Mutant Ninja Bullfrogs

We love it here in the mountains. We started coming up here two or three times a year when H started camp in second grade. The minute we drive through the Smoky Mountains into North Carolina, the calm, peaceful, stress-relieving feelings just kind of ooze over us. Last year we finally bought a little place with the exact view that J wanted...the smaller, private, no-motorboat Lake Cardinal with the three mountains in the background.We've been here now for two weeks, and our idyllic little peaceful place not so perfect anymore. Sure, the weather is spectacular, the lake is beautiful, the biking, hiking, tennis, running, and boating are all great, but we've been invaded by some kind of huge, monster bullfrogs. We have a little man-made waterfall on the side of the house, which makes a wonderfully trickling sound when we sit on the balcony. Only thing is, the frogs like it, too. And it's not a cute little frog sound. It's loud, grating, can-be-heard-through-locked-doors-and-TV sound.

Someone told J to put bleach in the water, because the frogs didn't like it. Our frogs must thrive on the stuff, because the more bleach he puts in, the louder they get. Then he went to the hardware store and got more advice...put netting on top of the water to keep them out, and spread mothballs all around. He was a man on a mission. I came home from a run and before I even got to the house I smelled the mothball/bleach combination. Like my grandmother's attic combined with a swimming pool. That night we left to go to dinner and when we came back we listened...silence. Almost. There was one little squeaky "ribbit" sound. We thought we were on the right track until the next morning, when J took out the trash and found a big squished frog next to my car. I was devastated. I wanted to get rid of them, but I didn't want to kill them while they were making their big getaway! I feel guilty every time I think of it. But underneath the guilt was a tiny bit of relief. Maybe the word got out that this was a dangerous place and the frogs would stay away. And they did...for awhile.

But last night we got home from dinner and this is what we found. The volume doesn't do it justice. Imagine it multiplied by 100 and hearing it through walls. All night.

So J is at the hardware store this morning. To be continued.

Don't be a rude American in Paris

I was browsing the airport gift shop in Orly a few years ago, trying to find something so that I could spend my remaining francs before returning home, and a man, obviously in a hurry, plopped down a case of cigarettes on the checkout counter. As the young woman behind the counter rang up the purchase, he reached into his pockets and dumped a pile of coins on the counter, and said (in English), "There must be enough here to pay for this. Just take out what you need." The girl looked at him, obviously, not quite understanding. He had a pile of coins that were essentially worth pennies, and he expected her to count them up for him. As she tried to help him, and attempted to explain in very broken English that he didn't have nearly enough to pay for the cigarettes, he became more and more angry. His English became more offensive (hopefully the young woman didn't understand the meaning of all the words he was using), she became more flustered, and I tiptoed out of the store before she realized I, too, was American and thought we all acted like that.



We are twelve days away from our trip to Paris and Barcelona, so I'm reading up on the essential tips for travelers so that we don't offend the lovely Parisians and Barcelonians while we're there. The first time we visited Paris, I was horrified at the behavior of a few of my fellow Americans, so I'm determined to at least try to be polite and not offensive. As I've mentioned before, we have never felt that the French were "rude". You just have to remember that we're guests in their country, and we shouldn't assume that they all speak English. Sure, there is a "big city attitude" in Paris, as there is in New York City, but you can't take that personally, nor should you characterize an entire city or nation just based on the actions of a few. Even though my husband didn't speak a word of French, and my knowledge of the language was limited to a couple of years of high school French, we memorized a few phrases that were like magic...When we used them, were were greeted with smiles and assistance, for the most part. Sure, some of the Parisians spoke excellent English, and some not so good, but by not assuming that they spoke at all, we were able to enjoy and appreciate one of our favorite cities in the world!

It's kind of a chicken or egg situation...are the French rude because Americans are rude first?  Regardless, it helps to avoid a few behaviors that tend to annoy them.   I found a great website, Secrets of Paris, and found a great listing of some  "French No-No's" that make you look like a rude foreigner.  

• Not greeting the shopkeeper. In France, you must ALWAYS greet the shopkeeper, and ALWAYS say goodbye, even if you don't buy anything. Not just "Bonjour", but "Bonjour Madame/Monsieur", and "Merci, au revoir Madame/Monsieur".  The French will not tolerate rude behavior in order to make a sale.
• Not asking questions politely. Don't just go up to a French person and just blurt out your question, especially if you don't ask it in French. At the very least, you can say "Excusez-moi, Madame/Monsieur", or even better, "Bonjour, Madame/Monsieur, excusez-moi de vous deranger, mais j'ai un question/problem." (Excuse me for bothering you, but I have a question or problem).  Or the one phrase that my husband has memorized and delivers perfectly..."Je suis desole', parlez-vous anglais?"  (I am sorry, do you speak English?)
  
  
• Talking Loudly. The French are very discreet; conversations are meant to be heard only by the people in them, not everyone else in the Metro or restaurant.  (I wish this was an American expectation as well).
• Touching things you shouldn't touch.  In some boutiques, or fruit stands, etc., it is frowned upon to handle the merchandise without asking.  The only way to know is to watch what others do, or ask.
•  Putting your hands on your lap while eating.  Americans are taught to keep our hands in our laps while eating, but in France that is considered rude.  "What are your hands doing down there?" they ask suspiciously (especially if someone of the opposite sex is seated next to you).  Hands rest on the table.  No elbows, though!
• Inappropriate Attire.  Of course, the French are very fashionable people, expecially Parisians.  It isn't always about being fashionable, though, it's about being "proper".   No hats or bared shoulders when sightseeing in churches, or attending services or a concert.  

