Out of Retirement, Holding a Torch

… hoping to set the world ablaze. There, I said it.

Promised myself awhile ago that I would only come back on here to write if I actually had something important to say. Boy was that a loaded decision! And now here we are. Me writing, with a very clear, no bullshit message. You reading said message. Might want to buckle up, buttercups. This may be the most controversial, and possibly inflammatory thing you’ve read on here in awhile. Perhaps ever. But the last time I checked, my name is not Willy Wonka, and I have zero obligation to sugarcoat shit.

SORRY, NOT SORRY.

Assuming you live under a rock, in a cave off the grid, or just blindly ignorant to the shit-show of a world we currently live in, allow me to enlighten you…

Yesterday, there was another mass shooting. At a high school in Santa Clarita, California. Not too far from where my family and I reside. If you have a beating heart, a functioning brain and even a shred of a soul to go with it, this affects you deeply. And you are mad as hell, just like me. More innocent, adolescent lives lost. More children that WE AS ADULTS HAVE FAILED. FUCK!!!

16 seconds. SIXTEEN. SECONDS. 

That is how long it took for the 16 year-old male at Saugus High School to pull a .45-caliber, semi-automatic handgun he brought from home, from his backpack, and shoot a group of students, before turning the gun on himself, yesterday morning. 

Two of the students are dead, with families planning their funerals now, instead of prepping for the holidays. Others are injured. The rest of the student body, staff, administrators and parents are traumatized. The shooter is now dead. Yesterday was his birthday, and today was his last day. Don’t know about you, but I certainly wouldn’t want my daughters to be given a bullet as a party favor. Think about that. THINK ABOUT IT!

Speaking of my daughters… Sugar Bean, Butter Bean and Sweet Pea… They have friends who attend the school where the shooting took place. Which means I sent a text TO A FRIEND yesterday morning, asking IF HER BABIES WERE OKAY. I do not want to send another text like that again. Ever. Nor do I want to be in the position I found myself just a few weeks ago, when my own daughter’s high school was in FULL LOCKDOWN. Although, it was a false alarm, the hour I spent sitting outside the school while she was texting me from inside a locked closet in the band room, was one of the longest hours I have ever spent. And while she maintains she was not frightened…because she shares my DNA and that’s just who she is… the look on her face when she was finally able to walk out and wrap her arms around me and The Man, said otherwise. It just about broke me. In fact, I can’t even talk about it without choking back tears.

To say that I am angry, would be a gross understatement. Livid, and ready to take to the streets is more accurate. If that’s what needs to happen to get some common sense laws passed, then SIGN ME UP. This is a mountain I am willing to offend/piss people off over, step on toes for, and ultimately die on. None of this is okay. IT HAS TO STOP. NOW.

Oh, and don’t come at me with the tired ass excuse of unchecked mental illness, or the “Guns don’t kill people; people kill people,” mantra. 🙄🤬 
Just. Don’t. Fucking. Do. It. Save it for another day, with a lot more whiskey and somebody else.  You will not find an audience here.

You know why? Because other countries in this world have youth, teens and grown adults with mental illness… but they don’t have mass shootings. Wonder why?! It’s simple: THEY HAVE STRICTER GUN LAWS OR COMPLETE GUN CONTROL. 

Also. If you are offended by this rant, or you believe your guns are more important than innocent lives… the lives of my children… and we know each other in real life…we definitely shouldn’t be friends. 
This is not up for debate. 

FFS… GET IT TOGETHER, PEOPLE. LIVES DEPEND ON WHAT WE DO NEXT!

 

Maintenance Mode

              Photo credit: Hello Fresh

Finally. A follow-up, right? Long overdue, I know.

After my last post, many of y’all messaged me…or asked me in person to write about what I DO EAT since I shared all the things I eliminated… which apparently led some to believe I simply exist on air and sunshine, like the plants I consume. However, that’s definitely not the case. So I will try to make this brief, as not to lose anyone’s attention with unnecessary expository information. I will include some photos though, so it has some aesthetic appeal! But first, a couple of reminders:

  1. If you missed the original post documenting the drastic body transformation that resulted from my quest to simply FEEL BETTER, you can read it here.
  2. DISCLAIMER: The information I provided in the first post, as well as this one, is simply what works for me, and I share it with the hopes of helping others who may have similar issues to my own. There is no guarantee it will work for everyone, but perhaps it could serve as a jumping off point. After all, you have to start somewhere, right? That being said, it was done entirely ON MY OWN, without the supervision of a doctor or nutritionist. I just researched, and flew by the seat of my Lulus 😉

Now, to answer the question of what I consume on a regular basis, to help me support a healthy weight, as well as maintain energy to exercise, and the clarity of mind to function as a busy mom to The Beans. It’s actually rather simple, believe it or not, and there is A LOT of variety as long as you are aware of what your body can and cannot tolerate with respect to digestion. And I don’t spend every waking moment in the kitchen, which is a bonus!

