"The lobster?...In the nativity play?"

LITTLE DAISY:  we've been given our parts in the Nativity play.  And I'm the lobster.

KAREN:  The lobster?

LITTLE DAISY:  Yes

KAREN:  In the nativity play?

LITTLE DAISY:  Yes,  First Lobster.

KAREN:  There was more than one lobster present at the birth of Jesus?

LITTLE DAISY:   Durr....

  As many of you know from last year, "Love Actually" is my favourite part of Christmas!  Each December, I invite my girlfriends over for dinner and the movie.  We order Chinese food which John picks up for us, and we consume copious volumes of wine whilst listening to the "Love Actually" soundtrack to set the mood!  Last year we added another new tradition to the mix, my homemade banoffee pie, for which I pause the movie at the precise moment Keira Knightley greets "Mark" at his door with her proffered, "Banoffee pie?"

I'm going to jump ahead in my alphabet inspired cuisine as the week of "Love Actually" nicely coincided with "L" week!  In fact the next day I made lobster for the first time, severely annoying my kids as I kept repeating, "Lobster?  In the Nativity Play?" ad nauseum with a British accent!  I had never purchased nor cooked a lobster in my life.  In fact I can't even remember the last time I had even eaten lobster.  Perhaps it was when I was young and we went to Peggy's Cove for summer vacation, or I may have gone to a Red Lobster restaurant...anyways, I was determined to buy and cook a lobster that week!  I must admit, as I approached the seafood counter in slow motion on tip-toe, with squinted eye, it was with much hesitation and trepidation.  Would I have to buy a live lobster with his beady black eyes staring at me, begging for immunity?  Did I have it in me to buy one live and watch it's demise, all of my own doing?  Phew!  No life crustacean's swimming in defeat in the tanks!  My choices were precooked claws (which is my favourite part of a lobster) or fresh tails.  I chose the tails and it was like the alphabet cuisine gods were shining on me as lobster happened to be on sale for half price that week and as you may guess, it is not the cheapest fish to buy!  A few years ago I was at an event where I met Massimo Capra and received a personally signed copy of his cookbook, "One Pot Italian Cooking".  I figured it was high time I put this book to use and opted to try his Tagliatelle All'Aragosta - or rather, Tagliatelle with Lobster Sauce!  The perfect recipe to kill two birds with one stone, or two "L"'s with one dish!!  Along with the tagliatelle pasta, this recipe incorporates both lobster and leeks!  The kids weren't as impressed with it as I was though, and I discovered the next day that lobster doesn't taste as good as left-overs.

lobster - the Omega -3 fatty acids found in lobster are beneficial to both your heart and your brain and is also high in minerals such as selenium, phosphorous and zinc.  It is high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol

leeks - are good for preventing cancer with their high concentration of antioxidants.  They are also helpful in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure

Years ago, my friend Michelle P. emailed me her recipe for Red Lentil Soup with Lemon (a NY Times recipe) which has sat in my green file folder of accumulated recipes ever since.  Well this was my opportunity to try it out finally!  It was a nice filling low cal soup!  I didn't puree the soup as suggested in the directions as I liked the texture as it was.  This was a relatively easy recipe to make and one that I will add to my soup repertoire!

 

lentils - high in fibre, therefore good for lowering cholesterol and improving digestive health. The high fibre content will make you feel full faster and therefore can be beneficial for weight loss.

 

lemons & limes - high in vitamin C and good for lowering cholesterol, cancer risk, heart disease. 

I also tried a new recipe incorporating lemon grass!  I altered a recipe for Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken adapted from Food & Wine Magazine, October 2007.  I omitted the curry powder and substituted one jalapeno pepper for 3 chilies.  It was delicious!  Kristen asked for more!!!

Lemongrass - helps to cleanse organs and improves circulation

When I was about three years old we moved to a new house, and I became best friends with Limoy who lived across the street.  Limoy's family is Chinese and years later they opened a Chinese restaurant in town.  It was at this restaurant where I was first introduced to the lychee!  It resembles a white grape when the reddish peel is removed.  Twenty years or so had passed since I ate my last lychee!  I could only find them in a can or a tetra-pak juice box.  Trudging through the alphabet we were now more than half way and the kids are not as willing as I'd like when it comes to trying new things, so I opted for some old school bribery techniques to coerce them into trying lychee fruit.  If they ate 3 of them they could have nachos for a snack, and if they ate 5 they could also have a bit of ice cream for dessert.  Jake is always the most difficult kid to get to eat things but my bribery technique worked and he admitted that the lychees weren't that bad!  After eating his first three, he willingly asked for the other two!

Lychee - high in antioxidants and vitamin C, they are no saturated fats or cholesterol and the high potassium content is beneficial for maintaining good blood pressure

Also in my "L" picture, was a bag of dried lima beans which I haven't used yet.  Lima beans have antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, fibre and potassium which are beneficial for blood pressure and heart health.

