Wanna Get on Santa's Nice List?

Good Afternoon

I'm Corey from Learning Patience! 

Brooke and Greg asked if I wanted to guest blog and I thought it would be the perfect moment to spread the word about something near and dear to my heart.

Clean Drinking Water

Read on and then hopefully, you can pop on over to my blog  - it's a little bit of everything from my day to day in Trinidad, workout tips, delicious recipes, travel adventures and lots of great sunset pictures...

I'm sure by the time you read this blog, you've drank at least 1 glass of clean water.

Maybe two.

I bet you didn't have to walk 4 hours to get it.

You didn't have to put your cup into a dirty hole in the ground to fill it up.

It didn't make you so sick, you almost died.

Isn't funny how we take such a simple thing, like clean drinking water, for granted?

Today there are over 1 billion people in the world who don't have access to clean and safe water.  They face water-bourne illness and death from dehydration.

Well Done 2011 is a project organized by Lauren from Aspiring Kennedy and and Keely from luxe + lillies to organize bloggers to donate to Charity : Water.  

Watch the video.

Take 5 minutes.

Listen.

Open your heart.

 I promise you will be moved.

Ready to get on Santa's Nice List?

It's easy.

For as little as 5 bucks (or more) - you can help build a clean water well in Ethiopia.

 Click Here to Donate.

Then go Blog about it.

Spread the word on Facebook & Twitter.

It feels good.  I promise.

Skip the Starbucks, the extra glass of vino or the appetizer at dinner this weekend and help someone far away enjoy something so simple as CLEAN DRINKING water.
 

I hope to meet y'all soon...

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Christmas cookies - thin mints of the cheatin' kind

So, the holiday pressure is on and your head is about to explode. Your calendar reminder tells you that the cookie exchange is ... tomorrow night. OMG! Well, don't worry. Here's a no-bake recipe to save the day!

Holiday Thin(ish) Mints

8 oz. of dark chocolate morsels or squares, melted

1/2 t. of vegetable shortening (this adds a little shine to the chocolate)

1/2 t. of peppermint extract (I like the McNess brand)

1 sleeve of Ritz crackers

2 or 3 candy canes, crushed to little pieces

Mix chocolate, shortening and peppermint.

Carefully dip the crackers, coating both sides and scraping off extra chocolate, and place on parchment or wax paper to harden.

Sprinkle candy cane bits on top.

Stick in the fridge for about 30 minutes to get nice and firm.

Take to your cookie exchange and pat yourself on the back for your cleverness!

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Let The Baking Tradition Begin!

As the song goes, "It's the most wonderful time of the year!" And that is certainly true here in Candelariaville (just a tad south of Hoo-Ville) as Brooke produces the 2011 edition of her Christmas tradition, baking cookies of all different kinds. 

Cowboy Jack offers to taste test!

This year she will not be as ambitious as last year when she spent the better part of two weeks making 66 dozen cookies.  Her 2010 contribution to many 2011 New Year's resolutions were understandable. 

So far this season she has made 6 different types of cookies and at this exact moment my nostrils are absorbing the following scents in random, but regular order - lemon, rosemary, mint, chocolate, raspberry, cranberry, Tabasco (oops wait, that is from my mushroom pasta that Brooke "threw" together for my lunch). 

Later there will be other great ingredients and aromas floating about like Sugar Plum Fairies from the Nutcracker (is that a mixed metaphor?). Believe it or not, cookies blended with cardamon, crystallized ginger, cumin and cayenne pepper. Brooke uses her skills as a chef to bring a savory side to baking. And the results are excellent!    

The kitchen has been taken over!

In a word: DELICIOUS!

Well I must go now as I have been called to cut the biscotti, which I have heard will be dipped in white chocolate. I must work up the strength to take this assignment...CIAO! 

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Nearly 55 and a GLEEk!

So, when folks get to be my age they face the cultural and nearly uncontrollable vulnerability known as being "Middle Age Crazy".  For most this manifests itself into buying a fast sports car, or a second home in an exotic location, or a yacht that is moored on the inter-coastal waterway in Florida. As for me, I drive a VW Jetta TDI (diesel), have a single primary home in Houston, TX and I see a BOAT for what it stands for - Bring Out Another Thousand (dollars that is). The conundrum for me, as I quickly approach an age that matches the speed limit of the Carter administration, is that I find myself to be a GLEEk.

For those who are not aware, a GLEEk is a fan, or more appropriately, an addict of the Fox Network show GLEE. 

