NEW YEAR'S EVE.

Can't believe it is really here.  I am very glad a New Year will be here tomorrow.  A new year, a new beginning.  I am looking forward to working out my resolutions for the new year. Oh, Yes, I have a list, a positive list. One I can really live up to.  Sorry I won;t share it; you have to make your own list.  Check my year 2012 in review on face book.  That is really cool.  It turns into a slide show of the highlights of my year. A lot of you are probably on it.  See you all next year.

lOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW YEAR!

Sitting at my computer wearing shorts and a short sleeve blouse.  I'm so happy to be in a climate that is warm most of the year.  I haven't been sick since last year at Christmas time when I was in the hospital in Florida with respiratory problems. Except for my aging eyes that is.  Which I am working on.  I am going to spend the rest of the day thinking about all that I have to thank God for during this past year.  The sun has been shining today that is a starter right there.  Of course I'm not going to list all of them.  I have made the decision to get the laser work done on my eyes here in Arizona.  There are some good places to go here in Surprise and Sun City.  Not in this little town, however.  Going to Surprise is like driving to St. Louis from Hannibal.  Not so bad. Maybe I can visit Red Lobster while I am there.  LOL. Yes, I would like that.  HAPPY NEW YEAR OUT THERE TO ALL WHO ARE READING MY BLOG.  Sorry I have been letting you all down but that is one of my New Years Resolutions to write more often in my blog again. 

DUDE RANCH

     I finally got a chance to check out the dude ranch - The Flying E Ranch.  It is across the highway from the airport.  I went there on a day trip sponsored  by the Wise Owl Senior Center here in Wickenburg.  It was a most enjoyable trip.  We were served lunch after a tour of the ranch all within walking distance.  At lunch we got to meet and eat with the Dancers who were staying at the Ranch.  The troupe sang a song for us after lunch.  We did not get to ride horses. That tends to be very expensive.   We had free time to walk around.  I talked with a man who was a bird watcher and was part of our group.  He was excited because he had just seen a bird he had never seen before.  It was a cactus wren and a very common bird to the area.  He had looked it up in his bird book.  We talked a while about birds and wildlife of the area surrounding Wickenburg.  After that we boarded the bus to take us to watch a rehearsal of the Interpretive dancers.  It was similar to the dancers I watched at the Del Webb Center.  The practice took place in an Industrial building close to the airport.  Then it was back to the Wise Owl Center on the other side of town. 

First Rain!

     Thursday night we had the first rain since I arrived in Wickenburg,AZ.  We were about 7" below the average for the year, which still isn't much.  Remember this is a desert and I am here for the dry climate and sunshine.  Oh, yes, and remember the bright blue skies.  This is Saturday and the rain is still coming down.  When it does rain here it does pour, like Morton's salt.  When it does stop raining an hour later the ground is dry again and there is no way to tell it has been raining unless there is a deep puddle on the cement.  I can see snow on the mountains surrounding Wickenburg.  It is usually a light snow and melts when the sun comes out strong.  However, the temperature is lower at the higher elevations, we usually don't get snow here. 
     My heart goes out to the survivors  and parents and close relatives of the children and adults who were shot in the school in Connecticut. They will be in my prayers.  A terrible tragedy. A shock to the whole nation. 
     

i'm back............................

                                                                                                                                                                I   promised myself that I would start writing on my blog again when I caught up with myself.  Trust me, I had to run very fast to catch me.  I finally got my little car unloaded.  My friend who helped me carry stuff to be loaded in my car ask me how I got so much in my tiny car.  Simple, I just put the big, heavy articles in first, then I just dump everything else on top.  As I drive down the highway, everything settles in and fills the cracks.  Like someone told me you can have ice cream even though your stomach is full because it melts and runs down in the cracks between the food.  LOL, kinda like that.
 
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day and I am going to my sons' house for dinner.  We will have Turkey and all the trimmings.  I am so looking forward to that.  I don't have to cook nor clean up. That privilege is earned with age.  Today, I went to the Senior Center, The Wise Owl, at Wickenburg, Arizona.  Turkey and all the trimmings was served. A very nice filling meal.  They will be open again tomorrow and will be served another Turkey and all the trimmings meal.  As you have guessed by now I am in Wickenburg, Arizona for the winter.  I love it here.  The air is dry, clear, and the sky is blue.  Yes, blue!  I can see the beautiful landscape of the mountains almost full circle around the town and there the loveliest sunsets ever.  This is an old West town.   i

FOURTH OF JULY PICTURE OF THE GENERATIONS!!

I was in McDonalds today for lunch with some of my senior friends. We were looking at the Hannibal Courier Post (our local newspaper) and I saw a picture of a baby I recognized, on the front page. It was my great granddaughter, Sylvia. It was a picture which her mommy had taken of her sitting in an old wooden rocking chair which belonged to Sylvia's grandpa when he was a little baby. She was waving a small American Flag because it was the Fourth of July, Independence Day. Something else was unique about the picture, she had on a dress that her own Mother wore 27 years ago when she was about Sylvias age. Sylvia's grandma (my daughter) had saved it all those years and now it is getting worn again. I understand that oxyclean really works. I thought it was a new dress. I am still amazed. Also what was amazing was that Sylvia was waving her flag like she had done that before. They just told her to wave her flag and she consistently waved it and held it up the way it was supposed to be held. Some really good pictures were taken that day. I did not have my camera with me unfortunetely.

