Beauty

[just bee]

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@geezerette wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

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@geezerette wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

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@geezerette wrote:

Sorry guys, I didn't mean to bring this thread down, especially when everyone is supposed to be "merry and bright" this time of year.  🎄

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Not at all.  Here's an attempt to cheer things up.  I worked with a woman back in the 80s and I just adored her.  She confided, when I told her I had just acquired a Boxer puppy, she had always wanted a Boxer, but her mother wouldn't let her have a dog.  Well, of course I had to name my puppy after this woman.  Coworkers were mortified and told me I would be offending her.  Clearly they didn't know her.  When she discovered I'd named my beautiful brindle Boxer after her, she wept.

She ended up getting married and she left California for Flagstaff.  I left California for Albuquerque.  Every year we send each other a Christmas card.  This is what we do.  Better-half doesn't understand it.

"You don't call each other and talk?  You don't email?  You just send a card every Christmas?  Ridiculous."

It's our thing.  Anyway, last year I didn't get a card.  She was 50 when we worked together in the 80s.  What do you imagine I thought?

1. Oh, God -- she's dead!

2. Oh, God -- she's in a nursing home!

So of course I did what anyone with half a brain would do: I went online and tried to track her down.  I kept seeing her name associated with Prescott.

Did she move to Prescott?  The magical place, my favorite year Prescott?

Well, this year I got a card.  Not only did she move to Prescott, but she got remarried!

I had to include a letter in this year's card to ask her if she remembered that my family left Chicago in 1970 to move to Prescott, Arizona.  (She lived in Chicago as a kid and her family moved West, too.)

So there she is, with a new husband and a view of Thumb Butte.

That right there is symbolic of the magic of this season.

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Very cool.  And a good thing to realize in this wacky world we live in now: its smaller than we think.

She must be a neat woman because she now lives in Prescott.  We almost moved there years ago.

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No truer words.  If you don't believe in its smallness, move to Albuquerque.  There's an almost eerie connectedness here.

I know 1970 Prescott.  Every time we plan a trip there something prevents it.  The last attempt?  We packed up the car and it blew up thirty miles out of Albuquerque.  Part of me believes this is a sign: It might be better to remember the place as it was because it certainly isn't the same city today.

For some reason I've become addicted to the Sperling's Best Places website.  I've got everyone at work addicted now.  There's a quiz on the site: You click on a few buttons and you're presented with your best place.  I'd been fantasizing about Wyoming, but Sperling thinks I'd be better off in Utah.  The same night, one of my patients mentions he's from a city in Utah and now I'm thinking about a road trip through Utah, Wyoming and Montana.

Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam

And the deer and the antelope play...

Maybe I'm in search of a place where seldom is heard a discouraging word.

How did you almost move to Prescott?  (I'd still be there but we were asked to leave because after a year we still couldn't say "Press-kit.")

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I'm afraid to go back to anywhere I ever liked simply because everything has changed so much.  The places I don't like are so different, what would the ones I did like be now?  Better to fantasize about them in my

memory.

Prescott: The old geezer (who was a young geezer at the time) gets the seven year itch about every five years, and it's time to move.  Prescott looked great--decent size, seasons, close enough but not too close to Phoenix.  We were about ready to start serious house hunting when my dad's health took a rapid nosedive and he passed away.  After that, my mom needed help, and by the time she left us, all thoughts of Prescott had vanished from our minds.

But the small world thing pops up again when you mention Utah.  The old geezer has wanted to move to southern Utah (Red Rock country) for a few years.  He went there a couple of years ago and loved it.  At the time, once again, we just weren't free to go.  Now, we're just too settled.  The thought of having to move cross-country again and readjust to a totally new place at this point in our lives is not appealing at all to me.  I've gotten so that I don't even feel like driving the five miles to town to get groceries.

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What has changed most about Prescott is affordability.  We lived in a little house that was built in 1926; today that house would be out of my price range.  When you say Utah, are you referring to St. George and the Zion National Park area?  Sperling's website suggested I move to Ogden.  Unfortunately, Sperling won't be doing the packing and picking up the tab for the move.

