Let the Challenge begin

           I started our the Live Healthy America Challenge at work with 6 of my co-workers on the 20th.    I had gained back 5 pounds and needed something to get motivated again because for me it's so hard in the winter.   I just want to stay inside and eat comfort food.    So this is just what the doctor ordered.   So far I have lost 1.2 pounds.  Not bad.   And shortly we are going to the gym.   My knee is being tricky today so I am going to be careful on the treadmill and leg lifts but I am determined to exercise every day.


    Let's see,  whats new.    Today is my youngest son's birthday.   He has some weird uncanny ability to age while I stay the same young age I have always been.  Oh yeah.   But the way the gray is finally showing up in my hair this year I am slowly getting convinced.   Time marches on.


      It is the time of year where I look at Rick and ask the same old question.   Why the #$@% are we still in Iowa this winter.   It's cold and snowy and cold and snowy and cold cold cold.   We must be nuts to stay here year after year.   The only good thing is we don't live in International Falls, Minnesota where it was -25.   Here at least we are +2.   A heat wave by comparison.   And North Dakota with their 25 feet of snow,  Yikes!   I am yearning for Spring and the bike trails.  And flowers.

 

And butterflies

 

And bike trails.

     Well,  it is the middle of January and it will be here soon enough.     


     I heard about Detroit closing a ton of their schools.   They only have a 25% graduation rate as it is.  Why are they closing them?   To pay for their pension plans.   That is so much more important then teaching the future of our country how to do the most basic things like read and spell and do math.   This is what your tax dollars go for in that state?  And did you know 95% of union dues go to Democratic programs or campaigns.  No wonder enrollment in unions is at a all time low.   The unions of the old days are long gone.


      Lets see,  what else.   I have been re markedly healthy and well this winter.   Nary a cold or flu symptom at all.   I think it is all this healthy eating and my daily green monster.   I also added in some extra vit D since I never get to see the sun on my nights I work.    I am a happy camper about that.  You take your health for granted until it is gone.   Course I still have my aches and pains but without them I might question if I was alive.  But even that is just normal aches and pain and not anything going out on me.  


    I am behind getting to everyone's blogs but will make up for it this weekend since I am off work.   Ta all and take care.

When Men Bake Cookies

Snow snow go away

                 By this time last year we probably had 40 inches,  so it's not as bad as all that, but we did get 13 inches of snow and it is really really really cold today.   In the minus degrees.   Burrrrrrr.


             So what do you do to stay warm.   Yesterday we didn't do anything but dig out and wish the snow would stop.   Today Rick is going to the dentist and I am going to the gym.   The gym is right next door to the dentist.   Might as well warm my ole muscles.   Hopefully I will have the gym to myself.


         I haven't missed the snow,   I was almost hoping it was going to miss us this time.   I think we did our share last year.   And I still can't use that darn snow thrower.   Rick has it darn pat though.   Note all the paths he made for Zoey,    She still likes to wander all over and sniff and the path cutting across the yard is for this small dog that visits every morning and drives Zoey crazy.  Rick is so accommodating.

              I am fortunately off work this week.  I am glad I didn't have to try and get to work last night.   And my other son was off.   But he did get to try his SUV out in the snow and it works well.   He is happy.  Glad someone is happy about all this snow.


             My weight loss is doing terrible right now.  In fact I think I might have gained.   When it is cold like this nothing hits the spot more then a rich stew like soup and a thick bread to dip in it.   Course that doesn't help the old middle.   I can't wait until spring.  And we are getting close.  Yippy.


          My son still hasn't found a job.   There are not many around here.   I am worried about them but there is not a darn thing I can do.   Except feed them if needed.

                     I got out and got some shots yesterday.   You can only take so many photos of snow though.   And its cold out there.   But here they are.   Some of them.   I usually take like 100 more photos then I need.   An overachiever.   


           Well,  Rick is about done with his shower.   I had better make my green monster and get ready for the gym.   The thing about gym clothes.   Not much insulation in the pants.   The leather seats are going to be soooo cold.   I think Rick should start up the van and get my heated seat going don't you.    I think I will do my best hinting and whining.   See you all later.  Take care.

10 finkers

10 Finkers 

Ole vas vorking at da fish plant up nort in Dulut vhen he accidentally cut off all ten of his finkers. 

He vent to da emergency room in the Clinik and vhen he got der da Norsky doctor looked at Ole and said, "Okie dokie, let's have da finkers and I'll see vhat I can do." 

Ole said, "I haven't got da finkers."

"Vhat you mean, you hafen't got da finkers?" he said. "Lordy- don't you know, it's 2010 and I'ves got microsurgery and all kinds of incredible techniques. I could hafe put dem back on and made you like new! Vhy didn't you brink da finkers?"

Ole says........."How da heck vas I suppose to pick 'em up?"

As the New Year Rolls on

          It's a New Year and it is acting just like the year I left.    Went to work in 2010 and got off at 7:30 am on 2011.    Yup, the air was just as cold and I was just as tired.     I had the good luck of working extra shifts all weekend.    And we were very very busy.    I think that will be changing though.

 Now in the new year everyone's new insurance is here.    Rates skyrocketed and many things that were covered are no longer covered.    I suspect we will get a lot more people who couldn't afford to get their medication filled and had another heart attack or go into congested heart failure more.     It's not that patients are non-complient as much as they just can't afford the cure.

          Well,  I really didn't mean to start off the New Year on a bummer note.   I just read another journal who was talking about how much their premiums went up,   thinking about my son who now has no insurance and thinking about the patient I had earlier who couldn't afford the blood thinner that would have prevented his heart attack   And thinking about the news that said that the most effective medication against breast cancer,  the one with the highest success rate was being removed from the market because it was too expensive for most people.   What happens to the money with all those pink sales?   Someone gets rich I suspect.   And I think about what will make it worthwhile for them to develop any new cures in the future is the majority won't be able to afford it or the insurance companies won't let you get it anyway.   The dark ages of health care has arrived.

     So this isn't getting any lighter is it.   Ok.  Let's see.   I worked 13 hours last and slept.  Getting up I poured myself one of the nastiest cups of coffee I have ever had.   Then Rick asked me,  What's for supper.   Apparently the glare I gave him spoke a million words because I hear dinner being prepared in the kitchen.   Don't get on my badside when I haven't had a decent cuppa.   One more night of work.   I am not looking forward to it.   I have had a couple of severely confused patients all weekend.   It wears you down.  Neither of them sleep at all.   I keep thinking today,  one more night,  one more night,  one more night.

    I am starting a 100 day wellness program with some co-workers.   I find the holidays have done a number on my well power so I am hoping to get back in the swing of my weight loss.   I  need motivation.   I need a day off.   I need a winning lottery ticket.  Course you have to buy one to get one, right.  Ta all.  I need a hot shower.

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.