COSTCO SECRET CODE TO SAVINGS!

Costco - just look at the price tag!  Most full-price items end in .99, so anything that ends in .97 is on final clearance and marked down as low as it can go.  See an asterisk after the price?  That reveals the item has been discontinued.  "This means grab it now, because it won't be available again!"  Website www.MoneyStartHere.com  And if a price ends in .00, "it's often an exceptional deal, usually an opened box floor model."  What else these codes signal?  "The store manager may be willing to negotiate the price, especially if floor space is limited. 

Go online and visit www.Costco.com !  80% of stock can be found online because space is limited at stores, where they offer only a small percentage of their inventory, but offer everything on their website.  And Costco also offers tons of online-only deals, giving you prices that are even lower than those found in the store!

Get Paid to shop with Costco Executive Membership.  It doubles the price of annual membership to $110 - you'll receive 2% cash back on purchases annually.  Many members get checks of $250 or more at the end of the year just by purchasing basic necessities!

Buy the big-ticket items!  Costco has the cheapest prices on TVs and computers.  Returns are a breeze with NO restocking fees.  Even better?  For electronic purchases, Costco extends the manufacturer's warranty to two years and offers FREE 24-HOUR LIVE TECH SUPPORT!

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SUPPORT FOLKS WITH NEW IDEAS - CROWDFUNDING

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Use Vinegar Instead of Dryer Sheets
Wet washcloth with vinegar and put in dryer with the towels.  Will be so soft and will smell good! 

Soften your feet - Before going to bed, coat your feet with Alberto VO5 Conditioning Hairdressing and put on a pair of socks.

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Skipper and Cheri and Cleo (the 15 pound white poodle mix dog) are here!
Loving every single minute.  Lots of rest today.  We brought home El Pollo Loco chicken and had it for lunch and dinner - along with the delicious chow chow Cheri made from the seven bags of peppers they brought us.  Perfect Day!


Loving every single minute. 

You're the best kind of wonderful.

Dad and I had lunch today with Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel here in Hayward on Whipple Road by Target at Taqueria Los Portales No. 2.  Everyone loved it and we had so much fun today.  This afternoon I ran to Walgreens and bought regular milk and lactase tablets for dad.  He has been having explosive diarrhea with the real milk, and constipation without the milk, so I'm hoping we can kind of regulate it a little.  This new lactose-free milk, so far, just keeps him constipated.  No fun.  He is doing pretty well right now I think.  Hasn't said anything about having extra troubles getting out of bed in the morning.  Great News!  Skipper and Cheri are arriving late tonight and are staying through Wednesday.  Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaa!  Haha on me.  I've started putting the Apple Cider Vinegar on my moles to remove them, but - I forgot that you have to "scratch" them first.  This opens them up - and stings like crazy - and is how the process works.  So, I may hold off until Skipper and Cheri leave, and start again then.  Not quite sure yet.

Give yourself some applause!

Dad is doing good and went to Wednesday exercise with Bill Mack and to Sizzler with his exercise class for their last Wednesday of the month lunch.  I went to the movies and saw "ParaNorman" a 3D Animated movie.  Also went to Lenscrafters and had my glasses adjusted again.  Bill Mack fixed our back fence with posts and braces and did an amazingly great job.  A wonderful August summer day.

Happy surprises can happen anytime.

Very Happy!  I found a few videos online last night about how to get out of bed with a very bad back and showed them to dad.  He was very excited and we practiced before he went to bed.  Naturally, nothing is easy at 87, and having a bad back, bad leg, and bad arm, don't make it any easier, but! - he did have an easier time getting out of bed this morning.  Yesterday, really scared him when he couldn't get out of bed, so this is really exciting.  Gave Luigi a shower this morning, doing laundry and we are going to the movies and see "Hope Springs" with Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep.  It is a beautiful day today. 

Show your inner beauty, too. Smile!

Went to Kaiser and had the two new moles above my eyebrow checked.  Just growths.  If they remove them, they will leave a scar.  Might try that Apple Cider Vinegar I read about a while back.  Put it on, it will turn black and fall off.  Uncle Joe went to physcial therapy at the Veterans in Livermore this morning.  We are all going to meet for lunch at Jim's Cafe in Pleasanton.  Had a great time.  Although, Auntie Isabel has been getting quieter and quieter.  Is she not feeling well?  Is she upset with us?  Is she worried about everything?  Everybody is declining, and it is no fun.

