Spaghetti Ice Cream and Expectations

Over Christmas I am going to make a dessert we had in Germany of April, 1989.  Spaghetti Ice Cream (because I will work out double that day, and if you believe that I have some "Ocean Front Property in Arizona"). That's a song that will stick in my mind for the day!  Ok, the Spaghetti Ice Cream "how to" was posted by a German Gal that lived across from us in Shinglehouse long ago.  We had the opportunity to get to know her, her family and meet her mom when she visited from Germany.   Birgit posted how to make the famous Spaghetti Ice Cream which is not noodles but made to look like them. I am one happy gramma to share this with the grands.  It is delicious and just down right fun to eat.  Presentation is 99% of any foods desire to eat as far as I'm concerned.  Here is the video on how to, you might even enjoy making it on a special day.  Birgit reminded me, don't forge to put a mound of whip cream on the plate first, it makes it so much better.  Of course it would, I love German desserts!

 

 The Wellness Center (weights and treadmill) is a very odd place to let the mind roll to blogging.  Proves no matter where I am this mind keeps rolling. While I was getting to the 2 mile mark it made me think of   "expectations" on how far I wanted to walk and my goal for the lift routine.  Expectations, we all have them and probably had them from the minute we were able to "want". 

In a young teenager there are few expectations but many wants.  Making first string on a sport team, being picked for a solo in chorus, painting a beautiful picture, getting a trophy buck, passing a driver's test, having a girl friend or boy friend, etc.  Then as we leave high school want usually turns to expectations.  Parents have great expectations for their kids, kids desire the same.  Remember though, it requires work and dedication to achieve that goal.  Sometimes that is not enough, so when the expectation is not reached but you have achieved a satisfying wrung on the ladder, are you able to accept that as success or failure?  Success is accepting and not blaming others or a circumstance for not reaching the great expectation.  Most parents, me being one are more than satisfied with our children and what we expected them to achieve.  Love, happiness. able to take care of their wife/husband and children and being able to "Pass it On" to their family.  That is the greatest expectation I could want for them.

Ok, so now I have been a little serious on that tread mill.  The music I had blasting in my ears suddenly turned "toe tap'n" fast.  Time to get moving  and actually got a little silly thinking of all the sweat running off my hair and down my back, it is not a glamorous time.  My expectations, let's see.  One, don't let the gal beside me go faster (20ish or 60ish) I will not let them out walk me for time.  Unless the sweet little thing puts on a full fledged run for an hour or even 10 minutes, then she is on her own.   Slyly looking out the corner of my eye at there distance and time to make sure, yes I am still faster. This is ridiculous Cheryl, you are here for yourself, not to out do the gal next to you.  I kept trying to figure out what my expectation of time would be.  2 miles in 30 minutes, yes that will do and I am having a good day.  Some days are like being tortured on that treadmill, there is no song with enough toe tap'n to motivate on those days.  One thing I learned last week, (still have a lot to learn remember) if I deadlift, press and squat first it makes the tread mill time much better.  I guess because lifting makes me warm up and sweat much faster thus not so long to get it moving on the treadmill.  I hate my expectations because I am not good when I don't meet them...I can give advice, I just can't take it...blahhhhhh

Well, here's the final time including a 5 minute warm-up and 5 minute cool-down.

No, I did not meet my expectation,
no excuses, just didn't!

  Normally I would never take a selfie especially the way I look at the end of my work-out expectation but this will be a therapy session.  The only place I will go without make-up on, hair done and matching clothes is the Wellness Center.  The first few times 14 years ago I went all "fixed up", by the end of 90 minutes make-up was running down my face with sweaty clothes and hair.  No thanks, cleaning up once a day is enough.  Plus that make-up made my eyes burn which made me look like I had been crying or on a 2 day drunk. 

   Nasty, sweaty and red faced but
 feel'n good!

Let's go back to adult (older) expectations.  Seriously outside of the gym I have no expectations and it feels great!  That is what happens after retirement, full circle.  Young life, none. Older life, none.  In between a kazillion mind boggling expectations.  Some important, most not.  Remember the saying, "if I knew then what I know now".  For me that would have been grand, it could have kept me out of some not so fun situations.  "It is what it is"...I like that saying and find I use it quite often these days, it is what it is.  Nice ring to it.