An Evening to Savor

Last night I felt like I was transported away to a magical place...I wasn't sure it was real...I had to pinch myself as each moment passed...that's because I was with Richard Gere...yes, the real Richard Gere...well, let me preface by saying that I was with the real Richard Gere, but so were hundreds of others...but that's okay...because I had one of the center row orchestra seats in the Kimmel Center at the concert to honor Richard with the Marian Anderson Humanitarian Award...I always knew I was in love with Richard Gere...but after last night...after last night...it was truly confirmed (as it was for the other hundreds of women - young and old - who were in the audience too...and also on the stage)...we all wanted to have our bird's eye view of the man who stole our hearts in "American Gigolo," "Officer and A Gentleman," "Pretty Woman,"...and "Unfaithful."

But, it wasn't just Richard Gere who transported me away...it was also the Philadelphia Orchestra and their Firebird tribute to Richard that filled my ears and melted away the stress in my body (almost as good as my lavender facial)...as the music played...all the tension that had built up during the day started to release...the tightness slipped away from my neck as I focused on the violins...and the oboes...the clarinets...and the flutes...the trumpets...and the drums...all perfectly synchronized...it was all wonderful music to my ears...by the end I felt like a firebird free of all my stress and ready to fly (and why have I not spent more evenings at the orchestra before...why have I waited until my 49th year to treat myself to such pleasure...for sure life is too short not to enjoy such pleasure more often...note to self...add to my "to do" list for my 50+ years...must make up for all the music I have been missing.)

And it didn't stop there...next came the opera from soprano Measha Brueggergosman...and the trumpet man Jon Faddis...and then Patti Labelle...more, more, more music swept me away...by the end I was ready to soar.

An evening with a good friend (who agreed to join me...so glad she did), good food (Alma de Cuba for dinner...need to visit this restaurant in Philadelphia more often too), good music (I could have sat and listened forever)...and Richard Gere in real living color...it's a night to remember...and oh...oh...oh...what a prelude to my fiftieth year.

Judi

Sweet Dreams

Here I sit...October 31st...the last day of the last October as a fortysomething soon to be fifysomething...and I'm all alone...my husband is still in the hospital recovering from his illness...my son is at a concert somewhere nearby...my daughter is away at college...and I am alone...alone with my three bags of candy...and not one trick or treater knocking at my door.

Soooooooo...I guess I will have to eat some of that candy that is sitting in a basket in the kitchen...it is just too, too, too tempting...I bought all my favorite chocolate candies this year...Peanut M&Ms...Regular M&Ms...York Peppermint Patties...yummy,yummy,yummy...not like the Charleston Chews that my husband always buys...yucky, yucky, yucky.

Let's see...I'm peri-menopausal...it's now 8:00 pm...I have yummy, yummy, yummy chocolate candies in my kitchen...and I cannot resist...nope...I cannot resist...dare I start on the chocolate binging I may never stop...but I cannot hold back any longer.

I just consumed two York Peppermint Patties...2 bags of Peanut M&Ms (they're little bags so it doesn't count that much)...haven't touched the Regular M&Ms yet...I'm actually proud of how I am pacing myself during this peri-pausal chocolate moment. However, I also ate 3 mini-chocolate chip cookies (while I was making my son's lunch)...and two Milano Chocolate Raspberry cookies (had to try the new raspberry variety of Milano cookies that some colleagues brought to me...raspberries are my favorite berries...I had to force myself to try them...well...not exactly force myself...no...it didn't take too much forcing...I just opened the bag and put my hand inside and pulled out a cookie...then I ate it...then I put my hand in the bag again and pulled out another cookie...and ate that one too...then I slapped my hand twice when it tried to go inside the bag for a third time.)

So now what...will I be up all night from the caffeine or sugar rush (probably)...will I throw the rest of the basket of goodies in the garbage like a good girl (maybe)...or will I leave them there for the next two months for all the peri-pausal chocolate moments I'm likely to experience (likely yes...at least for now).

I think I've had my fill of peri-pausal Halloween treats for this evening...I like my chocolate high...I feel satiated...I feel happy...I'm going to have sweet dreams tonight...think I'll turn on my favorite Annie Lennox song "Sweet Dreams"...cannot believe that "Sweet Dreams" was first recorded in the 1980s...what was I doing when I heard that song for the first time...it was when I was twentysomething...seems like just yesterday that I turned on the radio and heard the Eurythmics playing that sweet tune...

