tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57122452035845872162024-02-22T02:14:34.061-08:00Grammy Getting StrongA grandma's journey to health and vitalityPamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-13763906557677663342017-01-05T15:03:00.000-08:002017-01-05T15:03:44.358-08:00Final Quarterly Check-in, January 3, 2017<style>
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Happy New Year! And Happy Anniversary to Stan and me - married 6 years on New Year's Day. This post is supposed to be about saying goodbye, as I only originally planned to blog for my year of health, then added quarterly check-ins to keep myself on the straight and narrow for another year. (You'll see shortly that didn't completely work...) However, I'll also let you know my ongoing plans for continued good health in the future - perhaps I shouldn't stop posting results.<br />
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In two years I seem to have gone full circle in some areas of health, and been more successful in others. I started my "year of health" in January 2014, mostly to feel better, but also to look better and lose some weight. Which I did. I started 2015 at 145 pounds, saw a low of 128 at the end of the summer, and was back to 135 by the end of the year - not too bad - a ten-pound loss was okay with me. But, today I weigh 144! Right back where I started 😦 How did that happen? I think mostly by turning my attention to other things and getting lazy. I suppose my interest in cake-baking didn't help either. We watched The Best British Baking Show and I went through a few months of baking cakes and some bread. Delicious, but with only the two of us here, we ate a lot.<br />
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I also had two annoying setbacks. I fell and broke a bone in the bottom of my foot in June, which put me out of action for the entire summer. It really showed me how one moment of inattention can be dangerous - I'm very careful now about falling. I also got a sore throat on the Tuesday of our week's cruise to Mexico - bummer! It was still fun, but I didn't feel well and the coughing kept me awake at night. How did that happen when I have been eating pretty well? I started vitamin C as soon as we got home, but actually got sicker before getting well again. Clearly my healthy habits still need work!<br />
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On the good side, I really have felt great. No hip pain, which had been getting worse for years, and had caused me to limp a bit when I first stood up. I credit my physical therapist, but also myself for actually doing the exercises and putting into practice what she taught me. Today I still clench my glutes when getting up, bending over and walking uphill. <br />
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I also feel stronger overall - credit goes mostly to Stan for dragging me to the gym faithfully, but also myself, for determining to make the most of the time I am there. I focus on doing each exercise properly and I sweat a lot! When my foot was healing I started warming up on a machine like a bicycle, only for your arms. It's harder than it looks! I'm still using it, and my arms have gotten stronger than ever. In Mexico I actually wore a sleeveless outfit that I bought many years ago.<br />
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In between traveling and being sick we had some great family times. We celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas with Tyler, Alethea and Mira and Alethea's family - we're so lucky to have great in-laws! We also had a pre-Christmas celebration with both Tyler and Melanie and their families, when Melanie and Ben came up from Portland for a weekend. We caught up, played a fun game (Telestrations) and ate great food, accommodating gluten-free, vegetarian, high fat/low carb and carnivore eating styles.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Girls - Melanie, Mira, Evie and Alethea</td></tr>
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So, how to continue improving my health in the coming year? First, continue a few things I'm doing right:<br />
<ul>
<li>I love my breakfast scrambles with veggies and they keep me satisfied all morning</li>
<li>I'm walking 30 minutes every day, and I mean <i>every day</i></li>
<li>I still eat salad for lunch most of the time</li>
<li>Still take the vitamins I wrote about in 2015 and I have added calcium, per my doctor, and vitamin C</li>
<li>Stan keeps me faithful at the gym</li>
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Plus, shape up the rest of my eating!<br />
<ul>
<li>Somehow bread, toast and English muffins have snuck into my day - quit it! I'm going to bake paleo and gluten-free muffins.</li>
<li>If I buy any bread it will be sprouted grains. (Did you know Whole Foods has already-sprouted grains and nuts in the bulk foods? I'm going to learn what to do with those.) </li>
<li>I'm drinking lemon juice with warm water or weak tea first thing in the morning, and only one cup of coffee, after breakfast. This is actually okay - when I settle in with my laptop, I forget what I'm drinking as long as it's warm.</li>
<li>I'm going through my healthy cookbooks trying new recipes and keeping track of the ones I like (even better, the ones Stan likes too). I'll list some books at the end.</li>
<li>I plan to learn how to make nut milks and grow sprouts. Also focusing on healthy ingredients like coconut milk, raw cacao powder and hemp hearts. (Didn't know where to find hemp hearts and they practically leapt out at me in Whole Foods. I love that store!)</li>
<li>My friend Marcia has been studying <a href="http://www.juiceplus.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Juice Plus+</a> supplements. When I see her later this month I want to hear about it.</li>
<li>No wine. It's been two days now - we'll see how that goes. </li>
<li>And, okay, no guarantees but when I find or learn something really helpful, I'll write a post to tell you about it. I'm not sure I have any readers left by now, but the posting helps me remember what I felt was important. </li>
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Here's my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WHQV79I/ref=asc_df_B00WHQV79I4745676/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B00WHQV79I&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167155690034&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13892777623893935687&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033291&hvtargid=pla-275399573908" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">new weapon</a> in the fight against aging. This green smoothie doesn't look too good but was actually quite fruity and enjoyable. I have since also made a banana-nut smoothie and a chocolate-chia shake. Yum!<br />
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Here are the books I'm using:<br />
<ul>
<li>Everyday Detox, Megan Gilmore (<a href="http://detoxinista.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Detoxinista</a>)</li>
<li>The Blender Girl, Tess Masters (just got this from library - lots of good info but a bit hardcore with unfamiliar ingredients)</li>
<li>Whole 30, Melissa Hartwig and Dan Hartwig</li>
<li>Heal Your Whole Body, Frances Murchinson (not sure about the science in this one, but she has a 12-day program to give your liver a rest, and I think mine needs one)</li>
<li>Stan just got Eat Fat Get Thin by Mark Hyman, MD from the library. He was on TV and while mostly he was advocating eating healthy fat, he also mentioned potato starch as being good for us. Stan does love his potatoes!</li>
<li>The Wahls' Protocol, Terry Wahls, MD This is the book I trust the most. <a href="http://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Wahls</a> was in a tilt/recline wheelchair with MS and did much serious research on diet as related to immune disease. She now rides a bike! Following her protocol would not be easy, but my goal is to incorporate as much as I can into my everyday habits. (Tyler, if you see this, I suggest you borrow this book from me.)</li>
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Well, that's it. Thank you so much for reading and being part of my year (+) of health! I love talking and learning about being healthy! (It's so much easier than actually <i>doing</i> what needs to be done...) If you want to chat and compare ideas or have a suggestion, don't hesitate to contact me!<br />
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Here's one reason for caring about this. I have such a great family and friends, I want to be around and able to enjoy life as long as possible!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evie with Mira (note the Christmas vest, shirt and gloves!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweetie, Stan, choosing a hat in San José del Cabo</td></tr>
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-45992418934745737402016-10-03T13:01:00.000-07:002016-10-03T13:01:11.554-07:00Third Quarterly Check-in, October 1, 2016<style>
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Wow, can you see my golf ball? I chipped it in from 6 feet off the green for a birdie! (It's stuck between the flag stick and the side of the hole, one of the good pink balls you gave me, Sharon.) I realize I'm not looking very slim in the photo, but what's that compared to a terrific golf shot? That's only my first birdie of the year, but with the broken foot bone, I missed most of the season. I'm glad to say it's better now.<br />
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It was a less active than usual three months - broken foot, four appointments' worth of dental work, and a seriously upset stomach - however, it's nice to look back and see I still had a lot of fun.<br />
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Since I knew I'd be spending time sitting down, I learned how to knit socks. Here are my first three efforts, and the beginning of a beautiful 4th pair. Ben and Melanie gave me that beautiful dark blue yarn for my birthday and I'm finally confident enough to use it.<br />
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The first two and a half pairs were knitted from the top down, then I read that many experienced knitters prefer to knit from the toe up. I made the second purple sock from the toe up - it's tricky - had to learn several new stitches and a new way of measuring where to start the various parts. I also learned to get best-quality yarn. The purple ones are of inexpensive yarn and itchy. The red and green pair cost a bit more but feel wonderfully silky. The gray ones are a heavier yarn - quick to knit but I'll only wear them on a very cold day. I have several books from the library with many techniques and I can't wait to try some pretty patterns!<br />
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Melanie and Ben also brought a jigsaw puzzle - fun! I hadn't done one in very many years. A warning though - it's addictive! Once I get started it's hard to quit and do something useful. When I finished the butterflies I had to quickly go to Amazon and order a few more.<br />
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I read a lot of books. A memorable one: A Robot in the Garden by Deborah Install - I loved this! The robot's personality was really lovable. Also watched some Netflix movies. Two we particularly enjoyed were based on true stories. Young at Heart is about a singing group in Massachusetts made up of folks in their late 70's, 80's and 90's - a real "feel good" movie. Bridge of Spies is about the Francis Gary Powers spy incident in the early 1960's and Tom Hanks was great.<br />
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Melanie and I have started scheduling a "Girls' Getaway" as an annual weekend for mother and daughter to spend together. This year we invited Melanie's mother-in-law, Sharon, and had a great time in Manzanita on the Oregon coast. We mostly walked and talked. Mel and Sharon were patient with me as I limped along the ocean and through the town. There were lots of cute shops, and we browsed through them all. Our rented house had a deck with an ocean view and Sharon made us some delicious vodka collins each evening - a perfect opportunity for relaxation and conversation!<br />
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I haven't done too badly with my healthy eating... with a few exceptions due to my birthday, Tyler's birthday, and other special occasions. However, wine seems to have crept back in after two months of none at all, and gluten is back - mainly in the form of toast, and crackers with cheese. How hard it is to be ever vigilant!! <br />
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When I could finally walk without the boot, I went down to our pea patch for the first time in a couple of months. I was surprised to find a pretty nice tomato harvest, and made a very tasty dinner.<br />
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Here are links to the <a href="http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016151-lemon-and-garlic-chicken-with-cherry-tomatoes" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chicken and tomato recipe</a> and also the <a href="http://www.ijustlovethis.com/puts-sliced-potatoes-muffin-tin-next-ingredient-running-kitchen/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">potato stacks</a>.<br />
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We used that potato stack recipe for a big dinner at the end of September. It was our first turn at hosting our investment club for the monthly dinner and meeting, and we knew we could have a crowd as large as 12 or 14. It turned out we had 8, and it went well, but we were a bit nervous. Stan made his delicious duck with poached pears and peas, and I made the potatoes and a lemon tart. I think everyone enjoyed it, and now we can relax for another year : )<br />
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I forgot to photograph the meal in the rush of serving everyone, so here's what our leftover dinner looked like the next evening. Not bad for leftovers!<br />
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I'll close with a photo of my <b><i>two</i></b> granddaughters, Mira, of course, and her puppy Evie. Evie joined the family Memorial Day weekend and I was impressed with how well-behaved she was when I visited a couple of weeks ago. After our first greeting, she didn't jump up and was quietly friendly. Whenever I gave her my full attention and some petting, she rolled right over for a tummy scratch. Her big Sissy is taking good care of her and training her well! <br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-52033576473983044862016-07-06T11:26:00.000-07:002016-07-06T11:26:51.078-07:00Second Quarterly Check-in, July 6, 2016<style>
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Well, here I am beginning my 70th year and I'm not in good shape at all! I fell a couple of weeks ago and broke a bone in my foot - how dumb! I rolled up the rug to clean the kitchen floor, then got distracted and tripped over the rug... alarming on several levels... short term memory going fast, and bones ready to break at the slightest stress : ( There's an important lesson here, about how just a moment of inattention and carelessness can really change your life. I'm fortunate mine is only changed for a month or so this time, but I can hear my mom saying "Pamela, you must keep your wits about you!"<br />
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We've been quite busy these past three months. Here are some of our activities:<br />
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Stan's timeshare has a resort in central Oregon called Eagle Crest, where he used to enjoy spring break with his kids years ago. He's been suggesting we go down there sometime, and Tyler mentioned that Bend, OR made a short list of smaller towns he and Alethea and Mira might want to relocate to, so we took a road trip to check it out.<br />
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This is a place where I could retire!! I was surprised that I liked it so much! There are homes, condos and apartments for sale and for rent, and all kinds of activities like hiking, golf, rental bikes and bike trail, horses, swimming, you name it! There's even a community for over-50 folks with it's own activities. I don't really expect we'll leave this house and Washington any time soon, but it sure made me think about what I want in my retirement years. (Number 1 is having the kids close by, so no move as yet...)<br />
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We stopped for dinner with Melanie and Ben in Portland on the way down, and I was invited to return and keep Wilbur company while he healed from a pretty serious surgery to remove a growth from his paw (and also one toe). So, I headed back to Portland, and Wilbur and I bonded while lounging around in the beautiful weather while Melanie and Ben were at work. I'm happy to report Wilbur is quite recovered now and ready to play again!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rooftop dinner with Melanie and Ben</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilbur's favorite spot (mine, too)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben grilled dinner after a long day of work - yum!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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(I guess you can see my new wine-free lifestyle didn't carry over far into the 2nd quarter... I backslipped for a month or two, but now I'm back on track. Good thing, as now I'm sleeping pretty well in spite of the broken foot!)<br />
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I was barely home from Portland when it was time to pack and fly to Chantilly, Virginia for BINC - the Better Investing National Convention. Since I'm a director of our chapter, they paid my way, and Stan went with me. It was a great four days of classes and talks, and comparing investing notes with fellow investors around the country. It motivated us to continue learning and experimenting with our investing. As Stan said, "We can do better". <br />
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On Memorial Day I met my new grandcritter, Evie!! What a sweetheart! Mira has wanted a dog for a long time, and her parents found a way to make that happen with a puppy of the breed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagotto_Romagnolo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lagotto Romagnolo</a>, which doesn't bother Alethea's allergies. Evie's still a baby, but we can already tell she's going to be cuddly and smart. I enjoyed watching her gather a couple of toys and take them to her favorite corner - very purposeful!<br />
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The first week in June, my friend and co-grandma Charla and I walked <i>eleven miles</i> round trip to the Dungeness Spit lighthouse. We did great! Charla was a bit worried about a bad knee, but she got in her groove and walked strong and fast all the way back. On the other hand, I had no trouble on the way out, but coming back my knee suddenly started hurting and had a fluid-filled lump pop up. Charla lent me one of her walking sticks and I was fine, though pretty slow. Anyway, we did it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiOMM8TwZkmkBnzSyu7uOk28YYf6-JVKAXKaVlueZz7ne2wddsq2FEfkUIZKzbbl2F-PWaIoHv5IoieTzXXyQaaTKVOzdXG8WW-8GZP52xxxb5jJByzDOn8y5x589QaWjAnh-ohWtQGcv/s1600/MeInLighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiOMM8TwZkmkBnzSyu7uOk28YYf6-JVKAXKaVlueZz7ne2wddsq2FEfkUIZKzbbl2F-PWaIoHv5IoieTzXXyQaaTKVOzdXG8WW-8GZP52xxxb5jJByzDOn8y5x589QaWjAnh-ohWtQGcv/s320/MeInLighthouse.jpg" width="100%" /></a></div>
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Then came the day of the foot! Ouch!! (I'm so sorry for people who have broken their hips! Just a small foot bone hurt quite a bit!) I didn't know it was broken, so just kept it up with ice for the afternoon, and headed off to Mira's orchestra concert that evening.<br />
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So glad I could go! It was amazing! I'd love to post a photo of Mira graciously fulfulling the role of concert mistress for her beginning orchestra (first violin!) but her director asked us not to post any photos on public media, and I will obey. Mira's middle school is known for its music program, and I was surprised to see hundreds of kids in 5 orchestras, as well as several really great soloists. ("Really great" doesn't even begin to describe how good they are.) The whole family urged me to get my foot checked out the next day, so I did - good thing. <br />
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So, how to entertain myself sitting down for the next 6 weeks?? Reading, of course. I put some books on hold at the library, so Stan could just zip in and pick them up. (One was <u>Host</u> by Robin Cook - exciting medical thriller. I'll get more of his.) I also finished knitting my first pair of socks, that I had started when I visited the yarn shop in Cannon Beach last winter. I already have more yarn on the way.<br />
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I also signed up for a class on <a href="http://coursera.com/">Coursera.com</a>. A terrific website! There are many classes in all sorts of categories - Life Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Languages, Business and Data Science. I chose to start with Business Analytics - for example, how Amazon knows which books to show me and how to customize for me "people who bought this, also bought that". Also, how Google decides which ads to show at the top of my search, and how much to charge for them. Lots of math! Not everyone's cup of tea, I know, but I'm finding it very interesting. You can audit for free, or pay if you want to take tests and get a certificate.<br />
