Relationships are tricky and rewarding at the same time.  How is your communication?  Could you benefit from brushing up on your communication skills?  How well do you listen to your better half?  Or do you “tune ‘em out”?  There’s a saying about the three most important things to look for when buying a house/property – Location, Location, Location.  In relationships there are three very important things to have in place – Communication, Communication, Communication.  So start talking to your spouse/partner about how you feel, what you would like and then shut up and listen to your partner/spouse as they share the same things with you.  Listening is an art and it takes concentration to remember to close the mouth and open the ears.  Until later – Tikki

These days it does not take too long to figure out where one’s political “bent” lies.  What is a challenge is to have a nice, political, respectful discourse with anyone who does not agree with you.  Usually, if I sense they do not believe as I do, I keep my mouth shut and just listen.  To do otherwise is inviting trouble.  How did we get to this place?  How did we get to this point where disagreement means “bad”?  To serve in government used to be something awesome and that young people aspired to – where and when did that change so drastically?  I’m not sure I would want to run for even the Dog Catcher position anymore (it doesn’t exist in our town so I am safe in saying that)!

What do you think?  Have we “lost it” as a society already?  I sure hope not – for the sake of our grandchildren and their children.

Tikki

So now we have had several of our friends ask us why Mexico with all the violence there.  Most of the violence in centered along the border but there are instances of that elsewhere in Mexico – even in Mazatlan.  Where we stay is quite far from the main part of the city.  Mazatlan is a big, growing city.  It is the shrimp capitol of Mexico, the home of Pacifico Beer, the Vanilla Bean etc.  Tourism is a growing part of commerce in that city.  The residents there recognize the value of tourism and go out of their way to treat tourists well.  Are we afraid to go there?  Absolutely not.  Part of that is also knowing where you are going and how to travel smartly – be aware of your surroundings and make wise choices about where and when you go out etc.  We have traveled to Mazatlan since 1988, going every other year so we know our way around, who to buy from and where to shop.  We stay in the same place every time – it’s actually a timeshare we own there and we love it.  We know the staff and they know us.  We highly recommend Mazatlan to anyone looking for a nice warm place in the winter.

As to the Airlines – this time it worked out OK.  But….

Tikki

Well I knew it would be too good to be true or to last.  On Friday the 13^th of August, we put one of our three dogs down due to age, poor eyesight and hearing and questionable health.  Down to two dogs and perhaps not so much barking, less food to buy, less dog hair etc. etc. etc.  There must be something about the number 3 relative to dogs in this house.  Last Friday, August 20^th, we inherited our daughter’s dog, Daisy.  She moved into a place where she could not keep her dog.  Since we have Daisy’s brother, Elvis, and have had Daisy before, it was just natural that Daisy would become part of our family again.  And Daisy hasn’t missed a beat since her return – she knows the ropes and has adjusted nicely here.  Both Daisy and Elvis are Bassett Hounds, about 4 years old, from the same litter.  I have to say though Daisy is slightly more trained than Elvis in the social graces.  It’s just my humble opinion but she doesn’t jump on you as much, doesn’t bark as much etc.  The fact that she is just about as wide as she is tall may account for the “not jumping” part though.  Her brother Elvis is much leaner and seems to have a bit more energy too.  They both have the characteristic long ears – and the ear infections that go along with this breed.

Our other dog, Lucky, has adjusted too.  Lucky, the Beagle, loves to play and Daisy loves to play as well.  Elvis, although he likes to play, is sometimes a bit too aggressive with another dog, other than Daisy of course.  So we never leave him alone with Lucky unless we are supervising.  Dogs have been a part of our lives throughout our 46 years of marriage.  The kids grew up with them.  They have always been in the house and a part of the family – “children with fur” as I refer to them.  They are always glad to see you come home, they snuggle up with you perhaps when you need someone to do that to you, and they never walk away from you.  Cats are another story though.  I have never been a cat person but I have a good friend who is and she would never have a dog.  Dogs have owners – Cats have staff :0)!

What makes a pet important in one’s life?  What does a pet provide for you?  Something to ponder?

Tikki

Death

This past weekend I attended my class reunion in the Twin Cities.  On Friday morning, my husband took our poochies out to the doggie motel (the Vet’s).  One of our dogs, Princess (a Corgi mix), age 13 has been looking rather poorly the past month or so.  We knew her hearing and eyesight were going and she was losing hair by the handfuls and now losing weight as well.  We made the decision to put her down and she went peacefully.  She was ready, even if we were not.  It was good we were out of town all weekend.  As with our past dogs, we had her cremated and now have her ashes alongside the others who have gone before her – she is now home for good.

