My heart is just a little more splintered today. When I awoke yesterday morning my, actually G.'s, dog, Rowdy, I discovered had passed away. I texted G. and she came over to help me set him in my truck. We both had a cry and stroked him. He will be missed. I've cried a few more times too.

Delilah and Cray-ray seem to be looking for him. Cray-ray has slept with me a lot more than usual these last couple of nights.

He didn't greet me when I came home the night before nor did he eat. Not even a chicken jerky treat that he loves. It all seemed to happen very quickly. Tues. he was a little off but he ate, he wanted to go for a walk but something was off as I said. Wed. he didn't come to get me outa bed but he went to his food bowl. He drink a lot of water but I noticed he didn't eat his breakfast. Thurs. he didn't get up at all and wouldn't even eat his treat. I texted G. and told her he wasn't right and she thought to wait a day but it wasn't meant to be.

I had to teach at the JCC in the morning and afterward I took his body to the funeral home to be cremated.

I must say that when I discovered sweet Rowdy, I posted it on fb and the outpouring of love and concern we got was stunning. Unreal. It was sincerely overwhelming, how many people responded. To all of you, Thank you. My heart was so heavy and you all made me feel less alone in it. Thank you also for letting me share my pain.

Another rock legend also passed away this last week. Paul Kantner, from the Jefferson Airplane. I don't know about anyone else but enough is enough. Every week another person has left the world we know this year. I'm ready for some stability for awhile.

On another note, I know that cooking helps me settle so I made some Beef Stew yesterday and today I'm making some Cream of Mushroom Soup from scratch. Of course these recipes will be posted on my recipe page. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Plus, you know whats in it! No preservatives.  

What helps you settle or calm down when you're stressed or depressed? Sometimes I garden, of course dancing helps as well, exercise, going for a walk.

I need to take Delilah and probably Cray-ray too, on a walk. they're depressed too and need some attention. It'll do me good too, to get outside and breathe in some fresh air.

Changing the subject once again, I've lost 3 of the 7#'s I'd put back on over the stressful end of the year. I can't blame it on the holidays but definitely the stresses of some clients and the insanity at the workplace that was a result from that. Anyways, as I said 3 down 4 to go and then I will consider it weightloss again. It felt good to see that darn scale go back the other way again, I must admit. 

I try to not focus on the numbers but rather the direction they're going in. Remember, nutrition is a much bigger part in the equation than most of us Baby Boomers want it to be. Much more so than exercise to be honest.

The equation is simple, calories in vs. calories out. If you wish to drop some lb.s, you have to ingest less calories than you burn. Period.

Portion control people. Most of us do not need to eat as much as we do. The baby boomers hear our parents, who grew up during the depression, telling us to clean our plates. "There's starving children in Ethiopia." Yes, there are but we don't play or move as we did when we were younger, the body does slow down, like it or not. BUT...we're still hearing mom & dad in our ears and eating as though we are moving like we're 17 years old. Face it, we're not!

We need to to really take a good, long look at our portions. Yes, eat what you want. And, hopefully, it's nutritionally sound, but try not to eat quite so much of it.

I'm probably making this sound easier than it really is. It's not. It took me a while to get to eating 'til I'm satisfied and not eating 'til it's gone or I'm so stuffed that I can't breathe or need to unbutton the top button of my jeans.

Satisfaction not saturation, if that makes sense. Slow down, enjoy what you eat. Chew it a bit more, savor the flavor of the food. Eat well not all. Ok? Good. Now enjoy the day, think of Rowdy and smile.

Peace out and keep dancing

Good grief, it's been a crazy couple of weeks yet again. I finally got hit with whatever is going around and apparently, not 1 but 2 virus'. The nurse thinks I had 1 on top of another.

I had been offered and took an extra day off at work by someone who wanted some more hours. I thought it would help me get healthy again. Well, I woke up the morning before at 4:30a.m. to be at work at 6:30a.m. as usual but when I went to say "good morning." to the pets, I had no voice to speak with. Great, right? I'm sure many folks would be thrilled with that occasion but enjoy it while it lasts Ya'll. Hee-hee!

I couldn't even "call out" 'cuz no one could've heard me. So in I went. I had to write a note to the powers that be, so they could 1) take me out of any teaching or 2) send my butt home. Well, home I went and stayed for 5 days. BORING! But I even had to take another day off to be sure. When I felt well enough to start cleaning out all of the piles of papers in my office and vacuum the house, it was time to get back to work. I do still have a little residual nasal/sinus issue but I'm not wiped out like I was.

I must say that it felt so good to get through and rid of so much crap in the house. Now I have to go back through all of the papers, etc. that I'm keeping and organize them and put them away in their appropriate places.

Getting ahead of "spring cleaning" feels fabulous. I have a few items I'd like to get rid of and now that I can get to them, I can. Get ready Craig's List, I'm coming.

We just celebrated my Mom's 94th birthday last night. I ordered and picked up a lot of Chinese food, G. brought a beautiful fruit torte and brother B. brought the wine. My niece brought the baby. (She's so funny, loves her tongue.)