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Finally, my birthday was last weekend and both kids and their families came to help me celebrate. We had a great time! It was the first time the two doggie cousins met each other and they played nicely, with Wilbur teaching Evie a few manners. I'm lucky to have such a nice family.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9Nm4tLg9WiOqc_xDECtuvRz8KD_sNooCHn5wKRsh8Tf_hrTmzCHXM-BZYQu-aNL62iRvom88gqN7kHyPpmmgBCAJB7VKQV50nfvp_t6hOmtnQ3jGd5XenY2MA5dA_kwh08v67gsZm7YR/s1600/PamAndMira.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9Nm4tLg9WiOqc_xDECtuvRz8KD_sNooCHn5wKRsh8Tf_hrTmzCHXM-BZYQu-aNL62iRvom88gqN7kHyPpmmgBCAJB7VKQV50nfvp_t6hOmtnQ3jGd5XenY2MA5dA_kwh08v67gsZm7YR/s320/PamAndMira.jpg" width="100%" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by son-in-law Ben - I need to master the timer so all can be in pic!</td></tr>
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So, with all those activities, did I stay on my eating plan? Uh, no. I have gained 4 pounds (make that 5 at press time), with probably more to come, as I won't be exercising for at least another 4 weeks. I'm already vowing to get out there and walk more, and I'm off the wine <i>and</i> the Starbucks frappuccinos. Stan and I watched a documentary called Fat and Sick and Nearly Dead, by an Aussie guy who went on a vegetable juice fast while driving around the US telling people about it. He wound up helping a much fatter, sicker man who then went on to help others.<br />
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All that caused me to reconsider juicing. I had bought a really nice (expensive) juicer a few years ago, shortly before reading that juicing was bad and that we should make smoothies in a high-speed (even more expensive) blender so as to eat the whole fruit. I never did get the blender, and the juicer went up on the top shelf in the pantry. Anyway, I'm considering getting it out again. When I first had it, I had gotten fairly good at making a nice juice mixture that was as nutritious as I could actually tolerate drinking. One of my books from the library is Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Juice and it has detailed instructions for a 3-day cleanse (not a juice fast, there's some food, too), and I may give it a try. Will write about it if I do.<br />
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I also can't wait to get walking and hiking again, not to mention golf. I'm so sorry I spoiled golf for Stan, too, as we had just started our once-a-week round at the community 9-hole course. When I get back to my activities, I'll be so appreciative of my pain-free mobility!<br />
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Look who we ran into on our favorite trail. Have a great summer!<br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-81242877116013316992016-03-31T08:47:00.000-07:002016-04-07T20:45:57.596-07:00First Quarterly Check-in, March 31, 2016<style>
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Hi Readers - thanks for checking in to see what I've been up to in the first quarter of my post-blogging year! It took a while to realize I no longer have to remember to photograph everything I do and eat, then I got pretty busy.<br />
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Here I am - still pain-free and I have stayed between 133 and 135 pounds. I think I'll stop posting unflattering photos of me trying to suck in my belly - here's how I actually look most of the time.<br />
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The first thing I tackled in the new year was <i><b>sleep</b></i>. I was tired of tossing and turning in the middle of the night, then sleeping later in the morning than I want to. Here's what I did:<br />
<ul>
<li>Bought more <a href="https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/melatonin-and-sleep" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">melatonin</a>. It helps adjust sleep patterns and was recommended by the naturopath I consulted to help me through chemo and radiation some years ago.</li>
<li>Bought and hung room-darkening drapes. We just had blinds with a cornice selected by Stan's prior girlfriend - now we're redecorating the bedroom : )</li>
<li>Thanks to son-in-law Ben, I now listen to the sound of ocean waves crashing on the beach all night. It's a free app called <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/white-noise-free-sounds-for/id292987597?mt=8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">White Noise Free</a> and the waves are my favorite. It's not very loud, but just seems to mask traffic noises and Stan's breathing.</li>
<li>And - are you sitting down? - I completely stopped drinking wine or any other alcohol. Yup, did it. I think this made the most difference.</li>
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Now I sleep well most of the time, and I've even been aware of dreaming, though I didn't used to remember any dreams at all. It's a real pleasure to go to bed knowing I can expect a good night's sleep.<br />
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So, giving up wine was a pretty big thing. Now I see it's true that when you don't drink alcohol, you crave sugar more. (My non-drinking, candy-eating friend, Mary, always told me that, and I was skeptical.) At cocktail hour I started treating myself to one of those bottled Starbucks frappuccinos, and guess what I now look forward to every day! Yup, still having one almost every day. However, one of those has fewer calories than three glasses of wine, so maybe it's not too bad. It doesn't seem to affect my sleep as alcohol does.<br />
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My granddaughter, Mira, introduced me to <a href="http://www.pbs.org/food/shows/great-british-baking-show/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Best British Baking Show</a> - if you haven't seen this, it's terrific! (I found it available on Netflix.) The contestants are lovely nice people and incredibly talented. Both Stan and I loved it, and of course, it made me want to bake! I used real, glutinous flour and lots of butter and sugar, and I think it will be okay to have a cake once in a while.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBI1X6g7UiTg7t-R7iQVH2OH_rxMNbcMOBFT_d4IQeVI1xVsO3g_GDjh88hGH0cVFTE5fFpKo3XBr-SMfZwTbLa-fGmLtEFvxtbiNJvk85ik8uIR3pfng6bhzJXyPBvixbHiortQTZP1k1/s1600/AnniversaryCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBI1X6g7UiTg7t-R7iQVH2OH_rxMNbcMOBFT_d4IQeVI1xVsO3g_GDjh88hGH0cVFTE5fFpKo3XBr-SMfZwTbLa-fGmLtEFvxtbiNJvk85ik8uIR3pfng6bhzJXyPBvixbHiortQTZP1k1/s400/AnniversaryCake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow cake with chocolate frosting for our 5th anniversary (January 1st - last day of wine!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2YePWz9wVGxpQijqueJ57PeJGgjTNBfaS2ZxurbGXCwQPVeCb0cqy458bn4L-9_Gtg7hDFIgzRBgHY3ygeH1h-OSTGtZ4_WrUkZpNBd1ibHWp6CQwpbnPr7uDUsu_LA0ywrFFKcZ4EQs/s1600/LemonCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2YePWz9wVGxpQijqueJ57PeJGgjTNBfaS2ZxurbGXCwQPVeCb0cqy458bn4L-9_Gtg7hDFIgzRBgHY3ygeH1h-OSTGtZ4_WrUkZpNBd1ibHWp6CQwpbnPr7uDUsu_LA0ywrFFKcZ4EQs/s400/LemonCake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemon loaf cake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw21Xeu2Th4pIEEM-t_ECEYjHckIQpp6prRXm_s86C_i4KDOjA4IgpOyMRkj8uPgCGZdJZmGF4NYFeim6GBXlmZkEEl0nYjqIEoD0FHJh8RbSYLBXctx54GdHvh0Vts08euFwqwvAk-sDn/s1600/ValentineCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw21Xeu2Th4pIEEM-t_ECEYjHckIQpp6prRXm_s86C_i4KDOjA4IgpOyMRkj8uPgCGZdJZmGF4NYFeim6GBXlmZkEEl0nYjqIEoD0FHJh8RbSYLBXctx54GdHvh0Vts08euFwqwvAk-sDn/s400/ValentineCake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberry swirl for Valentines' Day</td></tr>
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I also baked some bread:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj744NAwI2rPC-28beTiOSv5tbY5mC7B7aaVTzCSZkV3N8crImEvRF6dTwHW5RWdtNbyTDseRq0RzePtgOQdOQymitDLZrz7A9Vznuwl-cVE8Nf8OJzL6EYkNGkw6CKFT5hnyzLj0KfcvN/s1600/WheatGermBread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj744NAwI2rPC-28beTiOSv5tbY5mC7B7aaVTzCSZkV3N8crImEvRF6dTwHW5RWdtNbyTDseRq0RzePtgOQdOQymitDLZrz7A9Vznuwl-cVE8Nf8OJzL6EYkNGkw6CKFT5hnyzLj0KfcvN/s400/WheatGermBread.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheat germ bread with molasses - Mira liked this a lot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycdlp-e88Aa7jYl21wFJ6PFXTCWHb373NWI__LiHRM5ofYY_IjxGtj_ybeQMsOoDSgh2DYCSchlobHoI0VOWcmuLioGDvIlYWu81C-vBUFYOQlzn53L4lG944mB0xZSe3Lc0Dly5TJyiN/s1600/WholeGrainBread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycdlp-e88Aa7jYl21wFJ6PFXTCWHb373NWI__LiHRM5ofYY_IjxGtj_ybeQMsOoDSgh2DYCSchlobHoI0VOWcmuLioGDvIlYWu81C-vBUFYOQlzn53L4lG944mB0xZSe3Lc0Dly5TJyiN/s400/WholeGrainBread.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whole grain bread from <a href="http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com/2009/10/26/our-new-book-healthy-bread-in-five-minutes-a-day-is-released-tomorrow-get-yourself-some-vital-wheat-gluten-and-make-our-whole-grain-master-recipe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Whole Grain Bread in 5 Minutes A Day</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Other than the cakes, I've kept to my eating plan fairly well. Lots of protein and veggies!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtj6DKezdPDSWoxI09fKGwcyczEK-XL9PT1DpZ59O3D5nWyEnGeUP74ob8wPvwtiTijIJSeS9crcW91q5Z0S0qg-_osGR_LPzo5-604UYpwfmig8RbVzvR272os4BYXBk0MYAPZ4OMqEC/s1600/Breakfast1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtj6DKezdPDSWoxI09fKGwcyczEK-XL9PT1DpZ59O3D5nWyEnGeUP74ob8wPvwtiTijIJSeS9crcW91q5Z0S0qg-_osGR_LPzo5-604UYpwfmig8RbVzvR272os4BYXBk0MYAPZ4OMqEC/s320/Breakfast1.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast scramble</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KEIH-xy2iy9HHmdHiofawPfjsGJ098l83Vetv1AVppWb0XFnoBWXaTUI6SatLYYeSzTncKvqqnLhJSO2UINFIbnFCqGGfcSV8EPW2_YT1HzWYS09DRqC-irwIGurWU4rupDs4VWQYUDR/s1600/Breakfast2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KEIH-xy2iy9HHmdHiofawPfjsGJ098l83Vetv1AVppWb0XFnoBWXaTUI6SatLYYeSzTncKvqqnLhJSO2UINFIbnFCqGGfcSV8EPW2_YT1HzWYS09DRqC-irwIGurWU4rupDs4VWQYUDR/s320/Breakfast2.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've really embraced veggies for breakfast!</td></tr>
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When it's my turn to cook dinner:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgi5gkcYKiC06o24eSwAUPfGDCCTnxEQs-azKginlCl8flcZVlEKEbr2pkMKaqX03YxO525Vch3ezk2-Lv4e0sjCXTg8cDt6p5-orXzlPbtApsoHnMwnnlpDneregQ294ZzpyULDY-vfzp/s1600/Stirfry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgi5gkcYKiC06o24eSwAUPfGDCCTnxEQs-azKginlCl8flcZVlEKEbr2pkMKaqX03YxO525Vch3ezk2-Lv4e0sjCXTg8cDt6p5-orXzlPbtApsoHnMwnnlpDneregQ294ZzpyULDY-vfzp/s320/Stirfry.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stirfry</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyGxyvx2UAPP_yxX9kgAAYvEYIvACrSLp9bwnLN9VSgzQVDhhzC4S307WwgWXqonjqUXyNPsN5YzjRhRfybWxvNUJ0Goex_zzJ8bR1v_ruUv3wLN2bEXSh_K_PfEsNJFcve8X5aGDHX2X/s1600/StiffedPepper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyGxyvx2UAPP_yxX9kgAAYvEYIvACrSLp9bwnLN9VSgzQVDhhzC4S307WwgWXqonjqUXyNPsN5YzjRhRfybWxvNUJ0Goex_zzJ8bR1v_ruUv3wLN2bEXSh_K_PfEsNJFcve8X5aGDHX2X/s320/StiffedPepper.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuffed Peppers</td></tr>
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With my newfound energy and free time I've worked on some home improvement. First I helped Stan clean ten years or so worth of mud out of the fish pond. It was a good opportunity since last fall most of the fish were mysteriously gone one day. We don't know whether it was a large bird or raccoon or something else, but it was a sad day for us. We are very happy that Stan managed to catch the three remaining ones and they survived their week "at camp" in the wading pool while we dug a lot of mud and weeds out of the pond. They appear to be enjoying their new home, although while it's still cold they mostly hide out and sleep under the rocks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAcz42EY3K8287X2MKD1N5PauA7UPEiYhxVmKwoGy7qga1fya48DOVuM5d5mPetv321nq5EWHcKyCPSl3YbgR_FMCX6cB8sEw8keoaYwEGgfGHNRVgp4wRh0RYHgR2g2KYP7bDYuNjss4/s1600/StanCleaningPond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAcz42EY3K8287X2MKD1N5PauA7UPEiYhxVmKwoGy7qga1fya48DOVuM5d5mPetv321nq5EWHcKyCPSl3YbgR_FMCX6cB8sEw8keoaYwEGgfGHNRVgp4wRh0RYHgR2g2KYP7bDYuNjss4/s320/StanCleaningPond.jpg" width="100%" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQv0D0XnHQWLV4Y5x4w2Ll-XKhhAK8DUFbvED6rsQn-UkJgPgbeySPNLKwzpUssUAhoQuyhjzl8TKVhoqhVHpdpDZWKlrXOtHiDWc2262-vMTQ_TGSspWeusGpl2hbhk4DTfBPlZdTdgG/s1600/FishInPool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQv0D0XnHQWLV4Y5x4w2Ll-XKhhAK8DUFbvED6rsQn-UkJgPgbeySPNLKwzpUssUAhoQuyhjzl8TKVhoqhVHpdpDZWKlrXOtHiDWc2262-vMTQ_TGSspWeusGpl2hbhk4DTfBPlZdTdgG/s320/FishInPool.jpg" width="100%" /></a></div>
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I also started painting our bedroom - and realized it is really big! I've finished the sitting area with two coats of white on the ceiling and two coats of a sort of zen-looking warm gray on the walls. Stan requested salmon-colored walls in the bedroom, and we agreed on an accent wall or two. He'll help me paint the main part of the bedroom and it'll be exciting to see how the color turns out! I'll post an "after" photo in a future quarterly check-in when it's all done.<br />
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(Can I take a moment here to explain, and brag a little? Several years ago Stan was asked to go to Cambridge University - yes, the one in Cambridge, England - to be part of a panel for a PhD candidate. While there, he stayed in a lovely old building and took many photos of his beautiful room with salmon walls. Our room at home doesn't have the same gracious lines and white moldings, but we'll see what we can do.)<br />
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I got to take a break and spend an afternoon with Mira - always fun! She played her violin and let me try it out. I went to her concert a few weeks later, and then we had a birthday party for my co-grandparents, Charla and Merv, and Mira played for us. It's exciting to see her progress!<br />
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And finally, I discovered <a href="http://craftsy.com/">Craftsy.com</a>. What a great website!! I am mostly interested in the quilting, but they have classes and supplies for other needlework crafts, cooking and baking, art, photography, jewelry and more. I found a beautiful kit for a quilt with fabrics by my favorite fabric designer, <a href="http://www.kaffefassett.com/Biography.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kaffe Fassett</a>. It was on sale for half-price, and I know I could never buy all the fabric individually for that little. Then I signed up for some classes, and so far, they are excellent. They're online videos with an opportunity to ask questions and have an online discussion with the instructor and other students. It's fun to see the others' completed projects!<br />
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So, that's it for this quarterly check-in - you know where I'll be for the next several months!<br />
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~ GONE QUILTING ~<br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-70295894911967601682015-12-28T19:12:00.000-08:002015-12-28T19:16:06.759-08:00Finale - December 26th<style>
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Wow - one year ago today I started blogging about my effort to get stronger and feel better. I've learned a lot and I actually do feel stronger and better, so I would say it has been a success. Remember my "before" photo? Here I am "after", ten pounds lighter and hiking on a hilly trail with no hip pain, knee pain or pinched sciatic nerve. I feel great!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfa873Ej_bxUQUCwUK0ogWNcLblCbzJ4Z1KNcGJB1PC9wTbva7M2OtmR2xaSgl__wNeB4QYHZoRuKvLeLejJZobGtTSfCm90zx25g9ujbQoAchMK4yBH0OClAWO0F_uyh5FMWbADNp2QS6/s1600/PamBefore2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfa873Ej_bxUQUCwUK0ogWNcLblCbzJ4Z1KNcGJB1PC9wTbva7M2OtmR2xaSgl__wNeB4QYHZoRuKvLeLejJZobGtTSfCm90zx25g9ujbQoAchMK4yBH0OClAWO0F_uyh5FMWbADNp2QS6/s320/PamBefore2.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now</td></tr>
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I started at 144 pounds and waistline of 32 3/4 inches. Today I weigh 134 and my waist is 31 1/2 inches. There's definitely been some backsliding - my best weight was in May when I checked in at 128 pounds, and my lowest waist measurement was in August at 31 inches. I was really focusing on my meals and exercise during the first part of the year, and gradually got busy with other things as we got into summer, golf, travel (2 weeks of cruise food!) and the holidays. My daughter Melanie suggested I look at my net results and be happy - ten pounds lost and 1 1/4 inch thinner : )<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 31st</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 25th</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 31st</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 25th</td></tr>
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That darn belly just won't go away... and the zipper on the skinny jeans doesn't help : (<br />
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<b>So what have I learned?</b><br />
<ul>
<li>I can do it. I know what to do to lose weight and feel strong and healthy.</li>
<li>I will follow a mostly paleo diet, but not completely. Strict paleo leaves out whole food groups like grains and dairy, which makes it hard for me to stick with. I'll focus on meat, fish and poultry, veggies and fruits, healthy fats and also cultured dairy like yogurt and cottage cheese. I'll have occasional "cheats" of grain foods, like Stan's yummy waffles.</li>
<li>Regular exercise is a necessity - don't gripe and complain, just do it. I don't actually ever <i>want</i> to go to the <a href="http://www.seattleymca.org/Locations/CoalCreek/Pages/Home.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gym</a>, but I'm glad Stan drags me there twice a week. I like it best when we take our hour-long walk on the trail first, but when it's raining we need to go anyway and do some elliptical or treadmill and then the weight machines. Just say yes!</li>
<li>Although I like how I look in my <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitch Fix</a> clothes, I'm really more of an <a href="http://www.llbean.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LL Bean</a>
type. I stopped my monthly "Fixes" because I find I'm not really
comfortable in the very skinny low-riding jeans and the very short skirt
and dress. However, I have liked seeing photos of myself that I think
look nice, and I'll pay attention to wearing nice clothes and standing
up straight.</li>
<li>I can heal. I've had aching hips for many years and I thought that was permanent. When my sciatic nerve got pinched in my back I feared that might be permanent too. Also my knees that hurt when I walked downhill. All that is fine now. My sessions of physical therapy and chiropractic, and doing the exercises, really helped. Squeeze those glutes!!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>What's next?</b></div>
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My year of blogging has come to an end, but my quest for good health will continue. </div>
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<ul>
<li>My friend Sharon sent me three books by <a href="http://www.drannwellness.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Ann Kulze</a>: Dr. Ann's Eat Right for Life and the companion cookbook and guide to shopping and dining out. I've just started reading and I'm finding a lot of great information, tips and recipes that I can use.</li>
<li>One of the blogs I found this year is Feed Me Phoebe. Phoebe has blogged about her year of health, which she calls The Wellness Project. In her post of December 21, 2015 she highlights her <a href="http://feedmephoebe.com/2015/12/the-10-best-wellness-books-of-2015-plus-a-few-more/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">10 Best Wellness Books of 2015</a>. I plan to read nearly all of them! These are books she found helpful in her own quest for health and they cover topics from having a healthy gut to meditation and following your passion.</li>
<li>I want to cook more! In our house, Stan is the chef and I am mostly the chief bottle-washer. I do make salads and my healthy breakfasts, but I'd like to branch out and learn more - maybe how to make some great soups, and also find more healthy recipes that we both like.</li>
<li>I want to keep walking - maybe in some new places. I've heard of vacations where you walk every day and stay in an inn at night - maybe in New England in the fall, or as Tyler and family did, in Wales. I like the idea of experiencing a new place up close while stretching the body and being pampered with good food and a comfy bed!</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbThiSVnh34nFeoUez4Mjp7cCpGJK7IPpowY8wwtN5lsyEq4WLSs8Krj7fWDDHOetX4Qpf5tjAtuaSDjqzqqJmXdvx-ibJp7mYvy_mIzkNTRUJUEV42US91BVE27x865V2gwklAwzon42J/s1600/Us+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbThiSVnh34nFeoUez4Mjp7cCpGJK7IPpowY8wwtN5lsyEq4WLSs8Krj7fWDDHOetX4Qpf5tjAtuaSDjqzqqJmXdvx-ibJp7mYvy_mIzkNTRUJUEV42US91BVE27x865V2gwklAwzon42J/s400/Us+%25281%2529.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking in St. Petersburg</td></tr>