Poor dad is really getting scared.  The last two mornings, and just now after laying down for about two minutes - he cannot get up and he cannot walk.  Well, he can - but after gettting super scared and a lot of difficulty.  Thankfully, he has agreed to start taking his pain pills - cross fingers - I think that may be helpful for now.  Also, not drinking milk - it is now giving him explosive diarrhea - he is constipated.  So, after three months promotion - and this being the last week - he has agreed with me to go to the "After 8:00pm - 50% off - milkshakes at Sonic".  I told him this will be our BIG SUMMER GETAWAY BONANZA FUN!  I know I'm a little testy, but this "not living" crap is getting on my nerves.  And with his mobilty going downhill - let's face it - I'm scared.  So sarcastic laughter it is, cause it's what I'm most comfortable with.  Even in bad times, I want it to be good times.  The way that "I" do it is not pretty - but, I'm hanging on by a thread.  I definitely don't like to be the one responsible.   I like to go hide out in my cave, and pretend everything is just fine.  I'm pretty good at it actually.  I guess I would prefer to have more of this "nothing" life, than what's likely to come.  I could tell you all of the bad things that are in store - but, why bum you out too.  Things WILL work out - The End.  Smile!

Oh yeah - and my car's engine is still racing!  DRAT!

Celebrate your successes.

We are really happy with our new auto mechanic.  He made lots of necessary repairs at a fair price and he is really, really nice.  He only works on weekends, but for now, we are really happy to have had Tony Bevilacqua recommend him to us.  So, tomorrow we will most likely go out to Pleasanton and be able to give her a nice test run.  Both the 49ers and Raiders won their games this weekend, even if they are only exhibition.  Nice relaxing weekend.  A few months ago I bought a set of The Big Bang Theory TV show for all, but I think the current season.  This weekend I finally had the time to relax and watch a few episodes.  I'm still on my first box.  I've only watched a few reruns, so most of these will be brand new to me.

Positive is powerful!

We are taking my car over to Dexter this morning.  Tony Bevilacqua recommended him.  Says if he can't fix it, no one can.  Of course, yesterday, she ran so smoothly.  No racing, not one time.  lol  Ain't that always the way.  Dexter says there are a couple of sensors he can check.  So cross fingers, everything works out for the best.  I'm sure they will, either way.

You have every reason to feel confident in yourself and your future.

Had eye glasses adjusted again today.  Hmm, think I need to look for another frame that I will be happier with.  Coolant light came on in car.  Added coolant.  No racing today.  Figures.  I'm taking it into the mechanic Dexter over on Dollar Street in Hayward tomorrow.  lol  Looked up a bunch of companies online that said they had produce and drove around to find them.  80% - nothing there at all.  Very strange.  But, it definitely kept me busy.  Finding good produce is tricky.

Counting blessings makes them multiply!

Dad and I are having lunch today with Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel at Country Waffles in Dublin.  The doctor said that he did not have to remove Auntie Isabel's stitches from her head - they are already gone!  May have come out when Yumi, the hairdresser, was washing her hair.  Yea!

You have the strength you need.

You know that my car has this "engine racing" problem for several months now, and because no "code" comes up in the mechanics computers, they can not help me.  Today I started to head for Pleasanton Lenscrafters to look around for a more comfortable pair of eyeglass frames, but, would'nt you know - my car is racing like crazy.  I don't want to go that far if my car is not happy.  It comes and goes.  Next time I drive, it may be perfectly normal.  So, I am going to kick back and get some reading and computer work done.  And, of course, cuddle with Luigi.

Today is always new.

Today we are taking dad to Kaiser's Fall Prevention Class.  I'm not sure how much they can really help him, since the reason he keeps falling is that right leg is so weak and it gives out underneath him.  I think it's time to start minimizing my things again and start donating lots to Salvation Army.  I don't know how things keep accumulating - lol.  I saw medjool dates at Food Source yesterday shopping with dad.  I want to run back over there and pick some up today.  I keep reading about them, and have never tried them.  I think they are seasonal and hard to get.  This may be my only chance this year.  Very excited to try them.  Somewhere I read that they taste like caramel.

Poor dad.  He drank our new Lactose-Free Milk - and it went right through him.  Now he has a BIG clean-up mess to take care - plus much-needed shower - before we leave for his Fall Prevention Class.  I am pretty surprised that he cannot even drink the lactose-free milk.  He loves milk more than anything else - naturally!  Just I love citrus/acid foods - oranges, pickles, pineapple, tomatoes - but can only tolerate smaller amounts - keep hoping I outgrow it.  lol  May have to ask the doctor, but I don't know of any other alternatives for the milk for dad.  Maybe he just drank too much too quickly.  I'll have to question him further a little later.  I went and bought some dates this morning, but haven't tried them yet.  I'm a little nervous.  Why, why not.  I need Something to look forward too.  Smile!

You've got what it takes.

This is a great creed that was posted today on Tioga George's blog.

My Creed

I Don't Run Away From My Dreams

Because of my fears of what "might" happen.

I have faith that, no matter what

Fate brings me, I shall overcome.

George

1 July 2003

Thanks George.  Every day I read your blog, and believe in my heart that some day my dreams will come true too.  As for today, my duty is to take care of my dad.  I wish he were able to get out and do things and go places, but he says he is not.  I honestly believe he would be a little bit more, if he had someone else in his life.  With me, he just wants us to stay home.  I keep myself mentally active, but tick tock - 6 years have passed already, and here I still am, quietly behaving myself in my room.  This is my life.  It is peaceful.  I am blessed and count my blessings each day.  But, naturally I yearn for so much more.

