Technology or Life?

Technology or life? Sounds like a simple enough question doesn't it? Every day people are making this choice though. Do we spend our hours in front of a computer, a television or a video game or do we actually get out and enjoy everyday life? All through the winter I have read approximately three books a week. I love reading and have sort of lost touch with the old boob tube so to speak. Between work and the health club and reading I have a full schedule, even though I do find time to see my friends as well. With summer coming on I will definitely cut way back on the book reading. I love the outdoors! I have gotten to take walks outside all week under a blue and sunny sky. What perplexes me is that people choose to hide away behind closed doors in such wonderful weather. Even if there is chilling to the bone wind though I still don't find it healthy to sit at home and never get out among the living. As human beings to thrive we need socialization and interaction with others even if it's walking alone and watching the world exist, we need that insight. I never feel more alive than on a pretty day when I've got my IPOD on (yes I know it's loud and it may harm my hearing) and I'm walking and thinking and feeling. In the winter months before I joined the health club I felt blah and almost depressed because I was stuck inside with little means of exercise. I must admit that joining the health club did help that some though and I have friends that swear by the "fake" sun to help brighten ones life too. I have never been to a tanning salon in my life, but must admit to thinking about it. Who has time in our busy schedules to lay out in the sun? Of course there are health concerns with the "Fake-n-bake", but then what isn't there a warning label on these days. I'm pretty sure we aren't suppose to breath because it could damage our lungs. I am extremely happy at the thought of walking again though and hope it will help me peel off the rest of this weight I have to loose. I know technology has it's place, but I do feel it has hindered our health somewhat. I mean now we sit in offices and barely move from our desk or heck even at our desk. Back before all this technology we actually had to get up and walk across the room if we wanted to retrieve a file or ask someone a question. I miss those days to tell you the truth. As a matter of fact, even though I'll admit to being addicted to my cell phone somewhat I miss the days when technology couldn't find us if we went camping in the woods. I have laid aside my cell and not bothered with it when spending quality time with friends and such though. I think a little technology goes a long way on so many levels. I say we all get back to living life and loving nature. Nothing wrong with technology if you remember you rule it and it doesn't rule you. So which one are you choosing technology or life?

Colgate Wisp

I'm sure there are other brands of this same type of product, but the only one I have tried to this point in time is the Colgate Wisp in Cinnamint. I have to say this is a clever little product and if you haven't tried it you really should. I keep them in my car. They are wonderful for if you've eaten something and you need to freshen your breath and make your mouth feel more human. It's a product I have to say I'm quiet addicted to at this point in time. So pick some up today... Trust me you've got nothing, other than money ;-), to lose.

Happy Birthday Joe!

Facing the Fear

Walking in on one’s worst fear and attempting to stay is something I can attest to is not an easy task. I have been all about trying to conquer my own fears over the past year. I have faced things I thought I never would and dared to do things I never cared to even contemplate. Imagine if you will being confronted with a haunting memory from the past, something that gripped you so badly that it controlled you for more than a decade. The scene you walk into very similar and the feeling in the bottom of your stomach that of sickness and fear. You can feel every inch of your spine tighten and every breath seems like a chore. You consciously are aware of every time you move about the room your brain has to be told to move your arms or your legs. Your hands tingle with a numb awareness that you are ready to grab the car keys and find the nearest exit. You bite your lip at the awareness that your legs may not support your flee. It’s almost as if a slow motion picture is playing out in front of you. You’re physically there, but somehow it’s not real. Inside you are filled with memories of days long gone by and of a time and place that no longer exists except for in your fears. Can time repeat itself? You are faced with the decision of staying and facing your fears to finally put them to bed or turning on your heals and running back into the safety of your own private world. Should a person stay and face it so that it will no longer control them or should they tuck their tail and run? I suppose one could say I’ve done a little of both. I am a firm believer these days that you must face life head on and that wallowing in self pity and fear gets you absolutely nowhere. There are no nights in shinning armor that are going to ride in on their white steeds and save the day. It’s up to each and every one of us to live our lives and to make the best of what we have. I’ve preached this before I know, but it’s not changed in that you can choose to wallow in self pity or you can pick yourself up and make the most of each and every day. I personally think if a person hides the way I did for so long they truly are not living, but are merely existing. One could argue they are merely taking up space on an all ready overly crowded planet. Then there are always regrets and mistakes. Good Lord knows I make enough of them that if they were the pre-requisite for giving up on life I would have long jumped in the open grave and let someone shovel the dirt on top of me. We all make bad choices and we all have regrets. It took me many years to realize that. Sometimes it can feel as if the world is only beating us up and that the rest of the world hums along without any problems. I know that isn’t the truth, but it would be easy to believe especially when a bunch of issues and problems all seem to accumulate at our door step at the same time. Ever have one of those dreams that you are running and going nowhere as the monster creeps slowly up behind you? Your feet just aren’t getting you away fast enough or they are moving but it seems like no matter how fast you run the monster gains ground. Yeah we all have those don’t we. Sometimes life can feel that way to. Next time you’re having that dream take control of it, stop in your tracks, spin around and kick the monsters a**. Go ahead you can do it. The same as you can face your fears in real life. You can choose to forge on and be the best and have the best life you can possibly make it out to be. Everyone has problems, fears and regrets. It’s how we handle them and how we live that makes the difference.

