First Day of Summer

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Jun 20, '12

Friday

I'm gonna pass on the Friday Five today. It's a real *thinker* and my brain has decided to take the day off. I thought and thought about five people that I admire ... and believe it or not today I'm unable to come up with more than two!! Pretty sad!! I know there's more. I just can't think of any at the moment!! Oy!!

I took a couple of photos on campus of the snowstorm last night. Beautiful!! Wanted to put 'em in my blog today but realized that I can't. Not without the USB cable for my camera that I loaned to Married Son. So I guess it has to wait a day or two until I get it back.

I had also wanted to get a few photos of the potholes that I have to deal with every time I leave the subdivision. Snow is covering them, so guess that'll have to wait for a day or two. Every spring they fill 'em with a repair patch that never survives the following winter. Every year they get worse! I'm afraid that by next spring those potholes will be large enough to swallow up a small car!! Sad thing is until about ten years ago we lived on dirt roads. Never had the pothole problem we have now. But we've had potholes since year one of paved roads!! Shoddy workmanship at it's finest.

OMG!! It only took me a week but I managed to finish the webpage that we had to design in my photoshop class. Not a working webpage, but a *fake* webpage. Well, not entirely fake, I created my webpage using Married Son's Pilot Car company as my theme. He loves it! We'll use it as our webpage when we get that up and running. Of course, it'll have to be modified a bit, since that's not a photo of one of our vehicles. Still, I'm happy with the way it turned out.



I had never used photoshop before this class. Yeah, I finally caught up with the times. Took me long enough, eh? LOL! Next week we learn how to animate using photoshop. Should be fun!!

I'm outta here. Need to take pop bottles back to the store today. Should be about ten bucks there (at a ten cent refund per bottle/can here in Michigan).  And another twenty bucks from Single Son's pop can stash. Takes me a few hours to do it when we're talking about 300 bottles and cans that have to be sorted by store before hand. Yeah, dummy me buys store brand pops - from three or four different stores. I really need to stop doing that. One store - one brand. Makes bottle refunding so much easier if you're only having to take 'em back to one store! LOL!

Ten Thoughts Tuesday on Wednesday ...

1) Yup. A day late. Typical. Funny thing is - this week I remembered!! Only ... I haven't had internet for a day and a half at home. I told Single Son as soon as he walked in this morning from working his midnight shift that I was without internet. A simple fix - he just reset the modem. Damn. I coulda done that myself.

2) At least being without internet yesterday allowed me to get some rest after class. No staying up half the night surfing the web. I just watched the boob tube until I fell asleep instead. LOL!

3) Speaking of class. We had a test in Business last night and were free to go afterwards. Forty five minutes and I was done. It was an open book test.

4) Easter was good! I spent it alone for the most part. Married Son, DIL and Grandson did come over for a bit. Guess they felt *sorry* for me being by myself. Didn't realize that's how I wanted it. Ham sandwich and a movie, and I was definitely a happy camper!!

5) I've decided that my cats are not quite right mentally. They fit right in this looney bin that's for sure. I just went into the bathroom. Ringo was sleeping in the sink. Shiloh was sleeping in the laundry pile (don't ask why I have a laundry pile in my bathroom - damn kids!!) ... and Shamira had tipped over the waste basket and was sleeping in it!! Roz, the anti-social one was the only one that wasn't sleeping in the bathroom!!

6) Speaking of Roz ... I'm seriously thinking of sending her back to the gal I got her from. This gal is now in a cat friendly apartment. Roz is much better off being the only cat in the family.

7) OMG!! I just realized today is my Mom's birthday. I better make that "Happy Birthday Mom" phone call and soon!! She doesn't want a big fuss this year - she's still recovering from her recent surgery and just doesn't want the fuss.

8) I'm so sick of doctors I could scream!! At least each visit fixes another "condition" or gets me treatment I need to get healthy again. Last week it was the foot doctor. Handled a badly ingrown toenail. Here I *thought* I had a high pain thresehold. Damned if I didn't scream out in pain when he ripped that sucker out!! Failed the "diabetic foot test". The one where they poke the bottom of your foot with a pin. I didn't feel the poke, just felt like he was touching me with a finger or something. A few more tests ... damned if he didn't prescribe diabetic socks and diabetic shoes for me. I've officially become my grandmother!!