An average day for me, food wise, goes something like this:

BREAKFAST: black coffee, some avocado toast, sprinkled with nutritional yeast and a piece of fruit to go with it.

LUNCH: This varies, depending on whether I’ve cooked the night before, or if I decide to have lunch out somewhere. If I am void of a lunch meeting and don’t have any leftovers, I usually pop into my local Starbucks and pick up one of these precious gems, pictured below. Completely vegan, already prepared, and packed with 23 grams of protein. I am not really a fan of the dressing that comes with it, so I usually bring it home and use Daiya Vegan Blue Cheese dressing. Super yummy, I promise! But if you are not a blue cheese fan, there are many other dressings you can choose from, that still adhere to the dairy-free rule I follow NO MATTER WHAT. 

DINNER: My favorite thing to prepare at home is vegan soft tacos using either Beyond Beef or Gardein brand soy crumbles with taco seasoning added, stuffed into whole wheat tortillas and topped with Tofutti brand, vegan sour cream, Daiya Shredded Cheddar “Cheese” (vegan), diced tomatoes, black beans, shredded lettuce and sliced avocado. Recently, I have added the black beans into the “meat”, along with a can of diced tomatoes and green chiles and that works well. Since my family does not adhere to the same dietary restrictions as I, it’s necessary to prepare taco seasoned ground turkey, and have real sour cream, as well as real cheese for them. That way, everyone is happy! When I cook this particular meal, I always make enough of the “meat” to last for a few meals, so I can enjoy it for lunch or dinner a couple of days in a row.

Another dinner favorite at our house is chicken tenders, mashed potatoes and either oven roasted broccoli, cauliflower or asparagus. An added bonus for this meal is that everyone eats it, without any other “real” meat having to be prepared. Why? Because my whole family actually prefers the “chicken nuggets” by Morning Star, to the real chicken nuggets by other companies. And I make the mashed potatoes with Earth Balance Vegan Butter, and roast the veggies with coconut oil & Trader Joe’s Everyday Seasoning Blend. It’s a win-win. Unfortunately, there are rarely leftovers…lol.

Now, it wouldn’t be fair to y’all if I failed to disclose that I am NOT completely vegan, although I consume very few foods derived from sources with a face. That being said, I still consume fish. Mainly sushi, or sashimi when we go out, but also baked fish at home from time to time. Normally, it’s orange roughy or wild caught Alaskan salmon if I can find it at the market. If not, depending on the source, I will settle for tilapia. Usually I serve this with brown rice, a green salad, and another vegetable everyone likes.

We also go out to dinner…more than we should, if I’m being honest… and here is a list of MY favorite vegan restaurants in the Los Angeles area. Sorry to those folks who live in other places, as I cannot speak to the choices y’all have nearby. That being said, here are my top establishments, with links to their sites:

  1. Flore Vegan (Silver Lake, CA)
  2. Sage Vegan Bistro (2 locations: Culver City and Echo Park)
  3. Gracias Madre (West Hollywood/Beverly Hills adjacent)
  4. Stuff I Eat (Inglewood, CA)
  5. Cafe Gratitude (Larchmont Village, CA)
  6. Native Foods Cafe (Westwood, CA)

In addition to all the aforementioned foods I listed above, there are a few things I also obsess over and try to consume every day. These include: plain filtered or electrolyte infused water, organic coconut water, and raw almonds. I also take a daily probiotic, a multi-vitamin, a biotin capsule and a Vitamin D supplement. Oh, and my guilty pleasure? Cold brew coffee from Starbucks with vanilla and coconut milk. So I’m human. Sue me!

