Saturday, June 7, 2014

NEWS ALERT: ARTFUL JOURNEY COMES TO AN END

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you this important message: My baby came back! My Wild Girls Circle Journal, which has been gadding about the country for most of the year, finally found her way home -- and two days before the USPS had predicted! She really packed on some weight while she was gone.


Would you like to see some of the souvenirs she picked up along the way?  The first person she visited was Janice in North Carolina, in July of last year. Janice added this:


Next she traveled to see Libbi in California:


In  September she hopped halfway across the country to see Melissa in Ohio:


In early October she went off to be with Ruthie in S. Carolina:


From there she headed north to New Jersey, to see Susan:


I guess it was too cold for her there, so she headed back to California to spend early November with Pam:


Mid-November she actually came back to Texas -- Lindale, to be precise -- to spend time with Raquel. So close, and yet so far!


Love those crazy flowers! By then my little journal had completed half her journey, which is as good a place as any for us to pause. Until tomorrow!

Friday, June 6, 2014

THE PATIENT THEY ALL HATE


It's a good thing I've had grandpuppy Guinness here all week. There's nothing quite like the feel of a puppy's silky ears, to soothe one when things aren't going well. And this whole apnea dental appliance thingy? It's definitely not going well! It seems I'm turning into every dentist's worst nightmare. It's not that I'm not perfectly cooperative and obedient. It's just that I have, well, issues.

Number one issue, or at least it used to be, is that I am a major gagger. You really don't want to be the poor schmuck who gets stuck trying to take a set of impressions from my teeth.

The newest issue arose when my dentist made a night-guard for me, to keep me from grinding my teeth. The second night I wore it, I woke up with big itchy welts around my midriff, and I could think of no foods I had eaten recently that I hadn't had a million times before. I stopped wearing the appliance until the welts went away, then tried it again. The welts came back.  I quit wearing it altogether and asked the dentist for an info. sheet describing its contents. Turns out it was made from acrylic.

Skipping past a bunch of boring stuff, I found myself in need of treatment for "positional" apnea. Meaning, it only happens when I'm on my back and my lower jaw slides back, blocking my airway and causing me to "snort" myself awake. Sleeping on my side helps the apnea, but is not good for the pinched nerve I got from schlepping too many heavy pots and statues around when I was a merchandiser at a nursery. Like I said, issues. But other than these few tiny things, I'm as healthy as a horse! Which is good, 'cause I really, really hate going to doctors and dentists, and most of all, hospitals!

Anywho, the good news is that apnea is no longer an automatic life-sentence to sleeping with a c-pap machine. There are simple mouth appliances which can help in many cases, and which would solve my teeth grinding as well, which, as it turns out, might well be a symptom of the apnea. What a deal, right?

Sooooo, the first thing I do when I go to meet the special apnea dentist is whip out my info. sheet on the night-guard that gave me problems. "Hmmmm", he says. "The appliance itself is not made from acrylic, but the stuff we use here in the office to do repairs and adjustments is." He decided to test a bit of it on me, leaving a little wad taped to the inside of my arm while he finished my examination.  By the time he removed it, it was beginning to sting, and had left a red spot. At least it wasn't all in my head! He says "No problem. You can still wear the appliance. We'll work something out." Famous last words.

Geez, this is turning into the world's longest post, and I'm feeling the need to rub some silky ears. I guess I'll continue this tale tomorrow.


Wednesday, June 4, 2014

SUMMER'S HERE!

So what're you going to do, to make the most of it?







Me? I plan to beat the heat by taking advantage of my newly earned "senior's discount" at the Blue Hole every chance I get!

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

TA-DAA!

Out of desperation, since I hadn't bothered to bring my trusty point & shoot camera along on my walk that day, I finally figured out how to take a picture with my phone. 


'Cause, seriously, you just don't pass something this gorgeous by, without taking note, now do you?

Monday, June 2, 2014

A STITCH IN TIME

If you happen to live in the Austin area, and have been toying with the idea of learning how to sew, need to brush up on some rusty skills, or just want to see what's new in the textile world, head straight for Stitch Lab. My daughter Lex couldn't sew a stitch when she first walked through their door and signed up for a beginners class. Within a few sessions she was whipping up stuff like this...



and this.


 Best of all, she has a total blast every time she goes there. Try it -- you'll like it!

Sunday, June 1, 2014

AN AUSTIN ANNIVERSARY AGENDA


#1) Go see John Favreau's wonderful new movie Chef, which was partially filmed right here in Austin. I guarantee you'll come away smiling!

Uchi's take on chips and salsa -- hydroponic baby romain with edamame-jalapeno dip
#2) Go check out the new Trader Joe's that opened there recently, and nab some yummy scones for Sunday's brunch with friends.

Bacon Steakie -- pork belly, watermelon radish, citrus, and Thai basil
The most amazing Brussels Sprouts ever!
#3) Have a fabulous free dinner at Uchi, one of Austin's best restaurants, thanks to an overly generous Christmas gift card from brother Bill. Then use the free champagne provided by Uchi to toast 39 years of wedded bliss, and congratulate yourself on being astute enough to recognize "The One" at the ripe old age of 17! 

Hama Chili -- baby yellow tail, ponzu, Thai chili, orange supreme
Peanut Butter Semifreddo with Apple Miso Sorbet
#4) End the day loving on a sweet puppy dog who has come to spend the week being spoiled by Mimaw and Papaw, while daddy is away on business.


 Here's to many more to come!