JUST A FUN BLOGGER CHALLENGE - Day 31

Happiest moment

It is late tonight and I am tired.  I have been getting my invoices ready for the end of the month so I can get paid!  I am watching Michael Phelps swim and he just won his 19th medal.  Such an overachiever!   Good for him.

My happiest moment.  That is hard.  Most people say when their child was born or when they got married.  Well, I have no "children" that I have seen be born.  My children were born in a litter.  My marriage is not exactly a happy moment I want to remember.  My "Winter of Love" marriage to Brenda that was annulled by the state of California was happy but we got married for other reasons that I will go into at another time.  So I will have to think of another time.

Since I am really tired and can't think so well, I will say when I got my graduate degree.  I never really thought I was smart.  I grew up with a REALLY smart brother.  You know the type: Who's Who, 2400 SAT, accepted to a bunch of Ivy League schools.  I struggled through high school and college.  I was terrified to go to graduate school.  I didn't think I could do it.  It was beaten into my head that I was not smart.  So when I did finished and I walked up to get my degree, I knew I was smart!  Happy moment!

Tomorrow's Challenge: Best cartoon character.

Medical Update: Not my medical update but Brenda has a swollen and pussing eye.  We have an eye doctor appointment in the morning.  I hope it is nothing serious. 


Until tomorrow...

JUST A FUN BLOGGER CHALLENGE - Day 30

Favourite comfort food

My favorite comfort food when I am sick is potatoes.  I like a baked potatoes or mashed potatoes or french fries or tater tots.  It isn't that I am particularly in love with potatoes but when my Crohn's kicks in and I can't eat anything, I can eat potatoes.  Sometimes I can eat rice.  It has to white rice, not brown rice.  I know brown rice is better for me but when I am not feeling well it has be white rice.

The third thing that makes me feel better are these pineapple ice pops.  I don't know what about the pineapple makes me feel better but I have tried the other flavors and they don't work.  Only the pineapple flavor works.

My happy comfort food would be homemade gnocchi.  Not made by my hand but someone's hand.  I just love gnocchi.  I guess I could eat gnocchi when my Crohn's kicks in since they are made out of potatoes too!

The Olympics is so nerve racking!  One misstep in gymnastics and there goes the gold.  I practically hold my breath!

Update: If you didn't get to see the video of Happy opening Christmas packages, I fixed the video.  Blog date 7/25/12. Blogger Challenge Day 25.

Tomorrow's Challenge: Happiest moment

Until tomorrow...

JUST A FUN BLOGGER CHALLENGE - Day 29

Most admired celebrity - what reason

My most admired celebrity is Bono from the band U2. His songs are written to make people think and act. He is one of the most charitable celebrities. He started one.org, a nonprofit organization working toward ending the debt of third world countries, ending poverty and working toward ending AIDS and HIV. This is important because most third world countries can only afford to pay the interest on the debt. They never get to pay down the balance. (just like some of us and our credit cards!) So the debt keeps growing. To pay the interest many countries are unable to give their citizens needed services like health care. If they will never be able to pay the debt back, why not forgive the debt and let them start over? That way they can use the money to get their country out of poverty and dire health care problems.

Bono does so much and rarely takes credit. I have a lot of respect for him. He could just go on stage and play music and that would be all we expect. Instead he wants to make the world a better place, sings songs about it and puts his money where his mouth is. That is why I chose Bono as my most admired celebrity.

If you are interested check out http://www.one.org

Okay, I have Olympic fever! I am glued to my TV and my iPad. NBC has this app that allows me to watch the competitions on my iPad real time. So I am hooked. Archery, dressage, gymnastics, swimming, diving and fencing. I am not a fan of the team sports like basketball and soccer.

Poor Michael Phelps. He just seems tired and like his heart is not in it. I hope he finds his passion whether that is swimming or something else.

Tomorrow's Challenge: Favourite comfort food

Until tomorrow...

JUST A FUN BLOGGER CHALLENGE - Day 28

I’ve always wanted to… (take singing lessons, learn Karate, play the piano, etc.)

I have always wanted to learn to ride a motorcycle. Years ago an old boyfriend tried to teach me while sitting on the back. It made it very difficult and I gave up out of frustration. I just want to learn before I am not able. I worry my hands will become too stiff and it will become impossible. I already have a hard time if I jet ski too long. The "gas" handle makes my hand stiff.