IT IS NOT JUST HOT IT IS STICKY....

I may be writing about nothing but I feel I have to get started on this today, now. It is a very hot day here in Hannibal, MO. The humidity is very high to the point one wants to stay in an air conditioned room. I am so spoiled because I think I have to do just that. Our temperatures got up to the three digits all last week, but did not feel as hot as today in the high nineties with the high humidity, now this is just plain sticky...and last week one day was 105 degrees but with not much humidity so it didn't feel this hot.

My oldest grandson got married the 23rd of June. It was a beautiful wedding. The Grandmas and grandpas were escorted to their seats as part of the wedding ceremony. No grandpa here, so my youngest son escorted me to the seat. We paused to get our pictures taken at the last church pew, then on to our seats.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME...

This Last Tuesday evening my son gave me and my friend Waunita tickets to the CAVEMEN baseball game in Hannibal, Missouri. It was a beautiful night for the game but later on it did turn a little chilly but not enough to ruin the game. Check out the photographs here. Some of these men are athlete champions from the state of Missouri. We had a paper with their pictures and names but my paper got lost. Of course, I had the All-American Hot Dog which you just have to eat if you go to a ball game. By the way, if you recognize any of these athletes, feel free to comment. The Cavemen won over Quincy, Illinois. My son made sure my friend and I had glo lights. He said he needed to be able to find us in the dark. LOL Very Funny. Later when we left the game, I thought not such a bad idea, since we had to cross a field to our car which was parked in that same field and it was dark with cars backing out and trying to line up to get out of the park before all the others. Had a great time at the old ball game. Thanks for the tickets Ernie and Janet.

HUMMINGBIRD HAVEN...

Thursday of this past week, I took a bus trip with a group from the YMCA. We went somewhere in Illinios, near the town of MaComb. Our destination was called - Hummingbird Haven. These people have been feeding and keeping track of the visiting hummingbirds for thirty years. More and more come there every year, because they keep them well fed. I learned one of several things that day which was don't use the red feed that is sold at some stores because it has been tracked and ends up as red solid kidneys in the tiny birds. They caught some tiny hummingbirds in little pink bags and take them out one at a time (1 in each bag) and check if the tiny birds have leg bands. If they do they read the numbr on the band and record it. Thus, they can tell if it is one of their birds returning. If the tiny bird does not have a leg band, they will put one on it and record the number so they can check that number to see another year if that bird has returned to their place. The secret for retuning birds is keep them fed. They migrate south of Mexico City and farther down to the Central America countries. They fly across the Gulf of Mexico to get there. A very long trip for such a tiny bird so they need to eat a lot. Their little hearts beat 1,000 times a minute. I will post some of the photos I took while I was there. By the way it was quite chilly that day and pouring down rain, but the birds kept coming. I would recommend a trip there to anyone who loves the little birds and who doesn't. You will learn a lot about the habits of the birds and how to feed them.

Volunteer at City Library of Hannibal...

My granddaughter called me and ask if I would be interested in helping out at the library.  She said you are an artist and we could use your talent.  She further explained that they were working on the kick-off for the Summer Reading program.  I said well, I am not an artist but would be glad to help out.  She still insists I am an artist.  So I spent some time volunteering the last two weeks.  Look for the pictures of some of the things I did.  My first assignment was to draw a picture of the head of the Wizard of The Wizard of Oz fame.  So I was given supplies and a black poster board.  And that was the start of the adventure.  When I finished that project, I was given some thin plastic table cloths - orange and yellow. Then some red plastic wrap.  With this combination I made the resemblance of fire to be put on the walls of the stairway.  This was for Dantes' Inferno.  I also used some of the materials to make the fire under the Wizard's head, which was to appear to make all the smoke and clouds around him.  When finished with that, I drew the Queen of Hearts as in Alice In Wonderland.  Then one more project - the rainbow.  Luckily, there was enough paint left to do that.  I had fun. I really like those kind of projects.  Check out the pictures here.  My granddaughter said I should post them.

MOTHERS DAY

Had a wonderful Mother's Day.  Went to the Free Methodist Church in Hannibal with my son Ernest and his wife Janet.  Then went to my son-in-law's parents for Lunch.  All my daughter's family and kids and grand kids were there.  So it was almost like a family reunion.  That is a lot of family.  I was very happy to get to see them all.  That evening, I went to my son Ernest and Janet's house for dinner. Got to see Janet's son who has graduated from college now.  It had been a long time since I had seen him. It was delicious and we sat out in their gazebo.  The weather was perfect - Low humidity, not too hot not too cold - just right.  Very unusual to have just the right conditions for such a day, all day long.  Thank you God!   I had a great Day.  Thank you to all my family also. 

Friday, my Granddaughter, Charlotte, Andrew and my Great-Granddaughter took me out to eat at a Mexican Restaurant.  It was delicious. Thank you for a lovely Dinner.  Then  we went back to my place and visited for a while.  I got to play with my Great-Granddaughter, Kristen and really enjoyed the time with all of them.   And we are still having nice weather.  But today we are supposed to be having Thunderstorms but where are they?

SHINGLES!!!!!

