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- Pickleball Y’all?
Ever heard of pickleball? Better yet, have you ever played pickleball? I switched workout clubs recently and the new one, Piedmont Health & Fitness, has a pickleball program. I had never in all my life heard a single word about such a peculiar-sounding game prior to joining PHF. Now I’m a pickleball fanatic. Pickleball is a cross between ping pong and tennis. If you enjoy either of those you’ll likely find pickleball a fun, in between alternative. The court is large enough to provide a good cardio workout, which you don’t get with ping pong, but it isn’t as large as a tennis court, which cuts back on your exertion. In addition, it doesn’t call for as much upper body strength as tennis does. And much like ping pong, strategy is key! Scoring is a bit complicated. Actually, it’s very complicated. I played my first ever, official game today and the scoring aspect befuddled me to the end. Serving, executing hits, and volleying were a piece of cake, but the mental math and memorizing various details got in the way of me joyfully hitting the ball. Patience, I imagine, is key with this aspect! Before I started playing, I bought some sporty, K-Swiss court shoes and a couple beginner racquets. A light, beginner racquet is a great starting point. I must admit, in spite of superb eagerness, I was a little intimidated to play at first. It was, however, comforting to learn that people of all ages play pickleball. So far all the players I’ve met have been friendly and enthusiastic to share their knowledge. Best of all, it’s a great game to partner up with someone. Jeff will soon be joining me on the court. Discovering at this “stage in the game,” that there’s a new, fun sport that the hubby and I can dive into together is simply welcome news. Check it out for yourself! Thank you for stopping by! Love, Shelley (MERRY CHRISTMAS!) Miracle Bar Atlanta
- The Most Wonderful Time(s)
It’s here: The most wonderful time of the year! Do you agree with that? I do, at least to some extent — the giving part in particular. Here’s my motto: whatever “it” may be, “it” isn’t yours until you give “it” away. Yes, it truly is better to give than receive. We reap what we sow, right? Other wonderful aspects of Christmas time: gathering family, attending 12.24 candlelight service, eating, drinking, keeping warm in spirit, joining together gaily. I must add, of particular importance [IMHO] during December, is acknowledging the birthday bash at hand. Save for the holy baby — whom we’re all eternally indebted to — there would be no Christmas. Who wants to be left out of eternity? Not me! It’s so bloody (no pun intended) easy not to be. On a different note, my family is immensely blessed and excited to have my 88-year-old mother (Gam) join us this Christmas (she turns “89” December 27th). Do you have an elderly mother, father, aunt, uncle, or other close by? Unique, right? I’m the older angle of Triangle Park…cheers…or not! Maybe every generation feels this way, but I could have sworn I’d stay in the 20s, 30s, or even 40s forever; but 50s, almost 60s?? Who knew. My counter parts are daughters who are…umm…are much younger. As I acquire birthdays (56), I become more and more fascinated and intrigued by elderly people. Savanna, Diana, and I are trying to pin down a common ground of blog-togetherness. It aint easy. Please pray as we sort out our continuity cohesiveness. So, ya, Christmas time in Triangle Park’s realm is about giving and loving, especially to and on beloved elderly whose priceless, precious time is particularly prized. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley Gramma Lois – Gone and Loved On… Savanna’s blog: ‘Tis the season to be jolly
- December Birthdays
“Did you feel left out?” “Did your presents get skimped?” “Did your mom go extra lengths for your birthday?” It’s impossible to count how many times I’ve heard all of the above. Is having a December birthday a big bummer or a jackpot party? I wouldn’t know because my birthday isn’t in December, but I do have family members who call December their debut day: a daughter, Savanna, and my mother, Diane. In part, geography may contribute to the answer. My mother, who will turn 89 on December 27, bemoans winters in Michigan where she grew up. “The sun doesn’t shine for three months,” and “nobody wants to even think about presents after Christmas,” she says. Conversely, spring-like December days are relatively common in Atlanta, and what if your birthday is before Christmas? No doubt, gloomy skies can get you down whether you add a year of life or not, and who can