Happy New Year's

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to min',
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And here's a hand, my trusty fierce,
And gie's a hand o' thine,
And we'll tak' a right guid willie-waught,
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint stowpt,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
-Robert Burns

           Now I hope all of you who read this sang along with me as you read the lyrics to the song.   I go to work tonight in 2010 and will leave in the morning on a brand New Year.  2011.  

    Will this be your year?   So new and bright with potential.   The year you will cherish each day as a gift to be enjoyed,  family and friends to be cherished and loved.   A new year where anything is possible if you want it bad enough.    

  And remember......  Just because I am working tonight,  it doesn't mean you have to be silly on our slippy and snowy streets and come see me.  Take a limo,  my son may be driving it and tip well.

   Happy New Year everyone.   Blessings to you all.

It's almost a New Year

        Wow,  I finally got used to writing 2010 and it's almost a new year.  2011.   Doesn't seem possible.   I remember when everyone was worried about Y2K.    Time flies faster then a hummingbird.   Just a blur.

       I start my work week tonight.   I am looking forward to 2 nights of holiday pay.  Whoop Whoop.   The money will be great.    I hope I get to work them both and won't be taken off.   I'm not feeling awfully well today so I hope that gets better.    Rick has the crud and I feel like I may be coming down with it also.   Bummer.     But,  I bet it won't get to bad.

      My oldest son lost his job.   Of course this is terrible news.    He was in a accident in the snow that wasn't his fault,  but they say any failure to have control......   so now he joins the ranks of the unemployed.    It will be a first.   Since he has 5 people depending on him he is under a lot of pressure.    But he is hitting the job market already and I will keep my fingers crossed.   He has a great work record so that will help.   Keep him in your thoughts please.

      We had the opportunity to try out our new house alarm system much to my embarrassment when I set it off and couldn't remember how to turn it off.   I was very pleased at how quickly the police responded but hopefully won't have such a senior moment again.  Duh.  They were nice about it though.   I guess until you actually use it you don't pay as much attention to the instructions as you should. LOL.

    We are expecting a winter storm today again.  Of course on the day I need to go back to work.   We are stocked up and have gas for the snow blower so we are good to go.   Thank goodness I live in an area used to snow as we get dug out much quicker then the poor people in New York.  Course all most all of us have snow blowers and we all have shovels and snow tires on our vehicles.   Can you imagine being stuck in a subway for 7 hours?   With no restroom!   

        Well,   I hope the next year is good.    My goal, besides weight loss,  pay off my home and be dept free.   I am close to having it paid and plan on doubling up on payments until it gets low enough I can just pay it off.   It will be a happy day.   I already have all my vehicles paid for and no credit cards.  The house if the last hold up.   I have been paying over and above for the last 2 years so this is the year I pay it off.   You can survive bad times if you own your own home.   I plan to.

     I hope everyone has a blessed and Happy New Year.   May the new year be kind to you and your health be outstanding.   May the blessing of family and joy touch you all.

Happy DAy after Christmas

   I hope everyone had a lovely and safe Christmas.    We had a great one.    We gathered at my oldest son's around 3 to open presents and then ate at 5.    I got some lovely gifts.   One is a cool wine holder that had a great bottle of wine in it.  Check it out.

   I also got another Jim Shore Santa bringing my total to 2 large ones and 2 small.   Sophie made me some cherrio bird feeder strings.  Then Rick and I got a huge surprise.   

  I always said before I die I wanted to drink some Dom Perignon.   Maybe because we made our will out this year it worried the youngest, LOL,  but we opened his gift and check this out.

 

I think I died and went to heaven.   I scolded him and told him to never ever spend that much money on us ever again but I am thrilled.  What a huge hug they all got from us as they all were in on it.   Now to find the perfect time we can all get together and lift our glasses to toast.   Rick turns the big 60 this year,  that might be the perfect time.