I got a Shingles Vaccine!  I have heard horror stories of the pain caused by the Virus that causes Shingles.  Sometimes there is horrific pain and some people get them in their eyes.  I didn't want any part of that since it is preventable.with the Vaccine.  However, I have read some information on this Virus and it is the same Virus which causes Chicken Pox.  Only  someone who has had Chickenpox -or, rarely, has gotten chickenpox vaccine-can get Shingles.  You can't catch Shingles from another person with Shingles.  However, a person who has never had chickenpox (or chickenpox Vaccine) could get chickenpox from someone with shingles.  This is not very common.  I have had a very light case of the Shingles, I didn't know what it was at the time, and I went to the doctor for another reason and she noticed it and told me I had Shingles.  It was like little itchy blisters,  I think at the time I thought I had a touch of poison Ivy because I am very allergic to that.  At any rate, I had a very light case of it.  The Vaccine is recommended for people over 60yrs. who have had chickenpox.  And yes, one can still get Shingles after the vaccine but it would reduce the pain.  Also there are some reasons one cannot get the Vaccine.  One should talk to their doctor about it.  It costs about $220.  and is not paid for by medicare.  Some insurance pays for it or most of it.  Better still, go to the Health Department and they can administer it for very little money..  Check on it tomorrow.  If you've already had Shingles; you can get them again.   

Back in Missouri...

I guess we missed the part where I tell you about my trip back from Florida to Missouri.  Well, to be honest with you, this time the trip was very uneventful. That is a good thing since I was travelling in a car.  No near accidents nor anything scary like that this trip.  I did stop in Indiana on the way back north this time.  I spent the night and a day with my sister-in-law and her son.  My nephew is one month older than my oldest son and he is always playing matchmaking for me.  So, he had a man for me to meet when I arrived.  Where does he come up with this?  This did not work out for me of course, he was a smoker with emphysema.  However, he was a very nice man and had been in the Air Force back in the day and was stationed at Loring AFB, Maine at the same time my brother was there, and he had gone to school with my sister-in-law.  She said he was a very nice man and had taken  five girls in his car to their senior prom.  (I'm thinking c'mon that surely was not an effort nor a hardship on him.  What guy wouldn't do that if the chance came along. LOL) How many guys can brag that?

Makes me want to be a kid again going to the Library.

Wow! What can I say, I'm way behind on my blogging and what's worse is I don't have a clue at this second what I am going to write about.  I will just have to start now and go backwards.  I am volunteering at the Hannibal Public Library.  My granddaughter, Amber works there and called me and wanted to know if I would like to do some art work since I am an artist.  I said I would but I am not an artist.  The library is getting things ready to kick off their summer reading program.  So, my first assignment was to draw the head of the wizard from Wizard of Oz fame. I completed that task and now on my second, third and fourth projects.  I am in the process now of drawing the Queen of Hearts and that would be times two since I was asked politely if I would mind doing a second one of the Queen facing the opposite direction.  May be like Drawing from the Left side of my Brain. LOL (I now have my doubts if there is one in there).  This is from Alice in Wonderland.  The part where the Queen says "Off With Your Head"  My next project will be a rainbow which will be fairly simple and will not take so much time.  And there is a deadline: This coming Friday but I'm right on that.  I already have one Queen's head drawn. Then I will paint it; that will not take a lot of time.  Wish me luck.  I think the kids will love all this. It is all about the people who visit the library as it should be.

WEIGHT WATCHERS,,N MORE:

Back again my dear blog.,  As I have stated in the past, Thursday mornings are my weigh in at Weight Watchers.  I am proud to announce that I lost 3 lbs. this week.   Truth being that just makes up for the 3 lbs which I had gained the week before but that gets me back on track.  I went out to eat with the Enrichment Center people and we ate at Guido's.  Not my favorite Italian restaurant.  I had pizza.  My cousin from Largo called and wanted to meet for lunch.  We decided to meet half way and that was at New Port Richey, at 52nd and highway 19.  There is a nice restaurant there called Perkins, and always good food.  Breakfast any time plus other delicious items on the menu.   Wonderful to see him and his wife again.  It had been two years since I had seen him we shared some genealogy and stories some of which I had never heard before.   I met a lady in my weight watchers who had the same name as mine and spelled the same way which in itself is rare.  I gave her information to give to her husband so he could contact me about family history.  I have at least two luncheons to attend next week.  There goes my lbs (hopefully not but not all restaurants have good foods to choose from and trust me I do know the right foods to choose when I eat out. 

This coming week, I will be packing my little red car getting ready to head back north.  I'm going to miss the pool here at this park.  They have it heated to 80 degrees continuously.  No ups or downs to that.  That is how I lost the 3lbs. this week; I have been exercising in the pool for 4 days straight.  I don't go in it when storms are predicted.  Too dangerous, after all this is the lightning capital of the world.  Tampa, Florida.  Lightning can travel up to 10 miles horizontally and strike where there is no sign of that kind of weather going on. 

It has been hot here but tonight may cool down a little from our 88degrees to 76degrees.  That may feel cold.  LOL.  We are to be getting storms tonight and tomorrow and into Sunday as well.  and maybe some high winds as well.

IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH:

It is true, it doesn't take much for me to gain weight.  Today was weigh in day at my Weight Watchers meeting.  Sadly I have gained 3lbs these last two weeks.  I guess it doesn't sound half as bad when you count two weeks and that would only be 1 1/2 lb a week  All joking aside so you know I am back on it already.  I will have to work extra hard this next week since I have to lose those three pounds plus two more for this week.  So you know I am not discouraged.  I had a total lack of exercise which probably accounted for the most part of it.  And I know how to fix that problem.

Last Thursday at the senior enrichment center here in Brooksville, Florida we had a celebration of a birthday for a beautiful, intelligent lady who turned 99years that day.  She is in the class that I lead about reminiscing and she loves it and so do all the others but that is another story.  Someone had made a chair cover of white satin and brought a true red carpet and it was sprinkled with white rose petals and sparkles.  One of the volunteers helped her walk the red carpet which was rolled out for her.  She wore a gold crown for the occasion. So you all know, she can walk by herself but it is a well known fact that sometimes she walks faster than she should.  Sometimes she has a slight off balance gait if she hurries too fast. We all enjoyed veggie and fruit trays with dip,and of course cake. Such a beautiful lady with hardly any wrinkles.  Every time my eyes gaze upon her, I am in awe......

FLEA MARKET........

Tuesday, I went to the Flea Market at Crystal River.  It is out in the open so we had to go there early because when it is 85 degrees in Florida usually the humidity is close to unbearable when that sun bares down on you The other one we go to is under roof and cooler with side breezes coming in and it is huge. It may take a couple of days to see the whole thing.  Whatever you have been needing all your life, you will find it there. I think it is called Howard's and they have one called cowboy junction. I don't know which ones I have been to. I know I have never been to the one in Webster and it is the biggest grandaddy of all. I have never been to that one.  All this flea marketing gives me reason to walk and I never buy anything. 

GOOD DAY AT WEIGHT WATCHERS.......YEA.

Today was weekly weigh in at weight watchers.  I lost exactly 2 lbs.  I am so happy about that.  Now I weigh 228.4 lbs. and have lost a total of 13.8 lbs.  I owe it all to the two days I spent an hour in the pool doing exercises.  If I work out in the pool, I do not get sore and do not hurt from it.  And there is no pressure on my joints which are not there any more.  Make sure to check in with me next week for my weigh loss report!

BAD DAY AT WEIGHT WATCHERS.

I gained .8 0f a lb.  I guess, however, that I am not too disappointed because I thought I had gained more than that.  Funny how when you are watching your weight that you can tell the smallest change and realize if you have lost or gained.  It is going to be a long journey so stick with me.  We only have about 99lbs to go.  And you can plan on it that I am going to report to you each time I get weighed in.  And thanks for being such good listeners. 

By the way, I did not make it back in the pool.  There was more wind n pollen which I can't take a chance on.  Also in Florida when the clouds are gathering, I do not go in the water.  After all, this is the lightning capitol of the world.  Right here at Tampa in fact.  Lightning can travel horizontally for about 10 miles and strike where there is no storm.  We are to have thunderstorms later today.  We had a pour down of rain Wednesday. It rained 3 inches in a half hour.  There were little streams running down all the streets here in the park Five miles down the road I was told they got no rain at all.  When that much rain comes down for an hour as it sometimes does, we have the bowl effect.  That is when the sand is saturated with rain and it just runs off the surface and floods everything.  The ditches will all be overflowing when that happens. 

It is still hot here in the upper 80's now.  My friend from New York will be leaving the last of this month.  I will miss her.  She has not decided as yet that she will come back next year.  She had a birthday this month also. 

People are really getting into the session that takes them down memory lane.  One of our ladies brought pictures yesterday.  She had a big picture of her family when they were all younger.  She was the oldest daughter and was taken out of school to help take care of her younger siblings.  That was a very common thing during early years.  They are all speaking up and participating and that I am pleased about. 

I've been busy scanning my older pictures that were not taken by my camera or phone.  Also, I  am scanning some of my journals I had written before I started this blog.  I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it.  More later.

Comments:

Please post some comments on my blogs.  That is the only way I know if it is good or bad or needs suggestions or improvements, I' love to hear from you all.  Just look beneath each blog to see how. THANKS.

I FINALLY GOT MY BIG TOE WET;

Folks, believe it or not I finally made it into our heated pool.  There was finally a day without the wind blowing around that awful pollen that we have here this time of year.  You know that kind that makes your vehicles look like they have been sprinkled with gold dust mixed with plain dust.  The weather has been in the mid to upper 80's all week and will be continuing for some time longer.  I am taking the last of my antibiotics from the infection in my lungs (again)  tomorrow morning. Finally, that cleared up two days ago. But my nose is still giving me fits and my sinus' are still letting me know they exist.  So later!  I'm headed for the pool again for the second day in a row., 

Senior memories and stories....

Monday and Friday at the Enrichment Center, we now have an established time to sit and reminisce.  Monday was the first day and it well. Friday was the second session and it went even better.  Almost all the ladies had remembered some things from their past.  I got them started talking about movies and it went from there.  Everyone had a chance to talk and tell a little of their past.  One very pretty lady had a picture of herself to share with us.  It was a dance card picture ID and it was dated l954.  I suggested again if they had any old photographs that they could bring them in and share.  The session went very well and they are looking forward to the next session.  I'm glad we started it; I knew they would enjoy sharing and reminiscing. 

Weight Watchers...

