Where Will We Be Shopping & Eating?

Where Will We Be Eating And Shopping in Toronto and Port Hope?

When you repeatedly travel to the same places, there are special places you like to visit.

The restaurant I miss the most, of course, is Swiss Chalet. This is a major chain and can be found across the country. I’ve described it before, so you know it is a BBQ chicken restaurant.

Another, also a chain, is Tim Horton’s. It was primarily a donut chain but evolved into a restaurant where you can have soup, sandwich and donuts. Some of them have enormous lines at lunchtime because it is such a favorite. (The late Tim Horton was a hockey player.)

Then, of course, there is Harvey's. "Harvey's makes a hamburger a beautiful thing!" They add what you want and it is delicious!

I generally stop in at Shoppers Drug Mart which is a chain that always has something I either need or more likely, want.

I’ll be back to Bulk Barn this trip. Last time I found some amazing soap which lasts a really long time and comes in assorted colors and scents. Bulk Barn has all manner of staples, like flour, cake mix, candies, etc. that you can buy by the pound. (You scoop out what you want from the bins and it is weighed at the checkout.) I have never seen anything similar in Texas.

In Toronto, I usually go to The Bay. That is Hudson’s Bay Company. It is the oldest department store in North America and you can purchase great souvenirs including the striped items that were their trademarks as original fur traders.

I generally stop into Zellers which is a discount department store as I can generally get some neat souvenirs there. One time I found a bathing suit for Ava with a red maple leaves pattern.

If there is a nice when we will be alone at our hotel, we stop into Loblaw's (Supermarket) and find a delicious meal from the deli counter. We will also pick up some Habitant French Canadian Pea Soup to bring back.

Of course, we always try to find a Jewish Deli and there are lots of them – to have a pure corned beef on rye. I say, “pure” because I love to have the fresh cut corned beef heaped high on rye bread with regular mustard spread on it. Simple, fat sandwich that is hard – or impossible to get except in Houston.

So, my mouth is watering and I am ready for a taste of Toronto and Port Hope.

This year, we will also be going up to Peterborough one day. I do not know Peterborough as well but it is more of a a resort town. We will visit my friend’s mother and also check out their scrapbook store. Imagine bringing back some papers with Canadian motifs on them! Wowwee!

More Planning . . . Hotels and Routes

Hubby has mapped out our route to Toronto and it has been no mean feat as this time we are under the gun.

Did I forget to tell you that the Lufkin Community Band Concert is on Sunday? (He plays 3rd clarinet.)

I have cards for our favorite hotels and whenever it is possible, I book our stays online in advance. That way, I know what style of room I am getting and can get a good price for seniors. Most hotels consider AARP as senior, so that is 50. (Sorry!)

With the card comes a few perks including a daily newspaper and occasional upgrades. The best perk is earning free hotel nights.

On the road, the one thing I really hate is trying to find a room at the end of a long day’s drive. If I have to do this, I generally look at the chains where we have cards and if there is a choice, I try the newest one first.

Experience has taught me that generally the newer the hotel, the nicer it is.

Never accept the first rate quoted to you whether in person or on the phone. They always start with their full (or rack) rate and you have to haggle them down. Ask what discounts they have. Generally, they will come up with a better rate if you are persistent. Ask, “How can I get a better rate?” Seniors, corporate, government + sometimes they just have special packages.

We carry a couple of flashlights and two nightlights. There may not be enough plugs for your cell phone chargers and nightlights in every room. I have not yet purchased a portable phone charger.

Full service hotels are much more costly than chains that offer a complimentary breakfast bar. This is a real benefit! My personal favorite chains to stay at along the way are Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn and Holiday Inn Express. This time we are also using Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Inn for our Ontario stays as well.

I believe that planning is the key to a smooth road trip. Hubby and I have never really just gone to a resort or a city to just lounge around but that would be less planning and more kicking back.

This is the way it is when a Canadian and an American living 1600 miles apart find one another and get married. We like to keep in touch with “back home”.

Hampton Inn www.hamptoninn.com

Comfort Inn www.choicehotels.com

Holiday Inn Express www.ichotelsgroup.com

Then We'll Go To Port Hope

That’s a nice name for a place, don’t you think? There are two ways to drive from Toronto, east to Port Hope, Population about 16,000.

My 4-Level Backsplit on the corner in a terrific subdivision of good neighbors!

We’ll go along Hwy 401 and it will take us about an hour, with no traffic lights or towns to slow us down. Before Hwy 401 was built (oh, yes, but you knew it was built when I was a kid), we used to drive east on Old Highway 2. Highway 2 takes you through lots of small towns and sort of follows Lake Ontario, so it is a scenic drive.

Some United Empire Loyalists (UELs) settled here in the late 1700s. (These were people who wanted to be loyal to the English Crown.) In the old days, some wealthy Toronto families had summer homes in Port Hope. It is still a quiet area with most of the services you need and some nice subdivisions of friendly people. (We moved there to get away from the hustle of the city and I quickly made friends there.) Port Hope has most things you need and a wonderfully restored theater, The Capital. Coincidentally, we are currently restoring The Pines Theater here in Lufkin, Texas.

A little further along 401 is Cobourg where there is a nice shopping mall, a concert theater, a beach, and pretty harbor. In our great room we have a limited edition print of the harbor that my neighbors gave us before Hubby and I married and came to Texas.

I have noted websites for Port Hope and Cobourg, because I am certainly not a historian. So, let me tell you who we hope to see.

We’ll visit with my friend Judy and her hubby, Don. This is where we’ll be greeted by their grandson, William who likes to call me “Martha from Texas”. He’s the one who’d like to be a weatherman and he is well read on the subject already. He has a sister now – that would be Charlotte. My grandmother would have called Charlotte “a caution”.

First night there, we’ll eat at Swiss Chalet. I like to say that the two things I miss most about Canada are a basement and Swiss Chalet. (We don’t have either where we live in Texas.)