  Jessica made a fantastic dinner and we relaxed afterward with some mellow Templeton Rye.   At $40 a bottle we felt pretty well off and well fed.    Today, the diet starts again.

 I hope on my wonderful on line friends had a lovely day.   I started my day out with a prayer and my meditation.   I ended it with a prayer of thanks for family and friends.  

Lovely

Merry Christmas

Early Mornings and good books

              I couldn't sleep last night and finally quit trying  around 3:30.   Maybe now would be a good time to start my new book,  A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz.   It's a dog lover's book.

              If you have been lucky enough to share your life with a great dog,  a smart dog,  a sweet dog, you will like this book and totally relate to how this dog impacts their lives.   And enriched it.   Dogs have a way of doing that.

             Over my life I have been lucky to have shared it with dogs.  Not all as smart as Zoey is but funny and endearing in many ways.    I have had dogs save my son's life and warn us a gas leak.    Dogs that warm your feet on a cold winter night,  dogs that keep watch when your sick and comfort you when your sad.    Dogs always think you look great and would never think you look bad fat or thin.   They are happy,  joyful and live each and everyday with a joyful outlook that should be copied by the humans lucky enough to share some time with them.

         So yes, it has sadness in it,  but sharing you life with a great dog is worth every minute of it and I have to recommend this book.   I had it read by 8 am.   With Zoey laying beside me wondering why I was hugging her with wet cheeks.

Democrats equal Communist? According to the Communist news, they will shortly.

   Rush had a great show yesterday and this was one of the topics he covered.   And like him I also had thought it had already happened.   But anyway read the article here,  it is interesting and coming straight out the commies mouths so to speak.

  My Mother was a Democrat way back in the 70's and 80's   I am certain, because she was a smart woman and capable of learning she would have switched parties because she also hated Communism.   I think she also would have gotten out of the union seeing what they have become.   Now I will never know for certain,  but like my Mom I considered myself closer to the Democratic party when I was young and dumb and not as educated the ways of politics.   And I think my mom and I would be shoulder to shoulder on politics today.   Anyway,  check it out.

Christmas Gifts for the teacher

  For Christmas, the children brought gifts for their teacher.


  The supermarket manager's daughter brought the teacher a basket of assorted fruit.


  The florist's son brought the teacher a bouquet of flowers.


  The candy-store owner's daughter gave the teacher a pretty box of candy.


  Then the liquor-store owner's son brought up a big, heavy box.

  The teacher lifted it up and noticed that it was leaking a little bit. She touched a drop of the liquid with her finger and tasted it..................
........"Is it wine?" she guessed.

  "No," the boy replied.

  She tasted another drop and asked, "            Champagne?

  "No," said the little boy, full of excitement..............


  "IT'S A PUPPY!"

Days off, Aren't they Lovely

 

    The drink above is how I start my lovely days off.    Called a green monster it is made like this.    I use 1 cup of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk.    1 and 1/2 cups spinach, raw,   1 banana,  5 frozen strawberries or a half of peach,  6 frozen blueberries and a tbsp of ground cinnamon.   Blend and drink.    All my fruits for the day and energy to burn plus it tastes yummy.   You can use milk but the almond milk is only 40 calories.   For me it is all about the taste...... and the calories.

  I just got off my 4 nights of work and am enjoying the fact that I don't have to go tonight.    Even though I slept the day away catching up on my much needed sleep, it is a good thing.  And the fact that this latest snow storm missed us in a good thing.    No more snow.

   I was looking back on my journal.   That is what is good about having it.   I had such a good year this year compared to last year and the year before.    Seems like every entry I made in 08 and 09 was about being sick with something or having to have surgery.  I was in a large amount of pain at all times and still trying to work.  I can't take pain pills because I am working so my mood was getting worse and worse and I was depressed which was very unusual for me.   Long term chronic pain can wear you down.   I still have aches and pains but now it is the usual arthritis stuff,  I can handle that.