I think I recognize now that I was born with the Rogers Park gene.  I spent my first ten years in Chicago but our neighborhood, Rogers Park, was like a small town.  My mother never drove so wherever we lived, we walked.  To this day, I like to have everything I need within walking distance.  It's harder in the West because things are so spread out, but I can drive to the store, the Post Office, the veterinarian, the bank, the dentist -- just about anywhere -- within minutes.  I work across the river, but really that's only ten or eleven miles from the house.

When I think about the money I'd have to spend to get my house in shape to sell (a 22 year-old house looks dated), I lose interest in moving.  I'm not sure I understand the concept of getting your house perfect just so you can walk away from it.

Better-half has been complaining about NM's climate.  It's just not cold enough for him.  This, coming from a kid who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area.  As cold as Chicago winters were, that winter in Prescott was brutal.  I fantasize about a cooler climate, but do I really want to live in a state where the temperatures are so low I can't even let the dog out to ___?

[just bee]

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@dosey wrote:

Hi all!!  I've missed coming to this thread.  This is such a busy time of year!  We attended our last Christmas party yesterday, the kids are out of school, they have no more school events, my gift shopping is done, and the house is decorated.  Tomorrow, I will wrap presents and get caught up on some cleaning.

HEP is going fairly well.  I have enjoyed some holiday goodies but not too much.  There is a lot of fruit in the house because I bought two boxes of citrus fruit for a fundraiser.  I am also eating salad nearly daily.

ComPacting continues.  So far this month, I've finished a body cream, an eyeshadow primer, a lip balm that I keep next to my bed, a bottle of John Frieda blow out spray, and a demoted bottle of facial moisturizer that I used on my neck.  I tossed a highlighter when I noticed that it settled into my pores.  How long had that been happening???  I also tossed a three eyeshadow palette that just did not look good at the end of the day.  The color changed to a slightly copper tone.

Evine cancelled my Isomers eye duo moisturizer auto delivery.  I was a bit bummed because I have been using it daily and like it.  Oh, well.

I made some skin care purchases during Isomers' last visit.  I bought the matrixyl TTV and the four piece kit that was a companion to the TTV.  So now I have the Origins kits that I bought last month and the Isomers products.  This is how I get into trouble.  Buying kits that I want to try and are "good deals."  If I am not careful, I end up with a cabinet full of product.  I am nearly current in all skin care categories and have decided that because it is winter I am going to use the Isomers products before the Origins brightening products.  I have already started using the Matrixyl serum and the clay cleanser.  Love both!  I cannot buy another skin care product.  Not one.  I am covered for many months.

The local annual holiday craft fair attracts all kinds of businesses.  This year, a wildlife rescue group had a booth to raise funds.  Guess who they brought with them?  A BARN OWL!!!!!  He/she was magnificent!  Gorgeous!  If the people and environment made him/her nervous or frightened, no one could tell.  That owl was fierce.

TTFN!!

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I figure it's time for a cute baby owl photo.

It sounds like you have the season under control and you can cruise to 2017.  I say we focus on HEP in January.  We can lay the groundwork now, but the heavy lifting starts in two weeks.

Someone brought white cheddar popcorn to work and I didn't go near it.  I just ordered more tea (this time Harney's had a sale -- 30% off -- so I pounced) and I picked up a couple varieties of green tea. 

My strategy is to give up one thing and replace it with another.  Give up white cheddar popcorn and introduce green tea.  (One with pineapple is on its way to me.)

We took a break from pizza but last night we ordered a couple from a different local provider.  I'm not ready to abandon carbs just yet but I'm willing to modify my pizza crust.  These pizzas are smaller with flatter, crisper crusts and simpler, but richer, ingredients.  It's like the difference between eating a box of cheap candy versus allowing yourself the experience of enjoying one exquisite piece of chocolate.

I woke up and had a piece of pizza at 4:30 while my tea was brewing.  It passes the cold pizza test.  And the place is close to home.  A tad overbaked, but sometimes the body needs a dose of char.

[just bee]

Speaking of food, yesterday I got home from a long walk with the dog and started watching movies.  At one point I felt like I could eat the couch.  Went into the kitchen and saw this:

We buy them at Costco but for some reason I haven't been eating them.  I've been a sardine fan since I was a little kid -- happily, Better-half likes them, too.

