Observations on Dieting...

Dieting....so it is the first of the year of 2014 and folks have made New Year's resolutions (or revolutions as the little boy in the ad says) to lose weight. Not many people ever stick to their promises to themselves to do whatever those resolutions say. But today my thoughts are about the things folks do to lose weight. Some are doing these liquid diets for a week or two. You know the ones where they put disgusting things together in a blender or processor and make a more disgusting looking mess which they promptly drink or just take a picture of and put it on social media and taunt folks into thinking they drank the mess. Then there are some other liquid concoctions folks make just by putting things into water and letting them "stew" on their own. You know things like lemons, oranges, limes, etc. Enough acid to remove all of your dental enamel in one dead shot! Gotta drink this solution with a straw after having lined your tummy with several layers of Prilosec and its friends, the antacids!!

Let's see...these concoctions go by the sophisticated names of smoothies, fat flushes, body flushes, body detox.....whatever!!

Another interesting observation I have made is that quite often the folks on these diets as I have described have no need to diet at all. Usually their bodies are quite svelte, fit, whatever the correction description happens to be. ( Can't help but wonder if these kind of dieters have a severe case of constipation and need to smooth and flush!! Just a thought!!)

Now if I should decide to diet, I am thinking I would need to take a more serious approach, one not so modern as described above. I mean really, really diet...the old fashioned way like count calories, avoid sugar and carbs and all of that stuff. BUT...I am not thinking 2014 is a year I plan to engage in that activity ...or ever!!

So Many Voices....Education!!

So many voices....So many raise their voices to complain about the state of education. But how many are really interested in the whole picture? Many complain as long as their students are involved but move on to other concerns when their children are no longer involved and move into the next phase of life. Certainly one does not fault them for this natural progression. However, there is need for an analysis and action group to consider the needs of education in TODAY'S society. And for this group to take action and prepare the way. Times have changed. Society has changed. Educational needs have changed. These changes may be drastic enough to involve additional money and a re-vamping of the use of current funding. I say this at the risk of offending politicians...some at least.

Far too many parents want education to remain as it was when they were children or young adults. Technology continues to map new roads and avenues, new needs. Technology itself is on a never-ending march. This isn't likely to change. How do we prepare students for this new world, this new society. Great outcry has been heard from the public about Common Core. Some who knew why they were complaining and other who just jumped on the bandwagon and later tried to figure out and justify why. Some of the accusations could be justified in part, some are just ludicrous.

For some years public education seemed bent on educating every student in preparation for college in spite of the fact that many never went. Many students were just looking for a trade and perhaps an apprenticeship leading to a forever job and career. In my day and in the state in which I lived there were vocational schools students could attend for at least half of their school day providing them with training in a skill area. For some years and upon my entry into the field of education these seemed to no longer exist. Much has been said about the college prep programs that schools provide and the tracks in which students are placed who may only need the Math and communication skills (just an example) but not the entire curriculum.

Go figure, folks. During this downturn in the economy even college graduates could have used or sought training in a skill with which they could earn a living when they lost their jobs. Thus, an overload of students at community colleges.

I am old and no one pays attention to anything old folks say BUT I am going to say it any way. Education is in need of help--help with its vision and goals. Who can step up to the plate and provide the needed insight, vision, practicality, and program design and structure without malice or ill intent? (My previous statement is tempered by observations of the last legislative session in our state.) As with an old home, education needs a renovation and we need workers with real knowledge and pure intent.
Politicians should be barred from such efforts as their vision is obviously warped.

Just my opinions.....I really don't care is you disagree...'cuz...yep, you guessed it,...this is my blog!

Thoughts Meandering Hither and Yon

Doesn't it seem that the year 2013 has just begun? In September I found myself astonished that the prior months had been whisked away and I needed to focus on the fact that we were in the last quarter of the year. Now that November has arrived I wonder where the year has gone. It has been an unusual year if you look outside your small sphere. Calamities and catastrophes continue throughout the world and in our country. It is sometimes difficult to look at the mayhem wrought by these happenings. But onward we march in our daily lives trying to make the best of each day and accomplish all that is possible to met our needs. Such is this earthly sojourn.

Now we find ourselves in the final and long holiday season of 2013. I have such difficulty with this time of the year since the loss of Ken. I try to do my best as I do not want to be the "stick in the mud" for my family or those around me but rest assured I am so relieved when it is all over. A new year dawns and the holidays we have are ones that are easier for me the handle because there is less hoop-la involved.

I have taken my Piper Kensleigh (schnauzer) to the animal opthalmologist this week for consultation on removing her cataracts that developed as a result of her diabetes. We have a surgery date of January 6th to get these monsters removed. Piper is blind at this point and quite depressed. The vet told me lots as we discussed removal.. and a lot of it had to do with the surgery itself and care afterward. However, a goodly share had to do with the downside and success or lack of success of the surgery. I want her to be able to see because I understand what it is like to not see well and to be threatened with the total loss of sight. For now, we are taking it all one day at a time.

What's up with you??

My Blind Canine Child

I am learning some tough lessons in my old age. My Piper schnauzer has lost her eyesight to cataracts caused by the diabetes she has. It is very difficult to watch her try to make her way around the house and yard bumping into things that are right in front of her. I can only imagine how frustrating that is for her and how depressing. It upsets me beyond anything words can express. In fact, it tears my heart out to watch what is happening. I seemed to notice the cataracts early last week and they seemed to grow over night and then balloon into full-grown. Last week she had difficulty seeing and by this week she is bumping into everything right in front of her face. She is not to be deterred though as she just backs up and feels her way around the object and moves on. I hope her little spirit continues to prevail over this evil blindness.

