Stay-Healthy Forever Tricks!

Outsmart arthritis with Brazil nuts!  Just one delivers all the selenium you need for the day!  Chemicals in selenium protect joint cartilage.

Banish pain when hiking and biking with blueberries.

Boost optimism with magnesium!  Snack on sunflower seeds!

Thwart lung cancer with potatoes and bananas.

Preserve your vision with vitamin C from bell peppers and leafy dark greens.

Stay on the go with greens!  Spinach, lettuce, cabbage and other leafy greens are packed with vitamin K, which reduces your risk of osteoarthritis.  It helps regulate the flow of calcium in and out of the bones, ensuring you don't lose too much.

Sip green tea!

Ground flaxseeds contain natural estrogen-like plant compounds.

Bananas, pineapple, strawberries, apples, ginger, pumpkin, sweet potato or squash, pistachios, salsa, blackstrap molasses.

Four short bursts of high-intensity exercise daily, such as trotting up the stairs or tidying at top speed.

After dad's exercise class this morning, we went to J.C. Penney's and bought him a new electric blanket!

Later, I went to Michael's and bought some "leather lace" and a lobster claw clasp.  I'm going to attempt to make a pair of "barefoot, soleless, sandals". 

You're ready to take the first step.


Dad and I had lunch in Pleasanton at Denny's Restaurant today with Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel.  Later we took Luigi to play at the park across the street.  I'm feeling very restless again.  I have to stop this.   I must remain calm.

Do something that makes you happy, too!

I went to the movies, and saw, "Dolphin Tale", with Harry Connick, Jr.  Good movie!

Your star shines all the time!

Luigi and I are taking dad to his dentist appointment this morning.  Today is CoCo's 62nd birthday.  Happy Birthday CoCo!

I went to the movies and saw, "Kevin Hart, Laugh at My Pain".  I fixed us hot sausage and scrambled eggs, then we took Luigi across the street to run off all of his energy.  

You have so much to offer.

Dad and I spent four hours in Pleasanton at Uncle Joe's and Auntie Isabel's today.  Never did have lunch.

You're headed to someplace great!

Okay, where to start with Columbo Club last night.  Of course, the loud background noise always hurts my ears so much.  No one could hear anyone, and everyone kept saying, "What did he say?"  It turned out to be "Hawaiian Night".  Everyone was dressed Hawaiian, but us.  NO PASTA!  Risotta and chicken, and timusa (sp) like cake with lots of cream. Yuck! Great bread though!  I just kept singing, and cursing and talking to myself, since no one could hear me or see me.  Oh yes, did I mention the average age was 95!  At 86, my dad actually looked the unhealthiest last night.  Uncel Joe and Auntie Isabel danced quite a bit.  SO CUTE!!!!!!!  Dad and Uncle Joe saw lots of old friends - that they thought were already dead - hahaha -  They really enjoyed seeing everyone and that was great.   I always feel totally alone in a crowd.  Crowd's are not my thing.  I don't mind people-watching, but it is really a waste for me to be there.  I always feel trapped. 

I ordered a "picnic blanket" online last night.  Went to the park yesterday, and layed on the grass and looked at the clouds.  Loved It!  Came home, and my allergies were all broke out everywhere that my body touched the grass!  I am just a barrel of fun.  Bad ears, allergies.  I always want a healthy body, but .... que sera. 

Guess we'll hang out today and watch the 49ers this morning, and the Raiders this afternoon.  I'll make us hot sausage sandwiches.  Smile!

You are a great person!

At 4:00pm, Tommy is going to drive Uncle Joe, Auntie Isabel, dad and I, to Columbo Club for a pasta feed.  Haven't been to Columbo Club in almost twenty years!

There's room in your heart for more love. Let it in!

Today is the last day that my soap opera for 41 years will air on T.V.  "All My Children".  It has been my safe space.  I tape it every day, and at the end of the day, I spend in Pine Valley.  Good bye, dear, familiar, friend.

Nice, warm day today.  Dad and I spend a few hours watching Huell Howser shows.  Barstow, the Hornet ship in Alameda, Water, etc.  Then we drove to Del Taco in Newark.  We took dad's car.  As he was backing out of the driveway, Norm was in his golf cart delivering rent notices to the mailing tubes.  Henry, across the street - and I, both yelled at Norm, "MOVE"!  Sure enough, dad never did see Norm.  Scared poor Norm who said, "If he can't see me, he shouldn't be driving!"  True enough.  I talked to dad about it.  He promises to look more carefully next time.  lol  I keep noticing that dad has more and more "little problems".  Aging is no fun.  But, overall, I think he is doing pretty well.   One day at a time.