9) Tomorrow I finally have an appointment with a plastic surgeon. Yippee!! They found that the mole on my cheek was in a pre-cancerous state and has to be removed ASAP before it gets worse. Because it's on the face, a plastic surgeon will do the surgery. Wonder if I can get a nose-job and eye lid lift while we're at it?

10) Plans for the Piloting business have changed a bit. We're not going to use Pontiac Vibes as our pilot vehicles. Seems we both overlooked the fact that we can't put the two auxillary gasoline tanks we need inside the vehicle!! Doih! They need to be outside - perminently mounted to the truck. So now we're looking into which truck gets the best gas mileage. So far it seems to be the Colorado. All I know is that I'm ready to hit the road!! And I'll be able to as soon as we get both my health and the vehicle situated! Hell, in Michigan you don't even need a special license or permit to run pilot vehicles  ... just a valid state operators license (most states require at least a chauffuers license and/or permits).

Ya'll have a good week. I'm gonna be doing a bunch of homework ...

Happy Easter!!

.

Sugar: What Kinds to Eat and When ...

I'm posting this article here mostly for my benefit (safe place to store it for future reference, LOL) ... but knowing some of my friends are also dieting and/or are diabetic I thought I'd share it for everyone's benefit ...

Sugar: What Kinds to Eat and When
WebMD Feature from "Men's Fitness" Magazine
By Joseph Wuebben and Mike Carlson

It's been two years since Russ started to get his diet in shape. Slowly but surely he cut out the late-night pizzas, the morning doughnuts and the evening drive-thru. It wasn't easy, but the weight came flying off. To a point. Then, no matter how miserly he became toward fat grams, he still couldn't get that lean, chiseled look. As he cracked his third Mountain Dew of the day-congratulating himself because it's fat-free-he began to think that he would never get the six-pack of his dreams.

Unless you've got a Ph.D. in biochemistry, you're probably exhausted from the endless debate surrounding sugar. And if your info has come largely from television, you're hopelessly confused. Treading that fine white line demands some balance. If you eat too little, you don't have the energy to work out; too much, and you get fat. It's really a simple matter of figuring out what kinds of sugar to eat and when, in order to lose weight, build muscle and protect your health.

The Science of Sweet

Okay, kids, sit down and listen closely. All sugars are carbohydrates, known as "simple" carbs, since they're composed of just one sugar molecule. The label on a can of Pepsi reads 41 grams of carbs and 41 grams of sugar. This means that every single carbohydrate comes from sugar. The label on a package of plain oatmeal will read 18 grams of carbs and only one gram of sugar. Almost all of the carbs in oatmeal are made up of long chains of sugar molecules called "complex" carbs. Oatmeal, along with sweet potatoes, wheat breads, rice and corn, is a complex carb, also known as a starch.

In this age of convenience foods, the terms complex and simple are a bit outdated. For the purpose of losing fat and building muscle, it's smarter to look at carbs as either "unrefined" or "processed." The former refers to whole foods that contain sugar, such as fruits, vegetables, juices, grains and legumes, and that still hold their natural water, fiber, phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals. Processed foods include white bread, soda, candy, crackers, cookies and just about any commercial product labeled "fat-free." These have been stripped of their wholesome attributes and are dense with nothing but empty calories. For instance, one gram of a cracker will contain four calories, but one gram of an orange contains about 0.2 calories, because the bulk of its weight is water and fiber.

The Glycemic Index

The glycemic index rates how quickly certain foods turn into glucose (a form of sugar) in the bloodstream, and is a valuable tool when trying to control sugar intake and limit its effect on you. While high-glycemic-index foods can cause a rapid jump in blood sugar, followed by a massive crash, low-glycemic-index foods increase blood sugar slowly, providing constant and stable energy levels over a considerable period of time. Several factors contribute to a low rating, such as the presence of protein, fiber and fat. Pure processed sugars garner the highest scores, with the most highly processed foods topping the list. For instance, out of a possible 100, instant rice earns a 90 while fibrous, vitamin-rich brown rice gets a 55.

Recent studies by the Harvard School of Public Health show that diets loaded with high-GI foods lead to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and obesity. In fact, the World Health Organization is spearheading a movement to include GI ratings on food labels, and several products in Australia already bear the grade. For an extensive rundown of the glycemic index, go to www.mensfitness.com/glycemic.

