What's Happenin' (Part 2)

[houghchrst]

Quitting smoking hmmm. I was quit after I had my heart attack, I was quit for a month. It just didn't stick and every time I stick one in my mouth I am scared for my heart. How sick is that?! last time I quit I filled my days with chewed straws and washing walls. Not to mention I was stoned all the time thanks to the meds my doc gave me to help with the withdrawals. I can't do Chantix or nicotine patches. They make me sick and it seems that you haven't really quit.

there was a quitting smoking thread but I don't remember where it is. I am down to a couple half smoked butts and will see if I can not go out. I will try to keep busy. Not that I don't have plenty to do. My sewing room is a hot mess and has been for about a year. I got it half cleaned the other day but wore myself out. Since I stopped the neurontin and ibuprofen I am in more pain than usual. I went christmas shopping and had to be laid up for two days because of my knees.

I have been reading up on chronic pain and heart health only to find that untreated pain contributes to anxiety and stress. Like a vicious circle. I kind of figured that.

Jeannie when my primary changed my scrip of Klonopin he was muttering something about Trump and the DEA I didn't ask but I will when I go next which is soon.

Got up early today. Standing in the living room in the semi darkness (it's dreary again today) and the quiet stillness .I'm Drinking my coffee and I hear very faintly a small child talking. Okay now I watch a lot of horror movies, I'm a fan and I kind of get a bit freaked out. So I go to my son's door to see if he left his puter on but no. Getting a bit more freaked out because I am standing over a vent and I hear it again like it is in the basement. No I tell myself, so I just ignore it and go about my business and let the dogs out for their morning business. They are out for a few so I go to the front door to call them in and lo and behold a small child greets me from her porch next door saying hi. I was so relieved I almost peed myself. Didn't realize I was that freaked out. I acted just like those people in the movies who just ignore all the signs that their house is possessed. Fortunately the only ones who haunt these halls is God and maybe my mom lol.


Brandon says that when they lived here and stayed in the basement they would hear things and he believes the house to be haunted. I think Brandon is haunted. This isn't the first house he stayed in that things happened to him. From since he was a little boy with the night terrors and thought something lived in the basement to now.

How it is that all my posts turn out so long.

I was thinking yesterday that I missed the days when there were so many of us on that it was almost like a delayed chat room. You could post and get three or more afterwards.

[houghchrst]

been getting some christmas shopping done online. Best buy has an 8 Terrabyte (is that not spelled right lol) external hard drive for half price and it is far more than what shortcake asked for, he asked for 2 T, though I am sure he will find plenty to fill it up. What the heck a person needs 8T for is beyond me. Im still working on Gigs lol.

Hurt myself going to the grocery store yesterday. It really pisses me off that something so mundane can hurt so bad. I almost couldnt get up when I sat down. Sat there rotating my ice packs from feet to knees which is now recommended for pain management. I broke down and took an ibuprofen before bed so that turning in the night wouldn't wake me up. today I am breaking out all the cbd syringes, salves and syrups I have been given as samples and will see how I can manage until my caregivers get my meds made. I have some dosed mixes for bloody marys I have no idea how to use that. Drink it lol? It's like a little bottle of spicy V8 juice. i have to use them up I have no idea what the shelf life of something like that is.

I also realized that my heartburn is peeking it's head out with all the new meds and a change from prilosec to ranitidine. I think that Ive seen that long term use of prilosec is not good anyway. Great something else to google.

[houghchrst]

well I guess I'm talkin in the wind but I'll keep at it I know weekends are slow. We have a layer of snow here and that thrills Jared. He says it looks more like Christmas. Now he is bugging me for a an early Christmas present.

ya know that's shortcake. I think I mentioned it back in the day. he is almost 17, egad, so I think he is too big for shortcake. He has his quirks, unfortunately, I had hope that he would be 'normal'. Heck is anyone normal anymore? There is virtually no such thing, everyone has something it's just the layers. Like in Shrek, like an onion there's layers lol.

I obviously have nothing better to do than get on the puter. Okay nothing that I want to do.

