April 2, 2013

  • I'd rather be...

    ... camping?

    A few weeks ago we went to the Flint Camper and RV show.  Last year we went to the big one in Novi.  At that time, however, we weren't ready to buy.  This time we were.  We are limited by what our Durango can tow so we had to look for something around 5000 pounds.  We looked at quite a few and liked them, but when I walked through this one, I fell in love!  We're picking it up Saturday.  I've never been much of a camper, but I am looking forward to a lot of long weekends in this!

March 23, 2013

  • Update on CPL training

    I've had my classroom CPL training (Concealed Pistol License) and have taken the written test.  Now to go to the range and do the three hours of shooting instruction - and the shooting test at the end.

    I've learned quite a bit from these classes.  First rule of handling a handgun: Never point it at anyone, even if it's unloaded (unless, of course, you are pointing it at your assailant!).  I didn't realize how HARD that was until I went to Gander Mountain yesterday to buy a handgun.  While looking at it, just turning it from side to side on the glass counter I accidentally pointed it at Roger several times.  In holding it and testing the feel of it, I had a hard time figuring out where to point it.  I ended up either pointing it up or at the wall behind the counter.

    I also learned a bit about self defense.  And a rule that was totally opposite to what I was taught when I was much younger.  "NEVER BACK DOWN" When I was younger, I was taught not to fight - that it would make it worse.  Now the rule is don't back down, don't give up, don't give in or you will end up dead.  That is for personal attacks, not someone snatching your purse away from you.  I also learned there were several rules to defending yourself.  You have the right to stop someone from attacking you, but you cannot use deadly force if they are stealing your iPod off the counter (unless they are pointing a gun at you while they are taking it).  So while you can protect your property, you cannot use deadly force unless you are threatened with deadly force.  

    I'm really glad I took this class.  I feel that after a few times at the range I'll feel comfortable with this, and will be able to use it to defend myself if the need ever arises.  

    This is the one I bought. It fit my hand well, was well balanced, and carries 15 rounds in the clip.  So even if I'm a bad shot, if I am attacked, I get 15 chances to stop my attacker.

     

March 19, 2013

March 15, 2013

  • I challenge you!!

    I think pretty much everyone who reads my blog knows @Megabyyte, but in case you don't, she is a very nice young woman who is going to be walking for the March of Dimes "March for Babies" in April and could use your donation!  Large or small, anything will help 

    I donated $25 to this cause, I've posted this message several times, and so far as I can tell, I am the only person who has donated.  

    @Megabyyte is one of the most popular bloggers right now, and I can't understand this.  Maybe I need to tag all of her friends.  These are only the ones that have commented on her blog in the last day or two.  I hope they will help spread the word on this. 

    @donkey-guy-10
    @plantinthewindow
    @Inciteful
    @buddy71
    @Annieothergirl
    @olwd
    @SlickRick297
    @xplorrn
    @PorcelainDoll_xo
    @Its_PapaBear
    @chocodawg_ld
    @isitreal_no
    @AngelAsh_86

     I challenge anyone who calls her a friend to donate even $1 to this cause, to show her your support and how proud of her you are for doing this walk!   If anyone is worried about privacy or anonymity, they can give anonymously.

    And in case you are wondering, I don't really know her at all.  Just from reading her blog here.  She also hasn't asked me to help her in this.  I just believe in this cause and I can't do the walk myself, so I would like to see her meet her goal.  And if I could afford the whole amount myself, I would have donated that much.

    http://www.marchforbabies.org/Megabyyte

     

March 12, 2013

  • Need vegan shopping ideas!

    I've decided I can't have any dairy at all.  Even a small amount of butter will cause me gastric distress.  I thought yogurt was okay because of the live cultures and finally decided that it wasn't because of all the gastric distress (that I put off to other things).  I *LOVE* all things dairy and now even yogurt is off the table, and that was my 'healthy snack' - I would eat a 4 ounce greek yogurt instead of a couple of cookies.

    One thing I can NOT get used to, though, are vinegar/oil based salad dressings.  I started using ranch when Hidden Valley first came out with it in packets (where you added your own buttermilk) and before that, I always used bleu cheese dressing.  Needless to say, I like the creamy dressings.
     
    I went to the 'fake cheese' section of our grocery store but they didn't have any dairy-free 'creamy' dressings.  I would love a fake dressing that either tastes like ranch or bleu cheese (actually, I'd like to own a bottle of each!)
     