The Dreaded Insulin Dump

Although sugar is lower in total calories per gram than fat, it contributes mightily to a fatty frame. "In our society, sugar is consumed in excessive amounts through unhealthy foods, and it increases total calories, leading to weight gain," says Eric Sternlicht, Ph.D., professor of kinesiology at Occidental College in Los Angeles and president of Simply Fit Inc. This effect is largely due to a hormone called insulin.

The more highly processed sugar you eat, the greater the release of insulin from the pancreas. That's because the main role of insulin is to return blood-sugar levels to normal. However, when blood-sugar levels jump violently -- which is what happens when you eat high-GI foods -- your body pumps a massive amount of insulin into the bloodstream. This causes an overshoot, making blood-sugar levels bottom out, which triggers appetite, leading to a vicious cycle of overeating. In fact, sugar is often compared to a drug rather than a nutrient in the way it can leave you craving more instead of leaving you satisfied.

Overeating isn't the only danger. Some doctors, including Walter Willet, M.D., chairman of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, believe that years of eating processed food and experiencing the constant blasts of insulin can actually exhaust your pancreas' ability to produce insulin, putting you at risk for diabetes. Another condition, known as insulin resistance, can also develop, in which your body is so accustomed to insulin surges, the hormone loses its power to reduce levels of blood sugar. Recent research published in the British Medical Journal shows that men with elevated blood-sugar levels have a higher mortality rate from cardiovascular disease.

The Upside of Sugar

We've been over the evils of sugar, but it does have its benefits, especially if you're active. "Sugar has a bad connotation attached to it," says Sternlicht. "But in moderation, unrefined sugars are an important and vital part of your diet." Sugar that is needed for activity-such as weight training or a cardio workout-can be used as fuel, and the rest will be stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen for later use. Unfortunately, our storage space is limited, and anything left over turns to fat.

This balancing act is a result of science which shows that sugar boosts performance. According to John Ivy, Ph.D., professor in the department of kinesiology and health education at the University of Texas, Austin, "[Any kind of] carbs taken during exercise improves endurance performance, especially if an athlete is competing for a prolonged period of time during which stores would be depleted. In fact, there is even some indication that carbs also improve short-term performance of intense exercise as brief as 20 minutes."

The Upside of Sugar continued...

Taken after a workout, sugar-combined with protein-expedites recovery while helping you pack on new muscle. We've already established that sugar boosts insulin levels, which are typically low after a workout. In turn, insulin propels amino acids-the building blocks of muscle that you get from protein-directly into your tired and hungry musculature. In this way, sugar acts as a transport system, efficiently feeding your muscles when they need it most. (This also works with creatine, which is why many commercial creatine products are mixed with a Kool-Aid type of powder and why experts recommend you mix plain creatine in a non-acidic fruit juice.)

Each person reacts individually to sugar, but regardless of one's metabolism, paying strict heed to the following rules will keep your training efforts on track.

Limit Refined Sugars

Lack in nutrients and fiber, refined sugars are calorically dense, meaning they have lots of calories with little bulk. As a result, they don't put a dent in your appetite, so you can quickly eat too many. Sternlicht says no more than 15 percent to 20 percent of total carbohydrates should come from refined sugars. That's about 250 calories' worth in a 2,500-calories-a-day diet.
Choose Unrefined Sugars

Unrefined sugars are found in fruits, some vegetables and other whole foods and should make up the bulk of the carbs you eat every day. Fruits and vegetables still have fiber, water and vitamins, so it's nearly impossible to eat too many of them. For example, the average man would have to eat about 50 oranges or 24 pounds of cabbage per day just to maintain his weight.

Use Sugar for Peak Performance

Despite its drawbacks, sugar is essential for tough workouts. "Not only do you need a source of sugar or other carbohydrate to restock glycogen stores necessary for enhanced athletic performance," says Sternlicht, "but carbohydrates are also needed to burn fat. With an inadequate amount of glucose in your system, you will be left feeling lethargic during workouts and unable to train effectively." High-glycemic foods such as Gatorade (78) or pretzels (83) are good choices for long hikes or runs.

Don't Overdo It

Just because you work out doesn't mean you can eat a bowl of Pepsi-over-Cap'n Crunch for breakfast every morning. Your body still has a limited storage capacity for glucose, and excess sugars will be stored as body fat. That means you should eat unrefined sugar sources such as fruits, vegetables and grains to trim down, while avoiding candy, soda and other processed foods.