Rose I watched the Forks Over Knives movie and quite frankly my bipolar kicked in now I am obsessed about the garbage I am putting in my mouth LOL. Scared the bejesus outta me. Have two of the eBooks downloaded, one with the four step program and recipes and one that explains it and there is a pantry list and everything. It is free to watch on Netflix which I have and love. Jared is resistant. I told him he could get meat on the weekends with his dad but from the things I am reading he may feel so good that after a while he may not want it. I bet we could cure his encopresis with this. I have a lot of issues that would benefit from it. It can't be dangerous or impact my health negatively. Money is the issue, stocking the pantry first would be a small fortune spices here are ridiculous but my local dollar stores have food aisles I could see what I could find there. Our local food banks and churches gives away a lot of canned veggies, tomatoes, beans and potatoes and whatever is in season from the local farmers, a lot of squash but sometimes places donate barely expired junk food, I see it and think that it is no wonder that there are so many obese low income people. They are negating the benefits of anything they eat that is healthy by eating the garbage. There is a lot to learn. To change.

Our local Farmers Market doubles foodstamps so even though I get $15 a month I could get $30 worth of veggies and fruit. Oh I miss the days when peaches and plums were under a $1 a pound now even in season they are more than that.

Well I could babble on so I will go. Love and miss yous all.

[clouds z]

happy hanakah or merry christmas

[stillstANNding]

Your plan sounds healthy. Maybe start a little at a time. Like "meatless Mondays" and make or put your own toppings on frozen pizza on Wednesdays. Fish on Fridays? Add salads. Fruit every day. Jared might not notice the healthy part.

ANN

[clouds z]

on this little cheep galileo tablet from walmart-its cheep but glitchy has keyboard too--too tired to read much

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((houghchrst)))))) ~

YAY! I'm so happy that you watched Forks Over Knives on Netflix. I reacted the same way, just overwhelmed with all the information and realizing that even though Jim and I are vegetarians, we still eat eggs, cheese and butter, as well as oils. I was impressed with the health improvements of the people featured in the film. It was quite convincing.

I'm certain that you and Jared will feel better with this lifestyle change. It will definitely help Jared's digestive system, and you'll likely be able to stop giving Miralax.

Good for you exploring ways to make this work. Bear in mind that while spices can be expensive, they generally will last for awhile. The No Tuna Salad recipe uses one can of garbonzo beans (chick peas) and makes 4 large helpings for sandwiches. It's also tasty! The Tahini sauce usually yields 4 or 5 salads for us. If you have the space, start growing your own herbs, like parsley, rosemary, sage, basil. That's the best way to save money, as well as get exercise and sunshine in the garden. In season, grow tomatoes, onions, garlic. If you grow enough during spring/summer, you can dry herbs, as well as cook and freeze vegetables to consume in winter.

It may seem like a lot now, but once you start eating better, and feeling better, you'll have more energy and less pain, and you'll want to cook and prepare these meals. And, I think Jared will be surprised at how delicious REAL food is. And when he notices how much better he feels, and starts to lose weight, and have more energy, he'll be in.

I'm really proud of you for tackling this! I know you'll be healthier and happier and glad you did!!

Love & Light,



Rose

[houghchrst]

another dreary day, cold and nasty out. The sun was beautiful addition to yesterday. I went out and stood in that freezing ray of sunshine for as long as I could yesterday morning. No coat, shortsleeves soaking up as much vitamin D as is possible in Michigan in winter lol.

The dogs don't even stay out for long, they go out and do their thing which includes a couple of barks at a whole lot of nothing then they are ready to come in. I do have a jacket for Dash he has a short coat. It is of the warm puffy kind but the part that is supposed to cover his bum is too short and loose. I have learned that not all dog coats are created for all dog breeds. Dachshunds are long and have a narrow midsection. They need specially designed 'clothing'.

I have been seeing a lot about making your dogs wear 'boots' when out of doors. I can see if your pooch will be walking on contaminated snow ie. salt, car drippings but if they just go out for a round in the yard to do their thing and play until they get cold and come back in I don't get it. Brody would freak out. I already have to tell the groomer not to cut the fur on the bottom of his paws because it makes him neurotic. In the winter when I let his fur grow out a bit his feet are almost like fur snow shoes. Now we do have to desnow his feet cause ice balls will get in there after a big snow and he has longer fur in the winter so likes to be outside longer than Dash. I am sure I could probably find dachshund clothing on Google.

