There's light at the end of the carpal tunnel

Hey Bloggies!  Long time, no blog!  I have been keeping up with your blogs though.


Where have I been?  I've been up to my eyeballs in "cornsilk" colored paint.  (I call it lemon lime because in different lights, it looks either green or yellow.  Tres joli!)


One weekend, I painted the living room -- and you know that means removal, wall washing, hole filling, 3 coats of paint (because I was going with a lighter color than before) and then the reloading and rearranging.   

I added a few new pillow covers.

I also tried lightening up my black lamp shades .... but Ms Not-so-Crafty isn't satisfied yet, so she's still working on that one.  

I did put the Easter tree in it's new birdie vase; and there are several green leaves coming out!


Last weekend, I repeated the multi-stepped task in the dining room and hallway, taking the time to also wash curtains, shine a little silver and feed 6 Koreans and 1 Japanese girl & her new pubescent Canadian boyfriend.  

(Pubescent!  I have experience with pubescent teenage boys!  Hackles go up; eyes-in-back-of-head engaged; maternal sensors on full alert! 

Did you know that word is derived from the Latin pubescens, “to become hairy, downy, or an adult”?  My Super-Doris spidey-skills have so far only detected "downy" on the upper lip of the poor little, terrified, pimply-faced, hormonal boy.  Further inspection and/or interrogation may be necessary.  I'll try to be gentle.)

Painting?  Yes, yes, very nice; the dining room looks slightly more yellow than the living room's changing color.  My Petalware looks very pretty next to it.

And it's lightened the dark hallway wonderfully.  I repainted my little shelf and added some spring-like decals.  

And I rearranged some of the artwork on the wall.  

A nice long vacation wouldn't go amiss right now as well as some serious massage work for my arms and hands.  But I made do with this weekend with an ice cold beer and chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream and homemade chocolate sauce.  


What?  A Weight Watchers diet?   Points?

It was for the Koreans!  Really! 

Glazed & Grilled Salmon

There's always salmon in my freezer.  I have a good friend whose husband can get it for me at a great price.  My family all love it, and it's an easy working day meal to prepare.

Nutritional Info?  Salmon is a superfood.  It's very high in protein and the good Omega-3 fats.  One 4 oz serving provides your daily requirement of Vitamin D, half of your B12, niacin and selenium and is an great source of B6 and magnesium.  And if you use canned salmon for fish cakes, like I do, you'll probably know that it's high in calcium.  

Omega-3 fats help prevent blood clots which cause many strokes.  But did you also know that it helps to reduce inflammation in our bodies which is the base of many health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancers and arthritis. Omega-3’s also help prevent the blood clots which cause many strokes.  They are also now finding that it can help to slow cognitive problems such as Alzheimer's and age-related cognitive decline.  People who regularly eat foods containing  Omega-3 have less depression and suicide risk and less aggression. 

 We need to find a way to feed this to our at-risk teens!

Tonight I prepared a glazed salmon dish which I found at GreenLiteBites™.  And I got to try out my new frying pan:  look at those lovely grill marks on those fillets!  

Simple Glazed Salmon

http://greenlitebites.com/

• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp each onion powder, garlic powder & ground ginger
• Pinch or two of salt

Mix all ingredients together and smear on salmon fillets.  Cook on a preheated, non-stick skillet with a bit of non-stick cooking spray.  Takes about 3 min a side and comes out with a fabulous sweet crust.

Calories: 90    Fat: 0g    Sat Fat: 0 g    Fiber: 1 g    Sugar: 18 g    Carbs: 22 g    WWPP = 2

My glaze was a little runny (I think I was a little heavy with the lemon juice).  And with my grill pan, I didn't get as much of a crust as I could have with a regular cast iron pan.  But the taste didn't let me down.  It was delicious!

Thank you Roni at GreenLiteBites for this great recipe; and for all the others I've found on your site. 

Happy cooking y'all -- and even happier, healthier eating!

Shrimp 'n' Shirataki

Remember the Shirataki noodles that I bought at the Asian market in the city?  The ones I've been searching for forever?   (Or at least since I first heard about them from Hungry Girl .  Well, today was test day.  