I’ll order the Quarter Chicken Dinner. I’ve been ordering that since my dates would take me there in about 1959 - 1960 which is about when they opened. The chicken is gentle barbequed on spits you can see and served with a delicious dipping sauce. It is not BBQ as we know it in Texas, because Texans would think it too bland. I like it: it is just right for me!

So, we’ll visit as many of the people as we can. These are people who helped me when I was alone after my late husband had a stroke. They are kind, friendly and gentle people.

We’ll tell you who we see as we see them – and that will be just after Mother’s Day.


http://www.porthope.ca

http://www.town.cobourg.on.ca/

Packing Means Organization and Lists

I have various packing lists on my computer that I can pull up and modify when we travel.

In the last few years, we have learned to pack much differently for flying than we do when we drive.

I like to use containers and actually check things off the list as they go into the suitcase.

Now, being organized is not to be confused with packing light! I do take quite a lot of stuff because I like to wear what suits the occasion or my mood on any given day.

I came up with what I simply call underwear packs. Especially when we are on the road – and it is about 1650 miles to Toronto – they are really handy.

I use the plain larger Ziploc bags and put matching unmentionables (other people don’t use that term any more), stockings, socks or knee-hi’s; a pack of dental floss and my meds in there and close it. Then each night, I just pull out one pack. I find it convenient. You might find it an overkill. It's a time saver for me.

I put my slacks and tops in my suitcase. Dressier blazers, blouses, sweaters, slacks and/or skirts go into a large hanging garment bag. I also put extra shoes and other things I will use when I get to our destination in there.

I have a multi-compartment container for toiletries that hangs in the bathroom. I have containers for other items as well and all fit around the clothes in my suitcase.

Sometimes I roll my clothes and sometimes I fold them flat. Both work fine for me. I tuck slippers at the side and pj’s and duster fit where there is a little space. I use a jewelry roll and try to figure out what I will use.

Since this is a long trip and I do not want to do any laundry, there is a lot of stuff to take and fit in there.

Hubby is more casual about his packing. He does put his jackets and dress trousers along with shoes in a garment bag but is very relaxed about how he packs his regular case. He likes a smaller bag for all his toiletries. (The smaller bag fits over the handle of the suitcase.)

I say Hubby is casual about his packing because he has a motto and it is a good one! He says, there is always Wal-Mart to buy whatever you forget. This philosophy does work well for a driving trip!

In the SUV, we also carry a soft-sided cooler with a long (shoulder) carrying strap. We keep water and some snacks in there. It has worked well for us. (Cold packs can be refurbished in the hotel room micro frigs or we fill ziploc bags with ice from the hotel machine.)

So, we take a few extra food storage bags and also a couple of "garbage" bags which we use for dirty laundry.

Hubby likes coats and sweaters to be hung on the little back hooks. We don’t quite agree there, but the marriage has lasted through a lot of these trips anyway!

Hubby’s promise was to try to take me back to Canada every year. We have pretty much done that. We did not go the year of the SARS epidemic or last year, and we have been there but some years we have been there twice.

The longest trip we took by car – a Lincoln Town Car – the land yacht – was round trip from Texas to Nova Scotia and back through Ontario. That was about 7,200 miles round trip.

The story from that trip was a woman coming up to Hubby parked in the car in the Sobey's Supermarket parking lot in Sydney, Nova Scotia,

“You are a long way from home!”

“Yes Ma’am. Texas is about 3,000 miles from here!”

“Well, have a good time here!”

Later after coming out of the store (while I was taking my time, of course), the woman came back to the car:

“I just wanted to tell you what my little boy said.”

“What was that, Ma’am?”

“That man sure drove a long way for groceries!”

If there weren’t stories like that to tell, there would be no point to traveling!

So, What Is Toronto Like?

Toronto, Ontario, Canada is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario, one of the five Great Lakes and is easily accessed by auto and plane, as well as train within Canada.

Off the top, I must tell you that when I googled a couple of things so I would have correctness for you, I found a lot of talk about Toronto’s blandness. Well, I don’t know about that! I think my evidence for the opposition would be to tell you about some of the exports to United States. No one has ever called me “bland” but how about Howie Mandel, Jim Carey, the late Peter Jennings, Anne Murray, the late Guy Lombardo, or Mike Myers? All from Toronto!

I think most of us are partial to our hometown. Mine just happens to be Toronto which is a little bigger than a lot of places. I have mentioned before that when I was a teenager in the 50s, the population of Toronto was about 500,000 and now, the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) population is 5.5 million and it is the biggest city in Canada.

In the 50s, it was known as "Toronto the Good" and people liked to say that they rolled up the sidewalks at 11:00 p.m. No liquor was sold on Sundays – by bottle or glass. At age 21 we acquired a license to purchase liquor at government stores. There were stores to purchase liquor and wine and other stores to purchase beer. It is not so strict now, but sales are still controlled by the government in Ontario. (The Government knows how to make a buck!)

Today, Toronto is a place where there there is always something to do. There are franchises and beautiful venues for most major sports. I think I have already told you abut all the restaurants. There are lots of theaters and some productions are tried out in Toronto before going to say, New York City. Toronto has a symphony orchestra and lots of live entertainment.

It is easy for me to compare Toronto to Houston which is about 100 miles from where we live now. Both have similar ballparks with retractable roofs; both have underground systems with walkways and shops. Both have some very stylish neighborhoods and lots of traffic! Toronto gets really cold in the winter; Houston does not!

Originally, Toronto was primarily inhabited by people from the British Isles – England, Ireland and Scotland. When I was young, Canada was still part of the British Commonwealth.

Toronto now is a very diverse city with people of every nationality and many languages are spoken around town. It is now the most ethnically diverse city in the world and that includes New York City. It is common to see signs in all of Ontario which are bilingual - French and English. The Measurement system is metric. When the sign on Highway 401, going east-west across North Toronto, that means 100 kilometers, not 100 miles per hour! In the supermarkets, the metric system is used to sell meat and produce.

