Friday, January 27, 2012

Scarf Envy

Have you noticed that everywhere you go you see lovely ladies wearing scarves?  And they look so cool...so sophisticated.  My Susan is among the best at attractively wearing a scarf.  Her mother is not.  Susan's scarves never seem to move out of place.  Mine never seem to find the right place.

I have a turquoise felt jacket with the perfect, perfectly beautiful matching scarf.  I put this ensemble on one Sunday morning recently.  When I felt I had found just the right jaunty angle for the scarf--which was casually thrown over my left shoulder--I decided to take matters into my own hands and safety pin the thing in place.  The casual effect of this arrangement was ruined when a couple of people at church had to "fix" my scarf.  The end that was supposed to be thrown behind me was hanging down in the front.  I practically melted into a pool of tackiness.

Yesterday I took a friend for a medical procedure.  I put on a sweater and matching scarf.  I did the thing where you throw both ends behind you, somehow contort your arms to cross the two ends over in the back, then bring the ends to the front.  If I do say so myself, and I do, for once I looked pretty good.  I did a bit of self admiration in the mirror at the surgery center before going to eat my yogurt which I had brought with me for breakfast.  Then I settled in to read my book.  I don't know what caused me to reach up and adjust my scarf (other than habit), but when I did, I felt something soggy.  Hoping it was just a drop of the water I had been drinking, I pulled the scarf out a bit and looked down to check.  I had dribbled quite a bit of yogurt onto my well-placed scarf!  I just give up!

Literally everyone in New York wears a scarf.  Actually I did quite well with mine there.  It was solid black, and I didn't care how it was tied as long as it kept some of that cold air out.  Of course, we hauled our frozen selves down to Canal Street for some bargains.  I didn't buy much--just two SCARVES!  What was I thinking?

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

The Palm Springs Follies

When I made my reservation for the Palm Springs trip with my bank travel club, I was asked if I wanted to add the optional Palm Springs Follies show.  I was not too interested, but our hostess said everyone was going.  I didn't want to be a square, so I forked over $90 to be included. 

I missed the fine print when reading about the follies.  It said, "This show features music and dance from the 40's, 50's, 60's, and 70's--with a cast old enough to have lived it!"  So...I didn't know what to expect.

The venue was charming--a huge, beautifully refurbished movie theatre in quaint downtown Palm Springs.  It was immaculate.  Every light burned, and every seat was filled!  Susan would have loved it!

The first act of the show was a rather typical gaudy, wild musical spectacular.  Things got more interesting in the second act.  Each of the "showgirls" was introduced individually as she walked down a staircase, assisted by her gentleman partner.  They all wore the most elaborate and expensive-looking costumes I have ever seen.  The headdresses were HUGE.  I don't know how the "showgirls" even held them aloft!

There was something very unusual about the ten showgirls.  One by one they gave their bios, including their impressive past gigs and their ages!  When the first one said she was 60 years old, I was surprised to say the least.  The next two were 63, then 68, 69, 73, 74, 75, 76, and the oldest was 78!  They were all slim and trim looking, but their fabulous costumes seemed to be made of industrial strength Spanx with appropriately placed embellishments.  My only photo:



The third act featured guest star, 70-year-old John Davidson!  He was very entertaining, with a shock of very white hair providing many laughs.  His singing was still very pleasant.  I really enjoyed seeing him in person.

So...if you think you've seen everything, you probably haven't, unless you've been to the Palm Springs Follies with its "Thousand-Year-Old Chorus Line."  That statement is on the cover of the Follies Confidential, a National Enquirer type magazine we were handed as we entered.  It also touts an article about  the "World's Oldest Showgirl" who "must still work to feed 7 children and 13 grandchildren!"  She is supposedly the one who is 78!

I think once is plenty for me to see the Follies, but it was certainly a unique experience.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Same Old Resolution: New Approach

A post on Facebook this morning by my friend Deanne Hammons really grabbed my attention.  The article to which the post referred was by Lysa TerKeurst and regarded our age old nemesis: weight!  In discussing her struggle with ever increasing jean size, Lysa realized that there was a more important problem within her heart.  She said her weight was an outside indication of an internal situation.  Then she said, "Honestly, I might as well have taken Psalm 23 which talks about the Lord being my shepherd and my comfort and replaced His Name with various foods."  I identified with this concept, so I did just that.

1.      Food is my shepherd, I shall not want.

2, 3.  Doughnuts make me lie down in green pastures.  Ice cream leads me beside still waters.  Coffee    restores my soul.  Starbucks leads me in paths of righteousness for its name's sake.
 
4.      Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I am able to ignore all dangers, for    pizza is with me; chips and dip comfort me.

5.      Restaurants prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; they anoint my plate with any food I desire; they keep my glass filled to overflowing.

6.      Surely fatness and high cholesterol shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the
house of unhealthy misery forever.

This year of 2012, I do not want to crave food more than I crave God's presence in my life.  I do not want to turn to food to be the friend with whom I celebrate the good times.  I do not want to ever rely on food to be my comfort. 

Lysa suggested keeping a pocket sized notebook nearby.  When food is craved, ask "Am I really hungry or am I craving something else like comfort, peace, or a reward?" 

I just looked up "nemesis" in Webster's.  One of the definitions is: "An opponent that cannot be beaten or overcome."  Weight is not a nemesis in this respect because, "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:13