S. Starting Over...

By Swap Meet Dave

So.  For you that have been on my blog for a bit, you know that I am working to lose weight, and my goal is to do this before I go to Alaska.  Well, there was a bit of a hitch in my get-along, by breaking my leg. I didn't exercise.  I ate more, I guess, too.  At least the scale is creeping UP again.  I haven't been putting my weight on the notes on the side. I have been keeping track on my little notepad in the bathroom, but just haven't updated on the side there...  : /  At last count, it was 238ish, if you are interested...

Now I need to get realistic here.  

I haven't enjoyed trying to do a stationary bike, for 2 reasons.  It's in the shop, with Husband's equipment.  Husband has to wear earplugs when he works.  If I want to use the bike, so do I.  And, it HURTS to use the bike.  Let's just say I get raging Monkey Butt and leave it there, ok?  : (  

(We don't have room in the house for the bike, and Husband is using it, too.)

Husband has asked that I not walk on the hill.  So I have tried walking on the road with mixed success.  I found that we have way too much traffic on the main road for me to feel comfortable walking there.  The neighbors have a doberman.  The doberman hates me, and has come just short of cornering me twice when I walk that way.  So I am limited to a walk to the intersection and back, the other direction, and that works.  But I am walking on roadbed, not dirt.  I walk an hour, and pay for it for about two days.  This isn't motivation to make me want to continue...  

And I have had something new.  I am getting downright timid.  I haven't been timid about trying to climb things, or go places, but the other day Husband wanted me to climb a ladder.  I was shaking a bit.  Now, I am healed up.  I am more or less 100 percent.  But I am worried I might... I don't know what, break the other leg?  Bend the metal I have in the healed leg?    ???

I have an appointment with my doctor Monday, I want to discuss some possible solutions. (Different shoes? Different diet?  Locking me in a cell with bread and water until next year???)  

I am trying to decide what to do here, as well.  I thought about opening another blog, strictly for the weight biz.  

Not sure I want to do that, as I would probably slack on it as "just one more thing to do".  I thought maybe of making an "upper" and "lower" blog, the upper with my daily doings, the lower with my scale saga.  I thought for about a minute of weighing every day, but I don't want to drive myself crazy (er), I get nauseated when I go on the scale once a week.  

So, for any of you that want to be a mentor, advocate, teacher, or even just get rid of two cents, have you any ideas for the blog? Hopefully allowing me to have feed back, but wouldn't be the "Oh, G*d, she's writing about THAT again..." blog?  Any ideas would be appreciated, I do read my comments! (And even answer them, on occasion...)

See what the day brings...

I keep listening to the weather, and they are talking storms with high winds for this area. (Oh, joy...)  I am on shift, right when they are supposed to pick up.  Husband decided I shouldn't drive, (big surprise...), and so he will take me in.  We have firewood put up, and some fuel for the generator, the emergency supplies, so we are set if the power should quit.  I sincerely hope it doesn't, but we shall see... 

Or not see, if the house is dark. 

Heh...

On the bright side, I will also be getting my first haircut since... Uh... Well before Thanksgiving!  I don't quite look this bad yet, but I think that my creative methods of keeping the hair out of my eyes are getting more and more limited. I haven't quite come to the point of rubber banding the bangs over my eyes like my MIL did to her shihtzus, but close.  

Husband asked, well, why don't you just grow out the bangs to the length of the rest of your hair.  Which, I suppose, I could do.  But I had that hair style, and it is really limiting on what you can do. Pony tails continuously, at least to keep the stuff out of my face.  And I have heavy, thick, hair, which gives me neck and head aches if I let it grow too long.  So, no.  Plus, it's starting to look 'ratty', some growing a bit faster, so it's uneven.  All things being equal, it is so time to get this taken care of...

The Case of the Scale Stuff.

On my scale stuff to the side.  I am going to make a change.  It is getting so ponderously long, I am only going to show my last ten weeks.  It will still 'keep me honest' to the fact I need to lose weight, but won't take so much of the side space.  I will put the short goal up top (i.e., I am aiming for 220 at this point), that way it's obvious what is happening...  I am even being honest that I gained 2 pounds this week.  Not getting enough exercise and eating more, yep.  Fairly one to one correlation there... *sigh*  So, I go on, work on dropping it... Rag on me folks, I have been letting this slide.  I know that, even though I can't get out much, I should be able to get the weight going DOWN... Hmph.  

So, I hope to be reading blogs and possibly writing more blogs, but we shall see what Mama Nature has up her sleeve.  the animals are as ready as I, uh, well, Husband, can make them, so we shall see what transpires...  I don't know if it's an improvement for Buzz, she had never been around snow, that I can remember, she HATED that stuff, it was falling, and she'd run on the porch and glare at it, then lick her coat like crazy to get rid of the snow.  She does fine with rain (she is a cat from Oregon, after all), but the snow threw her a complete curve ball!  

 

Heading out, some pics.

Grumble.  I gained 2 pounds.  Okay, I need to deal with that this week.  Grr.

On to other topics.  I am going to my yearly Ren Faire biz, and I wear gloves, because construction is as much of the duties as walking about in funny clothes (so says Husband...).  I keep having a problem with people thinking my gloves are theirs, or vice versa, as plain white leather gloves seem very popular there.

So, I decided to jazz mine up a bit.  I have the sneaking suspicion they will be easier to track down now.  Husband and Mom both suggested paw prints on the back, but I haven't done so yet.  But I believe they will still work...

I put in a bunch of carrot seed, and I think the name of the one was Carnival.  I was thinning, and I think I remember why...

I guess there is also white and purple colored ones, but I have only come up with these.  The red is much, much more vibrant than shown.  More fire engine than beet.

Wanted to take a picture of Rudee.  He looked away just as I snapped the photo.  So, set up again...  (With his ears like that, I keep thinking... SUUUUPER DOOOG!)

And then he decided that he wanted to see what was in my hand, a treat, perhaps?  (You'd think after this many photos, he'd figure out the camera wasn't edible...)  Along with bumping my leg, which seemed to unfocus the situation...

But finally, I managed to get him to stay still, and a sharp whistle to get him to look, and ta da!  A good pic of the dog.  (Do need to edit it a smidge, I really don't think the trash bin does him justice, but oh, well...)  I sort of chuckle though, he has an odd expression, like he's expecting the cat to attack him or some such... Maybe it's just me.

So, hope my blog friends are all ok, I will hopefully be back blogging early next week.

Pictures, feelin' good, and just... on the go.

I have felt good, for a change.  The bright, shiny new doctor listened to me, made some suggestions, and I am taking a different over-the-counter med... And it works.  I have taken several meds, including several expensive prescription things, that didn't work.  My former doctor, (Husband has begged me to stop calling him Dr. Horse's Ass...), ahem, my FORMER doctor just would say I was fat, and write up something, I think just to be rid of me.  I know at least two of them didn't work at all.  Expensively didn't work at all.

But now, it's a... would it be an upward spiral?  I am feeling better, so I am able to do more, which helps me lose weight (more about that in a minute), and so I am feeling better yet.  Is this not a great thing?

For example, I could barely keep up with the weeding the last few years in my garden.  (Well, okay, it wasn't too hard to weed the year I had to have everything in planter pots, but that doesn't count...)  This year, since I have put the garden in, I have been able to get all the weeding done in about 2 days.  It's not perfect, and there is the occasional missed weed, and some grasses sneaking in after I am finished, but compared to years before, it's like a different person is dealing with it!  See???

