The New Generation of Single Woman

Morning Pooka Family!  So your Pookalitas were having another one of our insightful conversations about this new generation of single women i.e. women who for one reason or another are not married.  As you can imagine, our perspectives on this are very diverse.  One perspective is that the single woman is lagging behind in reaching "societal" goals be that marriage, children, and other responsibilities that come with family and age.  Another perspective is that this new single woman is a trailblazer by her mere confidence and acceptance of where she is in this stage of life.  This is another example of the diversity of our society and that everyone does not adhere to the so called traditional mold or path.  Notwithstanding that she may have desires to fulfill those traditional shoes at some point, in my opinion it does not mean you are falling behind, no matter what your age, it just means that God has taken you down an alternate path and that with each step you take you are gaining a richness that others may not have acquired in the same way you are.  In the end, it always seems to come down to, the grass always appears to be greener on the other side.

Would you?

Of course we all know the news by now, Oscar-winning film star, humanitarian and mother of 6 Angelina Jolie has undergone a double masectomy after learning she carried the BRCA1 gene that makes it extremely likely (an 87%) chance that she would get breast cancer or a (50% chance) ovarian cancer. She knew what she was facing if she didn't do it having lost her mother to cancer. To say that Jolie is a bigger person than her stardom is true, this is a woman who loves her children and her soon to be husband to the point that she will do and did do what is necessary for her and their survival. She is hoping that her story will inspire other women who are fighting this life-threatening disease. I am humbled by the fact that Jolie has chosen to share something so intimate with the world in the hope that it might help someone else. Thank you Angelina.

Kale Days!

Greetings Family!

Hope all is well. I have been eagerly awaiting spring....no really. This weather is not cooperating. But before I begin to complain about the heat I wanted to share with you. I your foodie Pookalita have been on a Kale kick! Can't get enough of it, I didn't know! First of all it is the ultimate super food. It is low in calories and high in vitamin C, K and A. Benefits include healthy eyes, heart and lower cholesterol!  It fights fat and is high in fiber.  Sorry spinach!  So before we start using our sunscreen try this recipe for Kale soup. Let  me know what you think!

Sauté Carrots (i like the baby ones cut in half), celery and a bay leaf in olive oil. You can season to taste but always watch your salt! Once veggies start to get tender add about five cups of low or no salt chicken stock.  You can also use veggie. As stock starts to boil you can be creative. Add chopped white or sweet potatoes.  If you need meat you can add pre cooked grilled chicken. I usually make without the meat. Everything should be boiling. Once your potatoes get tender but not mushy add your Kale leaves. I cut big pieces. And that's it! This soup takes a total of about fifteen minutes. You are not boiling the good stuff out of your veggies. Don't cook the Kale like collard greens lol! They shouldn't be crunchy but just tender. Sometimes we will have before our meal  and I will  have the leftover soup for lunch. Family we are talking about an easy good for you bowl of goodness. If soup is not your thing then sauté the Kale with some garlic and onions...yummy!  So the next time you go to the veggie market pick up a huge bunch of Kale. Your body will be glad you did.

50 years of Marriage

Good Morning Pooka Family!  I am just returning from Tucson Arizona where I went to celebrate my Uncle Joe & Aunt Marlene’s 50^th wedding anniversary!  Fifty years of being married to the same person!!!  That is truly a testimony!!  I admire my Aunt and Uncle tremendously; they are true role models for marriage and family.  They never miss a family reunion, they come to everyone’s graduations, and they are world travelers! Last year they went to Corsica and Paris! Oh and they both are Greek (Kappa and Delta) so of course they never miss a convention either.  For those sisters who will be in DC this July for the Delta convention you may run into Aunt Marlene representing for her AZ chapter!  We are truly blessed to have role models like them representing our history and our family!

Take me out to the Ball Game!

My kids play a variety of sports, basketball, soccer, football, and I'm always there cheering them on, but when they decided to play baseball I was like" Boring!" Don't get me wrong I know Baseball is  "American's Pastime" "The All American Game" but it is just sooooooo boring to me! I would rather poke my eyes out! Lol! Growing up we only had one t.v. in our house(at least thats what my parents said until we found out they weren't talking when they went to bed they were watching t.v.!) and every sunday night we had to watch the Yankees, WPIX Channel 11(thanks Dad!) so of course I had to watch  or go to bed. Even though it was boring I was NOT going to bed! So when we went to Wesley first practice  I mentally prepared myself to be really bored,
 I packed a book and some snacks and settled in to read and eat. " Who threw that ball?" I heard the coach yell out. " Me!"  I heard my baby boy yell back. "Oh my goodness, what did that boy do now?" I look up to see the coach looking at Wesley, " Do it again" he says. So Wesley throws the ball again from short stop to first. "Thats great Wes!" So I'm really looking now and I'm thinking "Ok he does that all the time." I then notice the other kids are kind of throwing the ball like the dad teaching his son how to throw the ball in that Volkswagen Passat car commercia....., just all wrong.This might be a little interesting. Next they are at bat, lots of swings and misses, Wesley steps to the plate and he hits it into the outfield! What in the world!!! Did my baby just do that!!!! Is he turning out to be Jackie Robinson Jr.? After practice is over the coach tells me that Wesley has a great arm, (I know I taught him everything he knows!) Now of course I LOVE BASEBALL!  we watch any game we can on t.v., we go to the batting cages, I'm looking up catching techniques on line, obviously it takes one of my kids to be good at something and magically its not boring anymore! Lol! I know, I know.......