Friday Fragments - Catch-up

Join Mrs. 4444 For Friday Fragments.

Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions on how to open my giant jar of Four Bean Salad, I've tried and tried, but.....

No beans yet. It's still not open.

Luckily, we're going to our monthly Pot Luck Dinner with the gang next week and all the guys are bringing their muscle and power tools to crack the jar open. I'm hoping it will still be edible once the mission is accomplished. Stay tuned.

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It was back to school for Godson this week after three very long weeks of winter vacation. Yes, three weeks! Los Angeles public school students spend so little time in classrooms it's not even funny. Grrrrr.

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Speaking of which, have you see the documentary Waiting For Superman about the state of public schools? I watched it yesterday and actually cried. It's pretty powerful. The trailer is below.

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It's a good thing I didn't make my usual "spend less" promise for a New Year's Resolution this year because I've been a bad girl. I got a new quilting sewing machine and I think I've purchased fabric from every cotton shop within a 50 mile radius of my house. Now I'm in quilt fabric overload and need to actually start sewing. Let the fun begin!

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I will be 53 years old in April and am happy to say I still do not color my hair-- mostly because I don't have that many grays yet. But-- That's because I clip, pluck and pull every gray hair I see on my head. Now, um, ahh, I really need to find a colorist soon because at the rate I'm going, I'll be bald before my next birthday.

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That's all I have. It's been a week of nearly getting over a bad cold, catching up on all the things I didn't do while I was sick and, frankly, obsessing over the Bean Salad. I'll be back soon.

Hope your weekend is grand.

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Beans

Lately, friends have been asking what I've been up to. I haven't been out of the house much due to my monster cold and I haven't made my usual phone calls or written emails since that would require my missing in action energy. But once people hear my hacking cough they pretty much assume I'm down for the count in bed.

But that's not the case, or at least it's not entirely the case.

Between the usual doctor's visits and unpleasantness that go with being sick, I have been working very hard to accomplish one simple task that's turned into my number one priority every waking minute of the day since Christmas.

I want to open this huge, half gallon jar of our favorite Four Bean Salad....

It was a gift from my brother and sister-in-law for the holidays-- A gift that's actually produced in my hometown by a company owned by the Mayor. It's one of our very favorite treats and as crazy as it sounds-- it's comfort food for me.

But we can't open the jar to save our lives.

The lid will not budge. We've tapped it, run it under hot water, used the rubber gripper thing, held it upside down, stood on one foot, cursed, prayed and pried, but so far-- The jar, after 16 days of trying, is still not open.

I'm kind of a weakling but my husband is really strong and usually the jar opener in this household, but no luck. Same goes for the people I've asked to try to open the jar, who all also looked strong, not the least of which were:

The Postman,

A Garbage truck driver

Three gardeners

One UPS guy

The FedEx woman

Two next door neighbors

The nanny who works across the street

The guy my husband plays tennis with

My BFF

Godson

Both daughters and a son-in-law

Four dinner guests

And my Rheumatologist (Yes! I actually took the jar to the doctor's office with me-- I'm that desperate!)

So I ask you dear Blog Friends-- What's the trick to opening a stubborn jar of Four Bean Salad? All advice, suggestions and secret tricks welcome.

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Cha-Cha-Change

I started the new year with high hopes and the anticipation of great change. I was bound and determined that 2011 was going to be different from the seemingly endless stream of trials and tribulations of the past. No resolutions were made, but I had a confident knowledge that, one way or the other, things were going to change-- for the better, around these parts.

But in the short six days we've called 2011, so far things have not worked out as planned. For starters the whole "be healthier" thing does not match the monster cold I've been battling since New Year's day.

My puffy eyes, red nose and unpleasant disposition, along with the use of at least nine boxes of Kleenex, have not made me a happy camper. I'm pretty sure that will be evident to the plumber who is scheduled to arrive sometime today between 8am and wheneverthehellhefeelslikegettinghere-- Because, after spending an ungodly amount of money on sewer and plumbing repairs in 2010, two toilets are backed up... into the bathtub.

@#$%^!

I was hoping for change a little more along the lines of spending less/enjoying more, quality time vs long work weeks for my husband, living in the moment not cursing the moment I heard the toilet girgling-- you know, things that would change our overall quality of life... for the better.

In all honestly, I was really, really ready a fresh start and a better attitude after a year that felt like one up hill battle after another. With great excitement and positive energy, I watched on television as the ball dropped in New York's Time Square. A relief washed over me as I saw people from around the world gather to celebrate the start of a new decade; and I thanked the lord for giving me the good sense never to be part of a mass crowd of over one million crazy, drunk people on New Year's Eve wearing really bad hats in 40 degree weather.

