GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLFRIEND GATHERINGS

Learning from YOU to empower ME !

Another Countdown in Houston – The Return of Blue Bell

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IMG_1045There has been a buzz in Houston over the past few weeks since Blue Bell announced they would start distribution again.    Soon after that announcement, we had a date – August 31, 2015 – and the countdown started.      Now it is over and we all know that we have survived the unimaginable – a hot, humid, horrible summer in Houston without Blue Bell ice cream.

For the past several months, I noticed the ice cream aisles in our supermarkets have been like a ghost town.  The persons that I did encounter on those lonely aisles would have a look of frustration on their faces as we all attempted to determine a suitable substitution for the ice cream that we Texans have enjoyed for over 100 years.    I tried other brands over the past several months and they were flavorful and tasty in their own right.    However, they just didn’t satisfy me like Blue Bell.    It is something that is hard to explain.

So, for the past few weeks, I have had lots of discussions at work, with family and friends about the strategy of acquiring some Blue Bell ice cream on August 31, 2015.    We all believe that everyone will make a mad dash to the supermarket to purchase as much Blue Bell as they can and there will probably be some celebrations.  I know the local news media is planning to report live from some supermarkets.    We are just that serious about Blue Bell Ice Cream.

Even though there will be a limited release of flavors, everyone in my circle is happy to know that Homemade Vanilla is among that release.    It is a signal that a Texas tradition is being revived again.

Welcome Back, Blue Bell Ice Cream!

QUESTION(S):

Are you glad Blue Bell Ice Cream has returned?

 

Is Ignorance Bliss? – The Aftermath of the Ashley Madison Hacking

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HiResThe hacking of the Ashley Madison website and posting of that information on the internet for all to access raised a question for many married persons – “Is my spouse cheating on me?”  When I read about persons searching this information trove I thought about that game we played as adolescents.   The game where we pulled the petals of a flower as we recited “He loves me……He loves me not” hoping that it would end on the right choice.    I know that persons are hoping that they do not find the name and information of their spouse among the Ashley Madison information.   However, if a person does find their spouse’s information, then they will have a hard decision to make about the relational aftermath.   Some will be prepared but I think most will not.   So, here is my advice.

If you don’t plan to GO, then you DON’T want to know.

Otherwise, you are in for an emotional rollercoaster ride where:

  • your trust and belief in your spouse will be destroyed
  • your self-confidence will be destroyed because most victimized spouses feel there is something lacking with them that drives their spouse to cheat
  • it is possible jealousy will drive you to unreasonable behavior

I have a friend who became aware that his wife was cheating on him.   He installed software on her computer that captured all of her chats with her lover.   He told me that he would read the chats every day and spend every night watching her as she slept next to him.   He could not sleep thinking about her daily betrayals.   I was afraid he would snap and hurt her.    Eventually, they divorced.

Also, recently in Houston, we had a woman who tracked her husband traveling in the car with his lover.    She chased him in her car trying to force him to pull over so she could confront them and ended up having a car accident in which she was killed.  Also, the man she hit was seriously injured.

Years ago, an older female co-worker shared her view on cheating to a group of us younger and inexperienced females in the office.   Her view was “you can’t miss what you can’t measure” and this was her way of justifying her behavior.   The statistics indicate that many share her view.   It is estimated that 30 – 60% of married persons in the U.S will cheat at some point in their marriage.

Sometimes we excuse this behavior in men by equating their behavior to a male dog’s instinctive attraction to a female dog in heat.   However, with a woman it is different as she is held totally accountable for her behavior and labeled disreputably for her actions.     Clearly, this is a double standard.

Whether you are a male or female, we all should accept that to cheat is a personal choice.   No one can “take” your spouse from you.

I know it is tempting to peruse through the Ashley Madison’s information but before you do make a plan.    Determine your motivation and how you plan to handle the aftermath.   Also, if you don’t find your spouse’s name, do you consider that the answer to the implied question?

QUESTION(S)

What are your thoughts about the hacking of the Ashley Madison websites and all the latest revelations in the news/social media?

