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Weekly Thoughts

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Happy Day after the 4th of July, Everyone! We had a lovely, chill holiday. I woke with a migraine, so I missed our epic local parade. (Two Excedrin Migraine and an hour’s sleep later it was gone.) Mike rode his bike into town, and he joined Jake and Eliza for a viewing party at Eliza’s grandfather’s. They tell me it was good, but there was a large gap, and it is rumored that there was a float-hitting-someone injury. I hope all is well.

Jake and Eliza joined us for a good old-fashioned American feed in the afternoon. Burgers and dogs on the grill, potato salad, baked beans, veggies and hummus. We watched “National Treasure” with Nicholas Cage as is usual July 4th viewing here. Next year it will be “National Treasure II” as we alternate each year.

My two favorite TV shows this time of year are “Turn” starring the young man from “Billy Eliot” and “John Adams” with Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney.  So good.

We enjoyed three meals from “Hello Fresh” this past week. We had a very tasty pesto, potato gnocchi, an interesting pan seared chicken dish (I under cooked everything) and a delicious southern pan-seared shrimp dish with collard greens and cheddar grits. The recipes are more complicated than I expected. We’ll try it this week yet, but I’m not sure it’s something that we will stick with. We’ll see.

I have been receiving packages from a company called, “Mickey Monthly”for the past three months. It’s very fun to get the package, open it up and discover what gems from the parks you have this time.  June’s package was a bit disappointing. I received a bag of Goofy & Co. Sour Gummys, a Scamp pin and a Bambi notebook. Meh… It’s the first time I’ve been disappointed. It really has been quite good in the past, so I’ll hang in there for a bit.

Nothing more to report this week. I’ll be back with more next week.  God bless your day!

Donna

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Shocked Back to Reality (Get Real)

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OK, here’s the deal. I stepped on the scale this morning, and received a huge shock. I have been living in denial…again. My weight has crept back up to an alarming number. I have been making some really lousy choices, and they have caught up with me. I love watching “The Real,” a talk show on the Fox network with a diverse group of young women. They hold each other accountable for “getting and being REAL” everyday.  I am going to GET REAL and hold myself accountable for every bite I take and for every step that I physically take.  I won’t do it to beat myself up; but to consciously make better decisions. I felt so good when I dropped some weight and was eating well and moving more; and I will strive for that again.

I had a doctor’s appointment scheduled for today. Just a routine check-up to get my high blood pressure meds renewed. I called this morning to double check on the time, and they have no record of an appointment for me.  Now I remember very well calling and making an appointment, but my doctor’s office recently moved. I’m just gonna chalk up the mix-up to their move. So I rescheduled. You see, I am prediabetic, so I always have my blood sugar checked when I go in. I have to make these lifestyle changes before I am a full blown diabetic on meds. For now it is controlled with diet and exercise. (How long is that gonna last, if I keep making bad choices?)  So…here I go again.

  1. No more sugar (I am a full blown sugar addict currently out of control) Help me, Jesus! And he will!
  2. Keep my portion sizes down (Aim to quit before I’m stuffed…eat to live, not live to eat)
  3. Lots and lots of veggies (Aim to eat veggies throughout the day, not just at dinner)
  4. Water and more water (Less coffee and more water)
  5. Walking a bit everyday (Even if it’s just back and forth in my porch, or around my house in the AC on high ozone days when my asthma kicks in)

I must admit, Dear Readers, that I am feeling a bit discouraged, but not defeated. As long as I keep do-ing, (To quote Yoda, “Do or do not. There is no try.”), I am not defeated. All prayers and words of encouragement are welcome.

Let me know what’s up in your life. Really, I want to know.  Blessings on you!

Donna

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Reason and Raving

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After much deliberation I have decided to keep the name of my blog as Donna’s Destination Disney.  Here are the reasons why:

  • As a member of the Disney Vacation Club, I plan/hope to get to a Disney destination every three years.  In 2015, I went to Walt Disney World for 8 glorious nights in October. In 2012, I went to Disney World for a week in December. In 2018, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I hope to go to Disneyland Paris for 5 nights with the family in September.
  • The thought of visiting and walking around a Disney destination is great motivation for me to eat well and move more.
  • I am a mega Disney fan, so from time to time, I will post Disney related info, like…

Frozen Ever After and the new Soarin’ opened this week at EPCOT.  The wait for Frozen Ever After is over 3 hours long as I type this.  Holy cannoli!! I can hardly wait to ride those rides, yet there is no way I would stand in a three hour line to do so.  Geesh! What an exciting time at the Disney parks what with Shanghai Disney opening this month, too.