At 6:30pm we took Luigi across the street to throw the frisbee and tire him out.  Bill and Sadie came a little later, as well as some other gals and their dogs.  We really had a great time.  Such an awesome summer evening.  Today is the first day of fall.

Then, I went to the jacuzzi and swimming pool for two hours.  This has been one of those amazing, peaceful days. 

Life Never Runs Out of Goodness

Dad and I had lunch with Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel at CoCo's Restaurant today.
Yumi, her hair dresser, called her at 8:00am this morning and they went in at 9:00am.  BUT, they did not call us and tell us about the change.  I thought we were not meeting until 12:30pm so I did a few errands and also returned some tops to KMart - I keep ordering XL, but I wear XL Petite - small shoulders, short arms.  It's a tough size to find.

Poor dad is not feeling well at all today.  His tummy hurts, and this morning he couldn't breathe and had to run outside.  He's still not feeling too well, but, so far, he says it's just a bad day, and won't let me call the doctor.

Guess what else happened today.  In December 2005, I bought a Lifetime Subscription to Sirius Satellite Radio.  That's the lifetime of just the radio - not the service.  Today, I lost the signal.  After an hour of hassel and disconnects on the phone - (my radio is hard-wired in my car) - they told me I had to go pay for service and have them disconnect the hard wire and satellite antenna - just to CHECK it.  I'm too upset to think right now, so I'm not going to do anything.  I'll just turn my regular radio back on and listen to my CD's in the car.

Aside from all this - I, myself, am feeling pretty good today.  So, que sera!  Smile!

Dad, Bill, Sadie, Luigi and I, went to the park across the street and played tonight.

Then I went and enjoyed the jacuzzi and the swimming pool.  Perfect evening!

Someone in your life gives thanks for you.

Today I went and saw the movie, "I Don't Know How She Does It", with Sarah Jessica Parker.  Cute movie.

Another one of my books sold on Amazon.  Just had a nice, pleasant, mellow day.  I loved it.

Today is filled with possibilities.

This morning dad, Luigi and I cruised over to Castro Valley to see if we could scout any restaurants we haven't tried yet with Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel.  We did find a couple, so we felt pretty successful.  Kind of a hot day, so we came home and have been enjoying the air conditioner.  Watched lots of shows we had taped - no commercials!  yeaa.  First we ate chimichangas with some good hot sauce that Bill brought us last night.  Later we had popcorn.  Later we had BLT sandwiches

Really Great News!  First Carol, then Bob Gulden called us - they have already Fixed the Swimming Pool!  This is definitely a great day!

Fall Asleep Faster With a Banana!

An hour before you go to bed, eat a banana.  It's supply of carbs will speed your body's release of sleep-inducing tryptophan.

Nice day.  Clark's Pest Control came by at my request and sprayed again for cob webs.  Then I went shopping and listened to Howard Stern interview Tony Bennett.  Great interview.  Tony is so full of LIFE!  Love Him!

Dad and I had lunch with Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel at Wendy's in Castro Valley.  Two hours of lots of fun and laughter.

Nice, hot day.  Loving it!  Got my notice for Jury Duty for October 17th.  GUILTY!  hahahahaaa  (Wonder why I never get placed on a jury.)  lol

Anything is possible.

Awww... and it had been such a nice day.   Do I begin at the beginning or the end.  Okay, I'll vent first.  lol  Went down to the swimming pool tonight - it is a nice hot day and hot night - and the swimming pool heater core is broken.  The pool is ice cold.  And the managers that work here are notorious for taking up to six months to repair our jacuzzi or our swimming pool.  So, this week is supposed to be nice and hot - and NO POOL!  I'm pretty angry.

Okay, back to the beginning.  Nice morning.  I fixed dad and I bacon and eggs for breakfast.  We watched both the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers.  Both great games, though in the end, we actually did lose both games.

Watched the Emmy's.  Taped most of it, so we were able to fast forward through commercials.  I thought it was pretty fun.  Then we took Luigi to the park across the street.  There were three other gals, with three other dogs.  They all played together and we really had a lot of fun. 

Dad is still struggling with feeling well.  I think he took too many pills, so I started filling him up with lots of liquids, and cold wash cloths, and got him out of the house.  He is doing much better now.  This was a really good day. 

Disappointments are only temporary.