Anyway, I grabbed some sturdy crackers and I was in love.  These are the snackiest sardines!  I was doing sardines packed in water but now I'm embracing fat (why not?  it embraces me), so the olive oil was a nice touch.  The dog enjoyed what was left in the can.

This, too, is a good substitute for my white cheddar popcorn.  Salty, crunchy, but full of other good things.  Totally satisfying.

More sardines in 2017!

What will you be eating MORE often next year?

Edited to add:

Just checked out their website and they offer an extensive variety of products.  Lots of sardine options (in water, in oil, in EVOO, with or without salt, boneless and with bones...)

[just bee]

Think we'll be eating more of this pizza, too.  But not if they keep incinerating it!  Better-half's choice was more burnt than mine, but as edible as it is, I think it would be better less blackened.

So I went old school and ordered the Sausage.  The owners have an Italian restaurant and, a few doors down, an Italian market, deli and charcuterie that has started offering pizza.  This is the high desert; I want to support their mission.

Anyway the Sausage pizza recipe is:

Italian Sausage, Aged Mozzarella, San Marzano Tomato Sauce, Sautéed Spinach, Candied Onions, Feta

Better-half went with the Carbonara:

House Cured & Smoked Guanciale, Caramelized Onion Coulis, Sautéed Spinach, Taleggio Cheese, Rosemary Cured Egg Yolk

Their pizza dough uses wild sourdough starter instead of yeast -- a totally different texture.  A nice chewiness.  A fine balance of ingredients, too, and there isn't that waxiness that comes with other local pizza.  (I suspect the use of cheap cheese is common.  Perhaps they forget to remove the plastic first.)

They offer another ten pizza options.  I want to give each one a shot.

Also tried a cup of their Umbrian prosciutto soup -- it was basically an onion soup.  Next time I might try their soup of the day.  Or a salad.  Or a cannoli.

Hey, I'm just trying to support a neighborhood small business. 

[Oshare-girl]

I haven't been checking the thread lately and miss everyone.  Sounds like all is well.

So I buckled a little and bought a set of 6 mini lipsticks during the Sephora sale.  They were the cutest things and I thought that I could finish mini lipsticks for sure.  But I tried out the colors and they just aren't me.  I returned the set and feel a lot less burdened.

I hit pan on my ColourPop eyeshadow, but I'm tossing it at the end of the year.  It's getting harder and I noticed that it doesn't last as long as it used to.  Someone mentioned getting eye products to stick.  I use the Milani eye primer and like it just as well as the Urban Decay Primer Potion.  It really makes those eyeshadows last.  

I also hit pan on a highlighter from Stowaway Cosmetics.  But again, it's getting very hard in the pan.  I don't think they made the packaging airtight for this cream highlighter.

I'm enjoying my "clean" skincare products.  They are really luxe which adds to the experience for me.  I feel like I'm in a spa when I use them.

It's almost time to toss my 2016 pan-that-palette.  I finished a whole eyeshadow and hit pan on the rest.  It was a really interesting experiment and it taught me a lot about my habits and preferences.  I'm going to pick another palette to work on in 2017 because it was fun to see progress.  However, any new products that I buy in the future will be mini or travel sizes.  I just don't finish full-sized makeup products.  That's why I'm really loving  Stowaway.  They are EU compliant (EU bans 1200 substances while the US bans 11!), paraban, and phthalate-free and they come in mini sizes meant to be finishable (is that a word?).  I supress a squeal everything I use them, they are so cute!  And the quality is really nice.  They make one of the best concealers I have tried.  End of commercial.

Anyway, the journey continues... 2016 was a great year in shoe-editing for me.  I bought some quality shoes and got rid of the junk.  I still need to work on my purses.  There are so many I haven't used in the last 2 years, but it's been so hard to part with them.  They were the ones that made it through the initial purge.  It's time to just make a clean break in 2017.  

We also acquired a stray kitten and he's a tiny terror, but SO cute.  The vet says he will calm down in a couple of YEARS.  He's in the terrible two's stage right now and is terrorizing the dog.  Speaking of cat scat, the vet said that cat poop is like Tootsie Rolls to dogs and sure enough, our dog loves it.  We need to get one of those top-entry kitty litter boxes to keep the dog out. We can't have over a lot of people now (cat allergies), but that's ok.  Having pets is one of the best ways to teach responsibility to kids.  And having a warm, fuzzy body cuddle up next to me is THE BEST.  Who needs allergy-ridden humans, LOL.