We once heard a comment from a friend visiting from Bogota that he thought the main pastime in Toronto was shopping! There are lots of malls, plazas and free-standing shops: no shortage of places to spend your money.

Toronto is a place to see lots of celebrities. Movie and TV production is an industry and some people call it Hollywood North. One reason for this is the large numbers of interesting locations to shoot as well as the lower dollar value to the American dollar which makes it economical.The dollars have fluctuated over the years, and when I was about 20, the Canadian dollar was higher than the U.S. dollar.

Speaking of dollars, I should tell you that the paper money is different colors for different denominations. The dollar is a coin, with a picture of a loon on the one side. So, it came to be called the "loonie". When a two dollar coin was introduced, it was automatically called a "toonie". That is exactly what you call them. (So the first paper denomination is a blue colored dollar bill.

[Just there, I almost put "coloured" and you will see some English spelling that is a little different from the American.]

The food I grew up eating was very bland by Texas standards. That would have been the English influence. Now, there are restaurants with every type of food you can imagine and all manner of ingredients are available at the supermarkets.

Toronto has a very efficient public transit system with an underground system first established in the early 50s and connecting routes above ground. There are also buses and trains to take people to their homes outside of Metropolitan Toronto.

The inner city has houses that are mostly two-storey and land is very expensive, so lots are narrow. As you drive out into the suburban areas, and towns further out, you still will not see very many one-storey (bungalow) houses. The land is too costly, so most homes are two storey or some are split level designs. In Toronto, many people live in high rise and condominium apartments and townhouses are very popular. (Condominium means the common areas are owned by the "condo corporation" and you own just the airspace between the walls. The good part is virtually no maintenance for the householder.)

The house where I grew up is still on the corner, one block from St.James Bond Church, and the frontage is only 29 feet. So, you would see Toronto and surrounding, as rather crowded, compared to Texas where we are more sprawled out.

The population of Canada is sparse by American standards: approximately 33.5 million people. When you look at a map, you see a huge amount of land, but the majority of the population (80%) lives within about 200 miles of the Canada-U.S. border. Because people have to go where the jobs are and demand is high, cities like Toronto and Vancouver are very expensive places to live.

Toronto, "People City", is still a very clean city and very pedestrian-oriented. There are lots of parks and walkways. Toronto is a very accessible city. People in wheelchairs can get virtually everywhere. That is a big plus for many people!

Texans are very friendly, saying "Hello" to most people they pass on the street of coming and going from shops and restaurants. Canadians are more reserved and a little less outgoing. (I should point out that Ontario people are perhaps more reserved than some Maritimers (especially Newfoundland and Nova Scotia) and possibly less so than some of the Western Provinces.

At this time of year, the climate in Southern Ontario will be in the 60s and pleasant, while we have already had some 80s and almost 90s weather in Texas. We will need sweaters and probably coats at night.

In addition to Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome) and the CN Tower right downtown, there is Canada's Wonderland, a theme park, Toronto Zoo, an Art Gallery and Royal Ontario Museum along with The Hockey Hall of Fame.

Something else you might notice if you are from where I live now is that Toronto is a city laid out in straight forward north-south and east-west fashion and people do give you directions with that in mind.

There are excellent maps handed out by the TTC (Toronto Transit Commision). If you want to find your way around easily by car, you can buy a Perly's Map Book. Yes, I said "book"! But you're not surprised, because you are getting an idea of the vastness of Toronto!

Getting Ready For A Toronto Without My Old Friend

As we get older, we have more and more stories and this is one about seizing the moment.

Almost two years ago, in July, we were visiting Hubby's sister in Cleveland, Ohio. One friend in Port Hope was due for major surgery and I asked if perhaps we could make a quick "side trip" up to Canada. Twenty years ago, a drive from Cleveland to Toronto seemed short. Now, everything is a little longer, a little harder.

We agreed we could do that and I booked a hotel in Stoney Creek (near Hamilton, Ontario) and another in Port Hope, each for one night.

When I realized that we would be driving through Toronto on Highway 401 at just about lunchtime, I asked Keith what he thought about asking Belinda & D'Arcy to meet us for lunch. He did not think too much of the idea. I guess he thought it was a little presumptuous of me to think that you could have a little visit with someone as you were driving through. I felt differently because I have known those folks since I was 19.

Well, "B" didn't mind one bit and we made arrangements for the four of us to meet at the Pickle Barrel Restaurant on Leslie, a little north of the 401. (One time, a few years ago, their hostess told us about a woman taking a cab from Pearson International direct to their restaurant. It's a pretty good one!)

We had a beautiful visit - that's Belinda and me in the photo. Our hubbies have also become friends over the years, so everyone had a fine time. It was a bright and sunny day and although I'm not sure, I probably had a corned beef on rye. Belinda had a sack for me with a jug of Canadian maple syrup and we giggled and chatted and just had a good time.

Belinda liked for me to recall my Canadian roots and once sent down a video set of a National Film Board presentation from CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). As I am a naturalized American, "B" was a naturalized Canadian. I think she had come from Baton Rouge when I first knew her. She never truly lost her accent, just as I will never really lose mine.

So, my old friend and I had a wonderful visit! We all hugged and we were back on the road to Port Hope.

In late September, after a wonderful and happy Clint Black concert right here at the Temple Theater at Angelina College, back home, I checked my e-mail.

There it was: A MESSAGE FROM BELINDA'S FAMILY THAT SHE HAD HAD A STROKE EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

So, I was sitting right where I am now, and I was crying and yelling and extremely upset. That's what people do when they receive that sort of news.

The prognosis was not good. Then, as they began testing, they found cancer. So it went from worse to the unthinkable.