I also was looking at my window boxes, I am trying to make them more year to year, I will add little bits as time goes on, to replace the things that die back, or that I bought that are just one year plants, but I thought that it seems to be doing well.  I did sort of expect the sweet potato vine to be a bit more... Well, vine-y... But I think it's filling in and looking pretty nice... Even if the snapdragons decided they were finished well before I thought they should be.  Poops.

The llamas are getting settled in, I am still not able to touch Annie without her getting panicky, which will be so fun soon, as we are getting ready to give everyone toe trims, and Lorenzo gets a shear...  But they are settling in.  

Boy, for some strange reason, they like me so much in the mornings when I am handing out food.  (They are finally putting on some weight.  They were very skinny when I received them, the only one not 'bulking up' is Annie, and I am giving her extra food.  She doesn't mind, and it keeps her out of everyone else's feed.  Annie and Lama are continuing the battle for Llama Alpha Female, so far Lama is the winner, ears down! And the occasional spitball...)  

It's hard to see, but this is Annie and Toni.  Dolly wasn't close enough to photograph under the tree.

I have been recording my weight every week, but haven't put it over to the right.  I just need to catch up, part of it was the computer having its 19th nervous breakdown. (hee)

But part of it, I had it on a paper, when I was at the 'cop shop', I didn't have the paper, and most of the time, when I was home, the computer didn't work.  So, as of Wednesday, I am down to 229.4.  I want to get back to where I was there at 226, but considering I have wavered as high as 234 one week (!!!!), I won't be too upset.  So, I am still working on losing the lard, just haven't been as blogity about it of late.

So, knock wood, the computer has been holding, I am going to start with a more regular blog, and maybe, perhaps, by some stroke of luck, the computer will keep the rubber on the road, so to speak...

Here's hoping for continued 'go' in computers, me, and life in general!

Here for a bit, anyway...

I have been on the go a bit, so I just have had time to check in, yep, it's still a computer, then run off to the next bit of goofiness that defines my life.  Some good, some annoying, the usual. 

I decided to treat myself.  I spent a little more than I should have, (that's not hard, when I am around flowers), but I made a plan this year.  I planted perennials in the window boxes.  Here's the little project in the window, and one that I will probably put on the porch.  With some luck, I will have them grow back, and I won't be replacing them so often (not all are perennials, but enough that it will fill in some.)

(Please ignore the fact that the boxes all need washed, I started this in the evening, and didn't really look too closely.) 

In other news, I am having the worst luck in the llama addition department.  I saw an ad on Craig's List, emailed, got a response with a phone number. 

Called, left a message. Zip.  Then emailed, double checking. Zip, again. 

I am not going to beg to go buy something!  So, I continue looking.  And yes, I do want to "increase the herd", for those who were asking.  So, I will just go back to looking at news ads, and see what's available in the farm ads... I know there is a local auction nearby, too.  Haven't been to an auction in a while...

I managed to get the front pasture relatively weeded. (Much, much more to go.)  I will have to work on it little bit more as I can get up the hill.  I saw the neatest looking tool, it's called a weed wrench, and I do so want one.  When you have Scotch Broom TREES, this looks like the tool to have.  But, I have loppers, and a saw, and so, the battle continues.  (messymimi:  where I used to live, the 2 major exports were said to be poison ivy and rocks... I have found two tiny sprigs on the top of the place, so they will be summarily executed when I get up there with my loppers...)

I am pleased, most of the seeds I started are actual little plants now!  I re planted some peppers, and put in some more tomatoes, so those are needing to get caught up, so to speak.  (I even planted a HOT pepper, I guess to share, 'cuz neither Husband or I eat them, I just wanted to see what it looked like.  But we have enough neighbors and friends, it shouldn't be a big problem.)

Taurus is still sitting!  If I figured it right, she should be having chicks about the 22nd.  This will be nice.  I have a place all set up for her.  Now I just need to get her and the babies to be convinced that is the place to be!  This might be easier at night.  Let's just say, Taurus bites, and hangs on.  I usually want to wear gloves when I am working with her, and now it will be even more so! 

And lastly, I think I forgot to weigh last week.  That was when we were taking Auntie G back to catch the plane, and so I spaced.  Soo, I weighed today, and lost .4.  Works for me!  I am not entirely sure how, other than I think I weeded so much that I hurt my eating muscles! (grin)  Or at least the pick-up-to-eat-stuff muscles!

So, there is today's gumbo of little short blurbs.

The things you learn...

First, before anything else, thank you all for your thoughts and support.  I know in my head it was the best thing to get rid of a potentially diseased chicken, for the benifit of the others, but that doesn't make the heart feel better... Anyway.

I am trying to get myself into my book, as in, actually researching and WRITING it.  To wit, I have been finding out a lot about cattle brands in Oregon.  This is a relatively minor point in my book, but I want to make sure that I don't 'step on toes' if I put a specific brand.  So, what do you do when you want to use a brand?  You email the Oregon Department of Animal Health, and ask! 

I didn't know if I would get a response, but I did. (Same day, even!)  Turns out the brand I had planned on using was already taken, but presently expired. (You have to pay to continue to use a brand.)  The gal, bless her, said that since this would be for writing, and not actually attatching said brand to a cow that I own, that I should contact the Secretary of State, because she thinks it would more a matter of copyright ownership, rather than a brand, per se.  So, I have an email to the Secretary of State, we shall see...

The goofy permutations of what I thought would be a simple question!

Aaaannnd, scale day.  Ok, I am up a pound. MY FAULT.  Been nibbling too much, not salt, just nibbling.  So I need to knock that off!  (Whack!)  Anyway, on the plus side, so to speak, I have been decreasing the time I take to do my 7 rounds from an hour and a half to just over 50 minutes, and I am thinking of adding one more round, for 8. 

Rudee may not appriciate this.  He is getting to the point, he is just not excited after 6 rounds.  I am not sure how to deal with him.  He's not a young dog, so I suppose it might be that.  But right now, I think it's that "Yoo hoo, I got winter coat and it's too dang warm" syndrome.  He is a trooper, and I am trying to brush him, so hopefully he won't have too much problem. 

But dang, it is so hard to brush a wiggle!

Sorry, Jerry Garcia...

"What a long, strange road it's been." 

The last two days have been... Well, they have been a royal pain in the butt.  Interesting in only the Chinese curse sense of the word. 

I had a performance at a school almost on the border between Oregon and Washington.  (I do Renaissance history performaces for schools.)  This is about a 3 hour drive, give or take.  I did manage to con, uh, vince the other performer to drive through the metro areas, I don't do that well... 

We did the performance all right, except that about halfway through, I choked on my own saliva, and had to leave the poor guy all alone for a bit, while I tried to regain my breathing skills.  Somehow, sounding like I am going to hack up a hairball, and turning purple, wasn't part of my agenda.  He did alright, and after a glass of water and a cough drop, I managed to get through the rest of the performance unscathed... 

Until I got back to my truck, and realized I'd left my cell phone somewhere.  I searched, the guy I was with searched, we tried calling my cell phone.

Nothing. 

I borrowed his phone, and promptly figured out I am stuck in the late 90's.  It was an Android.  I didn't even know how to start it.  Once it was on, I think I managed to have it turn to 'sleep' mode because I took so long to work out what to do.  I managed to make a call to Husband, to call Mom, and let them both know I was okay, just couldn't find the blasted phone. 

Or...

I thought I had.

I checked in the Starbucky's that we'd been by, they hadn't had one turned in.  (They also have extremely limited tea selections.  I guess that's why it's a coffee house, huh?)  I thanked them, and after convincing the guy I was with I needed to leave, (he'd forgotten I still had about 2 hours left to get home), I took off. 