    One of my favorite salads is the California Cobb salad. (Egg, Avocado, Tomato, Chicken, Onion, Bacon, Bleu cheese added to lettuce).  I now order it without the bleu cheese.  I used to always have it with bleu cheese dressing, but that is now out.  I brought home some from a restaurant and tried it with balsamic vinaigrette and just didn't like it.  Too vinegary.  (I think that is my problem with vinegar/oil based dressings)
     
    So all of you vegans out there (I know there are a few of you) - do you have any suggestions of WHERE to shop for a vegan creamy ranch or bleu cheese flavored dressing?  I was thinking Whole Foods, but aren't they more into bulk whole foods than they are into vegan/vegetarianism?  Is there a regular (like whole foods) grocery store chain that caters to vegans?  I feel like the only way I can be sure what I buy is truly dairy free is if I buy vegan.

March 4, 2013

March 1, 2013

  • TMI Alert - Looking for relief from nosebleeds

    This post is kind of graphic and some may consider it TMI.
     

    Since about Christmas, I've been having chronic nosebleeds.  I have looked up nosebleeds on several sites (mostly medical, like MayoClinic.com) and for the most part, it seems they are harmless and usually caused by dry air.  However, according to our whole house humidifier, the house is at about 50% humidity, and my smaller room humidifier says my bedroom is between 50 and 60% humidity at all times.

     
    So, I used to take benedryl to sleep at night, and stopped that because I thought it was exacerbating the problem.  I also read that NSAIDs can also contribute, and I was taking one Aleve at night before bed for inflammation (my bum shoulder never fully healed - it still gets sore sometimes.)  So I stopped taking that.
     
    I bought some plain old saline drops, and they relieve my nose temporarily (for about 10 minutes), then I bought some saline gel spray - that seemed to be a little better.
     
    I am on a nasal steroid (Fluticasone HCl - I think it's the generic for Flonase) to keep my nasal passages from closing up at night.
     
    Finally yesterday I bought a tube of vaseline and use a Q-tip to line the inside of my nostrils with vaseline.
     
    At least now with the vaseline, I don't have any 'crusting'.  I thought it was clearing up but I just blew my nose (gently, even) and it was filled with blood.  
     
    I don't see my doctor until the first week in April.
     
    Has anyone else ever had a problem with this?  From most of what I've read nosebleeds are rarely serious.  This is more annoying than anything and sometimes the inside of my nose hurts.
     
    Anyone have any suggestions for home treatments?  If my humidifiers' readings are correct, it's not caused by dry air.

February 18, 2013

  • 5.9!!!

    My A1c!!  Best EVER!

    Just got back from my endocrinologist's office.  My A1c is 5.9!!!  That is the lowest it's been since diagnosis!  I was worried it might have gone up because I have been indulging in things I haven't eaten since diagnosis (like strawberry-covered Belgian waffles - but with sugar free syrup and no whipped cream).  Still not like I did before I was diabetic.  But, for instance, before there was no way I could eat oatmeal with diced peaches and two slices of toast for breakfast without my glucose going sky high.  2 hours after eating it was 82.  Just like a normal person!

     
    I am so psyched!  My doctor also lowered my night-time insulin dosage by 5 more units.  My night-time (long-lasting) insulin has gone from 115 units to 25 units   I've been off pre-meal insulin for about a year.
     
    And I was down another 15 pounds from my last visit with him.
     
    The only down side is that my thyroid tests came back showing that I have Hashimoto's disease, but even THAT is under control!  My thyroid size has gone back down to normal and my TS3 and TSH levels were normal.  He canceled the biopsy order and replaced it with an ultrasound order, that I will be getting tomorrow morning.
     
    He thinks that as I lose weight, he will be able to gradually get me off the insulin.
     
     

February 16, 2013

  • What I want for my birthday

    Last summer Roger and I went camping in Harrisville, MI for "Harmony Weekend" - a weekend that was started by a barbershop quartet over 50 years ago and has been going ever since (it's also when they have their big craft market - the 2nd largest in the U.S.)  While we were there we saw this GREAT canvas photograph that was HUGE and would go very well over the entrance to the dining room from the living room in my house.  It had a blue background and a few seagulls flying across.  Very reminiscent of the types of pictures popular in the early 70s.  But the price was too high (unframed for ~$1000).  While we were there, Roger took some great shots of Lake Huron.  Here are a few.

     

    But this shot - I like the best and want him to have it printed on a 6' x 4' canvas to put over my door.

     

     

February 10, 2013

  • Close encounters

    Roger and I went out tonight to this little place called "Bullfrog's" in a little town near us.  I've heard that Kid Rock owns it.  As we were walking through the parking lot, I saw a really nice-looking man, white hair and beard, that looked familiar.  I thought maybe he owned one of the places we had gone to hear the local band that we were out tonight to hear.  I overheard him say to the guys he was with "Next time, I'll just ask if the owner is in and if not, tell them I'll come back when he is."  and my thought was "well, aren't we filled with a lot of self-importance!" figuring it was just some local yocal wanting to rub elbows with someone famous (Kid Rock).  Turns out he looked familiar to me because it was Bob Seger!