The Union Grill

Some of the best restaurants are those with an established reputation, rich with history and family and values.  No fancy signs or marketing or decor.  The reputation speaks for itself.  They don't need to prove themselves to anyone or "buy" people's business.  The loyalty of the local patrons is the secret to their long-standing acclaim and success.

The Union Grill.

Why we're just now learning about this awesome place, I have no idea.  Maybe we just haven't done our homework.

We ate there after the football game on Saturday.  My son's girlfriend joined us, driving down for the day from her home about 45 mins away.  She brought with her an entire box of homemade biscotti --she's Italian and the girl loves to cook and she KNOWS her stuff -- of various flavors:  pumpkin, cranberry, almond, and even Pretzel M&M biscotti (for me!).  How thoughtful!  And SO delicious.


I digress.

She and G had eaten at this restaurant before and were very complimentary of its reputation for flavor and freshness and fun atmosphere.  Very laid back, unpretentious, casual.  The SMELLS of fresh Italian entrees filled the air as soon as we walked in.  After much debating, I ordered the grilled salmon Caesar salad off their "old favorites" section of the menu; that category won me over.  It was so fresh and flavorful.  We shared Fried Calamari and Hot Stuffed Banana Peppers for appetizers, and I sampled each of them.  Oh, yes.  We'll be back.  Put our names on the list in pen.

It turned out to be a wonderful, memorable day...Senior Day...the parents lining up with their senior players, walking arm in arm out onto center field at the beginning of the game for special recognition.  Each of the mothers was given a red rose to wear on their lapels.  This was a proud and very emotional time for the family of the young senior running back who was recently killed -- emotional for most of us, actually.  As his name was called, his mother, father and younger brother proceeded across the field in his honor as the announcer commemorated the last four years of his life as a student athlete.  The crowd roared with applause at the same moment his father released several red, black and white balloons into the sky.  The crowd cheered even harder as we watched the balloons float upward to heaven.  I choked back the tears, not so successfully, as I stood their clinging to my son's arm with pride, thinking of how proud I was of all that he had accomplished all these years as an athlete, and how grateful I was to be standing there with him to experience this moment.

We won the game.  What a sweet victory.  And following the lineup of handshakes to their opponents, our team huddled for a moment, bursting with pride and renewed team spirit as they later broke out into chanting.  They cheered in animated unison with deafening volume, celebrating their brotherhood, their team, their family, their unified spirit, their fallen teammate -- This one was for you, Tim!

The sun was shining that day.  Tim's spirit was all about, serving to galvanize the team's love and allegiance to him all throughout the game.  I was climbing over people left and right, as I made my way down the bleachers in the direction of where his mother had sat throughout the game.  I wanted to hug her, to offer my condolences and respect to her, a small attempt on my part to hopefully help comfort and heal her broken heart.  The pride on that woman's face ... I will never forget it.  It sent chills down my spine.  What a fine woman and mother, so brave, the love of a mother for her son, unconditional and undying love ... everlasting and eternal devotion that would remain constant and unending.

I don't know how the day could have turned out any better.  A day of devotion, recognition, remembrance, pride, competition, victory, love, family, laughter, and good food.  Life is to be celebrated.  And celebrate we did.

The Steps of Positano

Sunday.  The Lord's day.  A day to praise and worship.  A day to rest.  Or to unwind.  Or to chill.

A day of restorative calm.

After beginning my day in the Lord's house, I decided I would make it to the gym for another glute & quad day, try to make up for lost time from the last week and a half of busyness.  Some people do not think of a gym workout as a way to unwind.  I, on the other hand, find that working out relieves stress for me.  Less stress, easier to unwind.  It does (did) serve my purpose.

I then have the rest of the day/evening to do as I please, and that would include resting, kick back, chillaxin ...

The wind has died down from earlier this afternoon, making it a perfect fall evening for a fire and a glass of wine.  Dreamy day's end.

What better tune to usher the mood, than my man Chris on his velvety horn.

Cheers.

shut up and smile, mom!

Friday's Agenda

favorite STENO brief 

of the day:

T   U   Z

TAKEN UNDER ADVISEMENT

Love that one!  A mouthful, stated constantly by my judge, and I get to write it on my machine in ONE STROKE!

I've made it to Friday, my most favorite day of the week.  There are a list of things I wanted to accomplish today.  Lists are good.  I need lists now more than ever.  Admit it, T -- you can't remember squat anymore if you don't write it down.

My list actually began yesterday.  I had not been able to make it to the gym all week due to commitments in stone Monday through Wednesday.  And although our gym is open on Sundays, I was in no mood to be around people last Sunday.  There are just times when I need to be alone.  Nothing else will do.

I spent last Saturday catching up on errands and chores, having been out of town all last week at the conference, so scratch Saturday.

Thus, it had been ELEVEN (11) days since I'd been to the gym to lift.  I've done cardio several days, and Callanetics about three times.  But I was REALLY missing being able to lift.  I felt spongy!