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<br />
Stan and I are spending Christmas alone this year. Other years we visited on Christmas Eve with our friends Maggie and Vicki and their two great kids, Aiden and Margaret. Vicki passed away last February of stomach cancer, and our hearts are with Maggie and the kids in their new home near family in Florida. We usually spend Christmas Day with son Tyler and his extended family, who have become our beloved family as well, however this year folks were traveling, so we celebrated a week early. We had a super-wonderful day with them, and I am overjoyed to think of what granddaughter Mira is feeling these days. Her heart's desire has been to please get a dog, and for Christmas, her parents committed to make that happen. I can't wait to meet my new granddog!! Daughter Melanie and her husband Ben came up for the celebration, a treat I didn't expect, and it was great to have them. They spend as much time over Christmas as they can in Black Butte, Oregon with Ben's parents and brother. My granddog Wilbur and his cousin Banjo love it there and it's a relaxing break for Melanie and Ben who have stressful jobs the rest of the year. I'm happy that Melanie has another family who love and appreciate her as much as we do!<br />
<br />
I spent a few glum moments missing everyone, then I got up off my duff and made some Christmas cookies - full fat, full glutinous wheat and plenty of sugar. We'll be seeing Stan's son David, daughter Jenifer and grandkids, Sydney and Stanley, and they'll appreciate my cookies : ) How lucky I am to have such a loving man in my life - he's cooking me a delicious dinner as I type. <br />
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<b>Thanks Readers!</b></div>
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<br />
Readers, thank you so much for sticking with me! I know three friends have been very faithful - thank you Charla, Marcia and Sharon!! As I planned my posts and healthy eating experiments I could visualize you cheering me on. And how lucky is a mother whose children take an interest in what she's doing? Even though my posts tended to be a bit "girly", Tyler checked in often along with Alethea and Mira, and left some thoughtful comments. Melanie also left comments and when I found one it made my day.<br />
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I also appreciate my occasional and accidental readers. The blog has been looked at from 10 different countries without my making any attempt to advertise. I've wondered whether the person just clicked on to something else, or did they actually read my post? Or was it just "bots" wandering around on the internet? I've been following several other blogs about healthy cooking and eating, and I really appreciate the work those bloggers have done to share their knowledge with the rest of us.<br />
<br />
I only planned to blog for one year, so I'll stop my regular posts. I do plan to make quarterly assessments though; without that to hold me accountable I'm afraid I may fall back into bad habits, as I've already started to do this winter! If I can check in feeling as good as I feel now, I'll know my year of focus on health was a success.<br />
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Thank you for reading! My very best wishes for fun and good health in 2016! <br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-56542893790204587342015-12-22T09:51:00.000-08:002015-12-24T08:58:38.883-08:00My Favorite Grocery Store<style>
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Here in Seattle we have a co-op grocery store chain called <a href="http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PCC Natural Markets</a>. It began as a food buying club of 15 families in 1953 and today it's the largest consumer-owned natural food retail co-operative in the United States. I first found it when I lived in North Seattle near my son and his family and they introduced me to the local PCC, which I could actually walk to. (There was a big hill to climb on the way back and I soon learned never to use a shopping cart in the store or my purchases would be really heavy to lug home!) Now that I live in Renton, it's more of an effort to drive over to the closest one in Issaquah, but it's worth it the trip. <br />
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I'm making a New Year's resolution to get there at least once or twice a month next year; once to use the 10%-off coupon I get in the monthly newsletter, and on the 15th of the month when it's 10% off for all members. Yes, I did actually join, and their website says it's a one-time fee of $60 now, however anyone can shop here. Members get the fee back quickly if you use the coupons.<br />
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At my old house, <a href="http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PCC</a> and <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Whole Foods</a> were my two closest grocery stores and I felt that just limiting my shopping to those stores probably improved my diet regardless of what I bought. I was not buying items they don't carry - if I wanted my Starbucks frappuccinos or Campbells cream-of-something soup, I had to make a special effort to go elsewhere.<br />
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I drove to the PCC in Issaquah last week as I knew they'd have a nice selection of gluten-free crackers for the brie and fig jam I planned to take to the family Christmas gathering, and I took some photos to show you what they have.<br />
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Right inside the door is the vegetable and fruit department, and they have an organic version of just about everything, along with many items from local farms. They make an effort to actually know their farmers and suppliers, which makes me feel happier about the source of my food.<br />
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They have a great selection of bulk foods, including spices so I can buy just the pinch that I need, and liquids like oils and maple syrup. I like that they carry grade B maple syrup which is so much tastier than the grade A that you get in regular grocery stores. You can bring your own container, or buy a plastic one (BPS-free of course) that you can reuse. The liquids in this photo are avocado oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, maple syrup, tamari and shoyu (which is soy sauce). I still have a lot to learn about using some of these products. This time I bought organic raisins for my Mom's raisin sauce recipe to go with the ham another family member was bringing.<br />
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It is in PCC that I found the cultured butter that I wrote about in my post on eating cultured dairy, though I haven't tried it yet. This time I bought a quart of organic whole milk for my coffee. I know <a href="http://www.organicvalley.coop/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Organic Valley</a> brand is located in Wisconsin, but this carton makes me feel like I have my own personal friends, both farmer and cow : )<br />
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Some other great items they carry are a large selection of probiotics, healthy packaged items like the gluten-free crackers I wanted, a selection of grass-fed pasture-raised meats and responsibly-caught fish, healthy skin-care and beauty items, and cookbooks for healthy eating. (This is where I found the chicken feet for my bone broth, too.) I bought <a href="http://www.glutino.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Glutino</a> whole grain crackers and these <a href="http://www.mediterraneansnackfoods.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lentil crackers</a> and my Christmas appetizer was eaten really fast, by gluten eaters as well as the GF folks.<br />
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I'll try this brand of hair color the next time I refresh my blonde.<br />
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They actually have a great selection of greeting cards, too. Sometimes in the grocery store or Bartells I just can't believe how dumb or objectionable some of the cards are. These are nice.<br />
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I even found a package of salmon chews for Wilbur's Christmas. (Boy did they smell <i>good</i>!)<br />
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I didn't photograph a lot of other good stuff. It didn't seem helpful to post pictures of their great bakery items and wine section, but they have all the treats you could possibly want. Here's where I buy our favorite <a href="https://www.chocolove.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chocolove</a> chocolate bars, too. They have a juice bar, and a few months ago I ventured into the land of smoothies. My first try was pretty hard-core. I had to struggle a bit to drink my entire "Green Dream". The next time I tried the "Aunty Oxy" - full of antioxidants and a bit more palatable with some berries. I tried my first coconut milk latte here - not altogether satisfying either. Even after a year of focus, I still have a long way to go to change my taste buds completely.<br />
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PCC sends a monthly newsletter, with my coupon and information about what they have this month. In it comes a lovely 16-page <a href="http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/taste/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">magazine</a> full of great recipes, information on topics like how to select perfectly ripe fruit, and meal and gift ideas. Their website also has a <a href="http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/pcc/recipes" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">recipe section</a>, full of yummy and healthy ideas.<br />
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A couple of years ago I started supporting PCC by setting up a monthly donation to their independent non-profit <a href="http://www.pccfarmlandtrust.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Farmland Trust</a>. The trust helps to preserve farmland in Washington state and help the small farmers who use sustainable and healthy farming methods. You can read how they actually do that <a href="http://www.pccfarmlandtrust.org/about-us/how-we-save-farms/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. Here's what got me interested:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"...as we lose Washington farmland at an incredible rate—45,000 acres each
year, about twice the size of Lake Washington—we are facing a future in
which our ability to feed ourselves is severely compromised. PCC
Farmland Trust is leading a call to action and increasing awareness
about why it’s so urgent that we save what’s left of one of our most
valuable natural resources: farmland. Often the farmland that is the
most agriculturally valuable–flat and well-drained prime soils–is also
the most desirable for development."</blockquote>
I want to always be able to acquire healthy food for myself and I want my kids and their kids to have that option, too.<br />
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<br />Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-84153730074105141312015-12-18T13:37:00.001-08:002015-12-18T13:37:30.944-08:00Are You Inspiralized?<style>
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The title of this post comes from a blog called <a href="http://inspiralized.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Inspiralized</a>, "a food blog devoted to all things spiralized". It inspired me to get out the spiralizer Stan and I bought at Uwajimaya and try out some zucchini noodles. They turned out pretty good! I sauteed them very briefly in a dab of coconut oil and tossed with leftover pesto, tomatoes and some mozzarella cheese.<br />
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We bought the more expensive of the two models we looked at and it works fine, but I noticed that some of the videos and photos on the Inspiralized site show a wider size. They sell an "<a href="http://inspiralized.com/product/the-inspiralizer/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">inspiralizer</a>" that makes four shapes and is set with a dial instead of changing the blades manually. It also says theirs is BPA-free plastic, and I'm not sure about the one we got. Theirs costs about the same as ours (~$50), and if I were buying again I'd get theirs.<br />
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This spaghetti shape is the biggest I can make and there is an even smaller size I haven't tried yet. <br />
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The next recipe I made is this <a href="http://rejuvenatedforlife.com/raw-beetroot-salad-with-carrot-walnut-dressing-and-goats-cheese/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">carrot beet salad</a> with walnut dressing and goat cheese from Rejuvenated For Life. I had never eaten beets raw before, and was skeptical, but cut this thin they were very good. I made the walnut dressing in the recipe, but I think it would be just as good with vinegar and oil, or, for guests, I might try a dressing made with orange juice and add some glazed pecans or slivered almonds. I would make this recipe again!<br />
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On the Inspiralized website, there is a <a href="http://inspiralized.com/howto/#byspiralizedvegetable" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">list of veggies and fruits</a> that can be spiralized, and the list is long! There are beautiful photos, and each one links to a batch of recipes for that vegetable or fruit. It is inspiring.<br />
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I usually avoid eating radishes because their flavor is just a bit sharper and zippier than I like. I tried spiralizing a few though, and I found the thin strands added a nice bit of zip to my salad without having too large a bite of radish. I would do this again.<br />
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I hadn't thought of spiralizing fruit, but I saw a tuna and apple salad suggested that sounded good. I had some leftover turkey in the freezer, so I made the salad with turkey, spiralized apple, chopped celery and pecans. Very good! Of course, I could have done the same thing by just chopping the apple. I think spiralizing made it a bit less noticeable in the salad as the pieces were quite small.<br />
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My spiralized yam turned out to be a yummy comfort food, much like eating a bowl of linguine with butter and salt. I sauteed the yam noodles in butter and coconut oil with salt and pepper and added a tiny sprinkle of brown sugar and cinnamon - delicious! I had thought the "noodles" would turn mushy, more like mashed potatoes, but they stayed quite noodle-like. I can see some yam, sweet potato or white potato noodles could work in chicken noodle soup.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41eAusvSP_4LHAdXi29l9It7UND-a8i6k_cl3aLkgcdxBIGG5OccC7F-AqG5Q469lr9nLosCj9ccWZpj_0wshrfmHnu7JLU4HHkxrvUV11-g5huVhaGCKOxiyRF2O0DNI4FPQXyzt_Hcb/s1600/Yam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41eAusvSP_4LHAdXi29l9It7UND-a8i6k_cl3aLkgcdxBIGG5OccC7F-AqG5Q469lr9nLosCj9ccWZpj_0wshrfmHnu7JLU4HHkxrvUV11-g5huVhaGCKOxiyRF2O0DNI4FPQXyzt_Hcb/s320/Yam.jpg" width="100%" /></a></div>
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Here's a link to another <a href="http://inspiralized.com/2014/04/08/gruyere-and-asparagus-potato-noodle-casserole/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">recipe that sounds delicious</a> - potato noodles baked with gruyère and asparagus. I'll try that next! <br />
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Bottom line: am I going to start spiralizing on a regular basis? Probably not, but I've enjoyed trying it out and I plan to try a few more of the many recipes I saw online. It's a really quick way to cut up a vegetable or fruit, and kind of fun!<br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-89880373261623395402015-12-09T09:40:00.000-08:002015-12-09T09:46:15.201-08:00Home Sweet Home<style>
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It felt good to get home last night after two weeks in Russia and four weeks in Cannon Beach. Nothing helps one gain perspective and appreciation for one's own home like being away. We've never been gone for four weeks at a time before, so it was a relief to find the doors still locked, windows unbroken, and everything just as we left it.<br />
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I was especially worried about the goldfish, as we had had a sad incident a week or so before leaving. We think a raccoon or large bird got in there, as three of the seven big ones were gone and we found one dead. I had been wondering if the remaining fish noticed their companions were missing, and if they were traumatized by whatever had happened. I worried that if a hole had been poked in the plastic bottom, the water would slowly drain away, so I was happy to find them calmly swimming around in a full pond when we got back.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdAu3bgjISm4sN6f4fuZKzife91r4-E9zrzv5hqQjtxoJyKIc_xM52ZSwIiqWN95DG9xXID0eTAotrGVfl0aBh541lBhM4MfDBEI1QxYSQ0B4Ca5iCJmEfp_m3V_aFyN4u4H3dn5AJ9W-/s1600/Fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdAu3bgjISm4sN6f4fuZKzife91r4-E9zrzv5hqQjtxoJyKIc_xM52ZSwIiqWN95DG9xXID0eTAotrGVfl0aBh541lBhM4MfDBEI1QxYSQ0B4Ca5iCJmEfp_m3V_aFyN4u4H3dn5AJ9W-/s400/Fish.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fish in happier times</td></tr>
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I was also worried about my plants. I had watered right before leaving, but four weeks is a long time and the Aerogarden tomatoes especially demand lots of water. The tomatoes were pretty dried out, but look at the harvest waiting when we got back : ) These have been so prolific since I planted them back in March.<br />
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This is one of my favorites - a Good Luck Money Tree that my friend Charla gave me about ten years ago. It has delivered on both luck and money - how lucky to be retired with enough money to do some traveling! It lost several leaves while we were gone and is looking a bit brown, but it's resilient. I accidentally broke a main stem, and after spending some time in water growing new roots, it took right off when I planted it back in the pot.<br />
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It was great to sleep in our own bed last night! After getting used to the smaller bed at Cannon Beach, I luxuriated in our king-size with smooth cool sheets and our faux-down comforter. Ahhh. An idea I had at the ocean is to get one of those gadgets that makes various sounds so I could listen to the sound of the waves at night when I'm trying to sleep. Stan is not a bad snorer, but when I can't sleep, even his breathing is distracting. I mentioned this idea when the kids came for Thanksgiving and Ben showed me a free <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/white-noise-free-sleep-sounds/id292987597?mt=8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">phone app</a> that makes sounds. Voila! I just downloaded it and I'll try Ocean Waves tonight. Ben and Melanie use the Fan Noise, which seemed funny at first, but I have noticed in summer that the fan's soft whirrr does mask other noises. I'll report tomorrow morning how this worked out.<br />
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P.S. It worked pretty well! At first I thought it would be too loud
so I turned it down low and eventually I wasn't thinking about it at
all. In the middle of the night when I woke up and Stan was snoring
quietly, it didn't mask it completely, but I think it helped. Stan found a <a href="http://www.sharperimage.com/si/view/product/Six+Sound+Soother/200643" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">device at Sharper Image</a> that does the same thing - if I find I want to use it all the time, the device might be more convenient than plugging in the phone with an extension cord every night.<br />
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I had another idea about sleeping when I noticed how dark it was at night in Cannon Beach. Pitch dark! In our room at home with a very bright street light right outside it is never that dark. I have a 10%-off coupon from Pottery Barn where we got our living room drapes, and I'm planning to shop for room-darkening draperies asap. Hmm, will check <a href="http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Aurora-Home-Solid-Insulated-Thermal-Blackout-Curtain-Panel-Pair/9521982/product.html?refccid=SB3R7CUGU7KLBWKLFY42APSM3M&searchidx=13" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Overstock</a> too - they have these for a pretty low price.<br />
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As ever when I've been away for awhile, I came home full of resolve to clear out our clutter and fix up some areas of the house. Two years ago we painted the kitchen ceiling and walls, and were planning to do the adjoining family room, but never did. (It took so many trips up the ladder for the kitchen... I think I'm getting too old for that!) We also have never changed the master bedroom paint from the "builder blah" that it came with. Stan loved a room he had on a trip to Cambridge University that had salmon-colored walls with white trim and wants to try it here - I agreed on an "accent wall" in salmon, with the taupe of the master bath on the rest of the room. We know a wonderful painter and I'm planning to call him soon!<br />