Today dad and I are going to Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel's before going out to lunch.  Then we all went to In~n~Out for lunch.  The other day we ended up going to Denny's instead, because In~n~Out was just way too busy.  So, is it me, or is my family falling apart?  No one can remember anything anymore.  Dad seems to be the worse, but probably because I spend more time with him.  We watch a rerun of a TV show that we saw 3 weeks ago - he says he has absolutely no memory of it.  We receive a cane, that we saw a video of on the computer a week ago - he says he has absolutely no memory of it.  He is losing all of his strength.  He can't open a jar, or a box of cereal anymore.  In the mornings, it takes him a full hour of working his bad right leg, so that he can walk on it.  Is it wrong of me to be getting scared by these things?  I know that I am supposed to be there for him, but I have to be honest - I just want to run away.  I wish I were a stronger person, but I just want Happy.  I can't take care of him, and I probably can't take care of myself when the day comes.  I just want to be a light, happy little fairy flitting from one happy place to the next.  Sounds flaky.  Yes, yes, that is me.  Flaky.  This real world stuff is not on my agenda.  Yuck, yuck, sputter, sputter.  I might start taking the xanax again.  I don't like to cope.  Good luck cruel world, I'm going back into my little dreamland.  Aaaahhhhhhhh.  Happy Again.  Oops, dad's calling me.  Gotta go.  Back to the real world.  Ah, well,  it was fun to dream.

Today our beloved Phyllis Diller passed away at the age of 95.  Her humor always has me laughing out loud.  You are one amazing gal!

 

 

 

 

Monday, August 20, 2012; 05:08 PM - by BWW News Desk

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, comedian and Broadway veteran Phyllis Diller passed away this morning in her Los Angeles home. She was 95 years old. Some of Diller's friends & colleagues remember the funny lady with official statements below:
"I adored her she was a wondrous spirit who was great to me." - Barbra Streisand
"One of the funniest women in the world, but she also had a great talent for being wonderful person. I loved her dearly and were good friends. I will miss her." - Rose Marie
"She was responsible for getting me one of my first jobs. I loved her and I will miss her tremendously, as will the whole world." - Rip Taylor
"She was one of a kind. A brillant talent and an extremely supportive friend, when you needed one. When I had the accident that broke my leg a couple of years ago, hers was the first voice that managed to reach me by phone at the hospital. She was also the first note I received, written on a piece of paper it said ... 'Money's scarce. Times are hard. Here's your F***ing get well card - Phyllis.' She knew how to lift your spirits. I loved her and we will all miss her."—Carol Channing

Phyllis offered this advice when someone's mom died, "don't do gloom".  Great Advice!







Have Fun!

Had such a great Family Lunch yesterday. Sweet Tomatoes was packed full of people so we all went next door to the Red Smoke Grill for tri-tips, rotisserie chicken, ribs, sandwiches and salads. Great food. Great service. Then we all went across the street to Debbie and Lenny's for a fun afternoon. There were 14 of us. Dad and I, Kenny, Lisa, Deaunn, Jean, Carlotta, Jim, Raymond, Debbie, Lenny, Kim, Landon and Annie.

 Annie Silay, Ray Magorno

 Annie Silay, Ray Magorno

 Annie Silay, Ray Magorno

 Linda and Ray Magorno

 Debbie and Lenny Moniz

 Kenny and Lisa Fazzio

 Carlotta, Jean, Kenny, Lisa, Debbie, Lenny, Landon, Linda, Ray, Annie, Deaunn, Raymond, Kim, Jim

 Carlotta, Jean, Kenny, Lisa, Debbie, Lenny, Landon, Linda, Ray, Annie, Deaunn, Raymond, Kim, Jim

 Linda Magorno

Ray Magorno



Today, dad, Luigi and I are going to Dog Scouts in Milpitas, Troop 198 for dog training.  Should be lots of fun.

KEEP DARK JEANS FROM FADING!

Keep darks jeans from fading - Before you put them on for the first time:  Add a quarter cup of salt along with the same amount of detergent to a sink full of cool water and soak the jeans overnight.  Follow with a short wash cycle  using cold water and a gentle detergent, then let air-dry.  The salt locks in the dye, making your jeans fade-proof!

Having Family Lunch today in Pleasanton at Sweet Tomatoes.  Sweet Tomatoes was packed wall to wall with people.  So the Family all went next door to the Red Smoke Grill with tri-tips, rotisserie chicken, ribs, sandwiches and salads.  It was so great.  Good food.  Good service.  Afterwards we all went across the street back to cousin Debbie's house.  They have put in all new floors, kitchen cabinets, granite countertops, backsplash, ceilings, and 3D TV.  And now she has Auntie Dorothy's beautiful kitchen table.  Today we had 14 of us including dad and I, Kenny, Lisa, Debbie, Lenny, Carlotta, Jim, Raymond, Deaunn, Jean, Kim, Landon and Annie.  Then dad and I came home and made oolio oolio!

