Wednesday Diet Wisdom: Don’t Get Dressed in the Dark

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So today I had my bra on inside out and my pants on backwards!

I was dressing in the dark so hubby might sleep.

I felt this was an analogy for not eating blind.

You need to shed light on your nutrition and your physical condition.

I am sticking to my calorie-tracking, never exceeding 1450 calories a day, and raising my metabolism by weight-lifting and cardio.

My pants are feeling looser and this week I found my good measuring tape.

Good measuring tape

I plan to fill in my measurements chart tonight with the help of my husband. It always helps to have someone measure you. But, you can also do it by yourself.

Stats

Just like knowing your weight and size, (and how to get properly dressed,) knowing your calories and nutrition is important for weight reduction and getting healthier.

Plan your work and work your plan and do it for yourself!

Food and focus go hand in hand.

Eat right. Feel right. Look right. Dress right!!! 🙂❤

Focus on good food

P.S. All diet advice by me is my opinion and does not reflect on any professional advice. Lose weight at your own risk.

Singing with Hubby on stage last night

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Last night our outdoor concert was moved indoors because of an excessive heat warning.

Temperatures were in the high 90’s. It was 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36.11 degrees Celsius) at 7pm, the time when we were supposed to be outside at the park to perform.

Happily, we got to perform indoors, on stage, at the local community center.

Loading up all the equipment was not too bad.

Teamwork and a dolly

I didn’t know if I wanted to dress up or style my hair.

So I just did the easy thing and pulled back my hair.

Ready to sing!

When we got to the venue, the Park and Rec director was there to open doors, turn on the lights and assist us.

She called Maddie O’Connor, a high school senior and fit athlete, to help lift and carry in our heavy speakers and other heavy equipment.

Maddie is a great lifter. She lifts weights, plays hockey, softball and basketball.

The performance venue was changed from German Park to the community center. People began to trickle in.

We eventually had a good-sized audience in spite of the heat outside!

I was a little distracted by all the people coming in at the beginning of show so I kind of got off track during our first number.

Here is a recording of our show last night.

https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/y5JeC

Lots of nostalgic songs, but very fun to perform!

Hubby sent me this to make me laugh 😍

On the Tube: College Capers

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Be_Very,_Very_Popular

I recorded an on-demand silly yet fabulous film on YouTube TV starring Betty Grable.

When the movie works, it’s great.

This movie is involved with a hypnotized vulnerable exotic dancer and her friend who wind up in a fraternity, while they run away from a bald killer.

It is really funny in places, and the dance segments are phenomenal.

You have a college man, who ends up staying in college for 17 years.

I don’t want to do all the work for you, but if you like comedy mixed with hijinx you will totally like this film

The nice thing is that it is NOT a musical with dreaming and singing with invisible orchestras, so it seems cooler than that.

I hope you give it a glance if you want to laugh at people getting bonked on the head with a detached mannequin’s arm.

Car Watch: Mustang GT

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American automobile Ford Mustang

It’s a very hot day!

Solar-powered waterfall

Time to “pony” up a hot car, The Mustang GT.

https://www.motortrend.com/features/what-does-gt-mean-on-cars-where-did-it-come-from/

Convertible Mustang GT

The Mustang has a long history.

Find out more here:

https://youtu.be/vBJODV_tyDA

Grand Touring

Ode to my Catalpa Tree

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My Beautiful Mature Catalpa Tree

In my back yard there are lovely blossoms scattered all around my Catalpa tree.

Under my Catalpa

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalpa

I sat under the tree inspired to write some poetry.

Catalpa blossoms
Gorgeous fruit pod and blossoms of the Catalpa tree
Heart-shaped leaves

This is what I came up with.

“Ode to My Catalpa Tree.”

By Amy Zents

“Showering Spring flowers sail off my Catalpa tree,

Bearing pods that hang like handmade jewelry.

A tree so stunning beyond compare,

Your heart-shaped leaves so lovely,

Make me stop and stare!”

Lovely State of Bloom

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Hubby with a lovely  peony

Our beautiful peonies were in a lovely state of bloom for only 2 or 3 days.

At first the blossoms looked very promising while they were in the bud.

Then one morning we stepped out in the backyard and saw the beautiful peonies in full bloom.

