Organize Me? Never!

I would give anything for acloset cabinet. Just anything. I have so many things packed into my own clothes closet and drawers that it loos very cluttered and unorganized. The garage is the same way. If I had great cabinets like the ones on the site, my world would be a better place. They have all sorts of cabinets to choose from. They range from metal garage to diamond plate to stainless steel just to name a few. Can we say nice! Car Guy Garage has all you could ever want in regards to storage and organization of the garage. They even have the peg board needed to help organize and hang tools. They carry everything you need to allow you to open your garage door wide and be proud of what you and your neighbors see. They might just be a little envious of your nicely organized garage. So check out Car Guy Garage. They really are able to meet all your storage needs!

Disclosure

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Alligator Sausages

Have you every had alligator sausages? I have and love them. My local organic health food store sells fresh Cajun alligator sausages. They are a little gamey but that is what makes them great. I have been buying them for about a year now and about 2 months ago, I went in and they did not have them. They would have to special order them and they would come frozen. What happened to fresh? That is a little disappointing. I asked the butcher there to order some for me and I will see how they are.

8-10
servings
1½ hours 20 min prep
1 lb alligator sausage, crumble,brown,drain
1 lb crayfish tails
1 lb smoked sausage, sliced
2 cups converted rice
1 (10 ounce) can rotelle tomatoes and green chilies
1 can onion soup
1 can beef consomme
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 lb mushrooms, sliced
10 ml garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon creole seasoning
1 tablespoon black pepper
1/4 lb butter or margarine
Mix alligator sausage with remaining ingredients.
Place in a covered casserole or pan and cook in preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour.
After 30 minutes, stir well and continue cooking for the remaining time.
Let cool, uncovered, for a few minutes and serve.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Tat, Tat, Tat It Up!

Who knew there were tattoo personals out there. I did not. They say there is someone for everyone and those with tats must want only others with tats. I have a tat but I am not into lots of them. My getting one was like a rite of passage after going through a difficult time some years ago. I love my tattoo but I am not sure if I would ever get another.

For those into tattoos there is a great meeting place to connect and network with others just as devoted to tattoos as you are. Joining is absolutely free and it only takes a few minutes to sign up and complete your profile. Then you will be on your way to meeting up with other singles devoted to tats in your area. Tattoo dating is easy with all that is offered on the site. There is even tattoo chat that will allow you to talk real time with others. There is even a search that will let you put in the age, distance away and who you are looking for. Hit the search button and in a few seconds , you will have a list of tattooed singles in your area.

So there is no need to feel like you are bearing your tattoo alone. With just the click of a mouse, you can possibly find true love and at the very least good friends with tattoo dating. So sign up and get your virtual little black book and begin to fill it up with new tattooed friends or lovers!

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Artichokes

Today for the very first time I made fresh artichokes. There is a whole lot of leaves with very little in them. I had no idea. I had two fo them. They were 2 for $4.00 at the grocery store. I boiled them until the leaves opened after trimming them and added sea salt, pepper, dill and garlic to the water. They turned out great! I them ate them witl melter butter. Just FAB! I have always loved marinated artichokes but now, I have a whole new way to enjoy them! There is a distinct process to cooking and eating them. Here's how:

How to Cook an Artichoke

1. If the artichokes have little thorns on the end of the leaves, take a kitchen scissors and cut of the thorned tips of all of the leaves. This step is mostly for aesthetics as the thorns soften with cooking and pose no threat to the person eating the artichoke.

2. Slice about 3/4 inch to an inch off the tip of the artichoke.

3. Pull off any smaller leaves towards the base and on the stem.

4. Cut excess stem, leaving up to an inch on the artichoke. The stems tend to be more bitter than the rest of the artichoke, but some people like to eat them. Alternatively you can cut off the stems and peel the outside layers which is more fibrous and bitter and cook the stems along with the artichokes.

5. Rinse the artichokes in running cold water.

6. In a large pot, put a couple inches of water, a clove of garlic, and a bay leaf (this adds wonderful flavor to the artichokes). Insert a steaming basket. Add the artichokes. Cover. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Cook for 35 to 45 minutes or until the outer leaves can easily be pulled off. Note: artichokes can also be cooked in a pressure cooker (about 20 minutes cooking time).

How to Eat an Artichoke

Artichokes may be eaten cold or hot, but I think they are much better hot. They are served with a dip, either melted butter or mayonaise. My favorite dip is mayo with a little bit of balsamic vinegar mixed in.

1. Pull off outer petals, one at a time.

2. Dip white fleshy end in melted butter or sauce. Tightly grip the other end of the petal. Place in mouth, dip side down, and pull through teeth to remove soft, pulpy, delicious portion of the petal. Discard remaining petal. Continue until all of the petals are removed.