It rained buckets.  I was behind a semi.  At Rush Hour.  I 'ate soup' for most of the trip home.  And decided to skip the rest areas so I didn't have to try getting on and off the freeway.  So I stopped at Mom's, as I really had to pee.  She hadn't received the message, and was worried.  I told her that Husband should have called, I had left him a message.  Called Husband from Mom's, and he was worried, he hadn't received the message. 

Joy of technology.  May it long receive a one finger salute...

I managed to get home, and at the door, Husband told me the message that I had left AT 4:30 had just arrived at 6 or a little after, right after my call.  That helped. Yeeeaaah...

I was so tired and furious, and just generally wound up, that I couldn't settle down.  The head of the group I perform for called by the end of the evening to let me know the school called, they had my phone.  (I still can't figure out why they didn't call with my phone, I have several things titled "Mom" "Home", etc, that they could have more directly contacted me.  Eh.)  So, with the help of the guy I performed with, and the group head, I may get my phone back Saturday or Monday. 

So I went to bed disgusted, and woke up the next morning.  And felt like my head was going to blow off.  I had a sinus headache as big as the national debt, and twice as ugly.  I didn't exercise.  Even putting on my shoes was a challenge, because when my head went as low as my shoulders, my brain pulsed.  And not in a good way.  So my usual Wednesday blog was a non-starter.  I did not do a whole bunch.  I even had to fight with the copier at the substation.  I just figured I must have had really, REALLY bad tech karma, for some reason.

On the bright side, I did end up losing .6 of a pound.  That was about the only real big plus for the day. 

When I worked at the substation on Wednesday, there was a call out for ambulance and deputies at a road near my house. One of the deputies was filling out paperwork, and was called directly from dispatch, please go help, it's a mess.  After a quick "be safe" from me, he went out. 

I came home without incident.  Husband met me at the door, "Did you hear about the big accident at Xity-x Road?"  I told him I had, and saw a deputy have to leave quick time to help. 

"I'll bet.  The chippers that we have been getting truckloads from?  One of the guys had just gotten down from the bucket truck, when a dually truck hit the chip truck from behind, doing about 55."  (Nothing like 1 degree of separation!) 

It was a mess, the dually driver had to go to the hospital.  None of the chipper guys were hurt. Badly shaken, but not hurt.  The truck was a mess, the trailer was pushed in almost 2 feet.  They still don't know if the guy had fallen asleep, drunk, what have you, but they did know he is a local, and had passed the chippers several times in the last few days, so he was (or should have been) aware of them being there. 

Wow.

Well, here is the fruits of the chipper's labor (Rudee in picture for scale.)  This isn't even all of it, we used a big bit for the chicken house.  So they have been busy.  ( I don't know if the broken truck was able to unload, but it sounded like it was pretty much a mess, might not even have been drivable, from what I heard, so I never was able to see the end result.  Which probably was a good thing, all things considered.)

And see?  All the chips have made the chicken house great to walk through, and all the chickens have nice, clean feet again!  (They don't seem really impressed.  The llamas, either.  I don't care.  They look better, I am not tracking mud so much, and it's much dryer in the hen house.

So I am desperately hoping that the next few days are without incident.  I am laying low, knitting a bunting for a friend that is preggers. (Yeah, I started a new project, this one doesn't count.  Grin.)  So I will show you pictures once I am beyond 12 rows of stockinette stitch. 

Oh, and my Mom has started reading my blog pretty regularly, and loves to read all your comments, as well as my musings.  So, (blatant beg) leave a comment!  Say hi, even!  ; ) 

I hope to catch up on everyone's blogs, now that it doesn't feel like someone stuck a blow torch in my ear...

Timing? What's that?

In the great scheme of things...  I am doing okay, time wise, except I keep getting people saying, I would like you to do X, then don't give me a time. 

I half expect to have everyone want me to be available on one day, for a 3 hour period, or some equally stupid thing.  On the bright side, I finally dropped one volunteer job I had been doing for about, uh, 12+ years, possibly as long as 15.  Getting sort of tired of it.  I just felt someone else could do the job, why must I?  And, amazingly enough, not one, but two people stepped up to do the job! 

W00t! 

At the substation, doing my receptionist bit for the deputies again.  Had this gent come in, and ask me if the email for a particular deputy was correct.  After a bit of futzing about, I was able to double check it, and it was.  He then asked if he could phone said deputy directly.  I said no, but gave him the voice mail that we are supposed to give out.  (Volunteers are not to give out direct numbers unless told to by said deputy.)  Then the gent asks if said deputy is on duty today.  After a quick check, yes, he should be on, this evening. 

After a long pause, he glared at me, and said, "You know, I have been trying to get a hold of him for two days.  Maybe I should do something bad so that he will show up immediately..."   I didn't say a word.  I just used the you are saying something stupid, I will wait until your brain reboots look that I have found to be effective.  If I had been in the mood, I should have said what I was thinking, "Gee, maybe some people ARE doing something bad, and that's why he can't just jump on your request."  But I decided to just keep my mouth shut. 

He did get the hint, from my glare, and blushed slightly, mumbled, "maybe not...", then left.  (Am I good, or what?)  ;)   

(Don't answer that...)

I am pleased to say scale day was one pound down.  Getting back to exercising actually helps!  (Today, especially.  I had no motivation.  If it weren't for Rudee, I might have gone back to bed.  It was that bad...)

So.  Other than our house and the biggest part of our property smells like a forest with the compost, all is pretty much is as usual. 

And for some of the comments I don't know if I got to:

John... about the socks.  Email me, "rencatus at yahoo dawt com", let me know what you are thinking of.

Bon Bon.  Here is the lead in about the cougar from my blog.  Feel free to peruse...

http://egginmypocket.blogspot.com/2009/12/cougar.html

http://egginmypocket.blogspot.com/2009/12/cougar-cougar-cougar-cougar-oh-and.html

http://egginmypocket.blogspot.com/2009/12/cougars-end-warning-some-graphic-pics.html

If I missed anyone else... Um.  I guess you can always leave a comment? 

(sheepish grin)

Warm tootsies, confusion, and... well, more confusion...

So what have I been doing while I should be doing housework, and other important 'stuff'?  Knitting socks.  And not just one pair...  I've been "power knitting"!  (Read:  when I am sitting, I am knitting.  Anywhere, anytime.  Ok, not when I am driving, but the rest of the time.  I say this, because I read an Internet thread about a person who did.  Wrong on SO many levels...)

I love the colorway on these, it came out just a smidge brighter in the picture...  Only thing is, almost everyone that's seen it wants the yarn.  Looked it up online...

Discontinued. 

PBBBBT...

These are my "Superbowl Socks".  I started them during the Superbowl.  This wouldn't normally happen, (if I get excited, I really don't want to impale myself with a dpn...), but sadly, I wasn't 'into' either of the teams, Mom and I commented this year's bowl was more about the commercials (of which I also wasn't wowed, but I guess I am getting picky in my dotage). ; )   I would have finished them faster, but got into a J.A. Jance book, and lost a couple good knitting days, haven't been able to read and knit effectively.  (And I didn't have that particular book on audio.)

This is a new(ish) pattern with some yarn I spun.  I will probably find another pattern, finish the other little sock as shown, then find one that I like better, this pattern was one of those, knit about yay much, then guesstimate the heel number, then when it looks good knit for a while even... 

YARK! 

I have knitted enough adult socks that I could do this alright, but I much prefer a more... specific pattern.  Playing with a pattern where I can write my own notes is fine, but guessing what the end result is supposed to be on a thing I've not knit before... No.  Little too much guess work. 