Here's what the website says about them: 

     Descriptions: Tofu Shirataki Spaghetti Noodle is composed of thin gelatinous strings made from soybeans & yam flour (polysaccharide-glucomannan) from the Konnyaku root and has very low caloric or digestible food values. Shirataki contains NO preservatives and is GLUTEN FREE.  A healthy, uniquely textured noodle - that pleases people of all ages!

Tofu Shirataki really shines as a delicious replacement for wheat-based pasta thus GREAT for Low Carb Dieters. 
      Ingredients: Water, Tofu(water, Soybeans, Calcium Sulfate, Glucono Delta Lactone), Yam Flour, Calcium Hydroxide.  Nutrition Facts: Servings Per 4 oz (113g) Calories 20 Fat 0g Sodium 15mg Carbohydrate 1g Fiber 0g Sugar 0g Protein 0g

     Preparation:  Shirataki noodles are precooked and easy to prepare. Rinse the noodles for 1-2 minutes.  Drain thoroughly and paper towel dry very well and serve just like regular pasta, stir-fry, or add into your favourite soup and salad. Always add the noodles as the last ingredient of cooking to avoid noodle become chewy.

*DO NOT COOK SHIRATAKI  NOODLE. COOKING MAKE THE NOODLE CHEWY.

I rinsed them as instructed "to remove their unique aroma":  I did not notice a unique aroma.

I decided on a stir fry, so I used a recipe I'd found for shrimp and spaghetti.

 I did a taste test based on the recipe, but it seemed a little bland.  So I figured, let's try some of that new Chili Garlic sauce that I bought.

See these 2 bottles of chili sauce?  The one on the right clearly indicates "Hot" Sriracha sauce.  And I've tried that one; and they didn't lie!  The one on the left does not indicate that it's hot; and when I unscrewed the lid, I smelled a sweet, garlic aroma.  I put in 2 tsp of this Chili Garlic sauce.  It smelled delicious.  Ummmm!
  

And it was delicious!

Most delicious!  


It could also remove the varnish off my oak cabinets, the rust off my back fender, the top layer off my lips and the protective layer of mucus off the back of my throat!  


HOT!!!


Whooah Nelly!  (Apologies were quickly made to innocent Asian children sitting at the table!)  


Smart Natsumi interspersed forkfuls of food with large sips of milk, quietly cooling the flames of Hades on her tongue.


But after the first couple of mouthfuls, good ole trooper Elly joined me in lauding an appreciation of hotness as well as the exquisite taste of the dish.  (From personal experience, we both know the value of increased hotness!)



I give Shirataki Noodles a big thumbs up!  Can't wait to buy more.


I give Sriracha sauce - of any kind - a huge caution symbol -- and then a thumbs up!

(I shall tread more slowly with my next experiment!)

Happy St Paddy's Day

Today while Ireland and most of Western civilization are "wearing the green", I will be busy in my living room "clearing the green".


I'm repainting my living room yellow.  The colors you see here are not true -- they're much prettier.  

And I do like the green that's throughout much of my first level.  But  my house is in shade for most of the day, so I wanted to bring as much light as possible into my home.  The yellow I've chosen I call "lemon lime". (It's actually called cornflower).  The color is light and bright without being too vibrant; and it's so cheerful. 


I also have a few accessory ideas floating through my head that are based on these gorgeous throw pillows that I bought last summer.

(Will my cherished free time, my over-worked hands, and my "Awww whatever" attitude accomplish any of these wonderful ideas?  You just have to stay tuned to find out ................... but I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.)


However, in spite of my busy Saturday plans, I shan't ignore St Patrick altogether.  I have plans for a breakfast green smoothie, some afternoon Irish soda bread and a much needed green beer after the days work is done.  


And there'll be a phone call to my favorite leprechaun who was born 25 years ago today.   

Happy Birthday my darling, Amy!

Enjoy your day.

Thrifty Thursday - Mar 15.12

One of my stops last Friday during our 2 day shopping trip was Value Village; and seeing as I'm trying to lose weight, I didn't look at the clothes.  But I did have a 25% off coupon in my pocket which I used at the Halifax store.  With Natsumi's purchases, I ended up spending enough to get another discount card for 30% off my next purchases!  So I used that one the next day at the Dartmouth store.  I was pretty stoked!  I'll give you the prices less their discounts plus our NS applicable HST tax.