Love fills your heart.

Seems I am extra emotional.  Yesterday I took a half a xanax for the first time in months.  It really did help.  I'm glad I took it.  Tonight I had a good cry reading one of my favorite blogs 2 Simplify.  Emily, the 18 year old cat had to be put to sleep.  Broke my heart big time.  Not sure why something like that can affect me so deeply, and then something in my real life turns me cold.  Sometimes I feel that I feel emotions a bit too deeply, and it is easier/safer to turn off than to feel.  It's a bit hard to control it though.  It just happens.  I freeze up and can't function.  It feels so much safer to grieve over something much more distant.  I wonder how I will react when dad dies.  I keep thinking I am going to handle it pretty well, but honestly you never know til it happens.  Somehow, in my pretend mind, I have another thirty years.  lol  Hey!  Why not!  It could happen.

Today dad and I had lunch with Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel at Denny's Restaurant in Pleasanton. 

You are a success story.

Dad and I are having lunch today with Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel at Country Waffles here in Hayward by the Target store after Auntie Isabel gets her hair done.  She did get medicine for her bladder infection. 

Change of plans today.  Uncle Joe has been suffering with chronic diarrhea for more than a year and continues to lose weight.  Just like dad Tuesday, today while Uncle Joe was waiting for Auntie Isabel to get her hair done - Yup - right through him.  He jumped in his car in Hayward and drove all the way back to Pleasanton.  He didn't/couldn't even tell her he was leaving her.  When dad and I drove into the parking lot, and didn't see the orange 76 ball on his antenna, we knew there was something up and we called the cell phone.  Uncle Joe doesn't know how to make a call on the cell phone, but he was able to answer our call.  So, we drove Auntie Isabel back home to Pleasanton and spent a couple of hours at the apartment.  Then the four of us went out to lunch to Jack-in-the-Box.  Had a great afternoon.  Turns out Uncle Joe has stopped taking his lactose intolerant pills and they also just started feeding him tons of yogurt.  Bad Combination!  lol  Auntie Isabel also had a two page lists of things to eat that she got from the last time Uncle Joe was in the hospital, BUT.... she hadn't read the Title - "What To Eat For Constipation".  Poor Uncle Joe.  No wonder he is suffering.  lol  Hopefully, we can get them back on track.  He has a Physical Therapy appointment with the Veterans in Livermore tomorrow.  We are all going to meet for lunch at In~n~Out Hamburgers in Pleasanton afterwards.  I really think I may be allergic to the plastic in my new glasses.  They keep burning my skin and I have to take them off.  I really like them and want to keep them, but I just don't think I'm going to be able to.  No Time.  Tomorrow lunch with Uncle Joe, Saturday - Family Lunch; Sunday - Dog Scouts for Luigi; Monday - lunch with Uncle Joe.  We technically spent six hours on lunch today.  11:30am - 4:30pm  That's a big chunk of day.  I learned that :D means HAPPY!

You make life better just by being you.

Yesterday, I went to Jim's Hair Salon and had my hair cut short with lots and lots of blonde highlights.  I like it.  Then went to Coldstone and had a Hawaiian Shaved Ice with Tiger's Blood flavoring.  First time.  I liked it!  We took dad to Dr. Waterhouse for a physical.  Everything looks good.  The doctor signed dad up for next Tuesday to take the Kaiser "Fall Prevention Class" to learn how not to fall down so much.  We are going to get him some lactose-free milk from the store for dad.   And Kaiser is supposed to call us hopefully about getting a small chair for him to sit down in his shower. 

I'm still listening to the "Brilliant Body Health Summit" audio's online every night.  They are about 90 minutes each.  I think we're on about number 17 out of 27 interviews about raw fruit/food diets.  I still like the idea of lots of mono meals of fruit.  Just seems simple, logical, healthy and fun.  Enjoying the interviews.

Had my car's oil changed at Firestone today.  Went over to Lenscrafter and had my new glasses adjusted.  I now think that I know what the problem is.  I am having an alergic reaction to the plastic of the glasses.  I have the most sensitive skin..... Sheesh!  It's always something.  You know why I can't keep these new glasses on?  Everywhere they touch me, it feels like it is burning.  On my ears, on my nose, everywhere.  So, now that I have Finally figured out why I can't keep them on, I will go back, and see about getting a different pair of glasses.  But, I hate every single one.  I REALLY, REALLY want Lasik surgery, but it costs about $5,000.  New glasses, here I come.   lol

Life is wonderful. And so are you!

Every day I am trying to add more fruit to my diet.  Here is a mind-body make-over with summer fruits.

Strawberries let you sidestep sickness by containing ellagitannin, a compound shown to stop the growth of tumors.  Also Vitamin C which energizes infection-fighting white blood cells - and counteracts the health-sapping effects of stress.

Blueberries turn off hunger and boost memory, fight cancer and cure urinary tract infections, and curb cravings, so you can eat less without even trying.  Pigments responsibile for the berries' deep blue color also turn on your brain's "I'm full" signal and activate genes that regulate belly-fat burn and reduce fat storage.

