A NEW PUZZLE!

Nothing I like better than a PUZZLE to solve, especially one that involves mental exercise, sort of like my experiences with Odyssey of the Mind, of which I have written earlier [See STOP THIS BUS NOW!, A SCENIC NOCTURNAL DRIVE ON HIGHWAY 7, and THE GREAT BISCUIT AIR FRESHENER.]

As those who surf by my blog know, I am a 'now and then dieter', largely unsuccessful. However, two years ago I lost 30 pounds and only gained 5 pounds back which has nearly all been lost again. The weight loss diet I followed was Weight Watchers.

Today my favorite diet program, Weight Watchers (WW), has introduced a thoroughly renovated diet program-- I mean top to bottom, even though they have retained their infamous Point program, renamed PointsPlus (P+). 

The Points+  are now defined by fat, protein, fiber and carbohydrates, no calories. All fruits and vegetables, minus starches (mainly potatoes), have zero P+.

This is a very limited description because there is far more to any diet than the food, like exercise and habit changing.

I became a life WW member in late '70s. Each time I circle through the program, I usually wipe out one bad habit. My first small step in the '70s was switched permanently to sugar free beverages. I shuddered when told an average size regular carbonated drink had 1 full cup of sugar in it!

My next circle through the program I eliminated carbonated beverages altogether, partially because by then I had kidney cancer surgery. In this time I also restricted salt at the table, but was allowed to used it in cooking; these were my physcian's instructions. I also learned to eat less starches unless they were a part of a  high fiber product.

My next circle through did not last very long as I had to drive at night.  I now subscribe to WW on-line as I would otherwise have to still drive 30 miles round trip to a meeting. I prefer meetings because of the lecture and group therapy.

As you may guess from the above paragraphs I have NOT conquered sweets. Sometimes I have fair to good control, sometimes absolutely no control. Maybe this time. As of this moment (who knows what tomorrow will bring) I am not diabetic, or even close.

 But I am really concentrating on more salt elimination, trying to keep it in the neighborhood of 1200 mg, very low.

If there is anything outside of swallowing pills and surgery, that will help my atrial fibrillation, it is losing weight. The exercise is a problem because my Silver Sneakers class was canceled and the other class is an inconvenient time.

I say all this to say I will need time to convert my personal choice foods and recipes (a very long list due to my long-time partipation} to the new system so may not be writing any humorous stories for a bit.

But I will read and comment. Maybe a shorter post--who knows?

Sunday Luckie stole and ate another loaf of bread off the table which we forgot to put on a high shelf. Not only did I have to watch her for 'bloat.' I withdrew water, and food for 24 hours.

 She had numerous trips outside all night, I hope eliminating, both regurgitating and defecating. Believe me, I did not go out to check. I simply kept feeling her belly to see if it seemed hard. She did not eat the plastic wrapper and quite generously left us 4 slices!

I think Santa may pass her by this year.

Tonight I have to wear a new gizmo (I love gizmos) that is like a pulse oximeter used in exercise and by physicians in conjunction with blood pressure and oxygen. However, this gizmo is connected to a recording device to see what my heart and breathing are doing while I sleep. It surely will beat a sleep study! Most of my A-Fib attacks have occurred between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m.

I had a sleep study once--slept 4 hours--which resulted in messy goo in my hair from a multitude of electrode leads and too few incidences; therefore the proverbial non-diagnostic result.

Believe it or not, our so-called Christmas routine we adopted last year is nearly completed. The rest will be a breeze. And Christmas dinner may be the same as last year which was  "to-go" containers from  local VFW.

Part of the Christmas spending we provide through our Life Group is a complete Christmas dinner packaged by area local grocery chain named Harps Food Market. It is precooked and frozen with full directions for heating and serving. We always buy one more box than we think is needed, because a need usually comes up at the last minute.

If one box is left, I'll attempt not to burn it [see previous post-Burnt to a Crisp-Think Black] and share with friends and neighbors. It supposedly serves 6-10.

Our Life Group adopted three families with children (one happened to be a member of our group and wrote a letter to Christmas Wish sponsored by the Baxter Bulletin). This family wanted a bicycle which was outside the funds we had. Since we adopted the family we hoped to provide everything requested.

Sometimes it pays to know the right person. We knew a local man who renovated bikes all year and gave them to Christmas Wish. My husband (H) paid him a visit and he sold us a bike awaiting his attention for the humble sum of $10. H replaced a tire, seat and brake; I think he had more fun with that bike than he has had in a long time.

Despite the 6% increase in crowds on Black Friday, I was not among the throngs. Many moons ago Best Friend and I was in 4 a.m. lines at WalMart. I cannot speak for BF, but years later I realized at least half, if not all, of what I bought was selfishly for ourselves, not even gifts.

