CNotes

Club Specials

What is it about lemonade, lime, sprite & vodka that is just so good. After a super crazy, long short week, two days @ texoma with the Hub & friends is just what I need.
So, here's to a relaxing weekend full of sun, laughs & lots of club specials. Enjoy!

Cardio

Why is hard to get motivated some mornings to get up & out?  I feel like I'm finally back in the groove - today is my first rest day of the week. That's good. And, I feel so much better when I sweat a bit, stretch a bit and get myself centered for the day.

My running journey is short, compared to most runners I know. 20 months short. But in that time, I went from barely running a mile to completing two half marathons.  But, I'm not training for anything right now and I miss the structure of a training schedule. I think I'll make my own, knowing that I still need to lose weight, get stronger and prep for a half or two in the fall.

Interesting editorial in the WSJ last week about running's increasingly popularity. The first time running exploded on the scene? The 1970s recession.  Running in Lean Times - an interesting take and a great reminder that running is something you can do with a limited cash outlay.  The shoes are most important, and they are necessary.  The rest of the accoutrement? Fun, but not really necessary.

I LOVE my Brooks Glycerin 7 running shoes. They have great gear - after all, we should Run Happy. and, they're a great brand to follow on Twitter. Running skirt? Looking for great socks? Tank? Supplements? GU, Shot Blocks, Moons or Sharkies? You can spend as much or as little as you want on the gear. The important piece? Hit the road and put one foot in front of the other.

Don't run? Trying to find a reason to get off the couch? National Running Day is Wednesday, June 3. Create an event, find an event or hit the trail, track, road or treadmill solo.  See you out there.

Courtesy

Well, I've never been accused of being sweet.  You know, that type of really, really kind person who you just think of as "sweet." That's just not me.  I am, however, polite & courteous, fiercely loyal to my friends and nice, for the most part.

But, it's the courteous piece that I think we seem to be searching for anymore.  Ok, maybe I don't search for it, but let's get serious, our society is ... having good manners and being polite has absolutely nothing to do with class, money, education or anything else outside of someone's control. You can always choose to be courteous.

Teaching etiquette to adults is business these days. Why? Because we apparently didn't learn the basics at home or school or the sorority/fraternity house; perhaps, we chose to ignore them when we really need them to most. The basics of "please" and "thank you", which fork to use and what on Earth do you put in a note after the "thank you for ..." phrase.

While I'm not perfect at it, I'm pretty good. And, for that, I thank my parents, all 3 sets of grandparents, good schools, Delta Zeta, the Hub (who's really good at this etiquette business, too), and my minor (or not so minor, depending on your view) addiction to stationery.

So, here's to the return and strengthening of cotillions (although I didn't have the opportunity to go as a kid) where smaller folks learn this stuff early. 

Being courteous helps you understand how to work with and appreciate people with differing viewpoints than yours. Not every discord in a discussion need be angry or something to win/lose.

Y'all be nice to each other out there & write a thank you note or two.

Completion

Tonight was my last meeting to chair as Fundraising VP of the Junior League of Oklahoma City. Since I don't know who reads this blog, I don't know what your impressions might or might not be of the Junior League, in general or specifically the one in OKC.

What I know about my 9 active year membership is in the League is that amazing women volunteer with this organization.  Some prefer to stay under the radar and some prefer to step out in the limelight.  I tend to be somewhere in the middle of those two poles. 

I had the great, good fortune to work with 11 incredible women on the Fundraising Council this year.  While we might not have accomplished every stretch goal we set for ourselves, I am immensely proud of the work we accomplished together.  And, more than that, I know that we leave this year with new friends and relationships that will last beyond our work together this year.

I never aspired to be on the board, but when a woman who I admire greatly was nominated to be president-elect, I thought, "Why not?", when the call came to me for fundraising.  This is a woman with whom I could work and, frankly, I just like her.  Who I didn't know were the rest of the women on the board. Oh, a couple of them were more than just acquaintances, but most of them were strangers. They aren't now.  And, while we won't always agree on everything, they are smarty, smart bunch of chicks who make our community a better place to live, work and play.

So, tonight, I came home with a feeling of completion.  Thanks, ladies, for a great year.

Commemorate

On this spring American holiday, many of us will enjoy cookouts, time at the pool and enjoying each other.  It is important, though, to take time to remember the reason for the holiday ... honoring military service personnel who lost their lives while serving our country, protecting our right to question political leaders, and defending the freedom we enjoy every day.

The origins of Memorial Day, first called Decoration Day, are somewhat unknown, as there are a number of examples of communities honoring war dead on a specific day with remembrance ceremonies. More than two dozen cities and towns claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day.

Memorial Day's origins can be found in the aftermath of the Civil War, when General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed the day. Flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers and Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1868. By 1890 all northern states recognized Memorial Day; the South acknowledged the day after World War I, when the holiday changed to honoring all Americans who died fighting in any war.

I just learned about the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed in December 2000, which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps." This moment of remembrance was created to help re-educate Americans about the importance of Memorial Day.

You can learn more about Memorial Day at www.usmemorialday.org ... and share it with your family & friends.  So, at 3P local time wherever you are, take just a moment to lift a word of thanks to those who gave their lives so we can continue to live freely.

"...that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God, ...and that government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth." --Abraham Lincoln

Choir - as in Show Choir

So, I watched the season preview of Glee on Tuesday night. Wow. Might be my fave new show of the fall season.  Why? Who wouldn't love a story about a group of high school misfits figuring out life with big production numbers included? It's almost like a musical Freaks & Geeks, perhaps. 

Since I love big production numbers and secretly love to sing ...a long time ago it wasn't so secret, but now, I mostly sing in the car, in the shower & occasionally out loud on a run ... I think the show has great promise.