*************

These pretty summer necklaces were $4.81 and $6.43 respectively.  The gorgeous broach shown in detail was a real find at $4.30!  And the button bracelet and cute summery earrings were 86 cents each.  

I've been carrying messenger-type bags for a while now because of my sore shoulder.  I was really pleased to not only find a pretty torquoise-colored one for summer but it's "Roots" brand which is a  Canadian company which makes high quality merchandise.  This bag would have originally been in the $60-$80 range; my cost - $15.51!

One of my favorite leather stores in Canada is "Danier" -- not that I get to shop at high quality leather shops much!  It would have probably originally sold for $100 plus, but I found this lovely purse for $10.45; and with it's woven effect and the addition of a pastel jewelled bobble, I think it'll be great for spring.

My favorite find of the day was this "Alfred Sung" jacket.  It was brand new, tags-on; and look at that cute ribbon detailing on the back.  My price = $21.55.  

And those cute little rain boots?  Well, I found those at "Stitches" for $20 plus HST.  Now my eyes are on the lookout for the perfect coordinating scarf.

How was your thrifting this week?

I Won!

I took part in a giveaway last month and won -- Cheerios Heart Month Giveaway!   Yesterday, I received my gift package. 

I love Cheerios, and I'm looking forward to trying the new chocolate Cheerios.  (Family size they call it.  Hahahahaha!  Who won this giveaway anyway!)  And those heart shaped bowls are so sweet:  there's a perfect size for everything from heart-healthy almonds to Cheerios to a huge bowl of popcorn.

The giveaway was hosted by Brenda at Brenda's Canadian Kitchen.  If you like to cook -- or eat! -- visit her blog.  It's full of the most wonderful recipes.  

Thank you Brenda and General Mills for this gift package.  It's much appreciated and will be much enjoyed.

I can do MANDU

Part of Saturday's shopping was at a little hole-in-the-wall Asian market in Halifax.  The owner also speaks both Japanese and Korean, so it was an extra treat for the girls.  They picked up lots of snack items.  And I picked up some food to experiment with.

Beginning at the far left and travelling clockwise, we have Korean pork dumplings (Mandu in Korean; Gyoza in Japanese), Japanese brown rice, rice wine vinegar, Sriracha hot sauce, Kikkoman soy sauce (low sodium, of course), ginger tea mix, soba (buckwheat) noodles, tofu shirataki noodles and, in the centre, udon noodles.  Other than the soy sauce and regular rice, I've never cooked with any of the other products.   

The ginger tea mix is very interesting but very, very good.  (Elly bought citrus tea mix.)  When you open the bottle, it looks, smells and tastes like very strong marmalade; but a couple of heaping teaspoons in a mug full of boiling water turns it into a warming, soothing hot beverage -- just what aching cold and flu-fighting bodies need!

The tofu shirataki has been recommended many times in the past by Hungry Girl (http://www.hungry-girl.com/newsletters/raw/247) as being super nutritious - high in fiber, low in carbs and zero points for us WW followers.  I'd been looking for them for years, so I was very pleased to find them.  I'll let you know my verdict on taste when I try them.

Because they had thawed on the drive home, yesterday I made Mandu with Korean dipping sauce.  You pan fry the dumplings on all three sides, add a little water, cover and steam for a couple of minutes.  The dipping sauce consisted of soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, toasted sesame seeds and green onions.  

Elly also suggested I try out the new Sriracha sauce -- just a dab on the side.  It was too hot for those pansy Asian girls but perfect for this hardened Newf!  

Despite my luck on Friday, today the only way I could successfully use my chopsticks was to spear the little suckers.  


Ummmmm!  Those little Mandu/Gyoza were delicious!




  

Eating ala Orient Express

A weekend adventure in eating, Asian style!  

Friday's shopping was momentarily paused for lunch at Sushi Nami Royale.  We all started with green tea, and the 3 bento box meals also included Miso soup.  (First time for me, and I loved it.)  The bento box meals came with rice, salad (with a delicious ginger dressing) and your choice of tempura or sushi, which was my choice.  I had shrimp teriyaki (yummy);  Natsumi and Chinatsu had unagi (eel) which was very tasty (1st time taste).  Elly had udon which are noodles in a soup-type base with veggies.  

