With petite builds, my Mother and I have never been one to hit the gym to exercise. We have always considered our active lives exercise enough! Now things have changed for my Mother. After her surgery this week she has been doctor ordered to do as much walking as she can tolerate and then do a little more.
Being unable to bend after back surgery, she has needed a lot of help from everyone in our family. I like to walk with her during the day. She likes to walk the perimeter of the back yard and the dogs happily follow us. Funny how I get tired before she does. I like to keep her talking so her mind will be off of her pain. Not that she complains. During the night the pain wakes her up and she will get up and walk around the den and around into the kitchen and back around again. She measured her steps and determined that it takes 18 of these rounds in the house to equal one walk around the yard. Our back yard is an acre so I guess that sounds about right. I just hope that this walking helps her make a full recovery soon.
Exercise is good for the body in so many ways. I don't think much about exercising because I do not need to lose weight and have healthy annual checkups. My mother lost 13 lbs. since all this started because the pain decreased her appetite. I hope this walking will help her appetite....and, I hope it doesn't increase mine as I walk along with her! I have heard the statistics on obesity and know that eating the right foods needs to be accompanied with exercise. With everyone so busy in today's world I think it is probably really hard to fit in an exercise regime if you are not into that sort of thing. Staying healthy is important. I found out that I actually enjoy walking and plan to keep it up on a regular basis.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Looks Can Be Deceiving
Did anyone happen upon the Westminister Dog Show this week or read about it in the paper? The Scottish Deerhound won Best in Show. This breed does not make the Top 10 list of favorite breeds in American pet homes and many people have never even heard of this kind of dog. Even if you are not a dog fan you might have heard someone comment about the fact that he won the show. Well, I am here to blog to you that looks can be deceiving....
All of the dogs in any given dog show are supposedly the best of the best. The owner or breeder recognizes something in the dog and gets it ready for showing in AKC (American Kennel Club) dog shows. The dog, no matter the breed, must meet certain standards of their particular breed and AKC rules must be followed. For example, a dog cannot be spayed or neutered if it is shown in the ring. Also, while not in the show ring or waiting to be shown in the ring, all dogs must stay in their crate at the show unless they are being taken out for a bathroom break by the owner/handler. I have never shown dogs and choose to not show my dogs because looks can be deceiving....
So, other than personal opinion that one particular kind of dog is downright ugly or too this or too that, how does one dog rank as the best in a dog show? Well, the point is....looks can be deceiving. I have been to many dog shows for many years specifically to see the Hound Group. My favorite breed, dachshunds, are hounds. I have made many friends over the years with dog show people. My standard dachshunds always come from a show person because it is just about the only place one can find a standard dachshund anymore. So, what is the deception? It all boils down, sadly to say, to politics....
"Politics: you do this for me and I'll do that for you or you owe me one" is one viewpoint of what goes on. Of course, politics can occur in just about any arena....sports, offices, jobs, etc. So, was the winner of the Westminister Show a political choice? Maybe, maybe not. What qualifies the judges to be the best judge of something that is often a decision based upon emotions or politics? As much as I love hounds, politics is precisely why I choose to never show one of my dogs. I already know they are the best! But, they are only the best to me. Another person's opinion on my dogs is not what counts in my heart. So, I don't need anyone telling me that my dog is or is not the best. For some people, their cat(s) is(are) the best. For others, no dog or not cat is the best. It's what makes the world go 'round! Just remember though, looks can be deceiving....The ugliest dog you may ever see may be the best in show to the one who loves them!
All of the dogs in any given dog show are supposedly the best of the best. The owner or breeder recognizes something in the dog and gets it ready for showing in AKC (American Kennel Club) dog shows. The dog, no matter the breed, must meet certain standards of their particular breed and AKC rules must be followed. For example, a dog cannot be spayed or neutered if it is shown in the ring. Also, while not in the show ring or waiting to be shown in the ring, all dogs must stay in their crate at the show unless they are being taken out for a bathroom break by the owner/handler. I have never shown dogs and choose to not show my dogs because looks can be deceiving....