Belinda's family were terrific about keeping in touch. I sent notes and photos and whatever I thought she might react to. I sent paper sunflowers . . . We do what we think might evoke a response. We do what we think will help people know they are in our minds because we cannot be there to hold their hand. We do what we can, but it is never enough.

I did not tell this in my book and this is the first time I have written about my "old friend", as her husband still calls me. (That tells me that Belinda referred to me as her old friend and I am glad for that.)

She died at the beginning of the next year - at home. She left an enormous legacy of kind deeds. There are not too many people you can say that about! She rescued dogs and even a horse that she boarded in midtown Toronto. She went to see anyone and everyone who was sick. She read the Bible and was a great believer . . . especially she loved angels. Of course, SHE was the angel! She worried about everybody else. She had a quirky sense of humor. She was a fabulous friend! She was a person who "always showed up".

So, you are starting to get the point. When I go back and you follow me back, there are people who will not be there.

One other person who will not be there, is my cousin, Ruth. She was about 20 years older than Belinda, but that isn't quite the point.

The point is that when you move away from somewhere you have lived most of your life, you miss all the events and suddenly, things have changed.

One day, we will drive by and the house I lived in by Thornhill Pond (just around the corner from Anne Murray, by the way) will be gone. It will be gone just because the land is worth more than the structure and 50s bungalows (one-storey homes) are no longer popular.

I think the houses I lived in when I was a kid will always be there in my time. They were both two-storey traditional homes on corner lots and have been well maintained. But houses are just structures and friends are indispensable.

We will have dinner with Ruth's son and daughter-in-law and their family. Her granddaughter is one of my friends on Facebook. She's in college at Ottawa. (When did she get so old . . . ?)

And, yes, we will have dinner at Belinda's daughter's home. You'll hear more about that from Toronto!

So, I'm hoping you will come away thinking about how important it is that we keep up with friends and relatives. When we have a chance to see someone - to break bread with them - we should do it!

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone. - Psalm 103: 15, 16.

Canadian Trip On Track - Ready to follow along?

Well, we have planned, reserved, made packing lists and arrangements for visits. So, we are definitely on track for our trip to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Now, if you read this blog with any regularity, you'll know that Yonge Street is the main north/south street dividing Toronto. Yes, we'll be on Yonge Street a lot! And of course, you know that Toronto is my hometown.

The basic reason (excuse) for us driving to Toronto this time is so that I can attend my 50th Class Reunion at St.Clement's (Girls) School (Class of '59)! For you folks who have not lived in Ontario, we used to have 13 years of school not 12 as there are now.

Back when I was first looking at blogs, I saw a wonderful one where a couple were beaming back to everyone their trip and I thought that was terrific. I am reminded quite often that many folks in East Texas have not been to any part of Canada and some have not been to the Toronto area. If you are a regular reader, then you know that Toronto is the largest Canadian City (5.5 million in the GTA - Greater Toronto Area) and still pretty clean. It is expensive (particularly real estate)and has super shopping. There are more restaurants than you could visit in about 2-1/2 years if you ate out daily. It is culturally diverse, has wonderful theater and entertainment, lots of parks and "people" places and most major sports. Canada's Wonderland, Ontario Place, Toronto Zoo are all "world class" attractions (as people like to say).

So, instead of blogging with a different topic everyday, Hubby and I will try to keep you in touch with where we are and what we are doing.

I will take this week to get you up to speed as to approximately what we will be doing, where we will be traveling and who we will be seeing. Also, I will tell you a bit about how we prepare.

If you are on Facebook or Twitter, we will probably post there too - when we are near a computer. We are not into the portable computing equipment, and if we were, we might miss some of the good stuff that happens on the road!

On the way up, we will be going through Texas (of course), Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and in to Ontario.

On the way back, we plan on coming through New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas and back into Texas.

We have arrangements to pretty much fill our timetable. Although I do not have too many family left, we have lots of friends and we will see my cousins on the first night in T.O. No, I do not know why it is called T.O. I do know that Toronto is an Indian name meaning "meeting place".

Toronto is quite different from what it was when I was a kid. Back then, Canada was still part of the British Commonwealth and had about 500,000 population.

Hope you will enjoy tagging along on trip we always enjoy taking. It will be new to many of you and you'll know a little more about us and why we keep going back!

We All Need Friends . . .

It is so natural for humans to bond with one another. It is good that many of us have loving husbands or wives. But, perhaps we do not think how important it is for us to be friends with others as well.

I have been very fortunate to make friends with people at church and now with others at scrapbooking.

It is natural for us to need other people and we are not meant to try to cope on our own.

Many of us have also been blessed to meet people online - people with similar beliefs and interests. Never underestimate the value of reaching out to others. One day, you will find yourself in a situation where you could use some advice, a hug, a giggle, support, help or a reference.

Truly, it refreshes the spirit to be alone sometimes. It is nice to read, pray, listen to music, sit in a beautiful tub of warm water - all without distractions. But we must never underestimate how important it is to reach out to others. The more we reach out to others, the more friends we will have.

It only takes an extra minute to say, "Hello" as we pass someone on the street or entering a shop. When we take a little time each day to telephone a few friends just to chat for a while, it makes them feel better and we end up feeling great too! Through those friends, we make more friends and soon we are not alone.

Some people are good at writing letters or sending cards and some of us send e-mail messages. Social Networking websites like Facebook help us keep in touch with lots of people with just a few clicks of the computer mouse.

9. Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. 10. If one falls down, his friend can help up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
~ Ecclesiastes 4: 9, 10 NIV

Let's Do Our Part on Earth Day!

Today would be a fine day to bundle up some articles you are not using and take them to your Goodwill Store. They resell them and so, they are recycled! It also gives someone an opportunity to get a "new" blouse or household item at an excellent price. It also helps to employ several people who otherwise might not have jobs.