Time It Right

A study in the American Journal of Physiology has shown that taking in sugar immediately before you exercise inhibits the fat-burning effects of cardio. If you run in the morning, do so before eating breakfast. If you work out in the afternoon, focus on foods that have a low glycemic index, and eat them at least two hours before hitting the pavement.

Take In Sugar After Training

In contrast, consuming sugar after a workout is vital for restocking muscle-glycogen stores. In fact, in the hour immediately after a workout, almost none of the sugar you eat will be used to form fat. This is where high-glycemic-index foods come into play. Since insulin is anabolic-it quickly shunts nutrients into your muscles, stopping muscle breakdown while hastening repair-a quick insulin spike right after a workout is desirable.

Eat Your Dinner Before Dessert

A food's glycemic index is affected by what you already have in your stomach or what you eat along with it. Avoid eating high-GI foods all by themselves. If you get a box of Godiva chocolates as a gift, be sure to dip into it lightly and only after a healthy meal.

Go Easy on the Sweet Substitutes

The dangers of artificial sweeteners like aspartame (NutraSweet) and sucralose (Splenda) have been splattered all over the media. To date, however, aspartame has proven safe. Scientists at the Clinical Pharmacology Group at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, concluded in the journal Physiology and Behavior that intense sweeteners like aspartame don't increase your tendency to snack, don't affect blood sugar or insulin levels, and may even help some people lose weight by lowering sugar intake. However, many high-profile and respected members of the medical community, including alternative-health guru Andrew Weil, M.D., are passionately opposed to aspartame and urge their patients to forgo it. In the end, as with anything, the best path is moderation.

Nature's Sugar

The following is a list of some common natural sugars that can be a little friendlier to your physique than refined ones. Although unrefined, many of these sugars still pack a caloric wallop and can be detrimental if consumed in excessive amounts. Some are worse than others.

Blackstrap Molasses: The liquid left behind after sucrose is removed from beet juice or sugar cane. Provides calcium and iron.
Date Sugar: Made of ground-up dates. Rich with minerals and fiber.
Fruit Juice: Absorbed into the bloodstream relatively slowly, creating only a moderate rise in insulin levels.
Honey: Will boost your energy, but contains more calories and rots teeth faster than sucrose (table sugar). Use in moderation.
Maple Syrup: A sweetener that comes from maple-tree sap. Abundant in minerals, potassium and calcium.
Sucanat: A product of squeezing juice from sugar cane. Similar to white sugar, but contains vitamins and minerals that table sugar doesn't.

Man-Made Sweeteners

Many of the following refined sugars can be found in some of your favorite foods. Keep your distance.

Corn Syrup: Found in dozens of foods-salad dressings, lunch meats, ice cream and canned fruits. Enhances viscosity, texture and color.
Dextrose: Comes from the hydrolysis of cornstarch and serves as a yeast food in breads, buns and rolls.
Brown Sugar: A refined sweetener derived from sugar cane. Contains molasses syrup and is found in many baked goods.
Granulated Sugar: Comes in many different forms. Can be found in anything from your sugar bowl at home to baked goods like doughnuts and cookies.
High-Fructose Corn Syrup: Produced from adding enzymes to cornstarch. Found in soft drinks, ice cream and frozen desserts. Invert Sugar: An equal mixture of glucose and sucrose commonly found in carbonated beverages.

Aspartame: A Bad Rap?

Since being approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1981, aspartame has been repeatedly panned in the media, for different reasons. There's no agreement on which component of aspartame is toxic: First, it was aspartic acid, then methanol, then phenylalanine, and now it's the diketopiperazine (DKP). Yet phenylalanine and aspartic acid are both amino acids found naturally in dietary proteins, and most dietary methanol comes from the digestion of fresh fruits and vegetables, not from aspartame. As for DKP, a whopping hit of 12 1/2 grams of aspartame given to six volunteers bore no adverse effects, says a study published in Food Chemistry and Toxicology. As a result, aspartame is still considered safe by the FDA, the American Dietetic Association, and scientists who have tested it in humans at universities around the world. Even so, public fears persist, most likely because of reports that a large number of the population is unwittingly allergic to aspartame. However, according to the journal Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, only a small segment of the population-one out of every 16,591-actually has this condition (called phenylketonuria, or PKU), in which one cannot properly metabolize phenylalanine, one of the amino acids in aspartame.