deny the sigh of relief once the build-up of Christmas passes. Energy and enthusiasm are in short supply after 12.25. Personally, this includes New Year’s Eve; I prefer to stay home, watch others whoop it up on t.v., doze off at a reasonable hour, and party the rest of the year — just not on 12.31. One exception: If your birthday is NYE, I’m in! And then there’s having a baby in December. I dare say, there is nothing more peaceful and holy than anticipating the gift of a first-born child in the month that Christians celebrate Jesus’ birthday: Utterly Magnificent. But, yes being the mother of a December 19 daughter had its challenging aspects. Sorting out what gift was from Santa, which was from Mom/Dad, and which would be for birthday always befuddled me. I was a happy camper indeed when we bid “Santa” farewell. So, does having a December birthday pose an “odd-month-out” or a “gifts-galore” perception? Again, I’ll never know. What I do know, is that loved ones born in the same month as Jesus sparkle as special! Thank you for stopping by! Love, Shelley
- Thanksgiving 2018
Thanksgiving 2018 has come and gone. I hope everything about yours was great: the company, ease of shopping, personality cohesiveness, delicious food, speedy clean up…everything. The last couple of years we spent Thanksgiving at Ansley Golf Club. Doing so meant there were no complicated recipes or laborious shopping trips to contend with. It also meant there was guaranteed tender turkey, zero clean up, and lots of friendly service! Celebrating Thanksgiving in a stress free environment like AGC was a welcome diversion from the ordinary routine, especially given Thanksgiving a couple years prior was borderline disastrous. An old friend of mine told me a story about a time her mother spent hours in the kitchen preparing Thanksgiving dinner. After a huge casserole finished cooking her mother pulled it out of the oven and carried it into the living room where the family was gathered. She proceeded to turn the casserole dish upside down on the floor, in front of everyone. The steaming hot dish oozed over the carpet, shockingly. My friend’s mother left that night and never returned. Sad. Our “disastrous” Thanksgiving wasn’t quite like that but it was nerve-racking all the same. This year we opted out of dining at AGC. Overall everything turned out well: green beans, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, incredible stuffing from Steve Doocey’s The Happy Cookbook, cranberry sauce, etc. The turkey was tender but I did happen upon a few chewy bites that left me disappointed (oh the pressure of it all)! When one’s nest is empty it truly is wonderful to have baby birds fly home for holidays. Both Savanna and Diana were here this year! Of course everyone knows there’s a future son-in-law on my horizon. It was a pleasure having him join us. Joey makes me burst out laughing with his quick-witted humor. Amidst labor-intense holiday cooking laughter is a coveted gem for sure. My mother also joined us. Grandparents add a special something to holiday gatherings. Thanksgiving day or not, I’m thankful every single day. For: friends, family, and God. Thank you for stopping by! Love, Shelley Thanksgiving: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly Required: 5 years management experience
- Birthday Recalls
Do you remember where you were and how you celebrated your 21st birthday? Savanna and Diana wrote about their memories last week. I will never forget my 21st birthday, especially the car accident. Like most moms, I’ve thrown my share of child birthday parties. Diana desired a party almost every single year. Some celebrations outshine others. In regard to Savanna, a “Pocahontas” party stands out. Pocahontas herself showed up for crying out loud! Savanna was turning four-years-old. It was a gorgeous, 63-degree Atlanta afternoon in the middle of December. Colors of the Wind played from a boombox, little girls twirled and danced in the front yard. Strangely, I also recall Jeff videotaping the party…catching noteworthy angles of Pocahontas’ ample upper torso :-). You may have heard, Diana turned 21 last week. We threw a charming gathering with some of her Georgia Tech friends. Fried avocado tacos, pink champagne, plenty of laughter, and gifts for all was abundant. I turned 21 in Atlanta, Georgia, 1983. I’d just returned to ATL after growing up in Portland, Oregon for 12 years (my journey was perpetually coast to coast and trans Atlantic). It was Monday night, March 14 and my mom’s friend, Linda, was in town from Portland. We’d lived this round in Atlanta for all of six months. Dad had already returned