When you really stop and sit........

It's amazing the world that opens up around us when we really take a moment to just stop and sit!

I took those moments earlier this week when we joined our friends for a double celebration at the Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay. My husband, Mitch, was the "birthday boy" and our friends were celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary.  Did we dance in joy? No, we sat!

After walking around and enjoying the scenery, we sat down to a wonderful lunch. The champagne flowed and then the chocolate arrived.  Thanks to our wonderful waitress we even indulged in a few more pieces of the hand-made chocolate delights.  When Janet asked if they sold the chocolates at the hotel, the answer came back, "no", but I'll get you four more boxes. SWEET!!!!!

After filling our tummies it was time to walk some more and then we came upon the perfect place to stop!

Someone left a libation!

You notice birds flying overhead and little black birds perched on a fence!

Perfection!

More perfection!

Warmth and Friends. It doesn't get any better!

I've never seen so many pumpkins!

What color doesn't a pumpkin come in?

I loved a painting in the lunchroom, but said the artist had taken artistic license because there are not teal pumpkins! I was wrong!

 I totally enjoyed my day of food, rest, and wonderment!   I even came up with the question of the day.
What would you do when faced with a crack in the road?

I think I might just sit and take in all the world has to offer!

It's never too late to just sit and enjoy!

Sylvia

When one door closes......

When one door closes another one opens.  It's true, and it's a big deal!

My daughter is leaving the nest!  She has purchased her own 975 square feet of bliss. It sits on the fifth floor of a luxury high rise in downtown San Jose.  Who would've thought?

When we started the process of booting our daughter out (no, I'm just kidding) we didn't even think of the newer downtown properties. We know the "sky's the limit," but being realists we knew those were untouchable.

The adage of being in the right place at the right time was never truer.  In today's marketplace, real estate is going like hotcakes.  There usually will be one open house, multiple offers within days, and then the place will be listed as "Pending, Do Not Show!"

So being a "Type A," I looked at the multiple listings multiple times each day. My hope was to find a listing as soon as it popped up and be at the door first for the open house.  Jackie and I looked at more than 20 places and made two offers. We were lucky.  My niece had to go through 11 offers before her 12th offer was accepted on her first home.  What helped Jackie a bit was that living in a downtown high rise is a "niche" habitat.  It's not for everyone.  I hate to think what looking for a single family home would have been like. Looking at condos and townhomes was so competitive.

We started our search looking for a two bedroom, two bath mecca in her price range. This meant we had selective pickings.  I also printed out some two bedroom, one bath properties, but Jackie was pretty adamant that she wanted that second bathroom.  The thought was to find something that she could afford on her own, but always have the possibility of a roommate helping pay the mortgage.

It was a great idea, but reality was not playing our cards. There was so few places that appealed to her. Jackie did place an offer on one two-bedroom, two bath place that fit her wish list. She wanted the second bedroom to be big enough for a roommate, along with a pool, a gym, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, a good neighborhood closer to her work, updated bathrooms, affordable HOA fees......

It was a pretty comprehensive list, but I'm happy to report that she met and exceeded her expectations. But, it almost didn't happen.

On a whim one day, I typed "1 bedroom, 1 bath" into the multiple listing service. Imagine my surprise when the luxury downtown high rise came up.  I never thought she could afford one of those places. The list price was within her reach, but I knew it was low and the actual sales price would be much higher. Just for kicks and giggles, I told Jackie we should go check out the open house. We went Saturday and then again on Sunday. We even checked out some new units still for sale in the place. Using our investigative reporter instincts, we found out some information that helped her realtor draft a good offer. She was not the highest dollar offer, but she had terms that set her apart.

The AXIS is her new home and has many luxury amenities.  It has 24 hour security with underground parking (mom is so happy about that) and a concierge.  It has a beautiful lap pool with two spas and a cabana area.  It has a great gym and is within walking distance to many of the fine spots in downtown.  It is literally across the street from where we park to go to Sharks games.  She will also be close to San Pedro Square and the downtown night life.  The Old Spaghetti Factory is close by and may become the "cheap" place to eat on her new budget.

