Dear Brent Johnson,
I know that you are super busy right now but I have two requests.
1) Please offer a “classroom” setting Goalie class for us n00bs who want to learn more about the position but can’t or don’t skate or don’t want bits of rubber hurled at them.
2) Please write a book about your hockey experiences. Your interviews are always so interesting and I’d wager you have a thousand stories to tell. I’ll even pre-order it.
Thanks.
I love music. It is almost always in the background of my life.
I especially love instrumental music.
If you haven’t checked out fivesound.net you need to. Brooke Magalis is extremely talented. Not only does she play multiple instruments (mainly self-taught) she wrote and designed her site from the ground up on her own.
Keep an eye on this one – she is gonna be everywhere (in a great way) soon!!
JUST BREATHE
Love,
You
I have lived with chronic pain for most of my life. In 2002 it got really bad. Finally – after years of testing and doctors appointments I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2005.
I have used just about every pain relief medicine both prescription and over-the-counter to try to get a handle on the aches and pains.
The pills don’t just go to the pain and work – they run through your whole body and can really do more damage. Liver function, kidney function, bleeding with NSAIDS … impairment from prescription pain killers.
I have tried many topical relief products and some of them worked for me but they either smelled awful, they were greasy or both. When I was told about Real Time Pain Relief I was skeptical. But I ordered a sample pack because the ingredients I know have worked for me separately – I used Biofreeze, Arnica gel, and Blue Emu and had gotten results. Real Time Pain Relief was claiming a better smell and no greasy feeling.
The samples arrived and I started using them right away. After the first application I noticed a difference. It smelled fruity and as advertised it was not greasy! It is a light blue color, a gel – that absorbs completely. And the pain started to dull away.
I have a standing prescription for Lidocaine 5% creme for my chronic pain. It is petroleum based and I have to smear it on in a coating, then wrap the area with plastic wrap and leave it for 30-45 minutes so it absorbs completely and can work. With Real Time Pain Relief — there was none of that.
So after a few days of using the samples I made my first order — I was telling friends and family who also fight chronic muscle pain about this product. I had seen other vendors for the product online and I thought it might be a good way to share this product with others.
If you have pain – from workouts, fibromyalgia, arthritis, aches and pains — this product may be able to help you.
Check out Real Time Pain Relief and get free shipping on your order. Use promo code: 45647 for a free travel packs
Can I just say I didn’t think I cared about hockey anymore — but I was wrong. I have been watching teams I don’t like play hockey.
I’ve missed it more than I expected.
When Michael and I first began our adventure it started in Charleston, SC. It holds a special place in our hearts. Last week Michael had time off so we drove down for a visit.
While there were some nice times. Helicopter ride, great view from a local restaurant — the majority of it was a let down.
I don’t know when it happened, if it was always this way and we were blinded by love. But Charleston is a dirty place with horrible drivers. I had this memory of Charleston being this gorgeous city filled with southern charm. This trip .. destroyed that. Run down homes with trashy yards, garbage on the streets – even down in the historic district, roads and streets torn up with pot holes. The new bridge is beautiful and can be seen from just about anywhere we were but it didn’t “fit in”. So it was kind of an eye sore.
I will always think fondly of the memories that Michael and I made there — how he first told me he loved me on E. Battery, lunch at Atlanta Bread Company in the old church on Market Street (now it is a saloon with a Coyote Ugly atmosphere, no thank you.), picnics at Angel Oak – now nearly surrounded with signs that ask that you don’t climb on the tree, or carve on the tree, you can’t take your dogs there anymore … people have ruined just about everything we loved about Charleston.
Time to visit some new places I guess.
I have OCD. Multi-symptom OCD if you really want to know. Things must be in their place, in a certain order – organized in a way that makes sense to me. Sometimes it is as simple as alphabetical or by color … but so often it is just how I need it to be to function. I know that sounds extreme. To function. But I can’t concentrate or even be in the room some days if things aren’t just so.
People who don’t have OCD don’t understand how destructive it all is to a “normal” daily life without all of my “quirks”.
I have a bit of “Checking” thrown in for good measure. I have learned to cope with that one better than the others … but right now I have to stop writing this to go check the stove because I am sure I left the oven on when I took the cake out. BRB Indeed, stove was on — so that won’t help me talk down the fear of having left on something else next time. Oh well.