Now on a more serious note: the senate today voted down 4 pieces of legislation that would make it tougher to mass-shoot Americans.  Shame on them!!  I really do believe that those who voted down this legislation are representing the NRA, NOT their own constituencies.  Election time is coming and it’s time to take a stand voters; these NAY voters on this legislation have to go!

I believe in the right to bear arms. I do. If you need a pistol to feel safe in your own home, I have no problem with that. If you hunt and need a specific rifle to get it done, I have no problem with that. [I am a carnivore, too. ;)] But enough is e-bloody-nough! These assault rifles should not be readily available. And if you are on the terrorist watch list or the no fly list, you should have a hard time purchasing a gun. That just seems like common sense.

Thanks for letting me get that out of my system.

I am striving to eat better by planning our menus and by trying out HelloFresh, a home meal-delivery service.  Here’s what they say on their website:

1. We create amazing recipes. Each week our chefs create amazing recipes for you that are easy to prepare. Our meals are interesting yet simple. And we ensure that your diet is balanced and varied.

2. We do the shopping for you. Tired of wasting time at the grocery store? We do it all for you; from creating the recipes and planning the meals, to grocery shopping and even delivering all of the pre-measured ingredients right to your door!

3. Free Delivery! We deliver everything straight to your door, so you can skip the trip.

4. You prepare delicious meals in your own home. We are More Than Food. Quick and easy recipes, no fancy equipment or techniques, and no obscure ingredients. Our mission is to help you get nutritious and delicious meals on the table.

Sounds great, right? I’ll let you know what I think in a few weeks.  I am expecting my first delivery tomorrow.  I ordered 3 meals per week. I figure this will help us to try some new and interesting recipes for awhile.

As for exercise this week: I only made it to the Rec center on 2 days last week, but I did move around a lot more at home.  My walking buddy hurt her back, so she can’t come with me for awhile.  It’s so difficult to get myself up and out without her to hold me accountable. However, “I am responsible for me. I need to be the change I want to see.  I need to get up and walk.” Hmmm…not a bad mantra.

Today I got up and emptied out my closet, because there is a leak in our air conditioner in the attic and the entry to the attic is through my closet ceiling. The leak is bad enough that there is water pouring into our guest room.  Yuk! I think I walked a mile back and forth with all my stuff: clothes, books, pictures, memorabilia, etc… I was sweating like I’d had a full body workout, and now I have the aches and pains to prove it.  My walking for today will be a run to the grocery store to finish out our week of grocery needs.

Then we need to batten down the hatches, because the weather is supposed to get ugly all day tomorrow, thunderstorms, possible tornadoes and much heavy rain. Help me, Jesus!

That’s about it for today.  Thanks for reading and following me on this journey of my senior-citizen life.  You, dear reader, are precious to me.

Donna

PS: I am LOVING the Grandma gig! My grandbaby Ida is so amazing! I can hardly wait to hold her again. She’s already 4 and a half weeks old. She has a head of beautiful dark hair. She likes to hear singing (especially her mama’s voice). She’s learning so much everyday. *happy sigh* My heart is so full, as I see pictures of her growing. I am so very thankful!

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Adventures in Cuisine

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Meatless Monday ended up being Meatless Saturday, which was a blazing 90+ degrees with high humidity and ozone warnings. We had Chef Salads, and although our meal was meatless, I did include half a hard-boiled egg in each salad and a few cubes of cheddar cheese for protein. I had made Chunky Vegetable Chowder on Friday to have with our Friday Hammy Sammys, so we had the leftover chowder with our salad. Here’s the recipe. It makes a lovely summery, veggie soup.

Chunky Vegetable Chowder from Betty Crocker 30 Minute Meals for Diabetes

6 large servings 3 carbohydrate choices

Ingredients:

  1. 1 tablespoon butter
  2. 1 medium green bell pepper, coarsely chopped (1 cup)
  3. 1 medium red bell pepper, coarsely chopped (1 cup)
  4. 8 medium green onions, sliced (½ cup)
  5. 3 cups water
  6. ¾ pound small red potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces (2 ½ cups)
  7. 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme OR 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  8. ½ teaspoon salt
  9. 1 cup fat-free half-and-half
  10. 1/8 teaspoon of pepper
  11. 2 cans (14.75 oz each) cream-style corn

Directions:

  • In 4-quart Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Add bell peppers and onions; cook 3 minutes stirring occasionally.
  • Stir in water, potatoes, thyme and salt. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer about 10 minutes or until potatoes and tender.
  • Stir in remaining ingredients; cook about 1 minute or until hot (Do not boil, or it will curdle).

