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

A dream trip in a paradise setting

"Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning..." these are words from an old song. But, I have a new twist on them. I say, "nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina, Puerto Rico, with my honey!" 


Carolina is the birthplace of Roberto Clemente, my husband's childhood hero. We had previously taken a trip to Pittsburgh to see the Pirates play, and photograph (may I say many times over) the Roberto Clemente bridge that leads to the ballpark.  My husband also took a trip to the Hall of Fame and soaked up all that was Roberto. But, to be in his hometown, and to see my husband overcome with emotion, is almost beyond describable.

Our trip to Puerto Rico began with a photo of our resort, The "Gran Melia" in a Cookie Lee magazine. The best of the jewelry company will be going on an incentive trip there in May 2012. 

The pool shot alone sold me on the place. That, and knowing how much Mitch loves Roberto Clemente, sealed the deal. We planned the trip in February and it was a long (but worth it) wait until Nov 1st.


We landed at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (which is actually a part of Carolina, not San Juan) and thus began our wonderful week. Every August Carolina honors their hero with a Roberto Clemente Week. We made our own "Roberto Clemente Week."


First, it was off to see the Stadium and then Sports City. Mitch was under the wrong impression that a cenotaph was located there. Imagine his dismay when we got there and found the gates locked. Sports City is being renovated (more on that later). We then went to the home of Roberto Clemente. We thought it was under new ownership, but later found out that his widow, Vera, still lives there.

Statue at the Stadium

Statue at Sports City

House where Roberto Clemente lived

Backyard with a glove, "21", ball and bat

After our first day of Clemente, we went back to the resort, did what tourists must do (we drank Coco Chocos  which are Pina Coladas  with chocolate) and ate Puerto Rican appetizers. We spent the night doing something remarkable - night kayaking on a bio luminescent lagoon. 

On our second full day, Mitch went golfing at Trump International and we got to experience the clear warm 84 degree weather followed by the warm 84 degree rain. We bundled up for a few holes and kept on playing.  After golf we drove about an hour to the Bacardi distillery where we had a great tour and two free samples. I never knew the bat was the mascot for Bacardi.

Strange nest made by insects

Bacardi Rules!

 For dinner, we ate at our restaurant at the resort. I had my first of three dinners with Mamposteao  (red beans and rice mixed together) and I need to find a fix here soon. I'm addicted to it.

Whole Red Snapper and Mamposteao

Several days into our trip we finally found this cenotaph. It wasn't at the Sports City or the Stadium. Luckily, Mitch brought a book from home that showed a photo of it and we conversed with a worker at the Stadium who was able to get us in the general direction. After a stop at a local pharmacy, and a very helpful pharmacist,  we were finally there!


Cenotaph:http://www..com/.cenotaph.html

The body of the legendary baseball player and philanthropist Roberto Clemente was lost at sea on December 31, 1972 as he attempted to deliver food and medical supplies to the victims of the devastating earthquake in Nicaragua.

A cenotaph commemorates and exalts the life and virtues of a hero whose body has been lost in action and cannot be recovered. The three monumental reliefs which constitute the Clemente Cenotaph relate the main events in his life from birth to death.

The sculptural work is 30 ft. long by 7 1/2 ft. high, has over 44 full-size figures and is located in the center of the sport facilities of the home town of Clemente in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

José Buscaglia sculptor

Left side

Middle

Right Side

After this emotional find, we went for a leisurely hike to a waterfall in El Yunque rain forest. Upon our return we settled in by the pool for a little libation. Nothing like having your drink in a coconut!

El Yunque Rain Forest

La Mina Falls

X marks the spot. From a photo to reality!

It wasn't sunset, it was a full bright sun, but this is how the picture turned out

On Saturday we headed off to Old San Juan. This is a beautiful place still rich in Spanish and Colonial architecture. It also has an European essence.

San Juan Gate, the last standing gate

walkway to El Morro Fort

Cemetery in Old San Juan

I loved the narrow streets with blue cobblestone

The birds, the birds.......!

On Sunday, Mitch played a second round of Golf at Rio Mar which was about 15 minutes away. The entire golf course was covered with Iguanas.

Mitch got a par on the Signature 16th hole!

On Monday we made plans to check out the beach in Luquillo which was only about 20 minutes from our resort. They call it the Puerto Rican Riviera.  We had to wait out a little rain in our car, but then it was sunny and we headed outside. The water of the Atlantic certainly is way warmer than the Pacific Ocean my feet know.

Near the beach is a row of about 60 kiosks. Imagine my surprise when I found one named for me!

Mi Kiosk!

After the beach we headed back to our hotel and waited out the longest three hours. You see, my persistent and persuasive husband had managed to get in touch with Luis Clemente, the second son of Roberto Clemente, and arrange for him to come have dinner with us.  Not only did he do that, he spent four hours with us. Mitch can now die a happy man!

Luis shared with us that Sports City is being renovated. He is trying to bring in some commercial aspects like a golf course and hotel, and improve the sports facility. He needs help and is starting to reach out to the states to raise funds.

Our "Clemente Week" is over, but not the story. Somehow, I don't think we've heard the last of the Clemente name. I can see Mitch going back to Puerto Rico and keeping in touch with Luis.

Luis, myself, and a very happy Mitch

Mitch reading what Luis wrote 

Mano a  Mano

 As for me, I will forever love Mitch,  Bacardi drinks, Don Q Mojito Rum, Fried Cheesecake, and Mamposteao!




Cheers,
Sylvia