Just as I walked into the great room, I heard the person on TV saying: “Get the body you want.” Until that instant I thought I already had the body I wanted. But now curious, I couldn’t rest until I obtained information on getting a different body. So I decided to find out how much the body I might really want would cost. The choices offered ranged from a well-toned body to a celebrity body, and I was assured that I could have a face that would be aesthetically balanced, visually stunning, radiant, and youthful. The word “youthful” kept me searching.
The first step to getting a new body requires a gym membership and personal trainer. I partially lucked out there. My health insurance springs for a membership in Silver Sneakers®, and at the facility were I’m a member I have access to all kinds of body toning equipment that I have no idea how to use. No personal trainer, though. But I’m good with Google, so I think I can probably do the personal trainer bit via the internet. No cost.
A diet plan is also a requirement for getting a new body. I had heard that Dr. Oz promotes a one-day diet. I liked the sound of that, so I checked it out. Unfortunately, my research uncovered a ruse. Every day is day one of the diet. I used to entice my kids with that same kind of incentive until they attained the age of – well, maybe two. The diet plan I really like includes a chef and meals delivered to my door for only $40 a day. I’m sure I can slip that little sum right past Hubby’s watchful eye without him even noticing!
The third step to acquiring a new body is what I now call the “buff and bedeck” step. I was sure this part of my new body would be reasonably priced. However, I found that not to be the case. At a minimum, “buff” requires seventeen different products. Eight of these products are just for the face. And now that I know I should have been using all of these products rather than relying just on my 99 44/100% pure bar, I’m no longer shocked that I totally look my age.
While “buff” products remove all skin cells that are not essential for survival, “bedeck” products conceal any facial skin that has miraculously avoided obliteration. Not surprisingly, all “bedeck” products must be removed nightly with a whole different collection of “buff” products.
Net shopping for what would be considered fair quality “buff” and “bedeck” products, and not even taking into consideration suggested cologne, perfume, body mists, wrinkle removers, and sunscreen, I came up with a total of $425 to design a new body starter kit.
I’ve been thinking about how new body shopping could be made much easier for others than it has been for me. Therefore, I plan to design a business model for a Full Image New Body Shopping Center. Included will be a gym complete with swimming pool and trainers, a beauty salon, a nail salon, a spa, a buff shop next door to a bedeck shop, a supermarket style diet center for shopping diet options, a health food store, a vitamin shop, a perfumery and, at the very center of the mall, an “if all else fails” anchor store for plastic surgery and cosmetic dentistry. Any investors out there?
25.4.11
Snow On Easter
When I think about Easter lots of images come to mind. Snow is not one of them. The weather forecasters did give us fair warning when they told us last week that the Easter Bunny might need snowshoes here in the Pikes Peak region. But, having once read a disclaimer in the Indianapolis Star that said, “Weather predicted more than one day in the future is strictly for entertainment purposes,” I chose to ignore the forecast and looked forward with enthusiasm to a beautiful, sunny Easter.
There was no indication that the Easter Bunny stopped at my house. I hope that was just an oversight and totally unrelated to the whole “being good” thing connected with Santa’s arrival to fill my stocking at Christmastime. But, even though I didn’t see the Easter Bunny or his little tracks, I have to assume that he wore his snowshoes in order to keep his paws from freezing.
While the snowfall where I live up next to the foothills was light, some areas of our city got up to three inches, and in the mountains there was much more. The positive to having snow on Easter is that we needed the moisture to help with the prevention of wild fires. An indication of how desperate we are for moisture was underscored a couple of weeks ago when the weather person on the channel I was watching exuberantly reported, “On my way to work this evening, I saw a couple of raindrops on my windshield.”
From my observation, it did not appear that the mindset of people who attend church on Easter had changed much because of our inclement weather. One might think people would get their winter coats back out in an effort to keep warm. Not so! I did not see a single person wearing a coat as they came in to our all-church Easter breakfast. The mind over matter attitude prevailed. If we believed it was a beautiful, warm Easter day, then it was a beautiful, warm Easter day.
As always, the kiddos looked adorable in their new Easter outfits. One little gal wore a stunning sheer, white, sleeveless dress and her dolly had a miniature matching frock. A Coat? Absolutely not! I did have to wonder how many temper tantrums it took to get out of the house in that little garment. But, after I thought about it, I decided that if I were the mom and had spent the kind of bucks no doubt required to outfit princess and her dolly, I probably would have kicked them right out the door in those outfits. Wear something warm? Not a chance! This is what you were whining and begging for and this is what you are wearing. Okay, I might not have been quite that bad of a mom.
I really am very grateful for the moisture we got over the weekend. In order to illustrate our need for the Easter snow, I’m including some pictures I took last week in our condo commons area.
The green is the tennis court – beyond is the grass.
The tree outside of our front door - standing there contemplating whether or not it wants to expose new leaves to the cold weather.
This is the one lonely little flower in the “grass” in front of our condo. But...