We did not talk of her much over the weekend but we did on the way up to the Cities and the way home – from time to time (a 3 hour drive one way).  We have a very good relationship with the Vet’s in town.  They are very sensitive to the death of a family pet.  Sure enough – there in the mail Monday was a sympathy card from the Docs at the Veterinary Clinic.  It’s a nice touch.  We still have our other two dogs, Elvis and Lucky.  They are both under 6 years of age so we do not anticipate having to go through this again for several more years.

The Class Reunion – it was great fun seeing my old friends who were actually friends in High school.  The rest are still the same – I think the name of the movie is “The Way We Were” :0)!  The surprise for me was the loss of a classmate whom I knew quite well and always spent time with at each previous reunion.  And the announcement of another classmate battling with the aftereffects of Agent Orange from Vietnam – and losing that battle.  He was part of our neighborhood group throughout Junior High and part of High school (until that license came along at age 15 and allowed for expansion of one’s horizons – literally) :0)!  Time marches on and there will be more deaths as we age.  As I looked around the room on Friday night, I saw only old people and realized I was one of them.  I do not see myself as “old” but I am – with the grey hair to prove it.  But I still have all my teeth – YEA!

I’m very proud of myself because I did not overeat during the weekend, even though there was always food present.  I did not gain an ounce all weekend.  Of course once home, well – that’s another story.  So how do I deal with this relapse?  It does not mean I am a failure.  It means I made a mistake and now I have to get back on the bandwagon and start monitoring my weight again – every day, all day.  My husband and I went for a walk last night and again today, before supper.  I have a little pedometer that I have in my pocket all day long so we measured how far we walked on our walking path.  About 6/10ths of a mile.  Today we took Elvis and he was poohed by the end of the walk.  I was hoping the walking path we use would have been a mile.  So now I have to figure out how I can get in a mile every day.

My next appointment for the Lapband is Tuesday September 7^th early in the AM.  I hope I can register more weight loss at that appointment.  I’m guessing I will need another fill at that appointment.  That should facilitate some more weight loss.  I tried on an outfit I have not been able to wear for 3 years – AND – it fit so I wore it today.  Will do that again tomorrow.  Makes me feel good about what I have done and what I hope to continue doing – losing more weight.  Until later – Tikki

I decided to try having acrylic nails put on my finger nails.  My daughter has had it done dozens of times and friends have had it done but I just did not want to spend the money.  Well – the time has come – so I spent the money.  I had a manicure for the first time in my life and now my nails are looking gorgeous.  Still not sure if I will continue with them and get “fills” when needed but time will tell.’

The weather continues to be beastly hot and humid here.  Supposed to get some relief starting either tomorrow night or Saturday night – would really love that right now though.  Why is it we always want what we can’t have?  Something to ponder maybe???  I’m having my class reunion this weekend so we leave tomorrow AM and won’t be back until Sunday night.  So our poochies must go to the doggie motel at the Vet’s.  They are so used to staying out there but when the pickup turns at the light (we only have 2 in town) they start whining like they do not want to go – and they most likely do not want to go – but it is what it is – so off they go.  Animals seem to have a keen sense of things – something many people today lack.  Something else to ponder – maybe???

I have followed the diet this past week and will do measurements tomorrow AM – and this time I will keep track of the total inches I’ve lost since my surgery.   I have now lost 40 # since the beginning of last May – and – I will be losing more – but it will be gradual – no more than 2 – 3 # a week.  I would be satisfied with 1 # a week.  I am focusing on eating healthy and making a mental change in my thinking about what I eat, how I eat (still way too fast), when I eat etc.  This is a lifestyle change for me and I do not want to blow it.

Windom is an amazing little town – pop. 4600 – give or take a few.  I’m on a steering committee focused on bringing Broadband to the rural areas.  A number of years ago, the city fathers decided to develop a telecommunications system in town – fiber optic to the home.  There was a lot of opposition etc. but fortunately the citizens voted it in.  Now we have a great opportunity to expand on that by offering lots of different things to the community.  For instance, there is a project in MN called PCs for People – you collect a minimum of 25 recycled computers, they pick them up and deliver 25 refurbished computers, XP installed etc. and then you can give those computers to families with school age children who do not have a computer so the kids can keep up at school.  More projects – developing a learning center in town, increasing the number of hot spots in town, perhaps developing a data center here for large corporations headquartered elsewhere etc.  It is absolutely amazing to me all the things relative to a computer and how it impacts our lives.  And then there is Social Media – I’m still trying to figure out all of that.

