Angelica Grace Designs Blog

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

ISLAND COW, GUACAMOLE DIP, & STRESSORS

I'm pulling photos from the archives today because I am without my laptop. And without my laptop means I'm without any of my most recent images. Grrrrr! On Friday my laptop screen decided to take a nose dive. It just went blank with a bunch of stripes going up and down it. I immediately ran it over to Best Buy and their Geek Squad told me I'd have my baby back in 3 weeks. THREE WEEKS??? That is like death to some people - me included. How in the world am I supposed to go three weeks without my left arm? Needless to say, I'm feeling the pain. Photoshop, all of my actions, my current and past images over the last year, etc. are all on my laptop. I'm lost! I'm currently using my desktop computer which I don't necessarily care for. It doesn't have any of my current programs or anything on it. What a mess! So...for now it looks as though I'll be using older images that you've already seen anytime I plan to blog over the next three weeks. Oh what a joy that is going to be. LOL! Bare with me...I'm keeping my fingers crossed that three weeks goes by in a jiffy.

Karen flew into town and spent that past 4 days with me before she had to head on over to the East coast of Florida for a concert she was attending. We had a great time eating at all of the restaurants I've wanted to try but just haven't had a chance yet. For those of you heading to the Sanibel Island area over Spring Break, you must eat at the "Island Cow." It is this quaint little restaurant that I've always wanted to try but never had the chance until last week. It's always packed out and therefore we never attempted stopping there because of the wait. It's an outdoor restaurant with the most adorable hand carved Adirondack chairs in every color of the tropical rainbow calling your name in their front yard. The chairs are handmade by a company here in town called "Tropic-chair" and I'm bound and determined to save up for some to place around our pool. They scream beach, tropics, sun, fun, etc. Definitely a new favorite find of mine. The Island Cow restaurant has a menu the size of Texas which includes everything under the sun. I tried their lobster and shrimp wontons that were plated with a plum dipping sauce that day and devoured them along with their hand squeezed orange juice and their chocolate chip muffins as a side filler. Oh yes, my tummy was in heaven. Keep in mind this stuff followed a bowl of guacamole dip that Karen and I woofed down in the car on the way to Sanibel that morning. Yes, can you tell it was my "cheat day?" I think it goes without saying that it was my one day off my diet and I made the best of it. And when my blender broke at home and it appeared that our lime chips and avocados were about to go to waste, Karen suggested duck tape for a quick fix. I never wavered - headed straight to the garage for Brent's duck tape and we made that daggone blender work. You know your a guacamole addict when you tape up your blender with duck tape in order to make it work at 9:30am in the morning. HA! Thank you God for brilliant friends who suggest duck tape and for the duck tape itself. :) Oh and here are a few photos I found on the Internet of the Island Cow atmosphere...

As you can tell, the Island Cow is a MUST when on Sanibel Island. I love the atmosphere. I love the colors. I love that it is an open air restaurant. I love their food. I love their shirts they wear there. I loved it all. We will go back. I want to take the kids there sometime. Too fun!

Lastly, I've had many people writing and asking how my doctor appt. with the cardiac electrophysiologist went yesterday. In a nutshell, he doesn't think that my issues are the AV Node Tachycardia. THANK GOODNESS! Praise Jesus! Thank you for all of your prayers and well wishes. The doc says he is 90% sure that it is due to stress rather than the condition that requires surgery. He thinks my body is releasing a surge of adrenaline at night while I sleep and while my body processes the day. Because of that, I'm having severe palpitations like I've never had before and my medication is no longer working to help them. He basically told me that I needed to quit "stifling" my stress. (meaning don't hold it in or push it deep down - deal with it!) Anyone who knows me well enough knows that it takes a lot to get me down. No matter what is going on in my life, my main goal is to keep trucking along. I refuse to let anyone or anything get the best of me. I read a quote yesterday that said..."Those things or those people that tried to destroy you, haven't! Those things or those people who tried to kill you, didn't! YOU'RE ALL THAT!!!" (by Paula White) I loved it. Thought the quote was a must share - so I did share it on facebook with my crackbook friends. :) However, that attitude is apparently part of my problem. I need to start accepting my stress and owning it a bit more I guess. The doctor reiterated that the normal person who is stressed out hasn't undergone a move across 5 states away from family, a life altering heart diagnosis last year (the PFO), personal issues last July nor do they parent a special needs child on an hourly basis - day after day - and so forth. He told me that my stress level is beyond the norm and that I have to start balancing that out even though I might not feel stressed or feel as though it is as bad as it is. My problem is that I don't look at my life as stressed. I won't give in to the enemy and allow my joy to be stolen. After my talk with the cardiac doctor yesterday though, I realize now that I can OWN my stress and still have joy. He said I needed to give myself extra long bubble baths, extra walks on the beach, pedicures, etc. that focus on me and me only. He said the body needs to balance and the only way to balance your life is to give yourself the time your body is requesting. I laughed and said "Well, apparently my 1-2 walks on the beach each week aren't cutting it then. I'll follow the doctors orders and increase that amount." He twisted my arm. LOL!

Looking back on it, in hindsight, I guess I do have a lot to be stressed about. I'm just not one to let those "stressors" win. Even knowing what I know now, I still won't. However, I will throw them away with the seaweed as the wave caps come washing up on the shore each time that I'm taking my walks on the beach here in sunny Florida. I'm making the decision to own those stressors and send them packing in the cool gulf waters with the sharks and the bottom feeders on the ocean floor. Yes, yes...that is the best place for her them...on the bottom of the ocean floor - in the darkness for which they so consistently beckon.