Originally published on July 1, 2007
© 2007 Weider Publications, LLC, a subsidiary of American Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Ten Thoughts Tuesday

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

1) Survived the night at my folks house. Mom's home from surgery - recovering comfortably.

2) Glad she's comfortable. I was anything *but* comfortable sleeping on the recliner all night. Same with the couch. Even tried sleeping on the floor. Two hours of lousy sleep is all I got.

3) I'm not sure why I can't sleep at my folks house. I sure can sleep in a hotel room or even in my car between Tuesday classes. Just can't sleep at their condo. I've never been able to.

4)  I love my folks to death. But if my dad had asked me one more time this morning if I wanted to make myself some breakfast I'd have strangled him, I swear. Dad's one of those that just has to make sure everyone has enough to eat - to the point he'll hound the hell outta you until you say *yes* just to shut him up. I do not do mornings - I do not eat for a few hours after I get up. I've always been like this. Two pieces of toast were the ONLY thing that shut him up so I could get ready to head out to school. Grrrrrrrr.

5) Channel Hoppers!! They drive me crazy!! Dad's recently taken to channel hopping. Grrrrr. Nothing worse than getting into the show you're being *forced* to watch only to have the channel changed unexpectedly.

6) We didn't make it to Red Lobster yesterday. The weatherman was forecasting a winter weather advisory so we decided to stay close to home. Our second favorite restaurant was our destination. Great food. Priced reasonably. They were out of scallops, though. Damn. I'd so had my heart set on scallops.

7) Told my dad about Married Son's and my business plans over dinner last night. Surprisingly he's all for it. Usually he'd have said it's too high risk and just go work for someone else. Now he's all for taking the risk of starting a new business. Guess he's tired of hearing how bad things are here in Michigan and realizes it's gonna take a risk to survive ...

8) I'm soooooo glad to be home again. Like I said I love my folks. I'm just glad to be back home. My kids ... my messes ... my stuff ... my bed!! And I hear my bed calling me now. I'm so there as soon as I finish my thoughts.

9)  My car is being a butt-head again. Not sure what's going on. I'll have Married Son check it out tomorrow. I'm suspecting it's nothing serious, possibly just topping fluids off and tightening a hose and/or belt or two. I'm just tired of car problems.

10) I got this from my friend Amy ... even though St Patty's Day was yesterday I still did it. LOL.

What Your Shamrock Says About You

You express yourself well - you are very verbal. You are good at perceiving the world and understanding people. At times you can be moody and lack direction. You have an artist's temperament. You consider yourself a lucky person. Luck always seems to be on your side. You are traditional, easy going, and appreciative of the simple things in life.

The Shamrock Personality Test

Sunday Evening ...

... and I'm finally done with studying. I swear I'm cross-eyed now!! But it's done.

My mother is having surgery tomorrow. I'll be gone for a few days to take care of my dad while she's in the hospital recovering. It's nothing real major, just "warranty work" needed from a previous surgery. Since Dad can't really take care of himself since the stroke, I've been drafted into staying over and keeping him out of trouble. Nice thing is he'll treat to dinner out. He's a huge seafood lover like I am. We'll probably hit Red Lobster. It's part of our routine when I go "daddy-sit".

So, I'll be there for a day, maybe two (or more). Hopefully not much more. I love my folks, but I just can't handle being there for too long! Ideally it's an evening. Come home to my own bed. Riiiight. I get the couch for a day or two. Yuck.

I'm hoping to post my Ten Thoughts on time.  Riiiight, like I normally post 'em on time anyway. LOL!

Just some weekend ramblings ...

What a long weekend this has been so far. Been studying since last night for two tests I have next week. And I'll be studying the rest of the weekend, too. Somewhere in between all this studying I have to give some thought to the regularly assigned homework, too.

I've been following everyone blogs. Haven't really left comments to many, not sure why either. Just know I'm not ignoring ya'll ...

I did get the chance yesterday to go to dinner with Married Son, DIL and Grandson. Also got to meet the guy that Married Son has hired to be a pilot driver with me, Taco they call him. Nice guy. Has some real good ideas for piloting. Taco's gonna be a great asset to the company. We managed to settle a huge debate, too. Married Son wanted to go with pick-up trucks for our pilot vehicles. I'm more concerned with the cost of gasoline and maintenance expenses and wanted to go with a suitable car. Sort of a cross-over type vehicle. DIL kept recommending we look into the Pontiac Vibe. Finally yesterday we did. I'm. In. Love!! OMG!! I so love the Vibe!! Nice little cross-over vehicle, gets about 32 miles highway mileage, AND has the cargo space we need for our pilot "kit", mobile "desk", radios, coolers and overnight bags. Since our first vehicles will be pre-owned, we really can't be overly picky on colors, but eventually I want a nice (highly visible) yellow Vibe.

