Recently in About Me Category

I don't know if most people would put these two together, but for me they do go together. Music has always been a big part of my life. No, I'm not musical in anyway, but I love to hear music and feel it. I LOVE to dance, but don't do it very often. Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love to dance, especially with friends. Right Anita!

I recently took a trip to Alabama to see Pauline and other friends. It was nice to get away and I LOVE the south. I'm definitely a southern girl in my heart, even though I was raised in the North. It was a wonderful trip filled with lots of visiting, laughing and some crying too. This is what normally happens when we get together. One of the strangest things about this trip for me was the travel to and back...

I left San Jose on March 17th my flight left at 6 am. I really don't like flying very much at all and would prefer to drive everywhere I go, but unfortunately sometimes it's just not possible. I was on a small airplane, but I didn't mind, because I always book an isle seat. When on walks a tall man 6'6" or so with a big barrel chest. Right behind him was a younger man about 24 and about the same height, a bit smaller but definitely a large guy by most standards. With them was a young man about my height, probably 12 or 13 and he to was built very solidly. I want you to know when I say big, I mean very solid not over weight. The older man and the youngest boy sat behind me and the 24 ish year old was my seat mate.

We introduced ourselves and I thought that would be that, because I wanted to nap. But I could tell he was nervous. I asked him if he he'd traveled much and he said that he did, but he didn't like little planes. So we started visiting. George and I had a wonderful time, we talked about where we were going, what we were going to do once we got there. We talked about where we lived, which he lives about 10 miles from where I live. We talked about work. He works here in Morgan Hill. It was one of my most enjoyable flights! He was such a sweetheart.

As I boarded my flight in Salt Lake to come back to San Jose, I was making my way back to my seat and I heard a voice call my name and it was my friend George. The funniest thing is we were seated next to each other again. Different side of the airplane and different rows from last time. I didn't even know when he was flying back. We were both shocked and happy. I was happy because I was seated next to him my friend instead of the two men that were flirting with me from my last flight. They had asked me to trade seats with one of their seat mates so we could "talk" more. Not that I was seated by them on the last flight, thankfully, but I had run into them in the isle a few times. I like to get up and stretch on flights. But when they saw I knew George my seat mate, they left me alone. Yeah!

I think it's pretty amazing that we were on the same flight and that we were seat mates again. I haven't had an opportunity to go to Starbucks and see my friend yet but I hope to later in the week. Another funny thing is that when I put on my headphones and was listening to a little music (sometimes I listen to it pretty load), he laughed because he had the same songs. Small world isn't it!

So now I have a new good friend, George...

We recently went on a Disney cruise to Nassau, Castaway Cay (Disney's private Island) and then had a day at sea. We boarded the ship on Feb. 14 and disembarked about 9:00 am on Feb. 18. Our first night we had about 6 ft waves and it made a few in our party feel a bit under the weather. Even I felt a bit queasy now and again. When we awoke we were in beautiful Nassau the weather was a bit warmer probably upper 60's maybe 71. The Bahamians were all wearing there fleece and pretty much everyone who left the ship were in shorts. Such tourists.. LOL! Everyone in our party had an activity to do. I fortunately was the photographer for the dolphin group. Julie, Charlie and Matt were able to get in the water with some beautiful creatures who were very happy to see them. My favorite was that all the dolphins were there only because of injury and were being well cared for. A couple of them really liked having their picture taken. It was wonderful to interact with them through my camera..

Castaway Cay was our next day. It was overcast, windy and raining off and on in the morning. By midday the sun had come out, it was still pretty windy but at least it wasn't miserable. We went to the beautiful beach and I left on my clothes. It was just too cold for me to set foot in the water or anything. Now the boys did go swimming and were met in the water by several stingrays that would swim past just to check them out. Of course it freaked them out along with the grownups in the water. Not me I was safe on dry land just watching them coast by.

Our day at sea was nice. They turned the ship south and traveled a bit further into the Bahamas to try to give us warmer weather and calmer seas. I personally still wore my jacket the whole day. I didn't get much sun at all on our cruise. I stayed very covered and warm. They boys seemed to have a great day at sea, by this day they all had made lots of friends and enjoyed playing with them when ever they could. Before dinner we turned back north and headed for shore. We had fairly rough seas 16ft waves, but by the time we hit the worst of it mostly everyone was asleep of course except me.