3. With a knife or spoon, scrape out and discard the inedible fuzzy part (called the "choke") covering the artichoke heart. The remaining bottom of the artichoke is the heart. Cut into pieces and dip into sauce to eat.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Healthy New York

Are you living in New York and a part of the large population of millions of uninsured people in the USA? Well there is assistance out there in many forms of supplemental health coverages and one of those is Healthy New York . As a result of the Health Care Reform Act of 2000, this self employed health insurance was established to allow the individual, the self employed and small business of 50 or loss to get some affordable health coverage.

Healthy New York includes basic much needed things like inpatient and outpatient hospital coverage and doctor services. It also covers preventative care for adults and kids and even some diagnostic and lab services. There are several packages to choose from so that you can tailor your coverage to exactly what you need for you and your family. There is even some presecription services available with some plans we well.

If you have had some sort of pre-existing illness, there is a waiting period of 6 months before it will be covered. That is standard. With any sort of pre-existing there is a waiting period. With some companies you migh tbe excluded altogether. Some specialty services are excluded but the basic medical care you need for survival is covered. With Healthy New York, the risky way of life without health insurance is no more. Be sure to check it out. It may just be just what the doctor ordered.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

On The Hunt

This past week I have been on the hunt for acai ice cream. I have called my local Haggen Dazs shop. I have found out that Haagen Dazs where I shop, do not have it to sell and they tell me that the only shop that actually has it, is in Hawaii! That is on the opposite end of the world! It is only available in select states and of course, none of those states is near me!

I have called all my local grocery stores and asked them to check their distributors to see if they can get it. That is a work in progress. I have a feeling that might not work out either. The sorbet can be ordered but I wonder just how that will be. Will the ice cream come melted? How is ice cream shipped overnight and it not be melted!? I hate to try that and end up with a disater but I think that will be what I will have to do. I want that ice cream!

How can Haagen Dazs make that and not have it available over the entire USA. It is icecream. Ice cream is one of our national foods! This is going to drive me crazy until I get some!

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Native American Nike: Air Native N7

Nike unveiled Tuesday what it said is the first shoe designed specifically for American Indians, an effort aiming at promoting physical fitness in a population with high obesity rates.

The Beaverton-based company says the Air Native N7 is designed with a larger fit for the distinct foot shape of American Indians, and has a culturally specific look. It will be distributed solely to American Indians; tribal wellness programs and tribal schools nationwide will be able to purchase the shoe at wholesale price and then pass it along to individuals, often at no cost.

"Nike is aware of the growing health issues facing Native Americans," said Sam McCracken, manager of Nike's Native American Business program. "We are stepping up our commitment ... to elevate the issue of Native American health and wellness."

Nike designers and researchers looked at the feet of more than 200 people from more than 70 tribes nationwide and found that in general, American Indians have a much wider and taller foot than the average shoe accommodates. The average shoe width of men and women measured was three width sizes larger than the standard Nike shoe.

As a result, the Air Native is wider with a larger toe box. The shoe has fewer seams for irritation and a thicker sock liner for comfort.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Air Ambulances

It is good to know that air ambulance services are available. I know there is a need for it, even without me knowing all the details about it. I think of all the vast open space still left in America that are places that people go and really get hurt. Hikers and climbers and cave explorers who get in trouble. The only way to reach some of these people in a rescue is by helicopter.

Air Ambulances are fully staffed with trained professional doctors and nurses and have the best in medical equipment. They are approved by the FAA for life support and the equipment carried. The services provided by them are from basic care to the most critical care needed. The typical experience is that the staff on board consults with your won family doctor and will pick up an ill person from home, hospital and take them to the airport to board the ambulance. They will be tended to by an air ambulance nurse throughout the flight. Once on the ground the patient will be transported to waiting ground transportation and delivered to the receiving location.

The company has been around since 1984 and is stationed in Florida. They provide services all around the world. They have a perfect safety record and due to their excellence in service, they are not having lots of repeat customers. They planes include several different types and models: Lear Jets 55, 36, 35, and 25, Turbo Props and Twin engine planes. With the international travel, they actually deal with the consulates of other countries to be sure there is smooth sailing into and out of varying countries.

If need be they can even provide a nurse to travel on a regular commercial flight with a patient. That helps save some of the cost spent on the Air Ambulance ride. This would only be available to those who are stable enough medically to travel on a commercial flight. This is a great service. It is definitely needed. With the ability to coordinate from bedside to bedside, they ensure the smoothest trip possible. They have gained the trust of hospitals worldwide due to the experienced staff and quality medical care provided. This seems like an option that most will not thin about right away, but it certainly is good to know that it is our there if and when it is needed.

