I Was Born2Cree8

OUCH!!!

2012-01-25T13:57:00.000-08:00

On Monday, two days ago, I was doing my volunteer work at the local Food Bank. I had done a bit of portioning of ice tea and orange crystals when Anna came and asked me to do some filing. i was busily doing the filing when suddenly I felt an extremely sharp and nasty pain in my left wrist. I really hadn't done anything that should have caused this to happen, was just moving some hanging files in one of the filing cabinets. It took some time for the pain to dye down enough for me to continue my work. Since then, I have had a very sore wrist and pain up into the back of my hand. I'm not sure what damage has been done in there, but am sure something has happened. This is not normal.

This left wrist is the one that was damaged in a crash on September 10, 2010 when I was riding my trike and was hit by a car. The distal radius (bone at base of thumb, goes up to elbow) was shattered right into the joint line (very bad), and every bone in the wrist was dislocated. I also had several other injuries, but this one was by far the worst. I was taken to hospital by ambulance and the next morning had surgery to reconstruct the wrist, and they put a metal plate in with 9 screws to hold it all together. After the bones were healed, the metal was causing me problems, so on March 30, 2011, I had a second surgery to remove the metal. At that time the surgeon also fixed the trigger finger issue I was having since the crash. I've had physiotherapy done on the wrist until the therapist decided she had done all that could be done for it.

Since the wrist healed from the second surgery, for about the last 6 months or so, the wrist has been pretty good. It has days when it hurts more than usual, when there's some clunking going on in there, but for the most part it's been doing pretty well, all things considered.... until 2 days ago. Now I have to keep the wrist and hand wrapped for support and just live with the extra pain. If it doesn't improve over the next few days, I will be going to see a doctor about it, though I don't think they really can do much of anything to fix it at this point.

A Beautiful Day

2012-01-25T13:55:00.000-08:00

The weather forecast for today, as of 11:00pm last night, was for a high of 2°C and 40% chance of wet flurries.

Can you imagine how happy I was when I woke to a clear, sunny day? When I took the recycling down to the end of my driveway just after 3:00am, I noticed the sky was clear and full of stars, but that doesn't mean it still will be clear by morning.

About 11:00am I looked outside and saw my thermometer was showing 7°C!! Snow is melting like crazy, steady drips falling from the roof. As the day has progress, it's now1:51pm and there are lots of clouds moved in, though still lots of blue sky showing. There is a bit of wind, and with the temperature hanging steady still at 2°C, that will melt away the small amount of snow we have at this time. I don't mind that at all.

I am Grateful

2012-01-25T01:29:00.001-08:00

I think it's time to go get a snack... and a cup of tea... then soon to head to bed. I am getting sleepy...very sleepy!

I am grateful to have had a good day
I am grateful for the warmth of the pellet stove that keeps my home comfortable during the winter months
I am grateful for my 51" TV
I am grateful for my laptop computer
I am grateful for the food I eat each day as well as the water and tea I drink
I am grateful for the love my cat gives to me all the time
I am grateful for each and every one of my friends
I am grateful for my very comfortable new bed that is now waiting patiently for me to go crawl in...

Thinking of a Friend

2012-01-25T01:22:00.000-08:00

I have a lot of friends, some I see on a regular basis and some that I only see once in a while. It seems like if something happens to cause me to think of a certain person I haven't seen in some time, I end up running into them in a store or talking to someone who mentions that person I had just thought of. Today I read something on the internet about motorhome repair, just something I came across while surfing, and that reminded me of a fellow I've known for many years who makes his living doing repairs to motorhomes, RV trailers, horse trailers, trucks. I haven't seen him for quite some time now and last time I did, it was at Nurseryland, just across the lake from where I live. Today I was at that store for awhile. Now I am wondering if I will see him somewhere one day soon.

Motorcycle Show

2012-01-25T01:11:00.002-08:00

Sunday morning my friend Dan called at 4:00am... my wake up call. i got out of bed, had breakfast, got dressed, fed my birds and other such things. At 5:00am (or there about) Ray picked me up and off we went to the Vancouver Motorcycle Show in Abbotsford, BC. It takes about 5 hours to drive there from here with a stop for gas and another stop for tea, and we were happy to have bare roads most of the way there. Going over the mountains we did encounter compact snow on the highway in the upper areas near the summit of the mountain and otherwise they were bare.

Ray dropped me off at the front door on the Tradex Centre and went to park the truck. I went in, paid my entry and hung around looking at stuff until Ray joined me. We spent about 3 1/2 hours walking around looking at motorcycles of all makes and models as well as many motorcycle related things like leathers, boots, patches, helmet stickers, etc etc etc. By the time we had walked through all of what there was to see, my low back was hurting so bad it was nasty and I had shooting pains in my right hip joint. As we walked outside it was raining and I had left my coat in the truck, so I was really happy to find there was a bus there to drive people back to their vehicles in the different parking lots. It was a good show, though I was disappointed that there weren't more trikes than there were.

On the drive back it was raining until we got closer to the mountains where it changed to snow and the bare, wet roads became snowy roads. As we continued on our way, road conditions deteriorated and became dangerous. We saw a pickup truck that looked like it may have been hit by someone as it's front bumper was pulled out significantly. A little further along we saw a mini van in the ditch and not much past that there was a pickup truck with a canopy that had obviously lost control and rolled completely over. The police were there and an ambulance passed us just down the road. Add to this the fact that two times Ray's truck started to slide and it made for a stressful trip. I sure was glad that Ray is a good driver and didn't loose control.

By the time we got home I was very tired. It was just after 8:30pm and had been a long day, though a good one.

Learning Online

2012-01-25T00:45:00.003-08:00

I have been doing a bunch of research online, enjoying how much we can learn by 'surfing the net'. I see ads on the TV for all the different courses and stuff you can get online and as I study and do research on all things that interest me, I think it's kind of like taking online college courses. I have been checking out vegan recipes and looking at recipe books this evening. I also have been reading recipes for Quinoa in both burgers and bread. I love learning, so having all this information at my finger tips is a real bonus.

New Look

2012-01-25T00:34:00.000-08:00

I see Blogger has made some really big changes here. I guess I had better do a bunch of reading and find out what all the new stuff has to offer. i really need to do more blogging... period.

Brrrrr

2012-01-18T02:10:00.001-08:00

Up until recently we were having an unusually warm and wonderful winter. Warmer than usual temperatures, less than normal snowfall... it almost didn't seem like winter at all and we even set a record for warm temperatures on at least one day in December. Now, in the middle of January, we have been hit by very cold temperatures accompanied by wind coming from the north. Apparently this cold weather is being blown down from Alaska.... and I for one wish they'd stop sending this to us!! With a high of -11.4°C and a current temperature of -19°C, I am looking forward to warmer times. The Environment Canada Weather Office online is forecasting temperatures on the plus side starting Saturday and I am really hoping their predictions are right.

A Day in My Life...

2012-01-16T10:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went to K-town (commonly used nick name for the larger city about 45 minutes south of the city I live in) with my friend Phil. He had an appointment with a medical specialist down there and I went along to keep him company as well as 'just in case' he needed someone to drive on the way home. I know some of my way around that city, but not nearly well enough to insure we'd find the address he had to go to, so the day before I looked it up on my computer to insure I knew how to get there with ease. I am grateful I have computer and internet connection so I can do this, yet I still see that it would be wonderful to have a nuvi gps. With the gps I wouldn't have to look it up ahead of time and either commit it to memory or if more difficult, print out a map, etc. Anyway, all went well. We left early and stopped at Millennium Metals on our way. Phil loves doing metal work, making fancy shiny bits and putting them on his Harley Davidson motorcycle and he had run out of brass so went there to get another piece. I bought 2 nice pieces of aluminum so I too can make some of those fancy shiny bits and put them on my trike. Phil will teach me how to do it.

We got to the Doctor's office early so were happy to find there was a coffee shop in the same building so we could each have the hot drink of our choice before going upstairs. I read one of the books I took along while he was in the inner office and when he came out he told me I'd have to drive. Part of the procedure included putting drops in his eyes and his vision was too blurry to drive. He sat fairly quietly on the ride back and I could tell he was nervous about having me driving. I am a good driver, but I know it's hard for a man that is used to being the one behind the wheel to be able to give that up to anyone, especially a woman.

These photos show some of the things Phil has made for his Harley. They are done out of aluminum that he cut to shape and hand sanded and polished. As great as these look on his bike, since I took these photos, he's put brass pieces on the aluminum and WOW!! I will be taking some new photos one day soon and will share some here.

Veganism Suits Me

2012-01-16T09:52:00.002-08:00

The other day I went to visit my Mom, about a 25 minute drive north of where I live. I took along the ingredients for a vegan dish I wanted to try making and we enjoyed Spanish Rice for our dinner that evening. I brought home the left overs and last night I fried up some Vegan "hamburger", Ground Round then mixed in the Spanish Rice. It made for a very nice meal with some still left for another time.

This evening I am going to my monthly Vegan Pot Luck Dinner (and health video) so I plan to take Spanish Rice along for my contribution. I recently found and purchased a small cookbook in a 2nd hand book store and am so delighted with it and the recipes which are pretty much simple ones and all vegan. I've never been one for doing much cooking and certainly not for reading recipe books. Veganism must be agreeing with me, LOL. I was hoping it would help me to loose some weight, though so far it hasn't. What it has done for my health is lower my risk of heart disease!!

A1C (blood glucose reading for a 3 month period, important for diabetics): Oct. 6.3 ... Now 6.1 (desired <7.0)
LDL Cholesterol "bad stuff" : Oct. 4.4 ... Now 4.1 (desired <2.0 For non-diabetics I think it's <4.0)
HDL Cholesterol "good stuff" : Oct. 1.4 ... Now 1.54 (desired >1.0)
Total Cholesterol : Oct. 7.0 ... Now 6.4 (desired <4.0)
Lipid Ratio (risk factor for heart disease): Oct. 4.9... Now 4.2 (desired <4.0)

Even as a meat eater I was keeping my A1C at a good level as well as my Blood Pressure which is 120/80. As you can see, over the last 3 months, my risk of heart disease has dropped a lot, though it needs to come down more yet. After being Vegan for 6 months I'm sure it will show even more positive change. My next test will be early April.

Winter has Arrived!

2012-01-14T22:44:00.004-08:00

This winter has been very warm and any bit of snow we have gotten has melted away in a short time, leaving behind only the odd bit of snow or ice in shady spots. That is until the last few days!! It has turned cold and we had a bunch of snow today which will not be melting away any times soon!! It would seem that winter has finally arrived!! I guess this is good as we do need it, though I so much prefer warmer seasons. I know many people love winter and love doing winter sports such as skiing and snow mobile riding, though I love riding my trike (3 wheel motorcycle) which I only do in warmer months. I will do my best to enjoy this season as I always like to enjoy each day and find the good in it... and still I look forward to spring and the start of riding season!!

I am grateful for my friend Ray and for his new job plowing people's driveways and such. I am no longer able to shovel my driveway due to physical challenges, so the last few years I've just packed the snow down with my truck, thanking God for 4 wheel drive on this hill. Now Ray has surprised me twice by coming by and plowing me out on his way from one job to another in the truck with the snow blade.

Breakfast of Champions

2012-01-10T09:16:00.001-08:00

I was just reading a yummy sounding recipe for breakfast. I usually eat Oatmeal for my first meal of the day, adding lots of healthy things into it. I cook the rolled oats with a pinch each of raisins and craisins (dried cranberries), then add fresh ground flax seeds (about 2 TBSP seeds before grinding), 2 TBSP each of Psyllium Husk and Nutritional Yeast, 1/2 tsp or more cocoa powder, 3 TBSP Lecithin Granules and about 1 cup of Almond Beverage. One very healthy and filling meal. Sometimes I even eat some nuts or fresh fruit with it. This being said, the recipe I just read, Chocolate Peanut Butter Quinoa and Oats, sounds like something I want to try. I think it's a bit high in calories so I would use Almond Beverage (40 cal. per cup) instead of the Soy Beverage (100 cal. per cup) to save 60 calories, or perhaps use 1/2 and 1/2 or 1/4 Soy to 3/4 Almond. I would also leave out the maple syrup.