Sweet Dreams
Lyrics by the Eurythmics

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused

I wanna use you and abuse you
I wanna know what's inside you
(Whispering) Hold your head up, movin' on
Keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on
Keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on
Keep your head up, movin' on
Movin' on!

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused

I'm gonna use you and abuse you
I'm gonna know what's inside
Gonna use you and abuse you
I'm gonna know what's inside you


Judi

From Thirtysomething to Fiftysomething

As I get ready to watch the Emmy Awards, I am reminded of my favorite television show from 20 years ago...it was called "Thirtysomething"...I loved that show...I so identified with that show in my thirties...it was all about couples who were in their thirties...who had young kids...who were struggling with their careers, motherhood, and their life as baby boomers...just like I was in my thirties.

How did 20 years pass so fast...how is it that Hope, Melissa, Nancy and Ellen...are now in their fifties and I am approaching my 50th too?

And I just read that they are spokespeople for a new campaign called Keep Moving (www.justkeepmoving.com), sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation and Tylenol. According to a feature in AARP magazine (yes, I'm still reading my husband's AARP magazine...it's not MY magazine...YET...but...every so often there is a good article that gives me an advance of what I can expect when I'm 50+)...this campaign promotes the benefits of exercise and healthy eating for people suffering from knee or hip osteoarthritis (I think I have arthritis in my back...I remember a few years ago my doctor said that I had the beginnings of arthritis in my back...it is not fun...and it's been aching lately...but...if my friends from "Thirtysomething" have arthritis...then I'm in good company.)

So, bag my arthritis for this evening...tonight is the Emmy Awards...my third favorite awards show...after the Golden Globes and the Oscars...tonight I'm not going to worry about my arthritis...tonight I'm not going to identify with my former "Thirtysomething" crowd who are now fiftysomething...tonight I'm going to relate to my new TV friends...the younger crowd I now hang out with on weekend and weeknight evenings...the crowd from my favorite shows...from Grey's Anatomy (I'll keep dreaming of McDreamy)...from Desperate Housewives (love those suburban housewives)...from The Office (just like my office friends at work)...from Entourage (one day you guys will be 50+ too...but I'll be eightysomething then...ooh...that hurts)...from The Sopranos (Carmela looked great this past season - you go girl)...and from The Hills (the only reality show I watch besides occasionally watching American Idol).

It's September of my 49th year...it's the Emmy Awards...I'm going to get to bed late tonight...better get my under-eye concealer ready for tomorrow's circles.

Judi

Free To Be Me

Who would have thought that at 49 years old I would be meeting so many new friends in a virtual community I created...and who would have thought that I would have the opportunity to meet hundreds of "blogging sisters" and form a bond with so many fellow female bloggers during an exhilarating Blogher conference.

Yes...for two glorious days in Chicago...two fabulous days in Chicago...I was free to be me...just Judi with an "i"...or should I say JudI with a capital "I"...I was strong, I was authentic, I was a blogger, I was 49 approaching 50, and I was free...not a wife who has a sick husband...not a mother who is trying to be strong for her kids...not a corporate executive who is a worker-bee...I was free...no housework...no homework...no shopping...no cooking...I was free to be whoever I wanted to be...and free to say whatever I wanted to say.

I felt like "That Girl"...remember Marlo Thomas...I loved "That Girl" when I was growing up...I always wanted to be "That Girl"...wanted to have my hair in a flip at the shoulders...she was free...she bounced around...she had the Donald...she had a great apartment...she wore mini skirts...and patent leather boots...yes...I felt like "That Girl" for two glorious days in Chicago.

It was amazing...when I arrived I only knew one person...but by the time I left on Sunday morning...I had met so many wonderful women...so many talented women...each unique in their own way...each making a difference...whether they are blogging about:

- post-partum depression (a very serious issue for women...something I luckily never had to deal with...I did struggle a bit after my first child...I stayed up nights just making sure my daughter was breathing okay...and she did have colic...so I was up quite a few nights and days...and days and nights...driving my daughter around the block...putting her car seat on the dishwasher and washing machine in hopes that the vibration would quiet her tummy...it never worked...but I never had post-partum depression...not with my son either...just sleep deprivation.)

- cars (I met Patty from AskPatty.com, which features automotive advice for women...she was a fellow baby boomer...I liked Patty...I'll have to check out her blog if I ever decide to buy that Acura that I like...or maybe a sports car when I turn 50...just like my 60+ year old sister-in-law who just bought a beautiful new dark silver Honda Civic Coupe...then I'll check out Patty's other service where you can blab about your car at www.askpatty.com/carblabber)

- mommyisms (Wish blogging was around when I was a mommy with young kids...not that I would have had much extra time to read all the mommy blogs...but it would have been neat to be able to check in with other mommies who were experiencing what I was experiencing when my kids were tiny tots...sites like Mothertalkers.com...or Mums The Wurd...or Another Working Mom...or STLWorkingMom.)