Thursday was weigh in day at the weight watchers weekly meeting.  I lost 1.6 lb.  Almost made it to two but not quite.  I have now lost 5% of my weight loss goal.  I now weigh 229.6. We will celebrate that at the next meeting since I didn't stay for this one.  It was also my friends birthday and we celebrated later in the afternoon with pizza at Sam's Club and a cup of ice cream ( I had berries on top mine).  I got her a little book with jokes and funny little stories about being a senior.  I hope it will cheer her up and put some humor in her life when she needs it.  My friends from Pennsylvania called this afternoon letting me know that they made it back home safe and ok. 

STORY TIME

Today was the first day of unannounced story time or share time with the seniors at the enrichment center. One of the men stood and told a wonderful story about when he was a very young man.  Seems somehow he had found work on a boat and ended up one day on a tugboat.  When they got far out into the ocean a storm came up suddenly as they can out there without notice.  Eventually, the tugboat capsized and they were in freezing water.  Luckily they had time to get on life preserving equipment.  They found a ladder from the boat floating on the water and all four of them grabbed onto it and wound their arms through it.  That kept them together.  The man telling the story had grabbed a flashlight and when they bobbed above the water he shined a light around in a circle and therefore had help on shore which was 20 miles away.  They were believed to have been dead because they were in the freezing water for 30-35 minutes.  That story lead to some of the ladies telling why they are afraid of swimming. It was a great time and they all enjoyed it immensely.  We had 9 attendance, not bad count for not having been advertised nor announced ahead of time.  Oh, yea, by the way the man telling about the sinking of the tug boat cannot swim.

FLEA MARKET........AND WW...

Today, I am waiting for my friend to pick me up to go to the humongous flea market in New Port Richy.  Lots of walking and that's why I go.  I never buy anything.  It is kind of like window shopping except you are on the other side of the window. 

Went to the Enrichment center yesterday for lunch.  Upon leaving I stopped to talk to the receptionist, who is a volunteer.  Then the director come out and joined the conversation.  I have not a clue as to how it happened, it just did.  By the time I left the place, I had volunteered to lead a group of seniors in a session on reminiscing.  So heretofore, at 10:00AM every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I will be there leading the class into a session of remembering and talking about our child hood and how we grew up, and just in general fond memories of the past. It should be fun.  I am just trying to remember just at what point I agreed to do this and I am still wracking my brain for that information.

My blood work came back on my cholesterol blood test.  My levels of hdl/ldl were all in the good range. However, my cholesterol could be lower as they want it to be below 100 now.  I think when I reach my ultimate weight loss goal my lipid panel results will look much better. 

About that! I am a little disappointed this week at weight watchers I only lost .6 of a lb.  But I did lose.  OK -  Here come the excuses:  It was birthday week - had that piece of chocolate cake with chocolate icing.  Had friends from Pennsylvania going back home and saying their goodbyes.  We had brunch at IHOP, where I ordered fruit and a crepe literally filled with cream cheese and smothered with fruit and fruit sauce floating everything on the plate.  Actually there were two crepes and I had to eat both of them.  So, I have lost a total of 11 lbs since I started this weight loss program. Which is not too shaggy my clothes are fitting better, and I am up to 20 stomach crunches, ten leg lifts and some arm lifting exercises, and some walking (which I have to work on).

BIRTHDAY GIRL

Yep, that is me today, March 3.  I thought I would go to a really nice restaurant for my birthday dinner, but decided on fast food, Wendys';  I definitely was going to have Ice cream.  There I had a Caramel Parfait, it had pieces of apple on top and granola plus the caramel syrup.  Very tasty!  Two of my Friends left yesterday so we met at IHOPs for brunch. I ordered crepes with cream cheese and fruit with fruit sauce all over the plate.  It was delicious.  She called me and wished me a happy birthday early this morning.  They were going to go to the Swanee River on their way out of Florida.  They are from Pennsylvania not far from New York. They had just traded in their little van for a larger Class C (I think) Motor Home.  When I first met them they had a large Class A motor home.  My family has been calling me all through the day with birthday wishes. 

WEIGH IN DAY1

This is Thursday, weigh in day at Weight Watchers I weighed in at 2lbs less again.  I am holding my own on the 2lbs a week.  I follow the points value very closely.  If you go under the allowed points for the day that also could mean a weight gain.  This has been figured to a fine tuned point.  I am allowed 28 points plus value for a day.  I have lost a total of 10.4lbs. and I now weigh in at 231.8lbs. Working hard at this thing so hang in there with me I will make it. 

Now I am going to see if I can find a reasonably price bathing suit so I can get in that pool.  The weather has been wonderful this week.  This week is going to be in the mid 80's all week long now.  Going now!  to get that bathing suit.

OMG......RED LOBSTER

Sunday for lunch my friend and I went to Red Lobster..  I got a half order of a sampler of crab, shrimp and lobster on a bed of linguine in a butter and wine sauce.  Oh!  What a wonderful flavor blend and it had been probably six or seven years since I had eaten at a Red Lobster -   and I am to weigh in tomorrow at weight watchers.  Woe is me.  All the food was just slathered with butter.  I repeat, woe is me.

Today I went to Beverly Hills with a friend to visit some friends there.  We went out to Wendy's for lunch and I had a cod fish sandwich.  It was very good but I didn't really need to order the fries with it.  Not if I wanted to lose weight this week.  We will see how that turns out tomorrow. 