Hmmm, but how would I get my Psyllium (for fiber) and my Nutritional Yeast (for the B vitamins, including B12), not to mention the Flax (for Omega 3 and fiber) and the Lecithin (to help reduce cholesterol)?? I guess I'll have to give this all some thought.... as I enjoy my Oatmeal.

56? Wow!

2012-01-08T23:35:00.000-08:00

It was a quiet day for my birthday. I would have liked a bit more excitement, but oh well, not a big deal. I'm too old to worry about a thing like that anyway. Not that I'm saying I'm old, just too old to worry about silly things. I went to an Eckankar study group in the morning, then had tea at the mall with my friend Art who I haven't seen in ages. When Art left, I went into a store right beside the food court and bought myself 2 pair of black stretch pants, 2 pair for $15 plus tax. I then went shopping for some food items I needed and phoned another friend. I was planning to go visit Phil for the evening, but he wasn't feeling well, so I came home and watched TV curled up in my chair with my laptop and my cat, Mewsic. Yes, it was a quiet day, yet still a pleasant one. I was born in 1956 so I just turned 56 (wow, it's hard to believe I'm this old already) and I know that 'living my birth year' is going to be a very incredible and wonderful year!!!

Carob Peanut Butter recipe

2012-01-04T00:47:00.001-08:00

Last week when I was 'out and about' I ended up buying a bunch of books... one 2nd hand book store on Thursday and another one on Friday. I got some really terrific deals at the one of Friday and great books at both. Several of the books are Vegetarian Cookbooks as I need to learn more about preparing meals now that I no longer eat meat or dairy, eggs, anything from animals. Well, most of the time I don't anyway, only maybe 5% of the time when eating at a pot luck or someone else's home I end up eating something with dairy in it or perhaps eggs in it. At home I am full Vegan and around 95% Vegan when out.

One of the new books I bought is called Of These Ye May Eat Freely and it has lots of great recipes that are pretty easy to make. This evening I made Carob Peanut Butter. It sounded too good and too easy not to, and wow, very yummy!! I ate some on bread and ended up eating some by spoon. Still some in fridge for tomorrow!! Here's the recipe:

Carob Peanut Butter
2 bananas or 3/4 c. apple sauce
1/2 tsp vanilla, optional
2 TBSP carob powder
1-2 TBSP sweetener, optional (I didn't use any)
1/2 cup peanut or other nut butter
Blend or stir until smooth.

Health Journal

2012-01-03T23:49:00.000-08:00

I need to get my cholesterol levels down as well as loose weight. I have been working on this for some time now and just haven't had much success. About 3 months ago I went mostly Vegan which will help, I'm sure, and I have been taking supplements that apparently help to lower cholesterol, as well as eating more fiber rich foods. So far I haven't lost weight and tomorrow I will find out if there has been any change in the cholesterol levels as I had blood tests done Friday for my every 3 month diabetes blood sugar test as well as the cholesterol. Tomorrow I see the health nurse about my results to those tests. I know I have to drink more water and get more exercise as well as watch how much and what I eat... so I started the year off by starting a Health Journal where I will be keeping track of all I eat and drink as well as my daily blood glucose test results, exercise, how I'm feeling if that is effecting what I eat, etc. I haven't used my treadmill for several weeks and finally have started again... 15 minutes yesterday and 20 minutes today. Not a lot, I know, but it is a start and I will build up to longer. I weighed myself today and wrote that in the book too and each Thursday when I go to my TOPS meeting do the weigh in there I will record that 'official' weight in my Health Journal too. I am determined to get slim, trim and healthy!!

Today's weather, etc.

2011-12-29T23:40:00.004-08:00

Today was amazing, weather wise. It was 10°C (50°F) and sunny, clear blue skies!! It was a pure delight at this time of year to be out and about without a jacket and be totally comfortable. I wish every day could be like today!! Of course, there is a draw back to this in that we had a small amount of snow the other day and today it did a lot of melting, now will freeze and be very icy. Not only could this be dangerous out on the highways, but I live on a hill so have a very steep driveway that can be very dangerous when glare ice as you can't stop and end up on the highway, risking hitting or being hit by oncoming traffic. So if it's going to be sunny and warm I want it to melt all the snow off the driveway and let it dry enough to avoid the buildup of ice. I wish everyone a safe and joyous winter!!

I attended my weekly TOPS meeting and found I gained 1 1/2 pounds over Christmas. While this is not good, it also isn't terrible. Apparently, the average weight gain over Christmas is 5 pounds, so I didn't do all that bad. The worst anyone in our group did was a 3 pound gain. Time to get busy and get rid of that along with lots more. After TOPS, I got gas in my truck, then went to lunch with the ladies, as usual, and had a Veggie Burger with side salad, took the top half of the bun off before I ate and left that on my plate, also using a lesser amount of the Italian salad dressing 'on the side'. I went and got some pellets for my stove (I heat my home with these pellets), then to the Bargain Bin to meet friend Pat and picked up a few items, including some nice sheets for my bed. After that Pat & I went to Dairy Queen where I broke my diet both as a vegan and a weight watcher... I had a Mini Blizzard... so could have been much worse. It was yummy!! When time to head home, I went to the used book store to look for some books I've been wanting. I got one of the ones on my list... and 4 that weren't on the list. This evening I browsed some in the book Cook With Tofu, it looks like some good information and recipes for a new vegan to learn from and enjoy.

Count Down to Spring

2011-12-29T22:57:00.000-08:00

Well, Christmas is over and New Years is very nearly here. So far I have no plans for New Years Eve and will likely stay home to cuddle with my cat and watch TV, likely playing games on the computer as I do so. Or perhaps I will go to friend Phil's to watch a movie, though that would probably still see me home well before midnight, so time to cuddle with the cat while on the computer and watching TV, or even go to bed and read a book. A week after New Years is my Birthday. Yup, I get them all over with at once, more or less, with Christmas, New Years and my Birthday all being within a 2 week period. After that, nothing until Valentines day for which I would look at personalized valentines gifts for him... if I had a 'him' in my life, which I don't unless you count some of my animals. I am happy as a single woman, for the most part. There are times I would like that to change, then I give my head a shake. I enjoy my freedom and can't imagine being happy without it. After Valentines there's April Fools Day (nephew Jeremy's Birthday), then Easter... yes this is the count down to something. The May Long Weekend when we celebrate Queen Victoria's Birthday, is the latest I plan to have my trike back on the road. It of course will depend on the type of weather we are having at the time, and if the paint job is done as it will be done outside so must be warmer weather so not a winter project, but early May is when I plan to insure and start riding my trike again. Yes, I am counting down to what I so much look forward to.

Death of a Fire Chief

2011-12-29T22:47:00.000-08:00

Today is a sad day for the small city of Enderby, BC Canada. In the early hours of today, there was a burning building and the local volunteer fire department went to fight it. As they worked, there was suddenly a big explosion that woke many sleeping people in Enderby, causing them to wonder what in the world just happened! Dennis Botkin, a man I knew many years ago, was watching the fire when this explosion happened and yelled for someone to call for an ambulance as someone had to have been hurt in that. Little did he know that his grandson, a 29 year old man recently married and the current volunteer fire chief, had just been killed in the explosion, and another fire fighter injured.

I grew up in Enderby and moved away in the late 1970s, though still have family there and only live about a 25 minute drive away. I feel great gratitude for all fire fighters as they put their lives on the line to serve and protect their towns/cities and the people that live there. I am saddened for the Botkin family and for the little city of Enderby with all it's residents. The loss of this life was a big loss all around.

Making Cookies... Again!!

2011-12-20T00:31:00.002-08:00

I posted about making cookies the other day. Since then, I looked up Vegan Oatmeal Cookie recipes on the internet and found one that sounds really great so today I got what I need to make a batch or two of them, also for Christmas gifts. I'll bake them tomorrow or the next day. If you are interested, here is the recipe for you to check out! This fall I started eating about 95% Vegan. I have become very interested in eating healthily... and that sounds like something for another post.

Albert Einstein, physicist, 1921 Nobel Prize recipient:
"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."

Food Bank Today..... Vegan Potluck This Evening

2011-12-19T23:54:00.004-08:00

All my days lately seem to be very busy and tiring as well as wonderful. Today I had a medical appointment then went to the Food Bank to do another 2 1/2 volunteer hours. This month so far I have put in 11 1/2 hours there. With 818 Christmas Hampers going out this year, we have a lot of extra work to do putting those hampers together. Today my job was working on part of those Christmas Hampers. Ginger was putting 2 bags together so Iris and I could 'double bag' the veggies, so we would take a double bag and fill it with a 3# bag of onions + a 3# bag of carrots + a 5# bag of russet potatoes, tie the bags and stack them. In the 2 1/2 hours I was there, we did about 150 bags of which I know I did more than 50% as I was working at it by myself before Iris came in to help. It's a good thing I had a chiropractor appointment after that today as my back was not being kind to me at that point. As always, though, I enjoyed being at the Food Bank, doing what I can to help out.

After the Chiropractor all I wanted to do was come home and lay down, I felt so tired. However, my day was not yet over. I went to the Bulk Barn to pick up "a few things" and ended up picking up a LOT more than planned. YIKES!!! It came to $63!!!! Dang, groceries sure have gotten expensive lately!! I came home, used the washroom, packed up some Bean Soup I had made and off I went to my monthly Vegan Potluck and Video evening. GREAT food, WONDERFUL people, INFORMATIVE video on heart/artery health. I am so glad I went... and so GRATEFUL for being involved in this.

Food Bank

2011-12-16T22:28:00.000-08:00

I put in many volunteer hours each month at the local Food Bank, run by the Salvation Army. I really enjoy going there to help out with all the work needing to be done and I so enjoy the people I get to work with there. December is always a very busy month around the Food Banks with all the Christmas Food Drives happening as well as donations coming in from schools, stores and so many other people walking in to bring donations. My TOPS club also donates a bunch of food at this time of year. Donations are needed at the Food Banks all year long and December is when most of the donations are made. When donations come in it means a lot of work sorting through all that mix of various kinds of food items, filling the shelves and boxing the rest to be stored for refiling the shelves as needed through the coming year. All the standing and bending is a real killer for my low back, but I persevere and get lots done. I am grateful for the opportunity to help where help is so needed.

Making Cookies

2011-12-15T23:57:00.002-08:00

I packed up the ingredients for 2 kinds of cookies I wanted to make for Christmas gifts for a few of my 'guy friends'. I could of course make them at home, but wanted to go visit my Mom so decided to do both at the same time. I should have just come home after TOPS and gone to bed, or visited Mom for a while and come home early to bed. I went on to 'overload' in tired and in pain. However, I managed to get it done in the end, and still drive the 25 minutes home.

First I made Shortbread Cookies using a recipe given to me by my friend Cat Gee. They didn't turn out as great as Cat said they would be, so obviously not as great as hers turn out. Firs, they took a lot of mixing to get them 'smooth and creamy', then I could only put 1 pan of 12 cookies into the oven at a time. The recipe said bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes until golden on bottom of cookies. Well, Mom swears her oven is right so I don't know why, but it was taking around 25-30 minutes to get them to golden on the bottoms. When baking the 2nd dozen I was checking to see if they were done and WHOOF, the pan fell and there were broken cookies all over the inside of the oven!!! I was not happy!!! I cleaned up the mess and got the 3rd dozen in to bake. Mom was gone to get us some dinner from Subway when this happened and came home to see me cleaning up the last of the mess. She said stuff like this has happened to her too, so that helped a lot. It helped me to see I'm not such an idiot as I was feeling like until then.

Shortbread finally done, I started the Peanut Butter Balls. These ones don't get baked and though a bit fiddly, they are easy to make and are very healthy. Ingredients include flax meal, oat bran, carob chips and powder, honey &/or maple syrup... stuff like that. When all is mixed together, you roll it into little bitty balls that you roll in chopped nuts, or chia seeds, or coconut, or quinoa, or sesame seeds, or whatever else you can think of like that. They are so YUMMY and well worth the work to make them. I think I'll make another batch to give to my brother and his wife.

Another Full Thursday

2011-12-15T23:40:00.000-08:00

Today I didn't make it to my every Thursday TOPS meeting. I had answered a post on Freecycle for 150 feet of baseboard being given away and the fellow needed me to go pick it up in Coldstream between 10am and noon on Thursday which is when my TOPS group meets in Armstrong. Once it was on my truck I had to bring it home and unload it. Some of the pieces are so long that I had to open the sliding back window of my truck and put the boards through, resting one end on the dash and the other end still sticking out so far I had to hang a red flag on my 'over length' load. The boards are anywhere from 2 feet long to 15 feet long. Once it was all unloaded I packed up a bunch of baking ingredients for making cookies and headed out for the rest of my day.