Are you wondering about exercise yet? Well, there is only one thing I do: weekly Reformer Pilates classes. My bestie is a master instructor, and owns CLARA’S ROOM in Montrose, California. That’s the secret to the definition of my muscles, and the source of my strength. Also, it’s my happy place 🙂 Lucky for you local folks, she has graciously allowed me to extend a special offer! If you contact the studio HERE and mention CALIBAMAMOM you can get $50 off a package of 10 specialty classes! Normally this is $250, however with this offer, as a new client, you’ll only pay $200. And let me tell you…it’s worth every penny. Just look at the shots below of me in the studio working out!

Okay, I know I said I would make this brief. Sorry for lying, but if you follow this blog you knew that was an empty promise when you read it…lol. After all, I am long-winded. Last but not least, if you have any questions, comment below and I promise to answer. Or you can email me. Your choice. At any rate, I’ll leave you with these before and after images as inspiration. Despite what you may think, both of them ARE ME, taken two years apart, to the very day. What can I say? A lot can change in two years.

Gotta run…time for sleep. Which I clearly don’t get enough of, so I suppose that should be my next goal!

xo,

N

UPDATE: Shortly after I published this post, I saw the documentary feature titled “Vegucated” on Netflix. After watching this film, I made the decision to eliminate fish/seafood from my diet, and become fully vegan in my eating. That was 6 months ago 🙂

What EXACTLY Did You Do?!

Well, among other things, I had another birthday. In January. I like to think I’m ATOP the hill, looking down the other side, deciding how long I’ll hang out up here before I head over it. Makes perfect sense to me.

Anyway, my new age is NOT the focus of this post. This is actually about how I got healthy, on my own terms, flying by the seat of my pants. Since so many people have asked me “What exactly did you do?” I thought it best to simply tell the world. Not for vanity’s sake, not to flaunt success or a new and improved look, but to help people who may have been/or are suffering from the same issues as I. However, before I tell my story, please make note:

I AM NOT A DOCTOR, NUTRITION SPECIALIST, FITNESS EXPERT, HOMEOPATHIC HEALER, LIFE COACH, VOODOO CONJURER, OR ANYTHING OTHER THAN A WOMAN WHO FELT PHYSICALLY SHITTY FOR A LONG TIME AND DECIDED TO MAKE SOME DIETARY ADJUSTMENTS TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.  

So here is how it all began…

Several of the women in my family suffer from chronic diverticulitis (me, two of my older sisters and a paternal aunt before she passed). If you don’t know what that is, please Google it for a proper explanation. The best I can give you is that it’s a condition that causes your colon to become really angry to the point of trying to evict you from your own body. I had four horrendous, extremely painful attacks. Three of them required hospital stays of anywhere from 5 to 8 days. So. Not. Fun. Although, the first time I was in the hospital (May 2013), I did manage to find a bit of humor in it and write a couple of posts. You can read them here and here. By the third time, it was no longer funny. After my last hospitalization, I was told my only option was to have surgery to remove the diseased section of my colon causing so much havoc. Despite knowing the doctor was a straight-shooter–one of my sisters required the same procedure years ago to cure hers—I was still reluctant. Why? I am not your average patient. My body doesn’t like medications. Particularly, antibiotics and painkillers. To date, I am allergic to FIVE of the most commonly prescribed pain meds, and SEVEN “go-to” antibiotics. And when I say allergic, I mean rash all over, throat closing, anaphylaxis inducing. Yes, all of them can kill me, just like a bee sting or severe peanut allergy can do to others. So when I am in the hospital, I have to be in a special unit, monitored 24/7, because, to date…there is only one pain killer that actually controls the pain and one antibiotic the docs are certain won’t cause a reaction. OH…and my veins are not very friendly to IV’s either; they enjoy causing them to infiltrate. You can look that one up too, because I can’t even explain it. All I know is, it’s extremely painful….especially when you are going into anaphylactic shock simultaneously. Having survived all that, I, albeit reluctantly, decided to go through with the surgery and have 10 inches of my colon resected in July 2015.  I was ‘cured’ right? Umm….no, not quite.

And so it goes.