All week this week is supposed to be in the 80's. Now we are getting some Florida weather right along with that sunshine.  I am going to hit that pool this week.  Something I promised myself. 

My birthday is Saturday.  That should be fun since I am not to eat cake on my weight loss plan.  However, I really can eat cake if I want to. It is just that if  I eat cake then I can't eat some other food which I would like.  I'm not really that fond of cake unless it is really moist, and full of chocolate; but I really do love the cake icing, especially the one that tastes like marshmallow.  Oh yes, I do love ice  cream cake.

Got a blood test yesterday morning.  That lipid panel, you know the one that tells you the  LDL/HDL levels in the blood among other tests on that same line of thought.  We will find the results on the 21st.

. 

SPEAKING OF GAS PRICES;

Gouging or not, gas prices are up there again!  I was rummaging through some of my papers and notes yesterday and this popped up.  It was a note I made of something I was going to put in one of my blogs and honestly, I didn't look to see if I had put this in a blog last April.   But here it is:  REMEMBER WHEN;  APRIL 25, 2011.  GAS PRICES IN TUSCON ARE THE LOWEST IN THE USA AT THE PRICE OF $3.64 A GALLON FOR REGULAR UNLEADED.  CHICAGO WAS THE HIGHEST AT OVER $4.00 A GALLON.   Looks familiar today doesn't it?  

Weight Watchers report:  I weighed in today at my weight watchers meeting and I have lost another 2 lbs. That is a good thing because any more than that and I would be losing it too fast.  And Charlotte, I am working on the fat now,  the water was gone the first 6lbs.  I now weigh 233.8 lbs.  I have about 98 more pounds to lose to reach my long term goal.  So far I have now lost a total of 8.4 lbs since I started weight watchers. Now my points are lower per day so I have to eat slightly less, but not enough that I will really notice. Just 1 point less per day.

Been raining here and yesterday evening we had a regular thunder storm. You know the kind that has lightning with it.  Good sleeping weather.  This morning it poured down rain for about 5 minutes then quit and the sun came out.  There were still some dark clouds in the sky.  Enough about the weather,
More next time. 

WEIGHT WATCHERS,,Report card....

Thursday was weigh in day for me at weight watchers.  I was really anxious this time since I had gained 1.6 lb last time I weighed.  I really do work hard at this and take it serious.  I do my tracking every day.  Well, here is the result of all that hard work.  I weighed in at 235.8.  I had lost exactly 2 lbs.  Well, I expected a little less but that 2 lbs is right on track.  I am to lose 2 lbs a week; hopefully, I don't lose any more than that.  That is a good rate of loss for permanent weight loss.
I learned something new this weeek.  My computer will not put articles which I copy into alphabetical order for me.  I was offered a program which would do that for me but it would cost $10.00 a month.  I did not think it would be worth the money for a one time occasion.
It will be getting cold here again this weekend.  It is going to rain all week end long and that means it will be colder but not down in the 20's this time.
May go to flea market in the morning and walk around.  May buy some tomatoes while I am there if I go.  It is not supposed to rain early in the morning but one never knows for sure.

WEIGHT WATCHERS!!!!!!!

Today was weigh in day at weight watchers.  After the great 6lb weight loss last week this was a real disappointment. I have gained 1.6 lb.  can you believe it?  I was tracking all week as I always do.  I'm not too disappointed though because that is just what my body does.  The bad thing is I did everything as I should have.  We will just have to wait til next thursday to see if I have lost any more.  Oh well, thats one of my lifes adventures. See ya next week with my report!

sand cranes as I promised.........

These are some beautiful birds. They are family birds. They mate for life and keep their children with them until they find a mate.Sometimes they make a nest in water on some little island of weeds and reeds.

HELLO WEIGHT WATCHERS11111111111111

Been a busy week. Went to the Enrichment Center Monday and Tuesday.  The director had a birthday so we all had cake of course.  Well, almost all of us, lol.  I did not partake of the cake.  Since I am on weight watchers and did not want to use my points for that.  One day this week my friend and I went to visit some of her friends, all nice ladies.  We will be seeing them again soon.  That was a fun trip.  Thursday in case you didn't remember I had a Doctors appointment to see what my ct. scan of my lungs showed up.  They showed clear.  No growths, nodules nor nodes there.  That would explain why I am breathing so good this week.  Just been a couple or three weeks ago that I was having problems and couldn't keep up with my friend when we were walking.   Went out to eat Friday night at John's family restaurant.  The food was great.  I had a broiled grouper fillet.  It was out of this world delicious and cooked perfectly.  Yesterday, my friend and I went to visit her sister.  She and her husband live somewhere toward Orlando and no we didn't go to Disney World.  Her sister ask us to stay for dinner and she fixed really delicious food and it was not so high in points.  I noticed she did not fry anything.  It was the best meal I have had in a very long time.  It may have even surpassed the Grouper fillet meal the evening before.  While we were there my friend's brother-in-law showed me a pair of sand cranes that came up in his yard to eat..I took pictures which I will post on here soon.  They were so close, I could have touched them but didn't think that to be a good idea.  They are wild creatures.  One of them was losing a feather and it was sticking out and had not dropped off yet.

