gatorcast from paul smith

Yesterday I heard a story on ABC News about how they now think ALL cold medicines do not work and that a plecebo would work just as good.   Yesterday my wife texted me that she had a cold.  I instinctively pulled into a CVS and purchased her most favorite rememdy.  Grape Dimetapp.

I was thinking, did I buy this for her because I thought it will help her cold?   Actually, no,  I bought it more because I wanted to show her I was concerned about her and wanted her to ‘feel’ better and less about it actually reducing the symptoms of the cold.  I know that when she is not feeling well, she does not usuallly like to take medicine, but she will take Grape Dimetapp.    So does cold medicines actually help?  I think yes.

 I am a very blessed man.  Last week Lisa scheduled a massage for herself.  A couple of days before she went I said to her, “Honey I’m jealous!”  I’m not sure why I said that or thought that.  At the time I guess I envied her ability to make the time for what seemed to be  frivolous thing.  I had massge envy.    So after her massage, she called to tell me that it was wonderful, and oh yea, I made you an appointment for 10am next Wednesday with Julia.   “Julia”, I said.   At first I didn’t know what to think.  I really never considered going to get one.    Especially in the middle of the week.    So this morning  after checking in at the office, I headed to Haile to Escape Day Spa for my appointment.   I was surprisingly nervous.  As I was driving across town I as thinking… Do I tip?  Do I take off all my clothes?  Do you talk?   I was running late and got a little lost and finally arrived.   As I walked in I thought, wow, this is like getting your hair cut.   Except, I was walked to the back, was asked if I wanted something to drink and shown where the Men’s lounge was.  I was told to take off all of my clothes and meet Julia in the hallway.   As I stepped into the hallway, Julia was there and ready to show me the massage room.   She asked If she needed to know anything special about my massage and I said no other than this was my first time.   She then stepped out the door and asked me to de-robe and climb under the blankets face down.    When she returned I was on the table and ready for my massage.    She started on my back and shoulders.  It was very soothing.  The massage was very relaxing.  The ambient music was great.  The lights soft.  So after 45min Julia was finished.    And I was amazed at how calming this was and how much better I felt.   Although, it was kinda weird getting cranial work and a massage from someone other than Lisa.   I layed there for a few minutes and thought about how wonderful this gift that Lisa just gave me was.  I’m sure this won’t be my last massage.    I jumped up, went to the men’s lounge and put my clothes back on.    As I walked to the front counter I tought, wow, this is just like getting your hair cut. Only better.

Lisa, Cameron, Evan and I just banged the pots & pans like my Grandmother Gladys and yelled  H A P P Y   Y E A R ! ! ! ! ! 

In the middle of canning some oranges and tangerines, Lisa had to shift into doctor mode and put a few stitches in Evan.  Evan was ‘putting circle holes’ in a tree branch.  He was using his new cub scout knife santa brought.  Even though the knife was put away ‘in a safe place’ twice it somehow ended up with Evan in the backyard this evening.   At first Evan thought he could take are of it himself but soon came to mom.

Here is Evan finger after 3 stitches by Mom.

It was unbelievable, Evan was very brave and mom very efficient and caring.  A trip to the office and 45 minutes later we were back canning.

This morning Lisa and I worked on a ‘fern’ bed in our front yard.  Inside and living with the fern were thorny vines that have plagued us for years.   On the surface then are strong, sometimes very thin, plants with small green thorny leaves that seem to go on forever.  But today we were patient enough and had good gloves, decided to find the other end.  This is what we found.

Notice the thorns all of the way to the tip.  To me it looks very alive.   Like a little monster with arms and legs.  Here is the first one Lisa found. 

I made into a crown of thorns before I sent it to the trash pile.   This is the bed before:

and then after.

Lisa made me clams with a homemade receipe of spices and veggies using our new All-Clad saute pan.  We didn’t have the normal Bay Seasonings so Lisa improvised and made her own.  And boy was it great.  I am a very blessed man.   $14..lol