Check out this performance of Queen's Somebody to Love from the Fox upfronts this week.

The cast rocks, particularly comedienne Jane Lynch, a personal favorite from Christopher Guest films. Her cheerleading coach character is combo of store manager from 40-Year Old Virgin and Mean Girls. Wow.

One of the great things about the show is the songbook.  Show creator, Ryan Murphy (who also created Nip/Tuck) hd limited (or no) funds to buy music for the show. In an interview on Fresh Air, Murphy shared they had virtually no money for music, so they approached the artists about donating the rights to use the musics for no/low cost.  90% have agreed, which means we get to see/hear show choir versions of Rehab (Amy Winehouse), Don't Stop Believin' (Journey), Somebody to Love (Queen) and more as the season continues.  The production numbers ROCK.

As we see in a early scene when Mr. Shue reads the memorial plaque dedicated to the former glee club director, "By its very definition, glee is about opening yourself up to joy."

CSAs ~ Community Supported Agricultural Programs

We're entering the biggest growing season of the year for delicious, locally-grown fruits & veggies in OK.  Where do you buy your produce? Do you buy organic? Is it better to buy locally grown conventional produce or organics that have been trucked/shipped from another continent? Do you ask yourself this question?

It can be difficult in Oklahoma to find local fresh veggies all year long. For me, that means buying almost exclusively local produce when we get into this season. So, what are the options?

1. Farmer's Markets - OSU-OKC, in my opinion, offers great variety and hase very strict requirements on source of produce.  Edmond can offer nice variety, but look our for locally grown labels so you can make an informed choice.

2. Seek out locally grown produce at the grocery store.  Crest in Edmond often carries Oklahoma products and produce. You have look for it closely and the variety available isn't consistent. 

3. CSAs - Community Support Agriculture - is a program where participants share the risk with the farmer. A price is agreed upon for each "share" in the program in advance and the farmer collects the funds. This way, the farmer doesn't take the all of the risk and the participants are guaranteed a share of the crop for the season. Typically, participants pick up their share weekly and the variety changes as the weeks of the growing season change. We belong to modified CSA operated by Kam's Kookery in OKC.  There are some weeks where I've been really creative with squash and eggplant and the taste is amazing. We've belonged to a CSA since we lived in Little Rock.

4. Local food cooperatives - for an annual membership fee, participants have the right to purchase grocery items from a local business. These tend to be worked or customer owned businesses that offer locally grown and produced items. Find local food coops here.

Alice Waters, famed chef & restaurateur of Chez Panisse in Berkley, is urging President Obama to think locally when staffing the White House kitchen and asked Mrs. Obama to consider installing a garden at the White House, so locally grown and seasonal produce could be used. In a December 2008 New York Times article, Ms. Waters shared her thoughts on the leadership role the Obamas could play in helping Americans rethink their food buying habits.

At the end of the day, it's about all of us making conscious decisions about the source of our food. We're healthier when we eat real & whole foods and our local farmers & ranchers are more successful. In this economic environment, I'd much rather spend my grocery dollars with local farmers who, in turn, spend that money locally as well.  It's an easy way for me to do something good for myself & others.

Think about it.

Chicas

So, while my original intent in launching this blog was to talk about creativity, cause and community, I've found other topics that interest me as well, particularly the subject of women's friendships. Expect to see more posted here on the importance of girlfriends. This is one of those posts.

Last night, I spent another wonderful "farewell" evening with the outgoing Junior League of Oklahoma City Board of Directors.  Some of us chose to take the past year and build long & lasting friendships with women we didn't know that well.  I'm so proud of the work we accomplished, but I'm more proud that we chose to create relationships that will last beyond our board service.  I look forward to more evenings like last night with no business to discuss other than celebrating each other and enjoying many glasses of wine, sangria or appropriate seasonal spirit.

What do you circles of friendships look like?  Do you take the time to nurture them so they grow & evolve over time?

Last weekend's Wall Street Journal Report included a cover page story about "the Ames girls", a group of women become friends as children and are now in their mid-40s. A new book by Jeffrey Zaslow about women's friendships using the Ames girls as the anchor has been published, called The Girls from Ames. I've added it to my library list and look forward to reading it.

Long-term friendships like these women share have always fascinated me. I've been somewhat envious of the Hub in that his closest friends are the ones he's known for more than 25 years.  I suppose I tended to be more serial in my friendships until the last 5 years or so. I still have a core group of friends from college who I love dearly, but it's been in the last few years that I have come to really understand the power of friendship in my life.

How have your friends changed the texture & fabric of your life?

I'm lucky. I have a few circles of friends and I love each and every woman in them. Here's to all of you. Cheers!

clutter

So, I'm finally finishing up unpacking from vacation ... I know, almost a week later, but this was a busy week.  What I'd really like to know is HOW DO I GET A HANDLE ON CLUTTER? I cleaned off the kitchen counter yesterday & it looks so nice!  Now, the laundry room counter which basically becomes storage for the stuff I don't think we can throw out yet and then I don't go through it often enough.

Lord knows, the Hub is patient w/ me on this. He's far neater and carries more than his share of household chores.  So, friends, here it is ... a plea for help/ideas/thoughts on how to get this clutter business under control.  Happy Sunday.

Chock-full

I'm full.  I'm lucky in that my life is full of friends, family, a fantabulous hub.

My life is also full w/ too many activities & this week, too much stress.  What happens when I'm too stressed? I revert to old ways and eat too much and exercise too little. So, post vacation & stressful week, it's time to seriously get back on the CW reclamation project and quit jacking around. I feel so much better when I'm on course.

And, I feel full in the good ways and not full in the not so good ways. 

So, here's to a day, week & life chock-full of good and clean of the not good.