May & June Birthdays!

 May 1st - Adam W.

May 3rd - Alanda M.

May 4th - Carole B.

May 6th - Kendra H.

May 7th - Rowan C.

June 5th - Amanda W.

June 17th - Thomas N.

June 19th - Mary H.

June 25th - Richard P.

Welcoming an end to Spring with a beautiful start to Summer!

April Birthdays - [Better Late Than Never]

 April Birthdays... 

1st - Jackie F.

4th - Amanda S.

11th - Rhys M...

13th - Savanna W.

16th - Melody D. Sarah T. Mike P.

20th - Maria S.

22nd - James T. Cameron B. Liz R. 

Apologies for February & March Birthdays :):

 Apologies for February & March birthdays not getting posted this year. There weren't any submitted to post. We suppose it's been a chaotic time for our readers as much as for our writers.

We wish you all health and happiness during this holiday season.

"Obesity due to Anxiety..." By: A.L.M.*

[Welcome to February of 2022, everybody. I promise this won't be about Valentine's Day, though. I originally posted this on my Personal Blog but decided to have this posted on here as well since the physical problem stems from some of my mental health issues.] 

I've had many signs that my already fragile health has been in decline since the pandemic started. I have not gone to see my doctor, however, due to the obvious risk of getting CoVid19 in route. As a pedestrian, I walk and take the bus everywhere I go. This usually doesn't bother me, but the more I tried to get things done this way during this issue, the more uncaring imbeciles I would encounter. Knowing how little our society cares about this very real problem is more than enough to have me embracing my inner hermit. 

The worse I got, the more clear everything became. I read an article where a man having heart problems was denied from over 40 hospitals, eventually ending in his death, due to every hospital being filled with Covid19 patients. It doesn't surprise me that our local hospitals are having the same issue. 

So it isn't really surprising that I went into denial every time my chest started hurting or I couldn't breathe. There are a number of people who'll read this and say, "Maybe it's a panic attack?!" I assure you, as I've had anxiety attacks from the age of 8 years old, I know the difference. 

I take my medicine as prescribed, and my vitamins if things get too bad, but today a new revelation occurred. Now, I've been a bit overweight ever since puberty hit me when I was 10. I became obese somewhere in high school. I've been battling this weight issue for over 20 years. Nothing works because part of it was originally due to my mental health. However, these past few years have definitely made things worse. 

On December 4th I discovered my weight is up to 332 pounds. This is the heaviest I have ever been, including my 2 pregnancies. Was I upset? Absolutely. I have no idea if I've lost or gained since then. I do know my clothes still fit, though...

This said, today was a new revelation. I knew I had gained a lot of weight, specifically in my torso, but I had no idea how bad it really was. I took one of my antacids, as I do when my heartburn and indigestion occurs, only to nearly choke on it. It lodged in my throat because I got distracted and tried to take it like I would my vitamins. My mother was kind enough to perform the Heimlich maneuver about 7 times before she gave up and handed me orange juice instead. I'm too big to properly Heimlich. This is a new low and a new nightmare bringing about a bunch of added anxieties I definitely don't need in my life. 

I realize this isn't helpful in any way, but I have been trying to get back into shape. However, when you have 56DD breasts and asthma on top of being over 30 with all the pain and disfunction that number adds to an already messed up body - is it any wonder I'm having difficulty?

Lazy Girl workouts have been added to my daily life, but having a 5 year old jump on my spine does not encourage me to do much. I had a workout buddy before the pandemic, but this solitude has not been helpful in this tiny hotel room. Have a wonderful day!

*Requested Initials rather than full-name disclosure.*

Puppy Love by Melanie Peine.

 This is the second article I've written on my dog. I love my dog. Her name is Kitty. 

Kitty is helping me to center and create structure in my life. I have Bipolar and PTSD. Some days it's hard for me to even get out of bed. 

Kitty doesn't allow that. By 7AM, Kitty is ready for her morning walk! What that translates to is, at 7AM, I am dressed to the shoes - no matter what!

I may be wearing yesterday's clothes, but I'm up and moving! That little bit of a walk wakes my brain up, whether I like it or not!

Kitty adds normalcy to my life. I've had a very stressful, difficult month... and at times, Kitty's walk was the only normal, time-out, thing I was doing.

Kitty is a blanket hog. She likes to burrow in the covers - stealing half the blankets as she nestles down! She's a good cuddler, though. It feels good to have a snuggle buddy.

Kitty teaches time management. When I have to go somewhere, I need to allot time for her walk before I leave. 

This morning on her walk, Kitty walked in dog crap. I have 2 hours to write my article and get the proofreading done. I do not have time to bathe the dog! Better make time! Or else my whole house will have smears of crap all over it when I get home. That was a labor of love!

I'm wondering what it would take to make Kitty a service dog. She certainly is improving my life... 

Say whatever you like, Spell Check, but I declare "cuddler" to be a word!

January Birthdays... Wishing you lots of love & happiness!

1. Robert Smith Sr., Dennis Stanton
2. Phillis M.,
3. "Raindrops on roses & whiskers on kittens..." [Julie Andrews]
4. Autumn S.,
5. Tim M.
6. Alan W., Jeff Kane
7. "Hope is a waking dream..." [Aristotle]
8. "A dream is a wish your heart makes..." [Cinderella]
9. "Begin anywhere..."[John Cage]
10. Sage M.,
11. Ronnie Hammond, Elizabeth K. [best lit teacher ever!]
12. "The power of imagination makes us infinite." [John Muir]
13. "Be a voice, not an echo." [Albert Einstein]
14. Sara W.
15. "Everything you can imagine is Real." [Pablo Picasso]
16. Marie T., Jean Sisco (Best Poetry Teacher In The World!)
17. Marge D., BETTY WHITE [FOREVER LOVED]
18. "Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." [Maya Angelou]
19. "Everything you want is just outside your comfort zone." [Robert Allen]
20. Heather D.
21. "If you're not making mistakes, you're not making decisions." [Anonymous]
22. Brock B.
23. Beulah McRae
24. "You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress." [Sophia Bush]
25. "She remembered who she was and the game was changed." [Lalah Delia]
26. "There's never enough time to do all the Nothing you want." [Calvin & Hobbes]
27. "I believe in Reason. I believe in Progress." [Catherine the Great.]
28. "You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them." [Maya Angelou]
29. "I raise up my voice—not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard."
    [Malala Yousafzai]
30. James H.
31. "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." [Anaïs Nin]

For more inspirational quotes, just click here!

Happy Belated Birthday(s)... a look back on 2021.

 Since October, November, and December birthdays were forgotten or glossed over due to drama and chaos, I'm taking the opportunity now to do a look-back... 

October:

• Darcy S. (3rd)
• Donald M. [Jr.] (15th)
• Fawnna C. (18th)
• Sheryl W. (29th)
• Joanna W. (31st)

November:

• Dianne & Larry P. [Anniversary.] (11th)
• Azreel R. (13th)
• Joni & Willie W. [Anniversary] (15th)
• Willie W. (18th)
• Epi I. (19th)
• Winnie W. (27th)

December:

• Alan F. (3rd)
• Paul H. (8th)
• Daniel G. (12th)
• Patsy S. (15th)
• Erin K. (18th)
• Izzy Marie, Norman H., Tanya H. (24th)
• Carla K., Christopher M., Courtney B. (25th)
• Rick Carver (27th)
• Kenny T., Mary Eton, Lyn M., Tony The Karaoke King (30th)
• Byron S. (31st)