Laughing Wolf
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Working Out
As some have guessed, there are changes going on in my life. One of the best ones, in my opinion, is that I am finally getting to work out again on a regular basis. I’ve had to change gyms, but that has worked out well too. The new gym has a new owner; an amazing amount of new gear including Precor ellipticals and ARC trainers, treadmills, Cybex and Eagle Machines, and a nice collection of FreeMotion machines—along with some older Keiser pneumatic machines; a wide range of classes, a pool, and more. The staff is pretty good too, and part of the deal was a free assessment by the head of fitness. No real surprises there (actually, BMI was better than I thought, still not good, but better) and she made some recommendations.
The new routine includes an hour of ARC work for cardio and endurance, simulating running. Three days a week I also do leg press, leg extension, leg curl, a machine lower abdominal (can’t really call it a crunch), inclined crunches, FreeMotion chest/arm pull, hip abduction/adduction, and sometimes a bit more. Two days a week I do a pneumatic (Keiser) crunch, arm extension, curls while on a Bosu ball, side raises on a Bosu ball, another arm exercise on the Bosu ball, Farmer’s carries, a FreeMotion crunch, elliptical for target work and additional endurance/cardio, and sometimes a bit more. I’m also adding a “Body Flow” class that uses Tai Chi, Yoga, and some other torture to improve flexibility, balance, and give extra work on core. The workout on the Bosu ball helps with balance and works the core even as you do targeted exercises. Let me be up front and admit I have no balance, coordination, and my flexibility bites.
I (and the body) had gotten used to going to the gym near work at lunch. As part of the changing up of things, I’m now slipping over in the evenings, which also helps me to get to the class I’ve chosen. Hope to be up to some of the more dynamic classes soon, but not rushing it. I’m starting to get in a good two hours a day, going to three plus on the days of the class. Think I am going to be trying out the Sauna soon. 
The cardio base is coming back. Not what it was before I had to quit going to the gym, but my recovery time is good and I’m having to push a bit more each day to get it up to the higher end of the workout range. It also shows in that I am now burning at least 1500 calories a workout, and pushing into 2000—in excess of 3000 based on doing the class as part of this. My goal is to get to where I’m burning 2000-3000 calories in a regular workout, with much more on days of class. Will see. Had to buy a new Polar monitor as the old one died. Still getting used to the new one, but am glad to be getting accurate readings again, both from it and the gear. One advantage to the switch was proof of my suspicion that the gear at the old gym was giving false readings.
The ARC trainer the guru put me on is doing a better job on some of the cardio and lower body than the elliptical was. It allows you to expand the range of motion, so that you get much more out of it. You can also turn it into a stair-stepper if you care to, but I am pushing more towards a run for both the workout and to work flexibility a bit. Besides, as weight and fat come off it can help me get into running on a regular basis, maybe.
The guru has also changed up my eating a bit. I’m giving up my beloved Cheerios in favor of a protein and fiber cereal for breakfast, with an egg every other day. Getting used to eating just one measured cup of cereal a day has been/is interesting. Going healthier on lunch, doing a salad with a small bit of blue cheese crumbles, diced chicken breast, and a balsamic vinaigrette I whipped up for most of this week. Will be changing that up a bit too soon, once I run out of salad. Dinner is very light, and may be a protein shake again tonight. Trying to eat a container of yogurt a day too, along with a fresh banana or such.
That’s it for now. We will be continually changing things a bit to keep the body from adapting and to get the most out of things. My goal is to lose four inches by the end of September. It’s gonna hurt, but be worth it.
LW
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
ER Solutions Sucks
Got a weird call this afternoon, with what sounded like an older female demanding to know who I was, how long I had the number, etc. At no point did they identify themselves and the conversation was short. Being curious, I did some quick searching and then called back as there was a block on information.
Turns out, the person did identify themselves and that they worked for ER Solutions. Some quick digging turned up that they are a collection agency (they may prefer a different title, but...) with a large number of complaints showing online over their phone manners. Particularly their phone manners with wrong numbers or numbers that just don’t go with whomever they are after. Don’t take my word for it, go to dogpile.com and be prepared to do a fair bit of reading of online complaints.
Color me unimpressed, and if I could find a way to file a complaint with my cellular provider about them, I would. If the complaints and my experience are an example of their work, l’d look elsewhere for a collection agency. No manners, no customer service, and no apologies. They suck.
LW
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
A Quick Jenny Update
Jenny has bounced back further and better than I ever dared hope. The last few days has seen something very close to the “old” Jenny from before the strokes. She still has senior moments and such, but the spirit is back. It is a good thing to see.
