» Friends

Grateful

Pam — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:03:51 +0000

First, something is going on with the banana tree. It might be little nanners, I’ve no clue, but something is about to appear.

Second, hello:

Just wanted to say that I’m grateful for the folks who cluster round and share a part of themselves with me here. You’re all witty, intelligent and make me want to stay around just to see what you’ll say next. I appreciate that. Well, that and the fact that you don’t get your panties in a bunch just because some poor clueless bastard says something you don’t agree with. Y’all are adults, thank God.

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! And I hope there’s pie.

Maggianos

Pam — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 16:36:06 +0000

We met some friends at Maggianos’s in Boca for dinner last night… Oh, mamma. If you have the chance, this is a must. We ate from the family menu; the food was superb and the service top-notch. I give it 5 stars.

The iPhone photos suck… and no, they don’t know I’m posting their pictures on the net so I won’t name names…

Excellent food and the company of friends makes for a perfect evening. The smooth cab and fruity merlot didn’t hurt things, either…

Here a Duck, There a Duck…

Pam — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:21:44 +0000

First of all, CH Dyson’s Foxy Dominique CGC celebrated her fourteenth birthday yesterday with an intimate gathering and a ride up to Bones 2 Go for some special cookies. Happy NaNas, my little tortilla chip eating girl!

As for the ducks, I’ve obviously helped raise three ungrateful brats. It’s the old ‘free birdfeeder’ adage coming back to bite me in the nether regions. The little bastards chase me around and peck my legs and become downright angry when I’m not forthcoming with the bread. They like seed, but will try to kill each other over bread. Go figure.

Here they are, coming for me, all the while telling anyone who will listen exactly what they want.

I took refuge behind the ex-pen at one point…

When I ran to the other side of the yard, the things must have still thought me with the dogs. I didn’t claim they were bright.

This is where it gets funny, because this duck was a couple of inches from Daisy’s mouth. Whether it thought the dogs capable of passing out vittles or that they were hiding me, I could not say.

Daisy… you know her; killer of everything that moves. Fortunately I’ve corrected her enough that now she tries to ignore the ducks. Tries being the operative word. I love the expressions…

I can only imagine what she was thinking…

The pictures mainly suck. It was very early this morning and it had just rained. My sinuses were making my eyes bleed and Venus was in Aquarius or something and I just couldn’t concentrate…

Surrounded

Pam — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:27:35 +0000

It got within 1,000 feet of his property.

…and he’s still there.

Everything depends on the wind direction now.

Blogger in need

Pam — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:40:06 +0000

Our very own big-hearted DaGoddess, Joanie, is in crisis [not to mention a lot of pain] and needs help.

Find out what happened.

This is one of those times karma is supposed to kick in. Joanie has a very large, soft heart for friends, family and charity. Especially if it happens to involve our military. She has given her time and talent again and again and now she is the one who needs help. But she doesn’t want charity.

Go here to discover how she plans to raise the money for the aforementioned emergency. Maybe you can disguise yourself as heavenly intervention. 8^)

If you’re strapped for cash, and many people are, I’m sure she’d appreciate prayers as well.

Thanks!

In honor of 50

Pam — Tue, 03 May 2011 16:45:22 +0000

In honor of my friend Anthony’s 50th birthday today, I give you 91 year old bodybuilder Charles Eugster.

Gian Paul Lozza for the Guardian

Charles was already active, but had an epiphany of sorts in his late 80s. He started judo to learn how to fall properly. His circulation and posture improved. Then, told that more muscle mass could protect his brain from Alzheimer’s, Charles began resistance training… and never looked back.

Then at 85 I had a crisis. I looked at myself in the mirror one day, and saw an old man. I was overweight, my posture was terrible and there was skin hanging off me where muscle used to be. I looked like a wreck. I started to consider the fact that I was probably going to die soon. I knew I was supposed to slow down, but I’m vain. I missed my old body and wanted to be able to strut across the beach, turning heads.