Google is amazing. I love and hate it. It wants to know everything about you but yet it is so useful. You can get something on practically everything. Rose I have been searching for all kinds of whole food recipes and you do need to search but I found "mozzarella cheese", no oil no dairy. Miso no dairy or oil. It is amazing what you can do with legumes and nuts added to these fruit and veggie sides to create these crave filling recipes including breads and chocolate desserts, nachos and "cheese" and the idea that you can go back for more and not worry about it amazes me. I will have to slowly revamp my pantry as money allows and use up the foods we have. After New Years we should be stocked and ready to really start implementing things in the mean time I will be more careful about what I accept at the food pantries.

Speaking of food pantries somebody turned us in to receive a christmas food basket from a local UAW we are to pick it up on the 22nd. Thinking it may have been our local Sister Johnson who calls to check on me or to remind me to make an appt for a food box lol. She has been very sweet to us and we always say a prayer before I leave.

Okay as usual said a whole lot of nothing. Still smoking. Still feel guilty. Still making excuses, it's a really bad time for me to quit. I am not emotionally equipped right now. How is that for one. I wish ya'll would speak up. I know some get tired of reading my rantings. Every post seems to be a novel. Guess I'm just lonely. My truck is down so my social life is nil.

[clouds z]

this post goes back 4 years

[dawnmn]

Chris I was suppose to quit smoking a long time ago. Right now my husband thinks I quit but I just smoke when he's not home.

The weather is warm right now for us. 32 degrees. We are suppose to get a snow storm this thursday. Great timing. we are leaving for montana on saturday. We are flying because I wouldn't drive across country in the winter. Did it once and I swore I would never do it again. The roads were covered in ice and blowing snow.
I was driving my daughters car and my husband was driving his car. Horrible time.

My puppy won't wear the snow booties. I can't get them on him fast enough before he chews them off. His paws also get full of snow and we have to melt the ice off of them. I hate when his feet do that because when we are at the cabin he likes to run around and the snow builds up so fast.

My daughter came through her recovery great. She still has headaches but they are trying to manage them.

Hard to believe that shortcake is 17 years old. Time sure does fly by. I remember how slow it used to go when I was younger. Then kids come and the time goes my fast. Then old age sets in and it goes even faster.

We are looking at doing a river cruise for this summer. I don't know how thrilled I am. It will be down the dubune or rhine rivers.

[tic chick]

hey all ,

i've been recovering from a cold for 8 days...you know, starts in the head, moves to the nose, then the throat...yada, yada, yada. almost over it, but this will be a busy week getting ready for christmas. i decorated my mantle yesterday, the minimum i could do to make it feel festive here. i still have not decorated my grapevine tree. i now have a different plan and i prolly will work on it while i am recovering from my surgery.

dawn, the river cruise sounds great! these are smaller ships and rivers don't have the rocking motion that the ocean does. i think you'll enjoy it a lot! the scenery is beautiful along the river, not like blue ocean everywhere. what cities or countries will you stop at and pass?

chris. there is never going to be a good time to quit smoking! yeah, i don't know why you picked up that first ciggie after not having any during your heart attack recovery. how about going to an aa meeting or something for drug addicts? smoking is an addiction and i think you will be welcomed, especially because this has a hold on you, even though you know it's damaging your body further. you are always trying to help everyone in your world, from your sons to others. how about giving some of that attention to chris? make this a priority in your life, ok? i am going to be terribly sad if i keep reading about your health deteriorating because i know you now and you are a friend. so, friend to friend, QUIT! dammit....and chris, i'm not saying this to hurt, but your mom went through a terrible battle that she ultimately lost. what would she say to you and your fear of quitting/living? what lesson are you teaching shortcake

okay, enough lecturing. jingle, i hope the weather is okay where you are and you're happily baking christmas cookies for the police/fire men and women in your neighborhood. clouds, sorry you don't feel much like talking or reading. i hope maybe you'll be spending some of the holidays with your sister (i think i remember you saying you had a sister. if i'm wrong, i'm sorry).

stay healthy, everyone! and if anyone happens to stop here, like joy or julia or sly or deedeelynn or any other poster from the past, we miss you!

thank you for sharing and caring,
jeannie

[jingle]

Thanks for talking to me ... means a lot.
I am baking lots of cookies and candy. I keep trying new recipes but almost always have an old one that's much better.
Thanksgiving was a quiet holiday and Christmas will be the same. Thank goodness for cats.

