Author Archives: MzEllen

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Have you seen "Pocahontas"?  Have you seen "Dances With Wolves"?  Okay, you know the basic story line.

GO SEE IT.  IN IMAX.

The special effects are incredible.

The parts I liked...when Jake first woke up in his avatar body.  His first contacts with the local beasties.  Anything having to do with Grace.

The parts that resonated with me...love against all odds.  When Neytiri found her dying father.

The parts that bothered me...the planet as "mother", the New Age emphasis.  But if you see it as an opportunity for discussion - good.

I've seen it twice and enjoyed it more the second time around.

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I'm going to cheat and date this for yesterday, since I'm a day late.

I gained 1/4 pound this week (I know the problem and it's solvable.)

I did try a new "recipe" - a real no-brainer, but it fits the carb, calorie, and all the rest of my guidelines.

The battery in my pedometer went dead (I think I have a limited number of times I can put it through the washer) and I bought a new battery Wednesday.

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* Exported from MasterCook *

Slow Cooker drumsticks

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 4     Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : "flat belly" ingredient         - dairy AND wheat free
- dairy free                    - low sodium
- moderate/complex carb         6 points
Blood pressure                  chicken
lunch                           Meals to freeze
slow cooker                     soups and stews

Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
4                     chicken drumstick and skin, R-T-C
12            ounces  black soy beans, canned - eden
2               cups  green beans, frozen
2               cups  baby carrot
12            ounces  diced tomato
1/3           cup  brown rice, long-grain
any desired spices -- curry, turmeric, chicken spices, any herbs that go with chicken...

put all the ingredients except for the drumsticks in the slow cooker and add enough water or broth to cover (to cook the rice).  Put drumsticks on top.  Cook on low until done (I started it at bedtime and it was ready to pack for lunch in the morning...if you start it in the morning it will be done at dinner time)

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 314 Calories; 10g Fat (28.4% calories from fat); 23g Protein; 35g Carbohydrate; 10g Dietary Fiber; 41mg Cholesterol; 112mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 1 Grain(Starch); 1 1/2 Lean Meat; 3 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Fat.

Serving Ideas : - freeze for lunches

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missed a couple of days!

The water heater is in, although not what I expected.  When the plumber got to my house they "discovered" that the new heater has a bigger burner, thus more BTU's, and the old vent system would not work, so they wanted to tap into the chimney - and move the thing 8 feet, involving moving the water and gas lines...and much money.

I told them, it's just me, take that 40 gallon back and bring back a 30 gallon that you won't have to move.

So, they did.

My class last night is going to be interesting:  "Philosophy of Religion".   My paper for next week, "Is Religion Important?", based on quotes and philosophical definitions.

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.From Dr. Helen:

The original article has some interesting theories on monogamy (or not) that I'm not sure I agree with.

What I do agree with is the way that men (as opposed to women) are portrayed in media, sitcoms, television and the way that they are increasing treated in the court system treats both genders unfairly by robbing them of choices that should be theirs to make.

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We're preparing to send Tom off to college again.  I've adjusted very well to having the house to myself.  The drawback is that I don't need or want this much house.

Snow removal, furnace repair, water heater replacement (even with huge and gratefully received financial gifts) and roof repair and driveway repair coming up and...and...and...

I'm tired of being a single (alone, not single-family-dwelling) homeowner.

I've breezed through the websites of a couple of apartment  of complexes that look altogether tempting.  My house payment/rent would go down, my heating bill would drop by $100, my electric would be non-existent.  No more paying for garbage pickup, snow removal, lawn mowing.

I would have to pay for a storage unit/place for my camper, or make arrangements to leave it at my dad's house during the non-camping season, so I'd only have to pay storage for part of the year.

Just thinking...if I'm going to be in Grand Rapids, I might as well take some of the pressure off.

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Life stresses kept me from exercising daily (and I'll get used to that and find a rhythm that works for me.  But I exercised most days.

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My new recipe was not really a reci...well yes it was, since I found it on a primal diet recipe site.  They used "handfuls", I used lesser amounts.

This was around 500 calories and lasted almost until lunch.

1/4 cup almonds (unsalted)

1/4 pepitas (organic, unsalted, raw pumpkin seeds)

1 T miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup dried cranberries.

put them in a baggie and shake it up.

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My "female issues" are kicking up again.  I do not want to get back on that roller coaster.

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And I lost a pound.  Considering I blew a few diet days AND and a few exercise days, that's pretty good.

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One of the things I do every January (and it takes me a while) is to go through all my music and sort it into my "big" playlists

  • Driving around town
  • sing-along songs
  • Music for school
  • bike riding music

It reminds me of the music that I have.  Some of it makes me laugh, some it makes me cry.

Some if it reminds me...

This one from Dolly Parton

(...)

I said you'd better get to livin', givin'
Be willing and forgivin'
Cause all healing has to start with you
You better stop whining, pining
Get your dreams in line
And then just shine, design, refine
Until they come true
And you better get to livin'.

Your life's a wreck, your house is mess
And your wardrobe way outdated
All your plans just keep on falling through
Overweight and under paid, under appreciated
I'm no guru, but I'll tell you
This I know is true.(...)

You better get to livin', givin'
A little more thought about bein'
A little more willin' to make a better way
Don't sweat the small stuff
Keep your chin up
Just hang tough
And if it gets too rough
Fall on your knees and pray
And do that everyday
Then you'll get to livin'.

The day we're born we start to die
Don't waste one minute of this life
Get to livin'
Share your dreams and share your laughter
Make some points for the great hereafter.

Better start carin'
Better start sharin'
Better start tryin'
Better start smiling
And you better get to livin'...

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One of my week points is not only forgetting the Goals and Objectives, but forgetting ABOUT the goals and objectives.

So...(before I post this) I'm going to use google calendar to remind myself weekly to post on health and monthly to update progress.

Done - each last Thursday of the month I have a reminder to post update on Goals and Objectives on "Fit Friday"

I will print the G&A out and put them "everywhere".

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Amen...this made me cry tonight...

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One,
Risen Son of God!

Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I am,
The King of glory and of grace!

One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One,
Risen Son of God!

Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I am,
The King of glory and of grace!

One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God

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GOAL:  Be in the best health I can be

Medical:

  1. remember to get my paps and mammogram
  2. remember to get my blood work done
  3. put the date on my planner to change my contact lenses before they start to hurt
  4. find a new GP
  5. drink grape juice or red wine every day
  6. drink green tea every day

Fitness:

  1. do the rest of the goals and objectives (monitoring and update objectives as we go
  2. walk 2,000,000 millions steps (okay, I'll count what the pedometer counts when I pedal the bike as well.
  3. go backpacking two times

Skin

  1. put in my google calendar to use moisturizer during the day
  2. take care of my feet (moisture and pedicure)

Hair:

  1. Get a perm 3 times a year instead of twice
  2. find a gentle, nice color and remember to do it