   I am soooooo glad I recovered and to tell you the truth there were times that I wondered if I would.   I had worries there must certainly be something seriously wrong to be in so much pain and sick all the time.   I feel soooooo much better this year.   Even though I had to have one surgery I recovered from that very nicely and thanks to losing weight, eating so much healthier, and exercising regularly I am a new woman.    Well,  not a new woman in the Hollywood sense with new fake boobs and eyes and lips stretched to my ears.   Just a great feeling.    Lots to celebrate.

   And Rick has recovered from his stroke and is doing so much better then last year.   I was very worried about him last year.   But with him eating better and working out with me,  and getting his blood pressure under control he looks so much better.   Thank goodness as to lose my life partner would have really been horrible.   So the gift of good health has visited us both,  and we are appreciative and joyful for it.  You don't realize how good it is until you don't have it.

  My oldest is going through a difficult time though right now and looks like he might join the ranks of the unemployed.    After a serious accident last week ,  not his fault, so that is our only bump in the road. 

  Do you all look back through your journals?    Last year on Christmas I barely made it home from work.   We had 17.5 inches of snow and were snowed in for a few days.   This year it looks like we should be able to enjoy a day with family.

    I want to wish everyone a Merry Merry Christmas and hope you all have a Happy New Year.  One full of family and good health.   May your pantries be full and your room warm and cozy.

Norwegian Volunteer Fire Department

Norwegian Volunteer Fire Department
                 
One  dark night outside a small town near Everett , Washington , a fire
started inside the local chemical plant and in a blink of an eye it exploded into massive  flames.

The  alarm went out to all the fire departments for miles around. When the volunteer fire fighters appeared on the scene, the
 chemical company president rushed to the fire chief and said, "All our secret formulas are in the vault in the
 center of the plant. They must be saved. I will give $50,000  to the fire department that brings them out intact."
                 

But the roaring flames held the firefighters off. Soon more fire departments had to be
called in as the situation became desperate.
                 

As the firemen arrived, the president
shouted out that the offer was now $100,000 to the fire
department who could bring out the company's secret files.
                 

From the distance, a lone siren was heard as another fire truck came into sight... It was
the nearby Norwegian rural township, volunteer fire company from Stanwood, Washington composed mainly of Norwegians over the age of 65.

To everyone's amazement, that little run-down fire engine
roared right past all the newer sleek engines that were parked outside the plant. Without even slowing down it drove straight into the middle of the inferno.
                 

Outside, the other firemen watched as the
Norwegian old timers jumped off right in the middle of the
fire and fought it back on all sides.

It was a performance and effort never seen before. Within a short
time, the Norske old timers had extinguished the fire  and had saved the secret formulas.

The  grateful chemical company president announced that for such
a superhuman feat he was upping the reward to $200,000, and walked over to personally thank each of the brave fire fighters.

The local TV news reporter rushed in to capture the event on
film, asking their chief, "What are you going to do  with all that money?"
                 

"Vell,"  said Ole Larsen, the 70-year-old fire chief, "Da first thing
  ve's gonna do is fix da brakes on dat freaking  truck!"

I had The Craziest Dream Last Night

Warning, 2 Feet of Snow

 

  Giggle

Winter In Iowa

Rudolph

A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night.

His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bob's wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?" Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob.

Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938.

Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined to make one - a storybook! Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose. Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there.

The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print,_ Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer_ and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book.

In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn't end there either.

Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore , it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry.  "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas." 

 

The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing.    

Snow

        Well Jeanie,  the snow finally found it's way here.   Yesterday we had a warm snap so all the snow we had,  which wasn't a lot melted.   Now we are busy snowing and blowing away.   My son will be thrilled  as he got a new Kia Sorento and this will be his first snow to drive in..

   I just looked it up to get a photo and find they have been recalled for bad brakes.   Hummmm.   Had to text Dan and let him know before he gets out in it.  Bummer.  But they should fix it.    I like the Kia Sportage in red.   They have one where Dan got his and it is so pretty.   Might have to see if they would give me a good deal on a trade in for my van.