Also, Family Crisis Centers (i.e. Women's Shelter of East Texas, Inc.) have shops where they resell your gently used clothing and other items. 24 Hour Crisis Hotline for this wonderful group is 1-800-828-7233.

While we are at it, let's purchase a few more "green" cloth bags to use when we are shopping. Leave a few in the car so you always have one handy! Many stores including Brookshire Brothers Groceries and CVS Pharmacy are offering them at less than the usual $1.00 charge.

By the way, you can get a really nifty "green" bag - which happens to be red - that zips up into itself so you can carry it in your purse. Where do you get that? - Target Stores!

Eating Healthy!

Today's paper gives those of us who are always worrying about our weight, more "food" for thought!

Former FDA Commissioner David Kessler has written a book about what he calls, "conditioned hyper eating". This is described as a willpower sapping drive to eat high fat, high sugar foods, even when we're not hungry. Oh, boy! How stupid am I not to have written that?

Anthony Robbins put it quite simply several years ago: "Food tastes good!"

Tonight, on The Biggest Loser (8:00 p.m. Eastern), they are going to show us how to shop at the supermarket for healthy food that will help us stay on track! Since I want to watch baseball, I will tell you a really good trick for shopping healthy and I am sure someone will let me know if they touch on this.

Shop the outside walls of the supermarket. That is where the "safe" food is. Of course - and all due respect to my friend, Daisy - do not go near the Bakery area! Linger as long as you like at the fresh veggies and fruits, especially the veggies. Meat is on the outside as is dairy - soy milk and yogurt preferably - are there. Have you thought about using ground turkey instead of ground beef? Fish is a very good bet, just don't fry it!

Have you thought about only eating 4 ounces of meat, if you have meat at all? Veggies are our best bang for our calories. Do check out your salad dressing and make sure it is low in calories; read the label carefully!

Now, I am not an expert, but I do know the basics of what we should eat to be healthy and fit. I do know that we are motivated to eat badly by our emotions and when we feel bad, we eat! Of course, when we celebrate, we eat! When we dine out, we eat and we are not sure exactly how everything stacks up calorie-wise. We eat out more these days because of our hectic lives.

Of course, the truth is that food is marketed in such a way that any of us who are emotional eaters - and that is a very high percentage of us - will taste it and eat as much as is placed in front of us. At restaurants, portions are BIG!

Will power should be bottled and consumed like water whenever we feel like a meal at a fast food outlet!

Sonic, Burger King, McDonald's, and Jack-in-the-Box all sell beautiful salads. If you just eat the salad, okay, but take a look at the calories listed on the packet of dressing they give you. (In fairness, some places do stock low cal dressings, if you ask for them.) If you Google any of the chains, you will find they do list the calories and nutrition breakdown for every item on their menus. It is not classified information. (If you stay in your car, perhaps you can keep a bottle of your own dressing in that box between the seats - in a ziploc bag so it won't spill!)

Remember, all these fast food companies are in business to make money and they are not about to make a lot of money by telling you stuff your Momma used to tell you when you were a kid! We're adults now and we like to make our own choices. (Sometimes we just have difficulty making good choices!)

Perhaps, some day, years from now, long after I am gone, like cigarettes, they will have big warning signs. Can you see the massive signs over the fast food outlets proclaiming, "Science shows our food may make you fatter", just under the number proclaiming how many have been sold?

Now, I don't want to be sued by anyone and you need to know that we balance our portfolio (such as it is these days) with stocks exactly like McDonald's. Good stock to own! Why wouldn't they be?

If you are really wanting to learn more about how to eat and exercise to bring your weight down, do visit richardsimmons.com.

Anybody Can Change - Even Humans!

So, if you looked at my Fido and Fifi blog today, you are saying to yourself . . . "Hmm. . . seems similar". There's a first time for everything and I thought I'd write on the same topic for both blogs today.

So, you see, a dog changes from when we first bring him home as a puppy, or in the case of Buddy, at ten months. We humans can change and do change all the time . . . hopefully for the better.

The photo above is at the wonderful citizenship party we had after I passed my test with 100%! Now, I didn't really change because I had my American Citizenship as well as Canadian (yes, we can have dual). We are going to Canada in two weeks and everyone up there says I have a Texas accent. Hmmm. One gal saw me in person last week and she hadn't seen me since the Charlie Wilson's War Premier here. She said she had forgotten I had an accent - eh? I guess I will always have that!

What has changed me, and probably you, over the years has to do with events just like that one. About 150 people came and went that night and the Lufkin Community Band played for us. It was a super time! Friends helped with the food and decorations and everybody had a wonderful time!

Every time we make a new friend we have the potential to change - for better or for worse. I have to stop sometimes and just think how many friends - really wonderful ones - I have made since coming to East Texas over 12 years ago.

In order to make friends, we have to reach out. Sometimes we will be hurt but not too often! We must be willing to take a few chances in life to find out what our true potential is.

When I came here, I found life very different from what I had known in Ontario all my life. I was odd person out. I had a lot of new ways to learn, new foods to eat and new friends to find. Some friends I have made have been at church. We have a really friendly church and now I find myself, an old-timer, reaching out to new people who have moved in to the area. In fact, I have made friends at Mane Attraction because I go there the same time every week. Some friends are writers. Some friends are scrappers (you know - people who scrapbook).

Another way in which I have changed is weight. I was about 65 lbs. heavier when I came here than what I am now. I will always struggle with that. I check in with Richard Simmons all the time and try to eat properly and exercise. Richard is always working with people to help them change. Of course, we have to want to change our appearance and stick to it.

It makes a huge difference in our lives who our significant other is and how well they treat us. I am very blessed with Hubby Keith because he is a person who is kind, loving, gentle and sees everyone in their best light.

Because we try to keep up with the times, what is going on all around, Hubby and I probably evolve better than some people.

Both of us are on Facebook now and we can really keep up with friends and family that way. We try to be part of present times and enjoy life.