Oh, and you ask, why small socks?  I found a charity group that takes children's socks, that need to be wool, which is mostly what I spin, for orphanages in Russia.  Since Husband teases me about having enough stash of hand spun to raise the insulation value of the craft room at least 3 or 4 points, I figured it was a good use.  I have some other "me" projects planned for my hand spun, but this is for the 'oh, pretty, now what do I do with it?" stuff.  Especially when the stuff is plied, and I don't have a great lot of it.  I could make a hat, but this strikes me as more useful.  (Not that I haven't been asked to make hats, but the hats wanted need to be washable.  Unless they want a Barbie Doll Hat, my can only be washed once. In that case, acrylics rule...  And I haven't tried spinning acrylics, yet.)

I helped Dad fix the problem with his computer.  That was a strange thing.  The program had a major problem.  It was one of those, the more you try to fix x, then y, z, k, b, and r decide to not work, type problems.  He called a friend of his, who works on computers, and handed the phone to me.  After some serious talk on what was wrong, we came upon a brilliant solution. Blow up the computer. Get rid of the program entirely, and use a similar one that, wait for it...

Actually works! 

So, after ringing off, I uninstalled the program, showed Dad how to use the new program, which fortune would have it, worked almost like the other, and we had it solved.  He's happy, I am happy, and perhaps the other program will hold.  Dad doesn't 'tinker' with settings and things, so I think it should work fine...  But man, getting to that point, wow.  You would think a download FROM THE SITE would get the problem fixed, (and as fun as it is to rag on them, it wasn't a Windows product, in this case), but after loading and getting the "fixes" at least twice, wow, whatta buncha junk!  YEESH, even.  I don't consider myself to be a techie in the least, but gee holy horse crap, couldn't there be some sort of "tech inspection" before you can download something, do people not check these things? 

Sorry, grumbling... But still...

And scales.  I was truly figuring I'd blown it this week.  I didn't exercise two or three days in a row.  Didn't eat well.  My only attempt at negating that was trading.  For example, if I have a soda, I don't get a cocoa in the evening, stuff like that. Lots of salty foods.  Just wasn't good this week.

And I lost 1.8 pounds.  

Did someone really, really screw with the laws of physics or something?  This so does not compute...   I mean, heck, I am happy, will always take a loss, obviously, but...

HUH???

Life's little non-sequiturs.

(I was going to write about the Supreme Court decision today, about that "church" protesting at soldier's funerals.  I want to make a bit more thoughtful blog than my first snotty rage that I was going to put down.  So.  Less immediate, but hopefully more wise.  Or at least less vitriol.)

Twofer, white stuff, and aggrivation.

Went to give blood yesterday.  It was at the LDS church.  I know very little about the Mormons, but I am always amused when I donate there.  The "Elders" volunteer, usually out front for verifying that I have an appointment and such.  These Elders are... about 17?  20 years old, tops... Maybe.  They must make elders waaay younger at that church.  I say this to offend no one, it just amuses me to have an 'elder' that is half my age or more.

Once I was in for the drive, I noticed they had a slightly different setup than I was used to and commented on it.  The gal doing the intake physical told me that they were doing "double red" donations, would I be interested?  I said sure.  She checked then told me they were full.  About the time she said that, another gal came up and told her that the other person had the wrong blood type, that if she had another person, they could use them.  So I said I would, and they started the process, which, all in all, seemed pretty much like the regular process, except they asked how tall I was. 

Okay...

So she led me over to the machine, and they hooked me up again, and asked about how tall I was.  Again.  And if I had any questions.  Yeah... What does how tall I am have to do with giving blood?  The gal then explained, with women having menstrual flows, they lose more iron then men.  Therefore, they need to be (her words) stouter, to do this kind of donation.  Huh...  So they explained what was happening. 

I was hooked up to a centrifuge, which spins the blood at 7000 rpm, that separated the cells from the rest of it (plasma).  The cells go into one bag, the plasma into another.  I also received saline, with the plasma, to make up for the cell loss. 

There was a heating pad under my arm, and they explained that the plasma would be returned cold. (I forgot to ask why...)  This process is repeated twice, hence the "double red" term.  I basically give twice as much in this process as I would giving just my normal pint.  So, I lean back and watch the thing go round.  Listen to the gals josh with one another (happened to be all gals doing the drive this time, as far as I could tell).

So the centrifuge finished, and started pumping the plasma into the one bag, and the cells into the other.  I commented "That looks like BEER in that bag".  The gals laughed, saying that was not the first time that comment had been made.  It was a golden yellow color with a head on it, just like someone had poured a pale ale into the bag.  She then joshed with me a little, as some of the cells creeped into the bag as it finished, "Yes, we know when to go to the next step when the beer turns into a Tequila Sunrise." 

Love the technical aspects of donation! 

I noticed that I became just a bit cold as the plasma was returned, and put my coat over my shoulders.  'Do you need a blanket' was asked several times.  Nah, the coat was plenty.  I was then told I might have some tingling sensations.  Wow, they weren't kidding! Know that "pins and needles" sensation?  I had it the whole of my person for a short bit.  Strange sensation, but went away quickly.  Watched the cell merry-go-round again, and then the process started again.  This time, I got cold.  I hadn't realized that the first round would lower my temperature enough to make me really, REALLY cold the second time.  I was shuddering so hard it was hard to ask for a blanket!  When they put the blanket over me, I joked that I must be a bit of a wimp to need the blanket now.  She winked, and said, nah, you would have been a wimp if you needed it the first time. 

So, since I gave what amounts to 2 pints, I received my 6 gallon pin, and a second little pin for my first "Double Red" donation.  And since I gave more, I have to wait 16 weeks to donate, not 8.  But my donation will help more, so I guess it balances out. 

The only side effect that I seem to have had, they said I would be tired.  Now, this is normal for any donation that I have had, but this was a bit more... pointed.  I was walking this morning, and after Husband freaked me out slightly by riding the ATV up to meet me, (OMG, something's wrong, whatwhatwhat?  Turns out, he was putting fresh plugs in for the ones that had been fouled, and wanted to run the rig. Oh.), and he noticed that I looked beat.  I told him I was, that I seemed to be just shy of wiped out.  He, the voice of reason, said I should maybe just ride back.  I, the voice of stubbornness, said I could walk back, and that I should finish my exercise.  He countered, I don't want to have you collapse up here.  Then I considered Rudee's last attempt at imitating Lassie, and decided I should just head down the hill early. 

I read the info, and the fatigue is only supposed to last a day or two, so I am fine with it, but it sure took more out of me than I expected, so to speak. (Oh, and I took a picture of my plasma "beer", but it's on my cell phone, so I don't know at this point how to get it on my blog.  Once I do, I will post it.)

The weather guessers are all in a horrified tizzy here, it is supposed to snow.  It tried to, a little this morning, I saw a few flakes mixed in with the rain, and even some snow "pellets" that bounced off my hand and hat.  It even made Rudee's fur look beaded.  I have crocus up, a daffodil, and some other stuff starting to come up.  So, they are talking as low as 19* F, and about 6 inches or so of snow.  Yay.  So, we shall see if they are panic-stricken for no reason, or if I will be snowbound this next few days.  I am not looking forward to snow, but we are prepared, so I guess it can do what it's gonna. 

Like I can stop it...