Dad has a little fever.  Not feeling too well.  Having trouble walking.  I made him some chocolate pudding and bought him some "Ensure", because he has a tummy ache and doesn't feel like eating.  I left him to rest and I got out of the house for a few hours.  I closed my Planet Fitness membership, because I never go over there or use it.  As the day progressed, I started feeling better and better.  Then I came home.  haha  Fixed dad soup, but he couldn't eat it.  We ran over to Walgreens because I have a sore on the side of my tongue.  Nothing really to do for the tongue but to continue rinsing with warm salt water.  We took Luigi to the park.  He loves to play fetch with the frisbee, but when the children wanted to play with him, he started barking at them - so I had to bring him home.  Had to stay up with dad until 9:00pm, because he is really feeling needy today.  Hope everybody is feeling better tomorrow.  This day sounds worse than it actually was.  The sun came out and we did have fun.  But not quite sure how to explain the fun parts.  Sometimes, just hanging out, is the fun part.  Woo hoo!  hahaha  I'm a terrible blogger.  Just put in three good parts for each complaint.  Fill in the blanks.  See - good day!  Smile!

You make a difference every day.

Dad didn't make it to exercise this morning.  Yesterday, out of the blue, Uncle Joe asked dad if has fallen any more.  Dad said, "No, I haven't Fallen!"  So, of course, five minutes after we get home, dad is cleaning the back yard, and Falls!  Really, just a scraped shin.  But, it did hurt.  So last night, dad took a Norco pain pill and a Restoril sleep pill.  He slept really well.  Bill saw dad limping around this morning, and started yelling to go to the doctor. 

Meanwhile, I had an early appointment at Claudia's Skin Care and had some minor electolysis done on a couple of bristoly hairs.  She did a great job and I am really happy with the results.  Meanwhile, Bill is still yelling at dad.  Dad is still mostly sleeping.  Finally, about noon, we called the Kaiser Advice Nurse, and decided he should go to the Minor Injury Clinic tonight at 7:00pm.

Then Miguel stopped by.  Bill has been down at the clubhouse scaring everybody with how bad dad is.  Dad is fine.  So, we are just going to kick back and relax until it's time for his appointment.

Amazing is part of who you are!

Today we are going to Pleasanton to visit Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel.
We all had lunch at In-n-Out.  Delicious.

Good news, Carl and Nikki, are going to take the small chest freezer that Uncle Joe has been trying to give to Krissy all summer.  I was looking up freecycle.org, when Bill showed up.  This worked out so much better.

I tried one of dad's valium's last night.  I think it did relax me a little bit, but definitely has not helped me sleep at all.  Thought it was worth a try.  I am so bad at taking any kind of pills, but thought it was worth a try.  Pills just don't work for me.  I always have more side effects than results.  Guess I'll count my blessings.  I'll be 60 in four months, and fortunately I do not take any medications.  When I talk to other people and other family members, this appears to be a rare thing.  So, I am mega happy about that.

9:00pm  Bill and Sadie came over.  Carl and Nikki's friend just bought a freezer last week, so now they are not going to take the freezer.  Back to square one.

Pass on some positivity.  Smile!

Beautiful day.  Easy going morning.  Then took myself to the movies and saw "Smurf" with Neil Patrick Harris.  Very cute, but I did fall asleep.  When it comes on DVD, I'll rent it and watch the part I fell asleep during. 

Some of my Amazon and eBay items are selling!  It's fun to make a little side money. 

Went barefooting again today.  Went to a park.  Also, found some paths to walk or practice barefoot running.  The closest is right here at Twin Bridges by the golf course.  They have a park, and also all of the streets with houses have "really good" sidewalks.  They stay even, not up and down the driveways. 

We took Luigi across the street to the park and played frisbee and wore him out. Did lots of other little things today.  Just a nice, smooth wonderful day.

There's no such thing as a silly dream.

Took dad to physical therapy at Vibrant Care in Castro Valley this morning.  Then we went and visited Rose.  Her mobility has gotten worse, but her mind is as bright as ever at age 92.

Then we went and had lunch at El Rancho Restaurant.  Think we are going to take a little break from this restaurant for a while.  Today the service was so bad.  Then we were told our coupon was no longer good for the $9.99 prices, only for the $11.99 prices - Exact Same Meal!  THEN!  The manager came over and told us directly - that if we did not "cut" the coupon "ourselves" - they would Not accept the coupon.  The food was delicious, but we were so upset.  It was such nonsense, but feeling "Unwelcome to the MAXX!  You know, some days are like that. 

I went to the post office and the library, and then we watched Alfred Hitchcock's movie, "Vertigo" with James Stewart and Kim Novak.  Stupid.  There I said it.  But, I did finish the delicious steak sandwich and had a root beer popsicle.  All is well.  Smile.

Give yourself some credit.

This morning dad and I had coffee and donuts with Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel at the donut shop here in Hayward on Hesperian at "A" Street.  Laughed and talked for two hours.