None of this would have been possible without the monetary support of Grandma Caroline.  After she passed, we sold her townhouse for a nice profit.  As fate would have it, we didn't invest the money. It just sat in our bank account earning pennies on the dollar, but that worked to our advantage, as we could make Jackie's offer a "Cash offer" and help her stand out from others.  She will refinance and then we will be paid back.  It's fitting that this new place has a den with a bright red wall.  Caroline's favorite color was red and Jackie took some of her modern art (it wasn't really anyone else's style) and she will display them in the den.  So grandma will have her little corner in Jackie's world!

Red wall will be a tribute to Grandma Caroline. 

Aerial view of the pool area

Gym

Cabana

Beautiful kitchen with granite and stainless steel appliances. 

Floor to ceiling windows will let in natural light and give Jackie views of downtown

The pictures show the seller's possessions. It will be fun for Jackie to take her good friend, Monica, on trips to IKEA.  She is already planning out her dream condo.

Come mid-November, Jackie will be walking out our door and into the world of budgets, mortgages, HOA fees, insurance, property taxes....

One door will close and another will open!

Sylvia

A Bad Leg And A New Attitude!

Wow, I have heard of life changing in an instant, but I never really gave it much thought. That all changed when I went from a peppy 51 yr. old in my cardio dance class, to an absolute immobile and unhappy ex-exerciser!

As luck would have it, not only did I tear my medial meniscus in my left knee, but it was right before a busy summer travel schedule.  I hurt it on a Tuesday and I was due to get on a plane the next day to watch my son, Adam, play in his first college NAIA Golf Championship.  Well, my mind may have said, "let's go" but my body was having no part of that.  I couldn't move. I was on crutches and getting through an airplane aisle was going to be more difficult than I cared to attempt. So I stayed home and my husband and son went to Oregon.

Next I was due to go to Vancouver for a little family trip, minus most of the family. It turned out to be just my husband and daughter and me.  And, a new little friend called a "wheelchair!"  I was fortunate to stay at a very nice hotel that I exchanged with my timeshare points.  The concierge was fantastic and found a wheelchair that I could use for several days. The funny thing is that on our first full day we took an 11-mile bike ride around Vancouver that was filled with fun facts, great sights, and most of all, no leg pain!  Yet, to try walking was like trying to walk over hot coals! I knew I had to do it, but it was very painful. It was definitely a mind over matter moment. So, when the wheelchair became an option, I didn't hesitate one minute. I boarded that metal devise and off we went. We saw all the tourist sites: Stanley Park, The Aquarium, Victoria, Butchart Gardens, Granville Island, Robson Street, Canada Place, and a few more things I probably never would have noticed, like uneven sidewalks and too narrow store aisles. It's amazing how being in a wheelchair gives you a whole new perspective!  I feel very badly for all those people who have to rely on wheelchairs and cannot get out and walk. At least I was able to leave the wheelchair for bathroom trips. It definitely would have been very challenging to attempt in a wheelchair.

Great bike trip around Vancouver

Totem Poles in Stanley Park

All aboard the Ferry!

Things are big in Victoria!

Butchart Gardens

You must see this Exhibit!

The trip to Canada was a success. I still managed to have a good time, despite by temporary disability. As they say, "You can't keep a good woman down!"  That was so true. After a quick overnight in Seattle to "Ride the Ducks", visit Pike Place Market, and view some out-of- this-world glass by Dale Chihuly we were back to the homestead!

Ride the Ducks!

Nine days later I was off to Chicago with Jackie to celebrate the Fourth of July. By now I had ditched the wheelchair and was using a cane and leg brace.  The real disability I brought on this trip was my lack of direction, but thankfully Jackie was quite proficient on reading transit maps, and we utilized buses, subways and taxis. We loved everything about Chicago, except for the 102-degree weather!  We ran... o.k. not really... all over Chicago. We ate the best hot dogs, pizza, desserts and enjoyed fine dining at RPM ( Bill and Guiliana Rancic's place) and Girl and the Goat (owned by the only female winner of Top Chef, Stephanie Izard.) We ate Garrett's popcorn on more than one occasion and I had my very first Moscow Mule! It won't be my last!