to the west, Utah. Our brand new, decorated, Dunwoody house was back on the market. Not surprisingly, my social life had yet to take off. The Limelight, Atlanta’s Studio 54, was the place to party. So, that’s where Mom, Linda and I headed in the family, four-door, Ford Mercury. I was the driver — which was somewhat perplexing because back in Oregon I wasn’t allowed to drive the Ford Mercury. Heading south on Roswell Road, one turns left onto infamous Piedmont Road toward “Disco Kroger.” A stone’s throw from making that left on to Piedmont, a fire engine stormed behind me, siren blaring. I signaled and rested on the right-hand curb just shy of the turn. As the fire truck blew by I was given instructions from Mother to “go, go, go.” While acting, a fast-driving car flew by clipping the Ford Mercury’s bumper into a vertical direction. No one was hurt, however the car was rendered un-drivable. We continued to The Limelight via taxicab. Savanna and Diana’s rendition of their 21st birthday celebrations make me happy and whole. Reflecting on my 21st birthday makes me squint and rub my temples in search of pressure release. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley NYC before heading to ATL 1982 – 20-years-old
- Planning Sav’s Wedding
When Savanna and I began planning her wedding I had a sense of ease, a calm contentment as though marrying first-born daughters was similar to birthing them. I dreamt about it, looked forward to it, prepared for it. Essentially, I turned the bulk of fruitfulness over to God; the grandiose arrival of it all was in His hands. No worry, no hurry. Everything will be just fine. A few weeks ago Sav and I met our wedding planner-extraordinaire and friend, Sean O’Keefe http://www.seanokeefeevents.com/, at his meticulous studio. We enjoyed coffee, chatting, sketching, envisioning, and laughing (at times uncontrollably). Sean’s studio is wall to wall with particular décor. He pulled out all sorts of wedding party embellishments that were spot on with Savanna’s taste. We left the appointment feeling secure and confident that a wedding made in heaven was on the horizon. There are exactly eight months and one week to go until Joey and Savanna’s official Vows day, June 29, 2019. In terms of every day life that’s a decent amount of time. Conversely, if you’re planning a wedding it’s about two eye blinks, left then right. The two-eye-blink analogy occurred to me three and a half weeks ago when a Holy Sh** Worry tsunami crashed over me. You have no experience with weddings There’s no family here to share There’s too much to do What if I fail Fear How can something start off so seamlessly then suddenly turn into a who-are-you-kidding-there’s-no-earthly-way-you-can-pull-this-off panic syndrome? Is there any better way to lift your self up than by reaching out to help and join others in their moment of doubt and need? Jeff and I gathered at a friend’s house about a week ago to honor and support a long-time, dear friend fighting cancer. We were there to comfort, encourage and give support and ended up feeling it in return. As we enjoyed a lovely, bittersweet reunion I caught up with another long-time, precious friend that I don’t often see. I was stunned by what she said. Right then and there she offered to host a gathering for Savanna’s wedding – breakfast, brunch, cocktails – ‘whatever you like,’ she said. I was dumbstruck and to some degree still am. My friend’s gracious offer planted an indescribable seed of joy and courage: Not only can I do this wedding-planning stuff, I can do a great job while at it. Family may not be close by, but there are friends around. So far, turning the bulk over to God has been the best wedding-planning idea yet. Thank you, Sarah. God Bless You. Proverbs 11:24-25 24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley
- Like Owner Like Dog
Remember the dogs that looked like their owners in 101 Dalmations. Physical appearance is one thing but have you ever noticed dog demeanor in relation to their owners? No doubt, Savanna and Diana look like me physically and in behavior. So…could my beloved four-legged son, Gus, have a tendency to exhibit canine characteristics relative to moi? Last week as I was preparing a killer Paula Dean meatloaf that called for oatmeal (hubby’s fave) instead of breadcrumbs, I discovered I had zero eggs. Expletive ~ expletive ~ expletive slipped right out of my mouth. In three short years we will cross the 30-year mark living on the same street, in the same house. One might imagine there’d be a neighbor or two that I could borrow one bloody egg from. Idk, times have changed is all I can say – people come and go and lifestyles differ. The good news: Atlanta was relishing yet another blue sky, 85-degree October day. Gorgeous! Half-happily I headed to the grocery store on foot which is only a couple blocks away. Omitting such a fundamental meatloaf ingredient such as eggs made me not the best of company for myself – scold, scold, scold. As I approached the final turn I couldn’t have been more delighted to notice a neighbor friend from our street. This neighbor is lovely, elegant, intelligent, and her son is a dear friend of Diana’s. She was out enjoying the stunning day as well with her gorgeous, lovely, elegant, intelligent dog, Lucky — virtual clones of deportment. With animation and effervescence (Italian-esque hand gestures and orderly ADHD :-), I expressed my joy in bumping into the two of them. Calmly and collectively they returned the sentiment. As I reined my awe and envy in at their similar deportment I resumed the egg journey, delighted we had arranged a future coffee date together. My (our) beloved Gus is an affectionate, at times over-zealous but always well-meaning, sometimes silly and positively eager dog, publically and privately. I, too, fit comfortably into those categories. Coincidentally, my neighbor’s dog ostensibly mirrors her poised demeanor. Could we possibly be influencing our dog’s personality? Just in case the answer is YES…as of today, I’m going to stop apologizing for Gus’ innocuous idiosyncrasies. He is who he is and I’m hopelessly proud of him. Incidentally, my lovely neighbor and I agreed that we will knock on each others doors when in need of eggs or other incidentals. Glory be God! https://triangleparkatl.com/2018/10/12/carbonara/ https://triangleparkatl.com/2018/10/12/best-food-in-nc-and-va/ Thank you for stopping by! Love, Shelley
- Movie Star Night
My handsome husband and I had the privilege of attending a dinner last weekend where Jim Caviezel was the guest speaker. It took place in a beautifully decorated chapel inside of Church of the Apostles, Atlanta, Georgia. Leading the Way, an Apostles’ outreach ministry, was celebrating 30 years. Mr. Caviezel was the guest speaker. Both Jeff and I were excited to attend, as we always have been for previous celebrations of Leading the Way. We very much enjoyed shaking hands with Mike Huckabee, Allen West, Dr. Youssef, and of course visiting with dear friends. With all due respect and admiration to the above, I was extra eager to get up close and personal with Jim Caviezel. I don’t know about you but after seeing Passion of the Christ, whenever I envision Jesus I revert back to Caviezel’s performance of him. Profound to say the least! I’m not star struck by nature but I cannot tell a lie, my boat began to float from the time the invitation arrived. Omg, maybe I can get my picture taken with…with…Jesus…I mean Jim Caviezel…omg! I was all but certain it would happen. After all, we’d taken photos with other “special guests.” Jeff and I sat at a table with some of our favorite friends and also had the pleasure of meeting new folks from Egypt and Germany. The meal was delicious: steak, salmon, asparagus and a creamy, dreamy dessert that I still regret. Caviezel’s speaking started off slowly. He mostly read straight from notes, peering over eyeglasses from time to time. We were skeptical. But, oh my, did the momentum pick up. He gave an energizing speech saying things like: “Even if you don’t believe in God, he believes in you” and, “Set yourselves apart from this corrupt generation. Be saints. You weren’t made to fit in. You were born to stand out.” What was especially moving is learning how much he personally suffered making Passion of the Christ. Caviezel was literally whipped, struck by lightening, and he under went open heart surgery, five and a half months of hyperthermia and a separated shoulder. He talked about being up on the cross and learning that in suffering is redemption. He said, “the suffering made my performance.” It was really fun learning details about Mel Gibson’s initial pursuit of Caviezel to play Jesus. Mel wanted, “the guy with the initials JC who just happened to be 33-years-old.” Two hours never passed so fast. Before I knew it, it was over. Sharing dinner in the same room with Jim Caviezel was indeed a thrill, even if I didn’t score a picture with him (he requested no photos — which, in a way made the even more special). I did, however, find several online that helped satiate the desire all the same. Jim has a new movie coming out next year: Paul: Apostle of Christ. Rumor has it…we won’t be disappointed! Thank you for stopping by! Love, Shelley
- Got Influence?
