Dreary Day #4

I have been really glad that I didn't have a lot of things on my schedule this week.  It has been nice catching up on paperwork and other things around the house.  I've been able to get a brief walk in every day and I have upped my steps on the Fitbit every day as well.   I hope the weather will clear up enough to get a walk in this afternoon.  The Fitbit plan for  2 pounds per week seems to be working.  I'll continue to go to WW meetings on Saturdays for the accountability factor, though.

Butch is taking the new Camry up to Hudson today to get a trailer hitch installed.  All he uses it for is his little lawn trailer, but since we don't have a truck anymore, it's important to have that capability.

Beau and I will hold down the fort here. Neither one of us really wants to be out in the cold and the damp today.  As for me, the trip to the grocery store can wait until tomorrow when we're supposed to be in the 70's and the sun has come out from behind the clouds.

I Hate This Weather

BUT...

I know it could be much, much, MUCH worse.  Like what friends and family are experiencing  in Virginia, the Carolinas, and just about everywhere across the USA right now.  Even New Orleans is expecting a significant accumulation of snow.

I looked at the avocado tree out back while I was walking laps around the pool deck. Not one blessed leaf is still alive.  I have never seen it like this.  A 50 foot tree full of dead leaves.  Dead, brown, ugly, withered leaves.  It never loses all its leaves in the winter.  Except this winter.  I hope it has not been permanently damaged.

I usually love winter in Florida.  But this has not been a typical winter for us.  I hope the warm up coming next weekend sticks around.

The Fitbit Craze

In what I was considering a very weak moment, I lost my mind and purchased a Fitbit One from an eBay seller for about 2/3 of what I would have paid to Fitbit.com or a local retailer.  And got free shipping. So I guess I could just not resist the deal. Ha Ha

It arrived yesterday and after staring at the five different little parts that came in a package with no manual or ANYTHING, I went online ans pulled up the website of the seller.

And found that all I had to do was click on a link and download an .exe file to set up an account and start using the little Fitbit.

It is fun.  No problem to set up.  And it has passed all the little tests I've devised to check its accuracy.  I can see why people are saying that it really motivates you to move more.  I've fallen into that same little trap.  But what I like the most is the calories in-calories out feature that you can use to set goals that are based on your resting metabolism and monitors your activity and boosts or reduces the calories allowed based on how active you are.

While I had my doubts in the beginning, I am now a big fan of this little gadget.  It far exceeds what I was anticipating.  I am determined to make sure that I utilize this wonderful little tool to reach my goal by next fall.

Are You a "Hugger?"

Do you like to hug and be hugged back?

I do.  I'm one of those who believe in the benefits of a good hug.  One of my favorite sayings is one that has no attribution but it has been around for a long time.

"A hug is a universal medicine, it is how we handshake from the heart."

Today is National Hug Day.  You can "google" all the healthful benefits of hugging for there are too many to list them all here.  But there are scientific studies to back them all up.

Of course, Maxine has her own, unhealthy outlook:

But I'm not feeling the least bit snarky this morning, so......

And not a wimpy. half hug, either.  I'm sending you a a BIG hug.

Now go hug someone else.  It's good for you...and them.

Some Things Never Change

I ran across this iconic cartoon today.  It's still one of my favorites.

Here we are.  Another football Sunday. Next to the last one for this season.  I, for one, am very happy to see it end.  I am not a college football fan.  Was one when I was in college at U of R and for a few years afterwards while Buster O'Brien was QB and Walker Gillette was his wide receiver. The year U of R was Southern Conference Champion and they went to the 1968 Tangerine Bowl, I was pregnant with my son and my dad thought I was going to have the baby that day, I was yelling so hard with every play.

Walker was drafted #15 in first round by the Chargers and went on to play for them, the Cardinals and the NY Giants.  He retired in 1976.  Buster was named MVP of that game -- a game he almost didn't play because the league officials first tried to say he was not eligible because he was a graduate student.  He was studying pre-law at U of R.  He never made it onto a regular roster with an NFL team and later went into politics.  Together the two guys were magic on the football field for U of R.

I have never felt that kind of excitement for any Richmond team since then, although I will say I followed them while Barty Smith was their fullback before being drafted and going on to be drafted in the first round by the Green Bay Packers in 1970 and played for them until he retired in 1976.

I have always been a pro football fan.  I began watching them as a pre-teen when we lived in Pittsburgh and I loved the Steelers.  Terry Bradshaw is still my favorite player of all time -- and favorite sports personality even now.  After we moved to Richmond, I became a Redskins fan.  My favorite of their players over the years was QB Billy Kilmer.  Couldn't stand...and still cannot abide Joe Theisman.

And since moving to Tampa Bay area, I have had a love-hate relationship where the Bucs are concerned.  Loved the Tony Dungy years, hated all the years since except for Gruden's first year.  I am hoping Lovie Smith and his coaching staff will make it the kind of team we can be proud of again -- not because of wins, though that would be nice.  But a team built of men of character like Derrick Brooks and John Lynch -- not the thugs that have recently populated the ranks of that team and so many others in the NFL -- and even college teams now.