Hope you have had a blessed day and keep on being a cheerleader for yourself. There is nothing we can't do if we really put our mind to it!

richardsimmons.com

Sunday - A Day Of Rest And Rejuvenation

For Hubby and me, Sunday is a day of rest and rejuvenation. We do go to church unless one of us is sick or we are away. When away, we might stop in at a church like this one I photographed on our way to Cleveland, Ohio.

There is a serenity from listening to scriptures, following ritual, and singing hymns. Today was also a communion day. We partake of the blood and body of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This is the second Sunday of Easter in the church calendar.

A wonderful time during our service is the Children's sermon. We are blessed to have several children now and just watching them inspires us. We know most of the people in our home church - Angel of Joy - and so we walk around sharing the peace with everyone after Pastor's sermon.

With a routine of Sunday worship, we feel order in our lives. The older I get, the more I appreciate having routine. It's nice to go on a vacation, but we always enjoy coming back to some structure.

Not everyone is Christian and certainly not everyone is Lutheran. Our church is very traditional and not everyone is used to our liturgy. But worshipping in the religion you feel comfortable with helps you to be more centered, more serene, more calm. We can all appreciate this in today's world.

Most Sunday evenings, we also watch Joel Osteen from Lakewood Church in Houston. (Keith held bonds when they were building their last church, so he feels an extra attachment.)

Lakewood Church is also seen in Canada and can be viewed at different times during the week here and most places. Joel always encourages people to be part of a bible-based church. The portion of Lakewood that is televised is Joel's sermon. He is a very inspirational, motivational speaker. I always feel good about life and how I can tackle the coming week after listening to Joel Osteen.

(I have written about Joel Osteen before but if you did not read it, I mentioned that Joel no longer takes a salary from Lakewood. He and Victoria have book revenue now.)

I hope your week is upbeat and happy and that you were able to rest at least for part of Sunday, if you had to work.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" - Philippians 4:4

Thanks To All Your Prayers, Kyla's Home . . . Eating Broccoli!

Thanks to everyone who has been and continues to pray for granddaughter, Kyla Jayne. She telephoned tonight to let us know she was at home, sitting up on the "big bed", watching TV and eating broccoli! Earlier she had been playing with friends. That makes us all smile!

Sisters In Christ Dinner - A Beautiful Tradition!

Well, when I was selling AVON, there was a pretty set of royal blue glass dishes that took my fancy. I ended up with twelve settings and some serving pieces. We like them because they go into the microwave and dishwasher and none have "bitten" the dust. I have used them about three times to set a patriotic table for our Sisters in Christ Banquet.

Well, our annual banquet is being held tonight and I have turned the required pieces over to my friends Kathleen and Sandy and they have set a total of four tables with four different sets of dishes. (Won't they be a little crazy by the end of the day?) Our table will be patriotic again!

Our Angel of Joy Lutheran Church Sisters In Christ Dinner has become a tradition for us. Several of the women of the church set tables, each with a different theme. The women come to be pampered and the Men of the Church serve us.

This year, a Christian Group called Ransomed will entertain us and there will be lots of door prizes too.

We have a beautiful buffet where we pick up our main course. The men - dressed in white shirts and black bow ties - bring us our water, coffee and dessert. It is an excellent fundraiser for us and Thrivant Lutheran Financial Services matches the money made.

This might be a concept your church could use to raise money!

Fund-raising and a good time - what a nice combination!

Old Rugged Cross - or Should We Do It My Way?

Today, there is a report from London, England on most popular music used at funerals.

As we go further and further away from traditional values, how much better is our life?

When I walk away from a funeral where a tape of Frank Sinatra singing, "My Way" was played, what is in my heart? Am I thinking that the deceased was some sort of rebel? Am I wondering what his life was all about?

When I listen to someone singing Old Rugged Cross or Amazing Grace, I know that my late friend knew where he was going. I appreciate that indeed he lived each day the best he could. I know he (or she) reached out to others every day.

Unfortunately, I have had to arrange several funerals. I have never used anything but traditional hymns for the music.

Each funeral has been overseen by a minister and there often has been a lay person speaking about the deceased.

Is there some value to getting away from traditional funerals?

We are at a time in North American History when we need to remember America was founded on Christian principles. We have welcomed immigrants in both Canada and United States from just about every nation in the world. Although I don't know the music from every religion of every immigrant, I am pretty sure that "Bat Out Of Hell" by Meatloaf and "Highway To Hell" by AC/DC are not in anyone's religious repertoire.

As Dave Barry would say, I am not making this up! These two songs are showing as being choices of some people for funerals.

Also, in case you are wondering, the definition of religion is, Belief in a divine being or beings or specific form of belief and practice ( Webster). So, just about everybody has some form of belief or religion.

If we are believing in or have made our religion pop culture such as musical groups with unusual names; drugs, sex and rock and roll (per Father John Corapi) then perhaps this explains why things are going rather badly right now.

How about a call for, Back to Basics?

Please feel free to leave a comment - which may or may not be published - if you think you know a better way of believing!

Leon Hale Doesn't Use Pictures!

Those of you who read this blog regularly must sense that I enjoy writing it!

Sometimes I use pictures and I have a feel that in general people like the pictures. The old saw is that a picture is worth a thousand words and I often think that inserting a photo adds to the blog.

One reason I started the Fido and Fifi blog was that every time I wrote about dogs, I had a good volume of readers. Some people told me they really enjoyed the pictures of the dogs even if they didn't know a lot about dogs.

Well, Hubby has asked about the pictures and commented that Leon Hale does not use pictures.

Hmm . . . you gotta love that Hubby even thinks that I am doing something similar to what Leon Hale does!

Now, those of you up on Yonge Street - in Canada, that is - just may not know about Leon Hale. Mr. Hale writes a blog that is posted on the Houston Chronicle website. He also has a website and has written about eight books. What if I told you Leon Hale has written a column for the Chronicle for 20+ years and before that, wrote a column for the Houston Post for 32 years? No flash in the pan, this man!