After the healing/recovery process, which took about 2 months….it seemed as though my digestive issues were a thing of the past. Not so fast, though. Around February 2016, I began to feel pretty bad again, noticed I was carrying extra weight and was no longer comfortable in my clothes. I do not own a scale, so I wasn’t sure how much I weighed exactly. However, by the end of April, I visited the doctor for a checkup and discovered I was the heaviest I have ever been, at 128 pounds. Doesn’t sound like a lot, unless you take into consideration I am only five foot one. In addition, I was tired all the time, experiencing abdominal aches followed by extended periods in the potty (sorry, TMI) almost immediately after every meal, and general heaviness in my stomach regardless of what I ate. ALL.THE.TIME. And mind you, I was only consuming soups, salads, and in general, following a pretty healthy diet. Of course, I am thinking… “WTF?!”. By the end of May, I was pretty fed up with the way I felt, because that directly impacted my ability to exercise, which would have, no doubt helped me lose the extra pounds. Unbeknownst to anyone, I looked to the all knowing Google gods for help. Little did I know, typing in the simple phrase “foods that cause problems for people with digestive issues” would change my body, spirit and ultimately, my lifestyle in the most positive of ways.

A little backstory on me…. I was a vegan for a few years in college. Being an animal lover, my reasons were understandable. Unfortunately, that was in the 90’s, when the benefits of such a diet were largely unknown, and maintaining it on the budget of a poor college student, proved to be completely impossible for me. Lack of education for the proper way to go about getting the needed nutrients led to severe anemia, and I became quite sick.  Out of desperation, I reverted back to a more traditional way of eating, reincorporating red meat, poultry, dairy, etc.. as it seemed to be what my body craved in order to heal. If only I’d known then, what I know now. Hindsight, right?

Back to present day. After a bit of research, I decided to eliminate dairy from diet completely, as it seemed to be at the top of every list of “problematic” foods. Within 10 days, I felt a huge difference. My body began to change, inside and out. My belly was no longer bloated, I had more energy, and the chronic stomach cramps after meals were subsiding. But I wasn’t done. As the result of my research, I had learned more and more about the positive benefits of a vegan diet, and opted to give that a try again, in my own modified way, ditching all meats, with the exception of fish/shrimp. And for good measure, I also traded white carbs for whole grains, and stopped consuming alcohol. Being a bit more salty, both in personality and in palate preference, sweets have never been a problem for me, so sugar was the easiest to kick to the curb. That was mid-June 2016. Now keep in mind, I haven’t mentioned incorporating exercise…yet. Because I didn’t do that on a regular basis until September 2016. So the “before and after” photos below, are the product of dietary changes exclusively. The ones on the left were shot in April 2016 and the ones on the right in August 2016 by Jamie Fisher at FishyFoto, although the body transformation only took a total of TWO MONTHS…mid-June to mid August.

    

Needless to say, I am now a very firm believer that positive health and body changes start with a commitment to eating a cleaner, more simplified diet. As for exercise, once I got my energy back…. I began doing Reformer Pilates a minimum of once a week, at Clara’s Room, which has done wonders for the lengthening and strengthening of my muscles. Especially the core ones in my lower abdomen, I presumed lost forever when the doc sliced through them to rid me of the angry section of colon! So I guess my point is… I am 10 months in, 24 pounds lighter, stronger than I’ve ever been and feeling better physically than I did when I was in my 20’s… and I am 45 years old. And I can say with complete honesty, that my intention really was to find foods that agreed with my body, rather than to lose pounds, which is probably why I have been able to stick with this way of eating. It rectified my abdominal discomfort, restored my energy and allowed me to pursue an exercise regimen that works for me. All of that combined, makes me feel good, which goes back to my original goal. Mission accomplished. The weight loss was just a side effect 🙂

730 Days, and the Dropping of Shoes

Hello, my name is Nancy and it’s been 2 years since my last blog post. Oops.

Seven hundred and thirty days is a really long time to put people on hold. But I did it. What can I say? Life happens… unapologetically. And a whole lot of life happened to me, as I am certain it did to y’all too. So there.

I’m not quite sure why today is the day I’ve decided to dive back in. Nope, can’t say that, because it’s a lie. IT’S BEEN TWO YEARS, THAT’S WHY! Also, I’ve missed y’all, and my soul is longing to over-share. As usual, I am spinning multiple plates on several sticks with one hand, and juggling bubbles with the other. Don’t ask what my legs are doing. They have a mind of their own, and have been carrying me from coast to coast on a semi-regular basis for a bit.

About this life thing. If I’ve learned nothing else in the past 730 days, it’s that just when you think life is grand, and you prepare to kick off your shoes and relax. Don’t. Of course, one shoe may drop to the floor, landing spectacularly in a glorious spot.  It’s the other shoe dropping that you must be concerned about. Without going into much any detail, I’m currently barefoot–one shoe landed nicely, the other hit with a thud, bounced up and is hovering in a cloud of uncertainty above me and I’m–on my knees, praying for a miracle. Or to win the lottery. Actually, both if I’m being honest. All for truly selfless AND selfish reasons simultaneously.

