of the most improved scholars in his class over the past two years, we cheered loudly and cameras were put to good use.
Joe and Kathie took us all out to a beautiful stone-walled old restaurant near Carmel for a gala late supper; Josh took the head of the table and chose his drink and his pasta with lobster-and-shrimp sauce with great style and poise -- and topped his meal off with a rootbeer float!
Now our boys are headed for high school next September: great times ahead..... much work, and fun, and a few more carefree years of youth.
You young whippersnappers may not realize this, but in my day, there were no Junior High Graduation Ceremonies. Oh, we celebrated, all right – whooped out the school doors and ran for home on the last day of school, slipped into old shorts and tee top outfits, raided the freezer for ice cream bars, and flopped on a lawn chair to plan nothing but the endless days of summer ahead of us.
Having attended the formal commencements of our two grand pre-high-schoolers, Danny and Josh, on Thursday, I'm here to tell the world that it's a whole new era.
Danny Drysdale's midday ceremony was out of doors at the Cabrillo College campus, south of Santa Cruz. He was part of a large graduating class, but the process ran very smoothly, on a sunny, breezy sports field (parents and grandparents to the bleachers, graduates to the chairs on the grass). Afterward, the Drysdale parents took us old folks out to a lunch celebration for Danny's posse of buddies, and their parents and grandparents, at a nearby pizza parlor – the boys behaved better than the adults! The restaurant owner came by our table to tell us that these kids (who hang out at his place often after school) were the best behaved bunch he'd ever had in his restaurant: kudos to Julie and Bryan and the other parents in attendance!
The Drysdale celebration was twofold: that day Stephanie (who is just finishing her four years of high school this June) had learned that she's been admitted as a freshman at the University of Washington in Seattle! She starts college in September, and will have her Uncle Frank and Aunt Linda as mentors in the northwest, and cousins-in-college Caitlin and Justin, as buddies.
After we elders checked in at a Ramada Inn in Marina and had a brief rest, we then regrouped and went to the gymnasium of a local high school for Josh's evening commencement ceremony. As we entered, Kathie asked one of Josh's teachers where we ought to sit (in the bleachers again, of course) to get good photos. He said, "Josh is going to be in the front row – he's one of the 20 students from this class being honored for high academic achievement at this school – so sit right over there near the front, on the left side." With prideful smiles, we marched over and got good vantage places.
When the ceremony began, and when Josh walked up to accept his award as one of the most improved scholars in his class over the past two years, we cheered loudly and cameras were put to good use.
Joe and Kathie took us all out to a beautiful stone-walled old restaurant near Carmel for a gala late supper; Josh took the head of the table and chose his drink and his pasta with lobster-and-shrimp sauce with great style and poise -- and topped his meal off with a rootbeer float!
Now our boys are headed for high school next September: great times ahead..... much work, and fun, and a few more carefree years of youth.
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Summer Holiday #1
Yay! Just in time for the big opening weekend of summertime, we have bright sunshine and warm air at last, up here in the Santa Cruz Mountains. My beloved and I celebrated with a walk in the village and breakfast at the Old Mountain Cafe (fresh squeezed OJ!) followed by espresso at Rainbow's End (great coffee, bad live folk music). The bad music was ameliorated by KPIG playing Van the Man's "Tupelo Honey" as we drove back up to our cottage.
It's been a long, wet, cold springtime, but I believe it's all over now. We're cleaning up the gas grill and marinating a steak -- and planning to spend the next two days on our redwood deck, figuring out how many shades of green our garden forest provides. It's a veritable full palette after all the rainwater that's been soaking into the loamy forest floor.
We've made good use of the springtime, however -- much fixing-up of the exterior and interior of the house, serious South-Beach dieting, good exercise programs begun and pursued. Now all of that can be done outdoors, adding to the pleasure of every moment.
Our thoughts are often focused on the coming reunion in Carmel Valley, and we're hoping that as many of the gang as possible can drive up here after it's over, to see the cottage, while in Cali -- especially those who have not yet had a chance to experience this environment. We'll have an open house on Sunday afternoon, August 1st, so wherever you are heading as you leave CV, please stop by for refreshments, a walk through our idyllic grounds, and laze in the sun on the back deck, before heading homeward.
It's been a long, wet, cold springtime, but I believe it's all over now. We're cleaning up the gas grill and marinating a steak -- and planning to spend the next two days on our redwood deck, figuring out how many shades of green our garden forest provides. It's a veritable full palette after all the rainwater that's been soaking into the loamy forest floor.