          I brought my popcorn cake to work and it was a great success.   It vanished quickly and turned out pretty good if I must say so myself.  I just had to have a piece,  heck with the diet for a minute.

       Last night we went to a Templeton Rye speakeasy party.   Man oh man whiskey is not my drink of choice but it was fun and everyone was dressed up like gangsters from the 30's. so the mood was light and fun.   It was a late night for us though.   We are usually home and in our PJ's by 9.   I don't know how you do those late nights Jimmy.   In our defense we had been shopping all day.   I bought a couple of books.   One is called A big little life, a Memoir of a Joyful Dog by Dean  Koontz.   I have heard it was good.    The other is called A Secret Gift by Ted Gup.   It's about how one man's kindness-and a trove of letters- revealed the hidden history of the Great Depression.   It was recommended by a friend who is a historian and knows I like books like this.  So I am set for a couple of days.

   Next week I have to had a class all day to get renewed for my ACLS,  or Advanced Cardiac Life Support.   Then the next day I have a skills lab class.  So much for my days off of laziness and joy.   But it has to be done.   After 30 years though I think I have it figured out.

    Zoey,  who is laying next to me just sat up and gave me a hug,  isn't that sweet.   I promised her I would cut her nails today and I have to clean the other critters cage.   My hands are weak enough that clipping Zoeys nail is difficult but she won't let Rick do it. I am blessed with the job.   Last time I had it done at the vet they trimmed 2 too short and she remembers that also.

   Oh man,  I just heard some banging and looked outside,   it is really snowing and blowing.   Maybe I will skip the gym and work out at home today and have hot chicken chili for supper tonight.   A good book, and hot meal and a cuppa tea.   My idea of a nice night off work.   

Well enough rambling on.  Time to get my breakfast of a green monster and start my chores for the day.   Have a great weekend all.

Popcorn Cake

See,  I cook, kindof.

Gee, another Post

         The day that will live in infamy,  Remembering the day today and as always, our brave soldiers.

         The tree is up,  the stocking are hung by the fake chimney with care.  My shopping is done.   I can sit back and enjoy the season without any mad dashes to the stores.   We got great news today about my son's job so our spirits are again high.   I just love this season.

             Besides having to get a new water heater everything is going well.   My son just bought a new Kia Sorento and it is so cool.   I never had the courage to buy a new car,  hate the way they immediately are worth less the minute, second, you drive off the lot.  Doesn't seem right.  But he has to drive 30 miles to work and after last winter he wanted a 4 wheel drive.  I know I will worry less about him on the roads.

         I threw my neck out last week so have been taking it easy and haven't been to the gym all weekend.  But I did work so I don't hit the gym much when I work 12 hours.  I am at the age where sleep is more important.    I do like working out though and love that I feel so much stronger.  It's a good thing.    

     I am even off Christmas this year.   I am thinking about getting a big ham and having everyone over for dinner.   It will be nice to just relax and visit with family

  Our carbon monoxide alarm went off last night at around 2:30 in the morning.  Poor Zoey freaked out and kept trying to get out of the house.   It was saying error so we decided it was just not working well but her getting so freaked out did worry us,  well Rick at least.  I went back to bed and decided if I woke up in the morning  it just meant it was time to get a new one, and if I didn't get up, means it was working, LOL.  They only last about 8 years.   Poor Rick though was up for another hour trying to get Zoey to relax.   Now this morning she is just exhausted and curled up on the couch.  She is so cute.  Just a nervous Nellie in her old age.

    Well,  time to pop in the shower.  2 more nights of work.   I am just really liking my job these days.   The staff I work with are so fun it makes going to work much nicer.    And since I am finally recovered from all my medical issues it is easier to do the work.   Losing so much weight has helped also.   I hope it lasts.   I love feeling better.  Its a good thing.  I hope everyone is having a Merry Month and will have a Merry Christmas.   Oh, and I am still looking into finding the perfect church for me.  I think I have one picked out.