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Aaargh! A month's worth of mail just arrived. In all these two bins of mail there were two Christmas cards from old friends and a couple of medical explanations of benefits. The rest was advertisements and catalogs - mostly straight into the recycle bin. It seems impossible that printing those lovely color catalogs full of stuff we don't need could possibly pay off!<br />
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Oh yeah... also in the mail was a book I ordered on Saturday. Amazon suggested it as I was doing some Christmas shopping online - how did they know I've been eating too much and all the wrong things?? <a href="http://whole30.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Whole30</a> is a 30-day program of strict healthy eating, based on paleo principles and eliminating anything that can cause inflammation. I honestly don't know if I can actually do it, but for now I'm sitting in my chair (so nice to be back in my own comfy chair!) sipping red wine and reading about the healthy eating I may do next month. For now, that's enough. Good to be home!<br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-68249997057159212622015-12-02T09:09:00.000-08:002015-12-02T09:09:42.156-08:00Eleventh Monthly Assessment - November 30th<style>
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No fair! My monthly assessment comes right after Thanksgiving weekend : ( I've been having too much fun lately, and too much good food. I've gained two more pounds in addition to the three I gained in October on our Russia trip, for a weight of 135. There's no tape measure here to measure my waist, suffice it to say my chinos that I was happy to fit into again are now a bit tight. No excuses really, just eating too much and the wrong things.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 30th</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">November 30th</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 30th</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">November 30th</td></tr>
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What went right this month?<br />
<ul>
<li>We've had a wonderful stay in <a href="http://www.cannonbeach.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cannon Beach</a> and I've walked on the beach every day except for three really stormy days.</li>
<li>I've remembered my vegetables amid all the other delicious food available.</li>
</ul>
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What not so well?<br />
<ul>
<li>I've eaten more gluten than at any other time this whole year. I made real Parker House rolls for Thanksgiving, and we discovered the <a href="http://www.cannonbeachbakery.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cannon Beach Bakery</a>. We went in to get rolls to go with clam chowder for our guests, and wound up with delicious Haystack Bread and a pastry each. (Regardless of diet, this is worth a stop if you're in town!)</li>
<li>I've enjoyed wine and cheese and crackers every afternoon while reading by the wood stove. What a life!</li>
<li>Although we checked out <a href="http://cannonbeachfitness.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cannon Beach Fitness</a>, we didn't join. When we looked in we mainly saw treadmills and a stationary bike. Their ad mentions Nautilus equipment but we wouldn't have been familiar with it. We said who needs a treadmill when there's a beautiful beach?? However, we've done no strengthening exercise - I'm sure my muscles are turning to fat.</li>
</ul>
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What will I do better next month?<br />
<ul>
<li> To be honest, probably not much. December isn't exactly the best time for getting back on track, although when we get home I'll get back to eating my daily salad instead of just eating up Thanksgiving leftovers.</li>
<li>I'm considering eating very lightly for a few days after we're back - lots of soup and veggies and fruit. I've been feeling a bit overstuffed lately and that might help if I can actually do it.</li>
</ul>
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Here are some photos of our beautiful Cannon Beach Thanksgiving. We started with munchies in the afternoon. It just turned out that Ben's choices blended with mine perfectly for some really great afternoon grazing. (The kids brought flowers too - I'm so lucky!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_sE6SXkaszIPKw1LfXD_YulmOm1p-m-PfPXpjHrzrmST9WTLfSSwKf7LT-f8FhDh84FX2e83biNoFK0d2BX5koCLgh7RdZfoYU-9YUpVDJi0oGrGCuhDkX0tT8Xl2bHqDgOe4kv0M6BQ/s1600/BetterMunchies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_sE6SXkaszIPKw1LfXD_YulmOm1p-m-PfPXpjHrzrmST9WTLfSSwKf7LT-f8FhDh84FX2e83biNoFK0d2BX5koCLgh7RdZfoYU-9YUpVDJi0oGrGCuhDkX0tT8Xl2bHqDgOe4kv0M6BQ/s400/BetterMunchies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ben also made that yummy green bean dish with sauteed wild mushrooms and walnuts - the traditional green bean casserole without the Campbell's soup and French fried onion rings. It was delicious! Stan provided his great mashed potatoes and gravy. He makes the gravy ahead of time and adds some Madeira for a really flavorful sauce without the last-minute rush.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LeYkGJFkOTem02uuZRQvd1u-u5IlOIFSxslbuLdP5nxOuxES2M_k5QGBTO8e4FP09nHMlbiO1IC8aliO_ucPbTFAsprdimpkMuzixyVB6gCQeOt-DuhPmaUGGjO1B7dWD3MYc7pGLLbM/s1600/Spread2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LeYkGJFkOTem02uuZRQvd1u-u5IlOIFSxslbuLdP5nxOuxES2M_k5QGBTO8e4FP09nHMlbiO1IC8aliO_ucPbTFAsprdimpkMuzixyVB6gCQeOt-DuhPmaUGGjO1B7dWD3MYc7pGLLbM/s400/Spread2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Jason made a colorful salad and we all made sure to fill a large portion of our plates with it. (Of course, we all went back for seconds and I didn't notice the proportions of those...) I did eat the leftover salad the next day for lunch and it was still great.<br />
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I was lucky a grocery store we visited was taking orders for fresh free-range turkeys. I didn't stuff it (Melanie made Stove Top stuffing with some added veggies and apple, which was very good) and I followed Tom Douglas' instructions in <a href="http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/Turkey-boot-camp-with-Chef-Tom-Douglas-352428391.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Turkey Boot Camp</a> to leave the legs untied for more even cooking. How easy! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7i6bUVQDZbxszLrLMzB9gggcP64tk00_tqSCbQpbuLT9q0rtq7d-uuHcTKnErywVhJOEsR31iZ1oUf4d48lyx4d3TUesl_KNK1YYeEw7R_QyXKHKnVulGiCQSreTaT1qDYfwRCEoT9TU/s1600/Turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7i6bUVQDZbxszLrLMzB9gggcP64tk00_tqSCbQpbuLT9q0rtq7d-uuHcTKnErywVhJOEsR31iZ1oUf4d48lyx4d3TUesl_KNK1YYeEw7R_QyXKHKnVulGiCQSreTaT1qDYfwRCEoT9TU/s400/Turkey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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No photo of the apple pie. We had to wait awhile before eating it, but enjoyed it later by the fire with ice cream, coffee and/or Irish whiskey. Altogether a satisfying and very low-stress Thanksgiving dinner!<br />
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I know this got off the topic of my weight gain this month. It seems my good eating habits disappear every fall from Halloween through New Year's Day. Melanie pointed out I can be proud of my net loss for the year (ten pounds), and I am. <br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-87130682448237111722015-11-29T13:08:00.000-08:002015-11-29T13:08:24.695-08:00Nasty Anastrozole<style>
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In February I'll pass a milestone - five cancer-free years from the end of breast cancer treatment. I understand there's nothing scientifically special about the five-year mark except that it's when most studies call a person "cured", however it's still encouraging to stop and notice how healthy I am now.<br />
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Here's me in the fall of 2010 as my hair was falling out. I like it better now!<br />
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When I first completed all my treatment, which was a lumpectomy followed by chemotherapy followed by radiation, <a href="http://www.seattlecca.org/doctor/larissa-a-korde.cfm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my oncologist</a> recommended I take a drug called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastrozole" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">anastrozole</a> for five years. It is an aromatase inhibitor that significantly reduces the total amount of estrogen in a post-menopausal woman whose ovaries no longer produce estrogen. For women whose cancer is hormone receptor positive, reducing estrogen in the body can help reduce the chance of the cancer coming back.<br />
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Side-effects of anastrozole are bone weakness which can lead to fractures and osteoporosis, joint pain and heart problems, along with the usual effects of reduced estrogen like hot flashes and memory issues. I was aware of that, and had already been reading online conversations in which women complained of debilitating pain from the drug. Naturally, I wasn't keen on starting it myself. I talked it over with <a href="http://tahomaclinic.com/dr-davis-lamson/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my naturopath</a> who urged me to follow my oncologist's advice, but also mentioned that if I chose not to take anastrozole, there is a mixture of Chinese herbs, called <a href="http://shop.drcolbert.com/myomin.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Myomin</a>, that does the same thing without the side effects. Hmm, it didn't seem like a tough decision to me! I read the literature about Myomin and at the time it was all about reducing estrogen in the body for the purpose of body-building. The literature (and I use that term loosely - it was mostly ads by places selling Myomin) made no mention of fighting cancer - apparently they can't advertise it for that purpose since the FDA has not cleared it for that purpose. However, it made it very clear that Myomin works by inhibiting the enzyme aromatase, just like anastrozole. <a href="http://www.anma.org/janma.html#ARTICLE5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Recent literature</a> mentions it being used for treatment of endometriosis, ovarian cycsts and uterine fibroids, and also for protection of people taking bioidentical hormones.<br />
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So I said no thanks to the anastrozole and took Myomin for six months. On each visit to my oncologist, she urged me to reconsider, citing studies that showed a better outcome for cancer patients who follow up with anastrozole. (Of course, there are no such studies on using Myomin, since no drug company would be motivated to pay for them.) She wore me down, and finally I ordered the prescription. When the pills arrived they were tiny - maybe 1/8 inch in diameter - and I thought how could something that small, taken in the middle of a meal, possibly hurt me? I was also thinking of how I'd feel if the cancer came back and I hadn't taken the pills. I wanted to feel I'd done everything possible never to go through that again.<br />
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So, around August of 2011, I started taking anastrozole. As you know, I've had a lot of hip pain over the last several years, and I wondered if anastrozole was making it worse. I knew it wasn't completely due to the drug because I already had hip pain before that, and I didn't have pain in other joints. Seattle Cancer Care Alliance gives me a dexa scan bone density test every year to check for osteoporosis and the result, while not perfect, is "appropriate for my age". <br />
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Now, after having had physical therapy and chiropractic and my year of health, I have no more hip pain! I think learning to tighten my "core" and use my butt muscles has made the greatest difference. I've been pretty faithful taking the pills, stopping only for a month before and during our trip to Italy in 2013, when I wanted to be as pain-free as possible for walking around, and I didn't notice any great difference from stopping at that time. I do have hot flashes - not desperately strong ones as when I first
started menopause, but just an inability to keep my body temperature
steady - I'm always putting on a sweater then throwing it off again.
And I definitely have memory issues. I blame my age and years of
killing brain cells by drinking wine, but it's possible the drug is
making it worse.<br />
<br />
At my last appointment, my oncologist reminded me that in August I will have been taking anastrozole for five years. She is okay with my stopping, but recommended continuing as long as it's not bothering me much. We talked about my taking time off from the drug, and she said six months would be a good length of time to see whether I notice any difference. That sounds good to me. I'll wait until summer, maybe for my 69th birthday in July (yikes!) and then take a six-month vacation from anastrozole. It will be interesting to see if I feel any different. If by some miracle my memory returns or I start sleeping soundly, that would be a good reason to quit for good, but I might also look into Myomin again.<br />
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That was a pretty dense read, but an important topic. Life is such an adventure, don't we all want to stay healthy and active to enjoy it as long as we can?! Our Thanksgiving holiday was another reminder of how fortunate I am. Melanie, Ben, Ben's brother Jason, and doggie cousins Wilbur and Banjo joined us for fun at the coast. <br />
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A serious game of UpWords after dinner. I was playing with real experts - didn't stand a chance. <br />
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A great photo of Melanie and Wilbur. He was so good to stop running around long enough to pose for the camera.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNzp7V1XrWgKkOuSAq1WSzLbw7xT8aZyfKCnQ3_x8Uv8xzWe9vHRV8GqlWvaMh2_YhzMtaF3DjXotcjJMhWvAdBsJ15HHfi6MG3tthjghC4iCzHJCBPvyU8d7OxU6M_UiYVHnU1Jzkd9h/s1600/MelAndWil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNzp7V1XrWgKkOuSAq1WSzLbw7xT8aZyfKCnQ3_x8Uv8xzWe9vHRV8GqlWvaMh2_YhzMtaF3DjXotcjJMhWvAdBsJ15HHfi6MG3tthjghC4iCzHJCBPvyU8d7OxU6M_UiYVHnU1Jzkd9h/s400/MelAndWil.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was a great day!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimc9Nof_AVvOSe-quKktH47J4O7gG2wwAx4uOiITa74BjIKWolSojWNk-RBXbJS6nJrzaUaPowifzMIwCGdFt7u2rPf1hrsV24ZI7BqINuZjbHjEve1ParDITyJLMZGPQCFLIKpAejlTWr/s1600/KidsAndMe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimc9Nof_AVvOSe-quKktH47J4O7gG2wwAx4uOiITa74BjIKWolSojWNk-RBXbJS6nJrzaUaPowifzMIwCGdFt7u2rPf1hrsV24ZI7BqINuZjbHjEve1ParDITyJLMZGPQCFLIKpAejlTWr/s400/KidsAndMe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AXLcIWWNAI1dg2PwMCTiUIr_sCtTV5IhBXGFxaCx6ARsCIitYvSqvPLxbCJaOI2ufkibH4_18H_IXkSWWFAkPj1dc6pbydcLjftOmPEkXmM31E3v4pogusPNJk8ZCmv6nJQrxBQb3bJ3/s1600/MBandW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AXLcIWWNAI1dg2PwMCTiUIr_sCtTV5IhBXGFxaCx6ARsCIitYvSqvPLxbCJaOI2ufkibH4_18H_IXkSWWFAkPj1dc6pbydcLjftOmPEkXmM31E3v4pogusPNJk8ZCmv6nJQrxBQb3bJ3/s400/MBandW.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-5388105396927265642015-11-22T19:22:00.000-08:002015-11-22T19:22:09.943-08:00Breaking Up is Hard To Do<style>
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Another diversion from healthy eating, this time to tell you about a stressful situation in our lives right now. Stan and I have decided to leave the investment club we joined a bit over a year ago, after gradually realizing our ideas about investing and how an investment club should operate are incompatible with those of the club founder and president.<br />
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It's funny how stressful this can be - sort of like quitting a job or getting a divorce. Leaving any group of nice people can be sad, and I think this situation is extra stressful for two reasons - first of all, besides just not attending meetings any more, we will be withdrawing the money we have invested over our time in the club. This is not a great time, as the stocks held by the club have been in a swoon lately, and we'll be leaving with a significant percent less money than we have put in. Second, I think having shared investments may make the group a bit closer than just having fun together. We've all contributed a lot of time not just for meetings, but doing homework, attending educational workshops and even a weekend retreat. In the process we've enjoyed getting to know these folks. It's fun to be part of a diverse group of smart people, working together for a common goal.<br />
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So why are we leaving? Two reasons: one, the way the club chooses and invests in companies is not compatible with what we have learned about investing, and two - the more important to me - instead of discussing and comparing companies and voting on every purchase or sale, the president has great latitude to buy and sell, based on a few loose, and we think faulty, criteria. This is fair, as that one person owns a large proportion of the club's funds, but makes it less satisfying for us.<br />
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A bit of background: our club is part of <a href="https://www.betterinvesting.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Better Investing</a>, a national non-profit organization that helps educate people about investing, and provides an umbrella organization with chapters throughout the country for many, many individual investment clubs. I've been a member of the organization for many years, part of the time in a different club and part as an individual. We're leaving our club, but will remain individual members of Better Investing and perhaps find a different club. I am on the board of the <a href="http://www.betterinvesting.org/puget" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Puget Sound Chapter</a>, (board Secretary, woo woo)
and will remain so for at least the rest of my one-year term. <br />
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We feel the method of investing we learned from the organization is a solid strategy for people who want to choose individual company stocks. We just attended our chapter's annual educational conference a few weeks ago and it was wonderful - very motivating to hear successful folks who are also great teachers talk about investing, stressing the organization's goal - to buy fundamentally high quality companies and only when their price is lower than average. They teach a specific way to study and compare companies and it works!<br />
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This is Costco's yearly <span style="color: lime;">Sales</span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">, <span style="color: magenta;">Pretax Profits<span style="color: black;">, and </span></span></span>Earnings</span>. Better Investing likes to see these lines up, straight and parallel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIChmLwdilDwZR2mEphRRG6v0HAd3p5Y-C6Xt5SNfLZkhHap5iud5HDHP9q20QHz4s6Nf1tRyMwrnr4GINe2e9BJG_F9GIjiqjZiaRMyXzguy0KJcByHr6wmDVNx2icUmoV-vmsROATv5e/s1600/Costco.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIChmLwdilDwZR2mEphRRG6v0HAd3p5Y-C6Xt5SNfLZkhHap5iud5HDHP9q20QHz4s6Nf1tRyMwrnr4GINe2e9BJG_F9GIjiqjZiaRMyXzguy0KJcByHr6wmDVNx2icUmoV-vmsROATv5e/s400/Costco.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's Starbucks. That dip is the recession of 2008-9.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpB4hyJugbY7NXdRW7wq_0qUWxx3XsBNIMvC6-UftrGkgdgOMcI-vcifpK4_jwxGQRdMxHcifPyaxV9hl4sEuNF-J2ARynVrEOp1YeYYPszQrsVql04Ma1gQ76W2wByVYxRZ6SzLWb0Ds/s1600/Sbux.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpB4hyJugbY7NXdRW7wq_0qUWxx3XsBNIMvC6-UftrGkgdgOMcI-vcifpK4_jwxGQRdMxHcifPyaxV9hl4sEuNF-J2ARynVrEOp1YeYYPszQrsVql04Ma1gQ76W2wByVYxRZ6SzLWb0Ds/s400/Sbux.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Look at Priceline!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3escOjPgY4FCK75BGICKAOzx78uamk-osk4Z98pTWFhQbrN5qlkSlrO2kGACkL6kfIRMsHpSHQ2Irj72Tw7kK7t1QCRvH7R0EzEtwU9OKwTF6efdjoTyEJilhTbJDiN339R1GMpKJkNW/s1600/PCLN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3escOjPgY4FCK75BGICKAOzx78uamk-osk4Z98pTWFhQbrN5qlkSlrO2kGACkL6kfIRMsHpSHQ2Irj72Tw7kK7t1QCRvH7R0EzEtwU9OKwTF6efdjoTyEJilhTbJDiN339R1GMpKJkNW/s400/PCLN.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Other companies are more cyclical - not necessarily bad investments, if you buy and sell at the right time, but Better Investing recommends against them unless you are an experienced investor.<br />
