Reflecting on 2014

As we rise to meet the challenges that
are a natural part of living, we awaken
to our many undiscovered gifts, to
our inner power and our purpose.

Susan L. Taylor

2014 was a challenging year for me, to be sure, and I like to think I everything that came at me well. From the beginning of the year until September, my health continued to deteriorate. My own fault.  I had continued with my uncontrolled eating patterns throughout most of the year, and eventually it all caught up to me.  So, gone are the chips, the cakes, cookies, and candy and in their place are fruits, veggies, and low fat cheese.  In September I joined Weight Watchers and have been on a weight loss journey since then. 

Heart palpitations took me to the emergency room, and it turned out to be a combination of a few things--the increase of salt in my diet, stopping one of my blood pressure medications (without contacting my doctor), and adding the supplement SAMe to my morning regimen of vitamins.  Upon further research, I discovered that, although rare, SAMe has been known to  cause heart palpitations.  Be aware of what you put in your body.  I am usually so much more careful, but I was so desperate this time I didn't research as I should have. 

On the plus side, my blood pressure has finally been controlled with the help of medication and diet.  My thyroid levels have remained stable, and, with doctor's orders, I have been taken off the Methimazole.  In November I finally saw an eye doctor, the first time in almost 40 years, I am ashamed to admit.  I've cataracts and possible glaucoma, so following up on this is a must for 2015.  I also have an appointment to see the doctor about glasses. 

Along with Weight Watchers, I am now also taking an art class at a new center as well as participating in arthritis exercises two times per week.  It's important for me to stay busy to keep depression from setting in.  I still go to the old center, but only on Wednesday.  It's gotten so boring there, but I do like the people I met there, and I don't want to sever ties with them.   

Went to the bank yesterday and paid the rent and the bills.  I grew up being told that whatever was left undone for New Years will be left undone throughout the year.  So, I used to bust my butt to have laundry done, an immaculately clean apartment, bills paid, and a pantry stocked with food.  While I realize now that there will always be laundry to do and cleaning to be done,  I believe that having my bills all paid when the New Year rolls in means I will always have enough money to pay my bills throughout the year.

So now, here we are, standing on the cusp of the unknown.  What will the new year bring? I tell you one thing, this journey I have started to become healthier is one of the best things I have ever done for myself.   After a lifetime of abusing my body and filling it with all kinds of junk, I have made the changes and started working on my new lifestyle.  It's amazing how much better I already feel.  I may still be in pain, but at least I can walk a few blocks without becoming short of breath.

So, as 2015 is ushered in, I plan on continuing my journey and staying positive as I continue on the path that leads to the person I want to be.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year.

My Year End Rant

 The little money I have — that is my wealth, but the things I have for which I would not take money, that is my treasure.   

Robert Brault,

Good morning.  One more day until New Year's Eve, and I am feeling the holiday blahs.  I always feel let down after Christmas passes, and it only gets worse in January and February when SADD takes over.  I especially felt down yesterday when I opened my bank statement and saw how low it was.  That tells me it is time to knuckle down and spend more wisely.  Easier said than done.

My social security went up by $20 but so did the rent and the cable bill.  Food stamps were cut down from $189 to $59 because of the raise in social security.  Doesn't matter that everything else went up as well.  Totally frustrates me.  One works for 50 years and has to struggle for every little bit, and a 26 year old man who sold drugs for a living, never worked an honest job, but knows exactly how to get over on the system, has everything handed to him.  He was my client and had no interest in work or school.  Why should he?  The system makes it too easy for him to idle around and do nothing.

I saw it every day as I went to work.  Our clients collecting their SSD checks and buying cigarettes or drugs and standing on the street corners selling them.  Social security gave them no problem, but remember all hubby had to go through to get his SSD?  The man has two terminal illnesses, but he was refused and had to wait a year to reapply.  And THEN he had to  fight to get his back monies released to him because someone made a mistake and marked him down as having mental illness.  My clients were receiving SSD for mental illness, but the system didn't give them a hard time. 

I called the cable company yesterday trying to lower my rate without having to give up the channels we enjoy.  No go.  I've been with them for 20 years, never missed a payment, and this is the thanks I get.  Every week I get offers in the mail intended for new customers.  What breaks they get!!!  You'd think they'd find some way to offer their customers of good standing.  Shame on them!

Fortunately the electric bills aren't so high in this apartment.  They average about $60 a month, about $100 a month in summer.  In my old place I was paying about $100 a month and $300 during the summer.  Turns out that the creep upstairs had the basement wired to my account, and he and his brother lived down there.  