I was already rowing six times a week, and there didn’t seem any harm in pushing myself a bit harder to rebuild my muscles. So in my late-80s I joined a bodybuilding club.

There’s no research into bodybuilding for the over-80s, so it’s been an experiment. With weight-lifting and protein shakes, my body began to change. It became broader, more v-shaped, and my shoulders and biceps became more defined. People began to comment on how much younger I looked, and my new muscular frame drew a lot of admiring glances from women.

Everything I learned was tailored to help my body cope with old age. I took up judo to teach me how to fall properly. My circulation and posture improved, and I was told that there was a chance more muscle mass could protect my brain from Alzheimer’s. I stopped thinking about dying. As I approached 90, my focus was on getting my body back.

In 2008, I signed up for my first championship. I was nervous, but although I was the oldest contestant by around 20 years, everyone was very welcoming. I got higher scores than all the women taking part, and a lot of the men. Then, at last year’s event in Germany, I triumphed, scoring higher than any contestant in any age category for my 57 dips, 61 chin-ups, 50 push-ups and 48 abdominal crunches, each in 45 seconds. As I’m over 70, they did make allowances – I could do the push-ups on my knees, for example – but I proved I wasn’t past it.

I’m not chasing youthfulness. I’m chasing health. People have been brainwashed to think that after you’re 65, you’re finished. We’re told that old age is a continuous state of decline, and that we should stop working, slow down and prepare to die. I disagree. To me, a 65-year-old is young. I turn 92 this year. It is a frightening prospect – the law of averages is against me, and, yes, one day something will happen and that will be it. But until that day comes, I’m going to carry on working on my abs.

To him, 65 is young. What an inspiration!! Makes me want to do some pushups… you know, if I could.

Urgent prayer request

Pam — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 15:27:05 +0000

A friend is in immediate need of prayer.

I chose to seek intercession with St. Anthony of Padua.

Loving and Gentle St. Anthony, reach down from heaven, I implore you and assist my friend Linda Lou in her hour of need. Obtain for her a healing of both body and spirit. Comfort her family and friends. The answer to my prayer might require a miracle, but you are the Saint of Miracles. Thank you.

Please say a prayer of your own or petition the intercession of your favorite Saint.

I chose St. Anthony for a reason. If you write down your prayer intentions here, the friars of St. Anthony’s Basilica will take your prayer to his tomb and pray that God grants the assistance needed. That’s what I did. If you’d rather positive vibes or incantations of some sort, I’m sure everything given with a loving heart and meant to help will be welcome.

It’s strange, but the first thing I always do when learning that a friend is in this sort of situation and hope is dwindling… I become angry on their behalf. Want to go straight into battle to ‘fix’ whatever is wrong. Then it occurs to me that I am but clay and our only hope is intercession with our Lord. We do have recourse. Please go to battle and pray with us. Miracles happen every day; let’s ask for one.

Private Joke…

Erinyes — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:59:57 +0000

but I hope it helps! Thanks, Pam…

Two-fer

Pam — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:06:40 +0000

I guest-posted over at DaGoddess today. It’s Two-fer Tuesday!

Also, look for something from me at Bluestography. (When I feel a bit better)
Nope, I don’t know much about the blues, but maybe I can learn. Joanie sure is taking a chance… [cue evil laugh]

Now… if I could just bunch up the wherewithal to post something here…

And, because it was on my desktop for no reason, here’s Bree:

The Keys…

Erinyes — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:22:27 +0000

So far it’s been a welcome change from (shudder) Oklahoma, and as everyone knows already we finally got to meet Pam! Thank you, Pam and Mike, for your generosity and hospitality. We are looking for jobs and a place to live while staying with relatives. I am eternally grateful that they have put themselves out for us, and know how much of an impact our being here is. Try as one might, it is hard to keep it all smooth sailing. I know Pam likes Bob Seger, and I am reminded tonight of one of his songs…

P.S. – Sorry we missed you, Mrs. Who and B.R. We had to swing through Tennessee first so we weren’t near your neck of the woods…