I weighed myself at Curves yesterday after my workout and the damage thus far during Christmas festivities has me at 138.5 lbs.  I'm counting on my on board metabolism to kick in once again as we will be going on another cruise at the beginning of the new year.  I defied the odds and actually lost weight during our Mediterranean cruise while most others gained and gained some more!  My blood pressure is pretty good so all seems to be in good form, and I think, "If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion you'll find that love actually is all around...."

Merry Firthmas to all, and to all a good night!!!

ABC....easy as 1,2,3 and Infusing The Muse!

Now that I am back on track, I'll be updating my blog entries more regularly!  I will also be making more of an effort to "infuse my muse" aka Colin Firth into my progress.  My last entry ended with me heading off to watch "When Did You Last See Your Father?" which I felt was appropriate given the events following my dad's heart attack.  In the film, Blake (Colin) returns home to help his mother and sister care for his father dying of intestinal cancer.  Blake reminisces and tries to come to terms with his relationship with his father before it's too late.  Luckily, my own father has been given a new lease on life, but I have become all too aware over the past 2 months how unpredictable and fragile life is!  All the more reason to work harder at maintaining a healthier lifestyle for myself and my family!

What I haven't been keeping you up to date on is my weekly quest to eat foods starting with a certain letter of the alphabet.  I am currently working on "J" week but I need to start at the beginning.  Some "A" foods I bought I had already mentioned to you i.e. the atemoya, apricot, almonds, acai berry juice and agave nectar.  Now, we must remember that the focus needs to be on healthy foods, although my kids keep trying to weasel the opposite as often as possible but to no avail!!!  You may notice they pulled a fast one on me and substituted a pear for my arugula for this photo!

Acai berries - these berries are very healthy.  The berries come from the acai palm tree found in Central and South America and are known for their antioxidant properties aiding in the prevention of heart disease and cancer.  I wasn't able to find actual berries, so the juice had to suffice!  It can be quite tart so I water mine down some.

Acorn squash - known as a winter squash and is very tasty!  I cut mine in half, scoop out the seeds, add a little butter and brown sugar and bake in the oven until it is nice and soft.  Squash is very high in fibre and potassium, making it a good addition to a diabetic diet.

Agave nectar - a natural 'sugar' that has a much lower glycemic index than granulated sugars and is vegan to boot!  I often use agave nectar to sweeten my coffee now instead of sugar.

Almonds - while high in fats, they are actually good for your heart health as they contain magnesium and potassium.  Potassium is good for maintaining blood pressure and lack of appropriate magnesium can be linked to higher risk of heart attack.  Remember according to "Wheat Belly", you can eat as many nuts as you wish as long as they are raw!  Almonds also have antioxidant properties!!

Amaranth - having never heard of amaranth before this was a shot in the dark.  Is it a grain or a seed?  The store labelled it as a grain, but there may be some debate there.  I added mine to some yogurt and added some chopped apricot.  Afterwards I Googled some information about amaranth and discovered that I should have cooked it.  Oh well, what's done is done and I lived to tell the tale!!  Amaranth is very high in protein and fibre, therefore aiding in the prevention of heart disease and is effective in lowering cholesterol levels.  Bring it on!!!! 

Apples - you know what they say, 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away!".  Apples are good for maintaining blood pressure.  In "Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal",  I read that those who eat apples are 37% less likely to have hypertension and 28% less likely to develop Diabetes.  Apples also aid in the reduction of LDL (bad) cholesterol.  I really should start obeying those Dr.'s orders huh?

Apricots - much like apples, this fruit is also helpful for reducing high cholesterol, blood pressure, cancer risk, and can also lower LDL cholesterol.  From my high school days as an anaemic, I can tell you that dried apricots are a good source of iron too!

Artichokes - are high in antioxidants and good for reducing one's risk of breast cancer and skin cancer (hopefully my friend Melissa is reading this part!).  They are also full of fibre and can alleviate indigestion...and hangovers too apparently!

Arugula - My British friend Amanda knows this as 'rocket' and has somewhat peppery taste in comparison with other lettuces.  It is very high in fibre and antioxidants, good at lowering cholesterol levels, keeping blood sugars in balance and reducing risks of heart disease.

Asparagus - is very high in fibre, essential minerals and antioxidants.  It is also good for maintaining a healthy blood pressure as it helps to rid the body of excess salt.

Atemoya - I've already touched on this in a previous entry, but didn't realize that this fruit is a hybrid cross of sugar apple and cherimoya.  It is good for reducing high blood pressure and risk of cancer.  The seeds are toxic so be careful!

Avocado - last but not least - the avocado!  I still don't like the taste of straight avocado but I do enjoy it mixed with mango in a smoothie!  Avocados are great for reducing cholesterol, risk of heart disease and cancer.

The following week led us on the path of "B".  Just look at all that good stuff!

Bananas - great source of potassium, and good at maintaining healthy blood pressure and blood sugar levels.  Also known to decrease stress, anxiety and depression! To mix things up a bit I bought red bananas which kind of scared the kids off a bit, but there really wasn't much difference in taste.  They are a little smaller so it's a great snack size!