And today...where am I headed...to the beach of course. Today begins the start of a FL warm up here in Naples. Our temps are expected to reach the low to mid 80's over the next 10 days. Not only due I plan to hit that beach over the next several days in order to return to Indiana next week tan and actually looking like I "live" in Florida, but I plan to hit that beach to feed my stressors to the almighty powerful ocean and the monsters that lurk within it. My stressors will soon be their problem now and not mine. And when I report back to my cardiologist in 4-6 weeks, I intend to prove to him that he was right and that the sea is confirmed yet again as a huge and ever so powerful tool in life.

Happy, happy, Monday peeps! Make sure you are all de-stressing even if your "sea" is the toilet in your nearest bathroom. Let's be honest...that is where the stressors best fit anyway - in the commode.

XOXO, Angie

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9 Comments:

Blogger Maria said...

The Island Cow is amazing. Next time you are on Sanibel, you must try Gramma Dots for lunch. It's a different feel than The Cow but it's just as yummy and WONDERFUL:)

3/23/2010 9:54 AM  
Blogger Molly said...

Island Cow sounds yummy, makes me think of ice cream! I'll keep praying that you can let go of the stress and keep your joy! Keep beach walking and thinking positive thoughts. Sometimes the best stress reliever for me is a little cup of sweet cream ice cream with raspberries. Hope you are having a fabulous week chicky!!
~Molly P

3/23/2010 7:19 PM  
Anonymous Karen R said...

Oh yeah!! Island Cow was so amazing that I went again the next day when my other friend and I were leaving Sanibel. We were able to score the last 2 seats at the bar and avoid the 25-30 min. wait. Like Angie said, the menu is fabulous, and I was having a hard time choosing. I asked the bartender what his favorite thing was, and without missing a beat, he said, "Boom-boom Shrimp Tacos." Well, alrighty then -- but they had a combo with 1 shrimp and 1 grouper taco, so I opted for that. The grouper was good, but doesn't hold a candle to the shrimp! And the OJ is so pulpy, it's like biting into a juicy orange. YUM!

I had such a fabulous time. Thank you so much, Angie!

And remember: Duct tape mends everything from blue jeans to broken hearts!

Love ya!

3/23/2010 7:52 PM  
Anonymous Nicole Ryan said...

I will personally help you throw, "her", I mean "them"... to the sharks to gobble up...bub bye stressors...you will NOT be missed! :)

3/23/2010 9:23 PM  
Blogger Jill said...

Well, it sounds like your cardiologist would make a pretty good therapist too. :-) You have gone through so much recently. You're a tough girl. It's just that the things you've faced, bravely, would make the average person crack. I hope you allow yourself more "me" time. You deserve it and you need it. Take care girlie!

3/24/2010 12:03 AM  
Anonymous gillian said...

I want to step into every picture your post!!!

3/24/2010 1:24 AM  
Anonymous Melissa Roark said...

Mmmmm. I want some Island Cow.

OK, got a question? Have you eliminated caffeine and most chocolate? My mother-in-law had problems with night palpitations and that made a HUGE difference. I know it's hard to do... but if you haven't tried it yet, it might be worth it. Another thing I would add is to watch out on that Crystal Light... I used to be an addict to those bottle mixers (that you pour in your water bottles) and I started to get really ill. I got to the point where the thought of one made me sick. I think its the aspartame. It seems to but me (increase blood pressure) when I eat/drink it. So I stick to those Vitamin Waters with natural sweeteners.
Finally, I suggest finding a yoga class OR a meditation class. It does work if you practice it.

You are CEO of your universe, but you have to remember that the ONLY person you can manage/control is YOU. You can't get people in your personal life to behave the way you would, or crazy low self esteem aging nympho chick to act like a decent human, or even each photograph Big Poppa takes to be perfect. Being OCD only adds to the stress! When you let go of that... and just focus on what ANGIE needs... it's very freeing.

OH, and when you go to the beach to relax.... take one book... Gift From the Sea. Your suggestion to me. Great for relaxation.

Love you!

3/24/2010 10:35 PM  
Blogger Angie Seaman said...

Melissa,

Yeap...I totally eliminated caffeine last April. No cokes/sodas/teas and rarely do you even see me eat chocolate anymore. I have it once in a great while. My cardiologist took those things and made them the first to go when they discovered my PFO condition. As for the crystal lights, they are too sweet for me so I don't have them often. Somedays when I'm over plain old water, I'll add one but I have to really be craving something sweet anymore to have them. Like you, I find that they are pretty potent. A yoga class would be a good addition to the mix. I should definitely look for something like that.

Oh and guess what book is ALWAYS in my beach bag??? Yeap..."Gift from the Sea." Although I've read it over and over again 100 times while beachin' it...it just never seems to get old. Ever!

Love you friend.
Angie

3/25/2010 8:07 AM  
Anonymous Melissa Roark said...

Angie, good good girl! ;-) Sounds like you are doing what you need to.

The only thing I can say has helped me.... and I know you'll appreciate this because of your STRONG faith.....Christian meditations.

When you feel stressed... close your eyes... and repeat to yourself Psalm 46:10... "Be still and know that I am God" It soothes me almost instantly.

3/25/2010 11:53 AM  

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