Bittersweet Memories

Hello my friends and Happy New Year! Another year gone by - Christmas is over and we're off to make plans to make this year better (I hope!). I've started Weight Watchers (again) only this time I'm going to the meetings because doing it by myself just on line did not pan out for me last time. I failed miserably. Obviously, I need the support meetings give you. My next meeting is on Tuesday morning, so we'll see how well I did. I gained a bunch of weight over the holdiays and my blood pressure was over the roof and that really scared me so that I can no longer afford not to go to Weight Watchers. I know it works because every time I stick with it, I lose the weight ... I love this plan better than anything else because you are not restricted and can have anything you want. I don't have to buy supplements or special foods unless I want to and it's ok to use with any foods that you like, be it vegetarian, low carb, even the Paleo diet. You can do it all with the help of Weight Watchers. It's just a matter of being reasonable and accountable. I'm an impulse eater and often over eat, so now I'm mindful of what I put in my mouth and it seems to work because as a bread addict, I have not eaten any bread (except a few whole weat tortillas to make some wraps) I do not miss it. It's all a matter of establishing good habits. I suppose only time will tell because I'm in it for the long haul.

I hope you all survived the holidays relatively unscarred and made some good memories. Mine were quiet and somewhat melancholy. I had some health issues (as usual) but for the most part, I'm ok. I look healthy, so if I ever drop dead unexpectedly, people will say: "oh, my gosh! I just saw her the other day and she looked so healthy!" well, that's me... I rarely look sick unless I'm dying or under general anesthesia ;-) Must be all the water I drink and the veggies I eat, they give me a healthy glow. I'm lucky to love fruits and veggies, that makes losing weight easier. My problem is carbs and portion size, but I'm getting that under control.

As you know, I live on Facebook now and if you ever want to visit, just type in Doris Sturm (in Lakeland, GA) in case there are other Doris Sturms and even my dogs have pages. My Weezie Mae and Mr. Ted E. Barker (aka Teddy Ruffhausen).... and I still keep Gizzy's page up ... I miss him so much and it's been two hears since he died.

Another reason I hardly blog is that every time I come here, I remember my boy and all the wonderful times we've shared... this blog isn't about crocheting at all (as it turns out) but a memorial to my Gizzy and it just hurts me so much to remember those times of us together - even though I should be over it by now, especially since I have two other fur babies to love. But, so be it!

Again, I'm on Facebook, but will try to check in from time to time. I can barely keep up with my friends on Facebook, so blogging on top of it would eat up all my days... I'm trying really hard to get away from computing so much. I enjoy it, but it really takes up most of my time if I'm not careful.

Oh, by the way, I'm in a new apartment. They refurbished/redid all our units, so I'm living in another location, but same complex. I love it. We have a much bigger kitchen now and a dishwasher (my new best friend) I love cooking and baking because clean up is so easy now. They also provided all of us with a Whirlpool energy efficent front loading washer and dryer, so I sold my Kenmore set and they're working on making us a community carden. We each get a 4' X 4' bed to grow what we want ... a lot of people won't want to gaden, so who ever wants that space, can have it. Also, our Social Hall has a computer room with three computers with internet access and a small gym with two recumbent bikes and a thread mill...so I'm pretty happy about that :-)

Tomorrow is Holy Three Kings day, or the Epiphany, so that's when I'm taking down all my Christmas stuff, so here's a photo of my little 4' tree and some decorations. I made it look cozy for myself and the dogs. I had no company, but got lots of cards and a few packages in the mail, including a new digital camera from a friend in Singapore. My Fujifulm Finepix finally broke and the cell phone photos just did not cut the mustard (so-to-speak) All in all I feel blessed and wish you all a happy and healthy 2014!

 Weezie Mae, the sweetest and calmest dog in the world.

Teddy Bear (aka Ted E. Barker, Teddy Ruffhausen, The Tedinator, Teddy Kreuger, etc)

Teddy loves the squeaky doggy toys I crochet and here he is chewing on a drumstick I made for him.

A collage of my apartment with the decorations.

Weezie wearing her pink hoodie she got from a friend in a Christmas gift exchange.

Teddy wearing his hoodie he got from a friend in a Christmas gift exchange.

Hello there ... it's been a long time!

Hi everyone! Some of you may remember me, but I've been gone for almost a year. Been busy mostly with my health and find Facebook more efficient for me to handle.

Without going too much into the boring details, I survived a six-months anti viral treatment and have been Hep C free for several months. My six-months check up will be in a couple of weeks and I hope for good results.

During that time I was anemic and so weak that I could no longer keep up with Romeow and had to find him a new home. I still miss him, but I know he's happy. I periodically hear from my friend and he says that Romeow is a happy boy and that he is very well loved.

I did however adopt another Peke from Facebook. Teddy is from Alabama and he came to me in December. On the day I picked him up, I ended up in the ER for another surgery and my neighbor took care of Weezie and Teddy for the three weeks over Christmas and New Years while I was hospitalized.

I'm feeling better now, but I know I'll never be well again since I suffer from chronic infection (I was on a PICC line for 8 weeks) and was seen by an Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in exchanging hip implants. His office is in Atlanta at the Emory University Hospital. I was going to go to the Mayo Clinic because of the complicated procedure of the process, but they were not accepting any new patients at the time. My metal implants are leaching Chromium and Cobalt in my blood and that is poisionous and can cause all sorts of serious health problems, but that's another story.

Right now I just want to introduce you to Teddy, who is about 4 years old and a riot. He's a silly boy and loves to play with his squeaky toys and enjoys his food more than any dog I've ever had. He wants to try everything I eat and even enjoys some fruits and veggies. Weezie is basically a meat and potato gal, but she loves cheese.

I'm so glad I have my energy back so we have been walking around the lake every morning, except today is raining again - our third day of rain in a row. Teddy's not happy and he makes sure I'm not either ;-) I may try taking them and bring my rain coat. The dogs need a bath anyway. They don't exactly love each other, but learned to accept each other and more or less pass each other like two ships in the night. Weezie is slowly coming around and it may take a while, but at least we have no confrontations. Teddy is not pushy with her and considers her moods and follows her lead, so all is well, but he does torment me sometimes, simply because I let him. I'm afraid I have spoiled him rotten, but I call it: customized to my needs.

Teddy

  

Teddy at Lake Irma

Teddy and Weezie on my rollater/walker when I pushed them home

Weezie (l) and Teddy having a conversation

Us

Weezie in back and Teddy up front

A collage of my three dogs, past and present in the same kiddie swing at Roquemore Park (and a dragonfly that I photographed.) Gizzy is top left and Teddy beside him and below is Weezie.

My pretty Weezie girl

Our new neigh-bors!

Looking pretty in her new summer cut (from last Spring)

Recent photo of me (from last week)

Last but not least, my Gizzy boy in heaven, whom I still miss very, very much!

Have a nice weekend everyone! I'll try to write more and share more photos, even if it's just with my cell phone camera because my digital broke and I don't know when I can get a new one. Take care and stay healthy!