Oh yeah, speaking of the pilot business that reminds me ... add "design business logo" to my list of must do's this weekend!! Not sure what I'm thinking design wise. "Platinum Pilot Cars, Inc" doesn't warrant itself to a lot of logo possibilities, at least nothing that I can think right now. Then again, I've got business econ, computer programming and a bunch of homework projects clouding my thoughts at the moment.

I really do need to head up to the store before I get back to studying. Running dangerously low on caffeine, lol. I've also had a craving since last night for "personal pizzas". When the kids were little they used to love personal pizzas. Really it's nothing more than bread with pizza sauce, cheese and toppings of your choice warmed in the oven until the cheese has melted. Since bread is a huge no-no for me now I've been making them on diabetic crackers. LOL. Actually it's pretty good. Can't taste the blandness of the diabetic crackers with all those yummy toppings sitting on it. And the carbs are greatly reduced. It's a challenge, though, trying to get the toppings to stay on a little two-bite sized cracker!

I should also gather the pop bottles and take them back to the store today, too. Michigan has a ten cent bottle refund. I have five garbage bags full of two-litre bottles!! I'm figuring there's a good twenty bucks in bottles sitting on my deck right now. LOL. Getting them all into my little Grand Am might present a problem, though.

Procrastinated long enough. Guess I really should get off my butt, get to the store and then back to the studying. Ah, all this excitement ...

Funny!

Speaking of turning into our parents. I was sharing some GOOD comedy with Alien tonight when I ran across this. What memories and what truth in what he says!! Gotta love Bill Cosby!

Bill Cosby---Grandparents

FUNNY!!!

Revised 60s Hits ...

Some of the artists of the 60's are revising their hits with new lyrics to accommodate aging baby boomers.

They include:

Herman's Hermits --- Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker.

Ringo Starr --- I Get By With a Little Help From Depends.

The Bee Gees --- How Can You Mend a Broken Hip.

Bobby Darin --- Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash.

Roberta Flack --- The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face.

Johnny Nash --- I Can't See Clearly Now.

Paul Simon --- Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver.

The Commodores --- Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom.

Marvin Gaye --- Heard It Through the Grape Nuts.

Procol Harem --- A Whiter Shade of Hair.

Leo Sayer --- You Make Me Feel Like Napping.

The Temptations --- Papa's Got a Kidney Stone.

Abba --- Denture Queen.

Tony Orlando --- Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall.

Helen Reddy --- I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore.

Leslie Gore --- It's My Procedure, and I'll Cry If I Want To.

And my favorite:

Willie Nelson --- On the Commode Again 

Ten Thoughts Tuesday

1) Wonder if I can get this done before midnight, when it'll be Wednesday thoughts instead? I have half an hour to try anyway!

2) It's snowing again. Grrrrrr. I don't know how much is supposed to fall, hopefully not much.

3) I have a huge test in my database class next week. Guess the weekend will be doing nothing but studying for it. Good thing, though, we did a practice test today. I scored about 90% on the practice test. Too bad that grade won't count. We were allowed to use notes for the practice test, no notes allowed on the real test. Drats!

4) We had a test in Business tonight. It went pretty well. Got a little more than three quarters of the way through it when one of the students came up to tell the teacher his copy of the test was missing the even numbered pages (seven pages total). Problem is, he's visually impaired and they print off huge poster sized tests so he can read them. After he left the teacher's desk I went up and asked if it was okay if after I finished my test if I read the missing questions to this student so he could finish the test. He was happy to have the assistance, it meant he wouldn't have to get a ride to school for a make up test!! Made me feel good, too, being able to help this young man out.

5) I have sooooo much homework this weekend. Luckily Alien is with her dad this weekend so I won't feel like I'm ignoring her while my face is stuck in my books.