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For example, Ford:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_438btKK9Wwwtow6GKzjA16tPqf5z5rys_DPaGgh4vZo0UdGWwSrEvpl_38vkV-l943mGhBpYFsxMAqZ_2qoGgfhCko69oGzCzqms9I3i3-LPPx1H7jiY4KAVPYVzvgsfTvqgCQRCd4SD/s1600/CTL.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_438btKK9Wwwtow6GKzjA16tPqf5z5rys_DPaGgh4vZo0UdGWwSrEvpl_38vkV-l943mGhBpYFsxMAqZ_2qoGgfhCko69oGzCzqms9I3i3-LPPx1H7jiY4KAVPYVzvgsfTvqgCQRCd4SD/s400/CTL.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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or Century Link:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI1VgPIkOIeDiFlvLZXqzPgFgBI-th0OdEoaK2tbjhtaFJNT3NJdPtrIcpMIctEOc8jcSm8sOfCLTMpxJpbOOEaA3w6Qc-VaWteQAWVQd3gfL9gT_XHf48tvemlFMKvZ2f1NFHT_K_aSX/s1600/Ford.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI1VgPIkOIeDiFlvLZXqzPgFgBI-th0OdEoaK2tbjhtaFJNT3NJdPtrIcpMIctEOc8jcSm8sOfCLTMpxJpbOOEaA3w6Qc-VaWteQAWVQd3gfL9gT_XHf48tvemlFMKvZ2f1NFHT_K_aSX/s400/Ford.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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So, we sent our resignation email last week, having waited until after the conference so as not to cause any drama or awkward feelings during the weekend. We felt a bit sorry about talking with our fellow club members as though nothing was changing, and we said so in the email, as well as saying how we have enjoyed the social aspects of the club and hope to stay in touch at Better Investing events. We kept it as brief and positive as possible. We are gratified to see the emails that have arrived in response from club members, although a bit sorry to have no acknowledgement at all from the President or Treasurer.<br />
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I have changed jobs many times and I have noticed that after announcing I'm leaving a company, several people who I didn't know very well during my time there would come and talk to me. It is though it's now "safe" to express their discontent, since I have obviously expressed mine by planning to leave. We're seeing some of that now in emails from our club-mates, all so far expressing disappointment that we're leaving. Some have expressed interest in what we'll do next and in staying in touch in the future, to which we are replying we'd love to stay in contact. I'm not interested in starting a club myself - too much work and responsibility - but we're happy to discuss our ideas with anyone who asks. It's nice to know they like us and will miss our participation : )<br />
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On a lighter note, I'm writing this post from a <a href="https://www.vacasa.com/unit.php?UnitID=2537" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nice little house in Cannon Beach, Oregon</a>. Stan and I are spending some time here both as a relaxing get-away, and also to see a bit of what it would be like to retire to a smaller town, maybe on the coast. (No near-term plans - I know it will probably take <i>decades</i> for me to pry Stan and his treasures from the big house we have now. I just wanted to see what it would be like.)<br />
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We have some goals while we're here - mainly to do some study work on our stock portfolios and to lose a bit of weight. I said I planned to walk every day we're here, rain or shine. Well, for several days it rained really hard! I walked one day in the rain and nearly got blown off the beach! Since the sun has come out we've walked a lot. Here are some photos Stan took yesterday and today:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hEdGDHvuSB8JghtJspSrp2tLyeBIXXkxusTOYrONlN2f8WNZaqwKYyfNMlMjaUfRdT0V31xd3tAua8fS-qC8ZDn8k50p77sXW8Jn9sHD_9G4g7ACdyxEEX00hOydYtKuxX1Zq520OUhW/s1600/CBeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hEdGDHvuSB8JghtJspSrp2tLyeBIXXkxusTOYrONlN2f8WNZaqwKYyfNMlMjaUfRdT0V31xd3tAua8fS-qC8ZDn8k50p77sXW8Jn9sHD_9G4g7ACdyxEEX00hOydYtKuxX1Zq520OUhW/s400/CBeach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlceeJCZ6V9IEtW2xI7Hlcu97NrdKTM78vgGYXOekdh5Yl4otXutxiEKo3IIGUlNDcwO7tf9TcavYjIQ-UbxdHQdavGFR-JyBA_Z-nd5FsKH4J0tZ_SqOm78hz28ohL1z_l2cM-Ag1UNF/s1600/Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlceeJCZ6V9IEtW2xI7Hlcu97NrdKTM78vgGYXOekdh5Yl4otXutxiEKo3IIGUlNDcwO7tf9TcavYjIQ-UbxdHQdavGFR-JyBA_Z-nd5FsKH4J0tZ_SqOm78hz28ohL1z_l2cM-Ag1UNF/s400/Me.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-34319393360675561072015-11-17T14:41:00.003-08:002015-11-17T14:46:12.002-08:00Stormy Weather<style>
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Stan and I are in Cannon Beach Oregon. We decided to spend some time here in the off-season to see what life at a small coastal town would be like. Well, whew! It has been <i>very</i> stormy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgm5tZkp8N5Nh3kkkdBrtfK1_IrnE1KlO0h8ElEQmbtHZMk0mB6YxSM4d-JW6TMOmTRAvexoprLtSTYtvuMMz1pA19AiYTsmiewztVPbN1TrDLQlVFEWTFZNuA0n8Gw25G0LuWOSQYqOU4/s1600/BeautifulSky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgm5tZkp8N5Nh3kkkdBrtfK1_IrnE1KlO0h8ElEQmbtHZMk0mB6YxSM4d-JW6TMOmTRAvexoprLtSTYtvuMMz1pA19AiYTsmiewztVPbN1TrDLQlVFEWTFZNuA0n8Gw25G0LuWOSQYqOU4/s400/BeautifulSky.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We have gone to the beach several times with the plan to get some good photos, but it has either been fogged in, or very windy with rain or hail beating down and we're afraid of destroying the camera. The waves have been very big, and we're hoping they'll still be big when it dries up a bit. Here are a few shots we took.<br />
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Stan took this panorama with his new camera. Nice!<br />
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The night before the big storm, when we had first arrived, we saw these birds all facing south. I wonder if they knew a storm was brewing, or do they just face into the wind?<br />
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Needless to say, we've spent a lot of time snug in our rental house with books and computers. It's quite comfortable, and the power's still on, though it has blinked a few times (fingers crossed!)<br />
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After a few days of cozy resting, we ventured out... groceries called! What an interesting trip! Sorry I don't have photos to show you - I was too scared and amazed. The Safeway is in Seaside, 9 miles up the coast, and all along the way there were little creeks that you would normally not even notice, only now they are giant lakes, right up to the sides of the road. At one point there was a traffic jam where the road actually went under the water for 100 yards or so. Cars were slowly going through it, so we did too. Glad we brought the Subaru with 4-wheel drive and all-weather tires! I was afraid they would close the road before we got back, but it looks like they're used to this here. On our way back, the water was even higher, I would say a foot deep, and there was a rescue vehicle parked ready to pull out anyone who got stuck. No one had, and we got through fine.<br />
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Look what else we encountered in a semi-dry moment! We hiked from Cannon Beach to Ecola State Park. The map said 1.5 miles to the park, but didn't mention it was quite uphill. The woman in the Tourist Info center looked surprised when we mentioned we were walking there, and advised us it could be very muddy. She didn't mention the mud would be on a very steep trail, sort of like a ski run in spots. We made it up hill okay, but it was quite slippery going down.<br />
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Another traffic jam as we headed back into town. Can you see this big guy eating the hedge?? There was a whole family of elk grazing and resting in a vacant patch of grass. Great photo op, but I was scared! The other folks were in cars, but we were walking along the sidewalk right by them, and I was afraid they might get startled as my umbrella flapped in the wind. (Of course it was raining.) We avoided eye contact and they let us go by with only a cursory glance. I was a bit grateful Stan didn't have his camera, as he doesn't scare as easily as I do!<br />
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This picture shows how close we were - scary!<br />
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Cannon Beach is such a nice little town. I love the idea you can leave home on foot and get a coffee, some library books, visit the quilt shop and yarn store, and eat at any number of good restaurants. My plan was to walk on the beach every day for exercise... not working so far, instead we've been staying home by the fire with wine and snacks. Oops.<br />
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The library is all-volunteer, and they let us join for $5 so we can borrow a few books. <br />
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I browsed through this yarn shop thinking a crochet or knitting project might be fun, but I didn't actually know what to get. Some of the yarn is really beautiful, but also pretty expensive.<br />
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I had almost given up my walk as the rain beat down, and then I turned the corner and came upon this rainbow. I walked a bit further, and came out into the sunshine that you see in the photos above : )<br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-2071236004521370562015-11-12T14:45:00.000-08:002015-11-12T14:45:10.980-08:00Say Cheese!<style>
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I just read an <a href="http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/sc/1511/quel-fromage-a-surprising-twist-in-the-french-paradox.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">interesting article</a> in the newsletter of our local food co-op, <a href="http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PCC Natural Market</a><a href="http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">s</a>, about cheese, and I'm happy to see it because I've been trying to eliminate dairy, after reading <a href="http://thepaleodiet.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Loren Cordain</a>, author of The Paleo Diet and The Paleo Answer, and I love dairy! Of course, our paleo ancestors didn't consume dairy after infancy. (<a href="http://paleoleap.com/place-of-dairy-on-paleo-diet/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paleo Leap</a> says: Not practical to milk wild game.) But here's what the PCC article says about it:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For decades, we've watched the French eat twice as much cheese as us Americans, while enjoying much lower rates of heart disease. This "French Paradox" led researchers on a quest to explain why French people's extraordinarily high saturated fat intake doesn't lead to more heart attacks. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The latest research on cheese and other fermented dairy foods, such as yogurt and kefir, suggests it might not be a "paradox" at all. Instead, we just now may be starting to understand the health benefits of cheese and other fermented dairy.</blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our go-to snacks</td></tr>
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The article points out that recent research is disproving the dire warnings about saturated fat that many of us have been hearing much of our lives. The saturated fat in dairy comes from short- and medium-chain fatty acids which have beneficial or neutral impact on blood cholesterol levels. Milkfat is the best source of naturally occurring trans fatty acids that provide health benefits, unlike the synthetic trans fats found in margerine. The natural trans fats are produced during digestion in ruminant animals such as cows or goats, and are in largest quantity in 100% grass-fed whole-milk dairy products.<br />
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I founds several studies about the benefit of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) to humans, but most are about how we make our own when plant fiber is fermented in the colon. One paper, from the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2596709/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">National Center for Biotechnology Information</a>, talks about getting them from dairy. It stresses that the makeup of the fatty acids depends on the animals' feed, which is an argument for milk from grass-fed animals. Another paper, in <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2014/140429/ncomms4611/full/ncomms4611.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nature Communications</a>, discusses how SCFAs may reduce appetite.<br />
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The PCC article points out that cultured dairy products such as cheese, yogurt and sour cream taste less sweet and more tangy because the lactose (milk sugar) has been used up by the healthy bacteria during fermentation. Even for people who are not lactose intolerant, lactose can contribute to inflammation. Fermentation also increases the vitamins and natural trans fatty acids in milk and adds pre- and pro-biotics. Proteins are broken into smaller peptides which may improve blood pressure and immune function. The article says molded cheeses produce even more nutrients (though probably not enough to tempt those of us who don't care for the taste of those moldy ones!) <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A favorite cottage cheese lunch</td></tr>
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I checked with my friends at <a href="http://paleoleap.com/place-of-dairy-on-paleo-diet/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paleo Leap</a>
and they even have some good to say about dairy - although in the
context of the "good, bad and ugly". They said if you're going to
consume dairy, fermented dairy is the best choice, because the
fermentation process adds good bacteria and consumes most of the sugars,
reducing the insulin response. Their post ends with:<br />
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It can’t get much better than this (raw, pasture-raised, grass-fed, full fat goat’s yogurt)! </blockquote>
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So, I'm going to start eating more cheese, sour cream and yogurt without guilt : ) The article listed butter, buttermilk, cottage cheese and cream cheese as "sometimes fermented". I love cottage cheese so I checked and found that Nancy's brand cottage cheese advertises that it is cultured and contains live probiotics. Yea! (It is lowfat only, I didn't find any Nancy's full fat cottage cheese.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliZB2O9wWp7Ximtja6XXWNG8-3GDh8Aa_mLRYECXQU-vgm8C7s4lm2EUaDuZkLYYcWAuVsfwLC69QLsWTOkyBRBBreMhqYBVz7AxbDVcs2PwjmHxfYp9be3kTfdIHz2qCFFpJC_LSPTBu/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-11-02+at+9.14.08+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliZB2O9wWp7Ximtja6XXWNG8-3GDh8Aa_mLRYECXQU-vgm8C7s4lm2EUaDuZkLYYcWAuVsfwLC69QLsWTOkyBRBBreMhqYBVz7AxbDVcs2PwjmHxfYp9be3kTfdIHz2qCFFpJC_LSPTBu/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-11-02+at+9.14.08+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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And so is their cream cheese!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSNgdmE3oMdxU-B0E1jLGHJnZqCbe-alYhGQgoKVfCmvEQl4M7qrND-rgghUz-Y0P0pa6kV5ByF7L08oIEH_wMtMxzkrbXalLDyzA4aGP7fkSBPHhxaJbnBiHfJk89f9gn7-oSM_ocVdu/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-11-02+at+11.22.29+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSNgdmE3oMdxU-B0E1jLGHJnZqCbe-alYhGQgoKVfCmvEQl4M7qrND-rgghUz-Y0P0pa6kV5ByF7L08oIEH_wMtMxzkrbXalLDyzA4aGP7fkSBPHhxaJbnBiHfJk89f9gn7-oSM_ocVdu/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-11-02+at+11.22.29+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sunshinedairyfoods.com/project/cultured-products/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sunshine Dairy</a> also lists cottage cheese on their page of cultured products, although it doesn't say specifically that it has live cultures. I will read the label carefully next time I shop!<br />
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I found cultured butter too - at <a href="http://www.organicvalley.coop/products/butter/cultured/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Organic Valley</a>. We use a lot of butter so I'll see how it tastes and how much it costs. It would be nice to know our butter is actually good for us!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGw58UPHqrzGDULlW6wBKOyvPReOPnHBZ6wYH2nqjgYMt1xri25L2Rme4wxEYmQgoVVN9kWlK14lz4wEJSNkXHJvbHD7vGKoR9OOWa6UwDvubByn0D_0dr55A0f4BoKP4hwifkXB6Icu9/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-11-02+at+11.34.45+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGw58UPHqrzGDULlW6wBKOyvPReOPnHBZ6wYH2nqjgYMt1xri25L2Rme4wxEYmQgoVVN9kWlK14lz4wEJSNkXHJvbHD7vGKoR9OOWa6UwDvubByn0D_0dr55A0f4BoKP4hwifkXB6Icu9/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-11-02+at+11.34.45+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I checked our current favorite butter, <a href="http://kerrygoldusa.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kerrygold Irish Butter</a>, but they don't mention cultured, either on the website or on the package I have in the fridge. I did run into this yummy-sounding recipe on their site however, <a href="http://kerrygoldusa.com/blog/2015/08/butter-braised-nectarine-and-aged-cheddar-salad" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Butter Braised Nectarine and Aged Cheddar Salad</a>. I'll be trying it next summer, or hmmm, I could try it now with some leftover peach slices I have in the freezer! (It was good!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPOZv-_0vbzFyvNClV38OJzgdkAMOkNHt16rVCDwjFvk2j47sDcFNOLz1SA6IQMnZJTDXzh0xW0w4HAJ2RTZUiI0Nj7nyCgAKRiYd6YHQiMPTlx-Z_YDBphloRzJyZITy_vh_fxXFIxj-/s1600/IMG_2630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPOZv-_0vbzFyvNClV38OJzgdkAMOkNHt16rVCDwjFvk2j47sDcFNOLz1SA6IQMnZJTDXzh0xW0w4HAJ2RTZUiI0Nj7nyCgAKRiYd6YHQiMPTlx-Z_YDBphloRzJyZITy_vh_fxXFIxj-/s400/IMG_2630.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The PCC Natural Markets article points out that much of the recent published research on dairy is from Denmark and Sweden, two countries with high dairy consumption, and much is funded by the dairy industry. However, they are glad to see a distinction being made between fermented and non-fermented, and also between whole and low-fat. The article's final point:<br />
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It's very likely that the difference between "drinking milk" and "eating dairy" is a significant and important distinction.</blockquote>
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-45811040027915253492015-11-04T08:35:00.000-08:002015-11-05T17:31:13.444-08:00Open Wide<style>
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For many years my half-yearly dental cleanings have been easy and quick. Since I started using an electric toothbrush there has been a minimum of scraping and poking necessary to keep my teeth clean, but not this time. Nothing really bad, but in one spot I have two crowns next to each other that create a cozy pocket for stuff to get into and be hard to get out, even with floss. I have noticed lettuce and nuts are the two worst offenders - both something I eat a lot of.<br />
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Kristine, my favorite hygienist at <a href="http://www.seattledental.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Zimmer's office</a>, asked if I use a <a href="http://www.usa.philips.com/c-m-pe/electric-toothbrushes" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sonicare</a> and when I said no, I have an <a href="http://www.oralb.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oral-B</a> toothbrush, she recommended switching. She and her colleagues feel there is a great enough difference that it is worth buying a Sonicare if possible. I was happy that she told me about the different models and that unless I need a lot of settings, which I don't, the least expensive would be fine. They also have a dual kit, with two brushes on one charger, but I sort of like how Stan and I are set up now, with a personal sink and bit of counter space for each of us. No sense meddling with what works, right?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAezAxLPZv0be7dMb9e1EfZLXYsLt-0iFCZfl3I70HZLRZdmUSNKr1oPbtBqWQsbcFwOwCCjNPc74Uxlgcc-C6PNDi50w2GXyr6UP4fMjbJvcl98J-vjrF_d7QC2IR83zDYUwhN77LBfXq/s1600/Sonicare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAezAxLPZv0be7dMb9e1EfZLXYsLt-0iFCZfl3I70HZLRZdmUSNKr1oPbtBqWQsbcFwOwCCjNPc74Uxlgcc-C6PNDi50w2GXyr6UP4fMjbJvcl98J-vjrF_d7QC2IR83zDYUwhN77LBfXq/s320/Sonicare.jpg" width="320" /></a>So, here's my new gadget. It has a few features my old one didn't - times the brushing for two minutes and turns off automatically, and beeps to signal each 30 seconds so each quarter of one's mouth gets equal time. It has three levels of intensity, which would be useful if I were a new user. It also comes with a nice travel case and cover which will be handy. I always had to put a small plastic bag over the old one when traveling.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgidFxKmgyvxej8H_F5F8x73KTJYY3y1kvpLCOrgXxHQljqhbBrxMzRGcMrytLDAFo5dvM0zKXWqMt2agX7zs7cAdg3x8GBFgE60PfzJN_lqpl3QRJn0yE-8WlRrmSV_6wbwc0k0LwukMN/s1600/OralB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgidFxKmgyvxej8H_F5F8x73KTJYY3y1kvpLCOrgXxHQljqhbBrxMzRGcMrytLDAFo5dvM0zKXWqMt2agX7zs7cAdg3x8GBFgE60PfzJN_lqpl3QRJn0yE-8WlRrmSV_6wbwc0k0LwukMN/s320/OralB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here's the old Oral-B. Must say it has served me well. It has the original battery and it lasts fine through a 2-week vacation without needing to be charged. I think I'll store it for awhile, just to make sure I like the Sonicare. I had a Sonicare a long time ago, and it seems to me my reason for switching was because it stopped working.<br />