Peaches make your skin radiant.  It's no wonder a beautiful complexion is called "peachy".  These sweet, round stone fruits are packed with phytochemicals that counteract damage caused by the sun's UV rays and aging, leading to more elastic, smoother and younger skin.  One key vitamin they deliver: beta-carotene, which prevents the breakdown of collagen, a protein that keeps skin firm and supple.

Watermelon helps you relax.  The juicy melon is rich in argnine, an amino acid that ups production of nitric acid, naturally relaxing blood vessels and lowering blood pressure.  Plus, watermelon is 98% water, providing mood-brightening hydration.  Eating two cups daily of watermelon can cut your risk of sunburn 26%, thanks to its abundance of lycopene, a tissue healing, sunscreen-like antioxidant.

Cherries fight pain with anti-inflammatory powers that rival those of pain medications like aspirin.  The pigments that give cherries their bright red color also block arthritis-specific pain and inflammation enzymes.  Eating two cups of cherries daily significantly cut arthritis-related swelling and pain, and triggered a 15% drop in blood levels of uric acid, a top trigger of joint inflammation.

Plums optimize your brainpower.  Need a brain boost?  Eat a plum.  Plums owe their deep bluish-purple color to anthocyanins, pigments that speed the transfer of neural messages through the brain, keeping you sharp and focused.  And plums contain two more compounds that rev mental processing, plus help protect brain cells from damage.  They may protect against age-related dementia.

Nectarines protect your vision.  These golden nuggets are a solid source of lutein, a natural chemical that protects the eyes from age-related damage; specifically, it lowers the risk of macular degeneration (the most common cause of vision loss in folks over age 50) an amazing 43%.  Nectarines also pack a lot of beta-carotene, which helps shield both your eyes and skin from the sun's damaging UV rays.

You have too many good qualities to count.

This morning I drove to Lenscrafters in Fremont.  The new frames came in, but we decided they really didn't look that good.  I agreed to try my regular new frames for three weeks and see if I can get used to them.  Think I will go back again though, and have them adjusted for a little better fit in the meantime.  Poor dad LOVES milk, but milk no longer loves dad.  He had his morning cereal with milk this morning.  Rode his motorized chair to the clubhouse dining room and had fun with about 15 people.  Came home - fortunately!  And with absolutely No Warning - you guessed it.  He actually had to take a full shower and clean his whole bathroom.  Thank goodness, it didn't happen until he was home.   I am trying to talk him into eating hot cereal from now on, and try to leave milk alone.  Not easy, but after today, he is seriously considering it.  Then dad and I went out to lunch with Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel at Norman's Restaurant in Castro Valley.  Lots of fun.  Very delicious.  Great service.  Very hot day today and we didn't turn on the air conditioning.  oops!  Luigi and I took a night time walk down the street to cool off.  Then Bill and Sadie came over.  The dogs really played tonight and we watched Huell Howser.  We watch him every day.  He is on PBS with several different show and they are all great.

Someone appreciates you more than you know.

Dad and I went to the movies this morning and saw "The Campaign" with Will Farrell and Zach Galifianakis.  We are so proud of ourselves.  We brought bottled water to drink instead of drinking soda from the theater.  Dad ate a few Ritz crackers.  I brought two  bananas, but never did get around to eating them.  I had a bowl of Instant Cream of Wheat and an apple right before going to the movies.  When I got home I had a mango, and then we had a nice bacon and egg breakfast.  oops!  haha  We both thought it worked out really good and are going to try it again next time we go to the movies.  Last night, Bill put the new suction-cupped hand rails in my shower so that dad can start showering in my shower.  Now, I would like to find a source for organic produce close to home.  That will be my new project!

Life brings possibilities.

Dad and I took Luigi to PetSmart at Bayfair for his grooming with Ethan.  Luigi is so cute.  We bought dad a suction cup handrail for my shower.  He is going to start showering in my shower now.  My shower is much larger than his and has mom's seat/stool that she used.  Dad fell twice yesterday.  Once when he was getting out of the office chair on our parque flooring.  The wheels moved right out from under him.  He was all alone.  Bill and Sadie had just gone home and I was in my room.  He didn't call for help and eventually got himself to the carpeting and used the recliner to help him up.  Then when he took his shower this morning everything went wrong and he couldn't really shower and couldn't stand, etc. etc. etc.  So, we are going to take this one step at a time, and see if we can make things better for him around here.  At first he fought me every step of the way, but I finally explained to him that if/when he falls and really hurts himself, he could end up in a nursing home.  I will do all that I can so that he can stay living here at home, but if he becomes invalid, I really cannot do it.  I finally got through to him, and he started helping in thinking of creative ways to keep him safe.  We like to laugh and joke, but this is a bit serious if something bad really happens.  Bill fixed the back gate for dad this morning.  It has been dragging on the ground.  Bill took it off, ground off the bottom, put in longer bolts.  It is really working great.  Also, we had a great lunch at La Imperial Mexican Restaurant on "C" Street here in Hayward.  Wow!  They've got the best food!