And the four basic phrases of etiquette are:

• S'il vous plait-Please
• Bonjour/Bonsoir, Madame/Monsieur-Hello/Good Evening, Madame/Sir
  
  
• Merci, au revoir, Madame/Monsieur-Thank you, goodbye, Madame/Sir
  
  
• Excusez-moi de vous deranger, Madame/Monsieur-Excuse me for bothering you, Madame/Sir
  
  

What happens when you don't share your toys

My in-laws are here with their dog, Jake, along with a basket of toys. Rosie is twice his size, and didn't much care that Jake didn't want to share.

Bisquick Banana Bread with Coconut...and Lake Toxaway

I can't seem to find the time, or the inspiration to write anything these days. Everytime I think of something to write about, I look outside and see this...



or this...



or this...






...and I just can't get past this....



We're at the lake for three weeks...the longest time we've been able to stay here. We bought the little house on the lake at the end of last summer, but we've been coming up two or three times a year and renting places for the last 7 years. Up until now, the longest time we were able to stay was five days. This place in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina is one of the most beautiful places we've ever been. It's a private lake at the top of a mountain, with gorgeous weather, a golf course, tennis, hiking, mountain biking, boating, and swimming right outside our door. But it's not really a social place. We're probably the youngest family here, most of the residents are retirees. The summer is the busiest time, and the only young people are the grandchildren who are visiting. So far H doesn't really care about that, nor do we. We've met a few of the club members and homeowners, and they're really nice, but this is our getaway place. The three of us have so much fun exercising together, reading, watching movies, boating, taking the dog on hikes and swims, and just being together without the distractions of home. There is no grocery store...the closest places are 30 minutes away, no shopping, no movies, no parties. But when we get here we are more relaxed than we could ever be at home.

We do have guests coming. My in-laws are coming up on Sunday for a week, and a few days after they leave, we will take H to point guard camp, and come back to meet two other couples here for five days, before we have to leave. We're pretty excited about sharing our piece of heaven with our friends and family. I don't know if they'll be as enthusiastic about it as we are, but it will be fun.

Anyway, I'm enjoying catching up on my reading, taking tennis lessons, and cooking for my family. Here's an EASY recipe for Banana Bread made with Bisquick. I changed it a little bit...added chocolate, cranberries and pecans and topped with coconut for a great (semi-healthy) dessert.

BISQUICK BANANA BREAD (OR MUFFINS)

1/3 cup oil
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar (or splenda for baking)
1 1/2 cups mashed banana (3 medium/large ripe bananas)
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 1/2 cups Bisquick
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1 hershey bar, chopped fine

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of loaf pan, 9" cake pan, or use muffin pans with liners. Beat all ingredients vigorously with spoon for 30 seconds. Bake 55-65 minutes for loaf pan, 45-50 minutes for cake pan, 15 minutes for mini muffins, 20 minutes for regular muffins. Cool five minutes. Top with shredded coconut.

The Power of Friendship

Last weekend, my girlfriends (CR, KE, VB, and CH) and I hit the road for a "girl's trip" to North Carolina. CH and I were college roommates, CR and I met in college when we dated two guys who were best friends, and I met VB and KE around that same time. We started counting back and realized that we've been doing girl's trips for 27 years. It doesn't really matter where we go, (and we've been to a lot of places: Gatlinburg, Ft. Lauderdale, Destin, Orlando, Boca Grande, Acapulco, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Memphis, Asheville, Lake Toxaway, Myrtle Beach, West Palm, Los Angeles...and probably more places that I can't remember right now) we always have such a wonderful, bonding, relaxing, laugh until your stomach hurts, fun time.

We're getting older, I guess. Our laugh lines are a little bit deeper, but I treasure each one. I love these girls. We don't see each other as often as we used to, because we are all married, with kids, and live on opposite ends of town. But it's
funny, even when we don't see each other for a long time, whenever we're together we pick up right where we left off.

CR is the party planner. I can put together any group of people, throw CR in the mix, and it will be a great time. She is so beautiful, but has no hesitation in making herself look ridiculous. In our single days, when a guy was being obnoxious, she'd rummage in her purse, find an eye pencil, and black out her teeth. Worked every time!

I know, with VB, she will always tell me the truth...about anything. "Esa, you're hair color is too dark", or "Esa, those pants are a little tight, don't ya think?" She is the "supermom", "super-friend" and "super-organizer". She works full time, has three incredibly busy kids, and volunteers for EVERYTHING.


My college roommate was CH. She loves to be the center of attention, and always says whatever comes into her mind (which has gotten her into trouble a few times), but would stand up to anyone to defend a friend.

Look up "pure goodness" and you'd find KE. She is truly the sweetest person I know. I have never, ever, heard her say anything negative about anyone. She knows more about the bible than anyone I know, but is never judgmental or preachy. She's a business owner, and is raising her niece, and I admire her so much.

This group of girls, along with a few others that we've met along the way, has been a source of laughter, support, encouragement, cheap therapy, stress relief, and comfort.
Studies show that having a network of friends, especially girlfriends, will help you live longer, have healthier bodies and reduce stress.

More than one study has proven that social connections decrease the risk of disease by lowering blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol. You can cut your risk of death by 60% just having a greater number of friends over a 9 year period. These findings are so incredible that studies have concluded that not having close friends or confidants was as damaging to your health as being a smoker or overweight!

I'm so thankful that I have these girls in my life. We've been through college, dating, break-ups, career changes, children, illness, surgeries, marriages, divorces, and through it all we always find time to be there for each other. I know that some so-called "friends" can actually add more stress to your life, but not these women. Even though everyone has families, responsibilities, and crazy busy lives, we have maintained a special relationship that just keeps on giving back. I came home from this trip re-energized, focused, and ready to take on the world!