OK.  Here it is.  What you have all been waiting to find out so I won't let you down.  I weighed in at weigh watchers on Thursday.  My weight was 236.2 pounds - I have lost 6 pounds.  I am excited now and can't wait to weigh in again this coming Thursday. 

RAINY DAY...

Today I awoke to  hearing a heavy downpour of rain on my RV roof.  What a pleasant sound when I am just waking in the morning. Rain fell for most of the morning.  Usually when it rains here in the winter, the air turns cold but this time not so bad.  It has been 80degrees  and sunny for quite a while now.  It is supposed to get cold again, but this time it will be in the upper 70's somewhere around 76 to 79 for the next few days.  I am glad it is still warm enough to walk.  I have been walking some every day and this afternoon will be a good warm day to walk some more.  Maybe the sun will shine again tomorrow so I can do some laundry and hang it out. ----------- My umbrella it is called is a clothesline in the shape of an umbrella which is on a pole.  The workers here finally did trim the tree which was laying on top of the clothesline,  I could just get to a part of the umbrella and the tree limbs were also laying on my roof.  I was glad to get that done, however, I do have to say I kind of miss the squirrels playing tag from the tree limb down and back and forth on the screen of my Florida room.  I did say kinda.

WEIGHT WATCHERS,,

As I promised, I have joined weight watchers as one of my many New Years' Resolutions, plus the fact that I had gained Ten pounds during the two weeks I was taking prednisone which as you know is a steroid.  The first day was a weigh in.  I weighed in at 242.2 lbs.  I have already lost from 247 so I have a good head start and the prednisone has worn off because I am not starving and having to eat a bunch of food because my body thinks it is.  So fact is I already have lost 5 of the 10lbs which I had recently gained.  The point system they use is very simple to learn.  Seems like it all repeat and repeat; I guess when you are losing weight one needs to repeat everything.  But I've got it down, it is just a matter of going to the store to buy what I need to continue the diet.  Believe it or not I did not have to buy a lot because what I have in my fridge n pantry are right on key with them. Make sure to tune in to my blog next week to see if I have lost any weight. See you then. 

MY WEEK;

Sunday afternoon my friend and I went to the flea market out of town.  Lots of walking-didn't buy anything-didn't need anything-don't have space for anything in an RV.  It was a beautiful day for a nice walk however.  Monday of course was a holiday, Martin Luther King celebration.  That was my day off.  Tuesday went to Beef O'Brady's for lunch.  We had a birthday bash for one of our ladies who turned 90yrs. and still going.  She volunteers for the Enrichment Center and takes blood pressure twice a week.  She has actually saved lives by doing so.  Some of the people were sent directly to the Emergency room from there because she took their blood pressure and it was extremely out of norm.  Carrot cake was enjoyed by all.  Once a month we eat out at a nice restaurant and I missed the first one which would have been my favorite, Red Lobster.  So, Wednesday it rained all day, pouring down for a couple of hours in the afternoon.  I think it was a couple of inches, but it was warm.   My friend and I went shopping at Penney's where she bought a pair of Capri's.  I didn't buy anything but thought they were very cute.  Then we stopped at Wendys for lunch.  Not much went on Thursday, just went to the enrichment center for lunch.  Now Friday was a big day.  We went to the small flea market here in town run by the Catholic church.  No, again, I didn't buy anything.  Wasn't much there.  I think people are having their own yard sales instead of donating so much these days.  After that we found a little coffee shop and got a Latte.  Mine was caramel with whipped cream on top. Yeah!  Mmmmm......  Then it was on to the enrichment center for Karaoke.  I danced with a man I knew from our old RV park where I used to live.  You can now stop holding your breath on that Karaoke word...I did not sing.  LOL or should I say ROFL.  Then it was back to our RV park for a short breath then on to the recreation room near the office for a big Birthday/Anniversary party.  The owner of the park furnishes potato salad, potato chips, and cake.  There were two huge sheet cakes and it was all eaten.  Once a month always on a Friday we celebrate all birthdays and anniversaries for the month. The owner was pleased that so many more people showed up for this one than in the past.  Saturday, we went to the other flea market at the fairgrounds which is in town across from Lowe's.  It was rather small and they didn't have much either.  So went the days of my life this past week. 

FLORIDA ORANGES

Late in the afternoon on Friday, I went to the Orange farm where I always get my oranges at a very good price.  $5.00 a very large bag. They are possessed with a little blight which makes them unattractive to be sold in the store.  But they don't use the pesticides etc. that make the oranges look nice.  They pick them and fill a wagon which is parked in a drive along one of the county roads.  One pays by the honor system.  There is a slot in a metal box to put your money in.  I can remember when I lived in Florida before, the oranges were $1.00 a bag then they raised in price to $2.00.  These are the sweetest oranges I have had and they are navels which means no seeds.  This large bag they provide is close to a half bushel.  I have a large refrigerator drawer full of them and I gave a small bag to my friend as she is always doing something nice for me, and gave a small bag to the neighbor who hooked up my gas tank and carried the full tank from one side to the other side of my RV.   I wanted to send all my kids some of the oranges but for the price I would have to pay to ship them, you could buy them in the store.  That may have been feasible when they were $1.00 a bag.