 

Suffer the Children – The Ultimate Consequence of Bad Choices

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Ice floesIt was with a heavy heart that I watched the news report in my hometown, Houston, on Monday as 8 hearses trailed in the funeral procession for the last journey of Valerie Jackson, her husband, Dwayne Jackson, and her six children – Nathaniel, Dwayne, Honesty, Caleb, Trinity and Jonah.    They were all murdered by David Conley and what was most horrifying is that one of the children he murdered was his own son.   For the past two weeks, we all have watched as the story behind this relationship triangle and subsequent tragedy unfolded.

You can read about the facts here at one of the many news stories about it:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/08/13/alleged-killer-of-6-children-says-they-were-becoming-monsters/

I am haunted about this entire situation because of the deaths of the children.    When I mull everything over in my thoughts I keep coming back to no one protected them – not the adults in their lives, not Child Protective Services, and not the court system.    When I think about the mother and the choices she made about the men in her life I feel the children suffered the consequences of those bad choices.    I keep thinking that they will never reach the fullness of their own lives.   It is totally none of my business but I am angry about that fact.

I know the mother was a victim of domestic violence many times over.    I know that experts in that arena caution society not to be judgmental towards victims of domestic violence.     I know the hope is that the victim will come to a realization and acquire the strength to make those choices necessary to become a survivor and a victor.

But, until the victim can get to that point, what happens in the meantime?     What happens when children suffer, are abused, and murdered?     What happens when the vicious cycle continues for years and years (as in this case)?     Where does the responsibility ultimately lie for one to progress from victim to victor?     How do we instill the survival instinct in a person so they will not become a victim of domestic violence?   How do we raise awareness in mothers that the persons they bring into their lives will impact their children lives?

Somehow we need to change the paradigm because the current one isn’t working.    When you have six children that have been brutally murdered because of the choices of the adults in their lives, it is time to re-evaluate and seek answers to the hard questions.    The buck stops somewhere and we need to determine exactly where that place resides.

As for the mass murderer, David Conley, he killed 2 adults and 6 children – in Texas.    Everyone knows that Justice always comes down swift and hard here.    Let us wait to see what happens.

QUESTION(S):

Did you read about these murders?    If so, please share your thoughts.

 

Greta Grypp – Report #6

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SuperChgWomanIt has been a couple of months since I posted a report and I have felt the tips of Greta’s boots on my butt a few times over that period.    If I had to give a title to describe my healthy revamp program during this period it would be called “Life on the Weight-Loss Plateau” because that is where I have been for June and July.     I have been hovering around 27 lbs. lost for 2 months now.

I know this is a normal occurrence when a person is on a weight-loss program but it is still discouraging.    It did not help matters that there was a holiday, a vacation to Mexico, and a couple of out-of-town writing workshops which offered opportunities for me to eat off plan.    Since I wasn’t losing any weight, it seemed easier to justify having that slice of bread or that small dessert and the frequency of that behavior has increased over the past several weeks.

Additionally, I have had some residual pain from my biking accident and had to seek medical attention from a chiropractor.   He has limited my physical activity to only stretching during this period so that has also contributed to the slow down.    I am improving and hope to return to a cardio routine soon.   I really miss my early morning bike rides near the lake.

Today, I am researching on how to break through the plateau.    The first thing I will do is dispel those discouraging thoughts and focus on refraining from reverting back to bad eating habits.    Let’s see what happens by the next report.

 

QUESTION(S)

  1.  Have you ever experienced a weight-loss plateau?   If so, how did you break through it?

 

Sister-Girlfriend MeetUp 2015 – Rejuvenating on the Mexican Riviera

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19358890863_986d684910_zBlue ocean waves.   Soft sandy beaches.  Sunny skies.  Mango Mojitos and Pina Coladas.   Gourmet meals and superb service.   Hot men with sexy “Os” at the end of their names (i.e., Julio, Eduardo, Alejandro, Francisco, Ricardo).   A beautiful resort with colorful manicured gardens, state-of-the art amenities and live entertainment.  Ancient ruins.   These were the ingredients that gave us the ultimate pleasure on the 2nd Sister-Girlfriend MeetUp in Playa del Carmen on the Mexican Riviera.