Cancer sucks, is all I can say. And so does socialized medicine. 

No, I don’t have cancer, nor does The Man, The Beans or any of my blood-relatives, that I am aware of (hint: I’m always the last to know of any family business). However, two of my dearest friends, whom I consider more family than friends have the awful disease. One lives in Toronto and was diagnosed in early 2016, with Stage 4 tonsil cancer that had spread to his neck, shoulder and a couple of lymph nodes. Thankfully, not to his lungs, liver, or brain. He and his team of doctors immediately decided upon the most aggressive form of treatment: 7 weeks of radiation and 4 rounds of chemotherapy simultaneously. I went to visit assist in caring for him in April, during Week 4. What an eye-opener. I realized that week how very little I was told about what my parents endured while fighting their own cancers before they passed away. Feeling powerless is not something I enjoy, and I was rendered powerless, beyond simply being present and available to do anything necessary, making fun of him so he would laugh, and keeping his spirits up high on the most positive of clouds. But as of 6 weeks ago, I am happy to report that my Maple Leaf brother has KICKED CANCER’S UGLY STAGE FOUR ASS!! Just one more set of scans to go, in November, and he will likely be declared the Champion of Cancer Ass Kickers. You probably already know I like to fix things, and people. So I despise not being able to eliminate, or destroy utterly ridiculous shit that happens to good people whom I love with my whole heart. If I were a superhero, I would want my power to be the ability to cure those ‘incurable’ diseases that afflict so many…including my ‘sister from another mister’, Grace, who got both amazing and horrendous news within days of each other. She has breast cancer…and is expecting her second child, a baby girl, in January. WhatTheActualFuck?! A lumpectomy has been done, but the remainder of her treatment will have to wait until Baby Girl arrives. So at the moment I’m struggling with being mad at God. Yes, I said it. On January 10th of this year, the day after I turned 44, I was ordained as a ruling Elder at my church, and here I sit, madder than a wet hen at my Heavenly Father. What a conundrum. Praying for a miracle from above while wrestling with anger towards the very One who can heal. My apologies, God. I’m only human, and YOU designed me this way. Prayers please. Lots of them. Thanks in advance. I’ll be in church in 4 short hours, after I’ve napped and this is published, lest you think I wont be praying too.

Now let’s see, what else happened in the last 730 days? Hmm. A list might be the easiest to follow. Besides, I’ve heard people enjoy reading lists. Who knew?

  1. The Man worked on a crap ton of projects. Both big budget features (Concussion, The Hateful Eight, Joy), small indie films (Burnt; Trumbo) and a couple of cool tv gigs (Hello…BLOODLINE!!). He is currently working on another big one, set to release in March 2017. Think magical, musical, Disney….Beauty.  There, you’ve got it.
  2. Sugar Bean started a YouTube channel, turned 15 and we had a surprise party that we somehow managed to keep a secret from her. Then she turned SIXTEEN and we had not one…but two celebrations to mark the milestone. She also got her driver’s license. Which is nearly impossible to do in California, and basically turned me into a basket case for a bit. Now I totally dig it, because she is an enormous help whenever I ask her to run an errand or pick up/drop off her sisters.
  3. Butter Bean learned to play the violin and performed in several talent shows both at church and at school. She also turned 11 on St.Patrick’s Day while we were visiting New York City in March 2015. She had our traditional birthday cake for breakfast from Carlos’s Bakery…you know, The Cake Boss place. It had to be done. End of story. Then we spent the day allowing her to dictate where she wanted to go and see, as it was our first time in New York as a family. So we did ALL the touristy things. I went with an itinerary in hand, wearing an imaginary name tag that said “Julie-Cruise Director”. Little did we know, it would definitely not be our last trip to the Big Apple. She also turned 12 five months ago, but she was away on a school trip for her birthday, so we had to celebrate when she returned. All I can say is that she seemingly morphed into a tweenager overnight. Attitude and all. We’ve had the necessary talks about body odor, periods, boys, makeup, inappropriate attire, social media…you name it. To quote Glennon Melton, “Sweet Fancy Moses”….more prayers, please.
  4. Sweet Pea is still a mama’s girl. She turned 9, then 10, without much pomp or circumstance. And she is still my baby. THANK GOODNESS. She is girly, and sassy and loves to play PokémonGo with me. Yes, me. She also returned to gymnastics, took classes at the intermediate/advanced level for about 3 months, then took 6 months off, and is now back at it and on one of the teams at the facility where she trains. Watch for her on the Olympics in 8 years. Or at least getting a college scholarship based on her ability to flip and stretch like a human rubber band defying gravity. The Man and I would be super happy with that.