Beans - beans are good for decreasing the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes.  I went out on a limb here and bought black beans for the first time.  Each time I've been in Costa Rica I purposefully avoided any rice or veggie dishes containing black beans as if they would induce symptoms of the black plague!  Fear not the black bean, I professed to myself - I will consume said beans and yet prevail!  After all, you know what they say about beans!  "Beans. beans, they're good for the heart; the more you eat the more you _ _ _ _!"

Beets - great source of essential nutrients and low in calories and contain no trans fats or saturated fats.  I think I went a good 10 years or so without eating beats, and now I've got all my kids liking beets!  However, I had never tried the leafy parts before and thought this challenge was the apt time to do so!  I steamed the leaves just like I would spinach and we ate the whole vegetable root & leaves!

(Chinese) Bitter Melon - or rather Blech Melon!!!  Part of this challenge involves trying as many new foods as possible, and unfortunately this was one of them!  Bitter is an understatement!  I sliced it like a cucumber and handed out the slices raw for each of us to taste - needless to say one was plenty!  This is the "Buckley's" of "B" produce!  It's a good source of fibre and antioxidants and has so many health benefits that I would suggest trying it as a cure all for all that ails you - if you can stomach it that is!  From what I read when Googling what it was and what to do with it, I found it seems to be especially beneficial for diabetics as it helps reduce blood sugar levels.

Blackberries - rich in antioxidants which can reduce cancer risk.  Next time you are suffering from PMS, you might find relief from a handful of these black beauties!

Blueberries - has a lower glycemic index than most fruits and may prevent hardening of the arteries!

Bok Choy - not a favourite of mine or the rest of the household, but it is low in calories and full of antioxidants.

Bran - the fibre in bran reduces blood cholesterol levels and is therefore good for reducing risk of heart attacks, Diabetes, and cancer.  I use bran in cranberry bran muffins which are delish!

Brazil nuts - these are great for a vegetarian diet because they are considered a complete protein and are high in fibre and the antioxidant selenium.  Although they contain fat, Brazil nuts are helpful in reducing cardiovascular disease and cholesterol

Broccoli - high in fibre and calcium, it can help decrease your risk of bladder, colorectal, breast and lung cancers as well as heart disease!  Try out this Broccoli Cheese & Potato Soup recipe found at http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/12/broccoli-cheese-and-potato-soup.html.  I couldn't wait to eat it and nearly forgot to take a photo - until the bowl was half empty - very tasty!

Brussels Sprouts - a relatively new staple in our house that even my kids have come to accept over the past year or so - they are great for reducing cholesterol (even more so when steamed than raw) and blood pressure levels, and risk of heart disease and cancer.  I recently found some purple ones as the store!!!!  Purple Stew anyone?

Bulgur - this is a grain that contains more fibre than oats and is great for your digestive system.  I admit that I haven't tried this food yet, the package is still in the pantry.  Perhaps I'll revisit it during a week where there is little letter availability!

Butternut Squash - low fat, high in fibre and carotenoids.  I made a butternut squash and apple soup recipe from my Canadian Living cookbook and wrote names in the bowls with yogurt!  Yummy!

 

...and then there were the culinary "C's"

 



Cabbage - helps prevent colon, breast and gynecologic cancers as well as diabetes

 

Cardoni - looks like thick celery, but tastes nothing like it - rather more like bitter melon - ewww!  Supposedly good for lowering cholesterol levels but unfortunately the bitterness makes it unpleasant to eat.  I just bought this last week as it wasn't available the week I was searching for "C"'s.

 

Canary Melon - has some essential nutrients but is high in sugar.

 

Cantaloupe -  Full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories and linked to reduced risk of metabolic syndrome.

 

Carrots - Here's some trivia for you - did you know that carrots are native to Afghanistan?  They are really helpful in reducing cholesterol levels and risk of diabetes and cancer and also improve eyesight.  Avoid purchasing 'baby' carrots.  These aren't really baby carrots - they have been run through machines to attain a uniform shape.  Furthermore, Carla told me these 'baby' carrots are also bleached.  I was saddened to hear of this as they are convenient for packing in kids lunches.  Sorry kids but you will be taking a more natural kind of carrot sticks to school in future.  It's worth the extra effort to buy the real deal if you ask me!  "Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal" informs that carrots have an increased nutritional value when cooked as it breaks down the walls encasing the beta-carotene.

 

Cashews - good for heart health!

 

Cassava - kind of looks like a really long, waxy potato.  High in antioxidants and good at alleviating arthritis.  I made a new recipe called Cassava in Coconut (Muhogo Wa Nazi) from http://www.food.com/recipe/cassava-in-coconut-muhogo-wa-nazi and paired it with salmon and bok choy.  You may appreciate cassava more than I did if you can get past the smell of it, not that it's particularly unpleasant - just oddly different.  While I don't foresee myself purchasing another cassava from the supermarket, I was recently introduced to a cassava coconut pone (cake) at a scrapbooking retreat I attended a couple of weeks ago.   Thanks to my Short Stack Foodie buddy Jackie, I was privy to this delightful dessert which just so happens to be wheat-free!  She purchased the pone from a small restaurant called Ya-Man along with some tropical ice creams(coconut, mango and sour sop).  Sometimes things just taste better in a different package!  I plan on visiting this restaurant at some point and yes, I will be purchasing some cassava pone! 