By virtue of its name INSTAgram can easily be surmised as a social media sensation. Instant gratification is the name of the game these days. I read this short article a few days ago about a famous Instagram “Influencer”: http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/09/23/instagram-influencer-angers-followers-with-in-flight-photo-accessory.html The featured photo in the article enticed speculation about Triangle Park, my family’s blog and Instagram site. How does Triangle Park want to be perceived: Showy and filtered or flawed and imperfect Should we have a Style Book What do readers want to see and read MOST The fairy lights in the above photo are intriguing and engaging. The lights outside of the cabin window look like city lights…as though the jet is landing (an odd time to sip champagne?). Or, are those lights reflections from the fairy lights? If you’re familiar with the small footrest that Ms. Harimaolee is sitting on, you know how petite she must be. The backward view is an interesting, artistic touch. Ms. Harimaolee’s caption indicated she was “star gazing.” I’m not a scientist but I believe star gazing is difficult to do from a commercial aircraft. I certainly have never stargazed from the fuselage. Gazing at her reflection maybe? Does it matter? Which is more important to viewers: artistic embellishment or the not-so-perfect realities of flying [also] in business class? Riding in the front of the aircraft is relatively glamorous, for sure. Nevertheless air travel is still taxing regardless of where one sits. After studying this most interesting photo — the effort Ms. Harimaolee extended and considering the unshown realities of front cabin seats — I decided yes I like her photo very much. It’s somewhat unrealistic but it is aesthetically pleasing and IMHO that outweighs veiled realities (I am an artist after all). What do you think? Thanks for reading! Love, Shelley https://triangleparkatl.com/2018/09/24/football/ https://triangleparkatl.com/2018/09/26/atlanta-sports-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/
- Eat-Drink-Fit
Ever since crossing the 55-year mark, staying healthy and buff (if you can call it that) has practically become a full-time job. Long gone are days of: Eating whatever Exercising for the endorphin buzz Having no clue what joint pain is Hello: Careful snack choices Semi-personal trainers Muscle-injury management If you’re one of Triangle Park’s majority age readers (24 – 35) and you haven’t clicked out, thank you for reading this far. Tips from “those gone before” put you one step ahead of the inevitable, downward-physique game. Here are a few of my healthy snack choices that I use to avoid inflammation, low energy, lackluster skin, fat and illness: Pitaya (dragon fruit) – This is a new kid on the block for me. Looking at this healthy gem is more enjoyable than eating it though, IMHO. The magenta, contrasted with black and white specks is spectacular…God art. https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/7-dragon-fruit-benefits-the-antioxidant-vitamin-powerhouse-1247454 Frog Fuel – This gem of a protein supplement aided me during a muscle injury less than a year ago. There is zero sugar, zero fat, zero carbs and its gluten free! Best of all, it was developed by Navy Seals. If it works for Navy Seal muscles it will work for mine.https://frogfuel.com/ Power Shot (Whole Foods) – This little number is not the greatest tasting beverage on the shelf. I gag it down any way becauset it’s loaded with anti-inflammatory effectiveness and immune system support (ginger, lemon, wheatgrass). Use it or lose it! Isn’t that the truth? After injuring myself last January, I discovered how quickly the body resorts to flab and also how painful it is to withdraw from weekly endorphin highs. I’m back in the game at Piedmont Fitness/ATL. One particular class (Tues./sculpt) is often so small I liken it to having a personal trainer. This buff guy, Jamal, works participants’ bootays to their maximum ability in Tuesday’s sculpt class. Sometimes it takes days to recover. PT is the new MD? If you’re over 55 and haven’t made your way to a physical therapist yet, congratulations! Physical Therapists are in high demand and it’s no wonder. I all but consider mine (Ally) at Atlanta Sport & Spine a miracle worker. Ally solved a wrist/muscle issue for me this year. She also teaches Pilates there. I highly recommend Ally if you’re looking for a PT in Atlanta, and Jamal’s sculpt class at Piedmont Fitness. Atlanta Sport Spine / after pilates this week Cheers to staying healthy and fit! Love, Shelley Two more healthy-living faves that I just HAVE to share :-). R. Thomas makes the Coconut Keifer (Zifty will deliver) and the Oolong tea can be purchased online.