So I made it to the gym immediately after work yesterday, quickly changing into my gym clothes, grabbing my water, and throwing some boiled eggs in a cooler bag to eat postworkout, since I'd be heading straight to C's football game immediately upon leaving the gym, likely arriving late, and I knew I'd need fast easy protein.  I prefer whey protein shakes with ice, blended up all nice and thick.  So a protein shake in plain ice water 'on-the-go' would never do.  Egg whites served my purpose.

Since it had been so long, I decided to combine upper and lower body and cram in as many circuit-style sets as I could in that 40-min window.  I did BB squats, clean/presses, leg presses, lateral raises, rear delt raises, and weighted incline ab crunches.  Took off my sweat-soaked shirt in the locker room, changed to a long-sleeve T, another T-shirt, and a beefy over-sized hoody over my workout pants, then sped away to the game.  Gobbled egg whites as I drove to his game, tossing the yolks out the window, guzzling water.  Not the greatest, but it worked in a pinch.  As the night wore on, I became colder and colder, mostly because my hair was still wet with sweat, and because the bleachers are metal.  I searched for someone who was willing to share a space on their blanket with me, and that helped tremendously.

I had another protein/fat meal when I returned home, already feeling the effects of a good, productive workout.

Today's list:

• Early morning Callanetics (20 mins); 10 mins s/s cardio
• Memorize 20 steno briefs
• Practice writing that set of briefs x 5
• Practice speed dictation on Realtime Coach
• Do last-minute filing
• Stop by the bank
• Stop to get milk & eggs
• Get a manicure
• Prepare dinner
• Make it to the gym with C 
• Pack a bag of warmer fall clothes to take to Big G tomorrow for Senior Day
• Make a goodies treat for G
• Do laundry
• Download new tunes for my MP3 (time permitting)

I'll hold off on my standard Friday indulgence for a couple glasses of wine, post-poning that for Sunday when I hope to have more time to rest, unplug and enjoy it.

The clock is running ...

Wooden Shoe Like to Know - OPI

Test Prep in Progress

Ever since returning from my educational reporter seminar a week ago, I've been preoccupied with life to a degree, both at home and at work.  Those things I've had to deal with at home have left me feeling sad and helpless -- the tragic killing of the young football player in Washington.  Images of that mother's face haunt me daily.  Why it's had such a lasting and difficult effect on me, I don't know.  I find myself in search of distractions to overcome these feelings, resolve them, move on.  

Distractions....As my realtime exam time draws near --November 3rd-- I've used most of my spare time honing my skills, both on speed and memorization of steno briefs, perfecting my steno outlines that hopefully will increase my proficiency for passing the exam.  This task can be consuming when I apply myself wholly.  And I have.  I'm thinking in steno, talking in steno, writing in steno, listening in steno in my mind to daily conversations even outside the courtroom.  The intense focus has served more than one purpose.  Distractions...  Productive and intense.

It's almost as if I'm hesitant to allow myself to become idle.  I don't want my mind going to places that will be counterproductive.  And so I continue my intensity of focus. 

Upon returning to my office after the morning session of court, I sat down at my desk and glanced over at the candle flickering on a nearby table, the lamp light shining on a photo of my sons.  I smile inside.  I like what I see.  I like what I hear -- classical on the radio playing softly in the background.  I grab my phone and snap a shot, an ordinary moment of my day now cinematized.

I look at life this way sometimes, through a narrow lens, my heart's lens.  Miniature portraits, illustrations of my world around me.  It hits my happy.  It calms.  It inspires.  It comforts.  It reassures.

Eyes like a shutter,

mind like a lens.

On my morning run this morning, as cold as it was, the beauty of the decorated sky served to overshadow my  initial reaction to the icy chill.  I decide to look up now and then as my body slowly warms up, increasing my stride slowly, allowing the breathtaking contrast of moon and stars against a velvety black sky consume my thoughts.  My eyes drink in this beauty graciously, fueling my energy as my body warmed.  

Life is good.  Life goes on.  Time keeps marching.  The darkness is followed by dawn.  By healing.  

And suddenly 30 minutes are up before I realize it, and it's time to stretch, go take my shower, and get ready for my day.  I begin thinking in steno again ... the steno briefs I memorized yesterday return to my mind and I practice them in my head.  I have another day to apply my skills and my focus and my efforts at writing cleaner, faster, shorter, more accurately.  Just get it done, T.  Just do it.  You know how .... go after it.

Warm the Heart by the Hearth

It's that time of year again.  The temperatures have dropped "way down thar" for the last few nights, and I've begrudgingly had to turn on the heat for the first time since early spring.  When the cooler evenings of autumn arrive, there is nothing like a big cozy fireplace in a fabulous setting to create ambiance, atmosphere, charm, warmth and calm.  It slows you down and mellows whether you want to or not.  It just does.  It's a visual tranquilizer for all the senses.