 

Catfish - low in calories and fat and a good source of protein.  First time ever trying catfish and it was a success!  I guess I avoided it in the past because I couldn't get past the vision of eating whiskers!  It was a nice light tasting fish!  I  baked mine in the oven covered in fresh tomatoes, green pepper and basil from my garden along with some garlic!

Cauliflower - high in fibre and vitamin C, therefore good for reducing cancer risk.  In fact, a friend of mine who has had cancer was treated with vitamin C injections so this makes perfect sense!

 

Celeriac or Celery Root - an odd looking vegetable that indeed smells and tastes like celery.  Celeriac reduces risk of heart disease and is fat free!  I found a recipe on Pinterest for Celeriac Champ which I really enjoyed.  You can find the recipe at http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/333626/celeriac-champ

 

Celery - good for reducing rish of cancer and lowering blood pressure

 

Cheerios - I added this because they are made from oats which is good for hearth health

 

Cheese - I've mentioned before that cheese may be a leading contributor to my cholesterol issues due to the fat content, but it sure does taste good!  Pg. 75 of "Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal" has a warning:

"Tyramine, found in aged cheeses such as cheddar, blue cheese, and Camembert, also interacts with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, drugs sometimes used to treat depression, and can cause a life-threatening rise in blood pressure."

Yikes!  Perhaps I should acquire a taste for non-aged cheeses - any suggestions?

Cherries - can reduce risk of cancer, lower cholesterol and risk of heart disease.  I didn't find any fresh cherries so I bought frozen cherries and covered them with dark chocolate - mmm...mmmm!

Chia Seeds - packed with antioxidants, fibre, and protein. Also good for maintaining blood sugar levels and decreasing risk of heart disease.  As with the amaranth grain, I added chia seeds to some Greek yogurt.

Chiles - reduces cancer risk.  Spicy foods can increase metabolism, therefore good for losing weight!  I used a Cubanelle Pepper that week and added it on my pizza

Chocolate - Thank heaven for chocolate!  Much to the chagrin of my kids, I purchased dark chocolate (good news is that are starting to develop a taste/tolerance for it!).  Dark chocolate is much better for you than milk chocolate, particularly if it's at least 60% cocoa.  Chocolate has many health benefits including lowering blood pressure, risk of heart disease and mood disorders.  Pg. 79 of "Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal" states:

"Chocolate can cause or exacerbate canker sores."

Unfortunately, my two youngest kids inherited troublesome canker sores from their father who also suffers from them.  Sorry kids, but you had better hand over all chocolate to me in future!

Cilantro - antioxidant, effective for toxic metal cleansing, anti-anxiety, and may improve sleep

Clementines  - high in vitamin C

Coconut - full of fibre and potassium and therefore helpful in reducing blood pressure, but it is high in cholesterol so avoid cooking with coconut oil.  I bought my first whole coconut and the kids and I punctured the bowling ball like holes in the bottom with a screwdriver to draw out the water to drink.  I then grated some fresh coconut flakes to add to some butternut squash soup.  I also made this Grilled Hawaiian Chicken with Coconut-Cilantro Rice recipe found at http://bevcooks.com/2011/07/grilled-hawaiian-chicken-with-coconut-cilantro-rice/, but next time I'll leave out the cilantro (not a fan)

Cranberries - good for preventing urinary tract infections, heart disease, cancer and blood cholesterol levels.  Juice should be 100% juice and diluted to minimize effects of high sugar content.

Cucumbers - are 95% water, therefore a good healthy food to prevent weight gain!  I found out this summer just how easy they are to grow in your very own garden!!

My friend Michelle recently shared something on Facebook that I'd like to share with you.  When you bring home your groceries, fill the kitchen sink with water and add 1 cup of vinegar, then add your fruits and veggies and let sit for 10 minutes or so.  This will clean the produce of dirt, pesticides and residue!  Aren't those little purple Brussels sprouts cute?