Seriously, get this cookbook, Betty Crocker 30 Minute Meals for Diabetes.  It is fabulous!!

In an effort to educate our palates and try some new things to keep some spice in our marriage 😉 Mike and I made a curry together for the first time ever. Yes, we cooked it together. I found a relatively easy recipe at verucaspice.com. Here’s the recipe…and, oh yeah, it was delicious!

Indian Chicken Curry by Nirali Patel at verucaspice.com

4 Servings

Ingredients:

  1. 1 pound chicken breasts, cubed to bite size
  2. 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  3. 1-8 oz can tomato puree
  4. ½ a red onion, fine chopped (1 cup)
  5. 1 heaping teaspoon fresh grated ginger
  6. 1 heaping teaspoon finely chopped garlic
  7. 1 Serrano chili, finely chopped (optional)
  8. 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  9. 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  10. 1 teaspoon ground garam masala
  11. ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
  12. ½ teaspoon red chili powder to taste
  13. Juice of ½ a lime
  14. Salt and pepper to taste
  15. A little over 1 cup of water

Directions:

  • Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add onions and fry until they are golden for 6-7 minutes.
  • Add ginger and garlic and fry for 30 seconds, reducing heat to medium.
  • Add tomato puree and continue to cook for 6-7 minutes until a lot of the water has evaporated and oil starts to seep through the mixture.
  • Add spices (except garam masala). Fry spices in mixture for about 5 minutes.
  • Add cubed chicken and stir, coating all pieces.
  • Add the water and stir well. (Stir in the Serrano pepper here, if you choose to use it.)
  • Cook, partially covered for 10 minutes until chicken is cooked through. You can uncover and let moisture cook out if you wish.
  • When at desired consistency, add garam masal, lime juice, salt and pepper.
  • Enjoy!

I know it looks complicated, but it really wasn’t. And it was so tasty, and not at all spicy hot. I don’t think I’ve ever had the spices turmeric or garam masala in my kitchen before.  Turneric is so pretty…and tasty.  We didn’t use the optional Serrano pepper, but we will try it next time. Mike likes spicy hot foods, and I’m willing to try it once anyway.

As for progress on the rest of my quest: Joan and I have now been to the Rec Center to walk for 4 days.

  • Day one-I walked 4 times around the track…thought I was gonna die!
  • Day two-I walked 5 times around the track…pretty sure I did die for a minute there. 🙂
  • Day three-I walked 4 times around the track and quit because it was 90+ degrees and humid out, and I was going grocery shopping from the Rec center. I was fairly OK after the Rec Center, and circling around a stroke after grocery shopping.  I will not push that hard on such a hot and humid day again!
  • Day four-I walked 7 times around the track. After six laps I felt really good so I thought, “What the heck; I’ll do one more lap.” Then after my seventh lap, my feet, knees and back were VERY unhappy.

Tomorrow will be Day 5 at the Rec Center. I plan to be in the moment (not just thinking about getting it over with), and I will listen to my body, stopping at the first sign of actual distress.  And hey, 13 laps is a mile, so I made it over a half mile yesterday. Woop!!

Thanks for reading, dear friends! God bless your day

Donna

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Miracle

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Hello Dear Readers,

Welcome back! I want to share something that happened to me several years ago. On a spring day, I attended a half-day women’s retreat at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. If you’ve not been to the Chicago Botanic Gardens, it is a lush, green, stunningly beautiful place to walk and wander amid the scent of the flowers and plants surrounding you. I highly recommend it as a place of quiet meditation, or as a place to contemplate nature at its manicured finest!

Anyway…about a dozen women met there at 9:00 am. We chatted together for a bit then were sent off to write down our thoughts in several areas of the Gardens.  We met back at 10:00 am and then again at 11:00 am to share our thoughts. Then we met at noon in the cafeteria for lunch and wrap-up.

At one point in the morning, we were sent off to find a quiet place to to sit and pray and then to pick a question out of our retreat booklet to answer.  I chose: “What type of a plant are you.” I thought, “What is this Barbara Walters?” It was one of her favorite questions when interviewing celebrities. (Actually it was, “What kind of a tree are you?”) Here is what I wrote after my prayer time:

“In the precious garden where God’s human’s handiwork is seen, where do you see you? Are you the prairie grass standing tall, stretching up and up to praise God and feel the warmth of the Son? Do you bend gently with the wind in joy at your freedom? Do you bend sharply in the bluster of winter?”

“Who are you?”

“Are you the willow, long and slender, reaching up for the heavens, then dropping down to caress the waters of the earth? Do you dance and sway to nature’s music?”