Tonight I had the swimming pool for an hour and a half.  Perfection!

Happiness can happen anytime!

Dad, Luigi and I went to the Niles Music Concert, but we forgot to bring dad's walker with his seat.  So, we only stayed about five minutes and then we took Luigi to the dog park.  There were about thirty dogs there today.  We stayed for a long time and really had a lot of fun.  Stopped at Yummy's on the way home and brought home Chinese food for dinner.  Poor dad is trying to find out which retailers are charging fees to use the credit card.  Nothing is ever clear on the receipts we are receiving.  He is going crazy - and he is driving me crazy.  What else is new?  hahahahahahaa

Special.  It's what you are!

Today is the Cousins Family Lunch Day.  We are meeting in Castro Valley at Don Jose's Mexican Restaurant. 

 Carlotta, Deaunn, Lindaellen, Ray, Kenny, Debbie

Isabel, Debbie, Joe, Deaunn

Here are a couple of pictures from our Family Luncheon today.  My camera was set on Movie and everything was coming out jumbled.  We went to Kenny and Lisa's afterwards and had a great afternoon.

Today, September 10, it has been five years since my mom has passed away.  I am so grateful that she was with me in June, during our trailer, tire-blow-out, near Winnemucca, Nevada.  Cousin Angelo said that September 10 - many, many years ago - is also the anniversary of Uncle Dominic passing.  He was 94.  He is my dad's - father's brother.  Also, today is LindaRae's Birthday!  Happy birthday LindaRae!

You can beat any challenge.

Yesterday was good.  In the morning, the cleaning ladies came and we went to the clubhouse dining table.  I decided to go in my long jeans and barefoot.  Sure enough, first thing we walk in, dad and everyone jump on me for being barefooted.  It's pretty odd that people would care, but I did expect it.  So, with each comment, I said nothing.  It was perfect.  They dropped the subject and moved on.  And I loved being barefoot.

We took Luigi to the park tonight and played frisbee - barefoot.
Went to the jacuzzi and swimming pool afterwards, barefoot.  I've always loved going barefoot and have been reading a lot about it on the internet and am currently reading, "The Barefoot Book".  It's even healthier than I suspected.

Now, I am reading "A Race for Life" by Ruth Heidrich, Ph.D.  I am very inspired.  Her vegan eating is very minimalist - no grains, no dairy, no beans or legumes, no oils.  I love the simplicity of it.  She is a big advocate of running.  But, she wears shoes, and I am leaning towards barefoot.  I use to not enjoy running when I was young, but running barefoot is appealing to me.

Your dreams are your destination.  And they're closer than you think.

This morning the cleaning ladies are coming.  We are just going to run over to the clubhouse for coffee and hot chocolate.  It is cool enough this morning, we can leave Luigi in the car outside the clubhouse.  Later this morning Auntie Isabel has her eye doctor appointment.  Pictures taken of her eye, and injection in her eye.  Then we'll all meet at Denny's in Fremont.  If I were ever to seriously consider trying vegan right now, honestly, how could I do it with us going to restaurants so often.  I should just try to eat the best that I can when we are not out.  Considering how much junk food that I eat, that would be a huge improvement.  And a good first step.  And probably fun - which I like!

No one is more loveable than you are.

Dad went to Wednesday exercise today.  At 11:30am we met Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel at Doug's Restaurant in Castro Valley for brunch.  Auntie Isabel is having her hair done today at 2:00pm, because she has her eye doctor appointment scheduled for tomorrow.

Tommy spent the night Sunday in Pleasanton.  Good thing.  Uncle Joe had an emergency - couldn't pee - and Tommy drove him to the hospital.  Took about three hours, but everything is okay.  Got antibiotics and other medication.

They want us all to go to Columbo Club the last Saturday night of this month.  Should be fun.

Today I ordered Huarache Barefoot Running Sandals from the Branca website. I went barefoot to the library and to the post office.  It felt so good.  There were sprinklers and I splashed in the puddles.  Honestly, these are the kinds of things that bring me great joy.

Take a shortcut to happiness.  Smile!

Last night Bill brought us over two more honeydew melons, tomatoes and the best-scented onions!  We have a huge package of polish hot dogs from Bill and Carol and one last package of grass-fed hamburger.  Dad and I really want to enjoy these onions, so we have decided to enjoy a "little" lol - meat with our onions over the next couple of days.  Onion Feast it is!