I felt renewed.

But alas, now, as I sit watching the clock tick away and the list of out-of-the-house errands I need to run grows, I'm guessing, at least for today, I need to reset my expectations and look forward to a fresh start to the new year.... beginning tomorrow, or the next day. Because one way or the other, change is coming.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit: © SSilver - Fotolia.com

Sundays In My City #59 - Year 2011

See the world with Unknown Mami.

New Year's day-- Did you enjoy yours?

Here in Southern California, the weather gods cut us a break, dried up the record breaking rains, blew around a bunch of wildly strong winds, coaxed the sun to shine, and presented us with one of these days....

The view from our back yard.

....Saturday was a day that screamed "Gorgeous!" with clear skies as far as the eye could see-- An ideal day for the televised Pasadena Rose Parade to be seen cross country by snowbirds freezing in the Midwest and East Coast-- A picture perfect day so inviting that the Chamber of Commerce was proud and real estate agents started rolling out the red carpet for everyone who saw our snow-capped mountains and lush greenery on TV and longed to enjoy its beauty in person. Yep, we had one of those New Year's days and it was glorious.

Happy New Year and a million thanks to all my blog friends far and wide. You continuously inspire me.

May your 2011 be glorious too!

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

For more Sundays In My City, CLICK HERE.

Humor

I was reminded recently that this blog, The Fifty Factor, is about midlife and that I haven't been talking about that much lately. After I yawned and rolled my eyes a few times at the much younger person badgering me about the subject, I figured I should probably take a crack at it.

But, I'm having a hard time thinking of anything funny about the 50-something years. As I've said before, I'm not liking them much yet. So I looked around and realized that I might have to wait until my 70-something years to find my sense of humor.

This video is of a 70-something speaker at the Home Instead assisted living facility's Caregiver of the Year festivities. Fast forward the video about 1:18 from the beginning. I promise, you will not be disappointed. And, if you're like me, you'll want to grow up like this lady!

Are you finding the humor in aging?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit: © Team 5 - Fotolia.com

Sundays In My City #58 - A Rainbow, A Winner & An Elephant

Travel The World Every Sunday.

~~~RAINBOW~~~

You might have heard on the news about all the rain we've gotten in Los Angeles this past week. Sunny Southern California usually gets about 14 total inches of rain a year, but last week-- Last week our neighborhood got 8 inches in 5 five days! For a while there I was thinking it was time to build the Arc.

On Wednesday we had about an hour break in the downpour and the sun come out. Ahhh, it was such a nice change to see sunlight wash across my living room but even better when I looked outside and saw the most amazing rainbow a girl could ever ask for, and I could see the entire bow from side-to-side.

Look closely below, there is the bright inside rainbow and the hint of a second, outter rainbow as well....

The weather forecasters say the worst of the storm is over, but we're still predicted to get a little more this week. For those of you who know about my once sinking pool and deck, I'm VERY happy to say it's firmly in place with no signs of movement-- And believe me, I was out there checking A LOT. Phew....

The rainbow is hard to see in the above photo but in this one, it's arches across the yard...

...Before it slides down....

...And into someone's front yard! The base on both sides of the rainbow looked like movie lighting was in place to brighten the colors then shade a deep gray on the outside for contrast.

It was pretty amazing-- And I didn't color correct or adjust any of these pictures. My little point and shoot captured it as I saw it.

So many people called to tell me to look for the rainbow because it was seen all over the city. Each person ended with the same comment-- Make a wish! A rainbow is very lucky, all your dreams will come true!

In the 45 minutes I watched this spectular sight, I made a lot of wishes.

~~~WINNER~~~

Drumroll please-- The winner of my $80 CSNStores.com Giveaway is Mari at 365 Days! Congratulations and happy Shopping! And if you don't know Mari you really must stop by and say hello. She takes the most beautiful photos that make me wish I lived in her neighborhood.

~~~ELEPHANT~~~

Did you get a Christmas gift that's left you scratching your head wondering what was the giver thinking because it's soooo not you? Then swing by Nanny Goats In Panties and sign up for Margaret's Online White Elephant Gift Exchange Party. All you need is an unused get this piece of junk out of my house gift to participate. CLICK HERE for details and join the fun. RSVP by December 31st.

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How's your Sunday?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

For more Sundays In My City CLICK HERE.