 If you can find a little book entitled The First Church's Christmas Barrel by Caroline Abbot Stanley (1912), you will be blessed with the spirit of Christmas and a little sardonic humor toward the end. It may be in some libraries. I found it listed at Alibris (about $8) in used condition.

I found this 71-page jewel among my Mother's books; it was given to her by one of the aunts who raised her. The theme is age-old, both morally and scripturally. It took me a long time to completely adopt  the theme, but I have, although I slip now and then.

I have 3 personal Christmas traditions (1) read the passage of Holy Scripture concerning the birth of Jesus; (2) Read the abovementioned book; (3) watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation staring Chevy Chase. I guess this reading is from sublime to ridicuous, but thus is life.

I will take this opportunity to encourage all who pass my way to relax and enjoy this Season, whether it is religious to you, or whether it is simply a joyous occasion to enjoy and express good-will to friends, family and the less fortunate, of which we can find many this year.

And if you feel BAH! HUMBUG!, Take a deep breath, sit back, relax and observe life for awhile; then you may become creative and try something different. You might just catch the SPIRIT!

The Commonality of the BIG "C"

WINGS OF HOPE

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
for in You my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings
until the disaster has passed.[Psalm 57:1]

Today, an event in our blogging world has given me an opening to write on a subject, Cancer. I have written on this subject before, but today the parameters are different; today the subject is my personal observation and experience of areas in which anyone can be a servant in what may be the greatest hour of need for encouragement, hope, empathy and love.

If a person has an encounter with CANCER, he/she knows what is meant by the Big "C.'' Not 0nly does the person have cancer, but the disease permeates the immediate and extended family and friends who are consumed with the issue of a loved one with cancer, the support, needs and cares of the cancer patient, and surrounding surrogates.

Yet the disease seems, or even is, so isolating to the cancer patient. To the patient cancer is seemingly perceived a contagious condition deserving isolation; no one wishes to discuss, or be around anything labeled cancer. ONE MORE TIME, cancer is not contagious -- hereditary links, perhaps -- but not like the common cold!

Some persons truly do not know what to say or do (BTW just sitting silently, but exuding a pleasant, peaceful countenance is the best gift of all). Some persons deny its existence because they have not dealt with their own mortality.

One of the more amazing statistics of my brief blogging career is the number of persons who are cancer survivors, none of which I specifically sought, but delightfully I've met, welcomed and shared stories I did not expect. --THE COMMONALITY OF THE BIG "C."

I'm not sure how each of you began blogging. I took an 1-day blogging workshop and set out mostly writing and randomly reading other blogs. I used a search engine for topics, like Arkansas, Texas, Weight Watchers . Then I would check their blog lists for interesting topics and lurked around. I sought persons who were doting pet owners.

My own cancer survivor (kidney) experience is described in two blogs, Scripture to Go - Part 1 and Part 2. Many of you encountered breast cancer, but there is a Duke's mixture of bone, cervical, lung, too. Also a number of bloggers are caregivers to cancer patients--what absolutely wonderful angels you are!

Some of you have confided you nearly died. Some of you have formed your own cancer survivor support groups, because of the isolation and loneliness of the disease as I described, even as survivors. Some of us expressed the wish we had blogging during the acute phase of cancer, the long, lonely hours of chemotherapy and radiation.

With this train of thought I lift up to you today Janine Rusnak of Sniffles and Smiles. I drifted through her blog early from some one's blog list [I really don't remember who]. She is on Facebook, too.

Janine had breast cancer and is a survivor; she also was a caregiver for her beloved Mother who was diagnosed with terminal ovarian, breast and lung cancer, very soon after Janine's chemotherapy ended. TODAY Janine is having a procedure near the site of her original surgery to determine if her cancer may have returned. She has written of some experiences in her blog.

Fellow bloggers, Faye and Jackie, Facebook friends of Janine's have graciously requested I post this simple WINGS OF HOPE photo today on my blog, which I would willingly do for anyone. These bloggers, Janine and I are on Facebook, but my Facebook use is fledging at best.

If you desire to send encouragement, hope and speedy recovery messages, I suggest you visit Janine's blog, leave an encouraging comment on her latest post and post this photo in comments (if possible) or in your blog, if you so wish. She has tons of comments, but she reads every single post!!! She may not respond immediately until her recovery allows her the strength.

Or you may link to my post, if you so desire.

And a tiny bit of my perverse humor: Tuesday (Oct. 13) I celebrated the 34th anniversary of my 39th birthday with a sightseeing visit to my physician's office where I was the proud recipient of a shot in the butt. How is that for creative birthday celebration!!!

Such thoughtfulness deserves a tad of respect so I lurked over to Jackie's blog, Teacher's Pet , and Faye's blog, Sleepless In Gainesville; both are very humorous.

But now, this is what the LORD says--he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine. [ISAIAH 43:1 NIV