- divorce (I'm not separated, divorced or facing a divorce...so I don't think I will need themodernwomansdivorceguide.com...in fact, when my husband recovers and is all better...and we celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2009...I'm going to renew my marriage vows...just like guest speaker Elizabeth Edwards told us she and her husband John were going to do...and I'm going to likely be able to fit into my wedding dress...and my hubby will likely fit into his tux...and we'll go dancing at the Rainbow Room...or maybe stay at the Pierre Hotel in NYC...where I always wanted to get married...it was just too expensive 20+ years ago...but now...I don't care...because when my hubby recovers...we're going...no matter what it costs...he is worth it!)

- scrapbooks (There is even a blog called Scrapblog where I can create a world for my pictures...must check this site out...sounds like so much fun.)

Shame I had to leave Chicago...but then I wouldn't be able to come back and share all I learned with my community...Judi is back home...the "I" is back in lower case...but I'm still energized...it is lingering...I think I'll rent some DVDs of "That Girl" this weekend.

Judi

A Fabulous Food Weekend

Coping...I'm coping through the ups and downs of my life right now (My Soulmate - June 17)...with the help of good friends...a close family...and some fabulous food...food that makes me feel good...

Friday night food included:
- corned beef on rye with Gulden's mustard
- real deli coleslaw and a sour pickle
- coupled with a bottle of sparkling wine (a few glasses make things go down so much smoother...make life a little lighter...and helps me sleep too)
- seven layer cake with chocolate frosting and raspberry filling between the layers (just like my dad used to say..."I'll have an eight course meal...give me a good piece of seven layer cake and a glass of milk"...I had the cake...and a glass of wine...it was so good.)
...three layer cake with vanilla frosting and colored sprinkles (as my friend encouraged me...why only have one piece of cake when you can have two...especially if the other one has colored sprinkles on top of the vanilla frosting.)

To top off the night my friend and I watched "The Holiday" with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet...where they switch houses...one goes to England and the other to Los Angeles...a great chick flick...just what I needed to top off my two pieces of cake.

On Saturday, off to Wegman's upscale grocery store I went...I needed some hardcore coping...my hubby was not doing too well and either was I...after leaving my hairdresser (and sneaking a peek in one of the consignment shops next to the salon to cheer myself up... I bought a Dana Buchman gold silk sweater...fit like a glove...was one of my prime colors...even if it was originally owned by someone else...at 49...who cares who else wore it...it was mine now...and it cheered me up)...then I was off to the upscale grocery store to purchase some more food fabulous food...

- Angus beef..."I'll have a pound of that wonderful meat," I said to the butcher;
- Summer Pasta Salad..."That sounds lovely and light, I'll have a half pound of that summer salad with wagon wheel pasta, fresh peas, broccoli and corn," I said to the deli counter lady (although it was not such a light salad...in fact...it was loaded with ranch dressing and very few summer veggies...but it had a lovely description and sounded so summery);
- a whole seedless watermelon...it was so cute (it turned out to be totally overripe and I had to throw it away after my son sliced it open...but it was a very cute watermelon...next time I'll listen to my son and buy a slice of watermelon so I can see how ripe it really is);
- whole grain tortilla chips...haven't tried them yet...but they do look good on the packaging;
- ciabiatta rolls...these fresh, flat crispy rolls are sooooo delicious...and I made myself a scrumptious chicken sandwich for dinner when I got home...even if I wasn't that hungry...I poured myself the last glass of wine from my Friday night wine bottle and I ate the sandwich...it looked and tasted really good.

To top off my Saturday evening...my son and I went to see the new Pixar movie "Ratatouille"...speaking of food fabulous food...it was fun fabulous fun...with rats named Remy and Emile...and a guy named Linguini...and scenes of Paris at night...it was simply the best escape...without consuming an ounce. I can't wait until it comes out on DVD...hopefully for my 50th birthday...maybe my husband will be all better by then and we will watch it together on our big screen television...my husband is a great cook and I know he will love this movie...when he is better...and he can eat real food again...not that tasteless tube food they are feeding him now (but it is nourishing him so I won't complain).

Meantime...I want him to know that I am consuming all the fabulous foods that he likes...and when he is all better...he will too...we'll have a fabulous food weekend...just like I did this weekend...only it will be that much better because he will be enjoying it with me.