6) I was finally able to catch up reading everyone's blogs today. I think. Problem is, after reading a few blogs about food (and some really delish looking recipes) I so have the munchies!! And girl scout cookies!! Sounds soooooo good right now. Hmmmm ... wonder what's in the over-stuffed cupboards that I can actually have as a snack?? Low sodium, low carbs ... yuck ... that limits me big time. Oh oh oh!! Bananas!! There's a ton of bananas down in the kitchen. YUM!! A bowl of Rice Krispies may just be in order ... with sliced banana on top!!

7) Oh oh, nine minutes to go before it's Wednesday and my Tuesday Thoughts will officially be late.

8) Yes, I'm digging for thoughts right now. LOL.

9) Still digging. LOL!! I sooooo need a vacation. Been 12 years since my last real vacation. I'm ready ... don't care where I go so long as I get there.

10) I'm so tired tonight. No reason why, really. Other than for some reason these last three days I'm back to having insomnia real bad. I'm seriously thinking of a hot shower after my bowl of Rice Krispies and bananas.

Bonus thought: I posted this just a minute before midnight. Yippee!!!

Grandkids!! Gotta Love 'Em!!

I get an instant message a little while ago from Married Son:

Married Son: hi there
Me: howdeeeeee
Married Son: YOUR GRANDSON!!!
Me: what's he doing?
Married Son: i bought some cookies earlier... and he heard mommy tell me he cant have any...
Me: oh oh
Married Son: so he waits till she's not looking, grabs one out of the thing... takes ONE bite, and puts it back
Me: LMAO
Married Son: he would have gotten away with it if mommy didnt see him chewing on something
Me:
Married Son: little shit LOL
Me: like someone else I know!!
Me: I have a picture of a certain little boy w/ a forbidden cupcake ...
Married Son: lol


Gotta love it!!! The *Mother's Curse* really does work!!!!!


And the photo ... proof that Grandson comes by it naturally ...
Married Son in 1985 (about the same age as his son is now) busted having a cupcake *before* dinner after his grandmother said no ...

You know you're getting older when ...

... you realize you've turned into one (or both) of your parents. The change was gradual. I never saw it coming. Today I realized I AM MY PARENTS!

1) Dad keeps a health log. Blood pressure and blood sugar readings. Daily. I've been keeping one since being diagnosed with Diabetes.

2) My phone book has more doctor's numbers than phone numbers of my friends and family. Damn, and the doc added two more specialists I'm to begin seeing immediately. That brings the number of doctors and hospitals to 8! That's not counting the pharmacy, my insurance company and my diabetic supply company. I only have 7 family and friends in my cell phone book.

3) Monday has always been "Doctor Day" for my folks, even when we kids were growing up. I just got back from my doctors appointment. My next appointment (in May no less) is for a Monday. Both of the new specialists are Monday appointments. And yes, I planned it that way.

4) My folks both make lists of things they want to discuss with their many doctors. I had a list of questions for my doctor today. I've never written anything down before. Glad I did, I'd have forgotten half of what I wanted to ask him!!

5) Daddy owns nothing but white socks. Doc told me today because of a foot infection (side effect of diabetes, medication, and bad circulation) and the dyes in colored socks I'm to wear nothing but white socks from now on. Somebody shoot me if I ever buy those old fart support hose, please??

It really sucks to realize you've turned into your elderly parents. Growing old sure isn't for wimps!! LOL.

The good news is that I'm finally within the target ranges for blood glucose levels. Only took four months of adjusting my meds. Of course, I did cheat a little. LOL. When I know I have to see the doc, I eliminate all carbs for about 48 hours (a tip from Dad). I'm not big on sugary or sweet stuff, so that's not a problem to avoid, LOL. But, Doc's happy with the readings. Shhhhhhhhhhhhh ... don't tell him I cheated!! LOL! And no, I don't go hog wild on carbs afterwards. Well, minus that snack sized bag of cheddar baked potato chips I had on the drive home. What's really odd is that I felt funny before and during the appointment - lightheaded, headache, irritable - some of the signs of low blood sugar ... but the A1C reading the nurse took was within the target range (125 or 6.5%) ... I wonder what's up with that??

I only lost a pound since my last visit in January. Ah well, at least it wasn't a gain. And honestly since surgery I've regained all appetite I'd lost before. So naturally, any loss was a relief. What's funny is previous visits to Doc I'd lost between 5 and 10 pounds each time, only to be told "you need to lose more weight". I thought for sure after the nurse weighed me today I'd get the same lecture from Doc. Nope. "Good girl!! Keep losing weight". Say what?? It's *only* a pound I lost ... and NOW I'm being told "atta girl". Geesh.