We've made good use of the springtime, however -- much fixing-up of the exterior and interior of the house, serious South-Beach dieting, good exercise programs begun and pursued. Now all of that can be done outdoors, adding to the pleasure of every moment.
Our thoughts are often focused on the coming reunion in Carmel Valley, and we're hoping that as many of the gang as possible can drive up here after it's over, to see the cottage, while in Cali -- especially those who have not yet had a chance to experience this environment. We'll have an open house on Sunday afternoon, August 1st, so wherever you are heading as you leave CV, please stop by for refreshments, a walk through our idyllic grounds, and laze in the sun on the back deck, before heading homeward.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
How's everybody doing out there?
I haven't spoken for a while, so here's a quick update: the diet is still going well; our health has really been good this winter and spring; I'm having weekly Pilates lessons from our therapist and next door neighbor Teresa; I had a root canal (not so good, but it's taken care of now); and John is in Connecticut.
Re that last bit: Stella and Eric are having a house party for the Soule clan this coming weekend, to celebrate and congratulate daughter Louise (aka Lou-Lou) on her graduation from McGill University up in Montreal. John had enough mileage points to fly back, and will be there until Sunday. Kathy, Dave, and Rowan are going to the party on Saturday, so Dad/Granddad will have a nice chance to visit with them too.
We've been fixing up the cottage here a little more: adding a very needed railing to the outside of the back steps, and another alongside some small steps leading from the front patio around to John's "studio" .... and are having some necessary spring gardening done also.
Our focus from here on through summer will be on the big family reunion in Carmel Valley at the end of July and the attendant visits from family members; in early September we hope to be able to go to Ireland with Eileen and Greg for a week; and in early October our friends Alfredo and Olga Bacchelli are coming to visit Boulder Creek for a few days.
Meanwhile, we've had a very cool spring season, and are longing for summer to arrive soon.
I trust you are all doing as well as we seem to be; add your comments below!
Re that last bit: Stella and Eric are having a house party for the Soule clan this coming weekend, to celebrate and congratulate daughter Louise (aka Lou-Lou) on her graduation from McGill University up in Montreal. John had enough mileage points to fly back, and will be there until Sunday. Kathy, Dave, and Rowan are going to the party on Saturday, so Dad/Granddad will have a nice chance to visit with them too.
We've been fixing up the cottage here a little more: adding a very needed railing to the outside of the back steps, and another alongside some small steps leading from the front patio around to John's "studio" .... and are having some necessary spring gardening done also.
Our focus from here on through summer will be on the big family reunion in Carmel Valley at the end of July and the attendant visits from family members; in early September we hope to be able to go to Ireland with Eileen and Greg for a week; and in early October our friends Alfredo and Olga Bacchelli are coming to visit Boulder Creek for a few days.
Meanwhile, we've had a very cool spring season, and are longing for summer to arrive soon.
I trust you are all doing as well as we seem to be; add your comments below!
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Phase 2
Yesss! We got through the Dreaded Phase One of the South Beach Diet, with great results. Now heading into the longer stretch, adding just a little of the carb/sugar stuff at a time and watching the results in terms of how we feel (how hungry?) and what the scales say.
We are both feeling much better generally; and during those first two weeks we really were not hungry at all, as the diet is so well balanced. I think the main thing I missed was fruit (which we now are able to have) – and the evening glass of wine or highball (ditto).
We are still having bi-polar weather in our mountain aerie: today is clear, 80 degree springtime – and an Arctic storm is threatening us on Tuesday, the fourth in four weeks. Mind-blowing.
Getting old and forgetful is not nice: I found on Saturday that I have inadvertently let my California driver's license lapse. No use pointing out to the DMV that they failed miserably in not sending me a renewal notice (which is true); it's still my responsibility to keep the license up to date. So tomorrow morning bright and early we go to Capitola to see what I need to do now; that odious expedition will be leavened by having lunch with Julie, we hope, and doing a little shopping for some decent, comfortable lounge chairs for the back deck (if we can ever put them out and declare that summer is really here!)
Otherwise all is well in our cottage, as I hope it is in your own dear retreats.
We are both feeling much better generally; and during those first two weeks we really were not hungry at all, as the diet is so well balanced. I think the main thing I missed was fruit (which we now are able to have) – and the evening glass of wine or highball (ditto).
We are still having bi-polar weather in our mountain aerie: today is clear, 80 degree springtime – and an Arctic storm is threatening us on Tuesday, the fourth in four weeks. Mind-blowing.