"I don't believe in self-pity. It only brings you down.
I may be the queen
of broken hearts, but I don't hide
behind the crown. When the deck is stacked
against me, I just play
a
different game, My roots
are planted in the past and though my
life is changing' fast, Who I am is who I
wanna be" - Reba McEntire's
"Survivor"

To Drink or Not To Drink...

To drink or not to drink that is the question. Yeah but before you get too excited let me tell you I’m not talking about liquor. What am I talking about? I’m of course talking about water. Did you know that your body is comprised of over 50% water? They say the average male is about 60% and the average female about 55%. Your blood is comprised of 70% water. Lean muscle in the body is 75% water by weight. The human brain is 90 to 95% water. So now you’re going, “Yeah and so what?” Most people do not seem to like to drink water that I talk to. As with anything else I’ve found that water is an acquired taste. Yes I said taste. So many people tell me all the time it has no taste, but to me it does, and if it really doesn’t then why not drink it? The thing is that water is vital to your health and your well being. Did you know that drinking just 2% less than the required daily amount of water that your body needs can cause dehydration, headaches, fatigue, nausea, and forgetfulness? Let us not forget to mention that your body in its need for water will make you hungry when it actually wants water? Yep that is correct, next time you’re thinking you’re really hungry and you shouldn’t be you should drink a good 8 to 16 ounces of water to see if it goes away. Your body will crave foods because it can draw water from them. To your body it’s logical. Here is another kicker too: You can not drink soda and think you’re getting water. There is no useable source of fluid for the body in soda. Caffeine will actually dehydrate the water you have. The plain old facts are that you need to drink actual water to maintain a healthy balance. Your skin will even look healthier and your hair too if you start drinking enough of it. This doesn’t mean go over kill though because there is such a think as too much water. Every heard of too much of a good thing? The average person should consume 64 to 120 ounces of water on any given day. Still don’t think you can do it because you hate water? Well there are flavored waters sold in stores, but most of those have carbonation which is hard on the intestinal tract, but they are still a valid option. They will not be the same as plain water, but they will help. My favorite option and one I’ve been given approval by medical staff on is the Wyler’s to go and the Crystal light to go packs. If you’re not in the mood for plain water you can carry these with you and add them to water for flavoring. They contain about 5 calories a pack and are extremely good. Still plain water is better but this will work. They do not really cost all that much either. The Wyler’s drink mixes are 10 packs for $1 at Walgreens or about $1.18 at Wal-Mart’s. The Crystal Light is going to run you around $2.29 to $2.99 depending on whether you want energy drinks, regular, or immune fighting properties in the drink mix. Either way you can’t go wrong by adding a little water. Now it’s true until your body adjusts to your drinking a lot of water you will more than likely be making more trips to the bathroom, but hey look at it this way, added exercise. Your body does regulate and that slacks off after it adjusts to the amount you are drinking though. You should notice an improved difference in the way you feel after only a week and you will also notice that after a couple of weeks you really start wanting water. What are some of my favorite drink mixes? My very favorite drinks are Crystal Light Raspberry Lemonade and Wyler’s Grape. I take them with me when I go to restaurants. Extra bonus there in that I don’t buy a drink I just simply get water and add my own flavor. How can you beat that? Now the question for you is simply: To drink or not to drink? That is the question.

Martina & Trace...