So I'm looking forward to the Olympics.  We've even set up our laptops with our Aquos HD TV to stream events live in their entirety.  I love watching most of the winter Olympics, but especially the ski jumping, snow boarding,  toboggan events, and all the ice skating.  And after the end, we'll be into the NASCAR schedule (Jeff Gordon's my fav) and then the Tampa Bay Rays will begin another great baseball season.  First game of the regular season is on my birthday, March 31st.  I am hoping I will be there to watch our boys take the field!

That's my Sunday musings about sports.  And it all started with seeing that Peanuts cartoon and thinking about having to sit through an afternoon of football watching games between teams I care nothing about, picking up my laptop, and deciding it was more interesting than the TV this afternoon.

Back on Program

On January 4, I bit the bullet and attended my first Weight Watcher's meeting in years.  I've been fooling around with the Online Program for several years and have managed to lose around 8 pounds each year.  I decided in December that I needed to get serious about reaching a goal.

I was glad I had made that decision prior to an office visit with my new physician on January 10.  He said he was glad to hear that I was enrolled in Weight Watchers because, though I am in reasonably good health, I will start experiencing real issues in the next year or two unless I improve my BMI.  The following day, I did my first weigh in at WW and was down 1.8 pounds.  Today was my second weigh in and I was down another 2.4 pounds.

It's not particularly hard when I put my mind to it as long as I have avoided bringing things into the house that will derail my efforts. Today I realized that if I really am serious about this, I can lose this weight by October and be a lot healthier in the long run.  Dr. Glider assured me that my arthritis pain will decrease when I stop asking my knees to carry around all this weight.  And, while my circulation is good, it could be better and losing the weight will improve that, also.

I've gotten a good start and I'm enjoying the meetings and am encouraged by the success of others.  I know I can do this.  I just need to WANT to do it.  It's necessary for me to keep the "want" alive and "just do it."

It Was a Great Meeting Today

My "Hawk" got an "Honorable Mention."  And my Cobblestone Afghan came in second.  I was pleased.  Catered with box lunches by Delectables, it was a great luncheon meeting, with Pamela Woody of Tampa Bay Advocates Against Human Trafficking speaking to us about the ways we can assist in the fight to stop Human Trafficking in the Tampa Bay area.  Her presentation was interesting and full of information about the various types of human trafficking.

I learned I lot.  Especially the information that sometimes young people going door to door selling candy can be under the control of human traffickers and we should be asking a few questions to be sure they are not in trouble.  There is a national toll-free number you can call if you suspect a human trafficking situation.

1-888-373-7888  At her bidding, I put the number in my cell phone contacts while she was speaking.  It's easy to remember, though if you group it: 1 888 37 37 888  ;-)

I have known Pamela Woody for several years now.  She and her son used to help us move books from storage to the library at every book sale.  Her lovely daughter works at the library.  Pamela has always given of herself to community projects.  I know she will continue to work hard to coordinate the fight against human trafficking.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

The cold front that came in right behind the rain yesterday brought us dry air and cooler temps.  It's 47 degrees this morning and the air is crisp and fresh.  When I took Beau out for his morning constitutional, he was reluctant to come back into the house with me.  But...

I always have a backup plan:  a promise of a treat.

He races me back to the house to get it.

He has me well-trained.

New Year, New Look

It's been a couple of years since I last changed the look of the blog and I have gotten bored with the old one.  So out with the old one for a little while (at least) and on with a new look.

"Hawk"

"Hawk" is my entry in the Fine Art competition for the Woman's Club this year.  He won't win anything because he is just a simple little watercolor and there are far more complex entries in that division.. But he is one of my favorites.

We spent the morning registering artwork and crafts and then the judges were to come at 1 PM.  So the winning entries will have their ribbons on them when we get their tomorrow for the show and luncheon.  There are some beautiful entries.

And I entered my Cobblestone Afghan in the crafts crocheted afghan division.  I stand a better chance of bringing home a ribbon with that one.

Butch dropped me off at the Heritage this morning and I called him a little after 12 to pick me up.  We went to Chloe's for lunch and came home and relaxed the rest of the day.  It's 60 degrees and partly cloudy tonight after an overcast day that started with lots of rain.  Two more cold fronts coming through in the next few days.  It's January, after all.

Thought for the Day

Handle every stressful situation like a dog. 

If you can't eat it or play with it,

Just pee on it and walk away! 

Honesty Is Still the Best Policy

Maybe it it time to get back to being accepting of coworkers', friends' and neighbors' honest feedback.

People who know me well know that it is dangerous to express an opinion about something or someone if they do not want an honest response from me.  That means there is a good chance they will be unhappy with my reply in a face to face conversation or in an email.

Over the years, I have learned which friends can handle honesty and those who cannot.  So I tend to distance myself from those who cannot.  Or to do as the little guy in the cartoon will do in the future -- just keep my own counsel.

Everyone has the right to his or her own opinion.  Just because someone else does not agree does not make them wrong...nor does it make them right.  It means you can respectfully agree to disagree.

