Exercise makes me hungry

I had the kiddie pool to myself at the gym this morning. I watched the water aerobics senior ladies doing their exercises in the lap lanes, and I did mine in the lazy river. I walked, hopped, and even skipped against the strong current. I did knee and leg bends, arm exercizes; I even boxed the water with hands submerged (try this strenuous exercise.) After forty-five minutes in the pool, I'd worked out and also worked up an appetite. It's a never ending vicious cycle. Doc says, "Move it or lose it." If only it worked this way: Eat it and lose it. I'm going to munch something healthy before I devour that oatmeal raisin cookie calling my name.

Don't forget, if you are looking for something fun to do this weekend, head to Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, MO tomorrow. Dianna Graveman and her husband and co author, Don, will be signing their book Missouri Wine Country from St. Charles to Hermann, from 11:00-1:00. It's grape stomping time!

Assurances and connections

We are on day nine of no home computer, but the friendly fellow in the India call center assured us, "You are right, it IS the modem, and it is in the mail." Halleluia! I am assured that I will finally be able to submit those eight stories/poems before the month expires. I will soon be connected again.

I am thinking of other assurances. I feel so blessed in the morning when I see the sun rise. I am assured that I have another day on this earth to try to forgive, (those dummies in the call center and the annoying girl at the library and the older sleeping man sitting across from me who startled himself and ME when he loudly farted).

I am assured that I have the opportunity to make someone's day by listening,
laughing and smiling. I am assured that I make a difference when I go to see my two year old granddaughter and she squeals, "My nana, my nana's here!" And my eight year old grandson asks me if I can help him write story and he prefers to sit with me than play outside with his friends. And better yet, my sometimes sweet, sometimes moody daughter-in-law asked me, "When are you going to help me write MY life story?" I was so touched by her request. I know my writing makes a difference.

I am assured that life will go on without me, but while I am here, I feel I should make the most of every day that is given to me. So on that note, I want to say, I appreciate all of you. You make my day. When I see a response to a post, I rejoice. When I read your blogs I feel as though I am sitting in your kitchen. I am assured that despite the lack of computer, we are all connected. Have a great day and write on!

Stomp on over to Stone Hill Winery where Don and Dianna Graveman will be signing books

Don and Dianna Graveman will be signing their book, Missouri Wine Country, from St. Charles to Hermann, (Arcadia Publishing) at Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, Missouri. Whether you are into stomping or just staring at the stompers, be sure to stop by and check out the Graveman's book this Saturday during registration for the annual grape stomp from 11:00 - 1:00 pm. This book is rich with local history and photographs, a treasure for family and friends.

Still waiting

If you've ever cursed at a computer, molly coddled it with sweet words, pleaded or slapped the crap out of it, then you can only imagine what I have felt for the last few days. It gets worse. I am at the public library and have been trying desperatly to sign on to blogger, and finally, now that my minutes are about to expire, I am able to. And I forgot what I wanted to write about. Maybe it's the frustration of having a teenaged girl sitting next to me singing along with the song on her head phones. Dirty looks aren't stopping her mumblings, ranting back at her emails etc. Maybe I do need to slap something.

Anyway,oh, I know, I have published a book. Actually I wrote a book for an 83 year old woman who was one of the first settlers in the small Alaska town where I lived in 1969-70. So it is not my creative work, actually SHE published it. It is an As Told To biography. Book title and ISBN # and Amazon info should be available when I receive the book by mail this week. Another thing I am waiting for! Computer part AND book. More details. Hopefully the next time I blog, it will be on my own computer with my own crazy noises, not this nut's sitting next to me. Love and miss ya'll.

Computer problems

That little four inch square box has been driving me crazy for two weeks. My DSL power supply to the computer finally croaked last Thursday, so it is on back order and should be in next week. Until then, or if I get back to this library, I won't be blogging much. Miss you and will have great pictures to post when I do get back on line. Miss you all.

Water aerobics aren't for me

I wrote this last year, and silly me! I'm going back again today.

I've Had My Fill of Exercise
Linda O'Connell(c)

I joined a gym this morning; I rode the stationary bike,
until Barbie sat down beside me, and gave me a look I didn’t like.

So, I walked over to the treadmill and kept a steady pace.
After just one mile, I was sweaty and red in the face.

My boobs were bouncing wildly, my belly keeping time;
I hit the speed up button and nearly landed on my behind.

I hurried to the ladies room, feeling like a fool.
I spied a class of women exercising in the pool.

Aha! I said delighted, and opened up my locker,
I slipped into my swimsuit; man that was a shocker!

I couldn’t believe that bimbo standing right there in my mirror.
My tiny little swim skirt didn’t cover half my rear.

I made my way to the edge of the pool, got brave and dropped my towel.
I swear I heard that teenaged life guard let out a little yowl.

The aquatics instructor smiled, “Come in; the water’s fine.”
I heard some whispering women comparing theirs, to my behind.

“Okay ladies,” the instructor said. “Pull your partner up and down the lane.”
I headed to the lazy river; water aerobics looked insane.

Second lap around the bend a woman shouted, “Watch out for my noodle!”
I’d had my fill of exercise, so I headed home to eat my apple strudel.

Grant's Farm

Zoo animals are ambassadors for their cousins in the wild. ~ Jack Hannah

It was a day just like today, miserably hot and humid, temperature soaring to 100. I took my grandson Austin, then ten years old, on an outing to Grant's Farm, the 281 acre ancestral home of the Busch Family (Anheuser-Busch beer) where they once lived in the 'castle'. Gussie Busch travelled 20 miles on rutted dirt roads from the brewery to Grant's Farm, his palatial country estate, which was named after Ulysses S. Grant, who founded and farmed part of the land. The Busch family had a love of animals and turned part of the estate into a mini zoo, which has always been free and open to the public. Parking now costs, but it is possible to park elsewhere and hike a nearby flat trail to the entrance. We are so blessed to have this always- packed tourist attraction five minutes from our house.

Visitors ride a tram around the lakes and grounds where they encounter free-roaming zebras, deer, bison. There are over 100 species of animals housed there. The mini zoo has baby goats that children can feed with baby bottles and ice cream cones filled with pellets. There are giant tortoises, monkeys, baby bears and many other critters. There are also elephant and bird shows. It is a delightful place.

On that sweltering day that I took Austin, I had just stopped to purchase a large soda for him. He took one sip, saw the camels at the fence and walked over for a close encounter. Two seconds later, a camel snatched Austin's drink, threw its
head back and chugged every last drop of Mountain Dew, then dropped the paper cup on the ground at Austin's feet. It happened so quickly, and the astonished look on my grandson's face made me laugh out loud, and then he laughed, and we ended up laughing all day about that crazy camel.

When my daughter, Austin's mom was five, she had an up close encounter with a llama. She walked too close to the fence and the llama reached over the fence and took a plug of her hay-colored hair.

Did you ever feed peanuts to an elephant, leaves to a giraffe? Any personal interaction with a zoo animal?