Belated Take 5 Tuesday

The question I meant to post yesterday was...

What are 5 smells that send you reeling?

(My keen sense of smell leaves me with plenty of ideas. Anyone out there identify with me?)

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1. the fish market (just the thought of it turns me green)

2. dog (especially a wet dog, even if he just received a bath--that's even worse)

3. chicken poo (and any other kind of "fowl" poo--no pun intended. Believe me, cow and pig manure are much better than these!)

4. urine

5. the smell of earthworms after a warm weather rain

***I also really mind the smell of cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke, though it doesn't make me ill--just gives me an instant headache.

Weekend Report

Well, I'm happy to report some progress once again. Two pounds is better than nothing...or gaining.




On another note, (no pun intended), the musical on Friday was wonderful! My mom, sister-in-law, and I had such a fun time. It's rare that the three of us are together without the kids--okay it's next to never really.

We had plenty of time to sit and chat over a leisurely meal at the Coffee Company before the show. There were two people in the musical that were acquaintances of ours and we were thrilled to see they had lead parts.

First of all, Les Miserables has got to be one of the most difficult musical pieces to take on, so kudos to the Drama department for not shying away from it! I had seen a high school community theatre group in the area do this particular show three years ago and I thought they had done a great job. The male parts have to hit some ridiculously high notes and go back and forth into falsetto. You've got to give props to anyone who attempts them.

I was amazed by how well the LMHS group did. Those that played the parts of Fantine, Cosette, and Eponine--beautiful!!! And of course the guys who played Jean Valjean, Marius, Javert, and the bishop of Digne were really good too. The kids, Young Cosette and Gavroche, were so adorable--to hear them singing brought tears to my eyes. They were so good! Okay, so I cried at a few parts (especially during my favorite songs by Eponine, "On My Own", and her duet with Marius, "A Little Fall Of Rain".) I'm such a crybaby! :-)

I can't forget to say that I completely enjoyed the cleaned-up version, having seen the original. Monsieur and Madame Thenardier were absolutely hilarious and remained true to their depraved selves--just without the "in your face" vulgarity. Still, the utter poverty of society, the desperate plights of the lower classes, the issues of prostitution and crime were not downplayed or overlooked...a hard balance to find to be sure.

What a fun night! I've been singing the songs over and over ever since!

Girls' Night

I am so excited!

Tonight my mom, sister-in-law and I are getting some girl-time! Whoo Hoo!

First we're grabbing a bite to eat. Just this simple activity with the promise of at least an hour of uninterrupted conversation nearly has me giddy! (Oh my.)

Then we're off to enjoy an evening of cultural diversion--a local school is putting on, none other than MY FAVORITE musical, "Les Miserables"! Even though this will be my second high school rendition and I have seen the Broadway production, it never gets old.

"So long as there shall exist, by reason of law and custom, a social condemnation which, in the midst of civilization, artificially creates a hell on earth, and complicates with human fatality a destiny that is divine; so long as the three problems of the century - the degradation of man by the exploitation of his labor, the ruin of women by starvation, and the atrophy of childhood by physical and spiritual night - are not solved; so long as, in certain regions, social asphyxia shall be possible; in other words, and from a still broader point of view, so long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, there should be a need for books such as this."

I've Been Tagged

Lynn at rohalcall tagged me for this meme.

What was I doing 10 years ago…
In the spring of 1998, I was working as a full-time volunteer “hostess” at the Millersville International House. This meant I mopped floors, helped in the kitchen, cleaned the common areas of the massive 3 story house, and organized events for the residents. (About 30+ international college students with a few “locals” thrown in the mix.) I also was forming a friendship with my future husband who lived next door. :-)

5 things on my to-do list today…
~Finish meal planning and grocery list.
~Walk to the playground with my neighbor and the kiddos.
~Grocery shop.
~Wash whites.
I~ron Pete’s school clothes.
***(I LOVE lists!)

5 snacks I enjoy…
~Any kind of fruit (Especially watermelon, grapes, kiwi, strawberries)
~Cheese Puffs (My favorite of late is SNYDER’s Multigrain White Cheddar Puffs)
~Crackers (I am such a carb-girl! Wheatables Hearty Multigrain, and Triscuit Whole Grain Thin Crisps are oh so yummy!)
~Cheese (Definately Muenster & Farmer’s)
~Carrots & celery with dip or PB.

5 things I would do if I were a billionaire…
I’m not holding my breath, but...
~I’d choose some charities to support with a good bit of it, internationally and stateside.
~Pay off the rest of our school & mortgage debt.
~Save for the future, kids, schooling
~Visit Europe with my hubby
~Invest some: I have no idea in what though

5 bad habits…
~Procrastinating
~Speaking without thinking
~Comparing myself to others
~Letting the gas gauge get too low
~Slouching—I’ve got horrible posture.

5 places I’ve lived…
~Pennsylvania (growing up and during college)
~GUATEMALA (1 month)
~HONDURAS (3 months)
~Maryland (since being married)
~Pennsylvania (since last summer!)

5 jobs I’ve had…
~prepared and served breakfast, changed linens and cleaned rooms at a B&B
~sewing factory: made womens nightwear and robes
~bending and spot-welding metal
~making pastries and decorating cakes
~teaching high schoolers

Take 5 Tuesday

This week's Take 5 question is...

What 5 places would you like to visit someday? (They can be revisits!)

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My 5 are:
1. Italy (Rome, Venice, Florence)
2. France (Paris and wine country)
3. Poland (where Pete grew up)
4. England (London and the countryside)
5. the Caribbean (probably Mexico, just not a real touristy spot)

Warm Weekend

On Friday night Pete dug our bikes out of the basement so we could ride the 5-mile railroad bed trail closeby. So, we headed over there after dinner and had a great time getting some exercise together and enjoying the beautiful spring weather.

Natalia was SOOOO excited, she barely ate her dinner. As soon as that pink helmet appeared she wanted to wear it (though it came off for dinner!) and she was like a little puppy following her daddy around as he got everything ready.

While on our ride we passed all kinds of animals: goats, cows, horses, even white-tailed deer. She loved it!

Here she is, checking her gear.




I've been trying to take some pictures of her in her church outfits, but she hasn't been very obliging. I finally snapped this one while she was watching the neighbor's dog.

Onward

Well, last Monday I felt great--7 lbs. was more than what I expected.

I ate no differently this week, exercised a bit more, and...I gained a pound. ??????

(Grrrrr)

Don't know what happened. Still, I am determined to keep going. Onward.