So Congress must be a microcosm of our society.  Instead of addressing an issue directly, they go off in their little caucuses to complain about the other members because they have dared to disagree with them.  Or worse yet, they lie about them.

People seem to have lost the ability to respectfully agree to disagree.  It seems to be a "my way or no way" for so many in so many scenarios -- most with no connection to politics.  We are living in a very intolerant society where many believe that if you do not agree with them, you are wrong.

Until the average person become more tolerant of others and their ideas, beliefs and opinions we will remain in chaos at all levels.  It's time for honest discourse -- and acceptance of people who do not think exactly the way we do.

New Beginnings for the New Year

We spent Sunday afternoon shopping for a new car for Butch.  It was easy this time because we have a 2010 Camry XLE that we both really love.  I have been driving it most of the time and he has been driving a 2002 Dodge Intrepid since 2005.  It was time to trade and get him into a newer car because the Dodge was flashing strange lights on the dash every once in awhile.

Because of our love for the 2010 Camry XLE, we decided to limit our search to the 2014 Camrys.  We drove up to Sun Toyota.  I had looked online at their 2014 XLE inventory and seen one I thought was perfect for Butch...

I loved the color (typical woman's reaction) but not because of what most people would think.  I loved it because the first car my husband bought when we were dating was a Chevy that same color and no matter what color his car has been since then, I always think of him in a pretty blue car.

And this one is a beauty.  With a lot of bells and whistles.  We don't buy new cars often, normally keeping them for 10 to 12 years before getting a replacement.  So this one and my 2010 will probably be our last ones. So we went for the gold.  We're not "name brand" people.  Just give us the most we can get for our money and throw in good service, dependability and good looks.  We got it in the new Camry.

It will be our "around the USA" transportation some time in the next couple of years when we lock the doors on our house and head off for 6 months or more.

One of the fun things we encountered when we were buying this car was the "smart board" in the Finance Mgr's office.  We completed all the initialing on warranties, etc. using the smart board and then only had to sign once we'd reviewed everything and he printed out the paper.  No one had to pull out a pair of reading glasses. ;-)

We spent a pleasant 45 minutes while our salesman synchronized our cell phones and showed us how to work the different high-tech accessories. And four hours after we drove into the dealership, we drove out with out new car and a full tank of gas.  We didn't go straight home.  We drove to Sunset Beach first.  It was packed.  Beautiful sunset and no parking spaces available.  Then we drove out the causeway to Howard Park.  I suggested to my husband (who absolutely despises having his picture taken) that I's like to get a shot of him with the new "baby."  To my surprise, he turned the car around and parked along the causeway.  So Mr." I don't really need all this" let me know with that move that he was feeling pretty darn good about this portion of the children;s inheritance we had just spent.

Actually, it's probably because he knew it was too dark to get a good picture.  But the sunset is pretty, isn't it?

Our garage is a two car garage but that simply means the car in the garage shares it with Butch's tool benches, riding lawn mower and a million other "guy" type things.  I have been parking the 2010 Camry XLE in there for the last four years (and it still only has 15K on the odometer) but I suggested the new one needs to be garaged and the older one can go out on the driveway.  I'm still not used to seeing that beautiful "Clearwater Blue Metallic" vehicle when I go into the garage to get something out of the freezer or fridge out there.  I do like having my car on the driveway.  I don't have to back out and around the other car that way.  Besides, his is the one with the camera on the rear. ;-)

All of my friends need to be on alert.  When we do our around the USA trip, we will be visiting EVERYONE.  But it won't happen while we still have Beau so it will be a little while yet.

New laptop for me. New car for Butch.  We've both been reading manuals all day. LOL

Good Morning, 2014!

Good-bye to 2013.

Yesterday afternoon, Butch drove me to the bank and then to the library. (My "holiday" back is still giving me problems.)  I was able to give our library director checks that total $50,190.31 when added to the checks we had written for smaller amounts earlier in the year.

Writing those checks on behalf of the Friends of the Library and presenting them to Cari and staff is the highlight of my year.  I am hoping that our economy continues to improve so that we can continue to support them this way.

On our way home, we drove through Howard Park and Sunset Beach.  We have a low pressure system out in the Gulf that will eventually bring a Nor'easter to the states along the Atlantic Coast.  Right now it is sending a lot of cloud cover over us.  So it was not sunny afternoon yesterday.  But....still beautiful...always beautiful, no matter what Nature's mood.

I caught this shot of Howard Park beach with my phone's camera as we rode around the island.  I think most of us love a winter beach scene and this one is so typical with its blues, grays and browns.  Love the dunes, the sea grasses, and the palms.  All of this is man-made.  Kudos to our Pinellas County Park system and its eco-management.  This one beach park alone makes our annual $55 parking pass worth it.  Parking fees help offset the huge expense of our outstanding park system and I know the money is going for a good cause.

May 2014 bring everyone good health and happiness.  As in years passed, I'll need to keep in mind, though, that my happiness in this coming year is my own responsibility.  It is no one else's job to make, or keep, me happy.  It is a choice I make every day when I wake up.

Hope you choose to be happy, too.

Happy New Year!