I didn't fall in...

Well, it's spring, here we are in late April and realized with all the things and events going on in my life that I haven't posted a blog in a very long time. It's fun to do this but when important matters take over, one has to do what they have to do. First off, my mother was diagnosed with having hip diplasia back in March. She was having severe pain in her back and legs and thought it was her veins/legs or a pinched nerve/back problems. After going back to the doctors who did her vein surgery, getting a second opinion from them, that it could be arthritis and all the while still getting worse, she finally went to see her primary care doctor. I have to say when a specialist says point blank to you "I don't know" that can be very scary. It's something that unnerves me and a word to the wise, always see your primary care doctor first. No one listened to me when I first suggested that, but such is life. So here we are, going to get a new right hip after waiting a month for the surgery. Tuesday the 28th is the day and I have been told she will be good as new again. :)

I am still going to do the WFH next week on May 3rd.

It's time of year again....

I know I haven't blogged in awhile... been busy with life and stuff. But neverthe less it's that time of year again to start thinking about the Project Breads Walk For Hunger in Boston which happens on the 1st Sunday in May. I usually participate with my walking group, but this year I decided to lead a group of my own. The main reason being is that the woman who heads up the walking group, fell down the stairs and broke her ankle. Not being sure if she could do the walk, I decided to take it upon myself and develop Team Social Fun (which is my social group).





We have a team page and I also have a personal page. This walk means alot to me. We need to eat to live and function and with the economy gone south, the food banks around MA will need the support more than ever this year.


This will be my first time as a team leader for a walk like this. Being more of an introvert than outgoing, this will also help me get out of my shell even more and raise my confidence level.





I did the walk last year after a 20 year hiatis and was able to complete the entire 20 miles with only 3 minor blisters.



To see our team page and my personal page:
http://www.projectbread.org/goto/socialfun
http://www.projectbread.org/goto/phaedrac


To read more about the walk:
http://www.projectbread.org




As I get ready and near the time of the walk, I post some blogs about it, so stay tuned.

Tea Time at the Bristol Lounge

With all the bitter cold weather we have been having in Boston, what better way than to warm up than with tea. On Saturday, a group of 9 friends and I decided to attend "afternoon tea" at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston. I first heard about this a few weeks back and was excited to go. We all met up in the hotel lobby, which I can say is very posh and the maitre'de makes you feel like an instant celebrity. The attire is smart casual. I wore dressy dark blue fitted jeans, a polo sweater and black high heels.

Tea is held every afternoon between 3 and 4:30pm in the Bristol Lounge with your choice of about 10 teas. I had the English Breakfast. Wanted something traditional and british since this is my first tea event. With your tea, you were also provided your own tea kettle. Most of us ordered the Four Seasons sandwich/desert menu- which came on 3 tiers. The top tier included raspberry scones and finger-size walnut bread. The middle tier included small finger size smoked ham and egg salad sandwiches. I had the smoked ham since I don't eat/like eggs. The bottom was walnut and lemon pastries. The Four Seasons is also extremely accomodating- if you have any food allergies or practice being a vegan- they cater their menu for you.

Afternoon tea is a great gift idea for the mother, wife, sister or girlfriend who has everything or if you want to do something completely different. It's nice to be pampered for an hour or two by their extremely polite waitstaff. The atmosphere is very relaxing where after tea, people can gather to catch up.

So, you ask what is the price for something like this. With the menu- which includes the tea, gratitude(tip) and tax- everything to 35.00 per person. I would definitely go again and this time take my mom and aunts since I think they would enjoy this.

Cheers!

Four Seasons website:
http://www.fourseasons.com/afternoon_tea/
http://www.fourseasons.com/boston/dining/the_bristol_lounge.html

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Yesterday, my social group and I headed out to the Weston Ski Track in Weston MA to take part in Winter Trails Day and learn to snowshoe. Having wanted to try this sport last year, I was more than game when the opportunity came up. Winter Trails Day is where the ski/snowshoe instructors and vendors give free demos of the sport as well as food/hot chocolate. 20 of us met at 9am. The day was sunny and bright, but bitter cold - 15-20 degrees. Dressed in my winter jacket, hat and gloves, I was all set to learn a new winter sport.




Now, putting on the snowshoes were kind of easy but you have to make sure that the boots you are wearing fit up against the bottom just right and are strapped in tight. Since I wore sneakers- yes I know my feet were freezing, one should wear boots and any kind will do. Snowshoes are also fitted by your weight and there are 3 kinds that people can choose from. The instructor was pretty good in explaining how to get ready for a day of snowshoeing. Wear ski/synthetic clothing- no cotton since it can get wet. Bring a back pack of water, some food and dry clothing just in case and wear layers since one can burn as much as 1000 calories an hour.

For our demo, we walked around the Weston ski track for about 20-45 minutes. I have to say that it does bring your heart rate up and very similar to a cardio workout. The snow was very crunchy from being so cold. We also learned how to trek up a small hill as well as go down- which is side ways so you don't slip. Snowshoeing is a fun way to get out and enjoy the winter and very easy to do. If you can walk, then you can snowshoe. You might feel the burn in your legs the next day- but it's all good. I think I may have a new winter hobby.

For gear head to : http://www.llbean.com or http://www.rei.com/snowshoe
Special thanks to Kelly and Amy for taking pics yesterday.

When life hands you lemons... make lemonade

Things don't always turn out as you plan them to. I learned this lesson the other day as one of the assistant organizers for my social group. I had planned a fun first night event for all of us - about 40 people to attend with me in Boston. I was looking forward to this event for the month of December and had an agenda planned out. I enjoy cultural events and New Years Eve is a great time to see them. Plus, I had never done First Night. And wouldn't you know that we got a snowstorm. Hence, I had to cancel the event since I couldn't even drive to the T.

While on the computer that afternoon, my friend Eric and I got talking we decided to go into town the next day. It was a sunny but bitter cold day(like 5 degrees all day)but we braved the elements. We ended up taking in the Isabella Gardner muesum(www.gardnermuseum.org) at the Fenway. It was free to all button holders (yes, makes me feel better than I didn't blow 20 bucks out the window) and everyone on New Years Day. It's an ellectic place- with alot of different kinds of art, tapestry and an indoor park/yard to view. Afterwards, we wandered over to the Pru for lunch and people watching. Had a blast and it was the best time that I had in along time and things do a have a way of working themselves out.

What my blogs will be about....

Mostly my blogs will be about the events and adventures going on in my life. I am a pretty active person who likes to try new things. Going to try and keep it on a postive level as well.