I drove to Armstrong for the usual Christmas gift exchange and mini party with 3 of my friends from the TOPS group... Pat, DJ and Pauline. I got there around 2pm and left at 4:30pm off and running to Mom's in Enderby... some days I put a lot of kilometers onto my truck. At Mom's I visited with her as well as made 2 kinds of cookies for giving as gifts to some of my friends this Christmas. Exhausted and in a lot of pain from my back, I left there around 11pm and made the 25 minute drive home again. I thought about stopping to gas up the truck at 2 1/2 cents per liter (1o cents per gallon) cheaper then here, but felt I just couldn't face it, needed to come home and end my day.

Ahhhh.... 'Tis The Season...

2011-12-06T19:43:00.003-08:00

'Tis the season for social gatherings when there are oh so many pot luck dinners to attend which means oh so many dishes to cook and take along to share with friends, and oh so many photographs to take of people and food at the parties. Christmas is a hard time of year for many people for many reasons, including so much over eating makes us gain the pounds when what we want to do is drop weight and inches for a slim, trim body and improved health. All the excess photographs I take can be put on my portable hard drives, yet the excess food I eat goes straight to fat that gets stored on my body. I need to make sure I get more exercise as well as do my best to refrain from the over eating thing!! Wish my luck!!

Food Bank

2011-12-06T19:36:00.003-08:00

Oh my aching back..... That is what I've been saying all day today and part of yesterday. You see, I did my volunteer hours at the Food Bank yesterday and I over did it a bunch. I was helping put together food hampers for people in need as well as sorting and putting away some of the food that has come in recently. At this time of year, there is a lot of food donated and it all has to be sorted through and put away on the shelves as well as boxed and stored to feed people throughout the coming year when there are not so many donations. I knew I was on my feet too long, bending down too much, and still I kept doing it as there was just so much to be done. We sure could use more help at this time of year. I really love being involved in this. I don't love the pain, and yet it's almost worth it in this case.

Eating Vegan

2011-11-24T17:59:00.003-08:00

Yesterday I went to visit my Mom, taking with me some groceries I needed to make our dinner. I don't usually cook... for myself or anyone else, but since I've been choosing to eat Vegan, I am more interested in reading recipes and cooking meals. This is the first time I've taken groceries and cooked for my Mom and I think she was pretty happy. Hey, she even took seconds and that's unusual as Mom is a very small eater!! I have been going to a Vegan group to eat and to watch movies on health and why it is healthier to not eat animal based products. They not only fed us very well for 4 evenings, and showed us very interesting, informative videos, but they also gave us recipes and a great deal of health information handouts. What I cooked last night was one of those recipes.... Cuban Black Beans and Rice. I used brown Basmati rice. Mom had some spaghetti squash she had just cooked, not knowing I was planning to feed her, so we had some of that and spinach salad as well. A bit later, after playing a game of Tri-Onimos, we had tea and a great Tofu desert I buy in my favorite grocery store. A healthy meal, filling, and it stayed with me all evening.

NO TO SMART METERS!!

2011-11-24T17:28:00.003-08:00

I've heard that connecticut electricity is fairly reasonably priced and I guess ours here is too, though it keeps going up and up as does the cost of all other things. It seems cost goes up more than income does and it sadly is hurting a lot of people. Now, the hydro company here is putting in what they call 'smart meters', which I and many other people feel are a violation of our privacy. Many people even believe they are dangerous to our health due to radiation!! Yesterday I noticed one of my Mom's neighbors had posted a sign beside her existing hydro meter stating that a smart meter is not to be installed there. I am going to post one beside my meter too. I was hoping to find one on the internet to print out, but haven't yet though I've been to several sites. I took some photos last night of the one I saw, so can use them to make up my own sign.

NO TO SMART METERS!!

My Thursday This Week

2011-11-24T17:20:00.004-08:00

Being Thursday, I went to TOPS this morning (down 1/2#), then for lunch with 'the ladies'. As often happens, I also went to the Bargain Bin (2nd hand store) with some of my friends. I've been staying away from there a lot lately as I am working at getting rid of stuff, not wanting to bring more home!! Anyway, I've been wanting a duvet cover (queen size) as I was recently given a duvet that didn't have a cover (thank you so much, Cat, I love it!!) So guess what I found at the Bargain Bin!! Yup, a queen size duvet cover... BRAND NEW, STILL IN THE PACKAGE!!! Regular price $186.99.... It was priced $20.00 and being all the stuff in that area was 1/2 price today I got it for $10.00!!!! WoHOOO!!! I love a good deal!!! I also got a pair of short leather winter boots, 2 pairs of earrings, a set of 3 small canisters (very handy for various bulk foods), a blouse, a large bed sheet, an eagle patch (Harley style, says Ride Free and Motor Cycles) I'll give to a Harley friend at Christmas.... total cost $19.00!! Not bad!! While there I should have checked to see what they had for breeches, but didn't think of it then, so maybe next week. Anyway, I already have the duvet into it's cover and my bed looks great. Can hardly wait to slide into it tonight.

Issues Signing In

2011-11-24T17:18:00.002-08:00

I've been finding Blogger harder and harder to sign into lately. It is a real run around to get in here each and every time. Oh well... at least I finally find my way from web page to web page and finally get into my blog!!

2011-11-13T00:57:00.001-08:00

My day today:

Planned to do: 30 minutes on treadmill.... laundry... clean chinchilla & rabbit cages.

Actually did: 3 loads of laundry - washed/dried/folded/put away... cleaned all 3 chinchilla cages and 1 rabbit cage, gave the chins their dust baths, topped up water bottles... talked on phone to George for 4 hours while I did the laundry, talked on phone for 1 hour to Ray, talked on Messenger with Dan for undetermined time twice, thought about Mark and wondered if he'll be coming over this way any time soon and if he has bought another truck yet. (I have one I will sell him, lol)

All that is on top of 'every day stuff' like feeding birds & cat (rabbit & chinchillas get food dishes filled every few days as needed). My dog, Indaway, is inside now and just finished eating his dinner or raw turkey. Oh ya, including feeding myself, haha.

Doing dishes was something I should have done and would have done, though didn't get to. They'll still be there tomorrow. I am disappointed that I didn't get on the treadmill today, just couldn't fit it in. Guess I could have done that while on the phone, if only I had thought to do so.

So... my 'To Do' list for tomorrow will start with 30 minutes on the treadmill and do the dishes. Fold more laundry tops the list too. Then work on cleaning the kitchen.

My Blogging Goal

2011-11-13T00:53:00.001-08:00

I used to do a LOT of blogging. I wrote many posts and visited many other people's blogs. I also participated in writing challenges as well as photographic challenges. I very much enjoyed all of that, though found eventually my life changed and I no longer had the time for all those countless hours each day to be spent on the computer. Since then, I have largely gotten away from blogging. I find that this is a sad thing, and I desire to do more blogging again. Oh, not as much as I once did as I still have much to do in my 'real' life, though still I do want to blog a bit more again than what I have been doing this last while. So, I set a goal to do at least a small blog post each day, on each of my 2 blogs... and some days to do even larger posts.

Another Rider Killed!!!

2011-10-30T23:09:00.002-07:00

I have my TV on and the News is currently on. There was just a story about a PT Cruiser hitting a motorcycle and killing the driver of the motorcycle. I find this kind of thing most upsetting and unsettling!! Why? Because not only am I the owner and driver/rider of a motorcycle, but I too have been hit by a car. I am one of the very very lucky ones.... I lived to tell the story!! I lived to ride another day!! My trike (3 wheeled motorcycle) was totally destroyed and I received some very serious injuries that will forever plague my life. Yet I am alive and still functioning nearly as normal.

I asked the police and the insurance company, but neither one will tell me if the woman who was driving the car that hit me was charged with anything!! This woman nearly killed me and no one will tell me if she even got in any trouble for it!! Oh, I know the 'fault' of the crash was 'found in my favor', so my insurance premiums don't go up and hers do, but big deal, so she has to pay a little bit more for her insurance, just as she would have to if she damaged another car... which she did. Yes, after hitting me and my trike, she went on to hit a Honda car before she finally got around to stopping about 1/3 of a block further down the street.

Yes, I was one of the lucky ones!! The rider who was killed by the PT Cruiser was not so lucky! Statistics show that 85% of crashes involving motorcycles are cars hitting the motorcycles, and in most cases the car turns left into the lane of the motorcycle. When a car hits a motorcycle, it is never a good outcome!! I would really like to ask a question of some of these 'cage' drivers (cage = car, truck or van). I would like to ask "How does it feel to kill an innocent person? How does it feel to end the life of a man/woman, a father/mother, a son/daughter, a husband/wife?" Oh, I know that these people don't get up in the morning and say to themselves "I think I'll go out and kill a motorcyclist today"... and yet they do due to ignorance, due to being in too big a hurry, due to talking on their cell phone, due to just not paying attention to what they are doing!! Then they say "I didn't see it!" THEN LOOK!!!! My trike and I were not easy to 'not see'. I was wearing a salmon colored, highly visible vest over top of my black leather jacket, the trike is as wide as a car, and I was flying the Canadian Flag on it!! If she couldn't see me than I guess she wouldn't see a bicyclist or a pedestrian either. She nearly killed me... I hope she at least learned something from the experience. I sometimes wonder if she's ever even given a second thought to the woman she hit that day!!!

Human Challenges

2011-10-30T22:55:00.003-07:00

Today I was at a Baby Shower that I was invited to about a month or so ago. I found it most boring though am happy I went as many others canceled or just didn't show up. The young mother to be is the younger daughter of a friend of mine, both special people. Another friend of mine is always talking about how 'old' his is and has already been giving out many verbal birthday party invitations, for when he turns 60 in April 2012. While one boy is soon to be born, another one is more or less planning the end of his life when he could be planning many years yet to come. So much of humanity doesn't make much sense to me, I must admit. My mother is now 88 years of age and seems to still have more plans for her life than the friend who is going to turn 60 in just over 6 months. I wish I could better understand sometimes... and yet maybe it's not for me to understand. I just wish I could find a way to help my friend plan for more life and actually look forward to it.

My New Truck

2011-10-17T23:43:00.003-07:00

Currently, I drive a 1992 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4... and I love it. I have been trying to remember just what year I bought this truck who I named Vaquero (Spanish for Cowboy), and I don't recall though it could be as much as 10 years ago now. When I got him, he looked great and he has always been a super dependable truck. Now, with over 320,000 kilometers on him, he is rusty so doesn't look so good anymore, yet still he is super dependable and still is a pleasure to drive. I took Vaquero off the road in June, switching the insurance over to my trike. All summer Vaquero sat in my yard waiting while I rode Phoenix. On October 1, I decided it was time... it was cold and rainy, not the type of weather I wanted to ride the trike in, so I changed insurance from Phoenix back to Vaquero (from trike back to truck). I went out and put the key into Vaquero's ignition, turned it and VROOOM, he fired right up, happy to be alive and running again!!! I totally love this truck!!!

As much as I love Vaquero, the time has come to replace him, so taking into consideration how much I've enjoyed our years together and how dependable he has been and still is, I decided to go with another Ford Ranger 4x4. This time it will be a 2008 XLT with power windows and the 4 door extended cab. He has all the features that I wanted... and already he has a name!! I was telling my friends on Facebook about my new truck and posted a photo of this Grabber Orange truck. (Grabber Orange is a rare color... only 618 of them were put out in 2008 and fewer in 2009). My friend Brooks referred to this truck as Orange Julius... so I've named him Julius!!

You may have noticed a theme here... I always have male vehicles, not female, and yes, I name them too.

And here he is.... Julius!!