It's time to be who you were meant to be: a success story!

Dad went to Wednesday exercise with Bill Mack this morning.  Then dad and I drove to Livermore and had lunch with Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel at The Carvery at Harry's Hofbrau on 1st Street.  Lots of fun.  Then the four of us drove down First Street to the Livermore Casino, which is a "Cards Casino".  It is very small and cozy.  Next Friday, Uncle Joe has a 10:30am doctors appointment at the Veteran's in Livermore and we are going back to the casino for lunch.  The manager was raving about the food, so we have decided to try it!

You're awesome!

Cleaning ladies coming this morning.  Dad and I will go to the dining room at the clubhouse.  Auntie Isabel has a doctor's appointment at 12:30pm today for her bladder, so we will go for lunch tomorrow.  Today, we will go visit Rose Lopes and Joan Benson at the nursing home.  I have been all over the internet reading about eating a fruit-based diet.  Right now I have been watching Michael Arnstein on his The Fruitarian Channel on YouTube.  Currently he has 83 short videos.  Starting from the end, going  forward, I have watched about 15.  Healthwise - Very Exciting.  I am loving it.  It would definitely be easier if you lived with other supportive people who were interesting in this lifestyle.  Eating is such a social behavior.  Trying to wrap my head around how you would do this, without alienating friends and family.  You literally can not go to most restaurants and request fresh fruits and vegetables.  Interesting, huh?!

Dad and I had lunch at Wendy's in Castro Valley.  Nice day.

See yourself as you truly are: amazing!

Everywhere I go online, there are So Many people who have websites and YouTube Videos who are not only doing well, but winning Marathons and everything else they do on a Raw Fruit/Food Diet.  It's not a diet - it's a LifeStyle.  They are Excelling!  And each one goes about it in their own way.  Some eat all bananas, some eat no bananas.  Juicing, blending, varying on how much greens they do and do not use.  So far, the ones that do best, are the absolute simplest - which I Like!  I Love Simple!  The Social aspect seems to be the trickiest part.  Eating out and eating with others.  I may not be able to start 100% raw, but today I am going to start seriously increasing my fruit intake and see where it takes me.  Can I do it?  I have no idea.  Learning where and how to get ripe fruits will be my new project!  Go Fruit!

Oops!  Dad and I went out for Chinese food for lunch today.  Then I had two bowls of Spicy Nachos with Pace Picante.  And popped a large bowl of popcorn and added butter and parmesian.  I did eat some watermelon.  Dad and I went to Dale's hardware and got a metal part for the new water filter and had Bill Mack help install it.  Yes - I had stripped the threads on the plastic piece that it came with.  I'm giving myself an "E" for Effort.  I'm just totally "UNhandy".  It's working great now.

Each new day comes with small joys just waiting to be noticed.

We are taking dad to his appointment with Dr. Rhee today to renew his prescriptions for his back.  Funny thing is, he has been worried about taking too many pain pills, which has been about only one a day, and now sometimes less, and he can't understand why he is having so much more pain.  lol  haha I give up.  Getting old sucks.  You can't think straight.  But, he really is trying.  I'm hoping that today we can get him all of the "NON-generic medications" for him.  The generics just are not working for him.  I'm sure if he could get a good nights sleep again, he would feel so much better.  Me too.  None of his pills work for me at all.  I do Terrible on pills.  I will certainly get the side-effects, but never the benefits.  I think everything is going to be better when he gets his new pills.   Yeaaaaaaa!

Great doctor visit.  Appointment 12:40pm  Arrived 12:10pm  Finished 12:29pm  hehe  Prescribed ALL Brand Name Prescriptions.  Yeaaaaaaa  Later we had a bit to eat at Jack-in-the-Box and took Luigi across the street to the park.  Nice day.  Picked up cable ties and hope to put together my new wire cubes late tonight.

Tonight listened to Grant Campbell, Natural Hygiene Barefoot Ultra Marathoner from Australia.  Website:  www.rawreference.com and www.rawnaturalhygiene.ning.com and www.facebook.com/rawhealthretreats and www.facebook.com/rawaussieathlete .  He had good information, but he was a little bit dry to listen to.  Every night, people call in with the same question/problem I have - when we go and buy the fruits and vegetables - they taste like cardboard.  I keep hearing "Go to Thailand".  Their fruit is amazing.  Very cute - but not the most practical answer.  No one really has a great answer.  Just to search and do your best.  Frustrating.  This is the same problem that continually stops me.  I have been interested in this diet for more than forty years, but we do not have access to the best-tasting fruits and vegetables.  I waste so much money buying it - and take one bite and throwing it out.  You pretty much need to grow your own so that you can eat it fresh.

