Visit with my brother

after finishing up with the Granny Duty protion of my trip and stopped in Logandale--an hour north of Vegas__ to visit with my brother Jim for what was supposed to be a couple of days...and turned into 2+ weeks. so I could get my teeth fixed..well plulled out!  and a new top denture installed.  and no it wasn't fun, thanks.. but visiting with Jim and family was absolutely a blessing. period.  Ashley and Emily came for a few days as well and got to know Jim a bit--having never met since infancy basically.  We had a couple of family parties and hung with Jim's daughter Annie and her kids ( no pictures except the bloody one which follow!)  got to see Jim and Carol's lovely home.  and just geneally re-bond!  I love these people!

last day --saying goodbye--taking my broken z-3 and limping home ( had to stop every 300 miles or so to cool down the engine and add fluids to my leaking radiator and oil!!!!  but made it safe)

me and Jim--still swollen from my dental stuff  me--not jim!

Jim's lovely back yard pool.  really enjoyed this!!! I swam nearly every day

backyard landscaping.  I never have liked cactus xeriscaping much--but I LOVED this yard!

Me and Carol trying to get a selfie.  old people need to leave cutting edge tech stuff to the young'uns

emily and Ashly with Coraline

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the Front of the house

Las Vegas

After all the fun in Pagosa Sprongs( someday I'll get more pictures to post of those shows!!!)
I went off in my little car to the big city of Las Vegas--not to party but to do the Granny Duty for my oldest son and his family-- New baby Coraline, and big sisters Juliet and Willow and brother Adam.  I got to cook and clean and launder and drive the shcool run and love on these cute kids!

juliet, Granny, Coraline, Willow and Adam in the front.

me and Josh taken at the Springs preserve by Adam--age 3!!!

Me and Coraline! duh!

Pretty girl!  I think this was about 1 week old!

time for an update--since John Moore linked to this site I thought I might as well give you something to look at!!!!

I am indeed up in Pagosa Springs, Colorado doing the Full Monty and Spamalot for the whole summer--in Rep!  Spamalot opens this Friday and Full Monty Next Friday.  has it been CRAZY?  YES!!!!!!!   9 am to 10 pm every day.  the shows are going to be WONDERFUL.  directed by my good friend Pat Payne. with talent from all over the United States!  ( and costumes for Spamalot from the London production!)  AMAZING  all in all hving a wonderfull time  I'll post some cast photos when I get a bit more time.  cheers

 

 

 

One of the best things about the summer aside fromt he work--is my accommodation.  staying with a host family in a most bodacious house!!!! the picture almost doesn't do it justice--it's HUGE and way up on the woods!

my room--with private bathe and my own entrance ( there is a huge bay window with a window seat off to the left)

Living room,,    there is a hot tub and I have kitchen privileges as well!!!


updates

Well  I did indeed follow the program pretty well--not as much exercise but some every week eating on plan--with no weight loss ( in fact some gain, maybe up  almost a half pound some days--  highest weight probably 150 .3) I decided that there was no need to continue for the 12 weeks as nearly 6 weeks with no change-- CLEARLY this alone wasn't working!!!

 I did some very serious praying for guidance as to what i should do next and LO AND BEHOLD... one of my regular blogs posted THIS:  The Fat Fast Cookbook.  I decided this was a hint--sooooo... I took it!  Bought the book and started the plan.  started last Monday and lost 3 pounds in the first 5 day pass!!!!!!!!  gained 2 pounds back over the weekend on a modified Atkins with a couple of little cheats  opening night of the show( I had 3 strawberries, 1 with chocolate, 2 paleo fudge balls made with dates and honey so high carb, and a ton of parmesan artichoke dip with unknown ingredients--clearly more cals and carbs than was good for me!)