And the scale.  The stupid, stupid scale.  I am getting most heartily sick and tired of this same .8 up and down.  I had a great week!  I fit into a pair of pants I haven't been able to wear for nearly... Well, 20 pounds or so ago.  Exercising well, (Husband checked the distance with the ATV, and says I am doing closer to two miles a day, than one.)  I figured it would be great, I had to be down.  .8 UP.  Someone mentioned measuring myself, and I did last week, forgot to this week, so I will have to see if THAT changed, but I was so frustrated, I bawled.  Husband was standing there, which made it all the more embarrasing for me (I detest to cry), but he was so good about it.  He basically said to ease up on myself, I was working hard.

Yeah.  But it still sucketh, yea, verily...

Title goes here...

And... More words should go here, making sentences.  The sentences should lead to paragraphs, making a coherent thought and readable passage. 

Yeah.  Right. 

Ever had one of those days that you think the average IQ of the gunk behind the refrigerator probably would need to spot you 5 points to make it even? 

I took some antihistamines this morning, my allergies were driving me to distraction, and even tho the darn thing should be out of my system, I still feel like I could just sit and doze off without much excuse...  Which would be very interesting for any deputies.  Or my bosses... 

So.  Let's see.  I am finally getting eggs, silly hens took long enough break.  We celebrated this fact by Husband having a homemade Egg McDoohickey that he likes.  I put homemade egg, cheddar, and ham on an English Muffin, but otherwise it's JUST LIKE the one at the Golden Arches Breakfast club.  (Well, sometimes I use American Cheese...) 

I also made him cookies.  I have been trying and trying to get him to eat the cereal I bought, Grape Nutty stuff.  He likes the other stuff.  I am not a fan of GN, it's okay, but if I have the choice, it's usually something else.  I am beginning to suspect Husband feels the same way.  So, I made cookies.  Oatmeal Raisin.  (Which I don't care for, and he really likes.)  Except, it became Oatmeal Grapenutty Raisin.  I make a double batch, which calls for 6 cups oats.  I used three of oats, three of Grapeynuts.  Husband noticed, after about the sixth cookie.  He likes it.  Which a double batch I certainly hope so!  So, I will have to see what other nefarious concoctions I can make with the stuff, and maybe get it used up, somehow.  The plus in this, I tried a bite of the cookie, to see if the consistency was okay.  Now, I don't like Raisin Oatmeal, and these have the added benefit of my not liking the texture.  Works for my benefit, anything that can keep me from mindless munching, that is a good thing, Martha, dear!

The weather is just odd here. 

It was raining just a day or so ago, then it was foggy, this morning it was icy. That lead to an interesting incident.  Rudee is a very happy, active dog.  We have wheelchair accessible ramps to our doorways. (Long story, remind me, I might tell you about that later.)  Well, Rudee loves to 'racecar' up and down those things, and normally, this isn't a problem.  But this morning?  He roared up the thing, and slipped a leg off the side, then started skidding, trying to keep from falling off, since he'd reached the highest point.  I realized, the place where he was at had frost on it.  I couldn't do much, and he managed to slide around and get footing again, but I noticed he was a bit less 'warp speed' until he was on the ground again.  But now, this afternoon?  It's sunny.  I keep wondering, everyone in the Midwest and East Coast, snow, snow, more snow, and if that isn't enough, snow and ice.  Here, no.  But I am just waiting for when the other weather shoe drops.  Microburst?  Ice Storm late in the season?  G*d forbid, volcano? 

Maybe I worry too much. Hey, everyone needs a hobby.

Writing... I have a little written, and was trying to get some that I had written a while ago off a thumb drive I have.  The thumb drive no longer works.  So.  Plan B.  I  remember most of what I wrote, so I am going to go Old School, and write it on paper, with a pen.  Then, and only then, I will transfer it to a disk/CD/stick/holographic nanobot, whatever.  Because, as archaic as pen and paper is, I have less problems with it.  I can crush it, and still have it readable when I smooth it out.  I can carry it with me, in a folder, with out worry that I will misplace it (as easily as a thing about half the size of a pencil).  I guess I am just a bit on the grouchy side, I like technology, all right.  But I want to be able to use it without fear of something going poof, and getting rid of the stuff I carefully put back for further use.  Husband suggested the little teeny memory thing like is used in cameras and such.  He said there are less moving parts, so it shouldn't go out on me like the other. 

I think I am still going to use my pen and paper.  Back up.  Just in case. 

Speaking of technology, I was looking at Amazon.  I found out, I can use the type of computer I have as a really big Kindle, with a download from Amazon.  I did this, then started looking at the titles.  Hmm.  I found out there are several that are free.  Like to the tune of around 15,000 books.  As many books as I have read, there were several that popped up that I hadn't, like "Dracula", and "Alice in Wonderland".  And some that I had, but would like to read again, like the journals of Lewis and Clark.  Of course, the whole point is to draw you in to the ones you BUY, but there are a bunch of them that I want to look at in the freebie section, as well. 

But that doesn't mean that I have any less books in the rest of the house.  I need to get cracking on "Guns, Germs, and Steel", Husband wants to read it.  So, I have been trying not to start on another book, until I finish that one, so he can read it.  This lead to a bit of a negotiation, he still has "Lord of the Rings" series stuck on his bedside table.  I told him I get that after I give him the GGS book.  High stakes here, folks!  Mostly, we do that to make sure that we know where said book IS.

I have lost a pound this week.  Yay!  I still don't understand how I can gain one week, and lose the next, and not be doing anything particularly different!  I guess just trying to be consistant is the biggest part.  That and keeping chocolate chips out of the house... 

So.  There you have it.  A blog.

Ta Da! 

Have yourself a good day, and don't fallllllzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

OH! Hi, Deputy!

The case of the Baying Beagles, SOLVED...

Our neighbor did end up calling the Sheriff over the beagle incident of yesterday.  And bless her, she called us later, to let us know what had happened.

Our next door neighbor, Bell, had called the Sheriff, and the deputy that came out went around trying to find the beagles, who, miraculously, were quiet.  Well, he went to Bell's next door neighbor, Sam, who I am given to understand, turned a little pink.  Turns out, a friend of his has hunting dogs, and was given permission to practice run his dogs on Sam's property.

This was all well and good, until 1,2, and 3 decided that things needed to be brought up a notch, and slipped the leads.  The chase was on, for whatever it was they were chasing.  (I still don't know if it was the deer, the bobcat, or some other thing that they got a whiff of...)  They circled 'round, and the owner was able to get them caught and put away again.  He then apologized to Sam, who in turn apologized to the deputy, then called Bell, and apologized to her.  Bell called us with the explanation. 

Not 10 minutes later, Sam called, and apologized to us for creating such chaos! 

We had a bit of a laugh about it, and said, hey, we are the 'new' neighbors here, we just didn't know if someone was doing something they shouldn't.  He said he'd have to let more neighbors know if the dog hunter needed to practice again.  We told him that would be nice, we just wanted to make sure that Bell was okay, mostly. (She's in her 80's, as I remember.) 

So, we have a really good phone system, if nothing else.  That being said, I think I will write up something and see what people locally want for a time to set up for Neighborhood Watch.  Couldn't hurt.  And in my case, I could maybe put faces to names a bit better.

So, now you know... The rest of the story.

In other news, I am going in little circles, weight wise.  I must be doing something right, because my pants are getting loose.  So I trotted up to the scales, ready for my happy reward... And what to my wondering eyes should appear, is .4 of a pound, re-stuck on my rear!  This doesn't make sense, I keep going, little up, little down, little up, little down.  But my clothes are fitting me better, even to the point of being loose.  Husband has been really nice, in fact he was of the mind that it must have been the drink I had before bed. 

Warm milk causes weigh gain?  Huh.  But, I guess there is always next week.  Grumble.

But why are my clothes fitting better???  STRANGE.