Disclosure

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

What's My Motivation?

Okay, I just realized that in 2008 it will be my 30th high school reunion. In the past I have gone to all of them except the last one...25 years. I had gained weight and did not want to go. I have lost since then, but I do not want to go as I am now. I was a skinny mini in high school. I know it will not be possible to be that yougn whipper snapper again. We have all aged, but I want to be thin. It is now September and the reunion is normally in May of June. SO that let me know the time frame I have. I have to step up my game because I want to walk in thin and in a knock em dead evening gown! It's on. If I was not motivated before, I certainly am now.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Man of People

Funny that this opportunity should come up. I was talking to a male friend of mine in h is fourties and I was asking him just general opinion questions. I asked if he would ever use any sort of medication in the event he did begin to have an ED problem. He said that as of right now the answer would be no. He would take that as a sign that he was not supposed to have sex anymore. Well, I thought that would be fine for him, but what about his wife? What about her? He said he did not know what he would do about that but he was pretty darned sure he would not be taking any medication.

Over the past few years great strides have been made in ED drugs. You can buy many ED drugs now from pharmacies and you can even purchase them and generic Cialis on line. Not only that you can learn about all the different options in drug therapy from Man of People but you canlearn about the dsyfuction itself. It can be caused by a medical condition, something psychological or other health problems. Once you see a doctor, a method of treament will be obtained. It is nice to have information like what is available on the site handy even before the visit to the doctor.

As far as medication there is name brand verses generic and you have to also look at all the side effects and how each drug will affect you. Man of People even goes as far as taking a look at all the sites available that offer on line pharmacy services. There is a black list and a white list outlining who is reputable and will provide good customer service. For the consumder today these site comparisons and even price comparisons help in making what could be a difficult and many times initially an embarrassing situation easy. Knowledge about products and services is just what the doctor ordered.

If you are dealing with issues of ED, look no furthur than your computer as to what is out there, then truck on over to you doctor. A good solution that will help maintain quality of sexual life is there for anyone dealing with this issue. Doing what my friend has said is not the best...just not having an active sexlife anymore. There are options. Take advantage of them. Man of People is a viable resource.

Disclosure

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Ice Cream Helps

Today was a very bad toxic parent day. I had to get her home and later go out on my own just to have some down time away. I went to the Marble Slab Creamery and had ice cream. Tow very large scoops. Not so goo, but when was the last time I had ice cream. Months ago. It made me feel better at the time and then I was able to get a great beverage from the coffee shop and I was good to go.

That helped today, but tomorrow is on the way.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Inspiration Needed?

Have you ever checked out Karl Moore's blog? If not them you should. He may just be able to pick you up when you are down. He is a best seller author whose message is one of inspiration and really a better way of looking at life. It is the kind of place to check each day as something uplifting is posted daily. On Karl's blog you will also find featured days like random act of kindness Monday and factoid Fridays. Not this is something I had not thought about....to save a spider. Me, I am the one who can't get a shoe, broom or newspaper fast enough to kill a spider. His random act for September 3, is to take two minutes and save the life of a spider. Now that is a new perspective.

Something that I like are the quotes. Be sure to check those out. I especially like the this one about being humble. Check Karl out. Look around. Seems he has a little bit of everything that the average person might need to get inspired or help with a bad day.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Toxic Parents

I have toxic parents and since my father died in December, my mother has been on the attack. We moved back in with her to help her and trust me, everythign below is coming true each adn every day, multiple times. I am kind of tired of always having to be on guard. I am really thinking of moving out. It would be better for me. You would think that after all these years, all the fight would be gone out of her. I think it has just intensified. She has been saving up all sorts of things that do not make any sense at all. I think she is crazy. If you were to hear some of the stuff she claims, you would think so too.

I am not sure what to do. I think we will have to move. It will be the only way for me to have any peace. I miss having my own place. I do believe now that this was a bad idea. She has not changed. She is the same abusive person she always has been.

Once you get going, most toxic parents will counterattack. After all, if they had the capacity to listen, to hear, to be reasonable, to respect you feelings, and to promote your independence, they wouldn't be toxic parents. They will probably perceive your words as treacherous personal assaults. They will tend to fall back on the same tactics and defenses that they have always used, only more so. Remember, the important thing is not their reaction but your response. If you can stand fast in the face of your parents' fury, accusations, threats and guilt-peddling, you will experience your finest hour. Here are some typical parental reactions to confrontation:

"It never happened". Parents who have used denial to avoid their own feelings of inadequacy or anxiety will undoubtedly us it during confrontation to promote their version of reality. They'll insist that your allegations never happened, or that you're exaggerating. They won't remember, or they will accuse you of lying. YOUR RESPONSE: Just because you don't remember, doesn't mean it didn't happen".

