Happy Birthday, Beth!!

I know I'm a day late.... and I DID send birthday wishes to Beth, yesterday!! HOWEVER, I have something for you, Beth!!!



A small portion of this side of Route 66 for your birthday!!

Hope you had a wonderful day!!!

Joann

South Beach, again!

Before I start my blog.... the links that I am putting in here are bold and italized, the other links here are from some stupid advertising place that I won't name, because I hate that they are invading our blogs.... does ANYONE know how to get rid of them???

I'm on my third day of the South Beach eating plan, which worked really well for me last time I did it! The problem the was that I didn't continue with Phase II (which is the best part, really... that's when you get to add all the FRUIT....LOL!!) this time, I will do Phase II!!

I've made a couple of mistakes... the first day I ate some pinto beans before checking the Phase I food list (they aren't on there). Then yesterday, I went to dinner and ordered VERY well, but when they brought the bread, I instinctively grab a slice and took two bites before remembering, so I left the rest of it alone. Today so far, I'm on a roll!! LOL!! Of course, I've been home all day, haven't been out yet.... LOL!!

My main goal is to ween myself OFF of sugar... (which means that last night, WINE was OUT!!! OH, that hurt!!!) I know that sugar is my biggest obstical in my journey to lose weight. I really believe that if I could kick the sugar habit, I'd be well on my way.

Well, wish me luck... I know I'll need it!!

Joann

My Shutterfly

I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to get photos from shutterfly to my blog... so I created a new shutterfly site instead!! LOL!! You can click on the word shutterfly or you can copy and paste this to your browser....

http://joannsfun.shutterfly.com/?role=-1

But please go and check out the pics... there's only a few, I promise!! I think you can leave a comment too if you want to!!

The pics are from my fun here with Lydia, my friend from Florida.... and so that Garnett can see what 'a Solvang' is?? = )

Joann

Thanks for the support

I just wanted to post a short note to tell you all Thank you for the encouragement and support after my last post.

My mom is doing MUCH better.... we threatened her with 'the HOME' if she falls again... LOL!!! JK!! But I do think that all the talk of the independent/assisted living facility made her bounce (pun intended) back to health real quick.

She's home, and a nurse comes to check on her a few times a week and leads her through some physical therapy. She's got a walker now, and a back brace which she's not happy about.... but she'll deal with it.

I go over to see her and bring her dinner 3 or 4 times a week, her neighbors also check on her and bring her food, and so does my sister. So she's pretty well set for now. In fact, she's doing well. She's off most of the strong pain meds, Vicadin, Demural (sp?), and whatever else she was taking... she's now down to a couple of extra strength Tylenols a day.... which is a LONG way from where she was a couple of weeks ago.

I'm glad, though, that I had the chance to go check out a facility close to me, and I told her that I'd like to take her on a tour so that she'll be a little more open minded about it, if and when that time ever DOES come. ME, as long as it's independent living, I can't WAIT to get there.... those residents are treated like royalty!! LOL!! Elegant dining at every meal, games, music, pleasure day trips, someone to do all your housework and laundry... Oh yeah, I can't WAIT 'til it's MY turn.

I've had a great couple of weeks with my friend from Florida here... she left on Wednesday morning, but we had so much fun while she was here. We went to Tea, we went to the local wine bar, we went to Solvang, we went to the gates of Neverland Ranch, we went wine tasting.... and she invited me to go back to Florida for Thanksgiving, again... I loved it so much last time I was there!!

OK, I said this would be short, sorry, I had more to say than I thought I did. = )

I've fallen WAY behind on blog reading, I plan to get somewhat caught up this weekend. Have a great weekend everyone!!

Joann

Don't read this!

I knew you would!! I'm just going to complain a bit here, so you can stop here if you'd like... consider yourself warned!!

I usually like to keep this blog upbeat, and I really do have alot of fun things to write about right now.... my friend from Florida is here visiting, it's SO good to have her here!! I'm all done with year end closing of the books at work, and I feel the stress completely lifted... rejuvenated!!! I have some weekend getaways and a vacation planned for very soon!!!

However, I did receive a bit of news today that threw me for a loop... I didn't go to work today, because I was at the hospital for the most part of the night until 3:00 a.m. with my mother (AGAIN!).

They CT scanned her, and suggested that we think about alternative living arrangements for her.... she shouldn't be alone anymore.

She has osteoperosis and very bad degenerative disks in her lower back that are effecting the strength in her legs, that's the reason she keeps falling, her legs are just giving out from under her.... and the pain meds are causing other problems for her.

My mom is VERY petite.... she's only 4' 11" and weighs just over 100 pounds. (I hate to think about what I'm in for, in my later years).

So, I have some daunting tasks ahead, I'm sure. I think we'll first look into finding someone to stay with her at home whenever we can't. We'll see how that goes. It'll take someone with ALOT of patience, that's for sure!! I love her, but she DOES demand constant attention!!

HEY!! Maybe a little scooter, and just someone to check on her every morning... I could go at night!! Hmmmm!!

If you're still reading.... Wish me luck, will you?

Thanks,
Joann

My Evening Highlight!!

I got a call from my son today.... He said "Hi Mom, What are you doing?"

I said "I'm just about to leave work."

He said "Why don't you come over to La Tazza? They're having an open mike night, and this guy's pretty good."

So I went to sit with my son.... we had dinner and a good time listening to good music. He wants to go again next Friday!!

He's at his friend's house now, but he started the evening with his mom!! = )

And I was going to go out with the girls tonight, look what I would have missed!!

Joann

4th of July Weekend!!!

This is my famous Aunt Sylvia & Cousin Xavier (the aunt that my sister and I fight over, all the time)!! We were having lunch at the Mustard Seed Restaurant in Solvang, CA. (She's much prettier when she smiles, but I took the pic before she knew it.... in fact, she'd probably kick me if she knew I was posting it... LOL!!)



This is a glimpse of the festivities we enjoy from my mom's front yard... this was the very end of a grand finale of just one of THREE shows of which we have a perfect view!!!



Hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekend as much as we did!!

Joann