Judi

Ticket to Ride

Yesterday was such a beautiful day...I couldn't wait to get home and take a ride on my bicycle...I had to put air in the tires to get things going...then my kickstand wasn't working...so I just unscrewed it and took it off ...that kickstand wasn't going to stop me from riding my bike...I was determined to have a great ride.

I noticed that once again, my car...and my husband's car were not in the garage...my daughter had one car and my son...the new driver in the family...had the other ...so, like it or not...it was the bicycle for me. Now that my son can drive...I wondered...does that mean he will never want to use his bicycle again.

I remember when I got my license...I was 17 once (let's see how many years ago was that, oh, I don't even want to count)...and I couldn't wait to drive my parent's car (they only had one car because we lived in the city)...I was always a little hesitant about driving long distances...not like my son...give him the keys and he is off and driving.

For me...driving is not my favorite past-time anymore...the gas is too expensive...there's too many cars on the road...and driving is not as enjoyable. No, now that I'm almost 50...I'm taking an "about face"...it's not that I don't need a car...but cars don't thrill me...it's my bicycle that gets me excited.

I can't wait for those long weekends...those extra sunny days and longer daylight hours...when I can get on my bicycle and ride around the neighborhood...it is so relaxing...riding fast...riding slow...just riding...nowhere special to go...but my usual route...to see who has pretty flowers planted around his/her house and who has the latest in landscaping...who is selling his/her home...and who added an addition to his/her house this past season. It's so much fun to ride around the neighborhood...no worries when I'm on my bicycle...no clock ticking away...I'm a free spirit when I'm on my bike.

I do a lot of thinking when I'm riding around the neighborhood..."This is the last Memorial Day weekend before I turn 50," I thought the other day. "Will I still want to ride when I'm 50," I wondered..."Will I still be able to ride my bicycle when I'm 50 or 50+?"

"Of course I will," I said to myself, "In fact, forget the new car...maybe I'll just get a new bicycle instead...maybe I'll take a bicycle trip through Vermont next summer...or maybe I'll be more adventurous and take a bike trip through Tuscany or Provence." My sister used to do riding trips when she was younger...and some of my friends do riding trips now...there is no age limit for a bicycle...only strong legs required...and strong rears...especially strong rears (mine needs a lot of padding...may have to get those biker shorts that have extra padding and also get a double padded seat if I'm going to do more riding).

I've always wanted to try riding a motorcycle too...now that I'm close to 50...maybe I should go for it...not that I could imagine myself a biker chick...the clothes are too form-fitting and I'm not into leather jackets either...and the helmets would flatten my hair (I need extra body shampoo for my hair these days not a helmet that will flatten it out even more)...in fact, the more I think about it...the more I think I'll stay with my regular bicycle...and skip the motorcycle...yes, maybe it's not wise to try all adventures...especially the motorcycle...may have to skip that one.

Meantime, can't wait for tomorrow morning...Sunday...nothing on my schedule...the weather report says hot and sunny... think I'll get up early (not too early...about 9:30 am)...9:30 am... it's my ticket to ride...and I'm gearing up.

Judi

A Night At the Grammys

Another awards night. I think I will always enjoy the awards shows, whether I'm 20, 30, 40 or even 50+. I just love all the hoopla and excitement of the evening events. Also, love to see what everyone is wearing.

In honor of the grammys, I thought I'd share a word or two about all the baby boomer female musicians that I admire: Madonna, Cher, Tina Turner, and Aretha Franklin. These are a few that I have on my IPod. The ones that keep me jazzed while I'm on the treadmill or keep me pumped up while I'm lifting my weights. I admire these talented women because each in their own way has been reinventing herself and is still as vibrant an entertainer as when she was younger.

* Madonna - Sorry, Like A Prayer, Holiday, as well as her newer song Hung Up
* Cher - Believe, If I Could Turn Back Time, All or Nothing, and A Different Kind of Love Song
* Tina Turner - I Don't Want to Loose You, The Best,Let's Stay Together
* Aretha Franklin - Respect

Of course, I also stay hip with some of the newer female singers - Avril Lavigne, Beyonce, Gwen Stefani,Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Natasha Bedingfield, Shakira, and Vanessa Carlton. My kids keep me up-to-date on all the top songs and new musicians that are popular. I usually like the songs they suggest, but can never remember who sings them. And, while I have an IPod, which I do love, I still do not know how to upload my songs from iTunes. I also don't know how to program my radio stations in my car. Since both my kids drive my car, they have programmed all their favorite stations...so I get to hear what the new beats are.