  

Not just in our Country, This is Brilliant!

My favorite Season is coming

            Rick is putting the tree up and I am enjoying the fact my shopping is finished,  minus one last gift.   Early enough I can relax and enjoy my favorite season.    I love almost everything about it.   

            Yes,  the commercialism gets to me,  the mad dash to spend more then necessary.   Putting up with Rick's Bah Humbug Scrooge attitude.   He hates it.  I know why.   His family always had a ton of relatives get together.   Lots of laughs,  ton's of great food,  traditions starting weeks before Christmas to be completed.   All gone.  His family is almost all gone.  What is left is scattered around the country and starting their own traditions.   His reason to enjoy the season is gone.   I never created any traditions because we had his.

              His brother is still around.   We get news of him occasionally and he pops in when he needs something.    Rumor has it he has gone through all the money he inherited.   But..... why talk about him.  Back to the season.

         I have been missing the Christmas I grew up.   My Christmas was full of making gifts and church.   Working on the Christmas plays.  Going around to the nursing homes and singing Christmas carols.   Volunteering to wrap gifts for the poor.   Pulling taffy and making fudge.   Church on Christmas eve and Christmas morning.   The songs of the seasons.

       After a bad experience with organized religion I remained religious,  but not a church goer.  My believe remained strong but my mistrust of churches and their reasons went deep.   But as we do I have mellowed and now will admit it is not all churches that are like that,  maybe not even most.    And I feel the need to belong to a church again.   Selfishly for the joy of my childhood Christmas's but mostly to spiritually reconnect.   Does that make any sense?

      I am going to have to find a church I like and one that I will have to go to myself because I know Rick won't go.  Not that he doesn't believe either.   But he hates the routine.   I find myself needing a routine these days.   Needing to reach out to people again.   Ready to connect.  

      The stages of your life are interesting.   The changes of my views and opinions,  the things I once thought important and the things I now think important.   I am not where I thought I would be but that is OK and I am not unhappy with where I am, but I think I need to do something to grow more.  I feel stagnant.  And what better way to freshen up your life then with some growth.  Mentally and spiritually.    I think this will be a lovely Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Following the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress recognized the need to give thanks for delivering the country from war and into independence. Congress issued a proclamation on October 11, 1782:

By the United States in Congress assembled.
 

PROCLAMATION.

IT being the indispensable duty of all Nations, not only to offer up their supplications to ALMIGHTY GOD, the giver of all good, for his gracious assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner to give him praise for his goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of his providence in their behalf: Therefore the United States in Congress assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of divine goodness to these States, in the course of the important conflict in which they have been so long engaged; the present happy and promising state of public affairs; and the events of the war, in the course of the year now drawing to a close; particularly the harmony of the public Councils, which is so necessary to the success of the public cause; the perfect union and good understanding which has hitherto subsisted between them and their Allies, notwithstanding the artful and unwearied attempts of the common enemy to divide them; the success of the arms of the United States, and those of their Allies, and the acknowledgment of their independence by another European power, whose friendship and commerce must be of great and lasting advantage to these States:----- Do hereby recommend to the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe, and request the several States to interpose their authority in appointing and commanding the observation of THURSDAY the twenty-eight day of NOVEMBER next, as a day of solemn THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify to their gratitude to GOD for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience of his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.

Done in Congress, at Philadelphia, the eleventh day of October, in the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, and of our Sovereignty and Independence, the seventh.

JOHN HANSON, President.

Charles Thomson, Secretary

    May the lord bless you all in your gifts of family, friends and food on your tables.   From my home to yours,  Happy Thanksgiving.

Hey, not a political rant, just musings about the ole dog

   
  Zoey is laying at my feet,  as usual,  a soft slightly scuffy old dog that snores louder then Rick.   She spends hours sleeping these days.   And as always it is in the same room as me.