Put together some of my cubes tonight using the cable ties.  Pretty fun.  I might not need the second package.  Going to take a bunch of stuff that has been tucked in the closet, not being used, to Salvation Army tomorrow.  Might as well let someone else enjoy it since I'm not using any of it right now.  I never have enough space in this bedroom.  Very curious what will happen when I start living in a Class B Van.  lol  Every time I throw something out, it immediately gets replaced with more.  It's fun, but chaotic.  I want to live in a fraction of the space, but have five times more space.  hmmmm  Oh well, everything is perfect for today.  Smile!

Your smile works magic.

Picked up my new wire cubes from Walmart this morning.  Watched a video online and have decided to buy some cable ties to connect the wire cubes.   Dad and I had lunch with Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel at The Pickle's Sandwich Shop in Pleasanton this afternoon.  Then we went shopping at Safeway in Castro Valley.  This was the very first time dad had ever been in that store.  Luckily, he loved it so much, that he wants to shop here again.  Yea.  Then we took Luigi across the street to play for about an hour.  Also, working on "heel" with him.  Better late than never!  Tonight's Raw Food Interview was with Kristina Carillo-Bucaram.  Her websites are www.FullyRaw.com and www.RawfullyOrganic.com  Her YouTube Channel is Fully Raw Kristina.  Somewhere she has a video:  How To Eat Fully Raw - that I would like to find. Here's the link.  It's on  YouTube.    www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2QNcP1URF4  She starts her day with 64 oz juice, possibly 20 peaches, later 15 bananas with dates smoothie; dinner includes 2 to 3 heads leafy greens.  She does not use colonics, eat chia seeds, cacao or goji's.  She likes to keep it VERY SIMPLE.  Fresh Raw Fruits and Vegetables.  She also has a Recipe Archive Membership.  I really enjoyed her.  She is 25 and has been fully raw for 7 years after having debilitating health issues.  On one of her YouTube videos she recommends www.surlatable.com for Raw Food Kitchen Supplies such as wooden bowls, chef knives, etc.  I notice locations of "Sur La Table" listed in Los Gatos and Berkeley.  I'm very interested in checking this out.

Keep your eyes on the prize.

This morning dad and I are going to the movies and see "The Watch".  It's a comedy with Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill.  Poor dad.  I do feel bad.  I am way too short tempered with him.  I get frustrated, and angry and wanting to get on with moving on with my life, and he gets the brunt of my frustrations.  I really do try so hard to appreciate these times.  Life will never be as simple and carefree as they are right now.  I am protected, but I am not free.  When I am free, I will not be protected.  Protected is probably better, but it is still so frustrating.  I want to be liberated.  Just feeling restless I guess.  So, today I went online and ordered a "whiffer".  It is like a wooden pendant on a cord string that hangs around your neck.  It opens up and has a wick that you put essential oil on.  I know.  Kinda kooky.  But kinda fun.  You get extra wicks and change the essential oil to fit your mood.  The first oil I have ordered is Rose Oil.    The pendant that I got from Amazon.com is:  AromaPendants - Essential Oil Aromatherapy Diffuser Pendants - Whiffer  -  The description is pretty cool: 

Important Information

Directions
To open the pendant, unscrew the top, remove the wick and add a few drops of your desired essential oil or blend. Replace the wick in the vial and screw the top clock-wise onto the pendant to close. The aroma from this diffuser will last several days. Refresh the oil as needed. To clean the inside, use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol cleaner. You can save slightly-used sticks with its own particular oil scent on it in its own plastic baggie for in-between use of other oils.

---

Product Description

Color: Tulipwood Whiffer

Tulipwood (dalbergia frutescens) is part of the rosewood family. This Brazilian heartwood is a beautiful wood grain of pink-yellow with a pronounced striped figure in varying shades of Salmon pink and rose red. The grain is straight but more often irregular, with a fine texture. It carries with it many of the traits of other rosewoods, with a few unique traits as well. A very powerful feminine energy radiates from this wood. Tulipwood carries a creative energy, very strong to attract affluence and wealth. Resonates with creativity, intuition and beauty. It would be extraordinary if used in moon magic, and anything having to do with creativity, intuitions, and beauty, and natural cycles. This would be an excellent wood for divination. The primary element of this wood is water. Water usually brings with it a calm and peaceful effect. However, the energy of this wood contains the full spectrum of water energy, both peaceful and destructive. It is as though the very energy of the Goddess rests within the wood; beautiful and serene, yet powerful and proud. One of the most powerful woods we have ever encountered, with a very diverse and potent energy. Use for anything having to do with creativity, intuition, beauty, natural cycles, positive energy attracting affluence and wealth. Each Whiffer pendant comes ready to go with an absorbent cotton stick inside, ready for 3 or 4 drops of your favorite essential oil for the day! (essential oil not included with pendant). You can then save a slightly-used stick with its own particular oil scent on it in its own plastic baggie in between uses! Wood Source: Brazil

VLADA DIVINE ON RAW FRUIT/FOOD DIET

Have really been enjoying Audry Wild's Brilliant Body Health Summit online.  She is interviewing 27 Raw Fruit and Veggies speakers this month. 