We had to disembark early in the morning so we had a quick breakfast with our wonderful waitstaff and went ashore. Where we were greeted by more Disney people who put us on a bus to go to our hotel. We stayed at Disney's Coronado Springs resort. Well the next three days were spent walking Disney's many theme parks.

I don't know if it was because of my Celiac or because I'm skinny, which ever it was our waitstaff insisted on bringing me two entrees and two desserts sometimes. I felt obligated to eat at least part of them and was dreading the scale. But thankfully nothing gained, and nothing lost. So I was even....Wooo Hooo!

Most people hate to hear me say that I'm getting in shape or that I have to lose weight, because I'm a good size already. By comparison to most, I'm pretty small. I'm not going to go on and on about how much I want to lose or anything else. Because we all know what will happen, I will hear you don't need to lose any weight, you're not fat, what I would give to have your body etc.... But I'm not where I want to be.. That is that. I have set goals that I want to achieve, and am working my way to them.

My main goal right now is toning. To tone you actually have to burn excess fat and turn it into muscle. Burning fat is the hard part. To burn fat you have to take in less calories than you use on a daily basis.  I have had 3 children, not to mention they were big babies by most peoples standards. This stretches the skin making it easier for most of us women to just say I'll never look as good as I once did so why try. Well I don't think like that.

So what does that mean for me. I have been exercising almost every day for about two weeks now. I walk/ run anywhere from 2 to 4 miles, plus I use the bike at the gym, for a couple more miles and spend some time on the machines sculpting. I have cut my calorie intake way down, by watching portions, by eating much smarter and counting those calories.

I love the way I feel when I exercise, I always have. Not only the endorphins that my body releases, but I love the physical exertion. As I start a rep the feeling of my muscles contracting and relaxing, the burn that can only be felt as your muscles tear in order to let new cells form. I love the feeling when walking, of forcing myself to just keep going faster, and feel the muscles in my legs burn until you reach that plateau where it is easy again for a while. It is something that no one can describe to you, you just have to feel it yourself, it takes me to my happy place....I know strange, but I love it!

Yes, I have exercised off and on pretty much most of my adult life, whether lifting weights, power walking or classes. I'm glad that I have because I feel good about myself. I may not be the sexiest person out there, but I'm comfortable in my own skin. Does that mean I like to put on a swim suit and strut around for everyone to see, no it doesn't. But I at least put it on.

On the other side of exercising. I have 3 older sisters Judy, Marcia, and Helen. Helen is 3 years older than I am, she had her first heart attack at 25, yes I said 25, she had a triple bypass. A few years ago she had a pacemaker put in, today she is on the heart transplant list. Marcia had her first heart attack about 4 years ago, she is I think 4 years older than me, she might be 5 years. Judy well we wont go into all of Judy's conditions, they are far to many to name.

After Marcia had her heart attack, I was talking to my doctor Dick Swartz. He used to be a very well known heart surgeon before an accident that left him unable to operate, so he became a family doctor. He is also a very dear friend of mine. He contacted a friend who was a heart surgeon and sent me in for some test, echocardiogram, stress test and who knows what else, I was there for hours. I wont go into how gorgeous this doctor was, but he was fine ladies. Before I left he told me that I had the heart of a 25 year old and to keep doing whatever it was that I was doing. Quite the pickup line I thought!

So if for no other reason, we should exercise for our health....Even if you don't want to put on a swimsuit.

Today I needed to run to Target to get a few things, mainly moisturizer for my face. I need one with more SPF, the one that I currently have only has 15 and I wanted more. I like it when people think I'm younger than I really am and I'd like to keep it that way.

I walked around put a few items in my cart that I needed and went to look at the moisturizers, man there are a lot of them. Some pretty pricey! I found one that had SPF 30 so I thought this is the one. I also found a coupon for it on the self so I was happy.