     She is going to be 13 next birthday.   Old for a big dog.   And basically she doesn't look old like some ole labs can look, she isn't gray in her face,  not too fat, except for her cloudy blue filmed eyes you would never believe she is as old as she is if you didn't know.   But we know.


    I hate to move to another room as she heaves herself up to follow.  When I am cleaning house she moves room to room with me.   And she is stiff these days so I feel bad.   I tell her to stay, that I will be back but up she comes.   And with the colder weather she is stiff and sore.

      Running my hands over her body while I pet her I count 13 fatty tumors.   And in her groin I feel a large palm sized mass that has recently gotten larger.   It does not feel the same as the fatty tumor.   Pausing in my petting I momentarily have a wave of sadness wash over me.   My poor sweet ole dog.   And as usually the very tip of her tail will start to wag and she will look up at me as if to ask,  why did you stop petting me.   Spoiled old girl.


       I hate that she is getting older and fondly remember days and years past with her chewing up every type of toy we bought her,   walking through miles and miles of trails and woods,   the happy grin she gets when she leaps in a lake after a hot walk.   I can't understand people who don't like dogs.   What's not to like.


     Mentally I am preparing myself but also I am denying it.    Lets just slow time down,   why does it have to go so fast.   I want to savor it.....  as long as I possibly can.   Soft fur under my fingers.  Warm head on my lap.   Love you Zoey.

Health insurance cost have double.... what's free about this?

   Well by now everyone has gotten their benefit packages and seen the increases.    My son's doubled,  4000 out of pocket before they even kick in.   Then he has to pay a % on top of that.   Mine went up a lot and my out of pocket went up to 1500 before my insurance pays and I have a 20 % deductible also.   Which basically means I will have to be on deaths door before I go to the doc.   But at least my job still offers insurance.   A couple of my friends have lost their insurance through work.   As predicted those companies have found it would be cheaper to pay the government fine rather then offer insurance which has tripled in costs.   Gee,  isn't this free government health care grand.

    I see the death panels are being discussed again.   Not that they are calling it that in anything but sarcastic tongue in cheek chatter,  but they are talking about all the unnecessary things they are doing to keep seniors alive.   After all,  what does it do,  only buy you a few years and look at the cost.   Wouldn't it be reasonable and sensible if they just all took a pill.   Save everyone the expense of caring for them.   Put them on the ice float so to say.  

   Remember...... the way Obama got elected was by telling all the seniors that the Republicans were going to take away their medicare and social security.    Now what is happening?   They are having huge cuts in medicare and talking about seizing our 401's and cutting social security.  Double talk.  Campaign speeches mean nothing.   I even heard one politician say that.   That was just a campaign promise,  nobody seriously believes them do they?   Well yes,  some people did.   some people really thought their houses would be paid for,  their health care would be free,  a chicken in every pot.

    And I see all the socialists care coming out of woodwork like bedbugs out of a bedframe.    Finally they are admitting to being what we knew all along.   Go on youtube and you can see the video where all the socialists are making a sweet little commercial.   We are socialists,  we are your neighbors,  we are your doctors, blah blah blah.   Well then,  move to a socialist country you little pampered uninformed idiots.   If it is so great move.   Don't force it on us.   You will see more and more socialists coming out and trying to convince you it is just OK and nothing to be ashamed of,   like being a Lutheran or catholic.  Yeah,  right.

    I think we have to start getting rid of political correctness.   We have to stop bailing out countries that hate us anyway.   We have to secure our boarders.   Did you know that Mexico is building a wall on their boarder to keep out Guatemalian people who are sneaking across their boarders.   Many countries are very successful at keeping their boarders secure.   We need to profile the ones that have been proven to be threats.  Not pat down nuns and children.   Fake security at our airports when they have been told they can only check certain nationalities a certain percentage of times so they don't get accused of profiling.    Well you know what.   I don't care how it looks to you.  If your country routinely sneaks into our country and tries to kill innocent people then you will have to pay the price of having your body scanned and searched.   Your country would pat us down and scan us.  Fairs fair when your trying to save innocent people.