The Chicago Skyline!

Moscow Mule. So refreshing!

Navy Pier relief!

Girl and the Goat!

We went to the top of the John Hancock Building and the view from there is fantastic. We also went to Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and took a quick look from 103 floors up! The only downfall was that the security line was so long that it took us about one hour to get up there. Then after a less than 15 minute look, we wanted to exit. Imagine our surprise when we found the line to go down was even longer!  There was no way I wanted to wait on the hard floor with my bum leg, so I used the "handicap" card. I asked an usher if I could avoid the line and go down on the next elevator. Success! Jackie and I were escorted to the front of the line and down we went. It was a good thing because we had places to go and people to see!

Another highlight was going to Second City to see a comedy show. The Architectural Boat tour was also fabulous. Chicago has so many great buildings. My favorite was probably the "City all in One." It has a place for boats at the bottom then levels for cars that are backed in by valets (don't want any residents to get too heavy on the metal and end up in the boat harbor below) and then residences.

We also made our way by subway to Wrigley Field and Harpo Studios to get some mandatory tourist shots!

After a fun filled and very packed trip, we made our way back to San Jose. And then I sat. I didn't do much for several days just to rest the leg.  I have now started back at my gym. I've been to the pool twice to do laps. Yes, the Olympics have inspired me. I'm not going to win any medal, but I feel like a winner just to be able to get in some exercise and start moving this old, broken-down body!

I don't know what the future holds as far as my knee goes. I did find out I have mild degenerative osteoarthritis. It's hell getting old!  But, I may still need to have surgery to remove the tear. I've been going to the sports chiropractor and getting laser treatments and just trying to do the old-fashioned "rest" method.  Time will tell. In the meantime, I want to continue to swim and bike at the gym and start getting back into an exercise routine. Three vacations in May, June and July ( I had also gone to Pittsburgh/Philadelphia/Delaware and New Jersey in May prior to hurting my knee) and little exercise leads to weight gain and complaining!

So it's back to that ongoing battle of the bulge! At least I have a new appreciation for being able to move. I may have a bit more to move around, but I'm grateful I'm now walking without a cane and knee brace. I don't know when, or even if, I will get back to my Zumba and cardio dance classes,  and that makes me sad. I guess it's time to stop acting like a 30-something and slow down a bit. I need to listen to my body.

So in the words of  Patti LaBelle,
"I'm in control,
My worries are few,
'Cause I got love like I never knew, 
ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo...
I've got a new attitude."

You just put one foot in front of the other.......
Sylvia

Mrs. Fix-It (NOT!)

Okay, this is a confession. I have no skill when it comes to doing things like fix-it projects!  I just use my imagination to create a Band-Aid like solution to buy me time.   

Below I will highlight some of my more successful endeavors.

Let's start with the kitchen. I don't have upgraded counter tops so I resort to cheating and covering up my island with a nice Olive themed tablecloth!

Next it's on to the stove. I broke the handle and have not found a replacement that works. So instead I just use pliers to turn the knob to the estimated degree that I want.  My friend, Monica, gave me a thermometer that I can place inside the oven to insure the temperature has been reached!

Let's stay on the ground floor, shall we?  Welcome to my bathroom where my son has washed so many golf clubs that the Porcelain has eroded.  I've tried to use cover up to make it less obvious, but it doesn't really stay and so I put a trivet over it.  I know, so clever!

After a recent red wine spill, I now have a solution to the wine stain in the middle of the living room. It's called a Rug!

Moving upstairs you get to my proudest achievement- my master bath!
When the towel bars started coming out of the wall, I simple removed them and placed hooks in the back wall.  When the toilet paper holder started to fall, I removed it and covered one hole with paint. With the remaining hole I stuffed it with a seashell! Yes, a seashell! It holds a roll of toilet paper perfectly!

My solution to the missing towel bars was to cover up all holes with artwork.

So as you can see, I'm always fixing (NOT!)

I do hope something falls apart soon. I've been rather bored!

