TheFATladyBlog

Erena Juzefa Stanislawa MaliszewskaApril 22, 1927 - September 28, 1999

welcome, but step gently
among memories I hold so dear

...of towel-covered tubs near hot air vents
             and babka softly rising

chocolate pudding pots and wooden spoons
              yield bounty for the blessed

sharing peeling grating chores
             while Babci's placki sizzle
It's five pounds down and a hankie full of onion tears
and browned round  potato pancake prizes for the winners

skillful hands navigate a gently floured rolling pin
            and deft fingers pinch the ridges of the crown
and lo! a masterpiece crafted with apples
            and a pinch of this and a spoonful of that

days of infirmity and fever met with a mother's resistance
             armed with small treasures that still the distress
...a new book about a saint...a magazine...a Pez dispenser
...a reprieve of curfew...a pillowed couch...a front-seat ticket
to the Million Dollar Movie and a midnight milk shake

tales of faith and martyrs...of peasants...gypsies and Cossacks...Baby Jesus and Mary...and the shy Saint Joseph...patiently teaching prayers and hymns...in Polish and English...the Most Reverend Babci...like her mother before her

lessons in forgiveness...and the joy in sharing when the well of resources is low...adding value to a gift...always without condition

It's all in a mother's hands...the recipes of life that nurture a child's soul and help a spirit grow...

Rhett And Scarlett in State College

We Arrived in State College (PA) yesterday Had a nice visit with Jens and Becca and their Sasha...against a State College sunset they remind me of Rhett and Scarlett. Today we see the little guy in his new digs in Columbus, OH.

Operation Clean Sweep:Mission Accomplished

It's done...old files have found a new home in the archives. Supplies are sorted and shelved, clutter is erased, and  Operation Clean Sweep , Phase I is over. See results here.

Politics, Politics, EverywhereEven In The Swimming Pool!

  Water aerobics classes resumed at the Bethlehem (PA) YMCA this week after a three-week break. I'm glad. In the meantime, I was there most days for private water workouts. There were lap swimmers in the PWW lane, slow swimmers in the fast lap lane, and all kinds of political hell to pay from one end of the pool to the other. For once in my life I remained totally neutral and took no sides (Uncle Saul, read this and be proud!). Just lots of underwater cross country skiing, jumping jacks, abdominal crunches, and butterfly kicks...over and over and over again.

Happy 55th Wedding AnniversaryTo My Mom and Dad

My parents exchanged their marriage vows in 1950. I missed the party since I was barely a twinkle in Daddy's blue Irish eyes. They have four children, nine grandsons, and a granddaughter. These days he's up to his usual journalistic mischief and TheCELESTIALgram Blogger reports that Mom's too busy for a party today. She and her friend Karol are co-chairs of St. Peter's Welcome Wagon, greeting new residents to the Kingdom sent by Katrina. Happy Anniversary, you two!

Fat Lady Anti Stress Recipe

The images of Katrina elevate the stress quotient of the day.

More weekend anger stressors: Barbara Bush's true colors show in remarks in Houston (she must have nursed Baby Dubya with leather nipples and some damn sour colostrum); learning more facts and the truth about that anti-Semitic creep Rehnquist (thanks to Hanan for the link); anticipating what his successor has in store for us.

Bloggy counter stressors: The daily treat of urban images through the eyes of The Loft Ninja (the best!); indulging myself in a romp of Grow-A-Brain; and a few moments to ponder Joeann's serotonin candy.

On The Lighter Side...

"We all get heavier as we get older because
there's a lot more information in our heads."

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So, I'm not fat, I'm just really intelligent
and my head couldn't hold anymore
so it started filling up the rest of me!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

10 Delicious Daily Habits GameIs Tough For Beginners!

There are days when it is extremely hard to do 100% of the 10 Delicious Daily Habits Game and I let some things slide... it's usually "cooking something" or "reading". Sometimes, like today, I'm out of the house by 5 AM to get to the YMCA for my swim (luxurious) and then go to the office and dig in. I'm likely to return home with just about enough energy to find the bed, and can barely keep my eyes open to read.

I haven't considered reading during the day, but I may just take a walk with my book and enjoy a "reading break" on a bench, Since I work a zillion hours, I don't expect that I'll have a lot of guilt about that.   

When I do cook, I usually do so in abundance, with lots of stuff for the freezer and portions to share, so I'm not going to feel real guilty about missing a day or two of cooking. I'm about ready to make a bunch of Polish Babka -- don't eat the stuff myself -- but I usually make that in batches of 30 loaves or more -- 30 LARGE loaves. I used to do that relieve stress....but exercise and other new DDH have reduced the stress level by about 75%, so the next batch will be fun...no more "imagine this is so and so" when I punch an enormous heaving mound of 30 loaves of babka dough rich with egg yolks, sugar, and milk (very sinful food). This time I'll do my heavy kneading to the tune of some sorrowful Irish ballads, my favorite music. (Salty tears is the secret ingredient of good bread 8-)   

This is a very hard challenge...but the people closest to me see a positive difference. What's good for me is good for them, too.