"It was your fault." Toxic parents are almost never willing to accept responsibility for their destructive behavior. Instead, they will blame you. They will say that you were bad, or that you were difficult. They will claim that they did the best that they could but that you always created problems for them. They will say that you drove them crazy. They will offer as proof the fact that everybody in the family knew what a problem you were. They will offer up a laundry list of your alleged offenses against them. YOUR RESPONSE: "You can keep trying to make this my fault, but I'm not going to accept the responsibility for what you did to me when I was a child".

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Stress at Meals

Stress at meals is not good for digestion. Recently I have been in the presence of someone --a very bitter family member-who chooses meal times to pick fights. The bad thing is these fights are not based in anything real. It is all crazy stuff. So there she is picking a fight and me trying to defend myself over nothing based on reality. I had been trying to take this person out for socializaton. That is soon to be coming to an end. In fact, anything social with her is coming to an end.

When I go out with people, I want to enjoy a meal, not fight the entire meal. That is just terrible. She is a bully personality. She always has been and is trying to bully me. Fact is, she has picked the wrong one. Verbally I go toe to toe because I have to. I have tried not saying anything and it only escalates more. Not saying anything give the bully the power to do even more crazy things. You must stand up to a bully I have learned that. So, whenever and wherever she starts the fight, I will finish it.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

As Young As You Feel

Well. I am in mid 40's and I feel like I am in my 20's. I feel that way in spirit and also physically. Peopel always tell me that they can;t believe my age. I also just had another birthday. That is a good thing. I have not had any symptoms of menopause either. I know it is different for every woman but I very glad it has not yet come my way. That will be another chapter to deal with.

I guess there are lots of things on the market to deal with the symptoms. One of which is a natural progesterone cream. Now this is not just for memopause. It can be used for PMS symptoms as well. (Can it relieve my craving for chocolate?) It is chemical free and contains no preservatives. It is carefully tested to be sure that the amount of progesterone is consistent across the board. Because they do test, they stand behind their product and have the data to back it up. Many other creams do not supply the amount of progesterone claimed.

The progesterone cream supplied by Oasis Serene is one of the best choices of all the products on the market. Here are 12 reasons why. They were enlightening. I had no idea about the wild yam extract. If you have not heard about that, check it out. The yam extract converts to progesterone in the lab but not when it is in the human body. So products made with that are not quite what they claim to be.

Progesterone creams are also used to correct hormonal imbalances. I have heard about the wavering about using them for fear of problems later. It stores itself in the fatty tissue that women have. This in itself can cause an unbalancing of the hormones and cause ill effects. To make the right decision, we women need all the facts. Oasis Serene provides information regarding their product, other products and even offers a hormone calculator to help the lay person see if they need to look into this.

Oasis Serene it totally dedicated to providing information that will lead to the goal of total health. We are all looking for that. They take a whole body approach and will actually be a partner in our health decisions. With so many products on the market today, we as the consumer need to take an active role in deciding what is best. Oasis Serene seems to make that easy by providing quality products that they stand behind. That is way they are the cutting edge leader in hormone replacement.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Maintaining

When I stepped on the scale about a week ago I had lost a fewmore pounds. Now to 215. I got on the scale this morning and I was the same. Now that is not good because I have not been able to walk my mile a day for the last week and 1/2. I have been way too busy with work. I feel like I am missing out when I do not walk now. I have to get back into the routine. It is the only way I will loose. I need the activity.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

JourneyLite

Now I am trying to fight the battle of the bulge the natural way. Sweating it off and eating the right foods. It will take time. I am very slowly winning the battle. I know there are other options out there for those with extreme weight problems. There is weight loss surgery. I know many celebrities have had it done and they have lost weight. I have no idea who they used but JourneyLite is just one of the options of providers who offer the weight loss surgery. For those with extreme weight issues it might be the best course to take to get on the road to better health.

The Lap Band system is adjustable and even reversible. You will need to consult with their doctors and they actually have professional staff who can help you decide on the best medical decision you can make in regards to using a lap band for weight loss. They help you find experienced doctors and they even help with getting it approved by your insurance. There is followup care and support groups to help you succeed on this journey to better health.

Take a look. There is even a free seminar that will give you a complete overview, the risks and benefits, how much you can expect to loose and what to do after surgery to maintain this new lifestyle. It is a lifestyle change and JourneyLite will be with you every step of the way to assure that you have success using the lap band system.

Disclosure

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~