 

A couple of weeks ago, four friends and I attended a fashion show at the Burlington Art Centre featuring clothing from local stores.  As an added bonus, the price of the ticket included wine and food samples from local restaurants.  The proceeds from the event went to Breast Cancer Support Services which is my philanthropy of choice - so one couldn't go wrong attending this event!  I'm glad I opted not to have a meal at home beforehand because the food was AMAZING!  Our favourite morsel of the evening was the Braised Pork Belly Taco with roasted poblano & maple vinaigrette, apple & chive slaw and crispy sweet potatoes created by Adam Baxter, Head Chef of Honey West in Burlington.  Majella and I would be utterly embarrassed to recall how many times we returned for seconds, thirds....!  This photo is of the very last one - which shortly after posing for this photo, performed a most elegant happy dance in my belly as it met up with it's many friends consumed before it!  These tacos are not part of the regular menu at Honey West, but I do declare - you simply must go in and ask Adam to whip some up for you!  Just this afternoon, I called Adam asking him to recreate these for our upcoming Christmas party!!  For those of you planning to attend, I suggest you come rather early to try these before some (ah hem - Madge!) snatch them up!  The somewhat peculiar thing about these tacos is that those yellow sticks are actually sweet potato!  I do NOT like sweet potato as a rule, but Adam has opened up my culinary palate.  Granted, this is not the healthiest way to eat sweet potato as they are deep fried (definitely not conducive to heart health) but they are small and it's ok to treat yourself once in a while - everything in moderation!  I need to come clean and confess that we grabbed a handful of these sweet potatoes to much on like popcorn during the show!

 



 Last week I went to Woodstock to visit my dad only to find he wasn't doing very well.  His blood sugars were irregular and his blood pressure plummeted when standing, causing him to faint - not good!  The next day he had a follow-up appointment with his surgeon and was readmitted to hospital.  He had lost too much weight too fast and became dehydrated so he was hooked up to an IV for a couple of days.  Just when he thought he'd be going home again, ultrasounds revealed a pseudoaneurysm in his groin where the angiogram was performed.  It had tripled in size in the span of 2 days, requiring additional surgery to remove.  The procedure was successful and Dad is back home again - hopefully for good this time!!  He's also been given the OK to drive again so I'm sure he is appreciating the reward of regaining some autonomy back!

On Friday I had a follow-up appointment with my Diabetic Nurse to check my blood pressure.  I was sure to drink lots of water in the morning and I conjured happy images of paddle boarding with Rocket on the way there.  My blood pressure read 123/86!!!!!!  Best reading at the doctor's office yet!!!  Needless to say, I left feeling elated and didn't bawl my eyes out this time!  Now, she was still concerned about the diastolic but it has improved.  She was going to discuss the situation with my doctor and thought he may want to put me on a water pill - but since I haven't heard from them yet, I'm assuming I've got the all clear!!! Before I left her office, I laid my hands on her desk and very emphatically declared, "I am NOT going to get Diabetes!"

The last lines from "When Did You Last See Your Father" were very poignant and luckily things didn't reach this far with my dad - and for that I am very grateful!  I now have more time to appreciate my relationship with my dad and work together to improve our health!

"And when did you last see your father? Was it when they burned the coffin? Put the lid on? When he exhaled his last breath? When he sat up and said something? When he last recognized you? When he last smiled? When did you last see your father? The last time he was healthy, active? The last time he had an argument about something? Those weeks in which we tried to say goodbye were like a series of depletion's. Each day I thought 'he can't get less like himself than this.' Yet each day he did. So I've been trying to recall the last time I actually saw him. The last time he was unmistakeably... there. In the fullness of being, I dunno... him."

 

 

Serenity at 40

     Well, it's official.  I'm 40 now.  Turning 40 has been bittersweet.  The sweet was really sweet, and the bitter, bitter.  A month or so ago I had my follow-up appointment with the Diabetic Nurse, whom I've nicknamed "The Executioner".  While my weight and girth had decreased since my last visit, and my blood sugars were optimal, my cholesterol and blood pressure were still too high.  Six months ago I received her praise for managing to bring my cholesterol levels down from 4.55 to 3.29, but it had gone back up to 3.43.  My blood pressure that day was higher than 6 months ago.  Last time she told me that drinking more water could bring the diastolic number down which seemed to have worked, only the day of my appointment I felt somewhat dehydrated - not to mention super nervous about the results that were to be bestowed upon me.   I even backed up with photographic evidence great blood pressure readings taken at the pharmacy.  Then end result was she booked me in for a months time to reevaluate my blood pressure and if not improved she will put me on medication.  When asked about why my cholesterol spiked a bit, the only answer I could fathom was the increased consumption of cheese (with fig butter - my new fave!) poolside during the summer.  There may also have been an element of invincibility rewarding myself for having done so well bringing the numbers down initially.  So I've been given a month to improve blood pressure and another 6 months to reevaluate the cholesterol issue.  She thinks that I may have succeeded in doing all that I can to bring my numbers down and that the rest I can't do anything about - it's simply genetics - it's in my DNA.

I left the office feeling defeated, deflated and depressed.  Six months earlier I left that office in tears, but they were tears of joy and pride that I was able to make a difference and improve my situation.  That day, I once more left the office in tears, because I hadn't done enough and it looks like I will need to take medications after all.  While I sat weeping in the car, I confess that all I could think of was wanting to inhale a gooey donut or cupcake - what difference would it make now anyways, right?  I called John and he set me straight, reminding me of all the progress I've made and that I did manage to fulfill my wish set out at the beginning of this.  It was my hope that I could at least hit 40 without having to take such medications, and at that point it was only a couple of weeks away and that wish would come true.

On a positive note, I realized how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends and family who genuinely care about me.  They lifted me up when I was down.  Carla and Steve along with John, hosted a grand surprise 40th birthday party for me a couple of weeks before my birthday.  It was so much fun and they really did surprise me - which is funny, because I thought they were up to something and then they threw me off the scent the day of and still managed to surprise me!

My birthday just seemed to get better as my daughter Kristen and I boarded a flight to Dublin, Ireland!  Dublin is my absolute favourite place to be, and where I wanted more than anything to celebrate the big 4-0 milestone!  This was Kristen's first time in Ireland and my 6th.  We had the best time!  I've been so many times and yet there is still so much I want to see that I haven't yet -and that's just in Dublin!!  Those of you who know me well know that in addition to being a Colin Firth fan, I am also a huge U2 fan!  I showed Kristen all the famous U2 landmarks - we even went to Bono's house!  We met the most extraordinary gentleman on the beach behind the house.  He was collecting what looked like seaweed from the shore.  We went over to talk to him and asked what he was gathering.  His name is John McKenna, a famous jeweller and sculptor (Frank Sinatra, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev all had pieces of his work).  He's very knowledgeable about the history of Dublin and the Vikings (we got quite the history lesson that's for sure!).  Anyways, the stuff he was gathering was called dulse.  McKenna has been ill for a couple of years and he uses the dulse to improve his health.  Dulse, it turns out is very good for you.  It's loaded with vitamins and minerals, fibre and protein.  It helps heal the digestive system and liver and cleanses the body; increases metabolism; and is high in iodine which is beneficial for the thyroid.  He helped us collect some and I brought some home with me to try out someday!  I'll let you know how it turns out!

Other highlights of the trip were meeting the cast of Mrs. Brown's Boys!!!  Totally unplanned and we definitely had the luck of the Irish behind us!!  If you haven't seen this show I highly recommend it-it'll have you stitches it's so funny!

 Lastly, my birthday gift to myself, was a photo shoot with Peter Rowen (remember the boy on the cover of U2's War album?  That's him!)  His work is superb and Kristen and I both enjoyed meeting him!

 

While we were in Ireland, I called home on the Saturday and found out that my dad had had a heart attack and was in a coma.  Kristen and I were traipsing all over Dublin making wonderful memories while my dad lay immobilized on a hospital bed.  When John and the boys picked us up at the airport we drove directly to the hospital in Woodstock.  By this time, Dad was out of the coma and awaiting more tests.  All my worries about having to take medication for blood pressure and/or cholesterol ended when I saw my dad lying there with tubes attached in various places!  A couple of weeks ago, he underwent a quadruple bypass surgery and I'm happy to report that he is now home after spending 32 days in hospital.  He was given another chance and a new lease on life and will be making some lifestyle changes so he can be with us even longer!!!  Some of us aren't that lucky!

My eating habits have been less than stellar as I tried to get down to visit my dad every other day or so (he's an hour's drive away) after work.  Everywhere you turn there is a Tim Horton's in Canada and almost every visit I would stop for a French Vanilla Cappuccino and a doughnut - not the best foods to consume on the Colin Firth Diet!!  Or any diet for that matter!  Luckily, although my weight has gone up a bit, I have not gone over the 140 lb ceiling!  I tried a couple new recipes you may want to try.  The first is Summery Quinoa Pilaf from the Flat Belly Diet Cookbook by Liz Vacciariello.  OK, so it's no longer summer, but it still felt like it when I made this dish!  It was light and refreshing!

The other recipe was Mediterranean-Style Turkey Scaloppini (omitting the olives!!) from a pamphlet I received in the mail from Ontario Turkey.  The topping was delicious and I even used the left overs to put on top of nachos for a healthy snack the next day!! 

Last week I had that one month blood pressure check-up.  I walked in telling the nurse (Executioner) that it was going to be high and told her about dad's heart attack/surgery and the other stress I was under.  Turns out it wasn't so bad!  My blood pressure was 130/88.  She's still concerned about the bottom number and I have to go back in a couple of weeks to check it again.  And now I feel like a blubbering fool, because again I started sobbing during the appointment.  She told me that my dad was going to be OK, that he would be even better now than he was before and I believe her.  I came to realize that she is not the Executioner - only I can be the Executioner of my own fate.  Rather, she is more of a Pacifier - as she listened to me cry, gave me a sincere hug and left me with a feeling of peace and hope of better things to come!

Yesterday after a long hiatus of monthly measurements at Curves (I was hoping to get my weight down lower than the last record), I realized that I needed to just bite the bullet and be honest with myself and others about what's going on.  So, the gist of it is that I am currently 138 lbs.  There I've said it.  Now this could be due to the Timmies but also due to the fact that I took on a temporary job for a month, and after much deliberation decided to take on Scrap Cancer again -so I was unable to find the time to get to Curves.  Yes, I broke the habit for the month of October after a full year of making at least 3 visits per week.  One day I dropped my keys and my Curves tag broke in half.  I think it was a sign that I had broken a healthy habit.  I taped the tag back together, and after another couple of weeks of missing the gym, I noticed the half had fallen off again.  OK, now this really was a sign!  And I verbally replied to the remains of said tag, "I know, I know, I know - I need to get back to Curves!!!  I haven't forgotten!".  Moral of the story is, I am back on track again!! 

Remember my earlier post about the serenity I felt while paddle boarding around the lake at the cottage this summer?  Well, now I can experience that more often (weather pending!) as when I came home from seeing my dad in the hospital the night we came home from Ireland, there was my very own paddle board waiting for me - a gift from all my family!

While all these events were going on I came across the Serenity Prayer in a book I was reading and it really struck home.  There are things I can change such as my weight, blood pressure (to an extent), exercise and eating habits, enjoying more Colin Firth flicks etc., etc..  But there are things I cannot change, namely genetics - my DNA, and unfortunately my genetics have me predisposed to heart disease and diabetes.  That being said, I am even more determined to fight this so my kids learn what a healthy lifestyle is and reduce their risk for heart attack and disease!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some Colin Firth to catch up on!!!  I think a little, "When Did You Last See Your Father?" is in order for this evening!

My Weekend With Colin

  Oh my!  What a story I have to promulgate about my 'Weekend with Colin'!  As you may surmise, I didn't actually spend the entire weekend clung to his flanks, but it was enticing all the same! I have attended the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) before, but this was the first time I actually 'did the red carpet'!  It was so exciting, anticipating the arrival of the snazzy black cars delivering celebrities to the red carpet.  Watching intently to see just who emerged from the car was just as thrilling as the moment you give birth to your child and the doctor announces 'it's a boy' or 'it's a girl'!  In this case we first heard, "It's Nicole!" followed by the ensued uproars of "Colin!".  Yes, I was one of them!  And thus began a weekend experience I won't soon forget!

   The very handsome and debonair (and somewhat slimmer) Colin Firth was a sight to behold!  Women and men alike were fighting for his attention on both sides of the barrier while I managed to get several photos!  Colin's wife Livia, looked gorgeous as ever standing next to her man wearing a gown that meets the Green Carpet Challenge criteria  (http://www.eco-age.com/green-carpet-challenge/).  Once satisfied I captured enough photos, Carla and I hoofed it back into Roy Thompson Hall to find our seats.  We were in the balcony and from our seats we could see Livia and I was so pleased that someone so elegant and slender can mow down on the popcorn just like the rest of us!  You go girl! 

   After the cast of  "The Railway Man" was introduced, they came and sat down in the row ahead of Livia and we were able to steal looks at Colin during the film. "The Railway Man" is based on a true story about Eric Lomax (portrayed by Colin) and his wife Patty (portrayed by Nicole Kidman).  Eric Lomax was a British soldier in WW II who was captured by the Japanese who tortured him and put him to work on the Thailand Death Railway.  It was a very compelling and moving story, even more so when it was announced that the real Patty Lomax was in the audience with us!

   Afterwards, upon retrieving my car and Carla paying the exorbitant parking, we headed home, but not before a surprise sighting of Colin entering the Ritz Carlton hotel!  Next year, we must plan ahead and book a room there!  Carla was flabbergasted that Colin was actually there watching the film with us and we talked the whole way home about the experience.  Kudos to her husband Steve who graciously took care of my two youngest kids (John was flying home from Calgary) and even took them out for dinner!

   It's not often that I get a chance to dress up, so this year I enjoyed donning a dress and heels to attend the festival.  Knowing that on the Sunday I would have a much better chance of getting up close to Colin, I made an extra concerted effort.  I was so worried about not getting to the film on time that we left at 3 pm to head into Toronto.  After a minor map mishap, we managed to get to Roy Thompson Hall to park.  Here's where I must mention the perks of being a VISA Infinite card holder.  On Friday night (after having already parked in the money pit) we learned that VISA Infinite was giving out parking vouchers, cab fare vouchers, water bottles, chocolates, espresso and more!  We told the man at the kiosk that we would be returning on Sunday but the film was at the Elgin Theatre.  He said that was no problem, come and park here at RTH and I'll give you a voucher for a cab to take you to the Elgin!  Sweet!!  So we did just that, which kind of lessened the sick feeling of what we paid on Friday!  The cab dropped us off in front of the Elgin and we proceeded to line up. An attendant asked us if we had tickets for "The Prisoners" which is when we discovered that the film I thought started at 6:30 pm actually began at 9:30 pm.  Oops! But, we discovered the priority line for VISA Infinite members, and a bar across the street!  And take that John!  I was over 5 hours early for something!! LOL!   At Baton Rouge with a glass of Torrentes in hand and a plate of nachos before us, we also had a great vantage point to see when the queue started for "Devil's Knot".

