A Rambler

   I joined Weight Watchers yesterday after a good friend told me how much success she's had with it so far.  Menopause hit me last year and the ensuing ten pounds plus the extra 15 I was already carrying  have been miserable to get off.  As in.. despite my regular exercise efforts and all the barn work I do,  it hasn't budged.   Having been newly diagnosed with fibromyalgia last year too,  I think the extra weight isn't doing me any favors in that department either.  

     

    Part of the problem is I'm definitely  a) a grazer and b) I LOVE FOOD.  I mean I LOOOOOVE food.  And I like making and baking it for others too.   I'm not much of a drinker, an occasional glass of wine or Gin andTonic at a social gathering is about all I might have, so that's not a piece of the equation.  So far I'm finding WW is easy to follow, the phone app that helps you keep track of the points system is extremely useful.  I've already cut gluten out of my diet and now I'm cutting out as much sugar and salt as is humanely possible.  Yep, I meant humane...  because ME.   I'll let you know how it goes - day 2, so far, so good.  My mission is to lose 25 lbs and no, I'm not going to share my starting weight because OMFG.     Pardon the profanity. It fits. 

*ahem. 

    Netflix is new to the husband and I this winter, and although we aren't big TV watchers, it's been so darn cold here in New England we've had plenty of time at night sitting by the fire to catch up on all those series others have recommended.  

     Grace & Frankie -  I absolutely love it.  I've seen all kinds of hate posts in reviews of the show about Jane Fonda, she's anti American, blah blah blah... and although I was too young to fully have a grasp of  the Vietnam horrors until reading about them after the fact, I've read the stories of her  protests of the war and some behavior I'm sure she wishes now she never engaged in.  Actually she has said that very thing.   And the most basic truth here - can anyone blame her for being against that atrocity of a war?   Anyway, she and Lily Tomlin along with the rest of the cast are hilarious and the show does tackle real life issues and gives that podium to our older generation. 

     Homeland -  Well, what should I say  - there's some tremendously good acting here - and you come to really care about some of the characters - but after a while, the constant high pitch intensity  and how many times can one person be kidnapped or blown up and survive and move on to the next crisis, like immediately...  is exhausting.  In the series, Claire Danes' character, Carrie, suffers from bipolar disorder. I give the show and Claire credit for what I believe is handling the difficult road of managing that illness well.  I can't help but feel the entire show is trying to handle it's own version of a difficult illness, though,  because of the constant hyperactive loop it and she  runs through over and over.   The series is  so good in other ways I keep returning to watch the next episode. 

   Game of Thrones -  The first time I tuned in, years ago, I thought it looked like nonsense and I didn't bother finishing the episode.  Well, hell.. I was wrong.  If you watch from the beginning, it is amazing to me how much of it can be applied to real life circumstances of today, real struggles in our societies, leadership, governing law.. and lawlessness, good versus evil, power, greed, corruption,  redemption and love.  There's some  eye candy, of course, and dragons - always a good thing -  and the period dress and sets/scenery are beautiful.  My favorite character?  Surprised me!   - Tyrion Lannister played by the remarkable Peter Dinklage.  His character in my opinion is one of the most intelligent and intriguing of all.  Some of the lines in the show, and many by him... are priceless. 

     I 've seen some pretty hateful posts on some of my friends  FB feeds lately and I'm trying to just leave it. That in itself is a miracle for me, I admit it .

     I said this on my own page, though, and I'll say it here ... it’s possible to express concerns and opinions without hateful comments, without sharing false information, without trying to shame people, without cruelty. The current President would cheer us on and uses that brand of behavior himself...  and that’s a damned shame... but we don’t have to feed off of it.

    We are better than this ugliness and I’m getting tired of seeing it in my own feed.  We don’t all agree on some big issues, but that’s life. Whether we agree with each other on any current issue or not, let’s debate it,or not, with the respect we would display if face to face. I wish folks would stop sharing fake news, seriously -  spend the moments it takes to verify.  Can't we leave the hate out of  comments and stop share hateful material just because it lines up with one's beliefs. 

      It's possible to get the ear of someone who may think differently if we can all do it respectfully. That kind of communication builds roads instead of blowing them up. The only way to fix this clusterf*ck we have now is to come together instead of encouraging divide and hate. Pardon the profanity again - it still fits. 

   Are you still with me?   If you've trudged through all the above,  you deserve a great cake recipe I found on another blog.   I'm making this for my son's birthday next week - will let you know how it turns out.  Looks delicious and a Spring kind of refreshing, doesn' t it?   (Just Hush) 

Orange Cake 🍊

- recipe found HERE.