Mrs. Fix-It (NOT!)
Sylvia

DrawSomething is coloring my world!

I have my daughter to blame for my latest obsession that is taking me back to my childhood days of drawing stick figures.  I can't draw and it's apparent in this new phenomenon called, DrawSomething.

This is a free app for the iPhone.  It draws on your creativity as you try to paint a picture with your fingers  that your friends will be able to identify.  They get the chance to watch you draw the picture, and then using a selection of letters they try to write the correct answer.

The free app comes with the primary colors of black, blue, red and yellow.  If you want to get really high-end you can buy other colors such as brown.  I figure my stick figure will look just fine in black!

This really is addicting. I now check my phone just to see if anyone is playing with me.  My niece, my daughter and my son's girlfriend have now seen my shortcomings first hand.  I think this may be cheating but I sometimes add text to the drawing. I mean, how are you to draw the word, "Lady Gaga"?  I thought I was very clever drawing a stick figure with a "Meat Dress" and a blue veil covering her face. Of course, just to be sure my drawing was guessed correctly, I added the words, "Poker Face" and "Bad Romance."

I hope over time I will get better at drawing. Right now it's tricky just to decide if I want to use a thin line or a fat line. My fingers don't always do what my "right brain" wants it to do.

Oh well, its' fun!  And, who doesn't want to occasionally go on a magic carpet ride? That was the drawing I recently guessed for the word, "Aladdin."

So ready the drawing board, I'm on a mission to color my world one stick figure at a time!

Happy days,

Sylvia

It's not Grandma's Chicken soup, but......

Today I found health advice down the aisle of Trader Joe's. I was doing some shopping when an older woman noticed I had put some frozen Chicken Won Ton Soup into my cart.  She asked me if I knew how much sodium was in that soup, and I told her I hadn't looked.  I got that "shame on you" look and then a helpful suggestion that I put it back and she would guide me on how to make a much healthier soup.

So, being the health conscious person that I am (no, not really, I just didn't want to hurt her feelings) I proceeded to follow her around the store.


I have to say after just having a bowl of "Linda's Soup" that it was quite good.



I thanked her in the store, and told her she should give health advice out. Perhaps, write a blog. She told me she doesn't use computers or email.  She likes to communicate the old fashion way.  She has a point. People have lost the ability to go up to strangers and give them recipes!!!!!

Anyway, here is the breakdown of my new soup. It has a total of 755 calories and 4100mg of sodium. It makes approximately 8 servings so that works out to about 95 calories and 513mg of sodium in each bowl. Not too bad considering the Chicken Won Ton soup I was going to eat had over 1000mg of sodium.  The cost to make the soup was $9.26 which works out to around $1.16 per serving.

So, since Linda doesn't communicate in the new "tech way" I thought I would write a blog about her.

I wonder what I will find the next time I visit Trader Joe's.  I always thought they had a nice friendly and caring environment. That was just proven more so today.

Here's to health and not being afraid to speak with strangers!

Sylvia

It's in the stars, or at least somewhere here on earth!

I just read an article in AOL that made me chuckle. It was all about how the stars (Astrology) can dictate what food choices we like, and therefore what restaurants we should visit. 


This could be even better than a Chinese fortune cookie!  I had no idea I was supposed to have a certain food personality! According to this article my Scorpio self  should like,  "restaurants that... Won't ask too many questions. Privacy is the byword for Scorpios; their greatest fear is being recognized, or, horror of horrors, eavesdropped upon. Not that they want to go someplace frumpy or cheap. A Scorpio loves to dress up. But the restaurant should be dark -- or even better, have private rooms. In terms of food, Scorpio is known for being the sign of steakhouses: lots of red meat and red wine without too much fuss."
Now I am all for raising a glass of red wine to this diagnosis! Plus, I do love a good piece of red meat! 


So where am I going to eat to fulfill my desires?  


I won't tell. I need my privacy. But, it will probably be in some dark secret corner of the world where all attention is turned on me (in my slinky, sexy, hardly-there dress!)


O.K. I made that part up. 


Anyway, I hope you align with whatever the stars hold for you!


Bon Appetit!

Sylvia