This is the photo my brother took of Julius when he, Terry, went to test drive the truck for me. You see, I found it on Craigslist and it's in Vancouver. Terry lives in the lower mainland so was able to go check this out for me (a wonderful big brother, don't you think), and said I'm getting a really great truck. Tomorrow I will drive to my bank about 1/2 hour north of here in the small town where I once lived and my Mom still lives. I will get a bank draft to pay for the truck and have a short visit with Mom, if there's time. Then back home where friend Ray will pick me up and give me a ride to the Greyhound Bus depot where I will begin my 9 hour bus ride. Terry will pick me up at the Vancouver bus depot and we'll drive about 45 - 60 minutes to his & Alana's home where I'll spend the night. On Wednesday I will meet with Vic, "the seller" and get all the paper work done, the truck paid for and all that stuff... then off to insure the truck. I will then begin the drive back home. The trip home will take quite a bit less time than the bus ride down will take. Well, unless I stop along the way to visit some of my triker friends, lol.

New Stuff

2011-10-17T23:30:00.002-07:00

I have been having some fun spending money this last while. I have bought a newer truck as well as my very first mattress!! Oh, I've had and owned and slept on mattresses before of course, but what I mean is I've never actually purchased a mattress before. Many many years ago I bought myself a queen sized water bed that of course came with a water bag which is a type of mattress, yet that is totally different from what I mean. My parents gave me an antique bed and the mattress that they had on it. They had used this bed for many years themselves and no longer had a use for it so gave it to me along with the matching vanity, stool and highboy dresser. I don't remember for sure when this bedroom suite came to me, but know it was before I had the renovations done to my home and that was in 1997, so you get the picture, it's an old mattress. So now I've actually shopped for and purchased a brand new Obusform, pillow top mattress that is going to be so comfortable and good support for my back!! It is on order and I am so looking forward to when it arrives and I get to sleep my first night on it. The Brick has a special deal on just now where if you buy this particular bed you get a free 51" Samsung Plasma TV!! Oh ya, I know I paid more for the mattress to get the 'free' TV than I would have had to otherwise, but that's okay. I figure I still got a good deal... I figure I paid about $450 for the TV this way, so I'm good with that. I wonder now, though, if all the cords and such come with it for hooking this TV up... things like the dvi to hdmi cables and all that type of thing. I hope all I need is included, and if it's not I guess I'll just have to go buy whatever is needed.

Inspirational

2011-10-17T23:21:00.003-07:00

The following is copied from The Divine Awakening on Facebook. I read it and it really touched my life. I have re-read it multiple times, then decided to share it with you. It may touch your life too.

It is human and natural to feel alone at times; to forget that there are people who love us and are thinking of us even when we're far from them or haven't seen them in a long time.

It's vital to also know that there are Spiritual Beings of Light who are always around us, loving and supporting us. These beings give us little reminders every day of how much we are loved, through poignant song lyrics, or a well placed sign on the side of the road; Spirit is always giving us signs if we only have the eyes to see and ears to hear them.

It is not just Spiritual Beings who come into our lives to love us on an energetic level, but also people. It may be difficult for you to completely understand this; but every single person you encounter is sent to you from Heaven. You have never once met a person in your life who wasn't sent especially for you, at exactly the right moment. As Neale Donald Walsh said in one of his Conversations with God, "I have only sent you Angels".

We are all made of the same essence - God - Love - Universal Life. And we all play important roles in each others lives whether we are aware of it or not. Someone may come into your life and give you nothing but pain, and on a conscious level perhaps they choose to hurt you, and yet on a Spiritual level their soul knows that your own soul has asked them to play this role in your life, so that you can learn a valuable lesson, and remember a vital truth about Love.

So the next time someone hurts you, or angers you, or causes you unpleasantness in your life, take a moment to remember that they are as sacred and as Loved as you are - for they are made of the same Essential God-Energy as you. Give thanks for the lesson they've come to teach you, and then get over your feelings of victimization - realize the lesson - and move through it.

You are never alone, you just forget that sometimes. But right now, as you sit there reading these words, your guides and Angels surround you, reaching out to you in energetic warmth and Love. You are the most special being in the Universe to them. And even the lowliest or tyrannical of human beings in the world are loved by their own guides and Angels.

Because again - God has sent us nothing but Angels ♥

Distraction

2011-10-07T19:01:00.003-07:00

Have you ever gotten distracted and lost all track of time? Unfortunately it's something that happens to me and even more since I received a brain injury about a year ago. This evening I was going tell you about Pastry/Baker Chef Jobs, then stopped to think what exactly I was going to say.

I ended up going to the kitchen to get a cup of tea, seeing all the plums sitting there waiting for me to make them into jam and a sink full of dishes waiting to be washed. I washed the dishes while the water heated for tea and once the dishes were washed I poured the boiled water over the tea bag in my cup and washed the plums. Since they were washed and in the pot, I turned on the stove and cooked them, put them into a colander and squeezed the fruit through, removing the pits. You see, these are Damson Plums, about the size of a cherry, so the pit is not easily cut out of the plum like it is with larger fruit. I added honey to the cooked fruit and returned it to the heat to cook it down into jam. This is the first time I've made jam using honey instead of the sugar and wanted to give it a try. It seems to have worked very well, though it is much more costly than using sugar. This was the 3rd batch of jam I've made in the last few days, going to my yard to pick more plums as needed. I plan to give jam as gifts this Christmas and have a good stock for my own use. I made the 1st batch 'plain' using just the plums and sugar. The 2nd batch I added some cinnamon to the mix, the first time I did this and it turned out very nice. This, the 3rd batch, I substituted the honey for the sugar. Now I plan to make a batch using brown sugar instead of the white, just to see what it tastes like, and a batch using apples & cinnamon with the plums. I'm not fond of Damson Plums as an eating plum, though I know people who do like them for just munching on. However, when it comes to cooking and jam making I think there is nothing better than the Damson Plum and they are well worth the extra work involved with using the smaller fruit.

Oh ya, I drank cold tea and am now too tired to tell you about anything else. Off I go to bed. Good night.

Treadmill

2011-09-30T17:26:00.003-07:00

Today I rode my trike out to Falkland to look at a used treadmill that a friend of mine told me about at the Senior's Centre there. It is a good machine and I bought it for a really good price. I phoned my friend Dan the Man with a Van and had him come out and get it for me as it's way too big and heavy to pack on a motorcycle, even mine. I would have liked to go visit some of my friends in Falkland, including Don who owns a store that sells lots of motorcycle clothes and accessories, even some funny tshirts I really like (I want to get the one that says "Property of Nobody"), but had to ride home to meet Dan. By the time I got here he'd dropped off the treadmill in my carport and left already, so I picked some of my plums, then came inside and prepared a spot for the treadmill to go. I had to move other furniture to make room for it. Dan came back a bit later and between the two of us we managed to get the huge, heavy machine into my house where it now takes up a large part of my living room. It's a good thing to have and will help me to look better by spring when maybe I'll buy myself one of those t-shirts.

Something New

2011-09-21T18:36:00.001-07:00

Did you know you can buy vision insurance? I didn't, actually. I have insurance on my home, insurance on my vehicle, I know people get life insurance and special insurance to cover jewelry and cameras, etc. I guess, now that I think about it, that singers can insure their voices. Do hand models insure their hands? I guess there is a whole lot of things that you can insure that I've never given any thought to. Hmmmm.... Well, I think I should insure that my stomach isn't going to stay empty. Yes, this is a different meaning to insuring something, but I am going to go make myself a cup of hot tea and find something to eat with it.

Riding

2011-09-21T18:22:00.002-07:00

All summer I've taken every opportunity I could to ride my motorcycle. I've put somewhere around 6,000 kilometers on it since I insured it in June and I've loved pretty much every inch of all those kilometers of riding. Yet, yesterday and today I have felt content to just stay home. The weather has turned cool and cloudy so it's not as enjoyable to ride now as it was most of the summer. All July we had a whole lot of rain and I rode in it with no problem, even though I got soaked to the skin every time, yet it was still not all that cold. Monday evening I went for a ride with some friends, up Silver Star Mountain to the ski hill, and it was a really great ride except it was freezing up high. My left hand was so cold my fingers were hurting really badly and I could hardly pull the clutch. For some reason, though my right fingers were cold too, they weren't anywhere near as bad as the left. My ears and face were also very cold as was my entire body. I was so glad to finally get to the top, hoping there would be somewhere we could go for hot drinks, only to find that everything up there was closed. Thankfully, I had full finger gloves in my saddlebags (I ride with fingerless gloves), as well as a sweater and a neoprene face mask. After a short walk around the village, I bundled up and was much warmer on the ride down than I had been on the ride up. I sure enjoyed a hot cup of tea when we got down the mountain again.

Videos

2011-09-20T23:32:00.003-07:00

When is the last time you watched a video download from youtube? I don't go there a lot, but do occasionally enjoy watching different videos there. Some I watch are educational and some are just plain funny. For example, yesterday i watched a video that taught me how to back up my Bookmarks in Firefox so that my laptop can be reformatted and then my bookmarks can be returned to where they need to be fore me to use them when I want/need them. I found it a very easy to follow and most helpful video. The funny videos are many, including Russel Peters and the hilarious Jeff Dunham and his band of puppets.

Computer Updates

2011-09-20T12:29:00.003-07:00

My computers have been giving me a lot of problems lately, and I am very happy to say I am soon to be beyond all the problems. My friend Dan reformatted my old HP laptop which never has been a good computer even though I paid over $1000 for it. I will never buy another Hewlett Packard computer after all the problems I've had with this one. A few years ago I bought a cheap Acer laptop for under $400 and it has been a far better computer for me than the HP ever was. I am glad though that I still have the HP kicking around as a 'back up' computer as I now am using it while Dan does the reformat on the Acer. Than I will be using it again as my main computer and this one as a back up will again sit on the computer desk and collect dust until it is needed for any reason.

In the meantime, my friend CJ told me she's been using coupons to save $$ and is trying to get a coupon exchange going in our town. I guess many companies give coupons to let people save money while purchasing their products. I know where you can get Kohls coupons, and I know that some coupons come in the mail or in flyers in the newspaper. I'm going to start using more coupons.

A Surprising Question

2011-09-08T21:04:00.002-07:00

The other day I was talking to a young friend and he asked me when to give a promise ring. Since I didn't even know he was seeing a girl, I was surprised by his question. I asked him who the lucky person was (just in case it wasn't a girl, you never know these days) and he said he didn't have a girlfriend, he was just wondering. I must admit that I am now wondering if he has someone in his life and is just too shy to tell anyone... including his "Auntie Butterfly". I know that when he is ready he will 'spill the beans' so to speak. He's a wonderful young man and anyone would be lucky to have him love them.

This Too Shall Pass

2011-08-12T08:08:00.002-07:00

I am trying to leave for a weekend in Omak at the Stampede, and everything seems to be going wrong. Last night I started having major problems with my computer and am very lucky to even be on here at all today. I think it's minute by minute until this laptop doesn't work at all. My computer tech is currently on holidays so I won't be able to get him to look at it until he and I are both back here. I was thinking about looking into rv loans, I would love to do some traveling. Now I will also have to look into buying a new computer. I'm thinking maybe get an iPad instead, but need to do more research before I do it. Also last night my cat knocked stuff over and broke things, the box on my trike broke and lost a piece of iron so I had to take it and have a new piece welded in. Sheeesh!! I hope all goes more smoothly today as I want to get out of here and on the road.

Major Storm

2011-08-11T23:48:00.000-07:00

We had a really incredible storm here last night. Wind! Thunder! Lightening! Heavy Rain! I got home from town when black clouds were along one horizon and very shortly after that the storm hit!! I had tarped the trike and used rocks to hold the tarp down, but the wind ripped the tarp off of it, so I went out in the pouring rain and took the seat and saddle bags off, putting them in the carport where they'd be protected... that was after my power went out. Good thing I had 2 batteries on chargers for my big flashlight! I took the flashlight to bed and read my book until the one battery died, changed them by candle light and read (and texted some) until the second one was nearly dead, then shut it down and went to sleep. Power came back on sometime during the night. Good to have power on again... cel on charger, computer & internet back, etc. etc. Thankfully the weather demons got it out of their system and it is blue sky & sunshine again today.

'Brothers Of The Third Wheel' Trike Rally

2011-07-17T18:21:00.010-07:00

Last year I went out to a Brothers of the Third Wheel Trike Rally. I rode out on my trike along with a friend on a Harley and since he had said we should leave my place about 10am, we missed out big time. It turned out everyone went on a Poker Run and we passed them around Grindrod, heading in the direction we were coming from. This year, knowing they would head out for a run, I went early. I left home just after 8:00am and met my friend George across the lake from my place. He rode to Sicamous with me and came to the camp ground to check out the trikes and meet the trikers.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

This one belongs to Jerry & his wife from Chilliwack. This is a factory built automobile, I believe he said it's 1972... there are only 2 of them left in Canada, 1 in a museum and this one. It is registered as a car so they wear seat belts instead of helmets. It has a 'rag top' which he took off just before I took the photo.