For me, it ignites a happiness deep within me,

a simple kind of joy

that comes from listening to the wood crackle and pop,

the flames dance,

the intoxicating scent of wood burning...

doesn't get much better than that.  

Worries seem to vanish for a while.

I was browsing recently and found this stockpile of treasures.  It's fun to pretend being at any one of these places, a glass of wine, perhaps some relaxing tunes, some good company, good food, laughter.  Each one of these outdoor fireplaces have a beauty uniquely their own.

Ahhh, yeah...lemme dream a little ... ready, set ... escape.

Moms Know Best

My youngest son is 14.  He attended his first homecoming dance for high school last Thursday night.  He didn't bother telling me he had planned to attend until Thursday morning.




We discussed what he should wear.  And then we discussed what he insisted on wearing.  And then I set about ironing his clothes.  He refuses to wear a tie.  A coat is also out of the question.  He agrees to a button-down and khakis.  Great.  This should be interesting.

He discovers that he needs a belt.  A dress belt.  He doesn't have one.  Why?  Because he doesn't like to 'LOOK' dressed up, and he chooses all of his own clothes.  His clothes have to pass his inspection.  Casual or jock.  And even those categories have subcategories that need to pass his inspection.  I've given up buying clothes for him unless he is with me.

So we search and finally find a belt in his brother's closet, which by putting it on the very last notch barely works.  (He's skinny as a weed.)  We then discuss shoes.  He suggests his Nikes.  Huh?  To a dance?  Nah.  We search and search for a pair of dress shoes but find none that will fit him.  I then remind him that I've tried repeatedly to buy him a pair of dress shoes and he has refused to shop for them and has insisted he would not wear them if I purchased him a pair.  He has three different pairs of high-dollar sport shoes, football cleats, track cleats, and sandals.  The end.  That is his shoe collection.  He decided on his black Nikes for the dance.  This should be interesting.

He was tight-lipped after the dance with his remarks and feedback.  In a nutshell, "he had fun."

Yesterday, four days after the dance, he mentions to me that, "oh, by the way, he'd like to expand his Christmas list to add a belt, a pair of dress shoes, a nice dress shirt, and uh, maybe some nice men's cologne."

Oh, my son.  The pains of growing up.  Learn to trust your mother, would you?

Mom's know best.

Tragedy Brings Perspective to Life

I've been away all week at an educational conference.  Upon arriving home yesterday evening, stopping long enough at the house to check messages, tie up loose ends, and grab a bite to eat before heading to my youngest son's football game at 6:00, I learned via text message from my middle son's girlfriend (I had not listened to the news nor read the paper all week) that one of Washington & Jefferson's senior students had been mugged and beaten to death on his walk back to campus the night before.  They found his body at 4:40 ish in the morning on the sidewalk.  He was their star running back, a friend and teammate of G's, and his young life had been snuffed out horribly and senselessly.

No. 5.  His football jersey flashes before my mind's eye ...

Upon learning of the news, I was saddened.  Horrified.  In shock.  My mind was refusing to process what I was hearing initially.  After a quick change of clothes, I hopped in my car to head to the game, and it began to slowly sink in, as did that sick feeling in my stomach.  Along with hurt, grief, confusion...fear.  Reactions of MY heart and mind, and all "from a distance."  I merely knew OF the young man.  I'd never had the privilege of speaking to him.  I was trying to imagine what was going through the minds and hearts of those who knew him best, serving only to intensify my sick feeling inside.  I thought of his parents... I thought of his teammates... I thought of his coaching staff ... all of his classmates and friends... I thought of his young life, ready to launch into a bright future upon graduation ... I thought of those moments of glory on the field that he and others were so proud of ... I tried to imagine his fear at the moment of this tragedy ... I wondered why his money was more important than his life to whomever did this senseless beating ... I realized it could have been MY son ...

And the more I thought, the more my mind wandered and my gut churned, my self-protection mode fighting to pull my thoughts away from it all, trying to focus on the evening ahead, the pending game, seeing my young son on that football field after not having seen him all week, playing along with his teammates in hopes of their next victory ... young, innocent, alive, well and safe.

And suddenly, my mind flashes over all the "setbacks" and complaints and worries and troubles and inconveniences that I had been confronted with over the course of the week...those things all crumbling apart and shrouded with the pain of reality.

Life is precious.  It can be gone in an instant.

Let go of the heartache and disappointments of life.

Focus on what matters.

Take nothing for granted.

Make a difference in someone's life every day that you live.

Do something kind for someone as often as you can, while you can.

Encourage others who need encouraged.

Show respect.

Tell people you love them as often as you can.

Hug them every day.

Let go of hurts.

Forgive.

Show goodness and mercy every day that you live.

Pray daily.

Give thanks.

Smile and laugh often.

Cherish life at all costs.