Okay...Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder just won the first Grammy award...guess you can stay vibrant forever and ever! He said he sang the same song when he was 17 and now he is singing it in a whole new way...

Judi

Lifes Little Pleasures

January 20, 2007

As I age, I find that it is the little things in life that make the most difference. Not too long ago, I used to get excited at each new purchase. I was somewhat of a shopaholic. I was always buying new clothes. And when I wasn't buying new clothes, I would do my "weekly watch," which involved a trip to the mall on the weekend to see when the outfit I wanted went on sale. It was usually a Jones NY outfit, in autumn colors. They were my favorite suits or ensembles for work.

Now, I get excited by the little things in life. Yes, I do still shop for clothing, but not as much as I did several years ago. And Jones NY clothing just doesn't appeal to me anymore. Beyond the bath (as I've mentioned in previous posts), I also enjoy:

- Hot chocolate with marshmallows on a winter day. It was so cold today that I went and bought mini-marshmallows and went home and made a hot cup ofchocolate and topped it with lots of min-marshmallows;

- Starbucks decaf skim latte (grande-size). These lattes are good warm in the winter and chilled in the summer. It's lighter on the calories with skim milk so I don't feel guilty;

- Buying an issue of People magazine and taking an hour to read it from cover to cover;

- Reading chicklit. This usually only happens when I'm on vacation. I never read books anymore when I'm not on vacation...either I'm too tired at night...or I'm reading the newspaper or a magazine;

- Watching an old Audrey Hepburn movie. My kids bought me the Audrey Hepburn DVD collection with Roman Holiday (my absolute favorite Hepburn movie); Sabrina and Breakfast at Tiffany's;

- Exercising on at the gym on Sunday. While it used to be my shopping day, now I'm a weekend athlete;

- Eating pancakes for breakfast on a Sunday morning (before exercising!);

- Reading the Sunday New York Times (cover to cover). This may soon require a sabbatical with all the sections that now are in this paper;

- Going out to Panera Bread for a cup of hazelnut coffee (mostly decaf mixed in since I'm not supposed to have any caffeine) and a cranberry walnut bagel with cream cheese.

I'm sure I could think of more of life's little pleasures. Even a good night's sleep would do. I think I'm going to try to treat myself to these pleasures more often on the road to 50. Notice I'm not committing to anything...I did commit to writing everyday in this blog and have not held true...but, at least I'm trying.

That's why I'm signing off now to go enjoy my new issue of InStyle magazine...or maybe my new issue of Vogue... What's your list of life's little pleasures...write a comment and let me know.

Judi

Golden Globe Day

January 15, 2007

Today is Golden Globe day. Next to the Academy Awards, it's one of my favorite days. I'm a celebrity junkie. Love to watch what all the stars are wearing...Armani is my favorite designer...such gorgeous draping, fabrics and details on his gowns.

I always wanted to be a famous designer. My first major in college was design, but I didn't think I was good enough, so I switched into Home Economics Education ( is that dating me or what?) and minored in design. I sewed many of my own clothes when I was younger, even as I progressed in my career. I made suits...one suit was tailored with Calvin Klein brown wool fabric and big shoulder-pads...in the days when shoulder-pads were in fashion. I made all my own maternity outfits when I was pregnant. Then when I had kids and got busier and busier at work, I never had time to sew.

I still love fabrics and good clothing. It is one of my weaknesses. I have piles of beautiful fabrics in my basement that I've bought through the years at designer fabric stores in different cities. I also have piles of Butterick, Vogue, Simplicity patterns for all types of clothing and accessories sitting in my closet. Most recently, I bought a dress form...for when I do start sewing again. I move the dress form in and out of my daughter's room (since she is away at college - when she arrives home to visit or for breaks I move the form back in my closet). It's had a good amount of movement, but not any usage. Oh yes, I started to hang my sweater on the form, so it's not naked anymore. The best part about the dress form is that it expands...so as my hips grow as I age and become a permanent pear-shaped person, my dress form will grow with me.

People do start second careers during the second half of their lives. That's what I'm looking forward to. Maybe when I turn 50 and become an empty nester, I'll have more time to focus on my sewing.

As for my favorite designer, I told myself (and many of my friends) that when I turn 50 or when I become a Vice President at work, that I was going to buy an Armani suit. Since I don't see the VP title in the horizon anytime this year, I guess it will be on my 50th that this mega-event happens.

For now, I've got to get going and get my work done so I can watch the Golden Globes and dream that one day, maybe my designs will be on the red carpet!

Judi