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btw - I did look online for comparisons and found opinions both ways. I think Sonicare may have been the better brand some years ago (at least according to a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9487838" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PubMed article</a> from 1997), but more recently the Oral-B has been found better. Here's a <a href="http://www.dentalcare.com/media/en-US/research_db/pdf/products/8week-eval-benefits-multidirectional.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">study from the American Journal of Dentistry</a> from 2012 that says "The novel multi-directional power brush consistently produced significantly superior anti-gingivitis and anti-plaque reductions relative to pre-treatment versus the sonic control brush." I didn't understand what the part about pre-treatment means, but it just means compared to each study participant's condition at the beginning of the study.<br />
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I think the best comparison is this one at <a href="http://www.bestelectrictoothbrushhub.com/oral-b-vs-sonicare-comparison/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Best Electric Toothbrush Hub</a>. It points out that most of the studies have been done by one of the two brands and there is really no definite winner. Both are excellent and some people prefer the feeling of the sonic vibrations and others prefer the oscillating brushing motions. Bottom line for me: I have already bought the Sonicare and I trust the advice of my dentist's office. A new one of either brand would surely be more effective than my old one, and after having used it a few times, I like how it feels.<br />
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Kristine also recommended actually using the mouthwash I bought after my last checkup, but don't always remember to use. And she gave me a variety of extra-thick floss and other items to help in the difficult spots. Just watch as my teeth begin to sparkle in the coming months : )<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zUsDA_HAoSo2zFg1jrfw-olKV2aKPbZy6Vw8x2q6bHbsjV1IdLUqBgo_c_WKhtqdi38SPA3uh0XdZxE4cUxqyDaqsiXqUQ8oFjivGj9vFpL4dQGPUyXJ3bUklsAgeVXDcny3pPF3poUM/s1600/ToothStuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zUsDA_HAoSo2zFg1jrfw-olKV2aKPbZy6Vw8x2q6bHbsjV1IdLUqBgo_c_WKhtqdi38SPA3uh0XdZxE4cUxqyDaqsiXqUQ8oFjivGj9vFpL4dQGPUyXJ3bUklsAgeVXDcny3pPF3poUM/s400/ToothStuff.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Hmmm, kind of a boring post after all those Russia photos... but this is important stuff.<br />
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In an effort to make this post more interesting, here's a book I read while I was sick that I really liked. It takes place in 1946, when World War II had ended and the last soldiers were being returned home. Apparently there were about 600 Australian women who had married British soldiers and were still in Australia waiting for passage to join their husbands. The aircraft carrier Victorious became their home for 8 weeks as they traveled to England on its last official journey as an aircraft carrier. According to Wikipedia, there actually was an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Victorious_%28R38%29" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HMS Victorious</a> and it did travel from Sydney to Portsmouth with war brides. This was a good story set into an historic event.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8VV8v5Kxi4HESYfATnz88tEzKsTdvVHSvGVAnXKbvson15wlvQuw_kemviVeRGIKdZgNZH27sldnYntYIEhAwnbjnXqLaQ9NPyhC-Mbij9NzB4wLqMWoLyBapEhiJ0z__tN6HmCltEEo/s1600/ShipOfBrides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8VV8v5Kxi4HESYfATnz88tEzKsTdvVHSvGVAnXKbvson15wlvQuw_kemviVeRGIKdZgNZH27sldnYntYIEhAwnbjnXqLaQ9NPyhC-Mbij9NzB4wLqMWoLyBapEhiJ0z__tN6HmCltEEo/s320/ShipOfBrides.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-37082224103056620092015-11-01T13:03:00.000-08:002015-11-01T13:03:07.716-08:00Tenth Monthly Assessment - October 31st<style>
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If you've been reading, you know we traveled a lot last month, and I ate a lot of yummy meals and desserts! Well, it has shown on the scale. I gained three pounds, to 133, and haven't yet lost them since I've been home. I must say up front that I don't for a minute regret eating all that great food - it would have been a terrible waste to try to eat paleo and stick to a diet on the cruise. And, to give myself some credit, I didn't throw all my good eating habits out the window, though I did make good use of a convenient machine that dispensed various coffee drinks. The mochaccino was especially good. <br />
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There's no point in showing off front and side views this month. Here's how I looked last night as Stan and I headed out to our favorite wine bar, <a href="http://www.vinoatthelanding.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vino at the Landing</a>, for dinner. I had a soup special - cauliflower with coconut milk and curry - and a glass of chardonnay. Even though I'm slimmer than in prior years, I still love these tee shirts that allow one a bit of leeway at the waist and stomach! Couldn't face getting into the skinny jeans, so I'm wearing my old too-big slacks from last year.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 31st</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">October 31st</td></tr>
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New shoes from Hotter. They recently added a "slim" size in a few styles - still a bit wide for me with nylons, but okay with socks. Hmmm - keep or send back?? I cut the tag off and wore them tonight, so they are mine (and comfortable).<br />
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What went well this month:<br />
<ul>
<li>During our trip, through a lot of walking, standing around in museums and sleeping on a different bed, my hips were perfect - not a single twinge of the old hip pain.</li>
<li>Even though I enjoyed the desserts, I didn't go crazy and eat everything. I usually chose an appetizer and main course that limited carbs and if there were potatoes on the plate I left them or only ate a bite. For breakfasts I focused on eggs, meat, veggies and fruit - skipping pancakes, French toast and hot cereal. (I did have a small serving of oatmeal, which I love, and they cooked it perfectly! I also tried the French toast, another favorite, and realized that is something I can pass up.) I had mostly salads or meat and veggies for lunch.</li>
</ul>
Two typical breakfasts. For an omelet, on the left, there were several choices of vegetable as well as meat and cheese. On the right the veggies are carrots and yellow pepper along with scrambled eggs and bacon, pineapple chunks, some type of processed meat and cheese. They always had some type of vegetable available at breakfast.<br />
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Lunch from the salad bar along with cream of vegetable soup. The white square item was salmon with dill sauce - delicious!<br />
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Appetizer I chose from the salad bar: <br />
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<ul>
<li>When we got home I made some paleo muffins and started making salads again.</li>
</ul>
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What didn't go well:<br />
<ul>
<li>I got sick : ( Soon after feeling lucky and a bit self-righteous that I rarely catch a cold when hearing that many people aboard the ship were getting sick, I came down with a very sore throat and head cold. Fortunately, I felt fine below the neck and didn't miss out on any of the activities, but I was pretty miserable and coughed a lot. </li>
<li>When we got home I got even sicker. It turned out to be a urinary infection and I spent several days getting more and more uncomfortable before figuring it out and going to the doctor. Kudos to <a href="http://www.valleymed.org/newcastlepc/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my doctor's practice</a> for giving me an appointment 45 minutes after the time I called! I was getting worse fast and I spent a pretty bad 20 minutes in Bartell's waiting for my Rx to be filled. Three hours after taking the first pill I started feeling better. I'm so glad I live in the times of modern medicine!</li>
<li>I still don't feel well. The infection symptoms are gone, but my stomach hurts - not as with nausea, but just hurts. It reminds me of how I felt when I was having chemo. I did take a probiotic every day along with my antibiotic, to replace the good flora and fauna while killing off the bad, so perhaps it just needs more time to get back to normal.</li>
</ul>
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So, bottom line - I've been working toward good health all year and I'm still not there yet! I think it's not surprising to get sick when going halfway around the world, staying busy regardless of jet lag, and living on a ship full of strangers. I could have been more careful and planned better. If we go on another cruise, I'll use the hand sanitizer more often and pack my own favorite remedies even while hoping I won't need them. I used to always travel with aspirin and Gas-X, but haven't needed either all year. (On the other hand, a couple of our best memories are of when we headed out into Moscow on our own to find over-the-counter medication. I wasn't impressed with their version of TheraFlu, but I got some really lovely cough syrup!)<br />
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What to work on next:<br />
<ul>
<li>Obviously, I want to lose my stomach ache and feel better!</li>
<li>And lose the weight I gained </li>
</ul>
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My traditional favorites when I don't feel well are Campbell's chicken and rice soup, Saltines (with peanut butter and jelly if not too sick), and cream of rice with milk and sugar - nothing my mentors Drs. <a href="http://terrywahls.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wahl</a> and <a href="http://drrosedale.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rosedale</a> would approve of! I bought some soup, but thinking Campbell's wouldn't be good for me I got a healthier-sounding brand. Progresso's Italian wedding soup turned out to be mostly noodles and tasted okay, but on my next trip I'm going to get the Campbell's. I also have most of a deliciously ripe and sweet honeydew melon in the fridge and it has appealed so I'm enjoying it. (Must mention <a href="https://www.facebook.com/newcastlefruitandproduce" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Newcastle Fruit and Produce</a> where I got it. Their fruit is so much more delicious than from the supermarket, I should go there every week. I don't because a) I'm too lazy to make the extra stop and b) their parking lot is hard to get in and out of. They have improved it somewhat lately, so I should make it a regular weekly stop.)<br />
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I Googled "paleo remedies for upset stomach" and got some surprising suggestions from <a href="http://paleoleap.com/paleo-sick-foods/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PaleoLeap</a>. Of course, I knew bone broth would be one, and I had some of my homemade bone broth for lunch yesterday, but I wanted something more solid too. They suggest chicken-vegetable soup, winter vegetable soup, egg drop soup and tomato soup. I love tomato soup! They also mention banana - will get some - soft-boiled eggs, and steamed chicken or fish. Here are some more surprising suggestions:<br />
<ul>
<li>potatoes, both white and sweet - I thought white potatoes were out for paleo?</li>
<li>canned pumpkin with a bit of cinnamon and coconut milk - ummm, doesn't sound too good</li>
<li>spaghetti squash</li>
<li>avocado - they actually mention "bowl of guacamole" - I love guacamole, but only on chips. Don't think I could eat a bowl full.</li>
<li>fermented foods - I had my sauerkraut breakfast twice last week</li>
</ul>
I''m not vomiting, but PaleoLeap had an interesting recipe for replacing electrolytes. They say "Water with just a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon will help
replenish electrolytes if you’re throwing up. This is often easier to
drink if you warm it up a little to room temperature." (Stan says add sugar and whiskey!) Sounds much better to me than that bright green Gatorade.<br />
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We're planning a more quiet and restful month for November, so hopefully I'll get feeling back to normal and back into my healthy routines.<br />
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We always get a lot of trick-or-treaters on Halloween. We waited until the last day to buy the candy, but, gee, some of the bags seem to have gotten opened.... Happy Halloween!<br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-473856223610450822015-10-25T13:11:00.003-07:002015-10-25T13:11:58.139-07:00From Russia With Love, Part 8<style>
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Our day at the dacha began early as we had our last breakfast aboard ship, said our goodbyes and Stan's friends picked us up at 8:00. It took a bit under two hours to get to the dacha in the country north of Moscow and they wanted to beat the Saturday traffic. Our guides had told us that about 80% of the people living in Moscow have a dacha in the country as well. It traditionally started out as a place to grow vegetables with a tool shed added, then a cabin, and now some are very lovely weekend homes. Our friends have three buildings, one for sleeping, one for cooking, and one for storage and the "WC". You can see they have electricity and a satellite dish, but the only water was from a hose hooked up at the side of the property - no plumbing.<br />
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Stan met Sasha when he worked at Boeing. Stan was in charge of coordinating the work of a team of engineers in Moscow led by Sasha, and they have authored several published research papers together and have several patents. (Not to brag, but here's <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=birch+secundov&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a link</a> if you're interested.) Stan visited in Russia several times on business and enjoyed spending time with Sasha and his family. His wife, Lena, is a retired university mathematics professor, and his daughter, Masha, is an oncology surgeon. Masha was kind enough to give up her day off to drive and spend the day with us.<br />
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We started the day with a lunch of crab salad, sturgeon, pickles, bread, and of course, three toasts. I only drank one shot of vodka, then we ladies switched to coffee : ) <br />
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Lena made a cake that she remembered Stan liking from his previous visit - delicious!<br />
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We were offered either the opportunity to take a rest or a walk and we chose the walk. Lena set a good pace and took us on a long walk along the Moscow River and through the woods near their dacha. It was very peaceful and we didn't see anyone else the whole way.<br />
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This is a small market in the area.<br />
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As you can see, the sky was getting dark and threatening by the time we got back. Lena was planning to barbecue and the weather kept switching from sunshine to snow flurries. We did have a great barbecue of pork that had been marinated in mayonnaise and spices. Delicious!<br />
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Masha speaks English very well and provided much translating. For words she didn't know (mayonnaise) she had her iPhone translator quickly providing the answer. Why didn't I think of that in the stores?? (Don't laugh at my outfit - it was cold and my throat was really sore. Masha lent me the warm jacket and I had bought the fur hat on the first cold day. The souvenir shops had beautiful soft hats of real fur, but I was planning to give this to my granddaughter Mira and I knew she'd prefer a fake fur.)<br />
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We finished our meal with pastry Lena had made, and I'm sure more vodka for Sasha and Stan. Masha had no alcohol the whole day as she told us there is a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol when driving. <br />
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What a surprise when we reached our hotel, the Radisson Royal Hotel Moscow! The photo at <a href="https://www.radisson.com/en/royalhotel-moscow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this link</a> is exactly how it looked when we drove up that evening! It is the most upscale hotel I have ever stayed in.<br />
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Relaxing in the hotel lounge.<br />
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A buffet breakfast came with our room, and Stan says it's the first all-you-can-eat buffet that he's seen with caviar and champagne. We had these lovely lattes.<br />
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Sasha, Lena and Masha came for dinner on the "roof terrace" our last evening. <br />
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Here's the view from our room, and also the lovely view at night.<br />
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The next morning we met our driver at 6:00 for our last trip through Moscow to the airport. Even though we extended our stay after the cruise, <a href="http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Viking</a> still provided transport from the hotel to the airport. They had a desk at the hotel and one at the airport, which lessened our stress considerably about making our early flight on time. We felt they took good care of us and gave us a wonderful experience!<br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-78216138374867144802015-10-23T11:37:00.002-07:002015-10-23T11:44:34.260-07:00From Russia With Love, Part 7<style>
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After our cold walk, the next day was supposed to be a free day on our own in Moscow. However, we felt we'd seen enough of Red Square and GUM, so we opted to take an optional tour (for extra cost) of the <a href="http://www.tretyakovgallery.ru/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tretyakov Gallery</a>, figuring a warm bus ride plus an indoor tour were worth 44 euros each. I thought it was one of the best museum tours we had! The Tretyakov Gallery is a collection by Russian artists, and the guide was our best guide of the trip. He explained a lot about icons, which we had seen in museums and cathedrals all throughout our tour, and also explained what was going on when the paintings were done. It was a great tour, and there were several gift shops where Stan was happy to find a print that he had had hanging up at home until it got faded by the sun coming in.<br />
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On the left is a very early icon that is a mosaic. On the right, a painting our guide didn't highlight, but I liked the colors and style - I thought it looked a bit like a quilt.<br />
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This painting is Morning in a Pine Forest. Our guide explained it was painted by <a href="http://russiapedia.rt.com/prominent-russians/art/ivan-shishkin/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ivan Shishkin</a> as a landscape. Then his friend, Konstantin Savitsky, added the bears, saying the painting needed something more than just the forest. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_in_a_Pine_Forest" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wikipedia says</a> gallery owner Tretyakov removed the signature of Savitsky so the painting is attributed just to Shishkin. This is a very popular painting in Russia. All the school children know it because it was used on a package of chocolates. <br />
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Our photos of the art in this gallery didn't capture how great it was. I think we were more interested in just listening to the guide. Stan did get these photos of school children who were touring also. Don't they look great in their uniforms? I don't know whether this was a public school or private.<br />
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That afternoon, Stan and I set out by ourselves to find an<span lang="ru"> 'аптека', pronounced apteka, or pharmacy. I had finally succumbed to the cold and sore throat that was going around the ship, and I wanted something like Theraflu to get me through the night. There was a nice shopping center a short walk from the pier and we enjoyed looking around in a non-souvenir shop setting. In addition to some packets like Theraflu and some aspirin, we also bought a hat for Stan and a silver chain for an amber pendant I had bought for my daughter-in-law Alethea's birthday. It was fun to get out on our own and interact with some shopkeepers who spoke very little English.</span><br />
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<span lang="ru">On our walk we had to get to the other side of a very wide busy street, and we were very glad of an underground tunnel. Besides being safe, it was some protection from the weather for a short while. We found the same thing a few days later near our hotel in downtown Moscow, and felt it makes walking in the city a lot safer. </span><br />
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<span lang="ru">The food court looked just like ours at home. This booth is selling sushi. </span><br />
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And of course, this looked the same as at home : )<br />