I refused the offered spoon & fork and attempted chopsticks; and I'm proud to say that I did not go hungry.  And although I love wassabi, this stuff should have come with a warning label!  Whoohoo baby!

We continued our shopping and picked up a picnic-style dinner for back at the motel from Pete's Frootique in Bedford.  We had delicious spanokapita & chicken samosa, spicy pakora, an ok crab cake and a so-so Scotch egg; we also had 3 very good salads.  Desserts included deep, dark chocolate brownies, a raspberry coconut square and my choice -- the decadent domed beauty!  

It had a chocolate cake base, mocha mousse with a passion fruit centre and was covered with a citrus glaze and the cutest little candy flower.  As pretty as it was, it was certainly not too pretty to eat:  it was delicious!  (And I was hardly haunted at all that night by the Ghost of Weight Watchers Present!)

Breakfast the next morning was also a treat; we ate at Cora's.  Elly and Natsumi shared an egg & bacon crepe with fruit on the side; Chinatsu was the owner of that huge waffle with vanilla coulis, strawberries & whipped cream.  That tiny little Japanese girl made a very big dent in her meal!  
After last night's debauchery, I was sensible and had a poached egg and one lonely pancake which was made better by the girls sharing some fruit and my sharing half of my 4 strips of bacon.  Cora's is always delicious!  



Fortified by our huge breakfast ... and my 2 cups of REAL coffee (watch me buzz and zip through those shops!!!), we continued our shopping and said goodbye to Chinatsu who was staying in the city with friends.  


Before we headed back home that evening, we had dinner at Seoul Restaurant in downtown Halifax.  Elly was so excited!  And I must say, this meal was my favorite of the trip.  Everything came with Korea's version of Miso soup -- again delicious.  Elly had bulgogi deopbab, marinated beef on a bed of rice (and some lovely looking veggies which were ignored).  (But she always eats her veggies at home; what a good little girl!)  Natsumi had galbitang;  the beef ribs were removed to a side plate and the rice was put into the broth; the dish also included seasoned soy sauce, seasoned, cubed potatoes and kimchi on the side.

My meal was beebimbab and OMG!  It's served in a very hot stone bowl so the rice on the bottom gets brown and crispy; on top of the rice there was tender, delicious marinated beef, very thinly sliced & stir-fried carrots & zucchini, spinach and kimchi (1st time taste); and the whole thing was topped with a fried egg. You add gochujang (spicy red pepper paste) to your own taste and mix it all together.  A lot of Korean dishes seem to include an egg; and I've often though "Why add more protein when the dish already includes beef or pork?"  But now I understand why.  It tastes gorgeous!  I tried the kimchi before I mixed it, and I liked it quite a lot!  But mixing everything together created this gorgeous melange of flavors and textures.  I added the perfect amount of gochujang -- just enough to make my lips burn and clear my nasal passages!  And although I was ready for it, this time the meal was to be eaten with a spoon.  It was soooo good!  Just telling you about it now is making me drool.

How fortunate am I, huh!  Two wonderful girls living with me who like to thrift shop and eat exotic meals.  We had a weekend full of laughter, great food, good purchases (check out Thrifty Thursday) and tired feet.

We can't wait to go again!

Road Trip!

It's March Break here in Nova Scotia.  (Well, maybe we're a day early.)  The girls and I are headed for an overnight in the city.  Here are some of the things we'll be partaking in:

Should be lots of fodder to blog about.  See you next week!

International Women's Day

 We've come a long way, baby!  

Not far as we need to go.  But WOW!  When I think about what things were like for us when I was a young woman in the 70's and 80's and what they're like today, I can honestly say "We've come a long way, baby"!




There's not much I can do to change the world.  I'm not wealthy; I don't wield power; I don't have the ear of influential people.  


But what I do have are daughters --  three young women that I raised; and a parade of young women that are entrusted to me for a season or two.  

The Most Important Women in My Life!

I try to teach them how beautiful they are; how valuable and  unique and intelligent and able they are; to give them a sense of self-worth and family; to help them grow to be humble, kind, generous.  And I try most of all to let them know how much they are loved.


Motherhood is probably the most important job in the world.  


So, stand with me ladies and raise a glass --  a latte, a coke, a water bottle or a glass of chablis --  and smile!

   


And thank you for being my blogging buddies.

Have I sung to you the joys of oats?  Have I told you how much I love oats and especially eating porridge in the morning?  (Or at lunch or dinner or for a snack?)


Hear me singing:  

The "OAT" to Joy

Joyful, joyful, I adore Thee

Grain of wonder, Grain delight

Heart disease will bow before Thee

Diabetes will lose the fight.

Melting pounds of fat and sadness

Driving hunger pains away

Giver of immortal fullness

What a way to start the day!

Yes, good old rolled oats are one of nature's superfoods.  Just look at what it can do for you:

• Oats contain oodles of soluble fiber -- much more than in whole wheat or corn.  This fiber absorbs water in your body which means you will feel fuller for longer!  A great aid to anyone wanting to lose weight.  
• Also because of that lovely soluble fiber, it reduces high blood pressure and lowers cholesterol & heart disease.
• That same lovely soluble fiber can reduce your risk of diabetes; it helps your body to control blood-glucose levels and is actually recommended by the Canadian and American Diabetes Associations.

Hmmm!  This has me looking
at Mr Quaker in a whole
new light!

• Research links fiber and other nutrients found in oatmeal to  reducing the risk of some cancers.

• If you add them to your diet, you're adding many different vitamins and minerals that your diet should contain; they are also an excellent source of protein and iron.
• If you eat it regularly, it can help boost your immune system and even your libido!   

• They are totally natural (unless you buy those pre-prepared or sweetened oats which may contain other stuff).  Read your label!



Here is a recipe for Nova Scotia Oatcakes

• They are cheap, cheap, cheap!  Everyone has a bag or box of oats in their cupboard, right? 

• They are tres versatile!  Pancakes, muffins, cookies, breads, granola, fillers for meatloaf, and on and on and on.  Oh --- and let's not forget about ............... oatcakes!  (Can you hear celestial choirs?)  

I too look as gorgeous as this
when I'm scrubbing the top
layer of skin off my face.

• Oatmeal is also good for you inside and  outside!  There are oatmeal masks for your face, scrubs for your body, oatmeal in your bath to soothe itching and irritation, oatmeal soap.  

It's the olive oil of the grain community!

Now, some of you are probably thinking:  "OMG!  How boring are oats!  How old fashioned!  I'm a modern, with-it gal!"

I am here to say "Au contraire, mon amie"!  Today's new fangled porridge is colorful and multi-flavored.  You spruce up porridge by adding fresh fruit, sweetener, spices and cocoa powder or chocolate chips.  You can cook your oats with other grains such as  flax seeds, quinoa or wheat berries.  And you can use regular milk or soy or almond milk.  You can create an oatmeal connucopia of awesomeness!

You can see my bowl of goodness in the first picture.  My oatmeal this morning started with 1/2 a mashed banana, hot 'n' chewy large flake oatmeal (my fave!), a drizzle of Agave syrup and a handful of blueberries.

RAWR Oatmeal!

And that's all I have to say about that.

We Can-nelloni get Tasty and Healthy!

Today was "Cooking for the Week" day.  On the menu?  (1) Honey Mustard marinated Pork Chops, (2) Fruity Meatloaf, (3) Vegetable Beef Barley Soup, and (4) Cannelloni -- all of them fitting into my WW diet.

I recently bought a new cookbook by Canadians Janet and Greta Podleski.  They take everyday recipes and find delicious ways to make them healthier; as well, the book is full of practical weight-loss, anti-aging and healthy-living tips (as well as some of the corniest jokes and puns I've ever read).  I love the girls; and I love what they've done with this "best of" cookbook. (They also have a TV show and a fabulous website.)  This is where my Cannelloni recipe came from today.

Part of my healthy journey is challenging myself to try new foods.  Today I cooked with fennel.  It has a gorgeous licorice smell to it, so I knew I'd like it right away. 

It'll help with my tooting!

Fennel is surprisingly full of nutrients. Aside from being low in calories and fat-free, it's a good source of the B vitamin folate, potassium and even supplies some vitamin C.   It's a rich source of antioxidants, most notably, a good source of a phytochemical called anethole, which has been shown in animal studies to reduce inflammation and even prevent cancer.   The health benefits of fennel include relief from anemia, indigestion, flatulence, constipation, colic, diarrhea, respiratory disorders, menstrual disorders, eye care, etc. Fennel, bearing the scientific name Foeniculum Vulgare Miller, or its essence, is widely used around the world in mouth fresheners, toothpastes, desserts, antacids and in culinary.