I am not exactly sure how this happened to me, but I do know that I cannot seem to extricate myself from either watching or liking the program. Perhaps it is the blend of music that includes a bit standards, a dose of Classic Rock, a little original music, and then topped up with today's modern pop culture music? Maybe it is my unconscious desire to be back in high school surrounded by friends with amazing talents, great looks and great hair.

Actually, I think that GLEE simply resonates (and across generational lines) because it is so unrealistic and so outright entertaining for those who want to watch TV without the need to bring your brain.  

There is some odd and unusual comfort in watching a show that in no way matches ones own personal experience. So you know, I am not envious nor jealous of the GLEE life, but I would like to be Sue Sylvester for just one day.  That is what makes one a devout GLEEk.

Well done GLEEk, well done!

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Holding Court in Houston

Actually, it's not really about holding court but experiencing the Houston court system for the first time.

Today was my first-ever jury duty; well more accurately, a call for possible jury duty. I suspect that plenty of you are thinking, "Sheesh, how can she be that old and not have had a call for jury duty?"

Well, try moving around a lot and living out of the country for a few years. That will generally ensure the system doesn't catch up with the person!

Here is how it went:

I reported at 8 am to the criminal court building. I entered a brand-spanking new jury "convening" building in downtown Houston, which gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling knowing that my taxpayer dollars are at work. It's super-nice and modern with lots of natural light.

View of downtown Houston from the courthouse

Next, I got funneled into one of four sizable auditoriums to wait. And wait. Wait, wait, wait and wait some more. After an eternity (wondering if I'd be there though the holidays), they began to call numbers.

Imagine my joy as juror number after juror number were called and none of them were mine? Ok, I'm cool. They (a bailiff as "they" are called) finally called out the last group, and you guessed it, my number was up. The 6o-plus of us (lemming juror wannabees) shuffled through the tunnel and up to the courtroom area. So, I waited some more with the hard realization that I had not had any coffee. Pout!! 

Three hours slowly ticked by. We were finally summoned into the courtroom. The judge delivered his remarks eloquently, yet with a distinct Texas drawl (including a few "all y'alls" for good measure). "Never", he says, "in all my years on the bench have I had this happen where a specific court jury panel has three MIAs.  By law, we must have 64 panelists from which to select a jury and we cannot move forward because of the nature of this case, capital murder."

And with that, we were suddenly and swiftly dismissed. In a way it would have been interesting to be part of this aspect of democracy, but in another way I sort of dodged a bullet. No pun intended. Next time, and perhaps in civil court?

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IM okay, IM okay!

Before you think that this is all about me, know that the IM to which I refer to in the title is the now pervasive and addictive, spelling and grammar destroying, multi-task challenging phenomenon known as "Instant Messaging".

And IM is not just taking over your relationships with our friends and colleagues, it is now in firm control of our love lives!!  A related side note, I would have virtually no communication with my daughters if not for the magic of text messaging (I miss you girls).  Oops, excuse me while I respond back to my lovely bride who is currently located downstairs about 30 feet from me (10 feet as the indoor crow flies).

Brooke: yt?

Me: y

Brooke: U busy?

Me: y

Brooke: lmk whut up with U?

Me: writin' blog post

Brooke: question?

Me: y?

Brooke: R U hungry?

Me: y

Brooke: k, cool!

Me: That's it?

Brooke: y

Me: k, cool!  

          

I suppose she will ping me again shortly to ask if I am thirsty, but until then I will continue with this blog post.

Brooke: yt?

Me: y, what now?

Brooke: R U thirsty?

Me: y

Brooke: k, cool!

As I was trying to say, IM is taking over the world like a bad untreatable plague that does not kill anyone, yet renders one confused about the proper means to communicate with anyone at a level above the language that we have with our pets. Check that, we use complete words and cute phrases for that..."You are such a good boy, would you like a treat?"  Cowboy Jack: y

Brooke: yt? 

Me: y

Brooke: mind if I go 2 gym?

Me: n

Brooke: k, cool!

The truth is that I now use IM personally and professionally because I am saving my voice and word articulation for my debut as a guest tenor with The Houston Grand Opera.  And why use the spoken word and expend all that energy? And proper grammar and sentence structure is so 1970!

Brooke: yt? 

Me: y

Brooke: off 2 gym!

Me: k

Brooke: ily

Me: ily2

Brooke: k, cool!

The trouble with "fads" like IM is that they are not just fads, but rather, they become ingrained into the very pop culture in which we live. I suppose the old adage applies here, "If you cannot beat them, you might as well join them!"  Alas, this is true.

