My new chair

New "chair"

"Old" chair

Out with the old and in with the new. Right? I have replaced the recliner with a recumbent bike. Borrowed the bike from one of the sons, it was in their garage! I like it! Much easier on the back. New Year's resolution? No, just an accountability to myself and a niece. Over Christmas I overheard one of LaVern's nieces telling her sister she wanted to lose 30 pounds before spring break. (swimsuit issue, I would guess) Anyway, I told her why didn't we both go at it and encourage each other on Facebook. I have 80 pounds to lose so the "challenge" was on! lol Both of us are very competitive and that is a positive for me. Other positives for me: age, experience and the great outdoors that I love to be in. Negatives for me: age, bad knees and hips, 80# to lose. She is young (late 20's), lives in a city right across the street from one of those big gyms! lol However, she is going to college and works part time and that is HARD to balance especially where meals are concerned. So easy just to "grab and go" and that is tough. We are both giving up sugar and flour. Have you ever tried that? EVERYTHING has sugar and most things we love to eat include flour. But I am finding recipes that work and sharing with her. She also lives close to a Whole Foods grocery store. We stopped there on the way home and I bought several things to try. Got some organic brown rice that is yummy and very reasonable. My biggest weakness would be breads, pasta and Mexican food. I found some spagetti made out of rice...........not rice flour....just rice. Can't wait to try it.

LaVern is moving around a little today and that is a good thing. He says he feels better. Back to chiro tomorrow. I'm heading out for a walk! (will be thinking of my walking partners back there in Oberlin.....get out and walk girls!)

Back pain

Great plans for this weekend, all the things he was going to get done. LaVern ran the vacumn this morning since the sun was shining brightly. I have heard it said that making the bed and vacumning are the two worse things that you can do for your back. I may have to agree as LaVern sat down to put different shoes on and then when he tried to get up he could barely walk. He is still hobbling around this afternoon his back hurts so bad. He took Ibuprophen, used the heating pad (he thinks its muscular) and I put some mineral ice on his back. No relief yet. He has laid on the floor with his legs up (like our chiropractor told us to do). That gave him some relief until he got back up again. Back pain is just the pits as nothing really helps and it gets depressing after awhile as you can't do anything and nothing relieves the pain. What a way to start the New Year!!

54 years later and he can still rock and roll

A special tribute for his mother on her 85th birthday. He usually had on a red checkered western shirt in all the old reel movie pictures we watched but we couldn't find a photo of him in that shirt. That would have been great because all these years later........a red checkered western shirt!! "Back then" the accordian was the "cool" instrument to play and several of his friends all took lessons and played. His mother loved it and sang some of the Christmas tunes that he played. Priceless moments to be cherished.

Whew! Holidays are exhausting!

It seems like the holiday routine is: sleep, get up, eat, play games, eat, sleep (nap) play games, eat (by now we are stuffed) games, sleep. Exhausting! We just finished eating (late) as we went to the candlelight service first. Lots of visiting, laughing.....a happy confluence of family. Hope you all are enjoying your Christmas. We are ours.