CherylWhite's Blog

I had a chance to talk with Sheryl Cautero earlier this week.  She lost an incredible 77 pounds on "The Cookie Diet" and has kept it off for 2 years.  The cookies are made by a Florida physician and are available through the internet.  They aren't cheap.  A month's supply is about $225.  But it worked for Sheryl and she says she feels great. 

Carolyn O'Neil, a registered dietitian was also here with her perspective.  She passed along a website with a review of the diet. 

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-cookie-diet<
/a>

OK.  So here's the thing.  Do not, EVER, touch your eyes after cutting Habanero peppers.  I thought my eyeballs were going to melt into my hands.  And this was after washing my hands about a billion times.  These things have real staying power.  I poured about a gallon of Visine into my eyes but I had to pry them open to do it... then 10 minutes splashing cold water in my face and finally pressing on a cold pack till my face turned numb.

Any tips?  How do you handle these peppers without setting yourself on fire?!!!

Have you ever pulled up in the driveway and couldn't remember the drive home?  I have and it is a scary moment.  Maybe if we thought about driving too much we wouldn't drive at all considering all the things that could go wrong.  But a certain amount of concentration is required to process all the information whizzing past us on the road and decisions, it turns out, are often made with less than adequate information. 

There is a new book out called "Traffic, why we drive the way we do (and what it says about us".  It is so well researced that it could be used as a text book but don't let that "drive" you away.  Tom Vanderbilt writes with enough flair to keep you interested in what, in other hands, could be dreadfully dull.  In fact, there are a few habits I'm trying to break after reading this book.  I thought I was driving smart, but the evidence otherwise is pretty compelling. 

Check it out if you want to drive safer, get there faster, or just wonder why the other guy drives like an idiot!

Today the back-to-school march really gets going with Cherokee, Douglas, Griffin-Spaulding, Henry, and Rockdale Counties all opening for classes today.  Traffic wasn't impacted all that much this morning but, trust me, it will be.  Not only on interstates, but through our neighborhoods as well.  Kids are unpredictable and don't always watch where they are going (I know, we talk and talk and talk but do they listen?!).  So, we have to watch for them and take it slow by bus stops and at risk of sounding like I'm preaching, we have to stop when the school bus sign is out.   It is heartbreaking for me to report that a child has been hit in a traffic accident and it happens so often in the mornings during the school year.  I can't even imagine what the families go through.

Lets do our best to keep them safe.

Sure was a short summer!  Already back to school time which leads me to back-to-school-traffic.  If you're new to Atlanta and have never experienced the difference between commuting when school is out vs. in, then you are in for a shock!  The morning commute in particular is about to turn bright, brake light red.  There are lots of reasons for the change including THOUSANDS of school buses.  What really matters is that commute times are, in general, about to get a whole lot longer.  Which means you may be filling the tank a whole lot more often unless you can juggle your schedule a bit.  Do you drive past any schools?  Try out a new route now. Leave a little earlier or a lot later or convince the boss that you really can work at home!

Newton county schools open on Friday, August 1st.  About 13 more school systems start classes the following week and by August 18th just about all should be open.

Oh, and one more thing.  Please, please, please respect and protect school buses and their precious cargo.  If the school bus stop sign is out, stop.  In fact, traffic must stop on both sides of the roadway if the sign is out.  The only exception is on a roadway divided by a median. 

It is right across the street from my Publix and for years, I've been fascinated by the construction of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple on Rockbridge Road at Lawrenceville Highway.  The temple was blessed and opened to the public last Saturday and I couldn't wait to see it close-up.  From the Publix parking lot, I could tell the carvings were beautiful but it wasn't until I was right in front of them that I saw how unbelievably intricate they are.  Nor did I know that there is a large open plaza and reflecting pool.  You really get a sense of calm and peacefulness.  As you ascend the snow white steps, you are asked to remove your shoes to enter the temple.  It suddenly becomes very quiet with everyone sans footwear and there is a physical sense of connectedness as you feel the cool of the stone on your bare feet. 

Inside, there are pillars carved from the floor to the domed ceiling.  In niches circling the room are statues bathed in ever-changing colored lights. The accompanying text explains their significance.

Everyone there is so friendly and if you would like to visit, I was told the temple would be open for visitors between 9am and 6pm most days.

I have posted some photos.  You'll be amazed!

Yesterday, a list of some of the worst intersections in Atlanta was released.  The list was compiled from responses to a web poll.  Intersections like Briarcliff and Ponce, Cascade at I-285, and Collier and Howell Mill.  Those are bad, no doubt about it.  But there are soooo many more.  I'll bet we all have at least one intersection we dread.  One on my personal list is Pleasant Hill EB approaching I-85.  Once you get on the other side of the interstate you're good to go.  But you have to get there first and does it ever try your patience!  Almost makes you think twice about shopping on Pleasant Hill.  Almost.       Oh, and what about Ashford-Dunwoody at I-285?!  I'm getting all tense just thinking about it!  Hey, it helps to vent sometimes so have at it!  Is there an intersection that has you steamed?  Go ahead and let 'er rip...