So far we have enjoyed listening to seven of the speakers: 

Dr. Douglas N. Graham, Author of the 80/10/10 Diet - he seems to be the Guru that everyone has been referring to so far.  Website www.FoodnSport.com.  

Dr. Ruth Heidrich, 77 year old breast cancer survivor and Ironlady Triathlete thriving on a diet of raw fruits and veggies!  Her books "Senior Fitness", "CHEF - a Cook/Rawbook" and "A Race for Life".  I love this gal.  Her website is www.RuthHeidrich.com.   

Also, Chris Randall, has lost 150 pounds of excess fat on a low-fat vegan/raw vegan diet in addition to reversing his depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), asthma, high blood pressure, acne, and severe sinus congestion.  Website www.RealRawResults.com . 

Alison Andrews wrote "From FAT to Fabulous:  The Smart Girl's Guide to Raw Food Diet Weight Loss! 

Freelee Frugivore, whose website is www.30BananasADay.com and currently has the Banana Girl Challenge on Facebook right now. 

Mike Vlasaty is a powerlifter who has been eating a Raw Fruit and Veggie Diet for 4 1/2 years.  He is one of the strongest long-term raw foodists per pound in the world today, and is currently training for a powerlifting competition this year. 

Victoria Arnstein is an ultramarathon runner, mother of 3, co-creator of the Woodstock Fruit Festival.  Her website is www.OneFruitAtATime.com . 

Jeff Sekerak is a SUPER FIT VEGAN!  He provides exact fool-proof steps to guarantee your success with fitness and a diet of raw fruits and veggies! 

Victoria Everett aka The Crazy Banana Lady has lost over 100 pounds and healed herself of schizophrenia as well as a myriad of other health problems with a diet of raw fruits and veggies!

Tonight was Vlada Divine.  Her website is www.DivineOnRaw.com . 

Most are giving pretty much the same information and I would like to include my notes  here to remember it. 

For enough calories include dates with your banana smoothie
Transition with potato with salsa if necessary
Add greens for minerals to keep cravings away.  Greens are ESSENTIAL!


Book "Green for Life" by Victoria Boutenko
Key Element of Success are Blended Salads/Smoothies/Raw Soups
May be tomato and cucumber based with bell pepper, zucchini, romaine, spinach, arrugula.  Lemon or lime juice.  Hot pepper, jalapeno
Greens are Essential for Minerals and to have NO CRAVINGS especially at night.
To keep warm in cold weather eat food raw or blended at room temperature.  Drink warm water.  EAT MORE CALORIES TO STAY WARM.

Cauliflower Hummus Recipe
10 ounce bag Frozen Organic Cauliflower thawed
Vitamix juice of 1 small lemon, a little water, 2 to 3 Tbls Raw Tahini, garlic optional.
Serve with sliced cucumbers or lettuce leaves.

BODY WEIGHT EXERCISES
Pushups, Squats
Running

Deep Tissue Cleanse is Detox - just keep working through it - even if after a few years.  It ALWAYS gets better.

Today, dad, Luigi and I went out to lunch to Jack-in-the-box.  Then, first we went to the dog park at 7th and Mission in Hayward.  Then, over to the new dog park on Sleepy Hollow.  Both parks were exceptionally fun today.  Lots of nice people and fun dogs.  Really great day.

You have every reason to feel confident. You're amazing!

Fun day.  Started out with a whole, raw, red bell pepper for lunch.  Lots of running around.  Got to thinking about all the little projects I wanted to work on today, and somehow, during all my running around, figured out how NOT to spend all the little extra monies I had planned on.  Lots of creative ideas.  Pretty satisified with myself.  Good Job Linda!

UNCLE JOE'S TATTOO!

Uncle Joe turns 90 this October 6th.  He has had this tattoo on his upper left arm since he was 12-years-old!  Yes!  He hid it from his mother and father!  She is even more adorable in person.

Today dad and I had lunch with Uncle Joe and Auntie Isabel here in Hayward at Denny's Restaurant.  Lots of fun.  Beautiful summer day.

Fresh starts and new beginnings.

Very positive day.  Installed new water filter in kitchen.  The water tastes delicious.  Had a Starbucks carmel frappacino and after 2:00pm for $2 tried the Very Berry Hibiscus iced drink.  Loved it.  Went to Garin Park and washed and waxed my entire car.  Beautiful.  Watched the DVD from the Library "Paul" with dad this afternoon.  Quirky.  Funny.  Last night went online and ordered wire cubes for my closet to ripen fruit.  That should be pretty fun.  Received my bar of MSM soap.  Can't wait to try it.  It's supposed to really help my complexion and make my skin feel soft.  Cuddling with Luigi.  Now I'm going to go listen to tonights audio on the computer about eating raw fruits.  There will be a total of 27 speakers throughout this month.  So far, I have loved every interview.  Also, have been enjoying YouTube videos by lots of people about eating raw fruits.  I have three ripened bananas ready for me to eat now.  But, I am sure I will eat that buttered popcorn across the room from me.  lol