As you can see, the CanAm Spider is not the first trike to have 2 wheels in the front and 1 in the back.

The yellow trike is Denise's. She just bought it from Bob so he didn't have a trike to ride. Denise was so excited because Bob was riding the "birch seat" on her trike!! (She would drive and he ride behind her.)
Yes, the gray one is a Fiero... or was anyway. It was down for the weekend from Fort St. John, ridden by Jerome.

In the background, notice the yellow & black cars. They also went on the run with us, driven my BTW members who currently either have not trike or are physically unable to ride one, yet still love being part of the group and going on the runs. Daye drove the yellow car, Terry & wife were in the black one.

This trike is Wally & Chris's. I wish I had details on what kind of motors each trike has, but I don't... yet. I have a couple email addresses so will be in contact with the group.

Kevin & Heather ride this one.

Of course, I must include George's Harley and my trike, though it is not a great shot of either.

When we arrived at the campground we at first didn't see the trikes, then saw a couple people come out from behind some tents and wave us over. As I drove up to the BTW (Brothers of the Third Wheel) area, Denise came out to greet me, so happy to see another woman with her own trike. It was an awesome greeting, warm & friendly. I was introduced to many who's names I don't remember, though thankfully I do remember some names and all the great people. I remember Terry & Jerry... I have a brother named Terry and had a brother named Gerald, or Jerry, and a boyfriend named Jerry.

When we headed out George stayed in Sicamous to do some stuff he wanted to do there, and 6 of us trikes went on the Poker Run to the Gold Panner Cafe just past Cherryville. I am told that this year was the smallest turn out they have had yet... including me there were 6 trikes. Apparently one fellow had left early due to ill health.

Having each picked one card at the campsite in Sicamous, we rode to Armstrong where we pulled in to the A&W where we all got to choose card number 2.

All the trikes of course get a lot of attention wherever they go. People come to look.

We then were riding to Cherryville and made it to Vernon when our leader pulled over and talked to Bob a couple minutes, then came over to me. "Do you know your way around?" or something like that. I didn't bother to say how long I have lived in this area, but did agree to lead the pack the rest of the way. Off we went through Vernon and out to the Gold Panner Cafe, stopping in Lumby for gas in my trike & one other. We got to the Gold Panner just before the storm hit and the rain pelted down in bucket fulls as we sat inside... after coming in off the patio during the early part of the rain fall. After we enjoyed our lunch we headed back with me in the lead again. I took everyone through Vernon a different way in order to miss the heavier traffic part of the city, then back onto the highway. Just coming into Armstrong we were going slow for the construction when I had to change over to my reserve gas tank. Going at a lower speed and letting go of one handle bar put my trike into a major wheel wobble where the front wheel was wobbling back and forth and I barely able to hang on to it could do nothing but ride it out until the trike slowed down enough for it to stop. I have a steering damper on it so this shouldn't have happened, but it turns out the damper has come loose, so happen it did. It took a long time to stop doing it. I rode on through the construction, meeting George on his way back home, and north to Enderby where I stopped for gas again. While there I decided not to go the rest of the way to Sicamous, just so I could turn around and ride all the way back, so I said my goodbyes there and headed back south again.

I just got a few kilometers down the road when the lightening storm hit. The rain was coming down so hard and heavy that I could barely see, and I wasn't properly geared up for this kind of riding, so I pulled off onto a side road and under a tree where I was at least a little bit protected from the rainfall. Another motorcycle also pulled off and took cover under that tree. I took out the rain-proof liner for my jacket from the saddle bag, took off the jacket, put on the liner as if it was another jacket, but the outer jacket back on, put on my neoprene face mask and by then the rain had slowed down some so off I went again. Just south of Armstrong my friends Hammer & Melody pulled up beside me on their Harley, we waved at each other &, happy to see them, I gave them a nice big smile... then realized they couldn't see it since I was wearing a face mask to protect my face from the pelting rain... then they rode on, rushing home to get out of the rain.

Having put about 400 kilometers on my trike since leaving home, I returned home soaking wet, yet my heart still happy. I had a wonderful day and am pretty sure that next year I not only will go out to meet and ride with the Brothers of the Third Wheel, but will likely go camp with them for the weekend. I will also likely officially join the club by then.

Random Thoughts

2011-07-16T00:19:00.004-07:00

Some random thoughts for you today...

- Down the road from me is a place called Ho Mai Berry Farm. I'm not sure if I spelled that exactly right, but I think it's pronounced Hoe My Berry Farm and I laugh every time I see there sign.
- I like the sound of sharis berries discount coupon. The name Shari's Berries is something my ears like... and discount coupon is something my budget likes.
- My friend Dan gave me $10 for gas today. That filled my tank!! In my truck it's around $7o to fill the gas tank, but the trike only has a small tank. Mind you, I have to fill it more often too, and I put more miles on the trike than I do the truck because it's cheaper to drive.
- I am hoping it's a sunny day tomorrow and I would even settle for a dry day (no rain, please).
- My cat Mewsic is sleeping near me. I think it's time I put the computer down and go join her in Dreamland.

BTW Trike Rally

2011-07-16T00:07:00.003-07:00

I had planned to go to get blood tests today and to do volunteer work at the food bank, then I got company that stayed for nearly 2 hours so killed those plans. However, I did still get to drive out to visit Mom and have dinner with her. In a few short hours I must be up and off again. I plan to ride to Sicamous, an hour or more from here, to join in the Brothers of the Third Wheel Trike Rally. It will be great to meet other people who ride trikes and to go riding with a whole group of other trikes. I know they gather at a camp grounds out on the other side of the town. I don't have a tomtom gps, so hope I can just find the place on my own or by asking directions... the old fashioned way, haha.

Guess I better get to sleep or I won't be going anywhere early enough to ride with other trikes.

My Floors

2011-07-15T23:59:00.002-07:00

I am so very happy to have the fellow that lived in my yard for awhile gone. I liked the money he gave me to stay here, but I did not like him, a very negative person who was always lying about everything. Though it is good to have him gone I am grateful that he was here for a time. Thanks to the money he paid to stay here, I have much nicer floors than I had previously. I got a good deal on some laminate flooring for my living room, kitchen, bedroom, loom room and hallway. Oh, it's not pergo flooring, but it still looks very good and is a not too bad quality. I do wish though that I had gotten a darker color as this shows all the pet hair so looks dirty shortly after I sweep it. I thought light would be good as it would brighten up the gloomy home, but now I know if I had it to do over again I would go with a bit darker than this while still not being too dark. Over all, I do love my laminate floors.

July 15th

2011-07-15T23:28:00.002-07:00

Today was a very good day. It was the first in several days that I didn't get rained on while riding my trike and that has to be good. This afternoon I rode up to the small town where my mother lives, with the intention of visiting her. Before going to Mom's I decided to go take a walk along the river that flows through the town, it's so beautiful to walk along it. On the bank of the river, right where the one end of the River Walk starts, there is an RV Park Campground. Of course this time of the year it is packed, and this particular weekend there are a lot of motorcycle riders staying there as this town is fairly near Salmon Arm where there is a really big motorcycle rally and music festival this weekend, called Sturgis North. I didn't get to walk far as people kept recognizing me as a rider (wearing chaps and a doo rag) and talking to me. It was really awesome and I really enjoyed that, though really could have used the exercise, lol. I made it over to Mom's and we went out for dinner, then for a drive in her car. Back at Mom's I got back into chaps, jacket, helmet and headed back home.

Hot Summer Day... and Sports

2011-07-06T12:42:00.002-07:00

It's summer in the Okanagan, so fruit is on the trees and people are playing lots of sports. As I drive around my area I see people playing soccer and in other places baseball. It's that time of year when most people are being active and outside, happy to shed the winter blahs. A friend of mine injured her left ankle a few years ago, so she is not able to play sports and even has a hard time walking, so it benefits her to wear a soccer ankle brace to support the ankle and make it easier for her to get around. Since one of these helps while playing sports, I can see why it helps her. I find that often we can use something meant for one thing for yet another. Today there is not a cloud in the sky, the thermometer is rising, and I am going out to do some errands & spend time with friends. I think I'll drive by a soccer field and spend some time watching young people playing their game.

Preserving Fruit

2011-07-06T12:28:00.003-07:00

Summer in the Okanagan Valley of BC Canada means a lot of nice fresh fruit on trees and in stores. I love eating fruit fresh off the tree and next best thing, locally grown out of the stores, but what about winter time? I know I would love to have fruit available in winter, but really have never 'put up' anything, so don't know how to do it right. On Facebook I have found lots of different pages, or walls as they call them, to 'Like' and stay connected with. One of them, Away to Garden, is all about horticultural how-to and woo-woo. It is the source for garden information and inspiration, by Margaret Roach, head gardener. What I read there just now was about farm-fresh peaches, frozen to perfection, which is a timely article since peaches will soon be abundant in the Okanagan. I look forward to trying what Margaret has shared with us here, and to enjoying my nice peaches all winter long.

Climate Change Video

2011-07-06T11:25:00.001-07:00

This is a most interesting video and I think it effects everyone on Earth today.

Random Thoughts

2011-06-21T20:21:00.002-07:00

From time to time I like to post a list of random thoughts, random facts about me, so here I go:
- I am 5 foot 2 1/2 inches tall.
- I sometimes have a problem with the keyboard on this laptop. It changes to give me other character than what I want and usually get on the keys. I can't really explain it, but it is frustrating and I have to reboot the computer to get my proper characters back. I just did that.
- I had to go outside and find my dog, I was so worried when I found him not in his pen.
- I love animals... though I guess if you read my blog you already know this.
- I do not smoke... so therefor, I do not smoke camacho triple maduro cigars.
- I parked my truck and transferred the insurance to my trike for the summer. Last year I had them both insured and only used the truck 3 days out of 4 months. This year, it is an unusually rainy year, so if I had the truck insured I would have used it more in the last 2 weeks than I did all summer last year.

Minter Gardens 2

2011-06-21T19:58:00.004-07:00

Here are some more of the photos I took at Minter Gardens about a week and a half ago when I was there with a friend. We drove down in his truck, ate lunch, walked through these exquisite gardens, then drove back in about 14 hours or so. It was an incredible day and my first time at these gardens, though he has been there several times. I took 763 photos with my digital camera and they are now all on my computer and of course my exterior hard drive for protection. I would like to be able to display them and show them to people who come to visit so am thinking maybe something like one of da lite screens might be an option. This of course would mean getting a projector too, so maybe something else, but the digital photo frames just seem too small as for this project I am thinking much bigger.

If you click on the photos you will see them... bigger!

Minter Gardens

2011-06-21T19:48:00.003-07:00

The other day I went to Minter Gardens with a friend of mine. It was my first time there and it was incredible!!! Wow, all the different flowers and water features were so beautiful. I took 763 photos. I can hardly believe I took that many photos in one day... in half of one day, just a few hours even!! Of course, I can not post them all here, but here are 5 to begin.

I Need Exercise

2011-06-15T09:51:00.003-07:00

Due to health issues, I am supposed to be doing more exercise and I do know I need it, though still don't seem to be doing much. I have so much to do and just don't have the time to do it all. Maybe I'm just putting up blocks (yoga blocks? haha) to exercise. I have a new dog that needs to be walked though there is nowhere safe to walk where I live so I have to drive to somewhere to walk and at this time I only have a motorcycle to drive. Good for me but not for the dog. Oh well, we will find a way to work it all out. For now, I am teaching him in the yard to 'heel' so that when we do get to go for walks he will know how to do it properly. He comes well, so I think he will be able to go off lead at the dog parks when we get there.

A Blip from Life!