I am not saying I want to buy a motorcycle, I just want to finally learn to drive one.

Tonight we went out to dinner and I had an amazing dinner. I started with a beet salad. Yum! Then I had a vegetarian strudel. (see photo below) It was fabulous tasting. The phyllo was soft inside and crunchy outside. The vegetables were asparagus, some greens like spinach, tomatoes and more. It was served in a roasted tomato sauce. I wanted to lick the plate but I was so full, I could not eat another bite! We didn't get dessert because we were so full. We will be going back.

Tomorrow's Challenge: Most admired celebrity - what reason

Until tomorrow...

JUST A FUN BLOGGER CHALLENGE - Day 27

Where do blog post topics come to me most often?

My blog topics mostly come from current topics in my life. Current medical issues, dog issues, house isseus and fun things that happen.

Take today for example, I would write about the Olympics. The opening ceremonies were tonight. It was an interesting program. It was quite different than the breathtaking opening ceremonies in Bejing. Danny Boyle said he didn't want to compete. Well, he didn't. It had some interesting parts but it didn't flow. It told a story but in a choppy, weird way. I like to see the athletes walk into the stadium and see their excitement.

I have done some blogger challenges but after the first one, I found that the previous challenges asked the same questions. What is the point in that?

Tomorrow's Challenge: I’ve always wanted to… (take singing lessons, learn Karate, play the piano, etc.)

Medical Update: 
Turns out I did miss my medical appointment. She said she left a message on Monday to remind me. We don't remember a message... Maybe she called the wrong number? Oh, I got a refund from both The-insurance-company-who-must-not-to-be-named AND from the MRI I had months ago. Cha-Ching!

Until tomorrow...

JUST A FUN BLOGGER CHALLENGE - Day 26

The country I’d most want to live in other than where I live now.

If I could live anywhere in the world I would live exactly where I am. Years ago my answer would have been different but I love living on the West Coast. It was always my dream to live here. When I was little I dreamed of living the California life. I tried to go to college in Santa Barbara but in those days it was very difficult for out-of-staters to be accepted. Then after college, after marriage I moved to the West Coast. My dream finally came true. I finally became a California Girl just like the Beach Boys sang about.

I know some people would answer this question with exotic places like Paris or Rome or London. I visited these places and I liked them for short periods of time but I don't think I would want to live there long term. I lived in London for 5 months and Paris for almost a month. They were nice but after a while one city is like another. I spent time in Antigua but after a while I got island fever. I have been to Martinique and Panama but I am not so great with languages.

I lived all over the Northeastern United States. I miss the area but I don't miss the extreme heat and freezing temperatures. In California I can ski and go to the beach.

I guess I just love where I am. Nothing wrong with that.

Tomorrow's Challenge: Where do blog post topics come to me most often?

Medical Update: 
I think I missed a doctors appointment today. I didn't get my reminder phone call yesterday and didn't realize I had a 8:00 am appointment until 5pm. Oops!!

Until tomorrow...

JUST A FUN BLOGGER CHALLENGE - Day 25

Favorite time of year (spring, summer, winter, fall, 
summer solstice, Halloween, Christmas, etc.)

My favorite time of the year is, wait for it, Christmas time! I love all the decorations, the cheer and the way my dog wants to open all the gifts. I love the way people are nicer to each other. I love the smell of the tree, the way the house sparkles with the lights and the Christmas carols. I will loop Christmas songs for weeks. I wear Christmas clothes every day from Thanksgiving to New Years. I just love it!!

My second favorite time of the year is summer time. I love it when the days get long and the sun shines all day long. I put the top down, turn the tunes up and have a party in my car. I sit out on my deck and eat my lunch. Oh, I work from home! I wear shorts all day and stay bear foot. There is plenty of fruit and vegetables in season so I have plenty of choices to eat. I am just a turtle out of my shell!


Tomorrow's Challenge: The country I’d most want to live in other than where I live now

Medical Update: 
I am taping a sit and exercise program on the advice of my doctor. Until my ankle heals I need to get my endurance up. There is a free PBS show on at 7:30 am that I can record. Brenda says she will do it with me.

Until tomorrow...