   Gee,  this turned into another political rant.    Lots of things going on.  Lots of things that we feared would happen are happening.   So tell me,  how much did your insurance go up and what is your out of pocket these days.  Hows that hope and change working for you?

Christmas Catalogs...AAARRRGGGGHHHHH

 

  I love Christmas,  I love the reason behind the season,  I love the sights and the smells,  I love that people actually smile at each other.    I love the way my house looks like when the tree is up and it's decorated.   But...........................  I hate Christmas catalogs.   Oh sure,  the first few are kind of fun.   Then you toss it,  only to get another, plus 10 in the mail.   Repeat that day after day.   By garbage night our can is brim full with Christmas catalogs weighing in at probably a ton.

   

      What have I bought out of one of the catalogs?    Maybe 2 things.   We are downsizing our Christmas this year and giving practical gifts.   Times are hard.   Gone those cute but silly gifts that get worn or looked at a couple of days and then buried in a closet.    Now we get steaks cut up at the butchers,  cute warm socks from sock dreams,   gift certificates for the barber.   And I am having a support your local business Christmas for as much as possible.   Difficult in a town where so many stores are closing, but we don't want to lose what few we have left.   No catalog shopping for me.

      And then to top it off.   I check my email and the same catalogs I tossed in the garbage are in my email.   Doesn't create quite as much waste there as it does getting them at home, but still.....   What is green about a landfill full of Christmas Catalogs.   Where are the green police for this?  And why am I getting them in September?   Who makes all these catalogs?   I think they are the only thing I get by snail mail these days besides my Netflex movies and bills.

         Ok,  got that out of my system.  I swear each year it gets worse and worse.   I kept track this weekend.  13 catalogs from Friday until yesterday.  Isn't that insane.   And the worse part.  I own this house and the one next door.   So I get duplicate catalogs for that house.   And it's empty.  It's empty people.  AAARRRGGGHHH.     Well,  time to meditate,  must calm down.   I heard that new study.  Us medical women are more prone to heart attack from our high stress jobs,  and lugging catalogs from the mailbox to home.   Must breath,  breath, breath.

Repeal the Death Tax

   Well congress will soon be having another Lame duck session where the out going pass as much crap as they can before they are booted.    One of the things coming up again is the death tax.   They want to take even more of what they don't deserve.   What in the world makes our government think they deserve even one penny more out of a person just because they have died.   Talk about double taxation.   And if you thinking,  well this only affects the rich....  think of this.   Many farmers own lots of land,  although they are being bought out and the land is being turned into government owned farms more and more,  and they are land rich but money poor.   But when they die now the government wants to do their death tax and demand 55 % of the estate.   Forcing the family to sell off the family farm to pay the death tax.  And why.   Did the government do anything to earn the right to double tax this family?   The farmer probably paid quarterly taxes his entire life!

    Then think about this.    Your local favorite store.   Family owned and one of few remaining.   It was their fathers store and now 2nd or 3rd generation owned.   Now they are going to punished for working hard and being successful by having to pay off the government when a loved one dies before they can keep their business.   And maybe they don't have the ready cash to do it.  Sure their business is worth this much but that doesn't mean it is ready cash for them.    So they fire employee's and try to make the death tax as best they can.   And if they can't they may have to close and then the government seizes the company.   And what the hell gives them the right?  To take what you and yours have worked for your entire lifes.

    So once again we all have to start writing or calling our representatives and demand the repeal the death tax.  Just because the elections are over doesn't mean our job as voters and the public is over.   We have to remind the government all the time that we have hired them.  We are the employers,  not them.   So where is this going?   Please go to this site and sign the petition.   Get the letter and send it to your elected officials.  Even if like me you have little to pass on to your heirs.   Because it just isn't right.  So click here.