Walking, while not as exciting as yesterday, had it's share of unique-ness.  I was up the hill, and got a thorn or sticker of some ilk in my boot.  In my sock.  I had to take off my boot, and my sock, and find and remove said thorn.

Did I mention it's 24 degrees with frost on the ground here?  No snow, but let's just say I was HIGHLY motivated to get that sock back ON.  I had my big toe on the ground, and it was still a bit too much for comfort!  I realize that most folks eastward would LOVE to have my problem, but wow, that was nippy.  I did manage to keep Rudee from licking my foot.  That could have been more excitement than I could have handled, at that point.  Add to that a random Charlie Horse when I was on my 4th lap, and I nearly face planted. 

I walked, according to the pedometer, 1.16.  I think that .16 of that was when I was hopping on one foot, with Rudee deciding that I was great fun.  I wasn't. 

Trust me on this. 

The case of the Problematic Prints. reverb 26

(Oh, I lost .4 of a pound this week.  I'll take it!)

Got up for my walk this morning, and before I do, I feed. 

I went to put food in the cat's dish, turned around, and saw tracks.  Rudee has been sniffing about in one corner of the pole barn, so I knew SOMETHING was there.  I suspect that several of the 'catfights' that Tux had been in, might not have been with another cat. 

So.  I look, and there are these brilliant white footprints on the pallet.  (We feed the dog on the pallet.)  The tracks are white because we have some clay type stuff that when wet, makes a white track.  The dog and cat know enough to stay out of it. 

Sometimes, I do, too. 

Obviously, the raccoon doesn't care.

The little wet tracks are from Buzz.  The big white ones are from, we suspect, a raccoon. 

This is not good.  Raccoons eat chickens.  Raccoons eat cat food.  Raccoons eat dog food.  Raccoons fight with smaller animals.  Raccoons are a big pain in the butt.  The neighbor had a pet raccoon, didn't want it any more, and released it.  I wonder if that might be said critter. 

So, Plan A, get a "Havaheart" trap, see if we can catch it, and take it to the woods waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay away from here, and release.

Plan B.  Uh.  Sure.  We will get a Plan B... Soon.  

I want it gone for a second reason, our cats and dogs have been vaccinated for it, but raccoons can carry rabies.  Don't want to deal with that.  At all. 

Fun, oh, joy.  Dealing with ticked off cats isn't fun, a ticked off raccoon will be even more fun.  Thank G*d for Welding Gloves and heavy jackets...

News as events warrant.

***

Prompt: Soul food. What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul?

Ok, we are going include 'drink' in this, as it wasn't a food item, but a beverage. 

After going to the concert, I'd told Husband that I had a Thermos of hot water and some tea for breakfast in the morning for me (he doesn't like tea).  I think I slept about 4 hours...  I awoke, at the break of dawn, grumbled slightly about this fact, and then dressed and went to the restroom to do the morning abolutions. 

I managed to get the hair in some sembalance of order, face washed.  I was almost presentable to the human race again, walked back to the truck. 

Sitting on the picnic table was my tea.  Finished.  Sitting next to it, was Husband.  He looked up, and said, thought that you might like tea to start to your morning.  We sat quietly, my drinking tea, Husband rubbing my back, listening to the quiet of a morning, (and several people PROFOUNDLY snoring), and watched the sun rise over the camp.  I finished my tea, and he went to the truck and poured me another cupful, with a fresh bag.  We talked over the plans for the morning, and listened to birds start the day. 

Tom P. is cool, but he is no match for my Husband.

Feelin' groovy...

Ok, first, scale day.  228.8  Exactly what I was last week.  I would complain, but I didn't go up, and I have been noshing more than I should.  So. 

It ain't got a thing, if it ain't got that swing. La la la... 

Working harder for next week is a must.

This last Halloween, Mom and I wanted to get out for a bit, and we went to a costume store.  They had many, um, revealing costumes, some very strange costumes, some (IMHO) disgusting ones, but there were some neat things as well.  Lots of costume jewelry, hats a go-go, I think I tried on over a dozen, and came up with at least 3 ideas for knitted items...  I also found some 'devil horns' that were shaped like ram horns that tempted me, I thought it would be hilarious to wear them out some time and just see if anyone noticed.  (I have a set of goat kid looking horns that almost match my hair.  I have worn them out on some occasions with a red shirt, and when someone notices, the reaction is priceless.  Sadly, it isn't as often as I would hope...  Either that, or maybe it works to well with some people's assumptions? )  I could always say I am a Dodge Fan when I wore them...  Heh.

Anyway, one of the items that I just thought was so cool, was a hippie bag.  I showed it to Mom, and we looked it over.  I was really tempted to buy it, but Mom, having done sewing since she was small, looked at it, very unimpressed.  I, who am not particularly good at sewing, looked at what she noticed, and wasn't impressed, either.  The stitching was poor, several places the stitching didn't hold the fabric together, and the fabric itself was iffy...  So, I didn't buy it, but commented that I really did like it.

So, Mom said that she was bored the other day.  She decided to see what she could do from memory.  I think it is pretty close!  I think it's adorable, too.  Mom made a button attachment for it, and I am going to use it as a small knitting bag.  I think the brown is suede, the peace sign is a cotton flower material, and the button, I believe, is wood.   

 TA-DAAA!

***

Prompt: Healing. What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011?

Healed?  Didn't know I was sick.  Ok, I have been working on "healing" by losing weight.  Eating (somewhat) better, although some of my choices are highly debatable.  (But please don't, or knowing me, I will eat more of it in protest...)

One of my teacher talked about the body being a triangle, physical, mental, and spiritual.  So, the above was the physical part. 

My mental healing, learning that I have to give myself value, by saying no, and realizing that I can skip what I don't enjoy.  And trying to let more people know I appreciate them, not just assuming it.  Still working on that, however. 

Spiritual?  I guess the Meditation Area.  Giving myself time to be, without cell phone, email, MP3, just Rudee and a chair.  Sometimes this leads to prayer, sometimes to a mental equivalent of dial tone, sometimes to ideas for things, sometimes just a bit of time to scratch Rudee's ears. (He most especially appreciates those times!)  It makes me a bit more ready for the day, a bit less stressed ABOUT the day, and maybe, just maybe, a little more content. 

How would I like to be healed in 2011... Uh.  Less knee and ankle pain?  Less brain farts?  Be able to go on my "Country Fried 5K" this spring, or early summer?  How about, being healed of worrying about what needs healed...   : P

Sweet 'n Sour...

Scale day... Notsogood.  Up 1.4, so I am sort of grumbly.  But I know it was mostly salt, and a certain auntie coming by for her monthly visit, so I am trying not to knock myself down too hard about it.  Still annoying.  I had thought about weighing myself tomorrow to see if it was just a fluke, but I made a deal with myself, so to speak, that once a week was enough, when I was weighing myself every day, I hated getting up, because I knew that stupid scale was the next item on the list...  So, I will take the grumble grumble rackin frackin thing and try hard to do better next week.

Several of you have suggested alternating days of walking with days of weight training.  That is one of those things that I just don't seem to get into.  Maybe I haven't done the right kind of training, don't have motivation, whatever.  I try to do weight training, it will last, oh, a week, if I guilt myself a lot...  And, as a rule, I don't.  This walking thing I have been doing isn't exercise for me, it's just walkin' the dog.  That isn't really exercise.  Or at least it's what I tell myself.  So, I will keep looking for something that I can alternate, but so far, no luck.  Even if I did, though, I would have to make at least a quick run up the hill, to make sure that Rudee would get some deer chasing running time out in the yard, not stuck in the kennel. 