94, unbelievable. I wish she were more "with it" but she does still know who we are and I think thats something. Sadly, she asked where my brother L. was and G. just said he was busy but wished her a happy birthday. That seemed to make her happy. Truth is, he died
30 years ago.

Mom was completely in her glory last night. She does love being the center of attention and getting to hold the baby. She loves baby's, always has. So there were 4 generations of Edelen gals together. Pretty cool all in all.

I don't know how much longer we have her for but I'll continue to go see her every week, even if she does just sleep through most of it. She is 94 for cryin' out loud, she can sleep all she wants. She's earned it.

We've lost a number of talented people already this new year. David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Glenn Frey just to name a few.

It's sad that so many have passed. so much talent gone but at last we have their work to watch and listen to to remember them by.

We all have to go someday and the party awaiting us is going to be amazing.

Thanks to all of you for the music, the talent you shared with us all and the thoughts you provoked due to that talent. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

On to a different note, we had an amazing bit of Kettlebell training at work the week I went back from being sick. I loved it. This was a bit different from the training I'd been to about 5 years ago. I really enjoyed this. I liked the prior training too but this time around, the trainer made it more appropriate for actually teaching clients and classes. 

Kettlebell isn't so much about about strength as it is power and momentum utilizing unbalanced weight. I watch with terror (ok, a bit of an overstatement but...) as people try to lift the weight up out in front of them rather than allow the "swing" to do the work. It's also about using the de-celeration of the movement, controlling it to prevent womping it against your body.

Done right, they really are a lot of fun to work with.

I had an open hour last week and decided to go in and workout. I did about 10 min. on the bike doing intervals, then on to 3-5 min. kettlebell work, back to the bike and intervals, again to kettlebells, finished on the bike and Voila! Full body workout. 30 min. in and done.

I'll post the workout on the Workout page for ya if you want to give it a try.

Have a great year everyone. Make it a happy and healthy one.


Peace out and keep dancing.

Here's hoping that the New year found you all happy and healthy. I spent a nice, fairly quiet New Years with my sis G. at her place having dinner and watching fireworks from her balcony. I went back to her place the next morning for quiche and mimosas. Yum. On the 2nd of Jan. I took her out for breakfast and went back home.

I've been fighting something for quite awhile and really got hit last Wed. with no voice. I couldn't even call out 'cuz no one could hear me facing them let alone over the phone. I went in for a couple of hours and then got sent home, where I've been ever since. 

I did go to Minute clinic and had a strep test done. Initial test was negative but they sent a 2nd one in to be sure. Haven't heard back yet either way. The nurse practitioner believes that I had a virus and then contracted another 1 before I got rid of the 1st one and got seriously hit. I'd had a sore throat for a long time and we'd been really, really busy at work, so I never got much of a chance to rest my throat. It felt as though I was teaching and/or talking for 6-8 hours every day for 3 weeks solid. I'd be so wiped out that I'd go to bed around 7 or maybe 8 if I had a sudden surge of energy.

It is cold & flu season right now please, take care of yourself. Wash your hands often, cover your mouth with tissue or at least the crook of your elbow when you cough or sneeze. That'll help stop the spread of the airborne virus germs. Take the time off if you're sick, you need to think of your co-workers here. I had actually taken a day off 'cuz someone wanted some hours and I wanted to get well but alas, it was a day late! Oh well, you can't win 'em all.

This is my 3rd day at home and boy, am I bored. I've been having soup and hot water with honey & lemon. Good stuff! (Sarcasm people) I decided to to finally make the cream of broccoli soup I bought the makings for today. The veggie broth is simmering as I write this.

Yes, I make my own stock most of the time. My recipe for the broccoli soup is on the recipe page but the veggie stock isn't so here it goes. Of course you can always use store bought.

Veggie Stock

1-2 tbs olive oil
1-2 tbs unsalted butter
2-3 carrots chopped
3 stalks celery chopped
1 onion chopped
4 peppercorns
1 whole clove
1/2 tsp thyme leaves (I used dried)
1 tbs basil or parsley
6 C water

Heat oil & butter on medium heat. Add veggies and heat covered for about 5 min. or onion is soft and a little translucent. Add water and herbs/spices and simmer for 30-45 min. uncovered.

The poor animals aren't too happy right now, They haven't gotten a walk all week. I've been way to pooped and sick. Now we're having rain and there's  snow on the mountains.
It's gorgeous but cooollllddddd! Brrrr!

Trying to get all the way healthy again before going back to work.

I wanted to get going again on my own fitness regimen but between the bat-shit crazy person at work for a few weeks and then the holidays and much of the staff taking time off, I didn't stand a chance. It's not like I don't workout for a living and more so these last few weeks. Hee-hee!

I've decided to ask a couple of co-workers to work with me to push me out of my slump and break a few boundaries. the ones in my head I mean. They've accepted so on to fun & games and taking care of necessities.

Wish me as I wish you the same. On to a fitter, healthier 2016.

Peace out & keep dancing