What does Leon Hale write about? He writes about what he knows and what he lives and lots of everyday stuff.

There is a link to the right of this column - just scroll down and you can go to Mr. Hale's blog today. He wrote about backing over his Dell laptop with his pickup truck! There you go . . . doesn't get any more ordinary or homey than that! Of course, I'm going to make you go to his blog to find out what happened to the computer!

Now, I do feel obliged to tell you that you will at least find a photo of Mr. Hale at his blog, but no, he doesn't use any photo service or post any photos of his grandchildren like I do. I guess if I had been continuously writing a column as long as he has, I wouldn't do that to get your attention either!

www.leonhale.com
http://blogs.chron.com/leonhale/

Praying For Kyla!

We asked everyone to PRAY . . . and they did! Please keep praying for our precious Kyla.

Today she spoke to us in a joyful and strong voice:

"Hi Grandma . . . Hi Grandpa!"
(How are you doing, Kyla?)
"Fine, Grandma!"

Please keep praying for Kyla, that she will get stronger and stronger and be well! Pray that no injury has harmed her brain and that her heart will be fine! Pray for all children who are sick, that they may be well and healthy and strong!

Thank you so much!

Another Texan In The White House!

Here is "Bo", the Presidential Portuguese Water Dog given to the Obamas by Sen. Ted Kennedy. Happy to hear that Bo was bred right here in Texas!

Why?

Please pray for Kyla!

Children are precious gifts from God. Jesus said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me." We know this. So, it is so very hard for us to understand why a child would be sick . . . very sick.

Our precious Kyla has had heart surgery and now she is not communicating well.

Please pray for Kyla and ask your friends to pray for Kyla. Please put Kyla on your prayer list.

Why does God let little children be sick? We don't know. We may know some time. Or, we may never know.

When we hear of a child being very sick, we feel a lot of emotions. Because I had two very sick little children - and lost both of them to congenital disorders - I know that this evokes every emotion we can imagine.

We cannot govern how others feel about something as serious as this. Someone has to be to blame, right? So, would that be God? How can our God, a good God, a loving God let these things happen?

Why were my children born sick? Why did my children die? All these years, there really has been no really sensible answer for me.

When I go, will I see those children - Carrie & Robbie? We don't know. You don't know. I don't know. Maybe. Perhaps. And by the time we know, we won't be able to communicate it back to our families.

While we are alive, we can only guess, wonder, contemplate why bad things happen to good people. And they do . . . all the time, every day!

Is our life a major test? Are obstacles to happiness put in our path so we can learn? While we are on earth, we cannot answer that.

I cannot possible answer to her mother why Kyla is sick . . . very sick. With age comes some wisdom and some knowledge, but we never truly learn all the answers.

What we do learn is that we truly have very little control over a lot of things that happen to us. We try to make good choices as much as we can, but every time someone is very very sick, we see how little control we truly have over our destiny.

So, we try to be as kind to everyone as we can. For tomorrow is promised to no one.

Blessings to all, especially all who are grieving or have someone they love very ill.

He Is Risen Indeed!

The Lord is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

The Value Of Just Showing Up!

Had a note on Twitter the other day from a fellow who was heading for a memorial service for a child of a friend.

His friend will never forget that he was there.

Yes, it is terrible to go to a memorial or funeral for a child. I know because my own two children both died in infancy. I have never forgotten those people who came.

Sometimes - a lot of times - as we go through life, we have to step outside of - as they say - our comfort zone.

Hubby Keith and I try to "show up" when someone has lost a loved one, when someone is sick or might like a visit. I know a lot of people who also make sure they get there when someone needs them.

You might be surprised how much just showing up counts in your life. I think the percent was put at 95% by a person not otherwise known for pithy sayings.

So, next time you see that someone you know is perhaps just needing a hug or a pat on the back, do be the one who shows up!

You'll feel good about yourself, even if the event was not a happy one and the other person will remember you always!

"Crucify Him!" - Matthew 27: 22 - Good Friday, Saddest Day In The Christian Calendar

I have never understood or been given an explanation of why today is called, "Good Friday". It is in fact, the saddest day in the Christian calendar. This is the day when Jesus Christ was crucified on the Cross that we might live. This is why the Cross became the universal symbol of Christianity.

When you read the biblical account of Jesus' last day, you have to wonder why he was not saved. Think of people casting lots for Jesus' clothes! Truly He was treated as a "common criminal".

The pain must have been beyond what any of us has felt. Jesus was dangling from wrists nailed to that cross. Think of the humiliation of being hung with common thieves in full view of all! Imagine being so thirsty and handed a sour drink.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" So, for a brief moment, Jesus - just like one of us - wondered why God would let this happen.

Then, think about how much he suffered that Christians might live on and worship God as we choose. Unlike most stories, we are privileged to know that Jesus will rise again on Sunday. Yes, we will again visit that empty borrowed tomb at Sunrise on Eastern Morning.

What a beautiful day that will be . . .

With Increased Following Comes Greater Responsibility! KTRE-TV - Lufkin/Nacogdoches Following Me???

Today has been a busy one. We all have busy days - nothing so unusual about that. So, I got a bit tired and had a real afternoon nap. After that, Hubby and I were off to the Maundy Thursday Service - the service that celebrates the Last Supper of Our Lord. It's a very moving and sad service. Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherans held services tonight.

Still feeling pretty somber, I did not come immediately to my computer. No . . . we had a little snack, caught up on general news on the TV. Here I am now, writing today's blog.

The first message that I saw was from Sharon who said she was crying while reading about our two little girls whose hearts are not quite right - her daughter and our great-granddaughter. I was thrilled that Sharon liked that blog. I know everyone is indeed praying for Kyla and Sarah.