Now that you’re caught up on the basics of what the Tribe has been up to, I guess it’s time for a report on me, huh?

  1. I turned 43 and 44. Enough about that. Especially if you’ve read this post.
  2. I had major surgery 13 months ago yesterday, to rid me of a pesky little genetic issue known as diverticulitis. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Wait, do I have enemies?
  3. Before I had the surgery, and while The Man was basically working around the clock, The Beans and I went home to Bama for a visit for the first time in 5 years. We had a blast seeing family and basking in the sun on the white sand beaches of Gulf Shores. You can check out some of our vacay adventures in this video on Sugar Bean’s YouTube channel.
  4. I successfully created, crowd-funded, co-exec produced and co-starred in a web-series entitled THE BAR, that premiered on September 15, 2015 and can be viewed here on YouTube. So much of my heart, soul, blood, sweat and tears went into this project. I would love y’all to pieces if you watched and shared it with everyone you know. Seriously. Oh, and there’s a blog about it here and a Facebook fan page here.
  5. I am currently co-authoring a book that is being considered for publication by a very well-known publishing company. Can’t say more than that without your signatures on an NDA at this point. When I can I will. In the meantime, here’s a picture of me and my co-author, Kit Wallace-Coblentz, owner of Blue Eyed Entertainment.  Big things are coming. Just wait.

    me and kit

    photo by FishyFoto

  6. I am also co-writing a feature script about my life as a teenager growing up in a small Alabama town. Based on true events. Don’t worry, you’ll recognize your characters once it’s made and on a screen somewhere 🙂
  7. I have been both a blonde and a brunette in the last 730 days. See for yourself.

Nancy_Minkler-88sm

photo by Tiffany Rose

               AC:DC headshot

WHICH DO YOU PREFER?

        8. We made a lateral move to a slightly larger house, as we had just outgrown the one we were in. The time it took from the moment we found the house, filled out the application, got the approval, and moved in, was exactly 2 weeks, and it was in the midst of all the end of school year activities, AND the deadline for the delivery of the first draft of the book I mentioned in #5 above. All of that nearly put me in the dirt. But God always has a plan, and I’m still here. Waking up breathing, day after day… blessed be.

        9. In the last 2 months, I have eliminated all dairy, red meat, poultry, white carbs, and alcohol from my diet completely. I do eat fish and shrimp on occasion, but mainly stick to a plant and fruit based diet. My body’s response to this? I’ve lost 20 lbs. No shit. 128 in March, 108 now. I’d post before and after photos, but I think I just did?

       10.  I shot swimsuit photos yesterday for the first time in 16 years, along with a ton of other head shots, including the one above, with Jamie Fisher from FishyFoto. No, I will not be posting them anywhere, as I have no desire to pursue a career as a swimsuit model at the age of 44, and the height of five foot one. They are for The Man’s eyes only. 

       11.  The Man, The Beans and I had our FIRST EVER family photo shoot also with Jamie, so I plan to send out Christmas cards this year. I know, I know. Several people will think they are being Punk’d when they get theirs. But here is a sneak peek 🙂

FishyFoto -MinklerFamily-15708 copy

12.  Since July 3, I have been to NYC and back to LA three separate times. Twice by myself and once with The Beans. Why? Because The Man is the chief of our tribe, and that’s where he’s working right now, on that big project I mentioned earlier. We miss him so much it hurts, and if The Beans weren’t in school right now, we would all be there together. Unfortunately, all we can do is visit. And FaceTime (Thanks, Mr.Jobs). So I am single-parenting…no, bi-coastal parenting I guess…until his return.

13.  Oh, and last but not least, I’m having a NYC love affair…. with The Man. Just check out my Instagram and search for the hashtag #kissingallovernyc. It’s among the best highlights of the past 730 days for me!

I guess that’s all for now. I’m not promising I will post regularly, but I promise I won’t wait 730 days before the next one. How’s that? 

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