I'd like a new cell phone, but forget about it now.  And, I don't know what I would do if my Kindle went down.  I already get so many free books on there.  My youngest gave me a $100 gift card, and I plan to use that to stock up on toiletries and other items I use regularly so I won't have to buy for a few months.  There will be no new clothes with my Christmas money this year. 

I know what I'll be doing on New Year's day.  I'll be digging out my notebook and going through my frugality books, jotting down ideas.  Next step will be setting up a strict budget.  It's the only way we'll survive.  

Have a good one.

Monday Morning This and That

It depends on us. . . Another year lies before us like an unwritten page,
an unspent coin, an unwalked road. How the pages will read,
what treasures will be gained in exchange for time,
or what we find along the way, will largely depend on us.

Esther Baldwin York

Good morning on the last Monday of 2014.  Hard to believe that as this week ends, we'll find ourselves in 2015.  Even harder to believe that in 3 months I will be 68.  Seems like only yesterday I was turning 50. The older you get, the faster time passes by.  Wish there was a simple way of slowing it down.  Some say that the key to slowing time is living in the 'now', stopping thinking and starting to be aware of  life that is always happening around us.  Note to self.  Practice living in the now.

Church on Christmas Eve

Friday I went to for a meeting and my weigh-in.  I'd done pretty good on Christmas Eve and most of Christmas day, but late afternoon the Whitman's chocolates and Christmas cookies started calling out to me.  I didn't overdue, though.  I had two candies and three cookies.  Felt a wee bit nauseous afterwards.  Amazing how your system changes when you start eating healthier.   Fortunately, I didn't blow it all.  I lost .08 pounds and hit my ten percent mark.  From 223 I am down to 201.  It will be a real celebration when I break the 200 mark. 

This is a picture of the Mexican salad I made for Christmas Eve.  Very simple and delicious.  It is best made ahead of time as flavor builds as it sits.

On the bottom is a layer of shredded lettuce.
Next a layer of canned black beans, drained
Next a layer of chopped tomatoes
Mix 1 cup low fat sour cream with 1 cup chunky salsa
Spread over salad and sprinkle with shredded low fat Mexican cheese and chopped scallions.  Refrigerate.  

On Saturday I finally got tired of the Christmas movies.  I've seen them all, most of them two or three times.  Yes, I am a fanatic for Christmas flicks, even the silly ones.  This year Hallmark started early, before Thanksgiving, and on by Saturday afternoon, I'd had enough and turned on a 'Monk' marathon.  Really enjoyed the rest of the day.  What a character he was!  I didn't even turn it off to watch the news.  Too much hate and racism in this world.  I needed to take a step back from it.

Sunday was a quiet day.  Went to church, stopped at Met Food for a few items, and headed home to prepare for the upcoming week.   Watched "The Golden Girls", and when they went off, turned back to 'Monk'.  All in all, it was a fun, relaxing weekend.

Hoping your Monday goes well.   Talk to you all tomorrow.
 

The Day After

Good morning, everyone. Hope you all had a great Christmas. I had a wonderful time. My son's new girlfriend is such a sweetheart. I would love to see this relationship work.   She had to work until 7 pm so she missed the church service, but my son made it....a little late.  That's why we ended up sitting in the back.  My son, who is so much taller than me, took pictures, and has still not forwarded them to me. I didn't want to push him for them yesterday because one of his traditions is getting together with some of the other members of the Blue Bloods cast to feed the homeless in the park.   When I do get the photos,  I'll be sure to post.  

Our Mexican feast. I worked so hard on this, and everything tasted so darn good.  Everyone especially loved the Mexican casserole, and it is so easy to make.

Extra lean ground beef (about 1 pound)
1/2 cup chopped onion 

1/4 cup canned jalapeno slices, chopped
2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes

1 (15 ounce) can kernel corn (drained)
1 (15 ounce) can black beans( drained)
1 package taco seasoning mix
Whole wheat tortillas
3/4 cup nonfat sour cream
1/3 cup reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend, shredded

Brown ground beef and chopped onions in large skillet until thoroughly cooked, stirring constantly. Drain well  to remove all fat; return beef/onions to skillet. Add corn, black beans, tomatoes, chilies/jalapenos and taco seasoning mix; mix well. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes.