So – I’m following my diet, not exactly exercising everyday but trying to keep that up, pampering myself, and figuring out my computer etc.  I think that’s enough for one day.  Until later – Tikki/Karen

OK – This is about support and motivation. I missed the exercise this AM – actually the second day in a row. I know, I know – this is an excuse and I just have to get my sorry ass outta bed in the AM so I can do at least 1/2 hour on the Resistance Chair. I’ve thought about walking to work – it is somewhat uphill and down so it is really uphill both ways but it is only about 1/2 mile – maybe a bit more if I stop at the Post office on the way in the morning. I SHOULD be able to do that – right. The issue for me is my balance. It just simply is not that good that I would trust myself for that distance. And, of course, I won’t know unless I try it. I could use my cane that I got in Mexico 2 years ago – at least I would look colorful while walking :0)! I could try this tomorrow AM and see how it goes and ask my husband to come and get me at noon if it proves to be too much. I need to clean at the office tomorrow too and that is definitely exercise. What should I do??? Check in tomorrow night and find out !

I am following my diet so far today and have stayed within my calorie count of 1200 or less. I took out some salmon for tomorrow night. Of course, my husband won’t eat that so I have a very small steak thawing for him. One of my goals is to weigh less than my husband at some point in my life. The man eats to live and I live to eat :0)! His nutrition is terrible with all the snacking he does and the Coke he drinks and his smoking – Uffda! He really needs to own stock in CocaCola :0)!

I have been sleeping very well at night – at least 6 hours before I have to get up and use the bathroom. All things considered, it is because of sleeping in Goodnighties PJs and using my Buckwheat Pillow. If you have never heard of Buckwheat pillows or tried sleeping with one – you do not know what you are missing. The first time I heard about them was about 15 years ago or so – give or take 5 years – more likely to be 20 years rather than 10 years. Anyway – I heard they were good for absorbing heat – HOLD ON – a pillow that would absorb all the heat my body would generate during nightsweats – THANKS to menopause!!! We are so blessed as women to have to deal with childbirth and then when the uterus dries up we get menopause – Thanks to Eve and that darn apple :0)! So – naturally I had to try one. After I got it and used it the first night – Well – my guardian angel had to be watching over me that night – no wet pillow – although it did nothing to stop the nightsweats :0(! Not much does – they are just over when they are over and not one minute before – no matter how much we women want them gone! Now that alone sold me on the value of the pillow. But – hang on – there’s another benefit here that was immediately apparent in the morning – well -actually the night before when I put my head on the pillow. This pillow molded itself around my head and actually kept doing so throughout the night – no more pluffing and plumping to get it just right at various times during the night. Is that an unexpected bonus or what!!! Since then I have purchased several more pillows for the bed – my side only – a neck pillow for the rocker etc. Here’s my saying – You can have my first born but – nobody and I mean NOBODY – touches my pillow. It goes where I go- I don’t care if it means another suitcase and a fee for that second bag – it goes – no matter what. If you are interested, you can check out one of my websites – www.buckwheatpillowsonline.com and see what you think. The other product I mentioned earlier is the Goodnighties stuff. You can check that out on www.goodnighties.com. The material feels so great on my skin and it is so soft and silky. I would recommend the PJs as the gown is more like a top than a gown – just not long enough for a gown in my book. However I do wear that under my nightie and that works quite well. This fabric also absorbs moisture and other nasty things floating around in the air that we are most likely not aware of. So it is great that the manufacturers of this product do know about that stuff and have developed a product that works to get rid of the effects on us . Great little product – check them out too.

OK – I’ve given my sales pitch. What are your recommendations for getting the ass outta bed in the am and for a solution to that walking/balance problem? I need some motivation and support here – Now it’s your turn? Karen/Tikki

So now what – you want to change but how you ask?  Well – the first step is to start keeping track of everything – EVERYTHING – you put in your mouth.  Then put the caloric count next to that – and add it up at the end of the day.  Most people with average metabolisms burn up about 1800 – 2400 calories a day just with everyday activities – some more and some less.  So – if you are taking in more calories than you expend, well, my friend, that adds up to weight gain.  So you don’t want to carry around a tablet and record everything you eat?  You have a memory – use it!  At some point during the day you will be next to or near by a piece of paper and a pencil – then you write down your information.  Will this require some effort on your part – you bet – but how will you know where you are at if you don’t know where you started???

When someone plans a trip, they generally use a road map to get from point A to point B.  Your food Diary is your road map from being overweight (fat) to monitoring and losing weight (getting healthier).  Getting healthier is what it is about for many people.  Excess weight can lead to so many medical conditions – I’ll bet you can even name them so I won’t do that here.

Dieting – Oh No!  The first step is to establish a baseline of your eating habits and then you will know where your next stop is on this journey!