On My Mind Today

Human nature makes it very easy to take the good days for granted. Somehow we are lulled into believing they will always be there and don't take the time to appreciate every moment. Then, when the unexpected happens, we are jolted into reality. Everyone has issues that come up in their lives which makes for some difficult days. When we are thrust into these it is almost impossible to remember the feeling of the good times. Too easy to dwell on the things that go wrong or which make life a battle. When something occurs in life that throws a curve, and causes us to struggle, it's very easy to sink into the lows. We can find ourselves feeling self-pity and asking why me? Being envious and thinking everyone else has it so much easier. The reality is, no matter who you are, you will have your bad days and difficult times too. With age comes wisdom as the saying goes. When it seems there are more years behind us than ahead of us we tend to look back and remember the good days.

We recently returned from a nice relaxing vacation in Florida. The kind of vacation that allows you to forget about everyday responsibility and routine. I am grateful for this, since he decided to play softball on the last day and ended up rupturing his Achilles tendon. Let's just say it's been a very long couple of weeks since our return. First the ER, then the Orthopedic evaluation, surgery and now the long healing process. Being the "nurse", and trying to make sure he doe as he should, makes for some very long days for me as I do what needs to be done. I am already exhausted and that wonderful vacation seems so long ago. So...I am trying to remember that I need to take care of myself if I am going to take care of him, which prompted me to repeat this blog from two years ago. Remember - take care of yourself if you want to be any good to those in your life. Here is a reminder for myself and others: It is not in my nature to put myself first, and I know there ar

When you live with an Italian they would like you to serve pasta several times per week, but I have him down to once a week to reduce his carb intake. Don't get me wrong - I love pasta, but as we get older our waistlines don't. This recipe comes from Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats (30 minute meal cookbook). Quick, easy and full of flavor, it is a nice alternative to pasta with red sauce. Ricotta Pasta with Sausage 1 pound penne coarse salt 2 cups ricotta cheese 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano or Romano cheese 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 pound Italian sweet sausage 1 medium onion, finely chopped A generous handful of fresh flat leaf parsley, finely chopped 20 fresh basil leaves, shredded or torn 1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and salt to the water. Cook the pasta al dente, with a bite to it. 2. Place the ricotta, butter and Parmigiano-Reggiano or Romano in a lar

No matter where you are in life, time with friends is good for the soul. This becomes even more apparent as we age and see the changes that can occur in our health and even the way we view life. We recently returned from a vacation in Florida which was a treat to our winter weary bones. The sun's rays seeping into our bodies, and the southern breeze gently blowing away the cold northern wind we had endured. It seemed to melt away all of the winter stress. We were fortunate to stay with friends in Cape Coral, Naples and Gulfport (just outside of St. Petersburg). Being able to spend time with dear friends we had not seen in a long while was such a joy. It's amazing how time just falls away when you have a bond from years of knowing one another. As if no time has passed, you pick up your conversation like it was only yesterday when you were last together. Laughing over old stories and catching up on each other's lives; the hours pass by as if they are minutes. Never lackin

Common sense, sound judgement, wisdom, insight, perception or street smarts. No matter what you call it, as you look around and see the decisions that some people make, it's apparent that common sense has gone out the window. There appears to be a total lack of ability to think things through; too many snap decisions that lead to disappointment or worse. Having a good education is important and you can become extremely versed in many areas, but if you have no street savvy then you are lacking some very essential skills. The ability to adapt to whatever environment you find yourself in allows you to assess each situation and make a sound decision. Common sense can ensure your safety. Our children need to be taught common sense. To do this, we can't control everything around them or make every decision for them. If they are allowed to make choices (based on their age) they will learn quickly. Either it will be a good choice and things will go well, or it will be the wrong cho

Here is a healthy breakfast alternative that is also very flavorful. From the Mayo Clinic Diet, this will be a hit for your Sunday morning brunch. Rancher's Eggs 6 whole corn (whole-grain) tortillas - 6" 1 can black beans, unsalted, drained' 1 teaspoon cumin 6 large eggs 1/2 cup cheddar cheese(reduced-fat) , and Monterey Jack, shredded 6 tablespoons salsa 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously spray 6 - 8 ounce custard cups with cooking spray and place on a cookie sheet. Place the tortillas in the microwave for about 25 seconds or until they are warm and flexible. Gently press a tortilla into each cup. Spray the tops of the tortillas with cooking spray. Place the beans in a small bowl and mash coarsely with a fork or potato masher. Add cumin and stir until combined. 2. Spoon the bean mixture into the bottom of the tortilla cups, dividing evenly. Crack one egg into each tortilla cup on top of the beans. Place the cookie sheet with the egg cups

It doesn't matter if you are young, old, rich or poor; if you are a woman you tend to see what you perceive as your flaws first. For some reason they jump out at us as when we look in the mirror. Nobody else will see them, but we do. Our beauty we struggle to see. Unfortunately, we are told every day via television, movies and social media that we are not enough. They don't have to say it, all they have to do is display images of "beautiful, perfect" women. It saddens me that my daughters, and now my granddaughters, all have been exposed to this falsehood. I tell them all the time that there is no such thing as perfect. Remove all the make-up, or restore a photo to the "before" air brushed image, and they look like the rest of us. And if the truth were told, they have the same self-image issues the rest of us do. And please, all of the models and stars selling their beauty products, stop telling us that you look like you do because of them. I don't c

Respect: A feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way. Compassion: Sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. Kindness: The quality or state of being kind; a kind act. Three simple words that hold much power. Either by the use, or lack of use, in our society. Unfortunately today, there seem to be far too many not practicing the meaning of these words. Have we become that apathetic? Is this the cold world we want for our children? Respect - We should treat our family, friends and members of our community with dignity and respect. The use of sarcasm, or saying whatever we are thinking, displays a total disregard for those around us. We don't have to agree with someone, but we should respect their opinions and beliefs. Social media has made it too easy to disrespect someone as we hide behind a computer screen. At times it appears that some for