As a writer, I know that if I evoke emotion, I have done my job. You who read me know I pretty much avoid controversy and even try to make you laugh some of the time.

As a person, I have pretty much the same worries and fears we all have - or perhaps I worry more than most. I like to do my best.

Well, here comes some major responsibility!

I am on Facebook and I am on Twitter. With Twitter, I try to keep up with the news, the weather, the interesting stuff happening everywhere. I tend to read a lot on Twitter and generally I mention that I have posted my blog and what it is about. I say "Good Morning" and I say "Good Night". I do follow a few individuals as well.

A Newfoundlander (a man, not a dog) found me the other day and confirmed that I knew a Lhasa Breeder in St.John's who was his school teacher in Grade Nine! Hmmm - made me feel a little old.

I really enjoy Facebook and have been able to get caught up with a few people I knew through selling Avon a few years ago or from my Physical Therapy, or from the Lufkin Daily newspaper. Facebook is nice and casual and right now I am following my sister-in-law and niece's travels to Singapore and beyond. So I have old friends, a few relatives and new friends.

Today, our local television station, KTRE sent a message that they are following me on Twitter! Hmm. Now the bar is raised.

KTRE caught us one Valentine's Day, at Election time, when I became a citizen . . . hmm . . . what am I doing now that is really interesting?

I see they have a person now in charge of their website. I get a lot of updates from their website, generally after first seeing a prompt on Twitter.

So, well, that means, if they like some topic I'm writing about . . . guess they will come here and see what I am on about tonight.

How we communicate and how we get our news is changing. I try to make good use of the computer to know what is going on and then make up my mind as to what I'd like to investigate further.

As for social networking, well, as I've said, I've made new friends and found older ones. I used to do a lot of letter writing and I know people really enjoy getting real mail but it is very time consuming not to mention the increasing postal rates. Even more, especially to Canada, regular mail takes a long time. On the computer, news is instant! (Yes, I know that's more stressful, that that is how life is lived these days and we seniors hate to fall behind!)

One person has already done a magazine article on social networking and she put me in there. It was a good article even if she did refer to me as a senior! I really don't mind that because I like for people to know that Hubby and I try to keep up with current things. (You have that point, now - don't you?)

Well, KTRE - welcome to my followers on Twitter. Of course, this means that I will have to raise the bar to make my posts interesting for you to want to see!

Now, KTRE - you just keep those Weather Forecasts and News Bulletins coming to my Twitter and my e-mail inbox.

By the way, later this week, if you think you see a pretty, dimpled news reporter with long black hair who lives in Raleigh now, you are not seeing things . . . she'll be here in Lufkin for a few days. She'll probably be checking out some of our great restaurants. Just remember to say, "Hi Jessica!"

Remember The Name: Scott McIntyre

Haven't followed American Idol other than what I read about winners like Carrie Underwood who is doing so well. There are a few others who I know have either competed or won the contest but this round is the first time I have been watching and following to any degree.

I think everyone is taken by Scott McIntyre. He is a melodic singer and very attractive. He also plays the piano and (as we learned last night) guitar. He comes across as a very gentle person and that may be a problem for today.

Scott is blind but one soon learns he does not "use" his impairment but rather tries to make you forget it. Last night in his endeavor to show his versatility, he did play the guitar, standing - not sitting on a stool - and he played it fine. The problem was that in his endeavor to make us see him as "unimpaired" and standing alone in the middle of a stage, he steps out of his comfort zone. In doing that, I think Scott - who picked a song I did not know with a few high notes to reach - did not reach those notes very well. I know from my own singing - pretty much limited to church choir and duets with Hubby - that I have to be relaxed and comfortable to easily reach the high notes.

I didn't think Scott was truly comfortable last night and did not sing as smoothly as he usually does. Last week, he was superb and the panel felt so too. He was at the piano which he has played since he was very young and was totally at ease.

Although they tell us to stretch ourselves to do better, perhaps last night was not the night to do that. Scott should have stuck with what made the judges happy last week.

If I were in the biz, I would pick up Scott in a New York minute because he is just so very pleasant as well as being attractive and low-key. I am sure someone will retain him and I think he will do very well.

Let's hope so because we need a few nice ballads and a little melody in our lives. Good luck to you, Scott!

american idol.com

We Will Pray For The Children

(Children Playing On The Beach . . . Mary Cassat)

Children should be carefree. Girls should be able to play and imagine and talk to their dolls. Boys pretend they are cowboys. I don't know much about cowboys but I do know about dolls and how much, as an only child, my dolls meant to me. I would dress them and talk to them and pretend they were real people. One was Beth and one was Sally.

I had a little car that I could pedal down the sidewalk with my feet. My hair was blond and Mother put little barrettes to keep it out of my eyes. There were no worries.

Pretty dresses and lovely big hair bows . . . that's what little girls should have. They have pretty pink bedrooms and parents who love them! There's a table to draw on and crayons and markers and singing and dancing and pretending whatever they want. They should play hopscotch and watch cartoons.

So, why are two little girls - both little more than four - why are they going to hospitals tomorrow? Why are their hearts not as healthy as we wish they would be?

Why are their parents looking so sad? They just want the best for their girls - to be healthy and happy. See how the parents put on a smile and look for something special to do with them?

Now the children are in bed and the Mothers are crying. They wonder why this is happening. It seemed like their daughter was doing so well . . . what has gone wrong? Did we do everything we could?

So, you and I pray and ask our friends to pray. Children are God's precious gift to us and most of us get to raise them and then we get to watch their children and perhaps even their children . . .

Why do things go wrong? Why do bad things happen to innocent little children?

You know and I know that we have no answer for this.

We know we have to place these children in God's hands and we pray that he will guide the doctors so they can use their skills to help these little girls to health.

Jesus loves the little children, all the little children of the world . . . When you can barely speak, try to hum this wonderful hymn everyone knows. Then pray some more for Kyla and Sarah.