GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLFRIEND GATHERINGS

Learning from YOU to empower ME !

Best Things in Life #12 – A Rainy Day

By

monsoon_110003810-012814-int

 

 

 

 

 

Why is it we want to snuggle down under the bedcovers when we hear the sound of rain in the early morning?   I think it is an inherent memory from our prehistoric ancestors of a time to be still and allow the rain to replenish the earth.    I think even then we understood that a rainy day was an opportunity to rejuvenate.

I know all of us have busy lives and a rainy day can cause a level of frustration in trying to accomplish all of those items on our daily schedule.    I know for some of us a rainy day incites the mood to rush around even more which is why there are so many traffic accidents on such days.     I know for some of us a rainy day is a lonely day because it impedes the opportunity to get out and mingle with others.

Sometimes it rains a lot in my hometown of Houston, Texas and my girlfirends and I have learned how to just let it have its way when it comes.    If it is a gentle rain, we usually proceed with our normal schedule.   In fact, we have a little funny justifying statement about those gentle rainy days as we grab our purses and umbrellas to head out of the door.  We say to each other, “Girl, rain don’t stop nothing but a picnic!” and it always ends with laughter.   If it is a flash flood day, we know to stay in place and we look for the opportunity to make it a fruitful day.

Here are some of those opportunities that you can consider for your next rainy day:

  •  An opportunity to sleep in and get more rest
  • An opportunity for personal reflection and meditation
  • An opportunity to try out a new recipe
  • An opportunity to curl up with a good book or watch a DVR’d / Netflix movie
  • An opportunity to pick up the phone and actually call some family and friends to hear their voices
  • An opportunity to sit still and actually listen to some of your saved music on your IPOD
  • An opportunity to work on that scrapbook or photo journal project
  • An opportunity to grab your spouse or lover and make love all day!   (My personal favorite.)

So, the next time you wake up to the sound of rain, don’t groan.    Just consider it an opportunity to slow down and enjoy an activity that is usually not a part of your normal (sunny) day.

QUESTION(S):

What is your first thought when you hear the sound of rain in the early morning?

What are some of the things you do on a rainy day?

 

Greta Grypp Report #2

By

SuperChgWoman

I am about a week late on this report. February was an eventful month and it was not all good.    I backslid a few times right into the point of Greta’s boot and by the end of the month I was bruised and battered from a crash into a ravine on my bike.

In reflecting on last month, I can attribute the root cause of my “backsliding” moments to lack of preparation.   I skipped going to the grocery store because I did not prepare my weekly meal plans.   So, I had too many “grab and go” meals during the month.   My daily schedule changed significantly and the new schedule will remain until mid-May.   I did not adequately plan for my exercise period in the new schedule which resulted in fewer workouts during the week.

I did stay on track with my long bike rides on the weekends.   I completed my first group bike ride in the 13th Annual Humble Lion’s Club Bike Ride which benefits physically challenged and diabetic children.   The routes varied with 22, 46, and 52 miles.  I rode 22 miles on a sunny scenic route with about 400 other riders.    The next weekend, my biking buddies and I started a new practice route at the Jesse H. Jones Nature Center.   We rode on the scenic Judy Bell Trail.

It was at the end of that ride that I had a biking accident injuring my knee and calf when I crashed into a ravine.   Also, I had quite a few sore muscles all over my body.   This resulted with me having to spend a-doctor-mandated 3 days in the bed with my leg either parallel or lifted above my heart and swallowing anti-inflammatory drugs every 12 hours.    I became a little depressed due to being immobile.   Now, I am better mentally but still unable to exercise at full potential.    I am anxious to get back on my bike and on the Judy Bell Trail again.

I am already on track with weekly meal planning and grocery shopping again.  I will wait another week before I attempt to exercise and will start with riding my stationary bike at home.     March will definitely be a better month.

Pictures from the Jesse H. Jones Nature Center – Judy Bell Trail:

047 046 045

 

 

Best Things in Life #10 – Experiencing Snow

By

My Patio SnowLiving down here on the Gulf Coast in Houston there aren’t many opportunities to experience snow.   In the course of my lifetime, I can count the number of times it has snowed here on 1 ½ hands.    The snow that fell to the ground did not last long and melted in a few hours so I guess you can’t really deem that as “experiencing” snow.   Yet, my entire hometown would shut down for the day because we Houstonians don’t know how to drive in those conditions.

My good friend that lives in Cleveland, Ohio would laugh at me when I told her it snowed in Houston.   She told me I didn’t really know what snow was like until I experienced it in a true snowbound city.    After hearing this taunt a couple of times, I decided to take her up on it and went to visit her in the month of February for a long weekend.    This was when I truly experienced snow for the first time.

It was beautiful to look at as she drove me to her home from the airport but when I stepped out of her car I felt like I was about to do the James Brown split.   Apparently, I had the wrong type of soles on my shoes for walking on an icy driveway.   It was so very cold and the snow started to fall really hard like one of the heavy rain days in Houston.   My girlfriend wanted to go out to introduce me to her relatives and have dinner.   I wanted to stay in her house because to me it was a blizzard outside.    She assured me it was not a blizzard but just a normal snowy day.