Meanwhile spray 12x8-inch (2-quart) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cut each tortilla in half; place 8 halves in bottom of sprayed baking dish, overlapping slightly. Spoon half of beef mixture evenly over tortillas. Then spoon sour cream over beef mixture, spreading evenly. Top with remaining 8 tortilla halves and remaining beef mixture. Bake at 350ºF for 25 minutes. Remove from oven; sprinkle with cheese. Cover and let stand 5 minutes or until cheese melts.

The best part of this recipe is that it is WW approved.

Yesterday I made a Pernil and arroz con gondulas and spent much of the time resting.  You'd think that after all the work I did Christmas Eve I would have konked out, but I guess I was on my feet too long because my legs ached terribly, especially around the knees.  Every time I finally got comfortable, they would start aching.  Oh well, next time I will be sure to take rests in between.

Have a great weekend, and I will see you on Monday.

Merry Christmas

A Christmas wish-
May you never forget
what is worth remembering
or remember
what is best forgotten. 

Irish

Wishing you all the merriest Christmas ever. 

A Blessed Christmas Eve to All

 The most vivid memories of Christmases past are usually not

of gifts given or received, but of the spirit of love,
the special warmth of Christmas worship,
the cherished little habits of home.

Lois Rand

Here we are.  The morning of Christmas Eve.  Wow!!!  Another busy day ahead of me. So many things to do today.  Yesterday was one of those days that 'what could go wrong, went wrong.  My back was killing me due to the cold and dampness in the air. I started out my day near tears, but ended the day with tears of joy.

It all started when I realized I forgot to put the coffee in last night.  I don't drink it anymore, but hubby does.  Well, as I just as I went to put the coffee in my hand slipped and coffee went all over the place.  What a mess to clean up.  Then, I get dressed to head on over to art class.  Just as I get to the corner the rain starts coming down.  By the time I dug my umbrella out, I was pretty much soaking wet.  Good thing my jacket was waterproof.

My first instinct was to turn around and go  right back home, but I really wanted to go to art class.   Well, we cannot always have what we want.  I got all the way over there, and no one showed up for the class.  Must have been the rain that kept them away.  I sat and waited 35 minutes, then decided to go back home and get started on the work I had to do. 

But, I decided I should eat a little lunch first.  I'd been hungering for a swiss cheese omelet all morning.  I spooned out some butter and just before my hand reached the pot, it slipped off the spoon and onto the floor.  Then, my omelet stuck to the pan.  Usually doesn't but with the day I was having, it was to be expected.

I decided then that maybe I should sit down and rest awhile before beginning the 'real' cooking.  Closed my eyes and just about dozed off when the phone rang.   I was going to let it ring, but I saw on the television that it was Beth Israel Hospital.  Hubby's doctor is there, so I answered it.  Guess what.  They approved the medication for him.  I am so overwhelmed.  This medication cures the disease in almost everyone who takes it.  Even this morning, as I type this, tears of happiness are welling in my eyes.  This could very well save his life.  That is the greatest Christmas gift of all. 

And with that I bid you all a blessed holiday season. May this Christmas bring you comfort, joy, peace and happiness.

Tuesday Ramble

For me, the spirit of Christmas is about

letting the loving but messy little rituals become just as important as the solemn

and graceful ones. It's about making

room for everyone.

Ann Michael

Good morning. It's a cool damp day outdoors today.  Part of me would love to stay in, but the other part doesn't want to miss art class. Finished up all of my shopping yesterday, and all gifts are wrapped and under the tree. I have all the ingredients needed for my Mexican feast and all recipes are in order.  I did well with my lists this year, and there will be no need to run out for last minute items.

This Christmas is so special to me, and I'm so looking forward to us being all together on Christmas Eve.  I've accepted that Miss Minga will most likely not be with us next Christmas, and I am determined to make it extra special for her.  And hubby.  We are still awaiting word from the insurance company as to whether or not they will pay for the medication that could save his life.  I am praying they approve.  The cost is about $95,000 for the 12 week course of treatment. That's a lot of money, and I fear that they may not want to pay it. Please pray with me   that he is accepted and can begin treatment as soon as possible. 

They say we have a huge rainstorm rolling in tomorrow.  Just when I plan to go to Christmas Eve mass with my sons.  It's my first time.  Wish it was at midnight, but they have no mass that late so we will be going at 5:30 for Christmas carols and 6 pm for mass.  If it rains too hard, we'll just have to grab a cab. 

Well, that's about it this morning.  Hope you all have a good one.