For those who asked, we know she is at least 12. She could be 1 to 3 years older than that. She has “crunchies” in her hips and other related things that plague us all as we get older. Her sight is gone, and the strokes seem to have taken out some of her sense of smell as well. It is both amusing and heartbreaking to see her in the yard with a rabbit ten or so feet away, and no clue it is there.
That said, she is back a bit feisty, determined, and laughing. She is enjoying life, and getting used to spending more and more time inside. While she likes being out, she’s also decided that air conditioning and such is not such a bad thing in the heat, much as she decided heat this winter was not an unneeded and unappreciated luxury.
More soon, and thanks from her and from me for all the good wishes sent her way!
LW
Monday, July 12, 2010
A Special Day With Jenny
Yesterday, Jenny’s friend Miss Bris was kind enough to have Jenny join her for a walk around the perimeter trail at Wolf Park. The two human servants armed themselves with lopping shears, and did a bit of trimming and clearing along the way, while the two dogs explored and stretched their legs a bit.
Miss Jenny did far better than I expected, especially since I suspected she might have had another small stroke the night before. She was off a bit, but once we got there she perked up a small bit. A therapist who comes to do cranial-sacral therapy on the wolves was there early, heard what was going on, and gave Jenny as much as she would allow. It really did seem to help a bit (and big thanks to SP for that!), though by the time we finished the walk you could tell she was very tired. Given the height of the grass, it was as much a swim as a walk in some ways.
When we left, she leaned her head hard into my shoulder as we drove away, her way in days past of saying thanks. It meant the world to me. She was tired enough she slept or rested almost the rest of the afternoon, evening, and night. It took a bit out of her, but it was so good to see her so happy. She got into something at one point, and may have urped up whatever it was, but when she left that area and came over to where we were, she had the biggest grin on her face…
I stayed unplugged as much as I was able most of the day, and it was good for me too. While Jenny was resting right after the walk, I got to go look at the wolf puppies sleeping, and say hi to some old friends. It was good to walk around and say hi, and I even bumped into some two-legged friends and got to catch up a bit.
Not sure Jenny is going to be up to another walk like that soon, but will see how she is doing towards next Sunday. I think she enjoyed it, and that it was good for her. It was always one of her favorite things to do, because I could let her off her lead and she could run, walk, and explore on her own. I hope that for all it exhausted her, that it also brought her good memories and some good time now.
LW
Monday, July 05, 2010
A Note On Jenny
Some or most of you may know from Facebook, but Jenny has had a rough time this last week. Age has been creeping up on her slow but steady, and took a huge jump Wednesday night/early Thursday morning. Already blind, and with a bit of hearing loss normal for her age (at least 12, could be higher), she began acting funny and raised my concern. My first thought was that she had picked up her yearly urinary/kidney infection she seems to get. I tried to observe her peeing to see if I could see a change in color (quick tell), and she delighted in keeping me from observing. Thus went a lot of Thursday when I was home.
Then, some of the symptoms began not to add up Thursday evening. Problems with movement, bumping into things, and a need to be very close to me. These, combined with a slight urea smell in her scent caused me to consider kidney failure. I also considered stroke, but wasn’t seeing some signs I expected, so put that at second.
So, I called the vet early Friday morning and made an appointment (first open actually) after work on Friday, and so we went. Jenny has never liked the vets but this time she got up on the chair next to me and all but got in my lap she was so scared. To be honest, I was really worried at this point about her kidneys the most, and little miss cuddlebug instead of her normal independent self added to the fear. Our regular vet wasn’t available, but the vet who was, was great and she went over things. We drew blood to check kidney and liver function, and Jenny got her temperature taken for the first time while conscious.
The vet had given her a treat which she was considering. When the thermometer went in, the treat went sailing across the room a good two to three feet. Jenny was not amused, but held still to find out she had a temperature up a bit but not significantly. The blood work, btw, showed that her kidneys are working great, esp. for her age.
The final diagnosis is a stroke or strokes, combined with what appears to be the canine equivalent of Alzheimer’s. The news is not good, especially as we can expect more strokes and more deterioration. It is good, in that if it had been her kidneys she would now be gone. We will take what time together we have, and make the most of it.
As for Jenny, she is bouncing back a bit in her getting around. Slower, a bit more prone to go into things, more cautious. She gets in almost puppy moods on occasion, and now more than ever wants to be close by me. She is in no pain or discomfort, getting showered with treats, and attention. I’ve been passing along hugs and such from well-wishers, which she accepts with some measure of good grace—most of the time.