I avoid places and situations on a regular basis just to keep the stress levels down. It isn’t like anything extreme has ever happened to be at these places but I don’t feel comfortable and when I fight through the discomfort and the fear .. well I’ve not been able to master that trick yet. It ends up just ruining my day so I practice avoidance more than I should.
Neutral obsessions — where I can become fixated on something: a name, place or a fact that I MUST FIND THE ANSWER.
Sound sensitivity and touch sensitivity … noise from the tv where it goes from one scene to another with no warning the volume jumps. A minor annoyance to others — I can and have stopped watching the show because of it. Touching — I don’t have an impulse to touch things but the opposite. If I am having an episode touching me and more directly the sound of touching me (scraping of skin up and down my sleeves in an act of comfort) makes me want to flee. In that moment I know I should say something like “This is uncomfortable for me, please stop.” But I get flustered and shake off the offending touch and make some noise and damn near shout STOP TOUCHING ME!!
Yeah I know I need help. Therapy, meds and other things …. but I am just learning to accept that this is part of my life and while it may improve for months at a time – stressful times trigger episodes and now is especially stressful.
This on top of Fibromyalgia is no picnic let me tell you – Fibro robs me of energy and I have had to learn to let some things go and just be grateful I have a wonderful spouse who helps me with things. But there is always the voice in a back room of my head screaming “YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG!!” Sometimes I just close the door to that room and move on.
For Thanksgiving my Aunt and Uncle came into town and I tried to make a healthy dinner without sacrificing taste because they are not yet doing any low carb menu changes.
Seeing how the Photato Soup was such a hit in the house I thought I would make “Baked Potato Casserole” for Thanksgiving Dinner.
For 4 adults (accounting for the leftover factor) on an indulgent meal I admit I went a little over board with the quantities, but you can scale it to however you need it.
Photato Casserole
9 cups of frozen cauliflower florets *steamed*
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 softened cream cheese
1 cup bacon bits *(hold out a little for topping)
1 cup shredded cheese *(hold out a little for topping)
1/4 cup softened butter
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
I pulsed the steamed cauliflower in my food processor until it had a smooth consistency. I added the cream, butter and cream cheese and pulsed it until blended. Took off the lid, the blade and mixed it with a spoon the bacon bits and cheese. I poured the mixture into a 9×13 pan then sprinkled some bacon and cheese on top and covered with foil.
Baked for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.
I have to say when I went back for seconds later in the evening I told my husband that I “should not be eating this but it tastes so good” … then it dawned on me that this was NOT potatoes .. it was not carby. It was delicious and smooth, creamy and tasted better the next night with left over ham.
And…here we go!
1. Oh, I am so tired.
2. The brie was my favorite part of the big meal yesterday.
3. Where does one put all of these left-overs.
4. Last night the sky was filled with stars.
5. This weather is amazing, sunny but crisp Autumn air … love it.
6. Happiness and Health; these are some of the things I wish for my loved ones.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to spending time with family, tomorrow my plans include lunch at Fearington Village and Sunday, I want to get a steak and try to relax!
To play along – visit Friday Fill-Ins
Getting cooler here – definitely soup weather. I made this yesterday. It was quite good. Michael said I should call it “Photato Soup” …
4 oz butter (I used Kerrygold)
1 cup minced yellow onions
32 oz chicken stock
8 cups cauliflower florets (I used frozen)
1 lb bacon – cooked and crumbled (I used a thick cut “Peppered” bacon)
2 cups shredded cheese (I used a bagged 4 cheese blend)
1/2 – 1 cup heavy cream
In large pot melt butter and saute onions until soft
add cauliflower and chicken stock to cover (it took the whole 32oz for mine), cook on medium until liquid is reduced to desired thickness — I like creamy soups so I reduced by 1/2
add bacon crumbles, cheese and cream (again with your preferences in mind I used a full cup of cream)
simmer until you can’t take it anymore and you must eat it!! = ) I think this is one of those soups that may be better the next day as well. I will let you know. = )
I served it with a little more cheese and bacon on top.
Next time I make this I am going to try it in the crock pot and use an immersion blender to smooth it out more.