- Music Midtown ’94 vs. 2018
Atlanta’s very own Music Midtown is this weekend. The set up took place today. Gus and I walked around and checked it out. There are four elaborate stages, pop up bars, porta potties, legit entrance/exits, and chain link fencing…lots of it. I attended Music Midtown’s first-ever concert event back in the day (1994). It took place in a vacant lot on Peachtree and 10th. My friend Suzanne, Shelley E. and I walked from Shelley’s house in Ansley Park. It was a leisurely walk that amounted to a few short blocks. We inched our way to the stage by politely saying “excuse me,” “pardon me,” and simply squeezing through the masses. As I recall it, there was only one stage. Paula Cole belted out I Don’t Want to Wait and Atlanta’s own Indigo Girls got the crowds going with Closer to Fine. It was fun, safe, artistically appealing, and oh so different than it appears today. It was really hot today (94 degrees, 85% humidity). There’s no relief tomorrow and hopefully hurricane Florence won’t visit ATL over the weekend. Check out Diana’s blog on how to survive Music Midtown: https://triangleparkatl.com/2018/09/12/5-tips-to-survive-music-midtown/ While Gus and I walked around the park we ran into three, shall we say young people, who asked if they could pet him. Why, of course they could…Gus has no idea what a stranger is. I asked them if they knew who was in this year’s line up and they named a few groups. I was familiar with zero of them. Here’s the official line up: https://www.musicmidtown.com/lineup/ Sadly, I still don’t recognize any of them. Well, I’ve heard of Post Malone but that’s only because he made the news recently because a jet he was riding in had to make a precarious emergency landing. I’m sort of surprised that there aren’t any classical names on the list. It wasn’t too long ago that Lenny Kravitz and Elton John showed up. Oh well, I’m not going any way. But, I was there today and so was Gus . Unlike back in the day, you’ll have to pay to get in (2-day ticket = $155+) and you’ll have an array of stages to wander around to. It was fun watching Midtown Music 2018 all come to fruition and I’m sure it will be fun attending! Thanks for visiting Triangle Park! Love, Shelley The athletic field is not participating in Midtown Music — great place to go for a jog. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=oyYGwdiAkBs
- Thumbs Up to Pets
Fact: Pets Live High On The Hog in our home ~ Why, because they’re entertaining, adorable, and unconditionally loving companions. Why wouldn’t they dwell in the lap of luxury relative to one’s lifestyle? Individual reasons for owning pets are intriguing. My reason is simple: unconditional love, especially for children. It hardly seems fair that all one has to do is care for, love, and respect animals by: Supplying food Scooping poop Sharing affection Providing medical care That’s basically it… Presto: Unconditional Love! Who can deny that humans, as well intentioned as we strive to be, require far more than four modest things to garner unconditional love, and that such love may waver from time to time. We are…after all…human. Back in the day, Jeff and I brought an AKC registered German Shepherd into our home (Buck). We are neither dog nor cat people. We’re both…including horses. Currently, however we don’t have a cat. I’ve been hearing a lot of talk from Sav and Dan suggesting I birth-buy our next, inevitable feline family member. I’ve also heard rumblings that Savanna may add a kitty to her life. If and when Sav or Dan adopts a pet on her own, I’ll be hopelessly happy. Not only because it will be a grand-pet but also for vicarious, unconditional love. Save for God’s love, there is IMHO no tenderness that compares to it. As with all wonderful things in life, there is a downside to pet adopting: their too-soon departures. Losing pets during such small portions of life sucks. But, it’s worth it…for us and more importantly, for them. As the saying goes: It’s better to have loved and lost Than to have never Loved at all As always, thank you for stopping by. Love, Shelley https://triangleparkatl.com/2018/09/05/one-pet-two-pet-three-pet-four/