[houghchrst]

Dawn good to hear from you after our big snow i wished I had booties for Brody. Sometimes if he has to do a bm then he will plow a path with his chest and go in the path. Smart but his poor legs lol. All his poor curly fur does double duty. Keeps him warm but collects snow. Dash eats the snow off brody's legs and chest after i've taken out the bigger clumps. Usuallly his papa would get out there with the snow blower and make a path. I did it I think last year. I would have to go back and check. Maybe year before that. I think last year I couldn't get the dang thing to start.

We seem to have slipped into a warming trend today. I say today cause there's no tellin what tomorrow will be like. I watch the weather but where I live they don't always get it right. Our snow melted quickly and now it is a wet heavy mess.

My truck being down has really taken a toll on my social activities. CJ is supposed to trade me vehicles after he fixes a few things on what he's driving now. I often wonder if his gf has grown tired of our friendship. I talk to him almost every day. He still says im his best friend. I wouldn't go that far lol, seems wrong to say. He is here for us though. I have gone days without texting him but it seems something always breaks down or Jared needs something. He gets mad if he finds out after the fact that there are things that need to be taken care of. Unfortunately I have a jealous side and wouldn't be able to put up with it which really isn't fair at my age doesn't leave much on the dating scene lolol. Not even going there. I am content to be single. Me and my doggies.

Jared seems to think I have pretty much quit smoking, he saw me with one the other night and he made some assumptions based on my vague one word responses so he thinks I smoke like two a day. His dad has no clue and you would think that they would be able to smell it. I would, will never hear the end of it. My goal is to wake in the a.m. and be out of cigs and start over again. I have no transportation until later in the day and I will try my hardest not to buy any. I will be going to a couple of places where there will be smokers but I will have to go to a separate area.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Chris)))))) ~

Please don't beat yourself up over having difficulty quitting smoking. It's very difficult to do. It's a mind set, which you have to implement, so that you can focus on quitting. If you can't quit cold turkey, then try weaning, as you would any "drug."

First, decide that you are going to make the effort, and promise yourself that you will make the effort. Then, number your cigarettes so you can keep count of them, as you would pills. Set a goal of smoking only x number of cigarettes a day, weaning every day or every other day by one cigarette. Keep a chart. Reward yourself with chocolate!

Find things to do to occupy your hands and your mind, so that you are distracted from wanting a smoke. For oral gratification, try a mint, or a handful of almonds. Or even chewing gum.

Most importantly, don't get down on yourself, or think you're weak, or have any negative thoughts. When you start weaning, praise yourself. Feel good about you. Guilt and anxiety are stress inducers, and stress makes you want another cigarette. So, get rid of those thoughts, and focus on your goal.

Sometimes, we have to reinvent ourselves every day. But with each day is a new beginning, so that's a clean slate. Try that outlook, and it may guide you to strength and healing.

Love & Light,



Rose

[houghchrst]

I always get stressed out this time of year and make myself sick afterwards. Rose I am thinking of picking a quit date for smoking and start our new diet for the New Year. It will have been 18yrs as of Jan. 1st since I got clean and sober. well, if I was still clean and sober well I don't drink except maybe 4 times a year and then lightly. And I broke my commitment when I started using MMJ, at least thats how I feel. I haven't done anything else major. Maybe that's all just an excuse to keep smoking. Jeannie I have no idea what made me pick up that first cigarette. It was stupid I had it going good. Not thinking on it too much. Happened to be with other smokers and out of my mouth came the request. Downhill since then.

Ann one of the books is a transition book where it replaces one meal, breakfast first with a healthy meal for a week or for how ever long you need the transition to be then you do breakfast and lunch, Jared already likes a lot of healthy foods and is always open to trying new things. I have no clue how to use spices and herbs properly maybe after this I will learn a few things. Jared loves salads. It may be easier for him than for me. I already have a carb addiction lol and a chocolate addiction which quite frankly I can have this way of eating. I think it will be the meat I miss the most. I can get around most of the other foods but every once in a while I gotta have a burger.

My Christmas shopping is almost over. Just need a few gift cards. Did it mostly online. Got some great deals. Tree is in the house it will be decorated as soon as I pass my fish on. Yes I am rehoming my tropicals, my well water is just not good and I am amazed they have lived this long, everything in the aquarium has a layer of lime, algae and rust. It just doesn't come off any more. Unfortunately I have been trying to get rid of these fish for two days and people keep backing out at the last minute. Irritating.