MOVIE NIGHT AT BEACON THEATER

My friend and I went to a movie yesterday afternoon.  We watched WAR HORSE.   I would say it was a good movie for adults to watch.  It had a lot of cruelty to animals in it.  My friend thought the movie makers maybe were doing that for real.  I said they are not allowed to do that any more.  The film makers usually state that there was no cruelty to animals in the making of this movie in the credits at the end of the movie, but we didn't stay to watch all of those.  I actually cried a little in the movie.  It was kind of sad but all turned out well in the end.  I wouldn't recommend it for kids.  I found myself clenching my fingers into my palms while watching the movie.                                                                                                                                                                  After the movie we drove down a block to Wendy's to eat.  One can still get a lot of 99 cent orders there including a baked potato and chives.  So I had dinner for $2.11.  Including the drink.  While we were in the movie theater, the temperature had dropped.  It got close to freezing here last night.  And I'm in sunny Florida.  Winter will soon be over here, and we got no snow.  Wendys restaurant was very chilly. 
   It will start warming up now and by Wednesday we may get some showers and will be back in the upper 70's again, and possibly 80's.                                                                                                               

ABOUT THAT WEIGHT THING TOO/TWO..........

Yes, about that weight thing; I have gained 10 pounds.  I told the doctor that is what the prednisone does to me.  He assured me it would not, as they always do lie about that well known fact.  He said small amounts - 60 milligrams is not a small amount to start with.  Therefore, I have not I got been to weight watchers yet, but am planning to go this week.   I did get the cat scan of my lungs as requested by prescription from my doctor.  First one I have had.  Went in the barrel nurse said close my eyes and I kept them closed.  That was scary but not too bad.  It was just a short one so I was done very quickly and the three pics turned out ok so I didn't have to do it the second time.  No, I didn't see the pics, but I wish I could. 
 Wednesday, I went out to lunch at Golden Corral.  The ladies of my RV park go out to lunch one day out of the month.  Everyone was introduced.  A lot of them were from Canada. and not as many from Michigan.  Others were from various states from the North and East.  The ladies from Canada serve a beef dinner one day this week for $8.00.  I will not be going to that one in our park.  The 17th I will be going out to dinner with the people from the enrichment center.  They do this once a month also.  We will be going to Beef O Bradys restaurant in Brooksville. 
Speaking of food, the Enrichment Center gives us loaves of bread of our choice from Publix Grocery Store. Fresh bread not day old as a rule.  Our RV park does the same thing.  Twice a week.  I picked up a loaf of bread, a small one which on the label said Breakfast Bread.  That was delicious.  The man who delivered the bread told me take a slice of it and put in your toaster then spread some margarine on it while it is still warm.  I did exactly that.  This bread has various fruits, dates, raisins, cranberries, apricots, and nuts and maybe some other fruits which I do not detect.  If you ever run across any of this bread, I do recommend it.

FLEA MARKET........

Today was flea market day.  What does that mean?  Lots of walking and not much buying.  I think I walked miles looking for nothing.   I went with my friend and she bought a little dish and pitcher which is a miniature of the antique large pitcher and bowl that sets on a wash stand to use when there is no running water or sink.  I still saw nothing I needed nor wanted to own, to dust, or clean, but I thought what she bought was just fine and cute.(not for me).  This flea market has a roof over it, so it is kind of open air but if sun is shining strong you are protected.  It had been two weeks since we had been to the flea market.  There are several in this area and some of them are much bigger than this one. Some are so big it takes two days to walk through all of it.  (Can't imagine and don't want to.)   When we were ready to exit the flea market, I did buy some fresh produce.  I bought three large tomatoes for $3.00.  These are the very large ones that fill a sandwich so you only need one slice of this tomato for your sandwich.

WHY ME?----------------

Did you ever ask yourself that question?  Most of us have.  My question is for a different reason than most people ask.  I'm asking why these crazy things happen to me with no apparent reason.  Yesterday, I got out to get some groceries in the afternoon.  Came home put the groceries away and someone was knocking on my door.  There was a very tall man turning my knob trying to get my door open,(yes, I always lock my door) He said let me come in I need to talk to you. He looked to be in his very late 80's or early 90's.  I said if you let go of my door and back up I will come out and talk to you.  He said my wife said I know you and wonder how I know you.  I said no you don't know me  and I don't know you either.  His wife who was standing at the back of my car with her little dog said you drove past this morning with this little red car and you have been having an affair with my husband and I know it.  I said it wasn't me because I didn't go anywhere until this afternoon.  She said where is the other woman that lives here?  I told her nobody else lives here but me.  Then she said loudly, well my husband is a womanizer and if you want him that bad, you can just have him.  He turned to me and said see what I have to put up with living with her?  I turned and walked back in my RV and locked the door again. LOL  What a day. When I paid my rent the assistant tried to tell me I had a $300.00 electric bill  to pay.  This morning when I went back to pay my rent to the owner of the park I didn/t have an electric bill at all and he owed me $4.00. My electric was only$49.00 and he took off 2 months payment for basic cable which he reimbursed me as they are supposed to pay the basic cable and I had been paying the full amount.   So I told Bob about the people on my doorstep yesterday.  He just laughed, and said they are from Canada and have been coming here for many years and she is losing it.  (which was my guess) He told me I am the fourth ones they had approached in the park.   Where are these folks kids?  I guess the Lord is sending me a message to be more tolerant of others?