Night Blindness

What it looks like to me at night

what tail lights look like to me

It's pretty close to the point where I won't be able to drive after dark at all. I avoid it as much as I can because this is what it looks like to me when I drive.

Especially the first picture at the top. Oncoming headlights are starbursts. I can't see the road in front of me. It's really scary.

And if I am on a road that I am unfamiliar with, so I don't know where the twists and turns are.... oh boy. White knuckle driving.

Combine that with rain, or snow..... just get me a hotel room cuz I ain't going nowhere.

Sucks to get old. My eyes are getting bad very fast and it does worry me.

*cough cough, hack.

I didn't even know that my car had filters to clean the inside "cabin" air. 

Until yesterday.

When they showed them to me. 

And they were........... black. 

Filthy.

Disgusting.

And I am BREATHING this stuff?

I know Utah air is bad. 

But I did not realize the effect it has on my cabin air. 

Imagine my LUNGS???

Farewell Aunt Polly

My aunt, Pauline Stark of Randolph VT passed away yesterday. The last time I saw her was at my mom's funeral 7 years ago. (that's her between my aunt Barbara and my Aunt Betty in the top photo.) And she is sitting at the far right on the bottom photo.

Aunt Pauline was a funny lady. Had a good sense of humor. My mom liked her a lot. I don't remember the reason, but when I was a little girl, my cousins Caroline, Brenda and Albert came to live with us for awhile. A couple of months. Albert was just a tiny baby - only a couple months old. I remember Brenda used to wet the bed and my mom used to get so mad at her.

My aunt Polly had something wrong with her tongue. My entire life, she talked a little bit strange because she had a bunch or growth on her tongue. They couldn't cut it off because she would bleed to death. I don't know what caused it but it was something she lived with most of her life.

Aunt Polly had a lot of husbands. I lost count but I think she was married at least 4 times and possibly 6.
She just didn't pick em very good.
She had a lot of kids too. Wayne, Caroline, Brenda, Christine, Albert and Doreen.  And I think they all had different dads too..... hence the many husbands.

But, aunt Polly was a good person. I remember going to visit her and listening to her and my mom laugh and laugh and laugh in the kitchen while we kids played in the other room. I remember I felt like her house was haunted. And I scared the crud out of Caroline and Brenda saying I saw a ghost in their bedroom.

Anyhow, she passed peacefully yesterday and has gone on to a big family reunion with grandma, grandpa, mom, uncle Ed, aunt Joyce, uncle David and many others.

RIP aunt Polly.

Happiness and Joy in it's purest form.

THIS is what life is all about.

God bless you little Everett. Grandma loves you to the moon and back.

New Year Ups and Downs only 10 days in....

The biggest high this year is the birth of my incredibly adorable and yet oh-so-tiny grandson on January 7th.

Oh my gosh. He is just a little dolly. And I had the most fun ever being grandma to Adelyn while momma was in the hospital. We had a sleepover and it was so fun.

Her mom and dad are just so amazing and are raising one of the smartest 2 year olds on the planet. Karin was incredibly smart at 2 also, but I think Ady may have surpassed even her.  It just goes to show how wonderful her parents are.

The lows.... well.... my aunt Polly is not going to be with us much longer. My cousin Caroline says it is any day now. My dad is having heart problems again and Donna had to give him nitro last night.

And just found out a few minutes ago that my cousin Rachel's daughter, Karen, is pregnant with baby # 3 and just got diagnosed with breast cancer.

Flashback to Annette for me.

But nevertheless, this year will be like a roller coaster.

Here We Go Again.

Looked at last year's resolutions.

Did not achieve a single one.

Did not even try to so I can't blame anybody but myself.

But this year............... I have to.

Because I don't feel good.

I feel blah most of the time. Tired, run down, fat, lazy, blah.

So THIS 2014 year I am going to do my best to do my duty to myself.

And make changes.

You want to know a seriously  embarassing thing? I am ashamed to say it. But to reach my goal weight... I would have to lose 100 pounds. ONE HUNDRED freaking pounds!!

I cannot fathom that.

No way. No how.

So the first step is admitting you have a problem.

Houston........... we have a problem. We are morbidly obese.

And it is because I don't exercise.

I am changing that.

See that list up top for 5 ways to keep your resolutions? It says to write down goals. Write down things and plan.

I am going to do that. And post it at work, and at home. Where I SEE it all the time.

I have to start coming in to work during "regular" office hours. I used to be able to come in early so I can leave early, but they don't like that anymore.

Yet I am an early morning person. I awaken with energy.

So............ duh............. get up at 6am. EXERCISE then, and I will have time to get cleaned up, eat breakfast and be at work by 8:30.

Once the tree is down, I can put the bike back to use.

I found a 1200 calorie diet that I will follow faithfully. I'm posting it below. See, writing it down.

Day 1:

Breakfast

  3/4 cup bran flakes, 1 banana, 1 cup fat-free milk

Lunch

  Sandwich: 1 mini whole wheat pita, 3 ounces turkey breast, 1/2 roasted pepper, 1 teaspoon light mayonnaise, mustard, lettuce

  1 stick part-skim mozzarella string cheese

  2 kiwifruits

Dinner

  4 ounces broiled flounder or sole

  2 sliced plum tomatoes sprinkled with 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, broiled until just golden

  1 cup cooked couscous

  1 cup steamed broccoli

  1 fat-free pudding cup

Day 2:

Breakfast

  Smoothie: Blend 1 cup frozen berries, 1/2 banana, and 8 ounces fat-free milk

  1/2 English muffin spread with 1 teaspoon light margarine

Lunch

  1 cup vegetarian vegetable soup

  1 veggie burger in a mini whole wheat pita with lettuce and salsa

  6 ounces light yogurt

  15 grapes

Dinner

  BBQ chicken: Brush 4 ounces boneless, skinless breast with barbecue sauce and grill

  1/2 cup vegetarian baked beans

  3 small boiled red potatoes topped with 1 teaspoon light margarine and a pinch of dill

Day 3:

Breakfast

  Oatmeal: In the microwave, cook 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats with 3/4 cup fat-free milk; 1/2 apple, chopped; 1 teaspoon honey; and a pinch of cinnamon

Lunch

  Chicken salad: Toss 4 ounces shredded skinless roast chicken breast with 1/4 cup sliced red grapes, 1 tablespoon slivered almonds, 1 tablespoon light mayonnaise, and 1 tablespoon fat-free sour cream. Serve over lettuce.

