©istockphoto/Olga Lyubkina

Today’s prescription is based on the old joke of the two aging pensioners who can barely communicate with each other as each is a bit deaf. That’s the punchline, above, in the title of this post.

But it’s not what you think.

I find that one of my greatest joys is the anticipation that comes from planning for the weekend, or a date with the always game Mrs. E., or the journey to come. Getting there is half the fun. Well, maybe not with workday travel of any kind, but hear me out. Today, we are going to start tomorrow out right.

On your way home tonight, stop by a local farmer’s market or your grocer and buy two large oranges, a banana, some ground flaxseed, several Keylimes (or regular limes if you can’t find the small, tart Keylime), a tub of strawberries, some organic vanilla yoghurt, and a small jug of protein powder (vanilla, again.) Make sure that the protein powder has the most protein grams per serving of the choices on the shelf. Mine (Muscle Milk Light) has 50 grams per two scoops.

When you get home, juice the citrus, remove any seeds (I pour through a strainer or a coffee filter if I have to) and put your glass of juice in the fridge.

Get a good night’s sleep. At least eight hours. Take an improving book to bed at 9 PM, if you can. (Oh, you may want to confirm Saturday night’s plans before hand.)

Here’s the part that may seem crazy. Your schedule permitting, get up a little early on Friday and do some light exercise. Yoga, pilates, or a jog and some calisthenics all qualify. Before children had me up at oh-dark-thirty every morning, this was my favourite way to start the day. Up a little before six o’clock, I would run two miles, return to my front porch, do sets of pushups and situps until I reached 100 of each, a few dips and squats and stretch out as the sun came up over the rooftops across the street.

Then it was inside to blend the citrus juices with the rest of the ingredients to make a delicious and satisfying smoothie. Shower, shave and dress. My energy levels for the day would be through the roof. Yes, I was that annoyingly chipper guy who walked into the office with a smile on my face, whistling a happy tune. “It’s Friday, I’m in Love”, perhaps.

A bonus to this plan is that repeated a few times a week, you will not only feel better, but you will look great, too. These days, it’s catch as catch can, especially during the summer when I have the kids at home more often. But it’s still the best way to start my day and earn a second, smaller breakfast around ten a.m. .

The Easy and Elegant Life Smoothie Morning Ritual
(makes two servings)

In a blender combine:
1 banana
2 large oranges, juiced
2 keylimes, juiced (or other limes, but they are essential for the taste)
3-4 tablespoons or 1 single serve container organic yoghurt (any flavour, I like vanilla)
6 strawberries, hulled (you can add or substitute any berry you like)
2 teaspoons of ground flaxseed
2 scoops protein powder (or substitute 1 tablespoon of peanut or almond butter. Protein keeps hunger at bay and feeds your muscles so that you burn fat.)
6 ice cubes

Liquify. Pour into tall glass and drink. Save or share the remainder for later.

You can find free yoga and pilates workouts via iTunes in the video podcast section of the iTunes Store.

Oh, I had you buy several keylimes… Tomorrow night make Hemingway’s Daiquri: the Papa Doble (from La Florida recipe book of 1939 according to the Wikitender) He was said to be able to down a dozen of these. Must be because he had them leave out the sugar….

2 oz white rum
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 teaspoon grapefruit juice
1 teaspoon Maraschino liqueur

Shake with ice. Serve over crushed ice in a rocks glass. After all, you exercised today!

©istockphoto/Inta Eihmane

Since having children I am rarely on time to anything that involves the four of us. Herding cats must be easier than getting two toddlers dressed, fed, out the door and strapped into the numerous safety devices in the car.

On our recent trip we were either too early or too late. Our hostess was still at her rocket scientist job and we realized that we had failed to take into account our luncheon options. The kids were fine with the yoghurt we’d packed along, but Mrs. E. and I were out of luck. By the time our hostess came home, we were famished. So it was with grateful abandon that we tucked into the simplest of summer meals: a sandwich made from just picked cucumbers.

Perfectly delicious, summery, very easy to make and if you trimmed the crusts, even a little bit elegant. I would have never thought to make these this way. Then again, I’m no rocket scientist.

The Rocket Scientist’s Cucumber Sandwiches
(Serves two)

In a medium bowl mix:
1 large, homegrown, delicious cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
1/2 block of cream cheese softened (about 4 oz?)
2 tablespoons of mayonnaise
salt and pepper to taste

Spread on:
4 slices of homemade country white bread.

Serve with iced tea.

That’s it. Can also be used as a dip. It’s summertime, the recipes should be easy!

I’m paying it forward. Or something.

Over the last few months, I’ve been the grateful recipient of several favours done to me by consummate professionals. They are the reason that this blog looks and functions as well as it does and the real reason that I have any sort of a public image at all. These were not simple little things to do. They took time, thought and some effort.

Both were very elegant gestures.

I can build a persona, sure. They fleshed it out for me.

And then you all come along and read me and, better still, engage! Comments, encouragements, corrections, it is all collectively wonderful.

Yes, I am very grateful.

So I’m doing a favour for a friend who is launching her own business. And I am enjoying myself immensely. Doing the same sort of thing for free that once would have bankrolled a new suit feels pretty good. I hope that it’s useful to her.

But that also means I’ve got some work to do chop-chop. And that has prevented me from deep and meaningful reflection on elegance as it relates to our everyday lives. Yes, I’ve got some work ahead of me on all fronts.

And you know what I like to do after I’ve worked very hard? Reward myself. I bet you do, too.

I give to you THE secret to brilliant store-bought sorbet.

A splash — just a dash — of vodka to citrus based ones. A splash of white rum to other fruit based sorbets.

As long as you’re using a primary ingredient of a good cocktail, why not serve your dessert in a cocktail glass? Garnish with fresh sprig of mint for a very easy and very elegant summer’s night dessert.

Back with more after this brief commercial break.