Being Healthy, what a treat

        I woke up today feeling great.    I have had the crud for a a few days so waking up feeling really good is a treat.    Being healthy is a joy.   I am happy that I still am healthy enough to bounce back quickly after things like the crud or surgeries.   Lord knows I have had several of those over the last few years.    Enough to really really appreciate it when I feel good.   Nothing hurts,  nothing feels like it is going out.... well maybe the ole knees and I don't multitask as well I as used to,  but all in all I feel great.

      I started this blog many years ago to keep track of my weight loss efforts.    It has been and will probably always be an on going project.     I lose and then something happens to side track me,   like several surgeries and family illnesses but once I recover I always go back to my plan.    Lose weight and get healthy.

       I am 52 pounds lighter then I was way back then when I started this journal.   I thought by now I would have lost all the weight I needed to lose.    I haven't.    But as you get older,  which I certainly have done and have as many surgeries as I have had to have you start changing your goals a little.   Yes,  I still plan on losing weight,  but my main focus these days seems to be aimed at getting and staying fit.   Because working at a hospital I see what happens to a person that isn't fit,  the problems they have and the limits they are under.   And I want that less then being a thin person.   I want to be a healthy person first and foremost.

      So with that in mind we have joined a gym again and I am counting calories again which seems to be the one thing that has always assured me that I would lose weight.    I joined myfitnesspal.com,  which I have to say has been a big help.   I log all my food and keep tract of my exercise.   I get new recipes and find new ways to work out.   And now I am lifting weights.   Can you believe it.   With my bones, LOL.

     According to Strong Women stay Young light weight lifting is a way to stay active and fit.  So I started doing that by doing free weights,   using heavier and heavier weights.   Course with my wrists I will never be way up there but I am doing pretty darn good.    I have muscles in my arms.   And it makes my bike riding much easier having stronger legs,  not that I will be able to ride my bike much more this year.

    I am eating very healthy.   For breakfast this morning I had a green Monster.  

 1 cup of Sugar free Vanilla Almond milk

1 and a half cup of fresh spinach

 3 large frozen strawberries

9 blueberries

1 banana

1 tbsp of cinnamon

2 tbsp of pomegranite seeds

     Blend all together and enjoy.   All my fruits for the day,  cinnamon to increase my metabolism and blueberries and pomegranite to increase my immune systems.   I have energy for going to gym in a hour and get in a good workout.  I can even jog on the treadmill!  Not bad for a 56 year old woman.

    A couple of years ago after having to have 3 surgeries in one year I really crashed and got depressed,  unusual for me,  for a long time.   So the way I feel today is a big improvement.   I am back to being my old self,  happy,  active,  excited about each day.   So I guess I just have to say keep at it.  Fight your way back when life keeps knocking you down.   If you get depressed get out of your head and work on something stimulating and not about you,   like politics, LOL.  Or whatever it takes to pull yourself up again.   Because life is so short.  I don't want to waste it.  Not one minute.

The Old Man

THE OLD MAN 

As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open.

The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car, and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away.

I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps towards him. 

I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something. The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade. He then turned back to the old man. I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying:

'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.

I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief, and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine.

He then went to his wife and spoke with her; he appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough, and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight, and as I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having a problem.'

He smiled sheepishly, and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself, and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around, I saw a gas station up the road, and I told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went I inside. I saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them, and related the problem the old man had with his car. I offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.

The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife When he saw us he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine), I spoke with the old gentleman.

When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?'

He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal ....

He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me. I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card.

He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands all around again, and I said my goodbye's to his wife.

I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station, I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me

One of them pulled out a card from his pocket, looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off.

For some reason I had gone about two blocks, when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name was written: 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'

I sat there motionless, looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage, and an honor to have been in his presence. Remember, OLD men like him gave you FREEDOM for America . Thanks to those who served and still serve, and to all of those who supported them, and who continue to support them.

     I was late with for veterans day since I was sick but wanted to share this story.