I wasn't able to show "Vampira" the beaded diabetic bracelets. She called out of work today for whatever reason. I'll have to make a special trip to show her. No biggie.

Better scoot. I have a test tomorrow in Business (Econ). Need to study ...

Waffle Party!!

OMG!!! Single Son and Alien went grocery shopping today! Can we say over-kill?? We have so many boxes of frozen waffles that they can't all fit in the freezer (ten boxes)! The freezer is full of not only waffles, but a shitload of Goddess only knows what!! The overflow is in the fridge. I didn't dare open the cupboards. Last time I did stuff started falling out!!

Anyone care for a waffle??

My photoshop class was canceled last night because of a death in Teacher's family. So I went with Married Son and Grandson to meet with a local pilot driver at the family diner up the road. She was a wealth of information. Grandson as usual was a hoot!! He was his normal well behaved self. He sat quietly and drew on the back of the paper menu for the two hours we met with this gal. And played with my cell phone. LOL. Ate some of his dinner, but decided it was more fun to play with his onion rings and the hot dog he shared with Gramma. On the way home, Married Son saw a truck for sale that he decided to turn around and go check out. "Daddy made circle" Grandson blurts out! Yup, he sure did. Grandson sure loves trucks, I think he ooh-ed and ahh-ed as much as his Daddy did over the pretty pick up truck we were looking at. Of course, Gramma did her share of ooh-ing and ahh-ing over it, too. I wouldn't mind driving that pretty black Avalanche as my pilot truck, lol.

I really need to figure out how to get these photos off my cell phone!! I keep taking more and more pictures of Grandson! I even had Single Son try to figure it out. Without internet access on the phone we can't figure out *how* to get them to my computer. And, yes ... I checked on data cables for my model of phone. Seems they don't exist. Figures!! Guess my cheapskate butt is gonna have to break down and get internet service on my phone yet!!

Not a whole lot else going on here this weekend. I've got an Econ test on Tuesday that I'll study for. Make some more jewelry to take with me to the doctor's on Monday so his "Vampire" can check 'em out. Clean a little, bag up some bottles and take 'em back to the store. Eat waffles. Thrilling stuff.

star trek generations funny clips

STAR TREK 40th Anniversary Tribute 1966 - 2006

Ten Thoughts Tuesday

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

1) Spring break is over. Bummer. Back to school for me today.

2) Went out last night to grab a carry-out pizza and cheese sticks. Yummy. A rare treat for me these days. Anyway ... it was raining. What wasn't still frozen was under water! My yard was sheet ice while the driveway looked like a small lake.

3) Looks like it'll be a good year for flooding. Still so much snow and ice on the ground out here. Yesterdays rain melted some of it, but the culverts already can't handle the overflow of water. Temperatures dropped overnight so that everything that melted during the day turned back into ice.

4) The weathermen are saying we're going to get another snow storm starting about 7 PM tonight ... they're calling for 5 to 8 inches of additional snow.

5) I really need to go out and buy some new clothes. Everything is so baggy on me that I'm down to two pairs of pants and a dozen or so tops. Luckily, baggy tops I can get away with - sort of. Some tops are so huge that they look like tents on me.

6) Not sure what my weight loss is to date. I go to the doctors next Monday. I'll get weighed then.

7) I love not being a slave to the scale!! I threw mine out a few years back when I realized frequent weighings were actually doing me more harm than good. I'd get depressed if there was even a slight gain, for whatever reason. No more!! Now I only get weighed at the doctor's office.

8) I've determined that my kids are weird. Very weird. Last night Single Son comes in my room. He brings his laptop. I'm laying down, watching tv trying to fall asleep. All he did was sit in my computer chair, looking at me while he typed. Cracked a smile every once in a while. Didn't say a word for about half an hour. Finally stands up, saying he just came in to say hi. Weird kid.

9) Single Son is 28. Can I really call him a kid?? Technically he *is* an adult, but he'll always be my child ... even when he's a hundred years old. Yup, kid ...

10) Once again, stumbling over this last thought. With not having blogged in days you'd think I'd be able to come up with ten thoughts. Nope. Nothing ... Oh ... I know ... Hey Cassie!! Don't forget about *your* ten thoughts today!! LOL!!!!