So, on the good side of the day.  That T-shirt that I have been wanting for some time?  The one that I couldn't mange to send a check to the company for, even though they said that there was snail mail availability to buy things?  That they kept running out of my size?  That I called the Customer (lack of) Service about?  Well, somehow, some way, I managed to get on the website.  They had my size!  I ordered.  It took!  Now will it accept my payment?  IT DID!  So, now if the delivery van doesn't blow up, or my order go into the bit bucket, or some other galactic mayhem, I will finally, but FINALLY  have the tour T-shirt I have been trying to get.  Mojo shirt to go with the Mojo socks.  Not much, in the great scheme of things, but it will make me happy...

***

Body Integration. This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present? (Author: Patrick Reynolds)

Walking has been one, but oddly enough, it's when I have taken road trips with Husband.  We go some place, we just seem to relax.  He (usually) takes his hearing aid, and is in a contained space, so he can hear me, I don't have 'things' to do, and we just talk.  Or listen to the radio.  Sometimes he holds my hand, sometimes I scratch the back of his neck.  I am usually the "turnoff lookout", he tells me which road, or flat out gives me the map, and I do a pointer dog impression when we are close.  But until then, we just enjoy each other's company.  Sometimes we don't even talk, but just watch the road, and what is going by.  It may sound strange, but with the exception of potty stops, I normally don't hurt as much, and we arrive in a good mood.  We've even been lost a couple times, and just worked our way out, 'gee, didn't we pass that building?  What direction were we going before?  Do you think the construction guy will know where this is?'  (Most of the time, they do!) 

(One exception to this was when we were first married, I had told him to get into the RIGHT lane, which he kept saying he couldn't, and we'd went around this block about a dozen times.  Finally I roared at him to pull over.  Showing him the map, he realised that I wasn't misreading it, we did need to go right.  We got to the port in time... To see the ferry leave without us.  We had some 'apart' time for an hour or so, so we didn't kill each other at that point, and have since worked out how to give directions in such a way that we don't have arguments.  Doesn't mean we are perfect by any stretch, but it does make for a more pleasant journey.)

Wherin I realize I haven't been answering...

Scale day.  Sweating same, I pigged out on popcorn and soda at the movies, and wasn't sure if I was going to be paying for it.  I must have made enough other 'good' choices for the week, however, because I am down .4 of a pound.  Husband was pleased, but he did tease me a bit, I had my hair cut, (about 2 inches off the back, it was getting crazy woman long and shaggy), and he said it was probably half hair!  Hmmm.  No, I don't want a pixie, but hmmmm...

I have been doing this blog everyday thing almost a work week, and forgot one little detail.  I still want to answer responses.  So, I might have to 'gather and toss to the front' every once in a while... 

So, yes, thank you, that's nice, Oh, OH!, and no.

(Sorry, couldn't resist...)

So, the blog about goals and writing, Jan. 1-

Thank you all for the good wishes.  Sharon, I believe He-- No is rather effective, too, I just live in a very small town where I have to use it judiciously, as the receiver of same can be the one I have to ask for something later...  But like pepper, it can be good in things, but also like pepper, can over power.  So, there ya go.  Tina, Terry, and messymimi, Thank you, and I hope to be an "action star"!  Or at least act like one.  Feral Female, I have wanted to join the blog writing thing in November, but this little nuisance of life takes over and I usually have a hard time with my standard Wednesday and Sunday blogs.  January seems a bit less hectic... So far.  Canyon Girl, let us set a goal of NOT getting hurt in 2011, yes?  Walking is good, too.  But not being in bits and pieces, that is much better! 

Jan. 2, craft room-

Ms. Diva, I have been accused of the same cleaning practice, but I suppose it's partly because sometimes it is finding a 'home' for something.  It makes it appear that all I did was move a pile, but when it's back where it belongs, not on a table, I think that counts, don't you?  And yes, like that turtle, slow and steady... (Why can't we have a good cheetah proverb, that's what I want to know...)  Sharon, I hope to do a little writing and crafting, the room is big enough for both, and I have a writing area.  It's just not very nice to have to move a hay bale's worth of paper to use it!  As for the thing about writing, I suppose it's like story telling, it might change, but you have the main idea you are working with.  As long as you don't write yourself into a corner, so to speak, isn't different mood and idea part of the process?  messymimi, 15 minutes a day.  Do I hear, perhaps, the voice of Flylady?  I use her ideas a lot.  Not perhaps as much as I should on the craft room, since I tend to procrastinate about it, gee, I need to knit another sock.  Oh, washing the hair.  Petting the cat is vital!  That sort of thing...

Jan. 3, llamas, Tangled, and knitting-

Sharon- first off, I am very glad I inspired you to write something!  I think that's a bit of a compliment, being the prompt for someone else.  As for the knitting, 2 socks.  TWO sets of needles.  Different ones.  I do have a 'recipe' for knitting 2 socks on one set of needles, but am not even brave enough to try it.  Callie-  Well, llamas are big, but they have a bit more of a 'cat' attitude.  They will follow you if you have something they want (or they think you do), otherwise, eh.  I have halters and leads for them, so I can encourage them to follow, but mostly, unless it's shearing time, we don't halter them a lot, so they can just be free to go eat and run around.  messymimi- So, I will be starting on your sock either today, or tomorrow, depending on what comes up in the mean time, I will have to get a little box started with the bitses and pieces that I have, just itsy bitsy stuff, but I don't want to misplace them!  And yes, the ice makes what would be a pleasant walk into a bit of a challenge...

Jan 4- Brain glue and tomatoes.

Sharon- I sort of agree with you, I went the direction I did with the tomatoes because I really don't know how you "cultivate" wonder.  That's like saying to someone, be creative, NOW.  At least for me, it doesn't work...  Wonder, for me, is just an experience.  Like you, it's a thing to be appricated when it happens...  We'll just have to work on our enjoying it when it happens, I guess!  messymimi- Thank you!  This was a fun one to answer, once I figured out HOW to answer...

***

Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year?  Why? (Alice Bradley)

Ok, this one has me stumped.  I don't recall letting go of much of anything, or any one that I can think of.  Not even attitudes, really.  I am not sure of any letting go.  That's not really a big surprise for a pack rat, however.  I hold on to lots of things.  Too much paper, magazines, books, yarn... Grudges, annoyances, passive aggressiveness.  You know, the usual.  This question just... Hmm.  No, I don't know what I can say. 

Well, that stinks...  Guess I can't bat a thousand every pitch.  Eh.  Maybe tomorrow...

Short. Just... Short.

Husband's birthday today, check.

Christmas shopping. Check.

Presents wrapped.  Ahem.  (I know where the wrapping paper is, does that count?)

All presents finished.  AHEM.  (But knitting frantically, and have bought ink, will be done with any luck tomorrow... GOOD luck, I mean...)

Weigh in, 2.6 pound loss.  HOT DAYAM!!! WOO HOO!!! , uh, check...

Saw a bald eagle flying overhead today, saw baby lambs, children playing hopscotch while chanting Sant- Ah- Claus, while hopping, and made some folks happy today, including one bloke that looked like a reject from the Hell's Angels, he thought my hat was terrific.  I thanked him. 

Somehow, responding that I thought his bull nose ring was cool... Wasn't said.

I couldn't figure out how to make it sound right...

But, ya know, happy is happy!

Hope your day is!

(Yesterday, I mentioned, as a JOKE, chocolate, labelled health food?  I was in a local vitamin store, and they had a bag of dark chocolate, and it was labeled for Heart Health.  NOT JOKING!  Wish I'd had my camera.  So, dig in, folks, Santa said so!!!)  ;)

Plan B. Stealing, plagerism, and pulling out a win. Right?