Oh wait, just got a cell phone text from Brooke, "at gym".  Pardon me while I text her back, "k, cool!"

TTYL my BFF's!

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Road warrior eats: good choices on a per diem

Staying within the per diem - and feeling great! Photo courtesy of Sprout Savvy

Most of you road warriors cope with increasingly stringent (and complicated) per diem rules, even before making a decision to go healthy. So, is it possible to stay within the per diem without being driven to breakfast burritos and Big Macs? Yep. Here are a few quick tips.

For insights from the experts, check out the Travel to Wellness site. These are unofficial 'staying healthy' lessons from my experiences (just a few quick thoughts - not complete guidance):

Overall:

• Keep up the exercise, even if it's in smaller segments. Pack resistance bands (the TSA won't eye you suspiciously) and watch the news while working out in your hotel room. Hit the pool and gym; avoid rush hour at the gym so you can ensure your fave equipment is available.

• Smaller food portions with frequent noshing on healthy choices will keep your energy level higher and more consistent on the road.

• Water, water everywhere. We dehydrate more when we travel. Often your system thinks it's hungry when it's actually thirsty. Keep your supply of drinking water replenished throughout the day.  

Breakfast:

• Stay at hotels with breakfast included if possible. If they don't have continental plus (which includes fruit/yogurt/cereals), get your breakfast at a nearby supermarket or local takeaway diner. Opt for a mix of plain yogurt, granola (not too much!), fresh fruit and a teaspoon of honey to balance the yogurt. 

• If it's a full breakfast, nix the carbs (oatmeal is ok if you work out) or do a veggie omelet. And if you can bear it (read: discipline yourself), eliminate the cheese and top with salsa. 

• Don't skip breakfast when traveling - make sure you have your Power Meeting Snack (see below) as your secret energy weapon.It will keep you away from that huge tray of pastries.  

Lunch:

• Seek out restaurants offering regular-size and smaller portions. Opt for something like a small baby spinach salad with grilled chicken, dressing on the side. Pat yourself on the back for eating right and spending less.

• Stop in at Subway for one of the low-fat yummy subs, or Panera Bread for a great salad. Both are wallet and waist friendly.

• Catered lunch? No worries. Pile on the salad or deconstruct a sandwich to enjoy turkey/lettuce/tomato. Or, have the mozzarella with grilled eggplant and sun-dried tomato (mozzarella is a lower fat cheese). 

Dinner:

• Do your research ahead of time. Categorize lists for quick/cheap meals vs. locations for entertaining clients or business partners. Don't be afraid to ask for your meal to be prepared in a healthy way (steamed/grilled).  

• Many cities around the world are 'high cost' or 'international' per diem allowances. When you're not entertaining clients/colleagues/partners, you can get a reasonably healthy and cheap meal at many local places (look for bustling hole-in-the-wall places).

• Being social is great, but beware of the trap of the friendly bar where you could end up ordering evil things.  Yes, wings are always evil even if they are chicken (let's review: they are usually fried, fatty skinned, served with a selection of deceptively calorie popping sauces and then finished off with an irresistible big dip in bleu cheese dressing). Instead, consider ordering a 'to-go' and then socialize while you're waiting for your food, or order ahead for pick-up.  

• When you're with colleagues, see if one of them would like to split an entree with you so you each get a reasonable portion at a lower cost.

• Every road warrior likes an adult beverage every now and then, but even a heart healthy glass of red wine adds "empty" calories. No need to avoid cocktails, just remember that they come with more than a simple "buzz." In a word: moderation.

The Power Meeting Snack:

• Pack a supply of lean protein bars in your briefcase or backpack as rescue food during unpredictably long hours. Sneak it in during a break and drink twice the water you think you need.

• Have raw unsalted almonds on hand in one-ounce portions in little zip bags. Enjoy during a break and drink twice the water you think you need.

(hey, is there a theme in here?)

Late Night Danger:

You're parked at the desk in your hotel room. Time to catch up on email, and you're pooped. Your feet hurt. Your tummy growls. You think you might be hungry. Make some of that decaf tea, drink more water, and stay away from the minibar. Don't even look at those goodies you received from sponsors or vendors (unless it's good fruit, preferably not grapes). Nibble on a few of those almonds and feel great about your choice.  

... and did I mention you should drink more water than usual? When you hydrate during these meetings, you will be more alert and energetic and perhaps even the session's star participant.

What are YOUR travel healthy tricks? How do you stay in budget while making healthy decisions?

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