“What, in nature, are you?”

“Are you the rose, vermillion in your beauty and splendor? Do you bloom under God’s watchful eye, pleasing those around you and hiding your prickles in shadows?”

“Me? I am the English Oak. Solid…sturdy…stocky. Yes, I bend with the wind, I, too, dance and sway for my creator. But my roots go down deep. My roots grow down, down, down into the solid packed earth, gripping rocks and soil to stay rooted. Rooted in God’s Word.”

“In God’s garden, there is room for all. Each of us on our own path, yet each of us is designed as part of one plan. Too small and busy are we to see the whole garden, but we can believe the One who holds the whole garden in his hands.”

That’s it, and believe it now more than ever. If we are just content to bloom where we are planted and then trust God for the rest, we live our lives in perfect peace. I am where I am because of God’s plan and my own choices.  And right here and right now God can use me for his purposes.  And wants to use me AND you, too.

And here’s the miracle: when we gathered back to share which question we had chosen the ladies read, one by one, the question they had chosen and their thoughts and meditations. When it came to my turn, I kept flipping back and forth to find the question that I had answered. (“What type of a plant are you?”) Hmmm…even though I had read and reread that  question many times in my meditation, it was nowhere to be found in the retreat booklet. God let me see the question that I needed to answer. I am still humbled and in awe of this simple gift God gave to me on that morning. God is good!

Blessings, my peeps.

Donna

PS: I rejoined the Rec Center and plan to meet my friend Joan there three days a week to walk.  I know I could step out my door and walk, but with the heat of summer and the poor walking condition that I am in, the Rec Center is a better option.  I can do a lap and then sit to recover, then walk another lap, sit to recover, etc… Also I have started planning better meals and cooking with purpose again. And on Saturday I will make my first Indian dish, “Indian Chicken Curry-Quick and Easy” recipe by Veruca Spice. Check out the website at http://www.verucaspice.com. Really good stuff for expanding the palate!

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New Beginnings

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Here I am again, Dear Readers.  I will change the name of my blog when I figure out how to do so.  Maybe “Destination Donna” or “Notes on the Way to a Healthier Me” or “Donna’s Life-As She Sees It.”  Please weigh in on that.  I’m looking for ideas.

I hope to blog at least once a week, or as the Spirit inspires. so here goes…

I officially retired on January 1, 2016. I was given the last two weeks of December 2015 off as a bonus. I thoroughly enjoyed those last two weeks in December. Mary Ann (our kitty) and I had a wonderful time looking at all the colored lights and ornaments on our Christmas tree. Some days I didn’t even get dressed. I was in recovery from 15 years on the job and those same 15 years of sleep deprivation. It was glorious!
But those two weeks bled into the next two weeks…and then the next two weeks…and then the next two months…until five months later I have packed on 40 of the pounds I worked so hard to lose for our Florida trip last October.
So…here I go again.  I am reworking my goals:
1) Eat healthier more diverse and interesting meals. (Introducing maybe some Indian cuisine into our diets and researching Mediterranean cuisine). In general I tend to be nervous about trying new things, but it’s time to branch out.
I will be inspired by my mum who as a young bride tried daily to bake bread for her handsome soldier newly from the Army. There was a veritable graveyard of loaves of bread buried in their backyard from her failed attempts. 🙂 But she persisted. I will follow her lead and dive boldly into the fray!
2) Institute “Meatless Mondays” whereby (inspired by my vegetarian daughter and her vegetarian, gourmet cook of a husband) Mike and I strive to eat meat-free one day a week. Thus giving a gift to the environment (the planet) and giving a rest to our digestive tracts which spend much time breaking down meat.
3) Take a walk everyday, no matter how small. My joints are sore. I have a bad hip and a bad knee and a bad foot; and I think they actually got so bad from my sedentary lifestyle.
4) Pick one bit of housework to do every day, again, no matter how small. It is time to go through the piles upon piles of stuff gathering in every nook and cranny of our place.
That’s enough goals for now. I want to work my way to a healthier me, slow and easy. I want to make the most of the years I have left on this mortal coil. (However many years they may be.) And along the way there will be some fun things to enjoy, like maybe a family trip to Disneyland Paris, or another trip to be with our new grandbaby Ida May (She is a treasure beyond price!),  her mum and dad, too…and Herbie the wonder whippet.
So here we go, dear readers. Follow along if you wish, and thank you for the encouragement you’ve always give me along the way. Blessings on you.