 Back on plan as of Sunday morning. This morning I am back down to the lowest weight, sooo..this week I am going to try and stay on the plan for 10 full days--the longest recommended time--to just see what happens.  both on the fast and after i go  off it and add more protein and veg.
I have learned some important things on the plan-
-first,  sticking to the 1000 calorie a day  guidelines and paying close attention to portion size has made me  realize that I was very probably eating WAY to many calories for fat loss, even though sticking to Ketogenic protocol. ( and hence not GAINING!--but not losing)  Portion size DOES matter!

second--I really do seem to be one of those who is turning my dietary protein to sugar instead of turning to fat as fuel.  Hopefully a few rounds of the fat fast ( plus weight lifting) will fix that glitch!

my fasting blood sugar is still too high!  even on essentially zero carb  hmmm what to do about that I don't know.

writing it down

weight loss and body goals

they say it helps to tell people when you have goals--I don't knwo about that cause when you  don't follow throught you really feel like a fool but I need to put these thngs down on paper and this is my " journal so here goes.

I need to lose 25 pounds-- or be able to fit into my size 4 pants--currently am a 12-14. I haven't been this big .. well.... maybe ever.    every weight loss program i have tried in the past 10 years has only succeeded in making me fatter.  and the problem to be honest is mostly hormonal i.e. thyroid and menopausal  hormone imbalances.  I have been working with an acupuncturist since last may to address many of my health issues and am no ready to seriously tackle this size issue.

 I am starting on a 12 week JUST DO IT program  and this is an eat right/ take your meds and go to the gym like you KNOW you are supposed to program.

the program goes like this:
food--paleo/primal real food  limited grains, low carb, no sugar, high fa,t moderate protein.  fasting blood sugar has been very high lately--in the pre-diabetic range so I HAVE TO do this!  acceptable treats include nuts, fruit and chocoperfection chocolate--no splenda and it's probiotic.  alcohol limited to  stuff that doens't need sweet-- wine or tequila shots --and only on weekends!!!!!


one tweak:  no splenda or other sweetener except small amounts of xylitol (which is probiotic)  reason for the splenda prohibition  is because there is some evidence that it reduces gut flora which segues nicely into the
supplements

thyroid
throid supporting chinese herbs 4 grams at breakfast
vitamin d3 5,000 untis daily
Berberine for blood sugar control
weight loss chinese herbs 2 grams at lunch 2 grams at dinner
probiotic pills--2 with each meal
digestive enzymes one per meal
weekly vitamin b 12 shots

exercise
monday full body weights--lifting heavy
tuesday HIIT at gym or Zumba
Wed. Hot yoga
thurs accupuncturist
Fri HIIT or Zumba again
Sat off
Sunday off

starting weight is 149.9 and goal is to do this program for 12 weeks--ending May 1st.  Failure consists of  not doing the program-- not where the weight ends up.  if I really stick to this and don't lose any weight  then something in my hormones is seriously messed up and I will need to find a Doc to help me deal!!!!!!

I stayed in Utah for the Holidays  and had a great time celebrating with my Grands!

I got to have TWO Christmas mornings as Zach had his with his kids the day before.

Alec--age four Zach's youngest

Jacob, age 7( also Zach's)

Alec photo bombing us!  Caleb, Zach and Me

Christmas morning at Reni's

white Christmas-- out the front window

gingerbread houses!

some Pics from the lovely luncheon after Dennis' memorial service. Dennis deid of a heart attack on Dec 14th  The Memorial service was on Dec 21st.

Serenity, Caleb, Gusti, Josh, Patience, Seth, Emily, Zach

Mandy, Zach's fiance and Willow Josh's youngest daughter being silly

everybody

grandkids--there are 16 here --about 10 are missing

Kira, Emily and Gusti

some old friends of Dennis' from his high school days.  it was amazing that they joined us. Sharon Storey,  her sister Donna Storey McRae, Donna's husband Danny McRae, who was Dennis Best friend, and then his Sister.  The Storey's were Dennis' second family and were instrumental in his joining the Church.

Patience, Kyle, Kira and Kali Darling

Josh and his sons Noah, Isaac, Adam and Caleb

The Man Who Came to Dinner

before thanksgiving till before Christmas I was in the Play " The Man Who came to Dinner at Spotlight"  Dennis  died on the 14th and in order to go to the funeral i had to leave the show just before the final weekend.  Our illustrious director ( and my friend) Bernie took over the role for the last two performances.  The cast was WONDERFUL and I really enjoyed this show VERY small but funny role! I'm the frumpy one in the grey wig.

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1/14/13

12/10/12

I've been using Nerium serum plus red light therapy.