As long as she is in no discomfort and able to enjoy life, all is good. The cowardly part of me hopes she chooses the time to leave, and the other will deal with what comes. In the few short years she’s been with me since being tossed out of a car and into my life are the richer for having had her. I’ve always known that time would be short because of her age, but am grateful for what we’ve had. I like to think we’ve been good for each other, and dealing with the thought of loosing her has occupied my time of late. It is good for now, but we will see how long.
LW
How Did You Spend Your 4th?
I had one of the best in years, because of what one person started. Go read about it at Blackfive.
Sunday, July 04, 2010
July 4, 2010
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Friday, July 02, 2010
Cooking with the Troops Logo Contest Winners
The story is up Blackfive. Go take a look.
LW
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tammi’s Back
For those of you, like me, who have missed Tammi’s World, well Tammi is back. Go check out Tammi’s Trail and welcome her back.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
A Funny But Serious Video
No matter what you call them— breasts, hooters, fun bags, tits, delicious, whatever—you need to take care of them. Someone had fun with the concept of “honking” and came up with this. And, it says, don’t wait until you feel something wrong. Meantime, enjoy the laugh and check them out. Heck, have fun and let someone else check them out for you…
LW
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
A Reminder of Good Things
First, I want to let all three of you regular readers know that Cooking with the Troops is now a 501(c)(3) organization.
Second, sorry for the lite posting, but life has been interesting. Yet, though much of it has started in the tradition of the Chinese Curse I’ve constantly been reminded of the fact that everything happens for a reason (a good one) and that everything works out for the best in the end (even if a pain in the end until then). I’ve learned a bit and hopefully grown in a positive way from all of it; I’ve been reminded that good friends are a treasure; I’ve been reminded that help and friends can be found in good people everywhere; and, that good things do happen.
More soon, but take the time to enjoy all that is good in life, and to enjoy life in the process. Remember this from The Way Of The Wolf:
Savor each moment given to you as if a ripe peach:
Grasp the firmness in your fingers
Feel the fuzz on your fingertips
Let the scent fill your nose
Explore its taste with your tongue
Take its flesh with passion
Let its juices flood you and run down your chin in abandon
LW
Monday, May 31, 2010
Memorial Day 2010
Post is up at Blackfive.
LW
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Into The Light
This Memorial Day weekend, I want to remember three who have passed this last week (or so). They did not serve in uniform, but at least two of them (if not all) supported those that did.
Gary Coleman: may the light have welcomed you home, you have found the peace that eluded you in life.
Art Linkletter. The man was a loved and well remembered part of my childhood. Outside of some vague memories of a series of reports examining the death of JFK, some of my earliest memories of television revolve around him and Red Skelton. Wholesome fun, good humor, amazing word play, and kids saying the darndest things. At 95, he outlived three of his children, and continued to do good works long after he left the spotlight.
Dennis Hopper, who came out of the closet on being a Republican a number of years ago. A maverick, a free spirit, and more. I particularly like Roger L. Simon’s tribute to him. It is worth quoting the money quote:
“So when you think of Dennis on that iconic bike in Easy Rider, think of America at its best, out on the open road, optimistic and heading straight on with unflinching belief in liberty.”
Right now, I wish I had a bike, or even access to one, so I could go for wandering ride and explore. I miss a certain old 400-4, that was mine even when it wasn’t.
The celeb trifecta is complete for now. As for me, I have very fond memories that come out as I think of them, and I thank them for that.
LW
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
First Two Submissions Are In!
The contest is barely a day old, and already we have two submissions. Go check them out, and help spread the word!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Logo Contest Underway!
Not asking for money, just artwork.
Cooking with the Troops has kicked of a national logo contest to get a logo. And, we have prizes (and hope to add a few more even). Among other things, we have The Spice House providing some treats (a jumbo barbecue gift box set for the winner; a basic spices gift box for second place; and, a small barbecue gift box for third); singer Gretchen Wilson providing a variety of autographed goods; and, author Michael Z. Williamson has provided not only autographed books, but a knife crafted by him as part of his Sharp Pointy Things operation.
If you know anyone who is a graphic designer or artist, let them know about it. Please help spread the word.
Thanks,
LW
Content copyright C. Blake Powers and the individual authors. Comments become the property of C. Blake Powers and may be altered, edited, deleted, and used by C. Blake Powers or the individual authors without restriction or recompense.