Gorgeous Peonies
Light pink
Fuchsia-coloured Peony

We were so happy to behold the stunning pink flowers!

But, then we got a storm. There was a lot of wind and rain.

The next morning there appeared to be a rusty edge on the blooms.

We simply accepted the results and went on as usual.

Sadly, today there is little left of our three day blossoms in their lovely state of bloom.

But, I admit they were inspiring and glorious while they lasted.

We look forward to seeing them again next Spring!

Worn and weathered flowers
Lovely State of Bloom

Thankful for Starlink

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Home satellite receiver

So today the local Xfinity Internet was down all over town.

But not at our house.

Why?

Starlink!

https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/starlink-satellite-internet-explained/

Thank you hubby for your foresight. Thank you Elon Musk and your satellite stations too!

No place like home

Wednesday Diet Wisdom: What They Don’t Tell You

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Food and drink are only two parts of the weightloss puzzle. There is more to it.

It’s amazing how many things contribute to your health and fitness.

For one thing, consider your metabolism.

Some people can digest certain foods better than others. Some people can burn more calories than other people can.

For those in the Western world, our high-fat and high-carb SAD (standard American diet) is the harbinger of many terrible diseases.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925443908001828#:~:text=Abstract,%2C%20metabolic%20syndrome%2C%20and%20diabetes.

Drastic dieting doesn’t help either.

Besides being unsustainable, your body might slow down your BMR (basal metabolic rate) because it’s afraid you are going to quit eating altogether. Then it will be really hard to lose weight.

The best way to increase your metabolic weight is exercise.

No one tells you about your fat mass, skeletal muscle, viseral fat, or bone mass among other physical metrics that affect your health.

You are a chemical marvel, and your body is an amazing and organic, ever-changing, ever-responsive constant companion who should be loved and cared for as long as you live.

Regardless of your shape and size, educating yourself about how your unique body is composed and how it reacts to nutrients and nourishments is vital.

I am still counting calories and I am beginning to lift weights to improve my BMR and get stronger, among other things.

Weight-training is great for overall health.

There is so much they haven’t told you about your wonderful self.

Take care of your body, support it, love it, nourish it and exercise it and your body will take care of you in amazing ways, especially as you get older!

I may not be skinny yet, but I love life and I love my amazing body now that I have learned more about it, and how to care better for it!

P.S. All diet advice by me is my opinion and does not reflect on any professional advice. Lose weight at your own risk.

Music in the Park

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Over the summer our Park and Rec department puts on free Monday evening concerts in the park.

The Wildflowers all-woman trio performed at night .
Fun for the kiddies

Almost every Monday hubby and I go there to either listen or to perform.

In fact, next Monday night hubby and I will be performing our free concert there.

My music duo Molly and Sonny Boy

Yes it is hot and sunny this time of year, but hopefully, we’ll have a nice breeze like there was last night. Although it is predicted to be 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.78 Celsius when we come on to perform next Monday night!

The MC is my KNUJ boss, Brian

Once again 7pm in German Park, Monday June 20, 2022!

It may get hot or be relocated to the Community Center at 600 N. German, but we’ll have a lot of fun either way!

Here we are with an original sing we composed.

https://youtu.be/kpUAj3OrpYk

On the Tube: My Favourite Marple

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Humorous Detective

Who doesn’t just love Agatha Christie?

When life gets rather stressful, I often binge on Poirot and Miss Marple episodes found for free online, or recorded on a streaming service.

Last night, we watched Helen Hayes play Miss Marple on a “Caribbean Mystery

https://youtu.be/6GmxYWyceSM

Then we watched Julia Mckenzie playing Miss Marple in the same story.

https://youtu.be/e4DeZB1ubro

I also enjoy watching Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple, and I’ve seen all the Marple episodes with Joan Hickson, who began playing the amateur detective at age 78 .

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-joan-hickson-1179235.html

Angela Landsbury played Miss Marple and a few others, but based on all my views of Marple movies and broadcasts, I like Margaret Rutherford best.

Maybe it was her bumbling behavior or her sidekick real-life husband Stringer Davis who joined her in her exploits, but there is nothing like the influential eloquence of Ms. Rutherford as Miss Marple!

Acrually, Rutherford was a friend of author Agatha Christie and because of that she probably had an advantage!

https://youtu.be/FG-ZO26pnE8