...this is our view. (Note the Aspen – the only kind of tree in our complex that loves cold weather and, like the people at church, pretends it is warm enough to wear spring attire.)
There was no indication that the Easter Bunny stopped at my house. I hope that was just an oversight and totally unrelated to the whole “being good” thing connected with Santa’s arrival to fill my stocking at Christmastime. But, even though I didn’t see the Easter Bunny or his little tracks, I have to assume that he wore his snowshoes in order to keep his paws from freezing.
While the snowfall where I live up next to the foothills was light, some areas of our city got up to three inches, and in the mountains there was much more. The positive to having snow on Easter is that we needed the moisture to help with the prevention of wild fires. An indication of how desperate we are for moisture was underscored a couple of weeks ago when the weather person on the channel I was watching exuberantly reported, “On my way to work this evening, I saw a couple of raindrops on my windshield.”
From my observation, it did not appear that the mindset of people who attend church on Easter had changed much because of our inclement weather. One might think people would get their winter coats back out in an effort to keep warm. Not so! I did not see a single person wearing a coat as they came in to our all-church Easter breakfast. The mind over matter attitude prevailed. If we believed it was a beautiful, warm Easter day, then it was a beautiful, warm Easter day.
As always, the kiddos looked adorable in their new Easter outfits. One little gal wore a stunning sheer, white, sleeveless dress and her dolly had a miniature matching frock. A Coat? Absolutely not! I did have to wonder how many temper tantrums it took to get out of the house in that little garment. But, after I thought about it, I decided that if I were the mom and had spent the kind of bucks no doubt required to outfit princess and her dolly, I probably would have kicked them right out the door in those outfits. Wear something warm? Not a chance! This is what you were whining and begging for and this is what you are wearing. Okay, I might not have been quite that bad of a mom.
I really am very grateful for the moisture we got over the weekend. In order to illustrate our need for the Easter snow, I’m including some pictures I took last week in our condo commons area.
21.4.11
My Favorite Day Of The Year
Included in the reading my mom did with her children when they were growing up were Bible stories. These stories were contained in a thick hardcover book and included beautiful color illustrations.
No modern TV adventure could possibly have rivaled the thrill of those stories as Mom read about the close calls of Old Testament characters and the miracles of the New Testament. What kid wouldn’t get caught up in the suspense when Daniel was thrown into the lions den or little David went alone to face the giant? And while I liked the adventures of the Old Testament, I was captivated by the miracles of the New Testament and wished many times that I could see a miracle take place. But the story I loved most was the Easter story.
In our home we had many Easter traditions. We had new Easter clothes, we dyed and hid Easter eggs, we went to church, and Easter dinner was a spread without equal. Going to church was something we did every Sunday, but Easter was the most special of all the Sundays. On Easter Sunday, we sang the resurrection hymns, “Christ Arose,” “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” “He Lives.” We sang with smiles on our faces. We sang with passion. Our singing expressed the joy that inhabited our very beings.
During the week before Easter, we had been reminded of the betrayal, the crucifixion, and of the long silent day in the tomb. But even with the sadness we felt for the hurt and humiliation our Lord suffered, we already knew that Sunday would be our day to celebrate. We already knew how the story ended. We were the believers.
Today is Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, and today Christians commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples.
Tomorrow is Good Friday, the day when Christians commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
Saturday is Holy Saturday, the day when Christians symbolically wait by the tomb and reflect on Christ’s sacrifice for their salvation.
Sunday is Easter, the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
He is Risen!
Cross hand carved by a Colorado Springs disabled veteran.
No modern TV adventure could possibly have rivaled the thrill of those stories as Mom read about the close calls of Old Testament characters and the miracles of the New Testament. What kid wouldn’t get caught up in the suspense when Daniel was thrown into the lions den or little David went alone to face the giant? And while I liked the adventures of the Old Testament, I was captivated by the miracles of the New Testament and wished many times that I could see a miracle take place. But the story I loved most was the Easter story.
In our home we had many Easter traditions. We had new Easter clothes, we dyed and hid Easter eggs, we went to church, and Easter dinner was a spread without equal. Going to church was something we did every Sunday, but Easter was the most special of all the Sundays. On Easter Sunday, we sang the resurrection hymns, “Christ Arose,” “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” “He Lives.” We sang with smiles on our faces. We sang with passion. Our singing expressed the joy that inhabited our very beings.
During the week before Easter, we had been reminded of the betrayal, the crucifixion, and of the long silent day in the tomb. But even with the sadness we felt for the hurt and humiliation our Lord suffered, we already knew that Sunday would be our day to celebrate. We already knew how the story ended. We were the believers.
Today is Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, and today Christians commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples.
Tomorrow is Good Friday, the day when Christians commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
Saturday is Holy Saturday, the day when Christians symbolically wait by the tomb and reflect on Christ’s sacrifice for their salvation.
Sunday is Easter, the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Cross hand carved by a Colorado Springs disabled veteran.
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