JUST A FUN BLOGGER CHALLENGE - Day 24

Three characteristics I admire in people.

Three characteristics I admire in people are:

1. Honesty
2. Integrity
3. The ability to have fun

HONESTY- I think it is important to be honest. It is hard sometimes to find honest people. Just like Dr. Gregory House on the show House says "everybody lies". I don't think people always mean to lie, I think they sometimes just don't want to tell the truth and they get caught. Like when you find out a friend was not at the movies like she told you but was somewhere else. It hurts that your friend didn't tell you the truth.

INTEGRITY- "Adherence to a strict moral or ethical code". People who are ethical and moral. People who return the shopping cart to the cart pen at the supermarket. People who pick up their dog poop. People who recycle (and maybe even compost!) People who give up their seat for pregnant women, disabled folks and elderly folks. Those are people with integrity. They do the right thing because it is the right thing not because someone is watching.

THE ABILITY TO HAVE FUN- I really admire people who have fun no matter where they are. They laugh all the time. I think sometimes I am that person. I try to be that person.

Are there three characteristics you admire?

Tomorrow's Challenge: Favorite time of year (spring, summer, winter, fall, summer solstice, Halloween, Christmas, etc.)

Medical Update: 
Scheduled my physical therapy appointment for next week. Yay!

Until tomorrow...

JUST A FUN BLOGGER CHALLENGE - Day 23

Three pet peeves I have.

I actually have a lot of pet peeves. People who meander in crosswalks, worn out music phone call hold tapes, people that tailgate my car, and when the bus stops in the street and doesn't pull into the bus zone are some of them. I have some bigger peeves:

1. Dog poop in front of my house! There is some dog who poops in front of my house every so often. It is so annoying. I am convinced it is the same dog each time. Pick up your poop!

2. Waiters that can't do their job. I can't stand eating in a restaurant where wait staff can't seem to do their job. I have been a wait staff, it isn't rocket science. Granted it is hectic sometimes and it can be confusing when you first start, but it isn't that hard. Take an order, deliver an order, clear the dishes, bring the check. I get super annoyed when I can't get the waiter to bring the check. I will start to put my coat on and get up. That usually gets their attention!

3. People who don't walk their dog on a leash. Now I know that some dogs are really obedient, not mine. Some dogs listen to their owners, not mine. Some dogs do not jump on people, not mine. Those people do not need to put their dog on a leash. I do. My dogs have to stay on a leash in order to keep them off people and to keep them from running away. The unleashed dogs run up on my dogs and this causes a problem with my pooches. It would be easier if other people kept their dogs on a leash too!

There is my list, what would your list look like?

Tomorrow's Challenge: Three characteristics I admire in people.

Medical Update: 
my doctor says I no longer "look like death warmed over"! Yeah! No more monthly appointments. Now I have to begin a chair exercise routine.

Until tomorrow...

JUST A FUN BLOGGER CHALLENGE - Day 22

Three things I’m proud I’ve been able to improve/accomplish/overcome.

1. One thing I am proud to accomplish is starting my own business and making is successful.  Now some folks may not think it is successful because it is not a multimillion dollar business.  I am happy it is a small one person business that makes enough money to keep me eating and with a roof over my head.  It also affords me enough flexibility that if I don't feel well, I can work from bed or just stay in bed.  I have to answer to clients but I don't have to report to a boss.

2. I have been able to improve my outlook on life.  When I worked my full time job I was stressed out all the time.  I was always running.  I didn't stop to take a bath, read a magazine, lay on the bed with my pups and just pet them.  I didn't take the time.  I wasn't happy.  Now I take the time.  I take baths and read magazines and books.  I take time with my pups.  I take time with friends.  I cook and make good food to eat.  I made improvements to my life.

3. Through the years I have had some fun.  This fun included alcohol and some drugs that were not prescription.  I had a lot of fun.  A lot of it I don't remember but they tell me I was a blast.  I have overcome that urge to use substances to have fun.  I can have fun just being me!  I don't need anything to have fun at parties and events.  I will stick to drugs that come with prescriptions these days!

There you go one of each: improvement, accomplishment and something I have overcome. 

Tomorrow's Challenge: Three pet peeves I have.

Medical Update: Seeing my Rheuma Doc tomorrow.  Give you an update tomorrow.


Until tomorrow...