So, the usual Wednesday check in.  232.8.  I didn't go up, nor down, I figure this was great, considering I had been on the go, and there were the candy temptations all around. 

I was planning a nice little blog on my meditation area, pics and all.  The weather wouldn't co-operate, and so all of my pictures look like grey colored fog.  Which, in fact, was what I had.  So, perhaps I will get a pic or two up soon, but the blog today will be a... meme?  Anyway, it's questions from Sunday Stealing, I thought it looked like a good way to "Work out" my Wednesday.

1. What inspires you to blog?
Mostly items that interest me, things that I am doing, or even reading other people's blogs.  But mostly, I use the 'stuff' that happens in a day as blog material.  Unless, of course, my blog is based on a picture that is still stuck in the blinkin' camera...  >: (

2. What’s the best thing about blogging, for you?
Knowing that there are people out there reading.  And often responding.  I started my blog more for myself, as a journal, as I type a bit faster than I write.  I still have a private, hand written journal, but the blog has turned out to have lead to several friends and acquaintances!  That's the best part, for me.  Pleasant unexpected consequences...

3. What is your favourite book of all time?
I sometimes answer this by saying "Whatever I am reading now."  I suppose that's a little bit of a cop out, but I find that I have lots and lots of books that are favorites, for different reasons. 

A Donald Duck book, that was my 95 year old neighbors, she read it to me several times.  I love her for doing it, but can't tell you a thing about it except Donald got angry, as usual.  The Secret Garden, that Mom read to me, where I found out I could like a book, but think the main character was a total jerk, and not have that be a problem.  The books we put out at Christmas, some very old, with crinkled corners and faded pages, right next to the shiny, crisp and new books, all celebrations of the season.  History books, which always make me think of what I would be like, living in another time.  Science Fiction and Fantasy books, which make me think of what it would be like to live on another world, or have some great and mystic power...  Uh.  So.  ONE book, it's nearly impossible for me.  And that doesn't even cover the craft books, books on my other hobbies, even the occasional textbook! 

4. It’s 9pm and for some reason you’ve been hungry all day, despite the three square meals. What do you rustle up?
I try desperately to avoid doing anything that late, or I have gut bomb a mundo.  I would probably have a small glass of milk, or maybe an apple.  The rare exception to this is when I have a meeting, or get together where I know I will have a late night and need to drive.  Then I might have regular tea, some cookies, a caffinated soda, something on that order.  Still try to keep it on the light side, though.

5. Who are three of your style icons?
HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA! (gasp!) HAHAAA!  Uh.  I don't think I have ANY style icons.  I try to dress neatly when I am going somewhere, I wear t-shirt and jeans at home.  U. biquitis, Joan Average, and A. Nonimous, I guess.

6. What’s your current favourite song/piece of music?
Mojo, by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (yeah, big surprise, I know.)  But, for exercise, I am enjoying "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga, and "Soundtracks and Comebacks" by Goldfish.  Good beat, and I can walk to them.  (Oh, G*d am I showing my age...)

7. What is the last book you read?
"So Sure Of Death" by Dana Stabenow.  It's the second book in a series my Mom introduced me to, about an Alaska State Trooper, Liam Campbell, and his adventures with murders, fishermen, old farts, bush planes, and boats that sink... Like the one he is living on.  It's a good read, and I think at this point I am on the third of the series.
8. What is your current favourite recipe?
Scratch Husband's back.  Tell him you would like to go to town and have dinner. 
Conversely, ask if he would make dinner if I act as Sous chef. 

I know the one that I use regularly, is... Well, I will call it Cat's Dish.  It has been passed from person to person, and you put your name on it, when you give it to someone else. (Cat's Dish?  That really sounds strange...)
Anyway, if you are interested...

Cat's Dish
Preheat oven to 325*

1 lb. hamburger, browned and drained
l 28 oz. can crushed, or diced tomatoes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1/4 - 1/2 cup regular rice (not minute type rice)
1/4 - 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
garlic powder, salt, pepper, to taste
grated cheese

Prepare hamburger, and mix with other ingredients, except cheese.  Put into a 2 quart greased casserole dish Cover tightly with foil or lid.  Bake 1 1/2 hour.  Top with grated cheese.  Put into oven for 5 more minutes until cheese melts.  Serve with a salad. 

I have also found that you can make a different flavor by what you add, if you have flavored tomatoes (i.e. Rotel), add different types of BBQ sauce, etc., can make a lot of difference if you want a "kick" in your dinner.


9. Who or what first inspired you to set up your own blog?
It was as much reading other blogs, and finding that I was enjoying seeing people in far flung areas, that either had very different lives than I do, or had very similar interests.  Also, as I mentioned, I thought it would be easier to blog than journal.

10. What object could you not live without?
This is a hard one.  I would not want to live without my computer, because I enjoy blogging, email, and learning that I can do without lots of travel.  But I could live without it.  My knitting needles?  I just about lose it when I don't have a project, and have to sit, waiting mindlessly for something.  My watch?  Possibly the thing I would miss the most, I find that if my watch isn't on, I nearly drive myself bats checking the blank spot on my wrist for the time.  (Yes, I have a cell phone with the time.  I am old school enough to not remember this fact...)

11. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Having lost the extra weight, and travelled to Alaska.  Perhaps to other places.  Possibly having sold my book.  Or at the very least FINISHED the darn thing...  Probably waiting for the next Petty album.  Beyond that, anything good, is gravy.  Maybe having more fiber animals.  :)

12. Who or what made you into the person you are today?
My parents, Mom, who got to be the one to make sure that things were turned in, to concentrate on work until it was finished, that I knew what clean was, and tried desperately to get me to understand "girl" stuff.  (I really think it took, sorta.  Honest, Mom...)  Dad, who helped me learn that "boy's" work, wasn't, that climbing trees, setting antennas, and rebuilding engines took a different sort of energy, and concentration, and that being big, didn't ever have to mean being bad.  The stuff that I watched, like Star Trek, which always led me to the ethos, that no matter how strange or different someone was, there was always something interesting that you could learn from them (even if that was just avoid them at all costs).  Fantasy, that taught me that magic doesn't always take wands, candles and spells, (but that makes it more fun).  And Grandma and Grandpa E., who taught me a great garden and a fat fish you land yourself are really, really awesome!

13. What have your learned from blogging?
There are a lot of people in the world, with a lot of thoughts I don't know if I would have ever had, if I'd not read the blogs they write.  There are a lot of people who are funny, thoughtful, have scary jobs (or are married to people with scary jobs), are wise, and some that I just wonder about... (I mean that in a good way...)

14. Knowing what you know now, what knowledge would you pass on to your past self?
You mean other than to tell myself not to go out driving on May 28th, 1988?  (My car accident happened then.)  I don't know... Take more vitamin D, buy Nike stock, not just the shoes, that computer will be a lot more fun when you learn about the "Internet".  Oh, and that dork ass that you date in your sophomore year?  Run, do not walk to the nearest exit! He is an idiot, and will only go down hill from there...

15. Sunday roasts - lunchtime or evening meal?
We have it, generally as a late lunch.  Dinner on Sunday can vary from 2... ish, to about regular suppertime.  Then the left overs become lunch and dinner, depending on the size of the roast!

16. What has been your best blogging-related experience so far?
"Meeting" so many people in so many places that would have been physically and financially prohibitive to meet in most other ways.  Learning what other people see as valuable, and why.  And just seein' a whole lot of really cool pictures!