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Blog Bye-bye

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Post #436 in my blogging about meeting up with Mickey

Well, folks, what a journey this has been.  This is my 436th post in about as many days.  (I’ve missed about five days.)  When I started this blog it was to get ready to meet up with Mickey in as good physical shape as possible.  Along the way, I’ve learned how to eat better, healthier meals, and I’ve even learned some of the benefits of moving my body through space more often.  I’ve faced, battled and conquered cancer.  I’ve looked back and examined where I picked up some bad habits and irrational fears.  I’ve faced my deepest, darkest fears and found that God is there, and I am never alone.   I’ve quit my job (I will retire the end of December).  It has been quite a ride.  My setbacks have been severe at times, but they have never stopped my determination to continue the journey.  I lost about half the weight that I hoped I would, and yet I am more determined than ever to eat right and move more.

When I started this blog, I thought it would basically be a health and fitness journey.  It ended up being so much more.  I’ve learned a lot about where I come from, what has made me into me, and God has been there with me every step of the way.  He is faithful and “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

So I’ll say goodbye for now, dear readers.  I promise to post about our trip to Walt Disney World again in December.  Thank you so much for your faithful following of this journey of discovery.  May God bless and keep you until we meet again.

BTW: Two things I would change about our trip if I could:

  1. I would not book a fireworks dessert party and a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party two nights in a row.  They were two very late nights.
  2. I would not book a sit-down meal at EPCOT during the Food and Wine Festival.  I would nibble around the world instead.  🙂

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Home Again Home Again Riggety Jig

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Day 438 in my Mickey journey

Well, folks, today we travel back home after an incredible 8 nights and 9 days of Disney delight. We’ve missed Emi and James every day, but we’ve done our best to squeeze every moment of joy out of every day just the same. 

I will post one more time after today to wrap up this experience, probably on the weekend. 

Then I won’t post until our December trip. I am completely sated and content at this moment as I sit by the pool at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. Jake and Eliza have already headed to the airport and we will head that way soon. 

It has been a magnificent time away from reality while in this fantasy kingdom. Tomorrow it’s back to the grindstone. But, hey, Christmas is coming soon!  I love me some Christmas!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Fantastic Final Day

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Day 437 in my journey to meet Mickey

Today is our last full day in Florida for this vacation. We wandered over to Hollywood Studios too late for our FastPass+ at the Muppets. So our first stop was Starbucks for a coffee to try to wake up. Then since he hadn’t had one yet on this trip, Mike wanted a Mickey Ice Cream Bar. We couldn’t let him indulge alone so the kids and I had one too. 

Mike, Jake and Eliza headed to Tower of Terror. The fellas rode and Eliza walked through the building with them until they were loaded onto the ride. I did a little bit of last minute shopping and met up with them at 50’s Prime Time Cafe for lunch. They had the meatloaf. I fell for the chicken pot pie. Yum!

Next we watched the Beauty and the Beast stage show. It never fails!  The cast was amazing and the production value was incredible. 

Next we traveled to Magic Kingdom. Mike and I went to Mickey’s Philharmagic while Jake and Eliza went on Buzz Lightyear. Mike and I went to Gaston’s Tavern to wait for the kids and tried LeFou’s Brew. It tastes like a caramel apple drink with a citrusy foam on top. Very refreshing. 

The last thing we did in Magic Kingdom was have dinner at Be Our Guest. We dined in the ballroom and it was magically beautiful. Snow fell behind the tall windows the entire time. We tried a meat and cheese tray as an appetizer.  Mike ordered salmon. Jake went with pan seared chicken breast. Eliza chose braised pork (coc au van style). And I picked layered ratatouille. And for dessert…you guessed it Disney fans, we tried the Gray Stuff.  It’s delicious!

What an amazing vacation it has been, dear readers.  It has been a blast to meet Mickey at the Kingdom!  Thank you for coming along for the ride. 

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R & R

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Day 436 in kicking back while I meet Mickey 

Today we have had a day out of the Disney Parks. It has been a much needed respite. Mike, the kids and I went to breakfast at “Olivia’s Cafe” here at “Disney’s Old Key West Resort.” If you ever have the chance to have breakfast there, then try the Breakfast Potatoes. They are scrumptious!  

The kids headed out to play some shuffleboard, while Mike and I went to Disney Springs (aka Disney Marketplace) for a bit of shopping. 

Back to the resort where I spent the better part of the afternoon reading “Come Rain or Come Shine” by Jan Karon. It’s the latest book in the Mitford Series and I am loving this book!  The whole series has been so wonderful. 

Tonight we dine at “Artist Point” at “Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.”  The design there is Arts and Crafts. It is a beautiful setting to eat a deliciously, decadent dinner. 

Another lovely day at the Kingdom; meet me there.