What can one say about two such outrageously talented performers together under one roof for one spectacular night? It was an awesome concert. Not withstanding the lack of ability on the planning of whomever threw it together, I still had an amazing time. Tom and I got to the coliseum and went up to the lounge to relax before the concert. I saw lots of cowboys, so that wasn't all bad. Then we found that there was a long line in as they didn't really have the routes into the concert outlined in a manner that made for ease of getting to your seat, of which they decided that they needed to remove our seats to make more walkway room and then tried to sit us up in the stands and way away from the stage. We were suppose to be five rows back. I was not pleased to say the least. Then the usher ran off with my tickets. We ended up standing at the back on the floor, which although at first I was frustrated it turned out to be a good place to be, especially when we found out we were standing directly in front of the makeshift stage that Martina McBride came out to during one of her performances. If we had been bold enough we literally could have reached out and touched her legs. We were that close. So where we ended up wasn't so bad after all and being on the floor I was able on multiple occasions to walk down right in front of the main stage and take photos of both Trace and Martina.
Trace Adkins of course could just stand on stage and I would be happy, but he was quiet charming and entertaining. He even cracked a joke after an audience member gave him a beer that he'd recently come to realize he's allergic to beer. It seems every time he drinks it he ends up in jail he joked. He went on to drink the beer. His performance was mesmerizing to me. So much man and such a velvety voice. Then Martina of course was flawless and thankfully she sang a lot of her old school type music. One of which was a song off her "Time Less" album. I was happy about that because I like her older music much better than the new. All in all a good time was had. I am still not happy with the coliseum. Good money was paid and expectations were set and although it turned out OK, I didn't care for their lack of good judgement and planning. If you would like to see the rest of the pictures I took at the concert you can find them on my face book page.

McFrappes?

I’m not really much for flavored coffees and I’m definitely not a cappuccino girl. Normally I like my coffee either with two sweet-n-lows only or sometimes I’ll add cream too. Now, I’m not apposed to adding a little Irish Cream (real, not imitation) to my coffee or even Bailey’s, but I really just don’t get the fascination with the flavored drinks, but then of course I like the taste of coffee. I didn’t always. Like most things in life coffee is an acquired taste. None of us come out of the womb and immediately go yeah baby coffee. I worked a part time job for the Fort Wayne Children’s zoo in the middle to late 80’s. I loved that job. It wasn’t a job made to pay very much, but the people where friendly and fun for the most part and it was good honest work. Earl Wells was one of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet, as is Jim Anderson who replaced Earl. I had a lot of good times back then. More innocent in my way of thinking but I did learn a lot of hard life lessons while working there. I also learned to love coffee. I worked at the zoo year round which meant several long winter days out in the freezing cold weather doing all sorts of things. The worst I can remember is using a huge hose to clear paths of ice and snow. I would go in to the break room frozen solid and somehow something cold just was not going to cut it. The only thing hot there was of course coffee which I quickly learned to drink just to warm myself up. Before I knew what was happening not only did I drink it, but I sort of craved it. Now I’m not a die hard like some of my friends and family. I have a coffee pot at home, but I rarely use it. I usually use those little tea bag coffee’s if I’m at home and want one. Me hyped up on a whole pot of coffee isn’t a pretty thing. As most of my friends will attest I normally have enough energy all on my own without it. So today I had a coupon to try McDonald's new Caramel Frappe. I thought it would probably be a waste of my time in that I’ve rarely found any flavored coffee drink I like and I sure as heck don’t like their iced coffee’s, but it was free so I figured why not? I’ve got to tell you… I LOVED IT! I could definitely see this little drink getting addictive, although I was half tempted not to get it and to get a shamrock shake (forgot those were out now and I love them). I settled on the drink I went in for though and I was not disappointed in the least. Nutrient wise a small one of these has about 130 calories (50 of which come from fat), 5 grams of fat (3.5 of which is saturated), 20 mg of cholesterol, 40 mg of sodium, 21 grams of sugar, 1 gram of protein, 200 vitamin a (IU) and 40 mg of calcium. All in all that isn’t really that bad. I wouldn’t advice drinking them by the gallons but for a little afternoon pick me up, especially after spending a few hours at the gym, it’s really not that bad. Hey and what better way to put a little boost into your afternoon than with whip cream and caramel? OK, I am talking about on the drink here guys!