Hope I get to post again this month.  It's getting very near to the end of the year and party season is in full swing.  Hope everyone has a safe and inspired holiday season!

[just bee]

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@Oshare-girl wrote:

We also acquired a stray kitten and he's a tiny terror, but SO cute.  The vet says he will calm down in a couple of YEARS.  He's in the terrible two's stage right now and is terrorizing the dog.  Speaking of cat scat, the vet said that cat poop is like Tootsie Rolls to dogs and sure enough, our dog loves it.  We need to get one of those top-entry kitty litter boxes to keep the dog out. We can't have over a lot of people now (cat allergies), but that's ok.  Having pets is one of the best ways to teach responsibility to kids.  And having a warm, fuzzy body cuddle up next to me is THE BEST.  Who needs allergy-ridden humans, LOL.

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They may look like Tootsie Rolls but they are, in fact, crack to a dog.  Not all dogs are susceptible to addiction, but this habit must be nipped in the bud.

When a dog stops receiving kisses or his family pushes his face away he will not realize it's because he has kitty crack stuck in his teeth.  You must save your dog from thinking his family has turned on him.

Intervention!  No more enabling!  No more crack snacks!

[KaySD]

@just bee, I have a serious and deeply meaningful question for you and all the low carb squad: do the carbs in Champagne count???? 

[just bee]

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@KaySD wrote:

@just bee, I have a serious and deeply meaningful question for you and all the low carb squad: do the carbs in Champagne count???? 

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What carbs in Champagne?  Oh!  You must be referring to the carbonation and carbon dioxide.  No, those bubbles surround any undesirable aspects of the product and lift them from your glass before you even take a sip.

Respect the chemistry.

[geezerette]

just bee, I'm not going to quote because this is getting ridiculously long.  Yes, the southwestern part of Utah is what we had in mind.  St. George area, although the old geezer prefers the smaller town of Hurricane. We should have gone there instead of moving here ten years ago.  As it is now, we're just too old and settled, so it's a moot point.  We both are struggling with some of life's everyday duties and I can't imagine trying to not only move cross-country, but deal with an entirely new area and lifestyle at this point in our lives.

I know what you mean about the weather.  It's probably the worst thing about living here.  The cool weather can't arrive too soon for me, but when it does, I end up cold now, wishing it would warm up. The old geezer always loved the heat--the hotter the better, humid or dry.  Now it gets hot and he melts.  As my mother always said, "Old age is not for sissies."  And we're not even that old yet.  

[geezerette]

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@just bee wrote:

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@Oshare-girl wrote:

We also acquired a stray kitten and he's a tiny terror, but SO cute.  The vet says he will calm down in a couple of YEARS.  He's in the terrible two's stage right now and is terrorizing the dog.  Speaking of cat scat, the vet said that cat poop is like Tootsie Rolls to dogs and sure enough, our dog loves it.  We need to get one of those top-entry kitty litter boxes to keep the dog out. We can't have over a lot of people now (cat allergies), but that's ok.  Having pets is one of the best ways to teach responsibility to kids.  And having a warm, fuzzy body cuddle up next to me is THE BEST.  Who needs allergy-ridden humans, LOL.

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They may look like Tootsie Rolls but they are, in fact, crack to a dog.  Not all dogs are susceptible to addiction, but this habit must be nipped in the bud.

When a dog stops receiving kisses or his family pushes his face away he will not realize it's because he has kitty crack stuck in his teeth.  You must save your dog from thinking his family has turned on him.

Intervention!  No more enabling!  No more crack snacks!

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Oh yes.  Cat crack/cra*.  My first introduction to this fascination came when we got our current pup.  Our last dog, who was here when the cat showed up, took little notice of the cat, let alone its bodily functions.  But this one, sheesh!  A delicacy beyond imagination.  Apparently even the litter sprinkles on top add to the savory flavor.  But then, this is a dog that delights in consuming every type of poop she can get her mouth around, except her own and her sister's.  Inevitably she wants to give you a big sloppy kiss right after a meal of some undetermined droppings she found on one of her daily forays around the property.

Animals are a trip, all right.