May 12, 2009 04:52 pm
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Jim and I like to have fun, but as we get older, the activities that are fun change. We no longer go mountain climbing, hot air ballooning or scuba diving.
It’s not that these activities are hard ones to do, it’s just that getting to the mountains and the ocean take longer to access. We walk a little slower nowadays. The last time we went mountain climbing in Colorado (some years ago) we got caught on a mountain by snow flurries in August. That was a fun experience.
We’ve found a new challenging and fun activity. The other night we bowled for the first time in years. I took to it like a duck to water. I bowled over 200 my first game while Jim had to settle for something under 140. He was not a happy bowler. I told him to suck it up and I’d try the tennis game with him later and give him a chance to catch up. We had so much fun bowling, we were up until 3 a.m. bowling away. When we got tired, we would plop into our La-Z-Boys and rest. We also had a sandwich while we were taking a rest.
You see, we never left our house to bowl. We did it in our den on our TV with our new Wii (wee). The Wii is an interactive virtual video game thought up by the Japanese. After reading the instructions, we put the game on bowling and before you know it, I was making my approach, lining up my shot and letting go with my green bowling ball. As it rolled down the lane I watched as it knocked down eight of the pins. My second shot got the two left standing and I was working on a spare. Jim got a measly six pins on his first shot and missed on the spare. On my second, I got all 10 pins and the words and a voice hollered I had a STRIKE! We had something going here and it was all done in the comfort of our home. There was no one to laugh at us except ourselves. If I got a gutter ball or dropped the ball on my toes Jim would give me the rib, Ha, Ha. This was really fun.
The next night we bowled for awhile, then we decided around 4 a.m. to try the boxing. Picture this ... two adults methodically throwing jabs at each other then one of us getting knocked out. It was me, of course.
Around 4:30 some car lights flashed on our dining room window as our Startlegram paper man pulled through our circle drive. We saw the car stop and sit outside for quite a while. We continued our boxing and then it dawned on us. He could see us through our dining room windows weaving and jabbing and probably thought I was beating up on Jim. Jim threw one last shot and with a right upper cut, knocked me down (on the screen only). While I was taking a seven count, Jim hurried out the front door and caught the paper man before he left. He gave Jim a sheepish grin, but before he could say anything, Jim explained what we were doing. “Oh, you have one of those video games. My grandson wants one of those. They must be fun for you to be playing it at this hour.” Jim told him we were having a lot of fun with it. Jim said he beat me on the boxing, but I got him on the bowling. We were going to try tennis next. The man drove off shaking his head and laughing. I guess it did look pretty funny for two old people doing the “Rocky” thing. I wonder if any of our neighbors saw us. I guess not because the police didn’t show up.
This Mother’s Day all the kids and grandkids showed up and we played bowling, tennis, baseball, boxing and other games. The adults held their own against the young adults and we laughed and laughed at the arms swinging, body twisting and turns and all the different antics that took place. For the first time since his accident in November, Steven was laughing uncontrollably watching Granddaddy box him. He quickly found out his old granddad still had some surprises up his sleeve. This may be an old game to some, but it was a new one for us and we’re having a ball. It’s good exercise and certainly gets our heart rates up and racing.
Sunday lunch was delicious. The girls brought several dishes while Jim fired up our big pit for ribs and chicken. One dish that Jim and Tom liked was the baked corn. It’s quick and easy.
Baked corn
1 can cream style corn
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1 small jar diced pimentos, drained
2/3 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
1 cup cracker crumbs or 1 cup corn chips
1 cup grated cheese
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoons sugar
Salt, red and black pepper to taste
Mix all together with exception of crackers/chips and cheese. Pour butter over casserole and then sprinkle on cheese and chips. Bake in a greased casserole for 1 hour at 350 degrees.
Take advantage of all the vegetables that are pouring in. Whether you buy them at the supermarket or the Farmer’s Market, you have many types to choose from. This one is quick and delicious.
Mixed vegetable
ka-bobs
6 small red potatoes
6 medium size carrot pieces
6 small onions
12 large fresh mushrooms
2 green bell peppers, cut in pieces
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 teaspoons barbecue spice
1 teaspoon salt
Dash black pepper
6 small cherry tomatoes
Pare and cook potatoes and carrots in boiling salted water until tender, but not soft. Cut stems off mushrooms, wash caps. Remove seeds and cut peppers into 12 pieces. Drain potatoes and carrots and arrange on six skewers alternately with onions, peppers and mushroom caps.
Mix together butter, barbecue spice, salt and pepper and brush ka-bobs with mixture. Place on grill. Cook at medium 3 to 5 minutes per side. Add tomatoes during final 2 minutes of cooking and brush again with butter sauce. Serves 6.
You know as I think on it, learning to play the games on the Wii could be to our advantage. When Jim and I move to the “rest or retirement centers,” we’ll be ahead of the game. I have recently seen on TV that Wii bowling teams were being organized in retirement centers as entertainment and physical training. Bowling is my game, but I’m getting pretty good at boxing too so watch out!!!
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Janis may be reached at: jks4417@aol.com.
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