one for the books
This weekend was great! Just as great as last weekend. Two in a row…I like this streak! On Friday afternoon Keith and I went to see The Rise of the Planet of the Apes. It was AWESOME! I love the very original Planet of the Apes (um…the black and white version) and this was the prequel of that movie on how the world came to be inhabited by mostly apes. Keith and I both agreed it was really good. And James Franco was great in it!
On Saturday Keith and I had the pleasure of honoring a special guest at our house for a cookout. Who? My mama! It was her birthday weekend!! For her birthday feast we grilled asparagus, garnet yams and the star of the show, margarita chicken! All of this was per mom’s request. I love her choices! Margarita chicken is what I liked to call my signature dish. It has actually won a few awards and been featured in Taste of Home. To see to my award winning recipe go here. I promise it is worthy! Trust me. 😉
After we polished off dinner we watch another James Franco movie (that was 2 in a row for me and Keith) 127 Hours. Oh. My. Goodness. That was a great movie. I can totally see why James Franco was nominated for an Academy Award. And wow, a true story about Aron Ralston…he is an amazing man! Have you seen this movie?
And that, my friends, was my fantastic weekend. It just doesn’t get much better than good movies, good food and great company!!
What did you do this weekend?
Have you seen either of the movies above?
Do you have a recipe that you consider to be your signature dish?
phone photo friday
I saw yesterday that Tara posted meaningful picutres she’s taken over time through her cell phone. I thought that would be the perfect photo Friday. So here are some pictures pulled from my blackberry.
1. This picture from when Keith ripped up our tile floor in our kitchen and replaced it himself (my hero). It was definitely messy!
2. I have no idea when this picture was taken. Probably around the same time we were replacing the floor. I just love this picture of Keith. It makes me laugh every time I see it!
3. My Honda Civic (BEST CAR EVER) hit 100,000 miles at some point this year and I snapped a quickie picture. And yes I do realize I was driving 30 mph when this picture was taken. (oops)
4. Another picture of Keith. I’m obsessed. He is just so stinkin’ cute! This is on our back patio one night after dinner. You know back when it wasn’t still 100 degree at 10:00 p.m.
5. My CHICKENS!!!! This is the chicken coop where they eat, sleep and lay their eggs. But the rest of the time they are just free roaming around my backyard.
6. This is me and Keith at the annual UT/A&M Thanksgiving football game. A&M won….WHOOP! It was a cold night but worth it to see my Aggies beat those Longhorns in their own home!
7. This is our sweet boy, Kodi. He was having trouble walking in his final days and we put a splint on his front leg to ease some of the tension and pain. I miss you buddy!
8. Keith is SO good about bringing my flowers. Valentine’s Day, anniversary, birthday, just because…he is a champ! Here is a bouquet he got me on Valentine’s Day I believe!
This was fun! What would your cell phone camera say about your life? Do you ever go back and look through the pictures on there? Some of the ones I found surprised me!
acupuncture and cupping
Yesterday I went to an acupuncture treatment for my back. It was my very first time to try acupuncture and I was nervous but glad I went. The appointment lasted about 2 hours. The first hour was spent getting a very detailed medical history as well as detailing exacting what was going on with my back like my symptoms and what made it feel better and worse. The doctor also spent about 15-20 minutes evaluating me and watching me walk, lie down and do certain movements. She then proceeded with her recommended course of action. She told me she would be doing some acupuncture as well as some cupping therapy.
What is cupping? Cupping is an ancient Chinese method of causing local congestion. A partial vacuum is created in cups placed on the skin either by means of heat or suction. This draws up the underlying tissues. When the cup is left in place on the skin for a few minutes, blood stasis is formed and localized healing takes place. Cupping therapy has been further developed as a means to open the ‘Meridians’ of the body. Meridians are the conduits in the body through which energy flows to every part of the body and through every organ and tissue. There are five meridians on the back that, when opened, allow invigorating energy to travel the whole length of the body. It has been found that cupping is probably the best way of opening those meridians.
So I had several needles put into my hands, ankles, backs of my knees and all down my spinal column. I didn’t feel them. I felt a small tingle in some of the insertion points and some general pressure down my spinal column but it wasn’t uncomfortable and I never actually felt the needles going in or being removed.
The cupping was a different story. She used small cups that were suctioned onto my back. I definitely felt some pressure but it was one of those experiences that hurt really good. When she actually released the cups I was like no not yet! ha! But I can’t say that the results weren’t pretty. It brings the blood up to the surface and causes back hickies (the professional term I am using).
I have another appointment for next Wednesday and hopefully after a few treatments I am starting to get some relief. I am not sure what I’ve done but I am willing to do whatever I need to! They also prescribed me a herb called Garden Flower to help. Once we get this back thing cleared up (power of positive thinking) I am hoping to explore acupuncture in connection with hypothyroidism and fertility to see if that helps me. I really liked the acupuncturist and am excited to see where this can potentially lead.
Have you ever heard of cupping?
put your back into it
It is good to know that most of you around the country are also fed up with the heat wave we all seem to be experiencing. Seriously ridiculous! We have now been threatened with rolling power outages to aid in relief on the power grid unless we reduce our power consumption during peak hours (3:00pm-7:00pm) Lovely. So please if you live in the central Texas area…conserve your electricity! I am begging. And for those of you living in California I am considering moving in. I promise I am a great roomie! Oh…but can I bring Keith?
I did decide yesterday that I was taking matters into my own hands! In an effort to not be at home using power during those peak hours, I packed myself up, lathered on the SPF a billion and went to my Dad’s pool. See, seriously what a sacrifice. But I had a reason. Last week I really messed up my back. Not entirely sure what went down but it kept me off any exercise last week and this week it is somewhat better but it is still not ready for the exercise level I am used to. So let’s review. Major heat and no exericse…oh…can’t you see what a peach I’ve been to live with? (Keith…it would be wise for you to say “no comment” in response to that) But my friend (and boot camp instructor), Kim, said I should get into a pool to help loosen it up. I did. It helped while I was actually in the water but as soon as I got out it was pain city. I should also mention that I thought it would be smart to run 3 miles yesterday morning. Not smart, Kelly, not smart at all.
So I am in major pain again. And I will admit that I have a very high pain tolerance so for me to say something hurts…it hurts! Well I am trying something new this morning. I am going to acupuncture. My husband, Dad and Grandpa all swear by it…so I am giving it a go. I figure it’s worth a try, right? And I was talking to the nurse and she said lots of women actually use acupuncture to help with fertility. Seeing as how I seem to be failing miserably in that department I might think about using it for that too. But one step at a time and right now my back is what needs help. Serious serious help. So wish me luck and I will tell you all about my first acupuncture appointment tomorrow!
Have you ever done acupuncture? Would you?
What Kelly Said 