We were a small group but that did not diminish the rejuvenation, bonding, and laughter that we shared.    There was more interest in the event but there were some ladies that were concerned about traveling to Mexico due to the news media reports that we receive frequently here in the U.S.   However, I can tell you there was not one moment that I ever felt unsafe.    From the moment we arrived in the Cancun airport the service was superb, the service people were attentive, courteous, and helpful.    It remained the same until we departed the Cancun airport after the trip was over to return home.

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Our resort was FABULOUS!   I give high kudos to my travel agent (Brenda Johnson of Explosive Travels – http://www.explosivetravels.com) for her recommendation.   This resort far exceeded our expectations.   I was expecting the traditional Mexican hacienda styled resort that I had experienced in Acapulco (Fairmont Acapulco Princess) and Puerto Vallarta (Barcelo La Jolla de Mismaloya) but I was pleasantly surprised by the modern-style and clean lines of the Karisma Azul Fives Resort.   The décor of the common areas and villas were beautiful which really enhanced the comfy feeling of the resort.   We fell in love with the décor of the restroom in the lobby and I took a picture of one decorative item that I plan to have my handyman create for me.    Even though the resort was full to capacity I did not ever feel any common amenity was over-crowded.

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The information we gathered about the resort indicated that the food was gourmet class and we were not disappointed.   Every morsel I put in my mouth was scrumptious and the presentations on my plate were a work of art.

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We had 24 hour room service, a fully-stocked FREE mini-bar in our room, 7 restaurants onsite, and 2 cantinas to grab something quick.   There was also a wonderful coffee house where we could relax on comfy chairs and sofas to read/chat while we sipped coffee or tea.   All of the food venues were included in the vacation package so there was no extra cost.    During my everyday life, I seldom drink alcoholic beverages but when I am on vacation it is a different matter.   On this trip, I discovered Mango Mojitos and the rum in it was smooth yet potent.   My companions reported the same thing about their drinks.

The beach was all that I expected in the Caribbean.   It was a spectacular place for reading and relaxing.    The pool butlers brought us towels, drinks, and snacks as we reclined on our canopied lounger right on the beach.    We met some wonderful people on the beach and they were mostly from Europe and South America.

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There was also a great gym with state of the art equipment and exercise classes near the beach.   A couple of us enjoyed an early morning stretching class with an ocean view.    There were also wonderful paths between all of the villas and surrounding the resort which was great for walking and jogging.  One of the sister-girlfriends made a new friend walking on those paths.   Check him out!

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In addition to enjoying the resort, we felt safe enough to take a 6-hour roundtrip tour to the 7th wonder of the Modern world – Chichen Itza (http://www.chichenitza.com).  We all felt since we were so close it was worth it to experience the tour.  Along the route, we stopped and had lunch at an authentic Mayan village and visited a 200 feet deep Cenote.   For those who have never heard of a cenote (like me) it is an underground water source in the Mayan jungle.   If you saw the 2006 movie Apocalypto (directed by Mel Gibson), you will remember it.   There are thousands of them in the Mayan jungle.   None of us were daring enough to swim in the one we visited but some of the others on the tour did.   Click the following link to see the video of it.

Here are more pictures of the underground cenote.

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Touring Chichen Itza was amazing.   We could not climb up the steps because it is no longer allowed.   It seemed some spring breakers spray painted it once with graffiti.   Also, some intoxicated persons fell to their deaths from the top.   So, it is now closed for climbing and exploring.    We had an excellent tour guide who was a wealth of information about the history of the Mayan people and human sacrifices at Chichen Itza.   Even though I am not good on long bus rides, it was worth a little discomfort to experience this historical tour as the ancient Mayans were a brillant people

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Overall, everything about this trip exceeded my expectations.   My companions expressed the same thoughts.   It was a wonderful setting to catch up and rejuvenate with your best friend.  We all agreed that we could easily return to Playa del Carmen and the Mexican Riviera at some point in the future.

Special Thanks to my sister-girlfriend, Laura Garza, for sharing some of her wonderful photos of our trip.