I don't know what the future holds in this situation. I will continue to do my best with her. It has been so difficult to get the diabetes regulated -- we still are having trouble because she does not like to eat many things. I never know whether she will eat a food or not. I just keep trying different things. I would hate the think how much I waste trying to get her to eat. With doggies they must eat prior to getting insulin injections so that you can be certain they will eat. Some days it is a vicious circle.

How will we deal with the blindness?? I just don't know. I do not know whether my depleted budget can afford the luxury of eye surgery. I have spent so much of my savings already with this disease. Actually if only one cataract is removed she would be able to see. That would be wonderful. Perhaps I could take up offerings on a street corner to help defray the cost. (Of course, I am kidding.) OR perhaps I need to get a part-time job!! However, that is something I will need to work out.

At this point I am just incredibly sad and upset with all of this. I never fathomed these experiences would be mine when I became a dog owner.

Thanksgiving or Thanks Giving

Admittedly I am OLD, not quite as old as Methuslah but old, nevertheless! When I was younger sort of like very young, I remember a day when Thanksgiving (at least where we lived) didn't seem to be the BIG holiday it is made out to be now. Do you suppose as the years have gone along it has somehow become a truly embellished family holiday as in, 'Over the River and through the woods'!! I am thinking so.

And now I am seeing on a social network, ads, I guess that is what you call those thingies, of folks pledging not to shop on Thanksgiving Day -- alleging that they plan to spend time with family. Now I think that is all good and wunnerful ceptin' one part -- you and I both know that those guys will eat their bellies full and then park in front of the TV the rest of the day monopolizing the big screen with a football game of some sort. Don't know about you but I can see how that would drive the ladies out of the house to shop draggin' their full tummies along with them! Now, there is that! I said it!

While I do believe that we definitely need a full day of giving thanks, I think it should be more often than once a year. I agree that Thanksgiving Day is a good thing. But living in a country that permits acting on one's God-given free agency I believe the ladies can go shopping if they want --- and just maybe those folks working in the stores on Thanksgiving Day are grateful to get the work (to pay for their turkey) being as they live in a country where politicians can shut down the gov-mint when ever they take a notion!! Sorry folks, if you don't like my bloggin' -- it is what it is -- worthless!

Anger at Canine Diabetes

Have you ever been really angry over something for which you have absolutely no control? I feel sorta that way today. I know I can't control canine diabetes nor the fact that my mini schnauzer, Piper, has been afflicted with this horrible disease. However, that does not keep from being really angry and wanting to punch something in retaliation. Last evening I was working with Piper only to realize that the cataract forming in her eye has filled the front At first I was just upset, really, really upset. Then I became just plain angry that these things happen -- so I did some research on exactly why diabetes causes this to happen. While it did not change my angry feelings the deeper understanding of what about the disease actually causes this to happen did help to allay the actual bitterness.

I know that I am not the first schnauzer owner to have these feelings. It is as difficult as it would be if she were my child. Diabetes is difficult. It causes side effects making it difficult to cope at times. Often Piper does not want to eat. Prior to diabetes Piper had no problems eating. Some days I search and search trying to find something to feed her that she can eat ---low in fat and low in carbs. She tires quickly of most things or seems to. If we could really communicate she would probably tell me she just doesn't have much appetite. So...I try not to be offended and continue rattling around trying to find the things she can and will eat. I worry about her and I know that I can not give her the insulin she needs until she has eaten food. Doggies have TYPE 1 Diabetes which means the pancreas isn't producing insulin, thus it must be supplied by shot and syringe.
Schnauzers have a predisposition to diabetes. Some would say - I should not complain that I knew this before falling in love with Piper and bringing her into my family. But that isn't necessarily true any more than I knew that my Sassy Jane schnauzer before her was predisposed to having those horrible bladder stones that she had. And I certainly didn't expect her to have a brachial plexis tumor (cancer) which would take her life.

So today, in all of confessed "human-ness" I am feeling angry about the "situation" over which I have no control. Just wasting my energy, huh? But what would you do?

Just Stuff - An Old One's Views

Have you about had it up to the ying-yang with politics ---the so-called closing down of the federal government and the inability of politicians to settle their differences?? Not only have I had enough of that part but I am worn out with reading anti-president posts by Tea Party supporters on social networks. In my opinion,(as if it matters) it is one thing to be opposed but it is another to keep throwing your attitude into the faces of others. We get it with the first posting. No need to put at least twenty-five up there each day.

My other issue today is another one of those things over which I have no control; thus I should not lament so often. The weather this week has been really dark, wet, chilly and depressing. We have had those kind of days that make me want to hide. It gets dark really early -- tonight by 6:45 pm and makes me think it is time to go to bed or curl up some where or just go to bed. I do hope tomorrow brings better weather and as the girls and I head to the coast the weather might return to some degree of what is more normal for our area at this time of the year. The State Fair begins next week and hopefully there will be sunny days for all to enjoy as they attend the fair. How-some-ever, it is not unusual for us to have wet weather or even chilly temperatures near the time of the State Fair.

While I am in the mood to complain and gripe I might as well take a swipe at Miley. I am rather tired of hearing her bellowing that song that sounds like "I come in like a rolling stone...." -- she is almost measuring up there with my other least favorite Miss TS !! Her heavily coated tongue is always hanging out and that hair-do style from outer space along with her defending her choices and behavior. Deliver us all, please from being a captive audience to such nonsense.

If I think of anything more to gripe about I will be back!!