I walked up to the register to pay for my items and started a conversation with the older checkout lady. I laughed and said I hope that cream works, when I handed her the coupon. She started telling me she is 71 years old and started listing all the face work she has had done. Her eyes, a face lift, and her forehead (which was cut from one side to the other). I have to say I wouldn't have guessed she was 71, she looked great and didn't even look like she had any surgery done. You know how peoples faces looked pulled, hers didn't. Her forehead was flatter than mine.

She did tell me that if she could lose 50 pounds she would have a tummy tuck, but didn't know if she would be able to do that.

She gave me the name of her Doctor. I didn't ask for it, I guess she thought I needed it!!!!. LOL! She even wrote it down for me. Then she informed me that he is in Southern California. To Bad!

I hope next time I go to Target I can see my new friend!

Right now I am so thankful that I had the training that I did in my karate classes. Not only did Jon teach me so many great self defense methods, he also taught me how to be aware of my surroundings. I think that might have made all the difference in my life today.

A few weeks ago there was a rape in Morgan Hill. A woman was out running and was attacked. I always watch around me especially when I'm alone, but with that news I have been much more aware. Today it was close to the end of my walk/run. I usually do about 2 to 3 miles. I was in a remote part of the neighborhood, where there are no houses currently. To my left, past a ditch, a small park like area is a road, to my right a field area and in front of me ditch, field and fence. I saw a white Suburban slow down on the road to my left and the next thing I saw he was on the road across the field to my right from me. I acted like I didn't notice and kept walking towards one of the roads at the far end of the remote area. Then they turned onto the road that led straight to me and nowhere else. In my head I was thinking, "if I can get to the end of this street before he gets too close I can get across the field to the houses." So I kept on walking but much faster and they kept approaching slowly. By the time they turned on the street that was nearest to me I was half way across the field and almost to safety. They sped up and I ran and was all the way to the street by the time they reached the end of the road. They quickly turned around and went back the way they came. By the time they were able to get back out, I was on a neighborhood street with houses, cars and people. They stopped at the stop sign and watched me and then went the other direction. They turned down a side street and I went full throttle home. I knew some men were working on a house across the park in front of my house and there are usually people walking dogs in that park. We have two parks in our neighborhood. So I knew if I could at least get close to my house someone would hear or see. Thankfully I didn't see them again.

So I guess no more exercising by myself for awhile. Too bad--I was really enjoying those endorphins.

I can't believe it's New Years Eve and on the threshold of a new year. The past year has held so many changes for me. With the biggest and hardest for me, being our move to California. Most people who know me, know I'm a pretty level headed person. At least most of the time, there are a few gray areas, but all in all I try to be. I am finally starting to adjust to living in California. Do I like it yet? NO! I feel completely out of place here.

It's hard to go to the grocery store and ask a question. Either they can't understand you or you can't understand them.

The other issue is the smells. Man, does it sometime smell awful around here! I have an exaggerated sense of smell so everything that most people smell is stronger and worse for me. We have mushroom farms and garlic farms and who knows about the other farms that I haven't even experienced yet. We live in a small town just south of San Jose and I LOVE the area because it's not so cramped, and less of a big city. It is an oasis and it feels perfect except for the smells.

As for the California weather that I had heard so much about. Most of the time it is foggy, cloudy and or rainy. The sun does show more than it would in Ohio right now, but I've been told that right now it is the rainy season. So I'm still waiting for all the gorgeous weather.

I never had any desire to move to California and anyone who knows me knows why. Lets say it together E A R T H Q U A K E S ! Thankfully I haven't felt one, but I don't relax about it either.

Other than our move the year had been a good one for us. We all were pretty healthy and happy. Except of course the boys when they didn't get their way. I asked David if he wanted us to go on the strictest parents television show, but he declined. He always tells me how grateful he is that he has a cool Mom and that he is just a teenager, he is supposed to complain.

So with the new year in front of me, I say a prayer thanking for the past and one for the future also.