We start by drizzling olive oil and balsamic vinegar over chopped tomatoes, red pepper, onion, garlic and fennel and then roast this for 45 minutes.  What an aroma!

Once cooled, simmer this with crushed tomatoes, red pepper flakes, basil leaves and Italian seasoning for 15 minutes; then you puree.  This is your sauce.


The filling for the cannelloni is made up of ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, parmesan, chopped spinach, an egg and seasonings of basil, oregano, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg. 

You lovingly tuck the filling into each cannelloni shell (thanking God the whole time for such things as fennel, balsamic vinegar and ricotta).  I easily filled the whole box of shells - 8 total; and made 2 casserole dishes.  Top with a little shredded cheese and bake.  (I used no-cook cannelloni shells so it was 45 min for mine.) 

How did it taste?  Oh my goodness:  it was divine!  

The filling was cheesy but quite delicate in flavor.  The sauce wasn't thick, but because of all the vegetables, it had texture and substance to it; there was no hint of licorce but it had a slight sweetness and a mellow tomato flavor.  It was a perfect combination!


6 Points Plus for each cannelloni; so with salad and avocado dressing, I'd say I ate 14 points ..... more than I usually eat for dinner but a wonderful meal and well worth saving my day for.

"Sing Hallujah! Come on get Healthy!"

As some of you know, I've been on Weight Watchers for 3 weeks now.  It's going well, and I'm not often hungry.  With the new Points Plus system where fruits and vegetables are 0 points, I've been eating more of those than I normally would.  And any hunger gaps that are left have been filled in with Weight Watchers and other snacks (such as WW little Choco Mint cookie = 2 pts) which are usually sweetened with fructose.


What does that mean for me?  Four things:

1. Yum!
2. I've lost 6 lbs so far! 
3. Oodles of fibre
4. I can still indulge my sweet tooth.

However, it's also come with some drawbacks.  

The extra fibre has been playing havoc with my digestive system!  There are the quite  frequent trips to the bathroom when my tummy speaks to me -- and speak it does!  It's downright chatty with it's gurgling and popping and whining!  And if it's not the tummy then it's the opposite end -- "Here a toot, there a toot, everywhere a toot-toot!"  Pardon me!  and thank goodness I work alone most of the time.  But I'm assured by my WW leader that (excuse the deliberate pun) this too shall pass!  Harharhar!  And the problem is a little better this week.  

The second drawback I've found is that I have a low tolerance for fructose (which may be contributing to my toot-elage)!  I had my usual green smoothie yesterday morning at 7 am (with spinach, yogurt, 1/2 banana and 2 Clementines); then I had an apple during my work break at 10 am.  And almost immediately, I had the most excruciating tummy pains and bloating.  This kind of thing has happened a few times in the past; but this time, I immediately looked it up online and then I put 2 and 2 together and came up with 4. 

 4-get the Fructose!

Yup!  Pretty sure it's excess fructose; and the culprit is probably that awful man-made chemical fructose.  I've also noticed that if I have a WW snack bar for my dinner-time dessert, I feel kind of sluggish the next morning.  So, it's a definite IXNAY on the chemical sweeteners for me.  But I'll also be watching my intake of fruit -- at least until my tummy quiets down so I can hear what the rest of my body is saying!  

So now, I've a new challenge to rise to.  How do I feed my body and my  cravings for sweets and chocolate in the most healthy way possible?  Never fear!  Doris the Great is here!  


Armed with her 57 years of knowledge (weeding out the naughty stuff, of course), high-speed internet, a daughter who's a health-food nut, a few good cookbooks and her amazing stick-to-it-ive-ness, Doris will delve deeply into superfruit and veggie-dom and boldly go where she hasn't gone before!  I'm excited.     

I hope you'll join me on this new food journey.  I'll be experimenting with some new recipes and sharing some of the amazing health facts that I find along the way.  

And who knows:  perhaps this will enable me to age a little more gracefully.........  
Or give me increased energy to find more wonderful (and harmless) ways to continue to age disgracefully!