I
used to love malls, then I got lazy and did not want to
leave home to shop as much. Now, in SecondLife,com, I
can walk around a beautiful mall, the kind with a big
fountain in the middle and relaxing places to sit and
watch people -- and even buy things based on photos.
What is really fun is having an avatar and looking like
anything I want - and meeting people who all look like
they want. It's one beautiful -- or crazy world. Here
are some short videos that show what avatars can do
there -->
http://secondlife.com/showcase/media.php.
My husband is in a "grilled
food" mood. Today, he is grilling up a lot of hamburger
and hot dogs to freeze and take to work and eat (and for
us here at home, too). Not only that, but we just
received an order for a big batch of grilled pork from
my son-in-law's brother - who is a professional,
award-winning cook, traveling to national competitions.
Jonathan is the best son-in-law ever and Jayson is the
best cook -- I love relatives.
Also, I am loving SecondLife. I just bought an island
there. If you ever want to visit, come see me at
"Terry's Isle" in the Dreamland Community as I develop
the land into a nice residence. I plan to build a little
house with a beautiful outdoors garden. I have these two
GREAT Aussie neighbors who took me out boating the other
day -- loads of fun. We have a good community. (Oh my
gosh -- it sounds so much like real life. I wish you
could all see this place.)
My
husband is allergic to this weed. "Privet" is invasive,
stinks and causes much sneezing for many people. I was
surprised to see it for sale in a plant catalog. It
hurts native species and our city's botanical garden
always pulls it out as a weed.
I took this photo of it along the greenway. The tiny
blooms are cute even though the plant is does evil
things.
My
sister Deborah, needed a hysterectomy and got much
advice from a wonderful website,
Hystersisters.com, the hysterectomy recovery
support site.
This site has up-to-date
information, news, message boards, medical articles
including the latest research and personal help. My
sister loved it so much that she became an official
staff member and helps with the message boards. She was
able to go through her own surgery with confidence.
(Message board posting must run in the family since I
have been a message board manager since the mid 1980's.)
If you are had or are thinking of having this surgery,
check the site out. It also has the latest research on
other medical conditions for women or men such as
ovarian cancer or sexual dysfunction. They do nothing
but good there.
From "Tech Support," this
is a good list - and pretty thorough -->
46 Best Freeware Utilities. I guess he couldn't
make it to fifty because this is all there is (just
kidding).
I love this soup and my
daughter made some out-of-this world ministrone. It was
a great success. Here's her recipe.
Ministrone
Soup
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 onions, chopped
2 cups chopped celery
5 carrots, sliced
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
4 cups tomato sauce
1/2 fluid ounce red wine
(optional)
1 cup canned kidney beans,
drained
1 (15-ounce) can green
beans
2 cups baby spinach, rinsed
3 zucchinis, quartered and
sliced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh
oregano
2 tablespoons chopped fresh
basil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup seashell pasta
2 tablespoons grated
Parmesan cheese for topping
1 tablespoon olive oil
1. Over medium-low heat, in a
large stock pot, heat olive oil and saute garlic for 2 to 3
minutes. Add onion and saute for 4 to 5 minutes. Add celery
and carrots, saute for 1 to 2 minutes.
2. Add chicken broth, water and tomato sauce, bring to boil,
stirring frequently. If desired add red wine at this point.
Reduce heat to low and add kidney beans, green beans,
spinach leaves, zucchini, oregano, basil, salt and pepper.
Simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, the longer the better.
3. Fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to a boil.
Add macaroni and cook until tender. Drain water and set
aside.
4. Once pasta is cooked and soup is heated through place 2
tablespoons cooked pasta into individual serving bowls.
Ladle soup on top of pasta and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on
top. Spray with olive oil and serve.
It's time for one of those
complete physical checkups this year. Everyone should
get them from time to time and this year, I am getting
tested for everything. I went through the heart stress
tests and exams -- no problems found. Whew!
It
was interesting at the lab -- about 3 women getting
tested and 15 men. I know women must have heart problems
just as much as men -- only women's heart problems are
harder to detect. What I really didn't like was having
to wear a hospital gown and NO BRA in front of 15 men.
Oh well - I was proud of myself on the treadmill since I
have had an exercise program for the past 10 years or so
and I showed pretty good endurance.
On another
note, I am not sure I like SecondLife yet. I feel so
alone wandering through the stores and houses. Its like
a big deserted city. Nobody is home, usually. There are
clubs and casinos where people gather, but I don't know
what to do when I get there ... find people to IM, I
guess.