We drove down streets with snow heaped up like hills on the side.   I noticed it wasn’t so white all of the time and that snow could get a dirty brown color turning into slush.    At one point, we stopped by the grocery store and I saw these unusual contraptions in the store.   When I asked my girlfriend to identify it she gave me a big belly laugh.  She could not believe I did not recognize the contraption and had never seen one.   It was a snow/ice scraper for the car windshield.    I told her we did not need such a tool in Houston so how would I know about it.

I stayed a few days sliding across driveways and fearing for my well-being when we were out on the roads.    When we were in the airport for my return flight home, I was so happy to see the word Houston on the marquee because I knew I was heading to a warmer climate.  After that visit, my girlfriend and I made a pact.   She can come and visit me anytime from November to June and I would visit her anytime from June to October.

Another snow experience was a ski trip to Denver.   I only went once.   I spent the entire trip on my butt with my skis tangled up.   My friends had to help me untangle my skis several times.   Finally, I just sat on the sidelines drinking hot chocolate.   I did not even make the bunny hill.   However, I did enjoy snow tubing.   It was exhilarating!   I have never been so out of control as sliding down a hill of ice on an inner tire tube.

So, I know you are now wondering why is experiencing snow on my “Best Things in Life” list?    It is on my list because it is a beautiful natural gift from God and whatever happens in it is worth experiencing.

Snow

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUESTION(S)

Do you enjoy experiencing snow?   Why or Why Not?

Best Things in Life #9 – A Bike Ride

By

Our Bike PathI won’t say exactly how many years it has been since I threw my leg over, mounted, and rode a bike.   However, I will give you a hint – Beyoncé wasn’t born yet when I did it last.  So, when one of my girlfriends suggested joining her on her weekend bike rides I laughed – loudly.

This conversation occurred on an early cold morning this past March, 2014 while my friend was waiting for the start of the Tour de Houston.   A small group of us had decided to cheer her off, go have breakfast, and cheer her back when she crossed the finish line after her 40-mile ride.   Before she rode off, she announced to us that she was going to nag us until we agreed to join her for the 2015 Tour de Houston.

At breakfast, we munched and discussed her outlandish comment.  However, by the time we stopped for coffee at Starbucks the idea wasn’t so crazy anymore.   At the finish line, we gave her flowers and told her we had decided to join her next year – but only for the 20-mile ride.   After all, we had a whole year to train.

That was the beginning of the wonderful times we have been sharing since March, 2014.

Heidi Bike Riders

Now, the four of us meet every Saturday morning at 6:30am to ride our bikes on the trails in Deussen Park which is near Lake Houston.   We meet this early because it is September in Houston and even then it is humid.   Our weekly distance is already at and beyond 20 miles.   We started our rides on old and borrowed bikes but now each one of us has spent $1000+ on a new bike and accessories.    The guys at Bike Barn are our new best friends and we call our bikes our new boyfriends.   They are reliable, exciting, and sure do give us a thrill!

There have been some down times – crashes, chasing dogs, falls & setbacks, aching muscles – which we have encountered but mostly there has been lots of laughter and camaraderie.   Some of us have started our rides with the handle bars turned backwards, helmets on backwards, and dragging from too much fun the night before.    However, the two things we can always count on is encouragement from each other and the beautiful sights as we pedal, pedal, pedal on the bike paths, through the woods, up the hills and near the lake.  When we need a water break we hang out at Pavilion #9 which I named “Cloud 9”.   It is also our meet-up point when we ride separate paths.

Pavilion 9 -2 Pavilion 9 - 1

It only took the first ride for me to fall in love with biking again.

I can’t adequately describe to you how it feels to watch the sun rise over the lake as we pedal on our bike path with our laughter traveling on the wind but here is a photo to give you a glimpse.

Our Bike Path with Sunrise

Here are some more pictures of our beautiful views.  All beautiful views captured and presented in this post were taken by one of my fellow bikers (Veronica Owens) who was featured for her photography on my blog site during Women’s History Month.

Our Bike Path - Water Our Bike Path - Water-2

Our Bike Path with Fog Our Bike Path with Trees

 

The Best Things in Life #7 – The Appearance of a Rainbow

By

Rainbows have been a part of the human journey since the beginning of time and a symbol linking mankind to the heavens.   We, Christians, believe it is a promise from God.    It is always humbling to look up into the sky and see one.

One of the myths told to children when I was growing up was there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.    Whenever one appeared, my siblings, cousins, friends and I would try to guess which street in the neighborhood it ended on so we could try and find that pot of gold.    We talked about all of the bikes and toys we would buy.   I guess that is what “chasing rainbows” is all about.

I know that we human beings have advanced enough to determine the scientific reasons that rainbows occur and I find that a little sad.   But, recently, my feelings about it was uplifted when there was a double rainbow in my area after a great rain shower and people were stopping in their tracks to take pictures of it with their cell phones.   Unfortunately, I had quickly left my home to go to the grocery store and forgot my cell phone at home.  By the time I arrived home again, the rainbow was gone.    However, I know one will come again.

What happens when you walk out of your home, office, or other building after a rain shower and look up to see a rainbow in the sky?    Does that sense of wonderment grab you?    I hope so.   It is a good thing to still possess that child-like awe of rainbows.

 

 

 

QUESTION(S):

 

When was the last time you saw a rainbow?

What did you do?