So, other than personal opinion that one particular kind of dog is downright ugly or too this or too that, how does one dog rank as the best in a dog show? Well, the point is....looks can be deceiving. I have been to many dog shows for many years specifically to see the Hound Group. My favorite breed, dachshunds, are hounds. I have made many friends over the years with dog show people. My standard dachshunds always come from a show person because it is just about the only place one can find a standard dachshund anymore. So, what is the deception? It all boils down, sadly to say, to politics....
"Politics: you do this for me and I'll do that for you or you owe me one" is one viewpoint of what goes on. Of course, politics can occur in just about any arena....sports, offices, jobs, etc. So, was the winner of the Westminister Show a political choice? Maybe, maybe not. What qualifies the judges to be the best judge of something that is often a decision based upon emotions or politics? As much as I love hounds, politics is precisely why I choose to never show one of my dogs. I already know they are the best! But, they are only the best to me. Another person's opinion on my dogs is not what counts in my heart. So, I don't need anyone telling me that my dog is or is not the best. For some people, their cat(s) is(are) the best. For others, no dog or not cat is the best. It's what makes the world go 'round! Just remember though, looks can be deceiving....The ugliest dog you may ever see may be the best in show to the one who loves them!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Busy is Good!
This has been a busy week. My maternal grandmother turned 80 and my Mom and her 2 sisters put a surprise luncheon together to celebrate! She was so surprised and so pleased! There were 28 guests and they each got up and said their thoughts about my grandmother...many were very funny and others on the serious side. I had a great time! I admire my own mother for doing this while she endures the pain of a ruptured disc in her back. She wanted to wait until this event was over before she has the surgery. She has been through a lot of pain while taking the conservative approach of 12 weeks of physical therapy. I am glad that she is going to have the surgery now though.
I may be in the minority here, but I am looking forward to this cold weather to end. I am ready for Spring! Scraping ice off my windshield so that I can see to drive is not my idea of fun. I prefer Summer...the clothes are more comfortable and I love to walk barefoot around the house! I don't like to walk my dogs as much in the winter and even often cut the walk short. In the summer we will sometimes walk in both the early morning and at night.
Working on the memoir was a good thing for me. It made me more aware of authors who write memoirs that are on the best sellers lists. I just finished reading "A Child al Confino" by Eric Lamet. It is his memoir of growing up and living in Italy during WWII. I was very impressed by his story and enjoyed reading about everything he lived through. I usually don't have as much time to read for pleasure during the school week but I made time for this book since it was a memoir. I wanted to see what a published memoir book was like all the way through. I'm glad I did! I have tests coming up next week in my other classes so next week will be busy too!...the pleasure reading and dog walking may have to wait....Busy is good!
I may be in the minority here, but I am looking forward to this cold weather to end. I am ready for Spring! Scraping ice off my windshield so that I can see to drive is not my idea of fun. I prefer Summer...the clothes are more comfortable and I love to walk barefoot around the house! I don't like to walk my dogs as much in the winter and even often cut the walk short. In the summer we will sometimes walk in both the early morning and at night.
Working on the memoir was a good thing for me. It made me more aware of authors who write memoirs that are on the best sellers lists. I just finished reading "A Child al Confino" by Eric Lamet. It is his memoir of growing up and living in Italy during WWII. I was very impressed by his story and enjoyed reading about everything he lived through. I usually don't have as much time to read for pleasure during the school week but I made time for this book since it was a memoir. I wanted to see what a published memoir book was like all the way through. I'm glad I did! I have tests coming up next week in my other classes so next week will be busy too!...the pleasure reading and dog walking may have to wait....Busy is good!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Just A Thought: Fighting the good fight
Just A Thought: Fighting the good fight: "Lately I have been faced with some really tough and depressing situations. Things that maybe I knew where going on around me but I didn't re..."
Catherine ! Re-read Psalms 139 and Psalms 34 ! Maria
Catherine ! Re-read Psalms 139 and Psalms 34 ! Maria
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