   We secured our spot in the VISA Infinite priority line, then saw an e-Talk car drive by.  Carla and I glanced at each other and mouthed "bitch" at the same time, when Fernando, the man ahead of us turned round and said he didn't hear a thing!  Backtracking again to Friday night, I should inform you of what happened at the red carpet before the stars arrived.  Tanya Kim, host of e-Talk came out to the crowd asking if there were any Colin Firth fans present....umm...yes!  She went over to talk to some older lady with bottle-blond coiffed hair (I wonder if she is the stalker Colin mentions in his biography?).  When Kim started walking away from her, I sequestered her over to where I was standing and showed her the Colin Firth Diet Club sheet that John gave me almost a year ago and explained what it was about and that I was hoping to get Colin to autograph it for me.  (Unfortunately it wasn't the original paper because while I was frantically rummaging through the junk drawer for a suitable Sharpie, I mistakenly scribbled on it with a green one - so I had to run downstairs to the office and print off a new copy).  Anyways, Kim just didn't get it and didn't understand the motivation behind it all - and why would she when she's pencil thin and may never have to worry about Diabetes and heart disease like so many of us!  Sorry if that came off a tad bitter, but...!

   ...But if it wasn't for her, we may not have voiced the expletive we did, and Fernando may not have turned his head and began talking to us, and the amazing events that transpired afterwards may never have happened - so thank you Ms. Kim!  Fernando and his friend Mario, along with 3 other friends:  Jonathan, Dave and Mary Rae really know the ins and outs of TIFF.  They attend about 25-35 films each year during the festival.  I explained the Colin Firth Diet Club to Fernando and discovered he is a fan of 'Wheat Belly' and is currently eating wheat-free.  He asked me to enter my blog address into his phone and we had great conversation.  These men told us the ideal place to situate ourselves in the lounge so we'd be closer to the stairs when they escorted us into the theatre.  We were handed free water bottles, free Lindt caramel chocolates made before our very eyes, free popcorn and a free TIFF canvas bag.  Fernando even managed to get other Lindt flavours because he's so well known in the lounge!  Our new friends even treated Carla and I to a glass of wine!  When time was nearing to go into the theatre, Fernando and Mario told us to sit, relax, and enjoy our wine - that they would save us some seats.  Of course, having just met them we were in awe that they were so willing to help us!  I decided to go back into the lobby and await Colin's arrival.  Having been at this venue to see him last year in "Arthur Newman", I knew my best chance to obtain an autograph would be there.  Meanwhile, Mario instructed Carla to hold on tight to the strap of his bag and not let go while they entered the theatre.  A few minutes after I arrived in the lobby, I received a text from Carla stating "We are fckn front row!".  Our new friends became our guardian angels from above!  Not only did they get enough seats for us, they gave up prime real estate and let us have the two seats front row dead centre!  People kept trying to take my seat while I was in the lobby but Carla and the gang told them all that I was in the lobby doing an interview and would be there shortly.

 

   Things were getting intense in the lobby as Colin inched his way closer to me through the press and  paparazzi.  I held on to my Colin Firth Diet Club sheet with great hopes of acquiring Colin's autograph.  When choosing what to bring for an autograph, I figured this was the most special as it was personally meaningful to me and the best 'gold star' I could achieve for the progress I've made in nearly a year!  I could hardly contain myself when he got near enough that I was able to thrust the paper and Sharpie pen in his hand - and I got it!  He signed the Colin Firth Diet Club!  Now, you are probably asking yourselves - did he look at what he was signing?  Did he know about it?  And sadly he didn't have enough time to take in what he was signing.  I was the first person he gave an autograph to and he proceeded to sign a few others with my pen (actually it was Carla's and she's never getting it back!).  Had you taken my blood pressure at that moment, I think the cuff may have exploded!  I stepped back to let others have a chance and texted Carla "I got it!" which she relayed back to our Guardian Angels who all shouted and jumped with joy at the news!

       

                                    

   "Devil's Knot" was also based on a true story and was rather disturbing as it told the story of 3 young boys murdered in Arkansas.  Colin played the detective who investigated the case.  After the premiere, Atom Egoyan, the Director, along with the cast came up on stage for a Q & A session.  Our Guardian Angels informed me that should I not manage to get Colin's autograph in the lobby I could try after the film.  The cast exits out the stage side door and this is where the cars meet to pick them up.  I didn't need to go as I already secured my autograph, but while Carla went in search of a ladies room, I followed the cast out into the side street.  Colin made a speedy escape but I did see Stephen Moyer and James Hamrick.  James signed my ticket stub and posed for a photo with me.  Then I went to find Carla to fetch my car and reminisce about our good fortune that night!!  The whole evening seemed so surreal and we wonder, Fernando, Mario et al.,   are you real?  Are you really angels sent from above?  We many never meet again...but we will never forget you guys! 

   I went to TIFF the following two nights and saw "Blood Ties" with Melissa (Clive Owen fan!), and "Kill Your Darlings" (with John) and one last time on Thursday to see "The Love Punch" with Pierce Brosnan and Emma Thompson.  We kept our eyes open for Fernando and Mario but didn't see them - hope we run into each other again at TIFF 2014!  You will be forever known as the Fantastic Five who helped make my wish come to fruition that night!  Thank you!