Kudzu.  That's my idea for a new fuel source.  Think about it.  There doesn't seem to be a shortage of it and it grows like crazy just about anywhere.  Why not come up with a way to use something we DON'T want into fuel instead of using things we do want?  I just think we are better off turning corn, sweet potatoes, and peanuts into body fuel rather than bio-fuel. 

And how about a Kudzu clothing line?  I've seen yarn made from hemp, bamboo, even shrimp shells... why not Kudzu?

I'm telling you... this could be very big.

I could feel the tears coming but I knew I didn't have a tissue.  Didn't matter though, I couldn't stop them.  The ladies of the Gwinnett Quilters Guild had invited me to their meeting to see all the quilts they had made and the presentation of those quilts to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.  The quilts were wonderful.  The entire sanctuary of Cannon United Methodist Church served as the gallery... quilts draped over every pew. Quilts for babies to tweens... boys and girls.  Simple quilts to complicated pieced ones.  I even saw a few with hand stitching.  While that was an awesome sight,  the stories really got to me.  And every other person in the room.  Sniffles all around.  Stories of children so badly hurt, kids with illnesses no one should have to suffer especially a child, and youngsters battered from abuse.  And how each of those children was given a quilt chosen especially for them.  A quilt that would comfort them during their healing and that was theirs to keep forever.  That just did it.  We were all in tears.  Children hurting is just wrong and if these quilts helped even a tiny bit... well, the aching fingers and pin pricks and stiff backs were all forgotten.  It was a moment.  And these ladies are remarkable.  The group includes around 140 members.  They started this project called "Just for You" 6 years ago.  The first year, they donated 90 quilts.  This year, there were 376 quilts in that sanctuary.  Every one to end up in a childs arms. What a moment, indeed.

FYI, the Gwinnett Quilters Guild is open to new members.  Susan Gordon is the contact;  susangordon@bellsouth.net .

A while back I had the opportunity to meet some members of the Gwinnett Quilter's Guild during a live broadcast from "Intown Quilters".  Thats a shop along side North DeKalb Mall.  I was there because the ladies were busy making some very special quilts for some very special kids at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.  Susan Gordon from the GQG wrote to let me know that all 300 or so quilts being donated are going to be displayed at the next meeting on Tuesday, May 15th.  The ladies let me sew together a few quilt pieces and generously call it "Cheryl's Quilt".  Believe me, they did 90% of the work!   Anyway, it will be there too. The meeting will be held at Cannon United Methodist Church, 2424 Webb Gin House Road in Snellville (just off the Ronald Reagan Parkway).

You know, quilting is something I have never attempted and honestly, I am more than a little intimidated by it..  Especially the ones that have intricate designs made from really small pieces of fabric.  If you create quilts or just admire the work that goes into them, you might want to check these out.

Oh, and here's something else you might want to take part in... when I stopped by "Intown Quilters" the other day day to photograph "my" quilt which has been hanging there until the big display on the 15th,   Sarah Phillips told me that the shop is being included in the Better Homes and Gardens Quilt Sampler Shop Hop! .  Even better, one of their quilts is featured on the cover!!  To celebrate, there's going to be a party at "Intown Quilters" Saturday, May 12 from 1 to 3pm.  You'll be able to see the "cover quilt" live and in person, too.  The shop is at 1058 Mistletoe Road off North Druid Hills Road in Decatur. 

If you go, I doubt that you'll be able to walk out the door without at least one piece of fabric...  they have some great prints!   So far, I've been able to keep my New Year's Resolution but it ain't easy... no new hobbies... no new hobbies... no new hobbies... hmm... I wonder if they have quilting classes?

I was out on vacation last week and only found out this morning that Kitty Carlisle Hart passed away on April 17th.  Last November, I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to sit down and talk with her about her life and her one woman show.  What a gentle lady.  And funny too!  She seemed fraile then but in good health. I found her charming and lovely and color-coordinated from head to toe.  Her suit was a very vibrant color... I was trying to decide whether it was bright coral or light salmon or rosy apricot or what so I asked her what  color it was.  She laughed and said "I just call it pink".   Loved that.

Kitty  Carlisle was 96.

Remember Ace Young from American Idol? Well, he stopped by Good Day Atlanta on Tuesday.  He brought his not-identical twin brother Ryan too.  They were both so friendly and fun (and handsome!) .  You know, they must make a million of these promotional stops and it would be so easy to be arrogant or even worse, bored. Not the case though.  They even stayed around for about half an hour to talk with everyone.  OK, that doesn't happen very often!  Made me think about how much I appreciate people who take a minute to smile or just say "hello".  Like the ladies at the fabric store and Tammy at the dry cleaner and everyone at "my" Publix.  Pleasant people can make even the worst day just a little bit better.  And it works the other way too.  At least for me.  On the rare occasion that I'm in a bad mood, if I manage to work up a sincere "Good Morning!" , all the sudden that bad mood is not quite so bad.  And a few smiles later, my mood ring is back to purple!