2011-06-05T23:34:00.003-07:00

I am so happy, content and especially tired. I have had a wonderful 3 days riding my new trike, hot off the presses!! LOL. Having just gotten home and trying to pay some bills and such, I wish I had one of those Personalized Stamps with a bunch of the information on them that I have to write multiple times. Bill paying always seems to take the fun out of an otherwise great weekend. Oh well, the main thing is that I now have my new trike on the road and have been traveling all over the North & Central Okanagan Valley. One of these days I might head over to the Kootenays, or even down to the South Okanagan, almost to the border of Canada & US. I have people to visit in both places. But first I have to build my body back up to where it can ride longer times without getting over worked and hurting. My left wrist was shattered and dislocated just under 9 months ago and I am very blessed & grateful to have the use of my hand as well as more than 50% of the range of motion in the wrist itself. Since the crash where I was injured, this is the first I've ridden, so am physically out of shape for doing it. I know, you never realized one had to be in shape to ride a motorcycle, but you really do. Also, I need to put a windshield on it to cut down on the wind pressure against my body, and to stop so many bugs from committing suicide on my face... that hurts both them and me. Anyway, I really must go finish paying the bills, then get some sleep so I can do my gardening tomorrow... and ride some more too.

"World Terrorism Alert Levels" by John Cleese

2011-05-29T08:31:00.001-07:00

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent events in Libya and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.

The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose."

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels .

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, Mate." Two more escalation levels remain: "Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!" and "The barbie is canceled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

-- John Cleese - British writer, actor and tall person

Choices

2011-05-28T20:46:00.002-07:00

Have you ever wondered about the hydroxycut side effects? I never take any pills without checking out the possible side effects. Oh, I used to, but at my age I feel I must be aware of all the choices I am about to make. I feel that education is vitally important, being educated about the choices we are making. Currently my doctor & health nurse are pressuring me to take drugs to lower my cholesterol levels and I do not want to do that as I do not like the possible side effects of these type of drugs. Therefor, I am taking natural products that I know are safe and that help to reduce the cholesterol, as well as watching the kind of foods I eat and being more active. I believe we have choices.

House Number Missing

2011-05-28T20:37:00.002-07:00

I'm thinking about getting myself one of those house address plaques, or making a sing to put down by the road. Lately I've been giving away lots of lilac bushes over Freecycle, working at fixing up my yard, and since the number fell down I have to give directions to anyone that is coming here for any reason like picking up lilac bushes. This is reasonably easy since I can give the neighbor's house number and explain I am right across the street from there. However, I know that if I had to call police or ambulance, every second counts and not having my house number up could cost precious moments. Yes, I need my house number posted at the bottom of my driveway!

Garden Accomplishments

2011-05-22T22:02:00.004-07:00

I have spent most of today out in my garden. Dan came over and moved a set of stairs for me from my garden to the other side of the house, up against the retaining wall. Now I can get up to that part of my yard with much greater ease. I've had those steps for may years and wanted them where they are now so am very happy to finally have them there. Since he was here, I've planted seeds in the ground and into pots; I've added soil to the Freezer Raised Garden to bring the so it's now ready to be planted in; I did a bunch of digging with my shovel and leveling with my rake to level out some hills and dips (Several years ago this area of the yard was dug up to replace the septic line and was never properly leveled. I just planted some herbs on the hill and now want to improve it.) I worked then rested, worked then rested so that I could keep going without causing my body too much pain. I was in one of my rest periods, sitting at the table out there, looking around admiring the accomplishments and planning more when suddenly very large drops of rain began to fall fast and furiously. I grabbed my phones (cell & cordless land line), my tea cup and water bottle, gloves and seed packages, and ran for cover. It really poured out there for awhile though I think it's stopped now.

Garden & Trike

2011-05-21T14:07:00.004-07:00

This time of year, my life is all about gardens and motorcycles, or to be more specific, my garden and my trike (3 wheeled motorcycle). Oh, I still have to do things like house work and other things necessary in life, but my main focus is my garden and my trike. Working on the trike to get it ready for riding season can be a dirty job as is gardening and any painting needed so I always make sure I wear old clothes to do this kind of work. I was thinking I might check out the 2nd hand stores for some lab coats, thinking they would be great for wearing over other clothes to keep clean. I used to raise and show rabbits and I found that it worked well to wear something like that over my good clothes at shows and while handling the rabbits at home. I also find that rabbit droppings are great for my garden so even though I no longer raise or show rabbits I am glad I have one pet rabbit left and am thinking about getting a few more.

Garden - Tea

2011-05-21T13:53:00.004-07:00

Baby Spinach

I like to do things a little 'different' from most people. I guess because I find it boring to do the same, the expected. For example, I would like to have a few friends over for tea in my garden so rather than phone them, or even email them to invite them over, I think it is more fun to send an invitation. This time of year I have lots of little 'baby' plants in my garden as it over flows with spinach, mixed lettuces, kale & peas, so I think it would be fun to send my friends Paper Culture baby shower invitations. This way they would come to visit my garden and while enjoying a cup of tea they could 'meet' the little plants and maybe even enjoy a salad made with some fresh picked salad mix &/or spinach.

View from my Garden

OUCH!!!

2011-05-07T16:08:00.002-07:00

My friend CJ gave me Gel Nails a short while back. She was taking a course in doing them and needed people to practice on, and I was lucky to be one of them. I've really been enjoying them.... until now. Yesterday I 'lost' a nail. Not the first one, and no big deal really, CJ can put it back on for me. In the meantime, until I get time to go see her I have to wear a bandaid on it to protect it from further damage... kind of a 'bother'. Today, I was carrying a bucket of rabbit feed, just putting it away where it belongs, and I don't know how I did it, but another nail got bent and snapped the Gel. The nail is still on, but the Gel is cracked the entire width of the nail, down in the tender part and I was bleeding through that crack, so obviously tore the flesh below. OUCH!! So now, both index fingers are bandaged due to these Gel Nails!! I was just filling a water bottle a few minutes ago and OUCH!!!! I hit the end of the painful finger and it hurt at least as bad if not worse than the first time. It may even be bleeding again under the bandage for all I know. Not that it's bleeding a lot, but I might be going to loose this nail now and I don't mean the Gel Nail, but the real one!! If it bleeds under your nail from injury people often loose the nail.

Spring has Sprung

2011-05-07T16:00:00.002-07:00

It's fun at this time of year to see all of the new life everywhere you look. Working in my yard yesterday I was noticing all the beautiful blooms on many trees in my yard as well as my neighbors, and I was listening to the baby sheep in the neighbor's field, playing and calling to each other and their moms. Another thing I like about this time of year is all the young girls/women who are so excited to be graduating from school and some who are getting married soon. The shopping sprees are in full swing looking for the perfect bridesmaid dresses, bridal gowns and grad dresses. I have always loved spring best and found it to be the most fun & exciting season of the year.

I need HELP

2011-05-01T14:30:00.002-07:00

I was surfing the net, as I often do, reading various things and came across and advertisement for best creatine supplements. Since I did not have a clue what creatine was, I Googled it and found it an interesting read. Among other things, Wikipedia (gotta love Wiki) says "... and helps to supply energy to all cells in the body..." WOW, I wonder if this means that a lazy couch spud like me would get energized and start to clean my home and yard as well as going for walks or riding my exercise bike. That sure would be a big bonus, wouldn't it!! I know I have to get moving, that I have to find the energy to take back my life and my health!! This is really out of hand for a woman who used to be very active. At one time I was always out at the country night club dancing all night long!! I 2 stepped and line danced to a slim, trim, healthy body and now since I quit going to bars I quit dancing and slowly got to where I quit moving much at all. I am in trouble and need some kind of help to get me moving again.

+ and - in life

2011-04-29T18:47:00.004-07:00

I wonder if there is an ergo baby carrier large enough to pack adults that act like babies!! Two people on my Facebook are fighting and I am getting flack for not taking sides. I don't want to take sides and besides, I haven't even been online to get involved. Oh well, I have enough of my own problems and don't need to take on anyone elses. Sad.

Now, on to better things. I am happy to say that I finally got my Income Tax done today. I was having problems with it and ended up phoning Canadian Taxation Agency where I talked to a very nice gal who helped me a lot. Now all is done and just needs to be mailed. I wish I had thought to buy stamps today, then I could mail it down the road, but will have to drive to town to buy stamps and mail it. Oh well... such is life. A nice drive tomorrow or the next day might be a good thing for me.

I am grateful that I was able to buy 5 bags of pellets for my stove today. Though I'm not happy that it's still so cold that I need them, I am happy to have them to keep my home warm for me and my pets.

I am grateful that all my wonderful pets are safe and sound in my home with me.

I am grateful for my trustworthy truck that always runs well and gets me from place to place.

I am grateful that I have many many many things to be grateful for.

I am grateful that I know the power or gratitude!!

STUCK in an ELEVATOR!!

2011-04-27T22:07:00.002-07:00

Well it's been an interesting day today. Among other things, I went to my Dr. appointment and the cel died just as I was going in. (Was only down 1 bar dang battery not good, only a month old). After the appointment I go to leave and the building decided to take me hostage!! Yup, going down 1 floor in elevator and it suddenly stops and nothing happens when I push any buttons. I said to myself "Self, I think we're stuck in the elevator" or something sort of like that. ;o) Thankfully the "Help" button worked and I got to talk to a guy and tell him what was happening and what city I was in, but not the address b'cuz I don't know it. I also told him my Dr.'s name and said to call there and get the address. Anyway, it took awhile but finally 2 repair guys turned up and broke me out of there. First time anything like that ever happened to me. After that I went and did a few hours volunteer work and am now home relaxing with a cat on my chest.

I'm not really sure how long it was... seemed like a long time but could only have been 30 - 45 minutes. Hey, could have been worse, there could have been some weird, smelly, freaky person in there with me. Haha. I sat down and read some ...of what I had been given (info on cholesterol) and then did some meditation, relaxation stuff. I have a mild issue with claustrophobia, but thankfully it didn't rear its ugly head today.

Thanks everyone!! I'm just really grateful this didn't happen to me a couple months ago, before I started 'doing the work' for the PTSD. I was so stressed out and coming apart at the seams that I might well have flipped right out. I was wondering why this happened to me, even when I was sitting there on the floor of the elevator I was wondering (I believe there is always a reason things happen, always something we are to learn) and finally I see what it well may be about. Maybe it's to show me just how far I've come in my healing, how I have returned to my 'pre-trauma' calm self. That makes it something to be grateful for.

Beautiful Lake

2011-04-25T20:12:00.004-07:00

I clicked on a link to Branson real estate and came across this picture. Isn't it beautiful? I love the way the shoreline weaves in and out, creating several little coves where people can build their homes and dock their boats and be protected from wind storms. I love the way there are so many trees that have not been cut down, but allowed to grow. I would really enjoy relaxing on the beach in the foreground with a good book, or cruising down the lake in a nice boat. I wonder if this lake is good for fishing... hmmmm, that would be a great way to spend the day. Yes, I think I would love to live or even visit this beautiful lake.

Insurance

2011-04-24T22:34:00.002-07:00

So far I have not been happy with auto insurance in BC. I was in a crash that was in no way my fault, and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) agrees that it is 100% the other woman's fault, yet they only gave me just over 10% of the value of my vehicle. I haven't yet settled the claim for injuries and I am hoping they are better about that. I need counseling for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and they are only allowing a minimum of treatments, but at least it is helping a lot. I feel much less 'out of control' stressed now than what I was before the counseling started. What is health insurance in nc like? How about life insurance in CA? Or house insurance in AL? Whatever kind of insurance you have and wherever you live, I hope you don't have the problems with it if you need to place a claim that I have had with automobile insurance in BC.

2011-04-24T00:36:00.002-07:00

May this day bring you and yours a basket full of joy & prosperity!!

HAPPY EASTER!!

.

Quotes

2011-04-02T23:28:00.001-07:00

~ Our sorrows and wounds are healed only when we touch them with compassion. ~

Buddha

~ The words of kindness are more healing to a drooping heart than balm or honey. ~

Sarah Fielding

Helping a Friend

2011-03-30T20:42:00.002-07:00

I've always been lucky and had nice, clear skin. Well, for the most part anyway. I did get a few zits from time to time, of course at "that time" of the month. If I had acne I may have considered taking something like accutane. A friend of mine has blackhead problems on his back so from time to time he asks me to clean his back for him and I do. I take a wash cloth and give his back a good washing with soap and water, then I squeeze the blackheads out for him. There is the occasional one that doesn't want to come out, too deep and dry, so I take my little jack knife and go digging. After all that is done I give another good wash with soap then one with no soap. I know, it's kind of gross, but it doesn't bother me and I am happy to be of service, to help someone out that needs help and he can't reach his own back to do this kind of thing so he really appreciates the help.

