Except for a tough 2-week cold/flu combo, I've been feeling great all winter. I think I owe a lot of it to an exercise plan I found in this book.

It has a graduated program of free-weight lifting, aerobics, balance and stretching exercises. I've been able to do the aerobics portion by going up and down the stairs between the first and second ( Read more... )

I spent the weekend dreaming up elaborate menus of dishes I would cook for guests next week, or even this week (and freeze) if I really got it together ( Read more... )

www.funnyordie.com/videos/c0cf508ff8/prop-8-the-musical-starring-jack-black-john-c-reilly-and-many-more-from-fod-team-jack-black-craig-robinson-john-c-reilly-and-rashida-jones

For those of you who enjoy musical theatre, I thought this was a great little number!

Traveled to Ames today to check out a possible assisted living apartment for Dad that just went on the market. Then headed for Des Moines to catch Jennifer O'Connor's (www.jenniferoconnor.net/) show at the Vaudeville Mews--only I was the only person who showed up. Walked into what looked like the right place--her photo was on a poster on the door. ( Read more... )

Maya said awhile back that she had trouble finding music she really liked. Amen to that. But a few weeks ago I was listening to my favorite radio station, KUNI, and this tune 'Highway Miles' written and sung by Jennifer O'Connor really got to me. I'm not a super sophisticated listener--certain chord structures are sometimes all it takes to grab my ( Read more... )

A couple months ago my dad called from Arizona and said he might want to move back to Iowa--to Ames, the family's home city for almost 30 years. But it's more complicated than simple nostalgia ( Read more... )

take a picture of yourself right now.
don't change your clothes, don't fix your hair... just take a picture.
post that picture with NO editing.
post these instructions with your picture.

( Read more... )

Her sister is still getting used to the jungle.

A few more pictures. This girl obviously would like to be a Jungle Cat.

This one's my favorite. I call her Scrambler, since she was the first one to scramble up my blue-jeaned pant leg. She's obviously another calico, but she's got more black on her than her sisters. She's got a lot of white on her legs, which make her look kind of gangly when she walks around. One foreleg is yellow-and-white striped and she's got a ( Read more... )