Getting old and forgetful is not nice: I found on Saturday that I have inadvertently let my California driver's license lapse. No use pointing out to the DMV that they failed miserably in not sending me a renewal notice (which is true); it's still my responsibility to keep the license up to date. So tomorrow morning bright and early we go to Capitola to see what I need to do now; that odious expedition will be leavened by having lunch with Julie, we hope, and doing a little shopping for some decent, comfortable lounge chairs for the back deck (if we can ever put them out and declare that summer is really here!)
Otherwise all is well in our cottage, as I hope it is in your own dear retreats.
Saturday, 17 April 2010
MID TERM REPORT
One week into the mandatory two-week "Phase One" of the South Beach diet: John has lost exactly twice as much as myself. That alone is enough to make me a militant feminazi! Why do men lose weight faster on a similar diet than women can?
But it is without doubt the easiest diet ever; if you follow the rules, you don't get hungry.
However, the second week has started and of course the water-loss weight was easy to drop – now comes the testing.
Exercise starts today with a Pilates session this morning and a real walk afterward.
But it is without doubt the easiest diet ever; if you follow the rules, you don't get hungry.
However, the second week has started and of course the water-loss weight was easy to drop – now comes the testing.
Exercise starts today with a Pilates session this morning and a real walk afterward.
Monday, 12 April 2010
Life's A South Beach
Now that we are home again and settling back into a routine, John and I have begun the long delayed process of getting ourselves in better shape. I am signed up with our angelic neighbor next door, Teresa, for weekly Pilates sessions on Saturday morning; and John will re-up his daily one-hour morning walks.
We have also started the South Beach Diet program, which we followed a few years ago when it first became popular. At one week into Phase One, I can say a few words about this process.
First of all, good old Dr. Agatston has updated a lot of his first suggestions for Phase One. the basic philosophy is unchanged: Phase One is designed to reorient your pancreas. That is, the meal plans that include plenty of vegetables and meat and eggs (but little else) during the first two weeks consist of foods that eliminate the effects of high-glycemic intake (a strong effect of a bad diet). In lay jargon: sugar's gotta go. The original plan, which consisted mainly of a lot of eggs, very lean beef and chicken and fish, and unlimited amounts of green vegetables (and some rather gross sugarless "desserts"), was boring and repetitive – and thousands of dieters must have let Dr. A know about that. His new list of allowed foods in Phase One has expanded greatly over the past few years: it now includes other types of lean meats (pork and lamb loin, for instance); tomatoes and many other low-sugar vegetables; and more interesting interim snack foods (2 or 3 required daily between meals).
Working with the new guidelines, I've been able to make much more interesting menus up for lunches and dinners (but breakfast is still very eggy).
Our pleasant habit of a couple of highballs before dinner is now converted to a glass of John's discovery when he was in India: Lime Soda. This is nothing more than club soda with a good squeeze of fresh lime juice, a small dash of salt, and plenty of ice. It's really quite tasty. I'm going to try adding some crushed fresh mint leaves (we have plenty growing in our herb garden).
Have we lost weight yet? Yes indeed; I won't catalog the numbers here, but you can be assured that the diet is working. Well, they always work pretty well for the first week or so; I'll report back later on our future results.
We have also started the South Beach Diet program, which we followed a few years ago when it first became popular. At one week into Phase One, I can say a few words about this process.
First of all, good old Dr. Agatston has updated a lot of his first suggestions for Phase One. the basic philosophy is unchanged: Phase One is designed to reorient your pancreas. That is, the meal plans that include plenty of vegetables and meat and eggs (but little else) during the first two weeks consist of foods that eliminate the effects of high-glycemic intake (a strong effect of a bad diet). In lay jargon: sugar's gotta go. The original plan, which consisted mainly of a lot of eggs, very lean beef and chicken and fish, and unlimited amounts of green vegetables (and some rather gross sugarless "desserts"), was boring and repetitive – and thousands of dieters must have let Dr. A know about that. His new list of allowed foods in Phase One has expanded greatly over the past few years: it now includes other types of lean meats (pork and lamb loin, for instance); tomatoes and many other low-sugar vegetables; and more interesting interim snack foods (2 or 3 required daily between meals).
Working with the new guidelines, I've been able to make much more interesting menus up for lunches and dinners (but breakfast is still very eggy).
Our pleasant habit of a couple of highballs before dinner is now converted to a glass of John's discovery when he was in India: Lime Soda. This is nothing more than club soda with a good squeeze of fresh lime juice, a small dash of salt, and plenty of ice. It's really quite tasty. I'm going to try adding some crushed fresh mint leaves (we have plenty growing in our herb garden).
Have we lost weight yet? Yes indeed; I won't catalog the numbers here, but you can be assured that the diet is working. Well, they always work pretty well for the first week or so; I'll report back later on our future results.
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