Quotes

2011-03-30T20:37:00.002-07:00

America's present need is not heroics but healing; not nostrums but normalcy; not revolution but restoration.
~ Warren G. Harding

Our bodies are our gardens - our wills are our gardeners.

~ William Shakespeare

Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live.

~ Jim Rohn

Cel Phones

2011-03-30T20:23:00.002-07:00

I recently got a new cel phone and upgraded my plan to include more features. I now have 200 daytime minutes, used to have 250 but it's okay to loose the 50 because I now have Unlimited Incoming calls, so don't have to use any of my precious minutes when someone calls me, only when I dial out now. I also now have Caller ID which I already had as well as Voice Mail which I didn't have before. Seems to me there's something else too that I'm forgetting about just now. I looked at some of the blackberry phones, and really liked them, but if I got one of them I had to pay for internet connection too, and I feel that with having 2 laptops on the internet I didn't need my phone to be too. I got a very nice phone that if I ever want to go online with it I can and for now I don't have to, it's a choice. This phone has lots of features my old phone didn't have so I am getting a lot more use out of it than just as a phone so this is a bonus.

I Had Surgery

2011-03-30T20:12:00.002-07:00

In BC we don't, to the best of my knowledge, have a Medicare part D plan. We do have a Medical Plan though so most people have that to pay for their health care needs. Unfortunately it is not as good as it used to be and people now have to wait a very long time for many of their needs unless they have money to pay for the tests and procedures, then they can buy their way to the head of the line. Today I just had surgery on my left wrist and it was paid for by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia because it was as a result of a motor vehicle crash I had just over 6 months ago. At the time I was taken to hospital by ambulance and the next day my wrist was operated on to put it back together, a metal plate and 9 screws were put in to hold it together. Today, due to irritation from the metal, it was all taken out. I also have had problems with one finger since the crash so that was also fixed today. Now to heal.

Spring is Here

2011-03-23T11:21:00.003-07:00

This morning I went out to my truck to look for something I thought was out there. I didn't bother to put shoes on, just went in my bare feet. I got mud between my toes. Hmmm, guess I'm rushing the season. LOL. Spring is here complete with sunny skies and warm temperatures! Yesterday the high was 13°C and beautiful. The snow is gone and motorcycles are out and about again. I can hardly wait to have mine on the road again, but must wait. One week from today I have a second operation on the wrist that was broken when I was hit by a car. Also, work has not yet stated on building my new trike. I will be lucky if I am 'on the road' by May long weekend.

Have an AWESOME day... I plan to.

Quote

2011-03-18T00:36:00.000-07:00

“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.”

- Nora Roberts

I Dream of Travel

2011-03-15T22:58:00.003-07:00

With everything that has been happening in my life I am feeling so very tempted to just pack up and leave. Go travel for a few years, go check out Central and South America. Maybe when I got back I would better appreciate our government here, or maybe I'd never come back. If I had the money to back up my dreams, I would look into rv financing, or better yet, just buy a nice travel trailer outright, one with pop-out would be great as they expand to give you more room.... though most important to me would be that it's a "toy hauler" so I can take my trike along too. Can't go without the trike. I'd buy a newer truck to pull the trailer with and off I'd go to spend life as "Trella Trash", haha. If I was a man maybe I'd just hop onto the trike with some of my belongings tied to it and off I'd go to see the world, and I was tempted to do this even being a woman, but friends helped me to see how dangerous and crazy that would be. For now, I will just keep dreaming. I can't leave just yet anyway, too many things to take care of before I can go running off. Hey, dreaming is good. First comes the dream, then the dream comes to fruition.

A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.

~ Mohandas K. Gandhi

Nothing happens unless first we dream.

~ Carl Sandburg

Fighting Against Hell

2011-03-15T22:46:00.004-07:00

The last few days have been pretty stressful. Due to being in a crash which was not my fault (I was hit by a car while riding my trike {motorcycle} in September) and the fact that I am on a disability pension I am now being given major run around. The insurance company is owned & operated by the provincial government, and my disability pension comes from a different department of the provincial government. Of course, I can't go into it all here, but I am getting major hassle/harassment from both offices and I am getting very tired of it. I suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from being suddenly hit, flying trough the air, hitting a car with my body, bouncing off and landing on then sliding along the street downtown in our city and at some point during this sustaining injuries one of which has cost me partial use of my left hand. And yet these government agencies are both doing all they can to make my life a living hell. I am starting to think it is time to retain a lawyer. I had not planned to get a lawyer, or at least to wait and see how things panned out over the next year or two before I made that decision. Now it seems like I might just really need some legal advice, someone of power to stand up for me. It's a sad situation when our own government does it's best to harm the people that I believe they are supposed to be helping.

Feeling Like Spring

2011-03-12T13:49:00.004-08:00

My favorite time of year is Spring!! It is a delight to have warmer temperatures and to see the snow melting away and running down my driveway in little rivers. When I left the house shortly after 11am today my thermometer said it was 6°C. I just looked at the Environment Canada Weather Office website and they say it is currently 9.0°C in my city, though I don't know if it is the correct temperature for my location. It will be very close if not exact. The sky is cloudy and I wish it was sunny though I am at least happy it's warm and melting. My pellet stove is turned down to 1, the lowest setting it has and is keeping my home around 70°F. The thermometer I have in my living room shows both C & F, but from here I can only see the F as it's the larger numbers and I'm not going to get up to go read it just now. I am about to go out for a drive to a town near by and visit a friend. I will enjoy the spring weather and the visit.

My New Jewelry

2011-03-12T13:31:00.004-08:00

On Thursday I checked my mail and was happy to find a package I had been waiting for. It was 2 bracelets to replace the ones I had returned to the company. These are magnetic with far infra red so are healing bracelets. I wanted to wear 1 on my wrist and 1 on the opposite ankle for optimum healing, so I took these to a local jeweler to get 2 links taken out of one and put into the other one. While waiting for him to finish with another customer and to do the work, I of course looked at all the beautiful jewelry he has for sale. Engagement & Wedding rings, class rings, family rings, earrings, necklaces... all shiny and beautiful. I am just like a crow, attracted to anything that sparkles or shines so I most enjoyed my time there. All the diamonds, birth stones, other precious and semi precious stones delight me. I paid the jeweler $8 for his less-than-5-minutes work and left with my bracelets on. I had been having a day from hell and this helped a lot to make me feel better.

Bits & Pieces

2011-03-05T20:36:00.003-08:00

Here are some bits & pieces about me &/or my life &/or my thoughts:

- I am watching a movie on TV: Blind Trust, with Jessica Capshaw, Art Hindle, Chad Willet. It was filmed in Montreal in 2007. A woman accused of murder is defended by a lawyer who's in on the crime.
- I have a pot of tea steeping on the hot plate across the room. Can hardly wait to drink some. It's Georgia Peach Rooibos tea, to which I will add Stevia and Milk.
- I am not interested in accountancy finance jobs, though am sure many people are. At this time in my life I am not interested in any jobs, to tell the truth.
- A gal that knows someone I know contacted me the other day about birds. She heard I love birds and she is moving to the US and can't take her birds along so wanted to know if I will take them in. I am very tempted as one is a hand tamed male Cockatiel and the other is a male budgie and they live together, bonded. I very much love birds and 'tiels are awesome, I should know as I already have 5 of them (1 female, 4 males). Males make far more noise than females so I would be more into taking in a female. I have so many critters now and just have to stop taking them in... and yet...
- I am somewhat nervous about the upcoming surgery on my wrist to remove the metal plate & 9 screws that were put in when the wrist was broken in September 2010. I will be glad when it's over and done.
- I need to get on my exercise bike and get moving.

Passing Time

2011-03-04T21:40:00.004-08:00

Sometimes during the winter I dance with depression. The cold temperatures and many, many dull, gray days. We know that spring will eventually come, yet it seems like it never will as those dull gray days go on and on and on. Sometimes I tend to stay home a lot more due to snowy &/or icy roads. When this sort of thing happens, I get 'cabin fever' and feel like I'll go crazy if I don't get out, then finally, in a day or two, things change and I can get out again. As soon as the snow is gone so I can bring my utility trailer up the hill to the house, I plan to take on of my armchairs to the dump. It's old and broken, has outlived its allotted time. It came to me free through Freecycle, more than 2 years ago though I don't remember how much more. The other chair in my living room is a heated, vibrating recliner chair which is awesome, though the vinyl has cracks in the arms so not so nice as it once was. This also came through Freecycle. Face it, folks, I am in need of new cabin furniture. To be honest though, I have too many bird cages in this room to be able to fit furniture in for me to sit on. I must figure out something here, get rid of something to make more room. Maybe my computer desk needs to go, it's big and takes up lots of space, yet it does provide lots of storage with its cupboards and drawers... hmmmm. Anyway, the weather is warming up and spring is just around the corner. Doors & windows will soon be open and 'stuff' will start to move out the doors and off to new homes.

PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

2011-03-02T19:03:00.000-08:00

I have been diagnosed with this disorder... and it is, as much as I dislike labels, a relief to admit it and to know that I am not going crazy. After the crash in September, every time I closed my eyes I saw the blue car suddenly in front of me again and relived the moments of impact... the moment when the car and my trike impacted and the moment my body, having flown up from the trike, slammed into the car. In time, it passed so I could close my eyes and sleep again without this happening, though still it was something of a fight to keep that movie from replaying. Even now I can close my eyes and, if I allow it, I can see the details of the crash and the aftermath of it. I still wonder who the guy was that helped me...well, there were 2 very nice men that came and helped me until the paramedics and ambulance attendants arrived, and it would be nice to know who both of them were so I could say 'thank you'... and yet I would really like to know who the one was that was wearing a skullcap type helmet and an orange on black Harley jacket. Yes, there are a lot of things that were amazingly clear and stay that way in my mind.

One day in January, I was driving my truck down a street in town and a small blue car was driving towards me. Suddenly I saw this car cross the center line and enter into my lane!!! My heart flew into my throat, to say the least, and as I blinked I saw the car was back in it's own lane. I realized in that moment that it had never left it's correct lane, but I had just had a flash back to September 10 when there really was a little blue car that suddenly came into my lane making a left turn... and we collided.

There have been many times when I stressed really easy since the crash, even over not being able to figure out how to use a new cell phone. I really shocked my friend Dan when he saw me flip out over the phone. I am usually so calm and so able to figure almost anything out. He took the phone and figured it out then showed me how to use it. It was simple!! This is not a difficult phone to use, but I was on stress overload and just couldn't deal.

I have never doubted that I will ride my trike again starting this year, once the new one is built and I recover from the upcoming 2nd surgery on my wrist.... never that I would allow myself to think about anyway, until the last couple days. Now I know it may not be as easy as I want it to be and that stuffing the feeling down where I don't acknowledge it isn't going to help. I need to do something about it. I need to have counseling. I am looking forward to starting that counseling as soon as possible... and yet part of me is dreading it too. It would be easier to just take the drugs my doctor has offered to give me, easier but not the way I want to go. I don't like taking meds.

Mantracker

2011-02-25T20:56:00.003-08:00

Back to Mantracker (continued from last post).... one of the 2 gals has been caught and one is still on the run. I am amazed that she has gotten away from them but they now just found her foot prints and are at full gallop after her. She's running down the road with 457 meters to go.... and WOW, I can't believe she just made it!! Mantracker is one good looking man and I've always liked men in chaps whether they're on horses or motorcycles, haha. I think 'cowboys' maybe are hotter than 'bikers', but it is a toss up. I haven't seen all that many episodes of Mantracker because until recently I didn't get the program, but changed my TV and internet provider so now I get to watch it. Apparently he is from Alberta Canada, and I am in BC Canada, so not far away. In the several episodes I have watched, however, I've only seen 2 times when he got beat... both times it was a pair of women 'prey' and one got caught while the other was able to get away and win. Too cool.

Mewsic

2011-02-25T20:45:00.002-08:00

I'm sitting here in my arm chair watching TV, watching Mantracker. I don't think these gals are going to win, they were lucky to get away from him just now by ducking into the bush where the horses can't go, but there is no way they can out maneuver these 2 guys on their horses.