  1 banana

Dinner

  4 ounces steamed shrimp

  1 baked potato topped with 3 tablespoons salsa and 1 tablespoon fat-free sour cream

  3 cups spinach, steamed

  1 low-fat frozen fudge bar

Day 4:

Breakfast

  1/2 toasted English muffin topped with 1/2 small apple, sliced, and 1 ounce shredded reduced-fat cheese, any type. Microwave 30 seconds on High.

  6 ounces light yogurt sprinkled with 1 tablespoon slivered almonds

Lunch

  1 cup tomato soup

  Sandwich: 1 mini whole wheat pita, 3 ounces thinly sliced roast beef, 1 teaspoon horseradish, mustard, tomato slices, lettuce

  1 cup raw veggies

  1 pear

Dinner

  3 ounces poached salmon

  Slaw: Toss 1 1/4 cups coleslaw mix and 2 sliced green onions with 2 tablespoons fat-free dressing

  3/4 cup cooked brown rice

  1/2 cup pineapple chunks in juice

Day 5:

Breakfast

  1 cup Cheerios, 1/2 cup berries, 1 tablespoon slivered almonds, 8 ounces fat-free milk

Lunch

  Quesadilla: Spread 1/4 cup fat-free refried beans over 1 small whole wheat tortilla. Sprinkle on 1 ounce shredded reduced-fat cheese. Top with salsa and another tortilla; microwave 45 seconds on High.

  1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese topped with 1/2 cup mandarin orange sections

  Cucumber spears

Dinner

  3 ounces roasted pork tenderloin

  1 cup baked acorn squash, mashed with a pinch of cinnamon

  2 to 3 cups salad greens with 2 tablespoons fat-free dressing

·  1/2 cup vanilla fat-free frozen yogurt topped with 1 cup berries

No more than 30 calories per 2 tablespoons of dressing

Day 6:

Breakfast

  1 toasted frozen waffle, spread with 1 tablespoon peanut butter and topped with 1/2 sliced banana

  8 ounces fat-free milk

Lunch

  Tuna pita: 1 mini whole wheat pita, 2 ounces water-packed light tuna, 1 tablespoon light mayonnaise, mustard, and cucumber and onion slices

  10 baby carrots

  6 ounces light yogurt mixed with 1/2 banana

Dinner

  Jambalaya: Combine 3/4 cup cooked brown rice; 1/2 cup corn; 2 ounces cooked turkey sausage, sliced; 1/3 cup salsa; and 1/4 cup canned kidney beans. Heat through.

  3 cups spinach, steamed

  1 medium apple

Day 7:

Breakfast

  1/2 toasted English muffin layered with 1 ounce reduced-fat cheese, sliced; 1 tomato slice; 1/2 cup steamed spinach, drained; and 1 poached egg

  1 grapefruit

Lunch

  Black bean salad: Toss 1/2 cup canned black beans, 1/2 cup mandarin orange sections, and chopped red bell peppers, red onion, and scallions with 1 teaspoon vinegar. Serve over salad greens.

  1 mini whole wheat pita

  1 pear

Dinner

·  3 ounces broiled or grilled flank steak

·  1 baked sweet potato with 1 teaspoon light margarine

·  1 cup steamed zucchini

·  1/2 cup pineapple chunks in juice


And those two things will lead to bigger things. But for now, those two things are my highest priority resolutions. 

I can do this. 

I must do this. 

I shall do this.

I will do this.

I want to do this.

See it............... Believe it.................. Achieve it! 

Choco Mint Heaven

Wow........ considering all of the responses from employees on my Christmas oreo mint drops, I should start my own bakery.

Some of the responses.... "heaven on earth", "to die for", "Killer" , "seriously deadly", and my favorite, "better than having ............."

So here is the recipe:

8 oz cream cheese, softened.
I package of Oreos (I used the "family size")
1 cup of Andes mints pieces
white chocolate or almond bark for dipping (I use guittard white melting chocolate)
sprinkles for decoration
little white paper cups (optional)

Pulse the cookies in a blender or food processor to make into crumbs.
Mix with the cream cheese in a mixer. At first you think it will never mix, but be patient, it will. Don't add any milk to it or anything.
Add the 1 cup of mint pieces and mix together.

Scoop little balls (I use the mini icecream scoop that I bought for scooping cookie dough) and place on a parchment covered cookie sheet. Put in the refrigerator for an hour, and then put in the freezer for about ten minutes. The scoop saves you from having to use your hands which could be a very messy deal.

Melt the white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl on medium power for two minutes. Stir well.

Put one ball on a fork and hold over the white chocolate. Spoon the white chocolate completely over the ball. Let the excess drip off. Slide it onto the parchment covered sheet again. Immediately sprinkle with the sugar decorations before the chocolate dries.

Repeat with each ball. Put back in the refrigerator til the chocolate hardens.

You can trim off the drizzles and excess chocolate after it hardens. Put the drops in the little white cups and arrange on a pretty plate.

These are VERY rich so be sure you make them small. Seriously... a bite size is best.