As you know I am not much of a reader until I find a book or a series that totally captures me and then I am lost. So after watching the movie Becoming Jane. A few friends and I decided to read a Jane Austen book before we watched the Jane Austen Book Club, so we picked Persuasion. I loved the book, but only after reading the first 20 pages and then putting it down for weeks. Then I had to speed read it in only a few days before it was time to get together to talk about it. It took me until I was on about page 100 to really grasp who was who and who was related and how. After our lunch and discussion we decided to do another. Jennifer and I decided that we really wanted to read Pride and Prejudice so that was the next book I was to read. Knowing it to be a long book I decided that I would take my time and not rush. I love the movie Pride and Prejudice and have watched it many times so I was very curious to know where this book would take me. I have now finished the book and I have to say I see why they call it a classic. I think it is the best Love story I have ever read. You can feel the chemistry between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy from the very beginning of the book. I must say that I truly enjoyed reading Persuasion but Pride and Prejudice surpassed my expectations beyond measure. I dare say I might have to read more of Jane Austen. You know, I will let you know what I think of the different books and then the movies because I will have to watch them all.

I was ready for a New Year. November and December seemed to fly by and yet seemed to last forever. We lost Paul's grandfather at the beginning of December, which was hard on all of us, but especially the boys. They seem to have gotten back to a sort of normality, each still struggling and dealing in their own way. I've learned a few things about myself also in the last few months. Sometimes rocks even crumble every once in a while. So I am grateful for a brand new year; here's praying that it will be a smoother one for our family than the latter part of last year.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

I personally love this movie. I have watched it several times and enjoy watching it so much. In the beginning I really didn't think that Mr. Darcy was all that cute but by the end of the movie you can't help but thinking he is the most gorgeous man alive. I love the setting of the movie, with all the old houses and large gardens. Last time Pauline was here for a visit I had her watch it and she liked it also. She said the same thing about Mr. Darcy; that in the beginning he was OK and in the end that he grew on you. I have this one in my collection and know that I will watch it again and again. It's a must-see for all you girls out there.

As some of you know we recently had a very tragic accident in our family. My father-in-law was killed in a motorcycle accident. He loved riding and being with his family and he was doing both at the time of the accident. He was a wonderful man and father and I will miss him more than I can express. My own father died when I was only nine and Dave was my father for more than 16 years. He was the only father that I truly knew. I am truly thankful that everyone was together at the time he passed. As hard as it was it was a little easier knowing that we were all keeping each other strong. Some of my favorite times were early in the morning when we were visiting and he would be up, and so would I. Sometimes we talked and sometimes we didn't and it didn't matter. I am glad that he knew how each of us felt about him and we knew how he felt about us. It shall take a long time for the pain that we all feel to ease, but I am grateful to know that I will see him again and that he is up there watching out for all of us.

Thank you to all those who have done so much for our family.

So, this past July I turned the big 40! I must say it was a little hard to accept that I was actually the age that I used to think was ancient. As you can imagine, in the weeks and months beforehand I did a lot of soul searching and thinking about my life. The main thing that I think I came to is that I am pretty happy with where I am and how my life has turned out. I have a wonderful, very loving husband and three wonderful boys. Are they perfect? No, but guess what-- neither am I. I have a few regrets but who doesn't? I wish I knew then what I know now. I wish that I would have stayed in college and finished, or at least gone back when I was much younger, but I didn't. So now as I decide when and if I will go back to finish, it is a little daunting. I wish that I would have said "thank you" more often than I did. I have had people ask me what my midlife crisis is going to be. I personally do not see myself as a midlife crisis person. but I recently started karate and I guess right now that is my midlife crisis.

I started this blog over a year ago and really didn't have a clue what I was doing. I did have some pretty specific ideas of what I wanted and didn't want. The good news is I think we have it almost the way that I hoped it would be, thanks to the hard work of my sweet husband, who wrote me a special program to rotate the pictures at the top every time you click on "The World according to Arlene" and every time the page is reloaded. If you click on the picture it will bring it to full size. For a while I was not able to load new pictures because I didn't know how and there was no easy way for me to do it. But now with some special magical computer knowledge, my husband has devised a way for me to add new pictures, and the highlighted words in the different entries will take you to other sites with more information. I hope that you will take some time and just explore.