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You can see why Stan needed a hat! We were woefully under-dressed for the weather.<br />
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That evening we had our last meal on the ship, beef tenderloin and chocolate mousse - we would sure miss those lovely meals and great service! The next morning Stan's friend, Sasha, and his wife and daughter would
pick us up early for a day at their dacha before taking us to our 2-day
extension of our tour at a hotel. <br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-2667173153056883582015-10-19T21:12:00.005-07:002015-10-19T21:12:57.985-07:00From Russia With Love, Part 6<style>
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When we reached Moscow I was a bit sorry, as our lovely cruise had come to an end. However, we would be docked three days in Moscow, with tours every day. The first day we started out after lunch to explore Moscow by subway. This was the optional more vigorous tour, most of the guests would explore Moscow by bus. The subway was much less frightening than I expected. In fact, it was more clean, calm and lovely than New York, and much less crowded than the Tube in London. Our guide explained that the goal is for a train to come every 90 seconds, and because they came so often there was no crowd on the platform. I was pleased and surprised to be offered a seat on a train : ) After a lifetime of commuting by bus and ferry, I make it a point never to refuse an offered seat, so I sat. I was a bit worried about making it from my seat in the middle of the car to the door in time to get off with my group, but I managed. We were warned the doors are only open for a few seconds. We got off at a few stops that had particularly attractive stations.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDc12JxxXi_0ppMWYOiBbpbzgBgvaQ8mXMmJETftH4jn_LvSE2HoDPyEneXILEAgf6dbXiq27rkgG4tsHXUHrM0JZakZJUXYWjX_afzW0u7aC4cBmStJ6nmxOhS6k_VvalMpnlck9vie1/s1600/Subway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDc12JxxXi_0ppMWYOiBbpbzgBgvaQ8mXMmJETftH4jn_LvSE2HoDPyEneXILEAgf6dbXiq27rkgG4tsHXUHrM0JZakZJUXYWjX_afzW0u7aC4cBmStJ6nmxOhS6k_VvalMpnlck9vie1/s320/Subway.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayakovskaya station</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teatralnaya station</td></tr>
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We went above ground at Revolution Square and walked to Red Square. So hard to believe we were there! In Red Square! It was quite a bit more lovely than I expected. Our guide was a young Moscow woman who knew a lot about the history of the area, and was determined to tell us <i>everything</i>, despite the fact that it was getting darker and colder by the minute. The lovely GUM department store (that's pronounced "goom" not "gum") was right there next to us, and if she would ever finish we would have a chance to go in for a potty break and a rest.<br />
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That young woman in the white hat is our guide. She really was quite knowledgeable, but we were a bit cold and tired. <br />
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Here are the buildings around Red Square. For some reason, I expected solid concrete buildings without the beautiful architecture.<br />
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We were shown a white building like the one below where Putin's office is located. Apparently he only goes there for ceremonial occasions, but when he does, it stops up traffic all around Moscow. This isn't the building, but it looked similar.<br />
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You can see the sky is getting dark - it was 0° Celsius (32° Fahrenheit) and we were cold!<br />
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUM_%28department_store%29" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GUM</a> is actually more like an indoor mall than a single store. We felt right at home with the names of the stores, although they are not places we usually shop in. Hermes, Versace, Cartier, that sort of store. We had a nice cafe latte and a chance to get warm.<br />
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That evening we were taken to a concert of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osipov_State_Russian_Folk_Orchestra" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Moscow Folk Orchestra</a>. Amazing!! This was worth the entire freezing walk!! These are students and their enthusiasm and talent is obvious. It was a wonderful evening. I am posting a video in the hope you can enjoy a short sample of their music.<br />
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We had a very late dinner that night, more of a snack really and I think I just had soup, but the dessert was lovely as always.<br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-45450802131171105372015-10-18T08:15:00.001-07:002015-10-18T08:15:40.762-07:00From Russia With Love, Part 5<style>
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Another lovely small town was Uglich. Here's what the guide book says about Uglich:<br />
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Though remains of a 10th-century settlement have been found here, the first record of the town dates to 1148. In 1584, after Ivan the Terrible's death, his son Dmitry moved to Uglich with his mother and was murdered seven years later, probably on order of the boyar, Boris Gudunov. The resulting uprising caused great destruction, but the 17th and 18th centuries saw restoration when wonderful architectural buildings were constructed. Among these are some of the most beautiful churches and monasteries in Russia.</blockquote>
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Here is the view when we docked. This is the Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood, where it is said the young prince's body was discovered. In all the historic stories we heard, it is sad how often a person or whole family was killed to prevent them from claiming the throne, or taking power from an incumbent. The sight of these cathedrals takes one's breath away, they are so beautiful!<br />
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Here is another - the Cathedral of Our Savior's Transfiguration.<br />
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And yet another.<br />
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In Uglich we were invited to a private home for tea. We were ushered into the home where a table was set for all of us, with tea, homemade cake, and, of course, homemade vodka. We toasted the traditional three times. (I actually downed three shots of vodka - a first for me!)<br />
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Our host spoke good English and first he introduced his wife and said they have a 16 year old daughter, who was in school. They showed us some of her art work, which was good. He explained they were both jewelers who had worked in the watch factory in Uglich until it closed several years ago, leaving one-third of the town's workers unemployed. He and his wife found work making silver filagree frames for icons which are used in the restoration of many churches in the area. They work at home, and in their spare time they are paid by Viking Cruises to host groups such as ours.<br />
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The amber-colored liquid in the fancy bottle is homemade vodka. It must have been pretty smooth for me to get three shots down without choking! The cake was fresh and spongy and delicious.<br />
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I think our host was named Vladimir and I remember his wife's name was Rita, for Margarita. She stayed quiet and pretty much in the background while he told us about their life. The paintings on the wall were his. He said after working on the silver very close up, he liked to paint at arm's length with a long-handled brush. They were pretty good! Here is a sample of their work. It was very intricate and beautifully done.<br />
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Before we left home, I had read in the guidebooks that it is customary to give a gift when you visit someone's home, so after much deliberation and Googling, I had bought some marionberry syrup made on Lopez Island and a small package of Jelly Bellies, as I knew we would have a home visit on our tour. I gave them to Rita as we left, saying the Jelly Bellies were for their daughter Elizabeth. She seemed pleased and I was glad I had done it.<br />
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Here we go into their home, and later, out to the yard, where they had a big garden. You'll notice the two dish antennas. They had no running water, but everyone has TV.<br />
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They had a big garden in back and canned and made jams and preserves for the rest of the year.<br />
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Our ship then went on toward Moscow, with more to see on shore as we got closer to the big city.<br />
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I seem to have been remiss in remembering to photograph my meals, but not the desserts, they were so beautiful. Here are two. You can see why I couldn't pass them up!<br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-9458724348618263992015-10-17T16:41:00.000-07:002015-10-17T16:41:59.577-07:00From Russia With Love, Part 4<style>
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Stan and I really liked the small city of Yaroslavl on the Volga River. If we were ever retiring in Russia, this would be our first choice. Legend says it was founded by Prince Yaroslavl in the 11th century, on the very spot where he killed a bear. We walked around town for awhile, then met our guides for a tour of the Governor's House, a living museum of Russian art, history and culture. A lovely young woman who introduced herself as the "Governor's daughter" showed us around and then took us into the ballroom, where three musicians played and young people demonstrated dances of the 18th and 19th centuries. Lovely!<br />
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The gadget she is wearing around her neck is part of a great system of guiding a tour. We all had "listening devices", which we were reminded to bring along on every tour and to put in the charger in our room every night. Our device had an earpiece and the guide's had a microphone, so we could hear the guide perfectly, even when we weren't close by. If you dawdled behind to take photos, or got separated from the group, it was comforting to hear the guide talking while you worked out where they were. I could even hear when I dashed to the "WC", so I knew they weren't leaving without me. The guides counted us often and said they hadn't left a tourist behind yet.<br />
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Here are some street scenes of Yaroslavl. I really like the pastel colors with white trim. We bought some chocolate made in Yaroslavl, which you find in the liquor store along with the vodka.<br />
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There are many churches everywhere in Russia, and many have been rebuilt after having been destroyed during World War II. It seems no expense is spared on the reconstructions regardless of needs elsewhere.<br />
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We toured the Church of Elijah the Prophet below - amazing inside! In many of the churches photography was forbidden and in others you could pay an extra fee to take pictures. We usually opted not to. (btw - for any of the places that required an entrance fee, ours was included in our tour. We bypassed lines for tickets and entered quickly as a group.)<br />
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Here we are sitting with another couple at dinner. Can you see my beautiful dessert?? The dining room was rather formal but not stuffy. It was always set up beautifully and the servers were efficient and pleasant to chat with a bit.<br />
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What a lovely way to see a country where it would be difficult to travel around by ourselves! Viking has a similar river cruise on the Yang Tse River... just thinking.<br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-73409717798360535952015-10-16T11:49:00.001-07:002015-10-16T11:49:09.163-07:00From Russia With Love, Part 3<style>
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After three days in St. Petersburg, our ship set sail for Moscow. We would travel through several rivers, lakes and waterways, and go through many locks along the way to adjust to the levels of the various bodies of water. We went through the locks fairly quickly and we were the only ship, not like the circus when many small boats jam together in the locks from Lake Washington to Puget Sound.<br />
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As we cruised along it was fascinating to just watch out the window at the Russian countryside. For the most part, it was just trees. And more trees. Most of the Russian population is centered in the two largest cities, St. Petersburg and Moscow, with very few people in small towns in between. To the east of Moscow are the Ural Mountains, and to the east of the mountains is Siberia. We were told the population density in Siberia is one person per square kilometer and much of the land is covered in permafrost. Two of our waitresses were from there and had families there, and actually I am very curious about what that large part of Russia would be like.<br />
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We saw many places where logs were being cut, and many ships carrying them up the rivers and waterways toward St. Petersburg.<br />
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Mostly, we just saw the trees. Beautiful white birch trees for the most part, and occasionally a big ship like the one below.<br />
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We stopped in the little town of Goritzy and had a chance to walk around some of the streets. The houses were small and simple, but really cute, with distinctive trim that a guide said was made by the homeowners themselves so no two were exactly the same. The houses don't have indoor plumbing, and most are heated by wood. It is not permitted to simply cut wood in the forest; one has to pay for a permit and only take the amount allowed.<br />
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We later toured the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, founded in 1397, a fortified complex with several churches built in the 15th to 17th centuries. In earlier times about 200 monks lived and worked here, but today only six live here.<br />
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We also toured a school, where three 9th and 10th grade students came in on Sunday to tell us a bit about their school and play some music for us. The school looked much like schools everywhere, although there weren't any computers or technical equipment in sight. Students go through the 10th grade and then can choose whether to go to trade school or continue for two more years and on to university. They are allowed to choose, not tracked according to grades or test scores.<br />
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Here is my lunch that day, vegetable-beef soup, salad bar, and lovely dessert. Uh oh - you can see I had a glass of wine at lunch, too. I varied my lunch beverages between wine and hot tea, and I drank the water, too.<br />
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Here's the view from the dining room window that evening as we started out to our next port. What a life!<br />
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<br />Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-78922419030183805562015-10-14T10:24:00.001-07:002015-10-15T07:30:29.557-07:00From Russia With Love, Part 2<style>
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On our second day of touring in St. Petersburg, we saw Catherine's Palace, the summer home of Empress Catherine the Great in the 1700s. It is hard to imagine people actually living in such an ornate manner! The palace was destroyed by the Germans after the siege of Lenningrad in World War II, and restoration has been taking place ever since. Our guide made a point of saying "restoration", which means recreated in exactly the same way as the original, not "replacement", which could mean using modern materials and methods.<br />
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The palace is situated on a lake with beautiful lawn and gardens.<br />
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This is the ballroom. I especially liked the white staircase with beautiful blue pottery displayed.<br />
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This is the dining room. The gilded apples were eaten with the gold still on them.<br />
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Delft fireplaces heated the rooms.<br />
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Catherine the Great preferred lighter colors instead of all the gold of Catherine the First, so she had some rooms redone in her own taste.<br />
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This is a model of one of Catherine the Great's dresses. When she died and her things were removed, she had more than 1,000 gowns. It was mentioned that she only bathed once every few months, so perhaps she didn't wear each outfit very often!<br />
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Later that evening we walked a bit around St. Petersburg and watched a show of Russian Cossack dancing. Amazing! They could do the traditional kicking out of legs in a squat, and one of them could also have only one hand on the floor and kick both legs out to the side, parallel to the floor.<br />
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This is a spot where many couples come to have their wedding pictures taken.<br />
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This lovely bridge near our ship is fairly new, and allows traffic to cross the river at night when the older, lower bridges in the city are opened to allow ships to go through. In both St. Petersburg and Moscow, traffic is just as big a problem as it is here.<br />
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Here is what I ate that night. The appetizer is a Russian pasta similar to ravioli with meat inside. The meat is beef with a bread crust and the dessert is apple tart. Will not mention weight, and the gaining thereof, until the end of the trip!<br />
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<br />Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-17561693583074534322015-10-13T17:05:00.000-07:002015-10-13T17:05:26.942-07:00From Russia With Love<style>
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Stan and I have just returned from a really wonderful 2-week river cruise in Russia, from St. Petersburg to Moscow. I don't think my words and photos can possibly convey how awesome this experience was - we very highly recommend <a href="http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/russia/waterways-tsars/2015-stpetersburg-moscow/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Viking River Cruises</a> for a first-class trip!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our ship - Viking Ingvar</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We go aboard, after a very long trip - Seattle to Paris, Paris to St. Petersburg</td></tr>
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The ship was lovely. There were 199 passengers, and about 100 crew, and the accommodations and food were first class.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOzBXTpgxBdY0XA5Xo0q55cXNhCrYoP5VohofU_CxZ_8yRZtg9NBzd7ZL8G2BWGh-zD5-MwmVoyRCSwrfx8tiryi3cyRlDOron1e-ILB2fhD8lH9o4pq4gqT9TWve3dg9nz75g63IFi0H/s1600/OurCabin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOzBXTpgxBdY0XA5Xo0q55cXNhCrYoP5VohofU_CxZ_8yRZtg9NBzd7ZL8G2BWGh-zD5-MwmVoyRCSwrfx8tiryi3cyRlDOron1e-ILB2fhD8lH9o4pq4gqT9TWve3dg9nz75g63IFi0H/s400/OurCabin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home away from home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1a2NL-Juv3G3Ar0bloytTDGf2TKMTJ55NuUfOQvLjTeqEMPIgWsKc1kc2OR03hCddOHeAz6VSegEVsn2ACKqqWx1JV3SExpKcJRi55pXNwwgbticKRB9nmIRfTlIqiXBU1nQFSlF0tcq/s1600/DrinksSunDeck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1a2NL-Juv3G3Ar0bloytTDGf2TKMTJ55NuUfOQvLjTeqEMPIgWsKc1kc2OR03hCddOHeAz6VSegEVsn2ACKqqWx1JV3SExpKcJRi55pXNwwgbticKRB9nmIRfTlIqiXBU1nQFSlF0tcq/s400/DrinksSunDeck.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Champagne on the sun deck to begin our cruise</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDphVr3bTyX3YP6IqDZA-YuXwYLXLpYk9_VJbUGsy1cPhwxilR7DrtBR1Jnckmq07C-1jxvncdfm6NEyrGcwbGybC3F833PAJU3ikNTlk3hiE5qKHNH_grx2e6X8quyEBTiz26IwYCDcp/s1600/SInBlanket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDphVr3bTyX3YP6IqDZA-YuXwYLXLpYk9_VJbUGsy1cPhwxilR7DrtBR1Jnckmq07C-1jxvncdfm6NEyrGcwbGybC3F833PAJU3ikNTlk3hiE5qKHNH_grx2e6X8quyEBTiz26IwYCDcp/s320/SInBlanket.jpg" width="100%" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgISy644M-Vk67tz9GHi7FUzMJK3MxEQln-jbMoK0uY-OsERYKKWpBgaCzCrx6KCDW_WckVCuXV54Kuto51lF4zGuGTUov52wWDmz5S5YS97Y1-FMG4aHOQv3Fg_p6jZLKth5UX6hTcDb/s1600/PInBlanket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgISy644M-Vk67tz9GHi7FUzMJK3MxEQln-jbMoK0uY-OsERYKKWpBgaCzCrx6KCDW_WckVCuXV54Kuto51lF4zGuGTUov52wWDmz5S5YS97Y1-FMG4aHOQv3Fg_p6jZLKth5UX6hTcDb/s320/PInBlanket.jpg" width="100%" /></a></div>
