The Blue Zone

No, it’s not a show on the Sci-Fi channel. The blue zone is actually a place where people are more likely to live to be 100 or more.

Last night, Dan Buettner, the founder of the Quest Network was being interviewed on CNN. The Quest Network has been studying the world’s longest living populations to identify the practices and habits that are causing them to increase their longevity.

Based on their research, the Quest Network has created a calculator to estimate how long a person will live. Obviously, I was curious.

(Drum roll, please…)
According to bluezones.com, I am going to live to be 91. Woohoo! Given my medical history and freakish luck, I’m pretty pleased.

Overheard

Last Friday, I was taking the train home and happened to sit next to this middle-aged man. He was wearing gray suit and a black top coat. He seemed like your typical DC businessman.

He was listening to music on his iPod and at first it wasn’t really distinguishable so I didn’t think anything about it. Then I started to hear something that reminded me of a familiar tune, but it just seemed out of place so I didn’t pay much attention.

A couple of seconds later I heard, “Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad boys –you make me feel so good.” This guy was totally rockin out to the Miami Sound Machine.

As the song progressed, the guy started swaying to the music and tapping his feet. He was so thoroughly enjoying the song.

I couldn’t help, but be amused as I heard “Boys will be boys – bad boys, bad boys” repeat over and over. I was trying really hard not to laugh. I just really wasn’t expecting that song to be coming from that man. I guess I thought he was more a Coltrane type.

I’m sure that the guy didn’t realize that I could hear his music so clearly. And really, I am pretty sure that even if he knew, he wouldn’t have cared.

Pop Culturally Challenged

I am, at times, pop culturally challenged. I couldn’t tell you what is happening on Desperate Housewives and I have never seen an episode of Lost or 24. I also couldn’t tell you what happens in the Sound of Music. I just can’t get past the “I am 16 going on 17.” It makes me cringe.

Movies are perhaps my biggest weakness. I just don’t watch them. The few movies that I have actually seen are a random mishmash of the people I spend time with.

My brother is the eclectic, Tarantino, and classics. With Van I watch all the frat boy’s favorites like Beerfest, Wedding Crashers and any movie that doesn’t have a happy ending. My friend Sarah is my excuse for watching ‘chick flicks.’

I have never seen Casablanca, but I have seen Cowboy Bee-Bop. I don’t even know the premise of A Streetcar Named Desire, but I could tell you all about Shaun of the Dead.

Most people could say that they have seen at least 25 percent of the AFI’s top 100 films. I could say that I have probably seen 10.

Sure I am occasionally left in the dark when someone utters a famous movie quote, but am I so far behind? Maybe I know just enough to get by. I have, actually, seen Gone With the Wind, West Side Story and Schindler’s List.

When it comes down to it, I just don’t think about spending my free time watching a movie. I would rather watch the Food Network, visit with friends or take a walk.

My Dirty Little Secret

I think that I have always been classified as the “good girl.” I didn’t drink in high school and I have never done drugs or smoked cigarettes. I did miss curfew occasionally – okay maybe more than occasionally. Overall, I was a pretty good kid. That doesn’t mean that I am without my vices.

I love tattoos. Yup, I have wanted once since I was 13.

I want to have a huge blossom like a peony tattooed on the top of my right foot. My brother is totally creative and artistic and I thought it would be really cool to have him design something.

There have been plenty of reasons that have kept me from actually doing the deed. I was worried how it would look at a job interview or how it would look 20 years from now at a PTA meeting. And my parents would kill me.

I have always said that if I still wanted one when I was 30 that I would really do it. Thirty is still a good six years away, but I can tell you that I won’t be getting a tattoo to celebrate.

I am sure that in six years, I will still be too concerned about how it would look as a professional, a wife and a mother to have a tattoo.

The Waltons

Van and I were on the way home from Richmond last weekend and he was telling me that he believes that every person has one aspect of their life that is a fairytale. Maybe you have found your prince charming and you are living happily ever after.

In Van’s case, he is the Dawson’s Creek. He has this huge group of friends who grew up together and still to this day are the best of friends. Honestly, it is a bit surreal. I didn’t like that many people from my high school when I was there, let alone have that many people I still talk to today.

So I asked Van what my fairytale was. He smiled and said you are the Waltons.

I have the family that makes everyone feel like part of the group. I grew up laughing, being incredibly happy and spoiled rotten. To this day my Mom is still my best friend, I am great friends with my brother, and of course I am still Daddy’s little girl.

I also have this incredibly fun group of aunts and uncles and cousins. My aunts and uncles are complete foodies. The family can sit and drink and talk for hours. There is nothing like spending the day that way.

My cousins are completely trouble and completely fun. Whether it is Paige taking us to South Beach on Easter Sunday or Ryan spending the weekend in DC, I always have fun.

I am an incredibly lucky person to have that kind of family, but am I really limited to only one fairytale.

Can’t I have the marriage that my parents have? Married 32 plus years and still in love. Or is it because my parents were so happy, my family is so happy?

Impressions

What if someone important has the wrong impression of you? Should you kill them with kindness? How long do you let them impede your happiness and when do you let it go?

How do you argue with someone who thinks they are right?

Help!

Help, I need somebody. Help, not just anybody- Okay, the Beatles weren't exactly talking about knitters, but it still gets the point across.

Two of the groups that I knit for could use some major help to make a difference in our area. If you knit or are interested in learning please let me know.

Knitting for our Neighbors
Knitting for our Neighbors (KFON) makes handmade scarfs as Valentine's Day gifts for the clients (people who are living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses) of Food and Friends. There are around 1,100 clients and we only have about 400 scarfs so far. The deadline for scarfs is Feb. 6.

If you would like to sign up or need more information, please contact knitting networker, Michelle Strange, at michelle@dcknitting.org.

Hats For Healing
Hats for Healing program knits and crochets hats for the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center and to the Central Maryland Oncology Center. Sadly, they need more hats. Here are the patterns. (If you have problems with the links, try saving and then opening.)

Crochet - Fancy Hat
Knit - Fancy Hat
Knit - Chemo Cap
Knit - Rolled 1
Knit - Rolled 2

Back in Black (Heels)

My cute shoes are back! I'm on cloud nine!

The Gout

According to WebMD, Gout affects more than 2 million Americans -- most commonly men between the ages of 40 and 50. So, yes, I was a bit surprised when I found out that I too have gout.

My foot has been swollen for three days now and being completely unable to fit into my favorite shoes, I had no choice but to go to the doctor.

So there I was lying on the exam table with my pant legs rolled up when the doctor, completely surprised, says "I think you have gout."

If you know me well, you know that I am the one-in-a-million person who will get struck by lighting. Or manage to catch some 16^th century plague. So this is merely another milestone in my string of medical anomalies.

Hopefully, my three-inch heels will be back by Monday.

Thursday Thirteen #13- In Ohio

Here are thirteen things I did while I was In Ohio. 1. Celebrated pretend Christmas on Dec. 29. 2. I had my first fitting for my bridesmaid dress for Jenny’s wedding. 3. Van and I went bowling with Gil and Jenny. 4. Listened to my brother play guitar. 5. Went to Maria’s wedding. 6. Danced with Van. 7. Ate sour cream sugar cookies. 8. Toasted the New Year with my family. 9. Ate sauerkraut for good luck. 10. Watched the Penn State Game. 11. Attempted to play Dance Dance Revolution. 12. Spent a morning shopping with Mom. 13. Successfully lost four games of Scrabble.

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The Family Business

My brother, Adam, started a blog and it is great. Of course I am partial, but he really puts me to shame. His cynical, quirky and unique entries reminded me how lucky I am to be his sister.