My Mewsic is curled up in the chair with me, having one of her cat naps. I think at the rate she's going I might have to start feeding her the best diet pills you can get for a cat. Can you get them with a fish scent and smell? No? Well darn, maybe I'll just have to cut back on her food and get her more exercise. She is not overly fat yet, but she is getting a little more 'cuddly', if you know what I mean. All she does is sleep and eat with a little play here and there as she chooses.

Oh... the Subaru ad is on!! So funny! The Sumo Wrestlers posing 'sexy' on cars just like so often skinny women do in next to no clothing. This is a great add. "Sexy comes standard!" Haha.

Rose

2011-02-25T11:40:00.002-08:00

I am texting with a friend who is hurting. I know from where she comes as what she has been telling me reminds me of... me. I know her pain, and through her today I got to see how far I have come along the road I must walk. Wow, I am so very grateful for this experience, for this view from where I stand now. I have tears blurring my vision, tears of joy, tears of love for the friend I will refer to as Rose and for myself and for the journey we are on. These tears are also love for Spirit, for God, for ECK ... whatever one wishes to call the Creator. Why am I calling her Rose? Because I see her as a tight bud that is just starting the first steps of unfoldment, starting to bloom and to become, eventually, the beautiful Rose she is meant to be. We all have scars (scar from surgery, scar from accident, acne scar, and inner emotional scars) and it's time for all people to start healing, especially those inner scars. I send love and blessings to everyone.

Still Cold

2011-02-25T10:46:00.003-08:00

It is currently -13°C, according to the Weather site on the internet. The predicted high is -8°C. The forecast keeps promising warmer temps, then they never come, the posted forecast keeps changing though still holding that 'warmer temperatures' carrot out in front of our noses. The sun is shining and it looks so beautiful outside.... and I don't even want to go there. I'm staying in until I have to go to town this afternoon, then will bundle up. Will actually wear a scarf with my vest, or I might even wear a jacket today. People think it's weird that I usually don't wear a jacket, just a vest and often with the sleeves of my sweater or shirt pulled up to my elbows, but mostly I am comfortable like that. You know it's real cold if you see me wearing a jacket/coat.

I had to talk to a gal at Telus this morning to get her to fix my texting problem... couldn't send or receive texts on my cell. She was in Calgary and said it was -45°C there. WOW that is SO COLD!! Compared to them we have warm weather.... though for us this is cold. Our 'normal' temps at this time of year, according to the weather website, are Max: 5°C Min: -2°C so we are so not normal this year. I want it to warm up so we can start doing the conversion on my new trike.

Have You Ever....

2011-02-23T12:37:00.002-08:00

Have you ever....
- heard about EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)??? It's a series of taps on median points on your head/body and it is a way to heal emotions, physical issues, etc.
- ridden a horse?
- driven a horse drawn sleigh or wagon?
- driven your own motorcycle? 2 wheels or 3?
- read apidexin reviews on the internet?
- played with chinchillas?
- put cinnamon in your tea?

I have....
- not only heard about EFT but am currently taking a course in doing it. I was cured of a Coke (Cola) addiction with EFT and believe in practicing it.
-ridden many horses. I even have a tattoo of my last horse on the back of my right shoulder. I so miss him!!!
- driven a sleigh pulled by 2 horses, Wonder & Willow. They didn't look alike but they sure were a great match for pulling, both were very good horses.
- driven my own trike, a 2 wheeled motorcycle that I had converted to a 3 wheeler. I love it and though it was ruined when I was hit by a car, I have bought another 2 wheeler the same as the first one and will soon be starting the conversion.
- not read those reviews though I might do so a bit later.
- played with chinchillas. I share my life and home with 4 wonderful chinchillas.... and 1 rabbit, 1 cat, 8 birds.
- been putting cinnamon in my tea for some time now. Cinnamon is very healthy for many things, including lowering blood sugar levels and cholesterol, among many other good things.

Cold Weather

2011-02-23T12:20:00.003-08:00

It is currently -5°C, according to the Weather site on the internet. It was sunny this morning though is clouding up. The forcast is:

Today
Cloudy. 40 percent chance of flurries. Wind north 30 km/h gusting to 50. Temperature falling to minus 15 this afternoon. Cold wind chill minus 26. Risk of frostbite.

Tonight
Cloudy with 40 percent chance of flurries. Wind north 30 km/h gusting to 50. Low minus 17. Cold wind chill minus 27. Risk of frostbite.

Thursday
Cloudy with sunny periods. Wind north 20 km/h. High minus 10. Cold wind chill minus 27. Risk of frostbite.

This same site also tells me that the normal temperatures are:
Max: 5°C
Min: -2°C

I sure wish our weather would get back to 'normal'. This nasty cold is not fun.

Loosing Weight

2011-02-23T12:07:00.003-08:00

If you follow my blog, you know I am the leader of my TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) group. Having lost and gained weight many times over the years, I know that we never lose weight fast enough for our wishes, though we do seem to gain it too quickly. We eat 3500 calories to gain 1 pound of fat, and we must burn off 3500 calories to loose 1 pound of fat. I have found that it is much easier and more fun to take in that 3500 calories than it is to burn/use the same amount. I have set myself a goal... to loose 4 pounds per month, which averages about 1 pound per week, for the next 10 months or 40 pounds. A 4 pound loss per month doesn't sound like much when we want to loose 40 pounds and be 'hot' in time for swimsuit weather, or a special occasion, but it is 'do-able', it is an 'achievable' amount and it is a healthy amount to loose. It will require a change of life style, not easy for me, yet that too is 'do-able' and is what will be necessary not only to drop the weight but also to keep it off. If I am going to achieve this goal, I had better get busy and exercise a lot more than I have been lately.

Dreams of a Library

2011-02-23T11:02:00.003-08:00

Hi all. The sun is shining and it looks so beautiful outside my windows. With the wind blowing and knowing the temperature is -9°C out there, I am not in a hurry to go outside today. I got a phone call this morning canceling my physiotherapy appointment due to the therapist's daughter being sick, so I have some extra time home before I go in to the chiropractor. I think I will do some much needed housework and I know I will surf the net as that is what I've been doing so far. Do you know what a jack3d is? I didn't. It's amazing what we can find out on the internet. I get all kinds of information here. It's better than having my own library, endless information and I don't even have to dust anything, haha. I do love books though, and have somewhat of a library in my home, a large collection of good books. I often have wished I could have a special room with lots of book shelves full of books, and a big window to let the sun in, a big recliner arm chair to relax in by the fire that would be burning there, oh and of course a small table beside my chair where my cup of tea would sit between sips.

Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-14T16:11:00.003-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY
to everyone in the world.

I believe that every day is the right day to show and express your love. Every day is the right day to feel & acknowledge LOVE. Don't wait for Valentines Day to tell someone that you love the, then them and better yet show them Every Day!!! When my Dad was still alive I told him every time I saw him that I loved him, I even taught him 'sign language' for I Love You which really worked well for Dad. When he passed away I was blessed to not have to live feeling/thinking "I wish I'd told Dad I love him. Now he's gone and I will never get the chance." Instead, I live my life knowing that i told and showed Dad every time I saw him.... I loved my Dad and I will still love him for the rest of forever. I also tell Mom that I love her every time I see her or speak to her on the phone.

Feeling... well... not well.

2011-02-14T15:57:00.002-08:00

I don't know what's wrong with me lately. I've been so tired for weeks now and also have been having neck pain & low grade headaches that just don't want to go away. I don't know if the tired has anything to do with the headaches or if there are 2 totally different causes. I just know that I am sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. I had blood tests done to see if it shows why I am so tired now feel too crappy to go to the doctor to find out the results of the tests. Sheesh!! I wish I could just insert new canon batteries into my body like I would put new batteries into my camera, flashlight, or any of many things that use batteries. Maybe that would give me fresh new energy, give me back my active life. I think I might be getting sucked down into depression just sitting home here day in and day out. Must make me get out and do something.

My Day

2011-02-10T20:48:00.002-08:00

I had a great day today. It started when I was getting ready to go out to my TOPS meeting and the phone rang. It was my friend Art who is living in Thailand. He's been there nearly 5 months now and told me he's coming home end of March as his 6 months will be up then. He asked if I can pick him up at the airport on the day of his return and I said yes I will do that. Art has always been good about giving me rides if/when I needed them, including taking my Cherry Chinchilla to the vet and my truck brakes were frozen... but I digress. After talking to Art I finished getting ready and headed out to my meeting. Each week we weigh in before the meeting and this week I was happy to log a 1/2 pound loss. Hey, any loss is a good loss folks. As Leader of our TOPS club I led the meeting. I also was the one to do the Program this week, so got everyone working on writing down goals. My goal is to drop 40# by the end of 2011, so that means 4# per month or 1# per week.

After the meeting, as always, most of our ladies went for lunch together, then a few of us went shopping a bit and after that I came home and did a bit here. I then went into town to the Wanding Group and had a short visit with friend Joyce. I came home, washed my hands under the bathroom faucet, and cooked up about 4 cups of vegetables... stir fry. Threw in some mixed nuts and topped it off with some Indonesian Soy Sauce. It was so good. Now I relax with a cup of tea and watch some TV.

Valentines.

2011-02-04T20:58:00.003-08:00

Do you think you'll get flowers for Valentine's Day? I mean, it's only 10 days away, the 'Day of Romance' that comes but once a year. I have never gotten flowers or candy or for that matter, anything that I can remember for Valentines. Most of my life I've been single though I have been in relationships on Valentines day. I guess I've just never had romantic men in my life. Maybe that's why I am and have usually been single. Actually, a man friend of mine did give me a bouquet of flowers last week. That was a real big surprise. I've known him for nearly 10 years now and this is the first time. No, he's not suddenly decided he wants 'something more' with me, he likes just being good friends and so do I. Maybe one day I will find 'Mr. Right' and if not that's good too. I am not sure if I want to be tied down or not, after all, I'm only 55 so maybe not quite old enough for a committed relationship. ;o) Ahhhh, but I do love the critters I share my life with.

Friday January 21st

2011-01-22T01:04:00.003-08:00

Today I went to town and picked up a letter from my physio therapist to take to the surgeon that did the repair work on my shattered left wrist. I then went for x-rays on the wrist so the surgeon would have current pictures to look at, then it was time to drive over for my appointment with said surgeon. I have been having a lot of pain in the wrist and lower arm, especially if I try to use it, bend the wrist or pick up something even as small as a book. I also have pain in the thumb and what the call a 'trigger finger' in the middle finger due to the tendon getting stuck. The surgeon, Dr. Splawinski, has now scheduled me for a second surgery that I hadn't planned on. It seems that the pain is likely due to complications with the metal plate & 9 screws he had to put in when he did the repair surgery in September. At this point, it sounds like it will be March 30 when I have the surgery to remove the screws and plate, but that will be up to the hospital. I sure hope it is that day as then I can still be healed enough to ride my trike this year. Dr. S. figures May or June is what I'm looking at now to start riding again. Usually these metal plates & screws are left in for the rest of a person's life, but if they cause problems they can be removed and I am one of the few that have to get it taken back out. I'm not happy about this but guess it has to be done so no point in whining about it.

This evening I did a full hour on my exercise bike. This is the longest time so far. I'm feeling good about this, mentally & physically.

Now off to bed to read and sleep. Nite all!!

Smokin' Baby!

2011-01-21T00:08:00.003-08:00

I must admit that I am smokin', Baby!! No, not smoking as in puffing on a arturo fuente or a Players or anything like that. I mean smokin'! Okay, what I am talking about is my exercise. 3 nights in a row I did 45 minutes on my exercise bike then yesterday I did none due to a headache I had all day. Today I went to my regular Thursday TOPS meeting and of course the regular weigh in. I am down 2.25 pounds!! I was the "best TOPS" today so that was cool. I had planned that tonight I would do another 45 minutes on the exercise bike, but I didn't do that. Why?? Because I did 50 minutes instead! Haha. It feels really good I must admit. I am determined to turn the fat to healthy muscle, to see smaller numbers on the scale and to wear smaller clothes. Yup, healthy and slim is my goal. I plan to do minimum 45 minutes exercise minimum of 4 days per week, expanding it eventually to minimum 60 minutes exercise minimum of 5 days per week. I also plan to eat less 'junk' and less bread, as well as more vegetables. Not easy for me but a must if I want to be healthy.