We stayed in St. Petersburg for three days, and the tours started right away with the <a href="https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/?lng=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hermitage</a> the first morning and ballet, Swan Lake, in the evening. I have never been a really avid museum-goer - I tend to get tired and overwhelmed - but our guides showed us selected samples rather than trying to see everything, and their commentary about the background, politics and story behind what we were seeing made the art come alive. It kept our interest and we forgot about being tired! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKY_ZganX1hjVk1vZ-tfrBmLaM1jkH-ba8yzr4Sqry_fhyphenhyphenHdtt2VU_svldMyQD3qji7cesO2UmUYsvotpUhYeY5w03DgfZYxNXzMA0ItG722OLao_j_ph91ZVtcR8WlEDc60aHEySPdNb/s1600/Buses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKY_ZganX1hjVk1vZ-tfrBmLaM1jkH-ba8yzr4Sqry_fhyphenhyphenHdtt2VU_svldMyQD3qji7cesO2UmUYsvotpUhYeY5w03DgfZYxNXzMA0ItG722OLao_j_ph91ZVtcR8WlEDc60aHEySPdNb/s320/Buses.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buses lined up every day to take us on tours</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RAG1QMQMXtg6NW47ZmIw4c57shjtQ3rPmgp5oXZIGASUOgaeq1WSZ0bWVt0Esk9c4cJBUKFTmolU1tEVnZ0RTwDVodtyz053a0Im9CNukBqzL9MYeok9dLXBq27WDgAFEhlCxz0HJWQ4/s1600/Guide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RAG1QMQMXtg6NW47ZmIw4c57shjtQ3rPmgp5oXZIGASUOgaeq1WSZ0bWVt0Esk9c4cJBUKFTmolU1tEVnZ0RTwDVodtyz053a0Im9CNukBqzL9MYeok9dLXBq27WDgAFEhlCxz0HJWQ4/s320/Guide.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our guide, Natalia, at the Hermitage </td></tr>
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The <a href="https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/?lng=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hermitage</a> is one of the largest and oldest museums in the world, founded by Catherine the Great in 1764. It occupies six historic buildings along the Palace Embankment in St. Petersburg. Part of it was the winter palace of Russian royalty, and it now is home to a collection of fabulous art.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUrniUZAvZBcPVkWxudkMdjKZEPpsZTL0tI5zTheCDB566vkiFGguOC6GXIXz6b-ZmE0gc8MOIQxAkWdN_kD48DUA_kKBQZXJr9mph_Dpb8dxWAay_6ksrJZNrFni9GZq2VKjry2wpFl1/s1600/HermOutside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUrniUZAvZBcPVkWxudkMdjKZEPpsZTL0tI5zTheCDB566vkiFGguOC6GXIXz6b-ZmE0gc8MOIQxAkWdN_kD48DUA_kKBQZXJr9mph_Dpb8dxWAay_6ksrJZNrFni9GZq2VKjry2wpFl1/s400/HermOutside.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEStG9orX62c_H9bw3r_2nfL4lSmGQzy6HdjI5dc69k1qPEGA53LZ9b4WvS6UEh9SPDDHHgN31VEoWm8HHCTMBdG_LOR_VVS74Mb5HIm-8AZ_xWN_Mm7slL6F0Kv913TsgWa0DT5HVHhoB/s1600/HermGoldRm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEStG9orX62c_H9bw3r_2nfL4lSmGQzy6HdjI5dc69k1qPEGA53LZ9b4WvS6UEh9SPDDHHgN31VEoWm8HHCTMBdG_LOR_VVS74Mb5HIm-8AZ_xWN_Mm7slL6F0Kv913TsgWa0DT5HVHhoB/s320/HermGoldRm.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is real gold leaf</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzYHYVevSG7rHeDuS3fEoJ3qiIJp6Ez1qH1rgIg0dSJ-56bvmS8LB9ZpU1uvuL2iD3rBLzoaDLjorZq09gVe99k5Zh9wLQFWrAnQksL1C1ewAOV-pxAU3AHeotU_0AL4XS7_nI_DUpEKl/s1600/HermEntry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzYHYVevSG7rHeDuS3fEoJ3qiIJp6Ez1qH1rgIg0dSJ-56bvmS8LB9ZpU1uvuL2iD3rBLzoaDLjorZq09gVe99k5Zh9wLQFWrAnQksL1C1ewAOV-pxAU3AHeotU_0AL4XS7_nI_DUpEKl/s320/HermEntry.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Jordan staircase</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMEUIYtn1R82Md2W889yrCCExk2Vf2IKThX4ttBEG4dltOmB_tJRJT9Xm-8zDPVCurO0SH2gZcJ67yMAsz5LpvTRoEIxO-28pl_aq_vm5a1lYFlaxttpWOFLNcpon22g-mzcbf31OAOXY/s1600/HermThroneRoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMEUIYtn1R82Md2W889yrCCExk2Vf2IKThX4ttBEG4dltOmB_tJRJT9Xm-8zDPVCurO0SH2gZcJ67yMAsz5LpvTRoEIxO-28pl_aq_vm5a1lYFlaxttpWOFLNcpon22g-mzcbf31OAOXY/s320/HermThroneRoom.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Throne room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiJH58G4vIsscee7GMRUPf5fvETxM0NGbwaEY7g1gK3qlbwNVIsYcx0wOx2ED0aoH54F_WVj-565ZBwZNPQHSrKigTB2qtHfhFgG6GXhQDM4s3uefz14eLR57LPPbldZi4ADDtaBWVbVR/s1600/BetterCeiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiJH58G4vIsscee7GMRUPf5fvETxM0NGbwaEY7g1gK3qlbwNVIsYcx0wOx2ED0aoH54F_WVj-565ZBwZNPQHSrKigTB2qtHfhFgG6GXhQDM4s3uefz14eLR57LPPbldZi4ADDtaBWVbVR/s320/BetterCeiling.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fabulous ceiling</td></tr>
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That evening we were taken to see Swan Lake at the <a href="http://www.tickitnow.com/?p=theatre&view=4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alexandrinsky Theater</a>. Amazing! The theater itself is a work of art and we were surprised to be shown to our seats in the third row center. There were no photos allowed during the performance, but here is the theater.<br />
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Some street scenes around St. Petersburg - I love the architecture, and how the older buildings are painted lovely colors with lots of white molding. Both St. Petersburg and Moscow are more beautiful than I expected, although there were many large apartment buildings like the ones below that looked unattractive and not well maintained. We learned that during the Soviet period of communism, families were given apartments. Later, when the USSR broke up, those families got to keep their apartments while anyone who didn't yet have one just missed out, creating an instant gap in wealth. Today, someone who owns an apartment in Moscow can rent it out for enough to have a nice retirement in a smaller city or town.<br />
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This was just the first of many, many cathedrals we saw, all different and all absolutely magnificent!<br />
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And that, along with three delicious meals and a safety drill, was our first day. It seems a big task to adequately show you this wonderful trip. I will post a few days' activities at a time over the next week or so, and I hope you enjoy the trip vicariously!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fortunately we didn't need these other than for the drill</td></tr>
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Dinner the first night, beef stroganoff and vanilla caramel cream. Stan was interested that they put the sour cream on top of the meat instead of mixing it in as in a traditional recipe. We <i>had</i> to have dessert each evening - they were so beautiful it would have been an unforgivable waste to pass it up!<br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-12558791069753674282015-09-30T06:00:00.000-07:002015-09-30T06:00:02.927-07:00Ninth Monthly Assessment - September 30th<style>
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Well, I certainly haven't lost any weight this month - still at 130, with an occasional sighting of 131 on the scale. Aaarrrgh! I see one has to be always vigilant, even when one thinks one has made new better eating habits. We have been so busy having fun that we've had more restaurant food and camping food, and less super-healthy <a href="http://terrywahls.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Wahls</a> and <a href="http://drrosedale.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Rosedale</a> food. We are coming up on some more travel, so this situation will get more dangerous before it gets better!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 31st</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September 26th</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 31st</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September 26th</td></tr>
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Forgive my bragging, but this is the first time I've ever had a detectable arm muscle : )<br />
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Some things that are going well:<br />
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<ul>
<li>I still feel strong! Carried my backpack, full canteen and bear canister 3 miles each way without difficulty. (And so did Stan, who carried the <i>tent</i> - heavy! Not something every 75-year-old can do!)</li>
<li>We've been very faithful about going to the gym twice a week, and we've been walking our <a href="http://www.ci.newcastle.wa.us/parks/trails_list.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">favorite 3-mile trail</a> as a warm up, instead of 10 minutes on the treadmill.</li>
<li>I went from September 1st to September 19th with zero wine or other alcohol. Had a glass at our <a href="http://www.dinospub.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">favorite neighborhood pub</a> when we got back from camping, and I see I can still easily fall back into having some every day. I may have to admit it's easier to have none than have it only once in a while : (</li>
<li>Slept on the ground two nights without hip pain - amazing and great! </li>
<li>We really are having a lot of fun. Travel, hiking, involvement in our investment club, and I took a class on how to use the long-arm quilting machine at a <a href="http://www.gossypiumquilt.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">quilt shop in Issaquah</a>. I learned some cool stuff and now I can rent it by the hour, although it is a bit expensive so I won't be doing it for every quilt I make.</li>
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Need work on:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Stopping the little items that have snuck back into my diet: glutinous crackers with cheese, the occasional slice of toast, wine, cocoa (leftover from camping), and <i>Starbucks frappuccinos! </i>Those are about as habit-forming as wine!</li>
<li>Sleep! I had thought when I wasn't having any alcohol I would sleep better. There was perhaps a bit of improvement, but I still spend time at night tossing and turning and unable to turn off my thoughts. Lately I'm falling into a second sleep around 5 or 6 AM and feeling groggy when I want to wake up. </li>
<li>I still want to lose some more weight, or actually, lose some more belly fat. When I went out this morning to get more melatonin and other supplements, I found a book by the <a href="http://thepaleodiet.com/dr-loren-cordain/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paleo Diet founder</a> called The Paleo Answer. Of course I know I have to actually eat the right stuff, not just read the book, but I'm hoping it will help with motivation. </li>
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Here are some photos to show how my appearance has changed since a year ago - last year on the left, this year on the right:<br />
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I do know that my actual appearance is not as important as how I feel about it. I look okay in all the photos, but I am much happier with the later ones. In some, you can't even notice the weight loss, but my face is thinner, posture better, hair blonder and smile bigger. I <i>feel</i> better and more energetic. That's what's important!<br />
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5712245203584587216.post-55982990397633391622015-09-20T11:01:00.000-07:002015-09-20T11:05:03.183-07:00Happy Campers<style>
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Stan and I just got back from a 3-day backpacking trip to <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/lake-ozette/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sand Point at Lake Ozette</a> on the Olympic Peninsula. We hiked that lower black dotted line from Ozette to Sand Point on the coast. We
seem to have just missed the good summer weather and had a pretty rainy
time. I'm glad we went, but now I am ready to retire from backpacking. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFf95Dhplu8kq2oFw-kXG2UvVKuvMFUXY49gADzCCHhAgvHgoInXs1uf1jPP4U_FPY1mZHi_43nFmE514vr1U8TWNTOiuYtZscFkuKm77GYAryU2BCc4nweNNUlIuHZDBJb51FEMzBFEl/s1600/Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFf95Dhplu8kq2oFw-kXG2UvVKuvMFUXY49gADzCCHhAgvHgoInXs1uf1jPP4U_FPY1mZHi_43nFmE514vr1U8TWNTOiuYtZscFkuKm77GYAryU2BCc4nweNNUlIuHZDBJb51FEMzBFEl/s400/Map.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We had done this trip before, and when I looked for the photos I was amazed to find it was in 2008 - seven years ago! I was hoping to show the difference between my 2008 photo and this year when I am 15 pounds lighter and feeling a lot stronger. Oh well, my weight loss is covered up with 4 layers of clothing, including cargo shorts under my waterproof pants. Below is the comparison. (Note the blue jar in the background above - that is a bear-proof canister, required of all campers in the area. We had to keep all our food and food-related garbage locked in the canister whenever we weren't actually cooking.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2008</td></tr>
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The hike is three miles through the woods, over dirt trail and a boardwalk that spans marshy areas. You can't tell in the photos, but it rained the entire time we walked both in and out. On the middle day, it was dry, warm and even a bit sunny at times. On that day we walked along the beach for awhile, then over the 3 miles to the car to swap out garbage for more food and water, and back the 3 miles to the campsite. Just a small day pack on that day, so it was easier going and a pleasant walk.<br />
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We had a lovely campsite just off the beach - perfect except that the "restroom", and I use the term loosely, was about 1/8 mile away. That was an extra quarter mile through the woods for every trip, of which I made many! Stan went with me the first few times until I felt safe enough going by myself. Believe me, the weather was so bad I figured the bears and other wildlife were probably curled up in their dens!<br />
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Our ponchos get MVP as far as outdoor attire goes! I found two of these folded in little packets with our camping supplies and I threw them in, never planning to actually use them. They were great! By the time we got to the campsite the first day two-thirds of my planned layer-able clothing was soaked. The poncho kept my remaining sweater dry and made a little tent of warm air around me. Wool hat and wool socks kept me warm.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAxFGEC1aEBMbdvQz2Js44vxb76QSfNOz9btktbaa832FStFpp8qOBUST2XFp_ez9PPpk1A9jqbKThfG5H1kVoYQwzIfy7FI38So5yyEPF_mTG2czNbKCLsF4-KujNXzoqSKbT0izfH1Z/s1600/Poncho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAxFGEC1aEBMbdvQz2Js44vxb76QSfNOz9btktbaa832FStFpp8qOBUST2XFp_ez9PPpk1A9jqbKThfG5H1kVoYQwzIfy7FI38So5yyEPF_mTG2czNbKCLsF4-KujNXzoqSKbT0izfH1Z/s200/Poncho.jpg" width="100%" /></a></div>
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For food we bought ready-to-eat camping meals at <a href="http://www.rei.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">REI</a> for dinners, had meat and cheese rollups (for me) and meat and cheese sandwiches (for Stan) for lunch, and Stan cooked nice breakfasts. I was surprised to find neither of us was as hungry as I had thought we would be, and we wound up bringing food home.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee first in morning!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfTH4a59zAHlewHuLj0HbERSyCW9kxTUc51lTeqkvr1KDMiPAiNlQAbumi1N87_nyW-Tl2CW1kbHELgfdnsU_u6NzPPy5GtSryZexC7qibMJsoeL3zvSqNOal30BBZ6Uxo7RlYNgYBztA/s1600/Tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfTH4a59zAHlewHuLj0HbERSyCW9kxTUc51lTeqkvr1KDMiPAiNlQAbumi1N87_nyW-Tl2CW1kbHELgfdnsU_u6NzPPy5GtSryZexC7qibMJsoeL3zvSqNOal30BBZ6Uxo7RlYNgYBztA/s320/Tomatoes.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My token veggies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokPzmbDzmMNQfecgmm5sJ6uoMTwl3askcZ_y_SPZ0c9E3J_Js3mhe60LsHXeB_Gs1PfTNyEhc0n8NmKN_X_A1keccHup2n0lTEjc8c_gcnr_huvFhs_HEArDyNbpINMEYmD8eB3o10476/s1600/CampDinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokPzmbDzmMNQfecgmm5sJ6uoMTwl3askcZ_y_SPZ0c9E3J_Js3mhe60LsHXeB_Gs1PfTNyEhc0n8NmKN_X_A1keccHup2n0lTEjc8c_gcnr_huvFhs_HEArDyNbpINMEYmD8eB3o10476/s320/CampDinner.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy camp dinner</td></tr>
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Stan is a great camp cook, even with a very minimal amount of equipment. Here he is cooking breakfast, 7 years ago and today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJD6e_SSr0ivbwusZXEwezOcvPnJ0iKup2eEK5TYYQy7oVhuxVTgzdlTws9Sk6VrEzEqSF-LzngPMQ5CKf00NlRGxznY5PiHDCCB2IuJaAzi1UBOA0JQeCN4bA66tnmb6bGfKf7rcmoY8/s1600/Stan_2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJD6e_SSr0ivbwusZXEwezOcvPnJ0iKup2eEK5TYYQy7oVhuxVTgzdlTws9Sk6VrEzEqSF-LzngPMQ5CKf00NlRGxznY5PiHDCCB2IuJaAzi1UBOA0JQeCN4bA66tnmb6bGfKf7rcmoY8/s320/Stan_2008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2008</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLwQ9I8PI5_OubW7MIfpYZm_vvg1x_sMUs_hDv2g8enqq7jt5rDazljbQq1wJDjzsCCyypNRoaBFSeGGZz33fMJkZxKg7o7RmzuaFAZgvlSmo-xgrNvNjAYPWaH7yHJrdKCnrhroqXH7h/s1600/StanCooking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLwQ9I8PI5_OubW7MIfpYZm_vvg1x_sMUs_hDv2g8enqq7jt5rDazljbQq1wJDjzsCCyypNRoaBFSeGGZz33fMJkZxKg7o7RmzuaFAZgvlSmo-xgrNvNjAYPWaH7yHJrdKCnrhroqXH7h/s320/StanCooking.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015</td></tr>
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Walking along single file we didn't talk much and I had plenty of time to think. Often I thought of the refugees in the news, and how they have to get along without state-of-the-art camping equipment and a car conveniently parked with extra food and water. Even worse, they don't have the security of knowing they're going home in two days, back to their regular life. It must be terribly scary and sad.<br />
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I also thought about my own life, and realized I don't have to go backpacking again if I don't want to. I wanted to do it this summer because Stan has many happy memories with his kids at Lake Ozette and it meant a lot to him to do it one more time. I actually felt pretty strong carrying my pack and walked the distance without a problem. (We weighed our packs when we got home - 23 lbs. for mine and 30-something for Stan's, without the sleeping pads and canteens.) The bad part was at night. It's a bit lonely to be awake and unable to sleep when one's companion is snoozing away, and for me, knowing I would have to leave the tent once or twice per night was a bummer. It felt like a relief to me to know I would not be sleeping out there on the ground again.<br />
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Carrying that thought one step further, I realized I don't have to do anything I don't want to, or prove anything to myself or anyone else. I have been thinking of taking a long walk - to my friend Mary's house in Tacoma for starters - which would require walking 19 miles per day to make it in two days. I have a route all mapped out with a Comfort Inn at the halfway point, and all the Starbucks noted, but I'm not really sure I can walk that far. I think I would feel satisfied after doing it, but I'm not sure it would be fun. I love to read about people hiking the Pacific Crest Trail or the Appalachian Trail or the Camino Real in Spain, but perhaps I don't have to do those things myself. Perhaps I will just enjoy taking shorter walks for exercise and to enjoy the nice weather. <br />
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On the note of having to leave the tent in the night, have you heard of <a href="http://go-girl.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GoGirl</a>?? This is a device that lets a woman pee standing up - great invention! I used it at night in the woods with pretty good, not perfect, results.<br />
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Finally, I sure am glad to be home, and I'm grateful I live in this time and place of comfort and convenience!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wet and tired, just one mile to go</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxO4ExUEhgvPjGmOyiqY_2fz8-Sz9bIMFHTmQb5oTFZV2smlGKEOgnjPjBZ2NeKWAqlKxQj9UNK9ykMe_5v30sXueWK9yk0f4pxr3MrNcCuxKcT6lMpOTX-8aRCXVTd0bbsBvy9DN5JFZ/s1600/HandsomeCamper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxO4ExUEhgvPjGmOyiqY_2fz8-Sz9bIMFHTmQb5oTFZV2smlGKEOgnjPjBZ2NeKWAqlKxQj9UNK9ykMe_5v30sXueWK9yk0f4pxr3MrNcCuxKcT6lMpOTX-8aRCXVTd0bbsBvy9DN5JFZ/s400/HandsomeCamper.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a handsome hiker! (Photo taken on the dry day)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2TKWznCZx9efzl-8DX2QQDLmf7tYe5sjnpfGSM8IM0uQS0TadVb13Q_uh8XuzNBHnIh2Sf0uGp2Hlb8qmNlOtR9Up5Aw7shW5NhnSPmrXeQR5VDVZ7g2yiwGccnYhHB5Zl5L562rAHcv/s1600/Rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2TKWznCZx9efzl-8DX2QQDLmf7tYe5sjnpfGSM8IM0uQS0TadVb13Q_uh8XuzNBHnIh2Sf0uGp2Hlb8qmNlOtR9Up5Aw7shW5NhnSPmrXeQR5VDVZ7g2yiwGccnYhHB5Zl5L562rAHcv/s400/Rainbow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We deserved this lovely rainbow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE91oC_g-_lypnG3_PIWrQhdzXFT76pWvQMQXhbYwZEX0pHnTEGBgR2R0b7hzBXRf7jBl483ClEWtLXzeruyho0KHRttkxto86n3JBoMh6N02zimm6I8JtE1CSQZRT0AtWN8jYdsqgqKHk/s1600/Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE91oC_g-_lypnG3_PIWrQhdzXFT76pWvQMQXhbYwZEX0pHnTEGBgR2R0b7hzBXRf7jBl483ClEWtLXzeruyho0KHRttkxto86n3JBoMh6N02zimm6I8JtE1CSQZRT0AtWN8jYdsqgqKHk/s400/Sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We sat on a log at our campsite and watched the sun set - very peaceful</td></tr>
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Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12815287163805073186noreply@blogger.com2