We received the BEST phone call at 9:00am this morning.  Dad had an appointment with Dr. Gavrell at 4:45pm this afternoon.  Ugh!  They asked us if we would like to come in this morning.  YES!  We were both up and dressed already.  Literally ten minutes later we were at his office, and being shown into the little room.  Within 20 - 30 minutes of receiving that phone call - we were all finished and walking back to our car.  That freed up our WHOLE day.  So, dad jumped onto his little motorized chair and went to the clubhouse to have coffee with the gang at 10:00am.  And I went and had my hair cut and colored (red) and got a pedicure. 

Came home.  Made delicious hot dogs and used one whole white onion.  Wow!  Hot like horse radish.  WE LOVED IT!  Later about 6:00pm I made us green salads.

Then I took a barefoot walk down Harpoon to the front of the park on Huntwood.  It is a nice warm summer's evening.  Thought about walking across the street to the park, but turned around and came home.  It was still fun.

It's always a good time to dream a new dream.

Dad and I went to the Labor Day BBQ at the club house this afternoon.

Today, September 5, 2011, is the one-year anniversary of Auntie Dorothy's passing.  Time passes.  I was telling dad how really well I feel that the two of us have done without Auntie Dorothy.  She was such a major part of our life.  We love her and miss her so much.  So many things I want to say, but I will just say how loved I felt when I was with her.  And her ability to make everyone around her feel so loved.  That is a gift.  We are so blessed to have had her in our lives.  All our love, Auntie.

Such a beautiful evening.  I listened to the 90-minute BBC interview on my computer tonight hosted by lyricist Don Black with Barbra Streisand from her home in Malibu.  I am so happy and contented now.

Why wait? Start something today!

Dad and I are going to see "Crazy, Stupid, Love" with Steve Carrel this morning.
Fair movie.

Yeaaa.  I finally got "Angry Birds" game to work on my cell phone.

Yesterday we took Luigi to the dog park.  Beautiful day.  Lots of fun.  We stopped and had the Big Platter - pancakes, sausage and eggs at Jack-in-the-box.  Delicious, but felt very heavy afterwards.  Long, food coma nap.  Bill, Shawntel, and Sadie stopped by later in the day.  They brought Carol's dad home from the hospital yesterday.  Looks like he is going to be fine.  Our neighbor Jim (and Phylis) died.  He is about three weeks older than my dad.  He had really taken a turn for the worse, so I'm glad that he didn't have to suffer.  He was a really nice guy.  Great sense of humor.  They live in the new coach down the street.  Really haven't lived here too very long.  I'm just a little concerned, because dad's mobility keeps getting shorter.  But he did "run" a few steps at the dog park yesterday, when I was teasing him to run.  It was a really fun moment.  I know he would love to really be able to run.

Every day is filled with small miracles.

You know that every day I struggle.  Struggle with my life.  Desperate to have my own life back, but compelled to stay quietly with my dad.  Feeling bound and gagged, but loving him and wanting his life to be good.  Anyway, I live vicariously through others.  Mostly blogs these days.  One of my more newer blogs is http://miss-britt.com

She brings a quiet hope to my life.  She brings encouragement.  Her words fit me personally.  I have all the inner questions, and she addresses them and makes me feel hopeful and alive.  And I know that all of my crazy dreams about wanting more, searching for more are normal "for me".  I most often live in a dream world, but the feeling of wanting "more", searching for "more" is always the driving force.  Her writing makes those feelings feel positive.  I wish that I were a better communicator.  I can only agree when someone else writes the words.  They do not flow spontaneously for/from me.  But I certainly recognize them when I hear/read them.  Life is so short.  I feel like I am wasting so much time.  But so what.  This IS my life.  Don't really have an "ending" in mind.  Just would like to wander around and experience the Now.  I guess the "wander around" - Further -  lol is what I'm yearning.  It's all good.  I always feel better when I acknowledge the direction I intend to follow  -  some    day.... 

HEY!  I have just started reading "Senior Fitness, The Diet and Exercise Program for Maximum Health and Longevity", by Ruth E. Heidrich, PhD.

Already loving it.  I know some of what she is going to write about.  Really feel like this is the direction that I want to follow.


11:00am  Just downloaded the app "Angry Birds" to my android cell phone.  Of course, the first time to download an app is always the most time-intensive.  Naturally, having a few glitches.  Hang around.  I should have this baby up-and-running in the next few days.  lol

You deserve all good things.

Today I went to the movies at the Hacienda in Dublin and saw The Change-up with Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds.  Cute movie.  Glad I saw it alone.

You are a beautiful person

My cell phone seems pretty happy again.  Time to find a new project. 

Beautiful day.  Dad and I had a delicious lunch in Castro Valley at Carrows Restaurant with Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel.