tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137911742024-03-15T21:11:47.944-04:00Reflections of katlupeThis is katlupe's reflections of her life, thoughts and dreams of the past, present and future.katlupehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09159828606045286858noreply@blogger.comBlogger973125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-7893723944438587822024-03-06T07:35:00.000-05:002024-03-06T07:35:19.378-05:00Precautions For Staying Safe<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipu_B7VtJlBax1fmJURqLkKoOz9Rx2jMINMmZ_0JdgoEhfB-4sL7e5lMrJkfHHdfAuBDPpwpfkZ1yZkONhQTcF5FXg_lN8ookQ0kT6c86LpWnQxWNdB0A1saBlQdlHGds-aj50fbYSYXsyZYQwyz7Ffcrn5e64ubreQgT2JAjYgeZ6hmNlGNLWpg/s2000/building.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipu_B7VtJlBax1fmJURqLkKoOz9Rx2jMINMmZ_0JdgoEhfB-4sL7e5lMrJkfHHdfAuBDPpwpfkZ1yZkONhQTcF5FXg_lN8ookQ0kT6c86LpWnQxWNdB0A1saBlQdlHGds-aj50fbYSYXsyZYQwyz7Ffcrn5e64ubreQgT2JAjYgeZ6hmNlGNLWpg/w640-h426/building.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Aging in place is the trend now for us older adults. And why shouldn't it be? Getting to a certain age and then being told you have to do this or do that is not something to look forward to. Thankfully, I have an apartment I can do that in. I was not able to do that in my previous home. It was impossible. Even though back then I could walk better than I can now. A house can be set up for aging if you get to work on it before you need it. In my opinion, all houses should be built that way no matter what the owner's age is. The last few years of living in my house I had to sleep downstairs in the living room. First on a couch and then finally when I could afford it, I bought a single bed. I hated sleeping in the living room because I had no privacy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzfEbPV1Tm3eGmKt1Kjp-aJylxfx7vXYl0aNkVSbUx_C5-lVsbcHe2rol3aapHxip9-a2TG2JvSkFoMYMxaFWjZS8rQgFpEGI-g9aTHuRWla_tcrGKHnheBYUMMDS_-6_auitg1d8n0JmW49Jfrajvd_QANni-ODD_GytG0RWmBjxAhKrh-QcGA/s2000/business_area.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzfEbPV1Tm3eGmKt1Kjp-aJylxfx7vXYl0aNkVSbUx_C5-lVsbcHe2rol3aapHxip9-a2TG2JvSkFoMYMxaFWjZS8rQgFpEGI-g9aTHuRWla_tcrGKHnheBYUMMDS_-6_auitg1d8n0JmW49Jfrajvd_QANni-ODD_GytG0RWmBjxAhKrh-QcGA/w640-h426/business_area.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I feel safe here even though it is downtown and there are homeless people, druggie people and bullies here as well. No matter where you live they will always be present as well. I take safety precautions constantly and am always aware of my surroundings. It may sound like I am not friendly but I discourage strangers coming up to me when I am out. One guy who hangs out at the grocery store would come up to me when I am in my mobility chair and grab my hand. I do not like that and I have avoided him and if I do run into him I do not talk to him or respond to him. Now he leaves me alone. He may very well be harmless but I do not like strangers touch me even if it is just my hand. Who knows where that hand has been? Or who else he has touched? Spreading germs from person to person. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeBeeStDfhyphenhyphendVAfruEZNBDD18CrP56cCD29HhIzETkAlgVLFhuxmf8m55IjQ8f7NQNnPV_XZwkfinbo-hXX1jAFPIEMJEOMdekhAyYQhHvXiDv0btllTHjN1aVTjToW4k1v_l7bORC4lGDhLhP6zOYx-F6NeBdvZu4uXOYRIhQu_2AQn0iSGfIw/s2000/GU.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeBeeStDfhyphenhyphendVAfruEZNBDD18CrP56cCD29HhIzETkAlgVLFhuxmf8m55IjQ8f7NQNnPV_XZwkfinbo-hXX1jAFPIEMJEOMdekhAyYQhHvXiDv0btllTHjN1aVTjToW4k1v_l7bORC4lGDhLhP6zOYx-F6NeBdvZu4uXOYRIhQu_2AQn0iSGfIw/w640-h426/GU.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I do not carry a purse when I go out on my mobility chair or walker. I don't carry cash unless it is just a few dollars. Normally I carry a debit card and use that for any purchases I am making. I recently changed from a large wallet to one that is small enough to fit in my hand. I conceal it in the seat of my walker which is safer than having it on me unless my walker is stolen. In all my time living here, I have never had a problem with anyone. In fact nobody has ever approached me to ask for money. There are many different products I found on Amazon that are made for protecting yourself when you are out. A senior or disabled citizen is an easy target for someone to rob you. I always study any person near me so that I am aware of what they are doing. Especially if they seem interested in me or what I am dong.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxsakAJX_Fo5ls9nSvmVBQwIud_Bym6NBCsM4TXzW_yyoSd1NB0unrp49QOACSDyil_275_RaJR6wogoA1IjpgfumBOTRzRACZ4UpNvR5QosKRZhRFCDU5NrY1vHAocHMAddJQlGhICTFhIVdayrWqokuJ8YP2fbBmjm5GH2PrNeHnuVNQlaYzQ/s2000/notice0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxsakAJX_Fo5ls9nSvmVBQwIud_Bym6NBCsM4TXzW_yyoSd1NB0unrp49QOACSDyil_275_RaJR6wogoA1IjpgfumBOTRzRACZ4UpNvR5QosKRZhRFCDU5NrY1vHAocHMAddJQlGhICTFhIVdayrWqokuJ8YP2fbBmjm5GH2PrNeHnuVNQlaYzQ/w640-h426/notice0.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Keeping my apartment locked even if I am just going downstairs to get my mail or going across the hall to speak to a neighbor. A stranger can get into our building by visiting someone they know who lives here. That is always a possibility. The best thing I can do is to always be aware of others on my hall or in one of the public areas. Public areas are always watched by the video cameras through out our building. Another thing I do is to limit who I let into my apartment. A number of them have wanted to come in to see "Rabbit" but I still limit that until I know them better. I don't mean to sound paranoid but I lived a long time with barely any interaction with others. After moving here, I was cautious and remain so today. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8_JOn31noir7qqj_spIKQ1iR22yDZ3IoaLjoxlLDStL8GsrAfNvguzszvBJrgAQ03M6G6mZDD9EWySsSqcr-c8yj5KJP1DA6OquAnc_gYubC1piceyuxMehZnb6R0bqjaA7YGS1x5c7WLhMYnzvb5k8Sl65ilJ79k9H9j8EIXGeqzTvHR_zZ7g/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8_JOn31noir7qqj_spIKQ1iR22yDZ3IoaLjoxlLDStL8GsrAfNvguzszvBJrgAQ03M6G6mZDD9EWySsSqcr-c8yj5KJP1DA6OquAnc_gYubC1piceyuxMehZnb6R0bqjaA7YGS1x5c7WLhMYnzvb5k8Sl65ilJ79k9H9j8EIXGeqzTvHR_zZ7g/w320-h125/signature2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2024 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2024 Kathleen </i><i style="color: #666666;">G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-46774834762280871252024-02-22T09:21:00.002-05:002024-02-22T09:21:53.024-05:00Appreciation For Nature Is Close To My Heart<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjDBKuzPtzccOC7gj3W7HAA-s_un1xoAtSBDM3bWKPYzqsw57Ip0otNbfjIJUy5Ek9zBuzkwdpqUBrlgv-HARNAlt0VEWded-nj-qyCrN3H0ATCjVoWDJazkYNtLLaeG01FlRptfzEDzS2atAAd4C6RervovngKMp7mZl2GliRciBoxPFoaUB5g/s800/forest_path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjDBKuzPtzccOC7gj3W7HAA-s_un1xoAtSBDM3bWKPYzqsw57Ip0otNbfjIJUy5Ek9zBuzkwdpqUBrlgv-HARNAlt0VEWded-nj-qyCrN3H0ATCjVoWDJazkYNtLLaeG01FlRptfzEDzS2atAAd4C6RervovngKMp7mZl2GliRciBoxPFoaUB5g/w640-h426/forest_path.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Forest Path</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Is it in a human's nature to not love the natural look of things? That they have a need to change it? For instance, yards, trees, wild plants, flowers, rocks and wild critters? To cut down trees, remove the rocks, kill the wild plants and critters? Make it into a lawn then complain about cutting the grass all season. Having to fix or repair the lawn mower or buy a bigger one and pollute your area with noise and fumes? They seem to have the need to build a garage to house all their equipment for keeping nature from taking over. They really get excited about the mower or the garage or work shed but not about the first dandelion showing up on their lawn.</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dCPEFbUz4QYAyxTAvz0bwVpoHQceMv-5tezQiKkyiPxK-Rdkn_sCi0rCyFK2qPwUFh4__208ZYLQKbddhui3WB5-JtMIwVhWj7vf02v8vjsuymipPJtYUEZTipAoiU_zfT6XmO2d0r3d5MggH9wtWXBRERRufzEL_4tOrGgV86Us5JNGNgQAYw/s1000/neuton_lawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dCPEFbUz4QYAyxTAvz0bwVpoHQceMv-5tezQiKkyiPxK-Rdkn_sCi0rCyFK2qPwUFh4__208ZYLQKbddhui3WB5-JtMIwVhWj7vf02v8vjsuymipPJtYUEZTipAoiU_zfT6XmO2d0r3d5MggH9wtWXBRERRufzEL_4tOrGgV86Us5JNGNgQAYw/w640-h426/neuton_lawn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Cutting Grass</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now I understand the need for cutting the grass because fleas and ticks live in that uncut grass. So if you have cats or dogs you need to protect them by cutting the grass. It does not have to be done by the latest or most powerful lawnmower you can buy. I worked for a man once who blacktopped his whole front yard in a city house. It was so ugly! I admit lawns look nice but do they really need to be so large? An area of wild plants and flowers is actually prettier to me. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfvM5ZvOpsBJROdm93-3qUCSh9YBcWzejErkUxoJk257WuRjkmSaMzgeCjNaCODtEj11FyCQ1jQEtmg5GjPdGLPkAHcdZNznmtVQzPE9fFKHqlEFRdHYUP2xDaVOcVpAPB9aRvaDAiCbRVVPgSa9KXAD3AC0l6ndHzN1R9qFh7DOOS6eSRLqXkg/s2000/cherry_down.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfvM5ZvOpsBJROdm93-3qUCSh9YBcWzejErkUxoJk257WuRjkmSaMzgeCjNaCODtEj11FyCQ1jQEtmg5GjPdGLPkAHcdZNznmtVQzPE9fFKHqlEFRdHYUP2xDaVOcVpAPB9aRvaDAiCbRVVPgSa9KXAD3AC0l6ndHzN1R9qFh7DOOS6eSRLqXkg/w640-h426/cherry_down.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">One More Tree Down.........</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Does every single tree need to be removed from the yard? Especially if a house is in the middle of the forest? If you do not like trees do not choose to live in the forest. Instead people will buy a house in the forest and then spend their life trying to make it look like a city house. Why spend time working in the yard for years, trying to change the natural beauty of the forest around the house, so it loses its connection to the forest?</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwEMDCdZBqBEtCgZWj1Psoppm-YV_amRPv_ETLWfc0uptP_rtJEnNBWE37HQYRNd7m8NecMJLyfqW2_XsJ5y5E1-EN-OQ39qZH7h85v9W49sIWvDwRIGOvT0ETJeldrv25EuNH5Xg0AL7vXY9sSmer42Ez7uZXntXOGnWOgeReOf9UlwXmiJKGQ/s1800/fallshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwEMDCdZBqBEtCgZWj1Psoppm-YV_amRPv_ETLWfc0uptP_rtJEnNBWE37HQYRNd7m8NecMJLyfqW2_XsJ5y5E1-EN-OQ39qZH7h85v9W49sIWvDwRIGOvT0ETJeldrv25EuNH5Xg0AL7vXY9sSmer42Ez7uZXntXOGnWOgeReOf9UlwXmiJKGQ/w640-h426/fallshot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Roads through out the forest</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am a woman who loves the forest and the wild plants that grow naturally. Not planted by anyone. Others will see a dandelion and think it is a weed. I see a dandelion and see it in its beauty an edible medicinal plant. There is a reason that wild plants will resist pests that kill garden plants. They will resist the strongest weed killers. Yet those same chemicals could kill you in the end. I prided myself on not using chemicals of any kind in my garden beds. I could eat a vegetable right in the garden. No need to worry about the chemicals like you do when buying from the store. </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkZPMCDig5GleADMEWSRdGtSZ3KA1UpNJo8TRKgxh4-8MCIOwbRJLhIJI_16KukHLEYSQVfvmJ38lIz6i09RnbT36_U-kTZtFqtYgUvNwLPSUXoxndVDiKUqng3yI84ZazVbsXMtJOBzjs7dwGpUYfm-sF252I5GFVzE7UnpoHQn6bFTTiLaU7g/s600/dandelions_bunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkZPMCDig5GleADMEWSRdGtSZ3KA1UpNJo8TRKgxh4-8MCIOwbRJLhIJI_16KukHLEYSQVfvmJ38lIz6i09RnbT36_U-kTZtFqtYgUvNwLPSUXoxndVDiKUqng3yI84ZazVbsXMtJOBzjs7dwGpUYfm-sF252I5GFVzE7UnpoHQn6bFTTiLaU7g/w640-h426/dandelions_bunch.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">One of my favorites........dandelions!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now of course, I live downtown in a small city. No forest but I do have trees around me. I am within walking distance of four city parks. Most of the time I am the only person in the park. I sit out there and just watch the birds and squirrels and the occasional person walking through the park. I enjoy it but I do miss being in the forest. I have my memories though and lots of photos. I look at them and remember the times being out in the forest. </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCWgoog3SOlswX0nWnIc7iQQdFCijaMPcoCpWvQdQ6J7Ai2lJKnjl5afByCEMcfZe0Fd8xosggGYM0MrINsbiiFwARKWBjmOfmrG4BCqTDmoJfL5p1_aSDaSnNdP9dKb53u-HXLMK1pyhxgbjtGbCIbOIOkVBp2_Vf0wOWIhkpZ5E_6OEYWvpXw/s220/signature2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCWgoog3SOlswX0nWnIc7iQQdFCijaMPcoCpWvQdQ6J7Ai2lJKnjl5afByCEMcfZe0Fd8xosggGYM0MrINsbiiFwARKWBjmOfmrG4BCqTDmoJfL5p1_aSDaSnNdP9dKb53u-HXLMK1pyhxgbjtGbCIbOIOkVBp2_Vf0wOWIhkpZ5E_6OEYWvpXw/w320-h125/signature2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2024 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2024 Kathleen </i><i style="color: #666666;">G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-22921533146470554662024-02-12T11:52:00.000-05:002024-02-12T11:52:23.446-05:00Appreciating Quiet Even When Living Downtown<p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRKIzYL-ZjwzUBQdy-O1UkCiid8Z_GH81JUMYr9kq2pUmOMM746sBCt0YEyJVNzj0qVnoKBktOwpiTgHUt4-U0bpQw-mUNCLDUjHlKYsoKmEo4A4gpQ1UOSCNG4fqCiPx9jQUQeCD-LupYggO5_-83q4y9EyBhfTSG8dPQtG_Y8Wk4-j-YxHt7A/s2500/front_door.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1667" data-original-width="2500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRKIzYL-ZjwzUBQdy-O1UkCiid8Z_GH81JUMYr9kq2pUmOMM746sBCt0YEyJVNzj0qVnoKBktOwpiTgHUt4-U0bpQw-mUNCLDUjHlKYsoKmEo4A4gpQ1UOSCNG4fqCiPx9jQUQeCD-LupYggO5_-83q4y9EyBhfTSG8dPQtG_Y8Wk4-j-YxHt7A/w640-h426/front_door.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Living in downtown apartments are not always quiet</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I hate the sound of loud noises. Wondering if it has anything to do with my age. I will be 72 in a few months though I don't believe I have any hearing issues. My apartment is very quiet and I appreciate the silence. Music I do not consider noise. I listen to music daily but not loud blaring music. Sometimes I think people like to play it loud so everyone can hear it. Even the people who do not like it. In fact, I find I appreciate it more at the level I listen to. I always pause it when someone comes to my door or calls me on the phone. I don't want to miss my songs!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8A4CRYf6TKNqKf_xtUSPNpzaJbtA7XliDG-D_CCaQ2ma0JKeHcQ8_kst4ZmsmAWgtYqdhkAtjdUyVRShHS7l1fXjKeDbPAeDAKqfvjsTFCUsLrMcuVY7if6sDOkPe05s9QTpAzokcaEZl9_0NEsPuTa7KjPI1MAGfsyXW7gB95m0pOMeluajT2w/s2000/intercom_apt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8A4CRYf6TKNqKf_xtUSPNpzaJbtA7XliDG-D_CCaQ2ma0JKeHcQ8_kst4ZmsmAWgtYqdhkAtjdUyVRShHS7l1fXjKeDbPAeDAKqfvjsTFCUsLrMcuVY7if6sDOkPe05s9QTpAzokcaEZl9_0NEsPuTa7KjPI1MAGfsyXW7gB95m0pOMeluajT2w/w640-h426/intercom_apt.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Intercom in my apartment</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">In my apartment building we have an intercom system. The doors at the entrance opening into the lobby are locked at all times. To enter there is an intercom on the wall and you have to buzz the apartment you are visiting. It will buzz in that apartment and the resident will push a button to ask who it is. Then they push a button to listen to your answer. Once they are satisfied that it is someone they are expecting or know, they push the button to unlock the door and you can enter the building. It is a very good system and I like it. But......when the intercom buzzes in the apartment..........it is VERY loud! Rabbit and I jump every time. Even when I know someone is coming here. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KWzffQcspjD9tZrPEvmEHyJp8VcxPjRbKkPQ2bbKtRJximIConuKC2GviZI7DmIEzEs9_yQo4dwvZrfLRjpmzwKUis0B9SzrI3Ez_JlW9BvJKmctXFru3fKU9ulXoDJ6ohayYsHE1yxU9qsnoYIW0L0RG8vNaXwWbvr1wxQ8DU-WCNvLYAuxWg/s2000/westmain.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KWzffQcspjD9tZrPEvmEHyJp8VcxPjRbKkPQ2bbKtRJximIConuKC2GviZI7DmIEzEs9_yQo4dwvZrfLRjpmzwKUis0B9SzrI3Ez_JlW9BvJKmctXFru3fKU9ulXoDJ6ohayYsHE1yxU9qsnoYIW0L0RG8vNaXwWbvr1wxQ8DU-WCNvLYAuxWg/w640-h426/westmain.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Across the street from my apartment</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Quietness was one of the things I treasured when living at Peaceful Forest, my former home. Especially in winter. It was very quiet all year long. That is unless a chainsaw was buzzing a tree down or the generator was running when there was not much sun. I remember listening to my horses chewing their hay and that was the only sound I could hear. Or the chickadees and blue jays during the winter which were welcome sounds to me. You quickly acclimate to your environment and grow accustom to the sounds of daily life. Even though I badly missed the sounds of the birds in the forest I had to move on. To my new life and sounds. The only birds I hear now in a downtown location are crows. Every now and then other birds will show up but they do not sound as happy as the birds in the forest. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_6E7UvgzCCRSb97G9Kz7ycoPg6_M_kjoPcHLf16kF3xF5kecElVVX0fLsiJA-7GkEfPrxAnnpSRsgMi2AlsIbIEtICZpsBmls0p1Sc0Bw0d921h4-4mpd7XLZk7-McpXXgnoH7sYjmFpT-V9yP3otf85y2q9veXUfh9V2hGLefDsG_DcaDwYcQ/s2000/wht_bus.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_6E7UvgzCCRSb97G9Kz7ycoPg6_M_kjoPcHLf16kF3xF5kecElVVX0fLsiJA-7GkEfPrxAnnpSRsgMi2AlsIbIEtICZpsBmls0p1Sc0Bw0d921h4-4mpd7XLZk7-McpXXgnoH7sYjmFpT-V9yP3otf85y2q9veXUfh9V2hGLefDsG_DcaDwYcQ/w640-h426/wht_bus.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Downtown</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">City life is full of noises. Trucks backing up to loading docks in early morning hours. Garbage trucks pulling up to the dumpster at my building. I get up early so it doesn't really bother me so much. Sirens at any time of the day or night. Fire trucks, emergency vehicles and police. Bars. The back of the bars on South Broad Street, the main street of my city, face my apartment building. So when they have loud music playing, especially live bands or musicians I can hear it in my apartment. I don't mind that either because it is usually good music. My building also has a theater in it and many times I can feel the beat of the music since it is right here. That doesn't bother me one bit because I love having a theater in the same building I live in. It is not a movie theater. It is a theater for live shows and concerts among other forms of entertainment.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuadeeDq15l4GXie-DTNJGjUrJZjFdJWPm4iKIpPr2cNwQ_8SIe27HVY_OjI97_WsTvFK1bDnCuaPdOIE-JFpv4H18ShuHXKqDPeOjyyJGBOC7pc-QuoB84SC5S4ZrYZcVl46V1_67Xr1A_qA92bWjFVnd-d-GWnv16xHF-gJig7E0Fe2ZqpvzQ/s2000/elv.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuadeeDq15l4GXie-DTNJGjUrJZjFdJWPm4iKIpPr2cNwQ_8SIe27HVY_OjI97_WsTvFK1bDnCuaPdOIE-JFpv4H18ShuHXKqDPeOjyyJGBOC7pc-QuoB84SC5S4ZrYZcVl46V1_67Xr1A_qA92bWjFVnd-d-GWnv16xHF-gJig7E0Fe2ZqpvzQ/w640-h426/elv.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Looking out the door of my apartment</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I got used to it. Even though I do prefer quiet, there are times when the sounds of others reassures me that I am not alone. At times I will walk out of my apartment and go to different floors and not see one other person. Then on other days I hear people talking in the hall outside my door as they wait for the elevator. Doors slamming, people laughing, a dog barking, a mobility scooter horn beeping, etc. I go downstairs to get my mail and a group of people are sitting in the lobby talking and laughing. It is nice to have friends in person which I didn't before moving here. I feel I am living alone but am not alone. Anytime I need time with friends I have many to choose from. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8rak5Ypal6IorGAxr-aOHd8Ha6RrwNL2KD6arKpaBXIytXR151ZJ6kDrX8l2SSZDl0y6kauEKn_QNB4Z1wLkO9jNErVesajYMehczhQCRDyYX6o6dQx7sZnP45u9NwZNvy11tZ5_uioNrYlIka4MXCyzL5hpnRhlWYC7G0AfYAQVnn76i-yyHg/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8rak5Ypal6IorGAxr-aOHd8Ha6RrwNL2KD6arKpaBXIytXR151ZJ6kDrX8l2SSZDl0y6kauEKn_QNB4Z1wLkO9jNErVesajYMehczhQCRDyYX6o6dQx7sZnP45u9NwZNvy11tZ5_uioNrYlIka4MXCyzL5hpnRhlWYC7G0AfYAQVnn76i-yyHg/w320-h125/signature2.png" width="320" /></a></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2024 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2024 Kathleen </i><i style="color: #666666;">G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-68943591871132062962023-12-31T07:43:00.003-05:002023-12-31T07:44:55.084-05:00End of the Year Thoughts and Challenges<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtI9Quq1H5emKzrAIxL_ykKgA3GjjHLziGnw2pbOdKYpqoqULGfCRxxHsUY22VQajl7uoDUEQWSJqDDMmCmCtN7T7vVvwzEe_kSxc388XWvEsU_6D8wSB-v0oNkTE9H_bTwganiaw9kCyJugB_dZJ8WWB-PkuxCBL6cLUAcE2mX7plvMLLMGyeBA/s2000/apartment.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtI9Quq1H5emKzrAIxL_ykKgA3GjjHLziGnw2pbOdKYpqoqULGfCRxxHsUY22VQajl7uoDUEQWSJqDDMmCmCtN7T7vVvwzEe_kSxc388XWvEsU_6D8wSB-v0oNkTE9H_bTwganiaw9kCyJugB_dZJ8WWB-PkuxCBL6cLUAcE2mX7plvMLLMGyeBA/w640-h426/apartment.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">New Year's Eve is here! It is a time for figuring out where I am in this life of mine. It is a time consuming thought process. I spend time reading and researching online how I am supposed to feel or live at my age now. Honestly, I don't feel old even though I have trouble walking due to both of my knees. It has been a long road for me from living a modern homesteading life to where I am now. Yes, there are days I miss it and my horses and especially my cats. I had to accept it and move on. There are things I was expecting when moving here that did not work out the way I pictured. Yet life goes on and I have to accept it or just give up. Giving up is not something I can do. I still have a bunny rabbit and a disabled son to worry about and live for. I am living by my newest motto which is "Never too late". </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNY0hmLAKLZmKxQMAbwcBeHot-rNhQTDXTdf4KN5QddKfMGzFTbDrRj2ardxigTKfb8iv13f1chplOZlumPXqL1CobO2o77rylF1mnJ12u6llc-RbskeEFB84YHqvPNgGWeSXnfvFjnFjyEbV0-Vpr_WnPYyMKMgj5xavKKkYyCIJBG9Mo_zjNrQ/s2000/desk.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNY0hmLAKLZmKxQMAbwcBeHot-rNhQTDXTdf4KN5QddKfMGzFTbDrRj2ardxigTKfb8iv13f1chplOZlumPXqL1CobO2o77rylF1mnJ12u6llc-RbskeEFB84YHqvPNgGWeSXnfvFjnFjyEbV0-Vpr_WnPYyMKMgj5xavKKkYyCIJBG9Mo_zjNrQ/w640-h426/desk.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">When you finally have the time to work on yourself things start to change in your life. I am sure if I didn't have so many things to do, my day to day life would drag on. Instead the days go by so fast I say, "Hey hold on day, I have more things to do!" I can easily get caught up in one project for hours and not get anything else done. It doesn't really matter since I now have the time. There are certain things that must be done at certain times and that is of course, household or pet related chores. Simple household chores take me longer than when I was younger. I accept that fact and just do them. I tried to have an aide assist me but that didn't work out. Besides I believe it is good for me to do these physical chores myself while I can. I take many breaks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip94k0oRMTwgmetvUNS_2yAeb9pC6LmjGIQ5uDHMsuy0jidAFeCH69l692NqudVIomiZblcei7ow45UOuNEfd820Eja4d_V_LRhlWCzjP_J7PXqGSksaQKM7DISrL-k32ss8WRxJdtHTpbGmC-NpYQp0WoWboZBicMh_iQvkM87eQUfTeFjXHGxw/s2000/lamp.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip94k0oRMTwgmetvUNS_2yAeb9pC6LmjGIQ5uDHMsuy0jidAFeCH69l692NqudVIomiZblcei7ow45UOuNEfd820Eja4d_V_LRhlWCzjP_J7PXqGSksaQKM7DISrL-k32ss8WRxJdtHTpbGmC-NpYQp0WoWboZBicMh_iQvkM87eQUfTeFjXHGxw/w640-h426/lamp.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">One mistake I was making was searching for "home decor for senior citizens" or "single senior women's lifestyles". Why should it matter how old I am or whether I am single or a woman? I am a person and if a young person's style appeals to me that is all that should matter. I have changed my way of thinking since then. My home decor style has changed over the years but not due to my age or the fact that I am now single. One thing that stays constant with me is colors. I will always love bright colors. The only reason my age figures into my home design is because I use a walker. So I need room for it getting from place to place. My mobility chair is kept in the bathroom so I don't use that throughout my whole apartment. Just from the bathroom to the door. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EP5l0Zc6YznK9tt6GtVge-AhMJtLRE7F32lZpeC2gxeHvmrOAQfeIp1QaeTgcrFbj2onqVZo8dGQk1_fAkgrR9rFGafrrA3mkhEZhxGOR_FWDoheUNmXLUI2YORZWubecUB9jQr3clq-ka3kQAiFLsBAox5F_69yXhhJkR0qJtPpI_1EA3Sg_w/s2000/open.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EP5l0Zc6YznK9tt6GtVge-AhMJtLRE7F32lZpeC2gxeHvmrOAQfeIp1QaeTgcrFbj2onqVZo8dGQk1_fAkgrR9rFGafrrA3mkhEZhxGOR_FWDoheUNmXLUI2YORZWubecUB9jQr3clq-ka3kQAiFLsBAox5F_69yXhhJkR0qJtPpI_1EA3Sg_w/w640-h426/open.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Learning new things is another activity in my life that keeps me going forward instead of just breathing. As I figure out the turns my life takes on I almost always learn something new. I have always loved to cook and even though I am alone here I still like to create recipes of my own. Since I follow the keto lifestyle, I like to get recipes out of my old cookbooks and change the ingredients to keto (low carbs, higher fat). The other new thing I am working on and believe me,,,,,,,,,,,,it taxis my brain! The Linux operating system in my computers. I was thinking of taking a course in it but have found some good YouTube videos on it. When I am working on that I cannot be interrupted at all. I turn the sign on my door to out.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUC-WsrWJsBc_lM0S6wrPuKPP-aEDJ9g7tJxDTfrithULAbg1n_4RTJh0694ru3sGB9yUBQ1lJQ2Ca89FpQD9vrK4F5C7KuyHU7MCgR-L6cXv106cvshRzvJJjv21RVrl_XrKdOYy4n0VCmZ3F3yFHP_5LR62RirgMxAT18jya9jhbb7T249n3w/s2000/fall_leaves.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUC-WsrWJsBc_lM0S6wrPuKPP-aEDJ9g7tJxDTfrithULAbg1n_4RTJh0694ru3sGB9yUBQ1lJQ2Ca89FpQD9vrK4F5C7KuyHU7MCgR-L6cXv106cvshRzvJJjv21RVrl_XrKdOYy4n0VCmZ3F3yFHP_5LR62RirgMxAT18jya9jhbb7T249n3w/w640-h426/fall_leaves.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">One thing I have learned is to not think of myself as old. I am older, yes. But there are many more people who are a lot older than me. Knowing people of all ages will show you that <i>your age does not define who you are</i>. So I accept that and live for today and will worry about tomorrow when it gets here. I wish you all a very Happy New Year! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndHEISoueC7DVyX9gE8sH-ErgGnKtbnF8HJSMvISq2dtYoME2OYn2yuwBt-j3HD2g3m3jTEjpDXnayqTTp6WPaK47Se3s730Wumr91fr_hNAzCw8JQjl7ideT2fPHxKOu1taf6Ip-Vhr6CJI1ToqsUMnp807ORkwcyW60KNXRcu6aN35tbILTlQ/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndHEISoueC7DVyX9gE8sH-ErgGnKtbnF8HJSMvISq2dtYoME2OYn2yuwBt-j3HD2g3m3jTEjpDXnayqTTp6WPaK47Se3s730Wumr91fr_hNAzCw8JQjl7ideT2fPHxKOu1taf6Ip-Vhr6CJI1ToqsUMnp807ORkwcyW60KNXRcu6aN35tbILTlQ/w320-h125/signature2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen </i><i style="color: #666666;">G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-30563770491052892452023-12-01T12:16:00.000-05:002023-12-01T12:16:01.953-05:00The Keto Lifestyle Is the Good Health Diet<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnePdsLPXI3bwncD5m273TwS4gcrj3JxJxQfqkARW1LOs6GGn7Jz-tcOXOJV4aGNf6y5Jt_hW_Wd3eUkqqCchkZV2q3W2zwtL9ZPhBHOajQSDkT8fbMkjB2KmFaf4vjdHJ6dyxtQjDV__5b7-lTHiyVegpxfXdbgRfS2ZGf492QSRhBf3jtPjyg/s1800/keto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnePdsLPXI3bwncD5m273TwS4gcrj3JxJxQfqkARW1LOs6GGn7Jz-tcOXOJV4aGNf6y5Jt_hW_Wd3eUkqqCchkZV2q3W2zwtL9ZPhBHOajQSDkT8fbMkjB2KmFaf4vjdHJ6dyxtQjDV__5b7-lTHiyVegpxfXdbgRfS2ZGf492QSRhBf3jtPjyg/w640-h426/keto.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Keto products I use regularly</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">How did I transition from the standard American diet (SAD) to a Keto lifestyle? It was not overnight and it was definitely not easy. I started eating low carbs many years ago but would stop and start again and again. I did not feel good when off it and I knew this. Yet something kept me eating those foods I knew I should not be eating.......pizza, ice cream, potato chips, chocolate candy and Whoppers with the bun and french fries (oh, how I loved those french fries!). What was it about those foods that made me not able to pass them by? I would blame it on whoever I was with. Especially when eating in restaurants. I knew what to order when I walked in the door. Yet when the waitress came to take the order I would hear myself ordering a completely different meal! I'd hate myself later that night. </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBtihOWJ2xlyBXDKKSRm5i-PP0cmtkSh67RGxAj3n-r3NJj1OF1SmIjhJPzNNk-awCnxx0cRsJLSe-OJFqPpIwnCmeuMDmL0CMTbrI9UyCgUj_GpG2TuisQaoFkUBfVWgY42yimIMGRajBIcVZFGBI_EKkWOclALYLABeZ4oIbgfqMsxjuAYJwg/s1600/fastfood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBtihOWJ2xlyBXDKKSRm5i-PP0cmtkSh67RGxAj3n-r3NJj1OF1SmIjhJPzNNk-awCnxx0cRsJLSe-OJFqPpIwnCmeuMDmL0CMTbrI9UyCgUj_GpG2TuisQaoFkUBfVWgY42yimIMGRajBIcVZFGBI_EKkWOclALYLABeZ4oIbgfqMsxjuAYJwg/w640-h358/fastfood.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Fast food is not an option for me!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It is true though that your family and friends really do not want you to eat differently from them. I find that is true about many other things in life besides what foods you choose to eat. Everyone tries to get their family and friends to do what they do whether you like it or not. Somehow you have to get yourself beyond that. Even now, I am 99% living my keto lifestyle, but that 1%? Sometimes I slip off. Do I hate myself later? Not anymore. Because I am not perfect nor will I ever be perfect. I just go on as if it never happened. Living by myself makes it easier for me to eat the way I want. No influences or temptations from someone else. It is the rare person who will give up their favorite foods for someone else. Yet they expect you to give up your health and well being for them. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKTy5airSMDyOsKo_8UVMH5IqI8QCANgfxXBP9Qs2Zzq7L5483c59wknkqv4Y-lVazi1SEi8kaNt8LFm6b-m6uGmA8B-1rrE73G8mlYPLblpYLK0CiYkNdZfIhmr4KxBZ6cOnCIBP9TkSYXLBnktLB0dsMIMo5QV4ZCDf899tkl9sJaqiv5cPvw/s2000/kats_kitchen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKTy5airSMDyOsKo_8UVMH5IqI8QCANgfxXBP9Qs2Zzq7L5483c59wknkqv4Y-lVazi1SEi8kaNt8LFm6b-m6uGmA8B-1rrE73G8mlYPLblpYLK0CiYkNdZfIhmr4KxBZ6cOnCIBP9TkSYXLBnktLB0dsMIMo5QV4ZCDf899tkl9sJaqiv5cPvw/w640-h426/kats_kitchen.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>My keto kitchen!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I don't call myself by any specific diet other than the keto lifestyle. There are many names for it....low carb, Atkins, Ketogenic, keto, ketovore, carnivore, lion diet, etc. It all boils down to protein, fat and low carbs. <i>The Proper Human Diet</i>. I no longer count calories. I don't care what they are. Some days I don't eat as much as other days. It all evens out over time. I do use a tracker. Cronometer. Just to have a record of what I ate each day. I don't care anymore about keeping track of protein or fat since usually I eat over 100 grams of each. So the days I don't get the 100 grams I am okay with that too. Another thing I don't do is to weight myself. I threw my scale out in the dumpster. A scale is really a useless tool that many people have an obsession with. A better measurement is your clothing. Save some clothing in smaller sizes and try them on at different intervals. Not daily! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8wy4Ize6sQbPti68wZY4eTdgcAadyyUeg_ZZD_WqyrvpOMoxmMSH0VWkzLivqPOpVE3YMDcUDmp09V9AHmbpPGyIN_FUBf2S10-4WTTg0A8QbzrQKRzJcPq-J5U70g06s_GAHSwhiiWmhJXeArFzvl_dBGUyxqlfU54tUre8afPOxeYDUAlqWg/s2000/apple_pie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8wy4Ize6sQbPti68wZY4eTdgcAadyyUeg_ZZD_WqyrvpOMoxmMSH0VWkzLivqPOpVE3YMDcUDmp09V9AHmbpPGyIN_FUBf2S10-4WTTg0A8QbzrQKRzJcPq-J5U70g06s_GAHSwhiiWmhJXeArFzvl_dBGUyxqlfU54tUre8afPOxeYDUAlqWg/w640-h426/apple_pie.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>My go to dessert is Keto Chow Ice Cream!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">When people say to me that keto didn't work for them. I know what they aren't saying. That is that they did not want to give it a chance to work. They wanted it to be easy and magically heal them and take their weight off in an instant. It does not work that way. Maybe it didn't work because every night they made a dessert......a keto dessert is still a dessert. Maybe they took those cheat days everyone is always talking about. Perhaps their friend took cheat days and still lost weight but they did not. Their body is not the same as their friend's body. We are all unique human beings.</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhov8tofpbvAWw76TvaHErjHOYabJCzKzSedDSKNh8mk_j0nSWLcw3tLfSbkG5z5XCoWe4HZpOoZA801lQ6tlV6P1INWpHvMcYfHF7SKqEupa8t4wiLAJ6fw5hiuE1rvqlgAUaJc979TbKsC_ywZV_JYtSsG7gWFhOltA0KJrofFDtnKlQk-Ox6dA/s2500/pizza_bowl_cooking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1667" data-original-width="2500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhov8tofpbvAWw76TvaHErjHOYabJCzKzSedDSKNh8mk_j0nSWLcw3tLfSbkG5z5XCoWe4HZpOoZA801lQ6tlV6P1INWpHvMcYfHF7SKqEupa8t4wiLAJ6fw5hiuE1rvqlgAUaJc979TbKsC_ywZV_JYtSsG7gWFhOltA0KJrofFDtnKlQk-Ox6dA/w640-h426/pizza_bowl_cooking.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Pizza Bowl Keto Style</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">For me, over time I have been tweaking the keto lifestyle for myself. I don't follow what anyone says. I might try something that I hear about and test it on myself. I don't take challenges anymore either. I just keep finding new recipes and working on them to fit my taste. Keto meals can and do taste good. But you have to cook! Luckily it is something I love to do. So I will continue to live the keto lifestyle. One thing I want to remind others of is that this way of eating is not meant for weight loss. It is meant for health and weight loss is just a by product of that. </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmg-B3Vc0zVlGOuPjXndDa0_1ISmtR2gDaitfMCjDji_02vR7JFNnmlH7V-ottQZ26uljPMRecIFMgpNTuj7B7NfHOEp9XEdPxS_A02nLR0ScPYon7y5AXqAbm8WE-I0HtjbHVDO6XB5dLCpeQsY6MKZzhRG4qqkBWHJjAD5Tccr2EWa5ALC95Ow/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmg-B3Vc0zVlGOuPjXndDa0_1ISmtR2gDaitfMCjDji_02vR7JFNnmlH7V-ottQZ26uljPMRecIFMgpNTuj7B7NfHOEp9XEdPxS_A02nLR0ScPYon7y5AXqAbm8WE-I0HtjbHVDO6XB5dLCpeQsY6MKZzhRG4qqkBWHJjAD5Tccr2EWa5ALC95Ow/w400-h156/signature2.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen </i><i style="color: #666666;">G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-68528352796277370662023-10-02T08:54:00.001-04:002023-10-02T08:55:02.936-04:00Living In Norwich, NY <p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZopZ10rI3gaKid0hHk3LF06EZGqiuOPFpiwlcRx6wOaoXYS1Ddmeul2dBQokiWw1hSyNH4cYwzcSjKFlIORcXkCp6invFtLly8TRPgdJXcDA8K8uABi_lzkYcXafl5EmPDUdd3wS9eWo7W13Cb5mrNVFarEnf2MZF4Zag_Ch8st2TBpL44Y7qQ/s2000/flower_bed.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZopZ10rI3gaKid0hHk3LF06EZGqiuOPFpiwlcRx6wOaoXYS1Ddmeul2dBQokiWw1hSyNH4cYwzcSjKFlIORcXkCp6invFtLly8TRPgdJXcDA8K8uABi_lzkYcXafl5EmPDUdd3wS9eWo7W13Cb5mrNVFarEnf2MZF4Zag_Ch8st2TBpL44Y7qQ/w640-h426/flower_bed.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Norwich, NY</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: times;">When choosing where to move when I left my homestead I chose the small city of Norwich (NY) because I was familiar with it. It is more like a small town than a city but everyone refers to it as a city and it is the county seat. My apartment building is centrally located so I knew if I lived there I could get to stores, library, restaurants, movie theater and the county office building without a car. I knew I did not want the expense or headache of owning one. It has a county bus system and one of its stops is right at my building. There are a couple of taxi services as well. So having that in mind when I moved really helped me choose this apartment building. I wanted to have as much independence as possible.</span><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwI-uFbFHZpo6mF8JHI3OW36NVP9-vXWRHvJv6rkDt9yXEHHxvmiw2DvnQW3XHz9PHNrfutsyOj84Z5ytwxmRR5_amVWEy_N7IUV9INQdDFlBKgjgazB7NUZTn8gir3HctowSEYEdzG9kaMgm4RabOLY0RTP1sn8lzdkLdFGwnp37CnVbBl3HLw/s2000/senior_housing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwI-uFbFHZpo6mF8JHI3OW36NVP9-vXWRHvJv6rkDt9yXEHHxvmiw2DvnQW3XHz9PHNrfutsyOj84Z5ytwxmRR5_amVWEy_N7IUV9INQdDFlBKgjgazB7NUZTn8gir3HctowSEYEdzG9kaMgm4RabOLY0RTP1sn8lzdkLdFGwnp37CnVbBl3HLw/w640-h426/senior_housing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Norwich Senior Housing</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Even though the apartment building I live in is called senior living (which includes disabled people of all ages as well), it is not the same as assisted living. Sometimes I think the people living here want it to be that way. No, you are renting an apartment just like any other apartment building. It is subsidized which the amount you pay for rent is based on your income. There is also assistance available for utilities and food but you have to apply for those yourself. It has nothing to do with the building. Lately they have rented apartments to disabled people who break rules because they cannot read the notices or understand them. Makes me think this was really not a good choice for them or they need a little assistance getting settled in. Sometimes such a person is embarrassed to admit they can't read or understand something so it is hard to offer help to them. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CSpyMB8OughVOfl_e68rCbsZPKU5Wgg09MpapD6ASvnWmHGhmhsKmX-7zKiTP8YiSRpITPbmqJngTDp7icK-zo8Dttlo1mm9qVPZVPsb94Bc8QnYZXUL4hyNaswlgvTE76jnYBNItomJoAJWs_QJCbR4_dZWrkhtqNKtPMVfYxvJyW8xf3ARmQ/s2000/butterflies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1263" data-original-width="2000" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CSpyMB8OughVOfl_e68rCbsZPKU5Wgg09MpapD6ASvnWmHGhmhsKmX-7zKiTP8YiSRpITPbmqJngTDp7icK-zo8Dttlo1mm9qVPZVPsb94Bc8QnYZXUL4hyNaswlgvTE76jnYBNItomJoAJWs_QJCbR4_dZWrkhtqNKtPMVfYxvJyW8xf3ARmQ/w640-h404/butterflies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Living here gives me the choice to do what I want when I want. I don't have to take part in any activities if I choose not to. Though the activities in our building came to a halt back in 2020. Occasionally we have Bingo but not on a regular basis. I have always been an introvert so spending my time alone is what I like to do. I am always busy with something and I never have that feeling of loneliness. I admit to spending a good share of time on the computer but have been making an effort to get outside more often. Especially while we have nice weather. Some other senior apartment buildings around here offer many more activities to their tenants. I believe that is due to their management company being more interested in their renters than our management is. I would be thankful if they would just keep our elevator running and replace the washing machines and dryers in the laundry room.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3tqmzFr6GdL1DqQY-qPr5N015YfGkfIdgnKTIDq94uyoXslkGHcgONU4KMzeUOGazLpcu1ry4LAW2Y0WVs1PKj8mJfdbaxH9N2maHmPWCazcSjz_VgNxU5hmWWBRE0ZrGrzO5zwGpDEL6UPixsXzMpeQD5Dzhyphenhyphen58HGyfjr6EM9AshT5uVZzLiQ/s2000/apartment.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3tqmzFr6GdL1DqQY-qPr5N015YfGkfIdgnKTIDq94uyoXslkGHcgONU4KMzeUOGazLpcu1ry4LAW2Y0WVs1PKj8mJfdbaxH9N2maHmPWCazcSjz_VgNxU5hmWWBRE0ZrGrzO5zwGpDEL6UPixsXzMpeQD5Dzhyphenhyphen58HGyfjr6EM9AshT5uVZzLiQ/w640-h426/apartment.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">I watch decorating shows on YouTube constantly and love making changes in my apartment. Since the tiny house movement started some years back there are a lot of new options for anyone choosing to live small. Some of the tiny houses are smaller than my 338 square foot studio apartment. I love open floor plans and that is what I have here. It was perfect for me and my house bunny, Rabbit. Even though it is a small studio apartment, it has a kitchen for a serious cook. That was important to me and I use it daily. The bathroom is quite large for a studio also. I have room to keep my mobility chair in it. So I really have no complaints and work hard to make my apartment a home, not just a place to sleep and eat. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCXtg8_XDZjnTNhG-DfyMYTgb3SWCSneZ9g2wqFnqIobJ3fqmgc0ZDGOp_aF88oU79gNz7vJlNtoU--sUZ_cXxmjE_xJ2P5nJkOtE_1vLhdGlQnSbP-w0ZQX8hn7RyIDf-GjJ1QyQ5HbdJpMw8dyzA1kJYZ40aszdb2j8s3MoRfTY6JKKm4t_8g/s1000/aa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCXtg8_XDZjnTNhG-DfyMYTgb3SWCSneZ9g2wqFnqIobJ3fqmgc0ZDGOp_aF88oU79gNz7vJlNtoU--sUZ_cXxmjE_xJ2P5nJkOtE_1vLhdGlQnSbP-w0ZQX8hn7RyIDf-GjJ1QyQ5HbdJpMw8dyzA1kJYZ40aszdb2j8s3MoRfTY6JKKm4t_8g/w640-h426/aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Peaceful Forest Homestead</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Yes, I never dreamed I would be forced to leave my homesteading life. There were so many factors that forced that decision and I am sure I have mentioned them on previous blogs. Debt was one of them. Also the decline I was having in my ability to walk made me dread being immobilized and living without running water among other things. I never felt secure there. Now I do. I was thrilled to move here a little over five years ago and I still am. </span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6ez3V-ez-0f1v3Pz9k4r30s3rCS--gOrCGJILNZ3q-VkRWr1CyQL9b-k9addrkfN5sUzrUXL8mQ5VEutblQKEyruFJE5wGS1T8FfC_mbD2HD6CCex-w5iNEmmi0ZDsG3RcIosXG_jyjVCJRYkkWsWM2VXgk-jxh3I0okYhDu0oNMf0SvxSzNJA/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6ez3V-ez-0f1v3Pz9k4r30s3rCS--gOrCGJILNZ3q-VkRWr1CyQL9b-k9addrkfN5sUzrUXL8mQ5VEutblQKEyruFJE5wGS1T8FfC_mbD2HD6CCex-w5iNEmmi0ZDsG3RcIosXG_jyjVCJRYkkWsWM2VXgk-jxh3I0okYhDu0oNMf0SvxSzNJA/w320-h125/signature2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen </i><i style="color: #666666;">G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-64694987679638073682023-08-05T08:07:00.001-04:002023-08-08T05:14:49.276-04:00Don't Miss Out On Life<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAuHUhzuwXlBfSyNTYEwQH1GgaD9zHZTjnUsbeZpllO_h2mxVaXesFOANppYFJhtymrAORud3O3tgY5-CRrzTPxiDsgaxFWYXfngEqI-6TES8G4iTGY01tlMyr-lZkIj4rdLQtIJ__5e02W5epduCq0wU-l7WKPSI8H3AS-viGV_4h_pEcpw_5g/s2000/colorful.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAuHUhzuwXlBfSyNTYEwQH1GgaD9zHZTjnUsbeZpllO_h2mxVaXesFOANppYFJhtymrAORud3O3tgY5-CRrzTPxiDsgaxFWYXfngEqI-6TES8G4iTGY01tlMyr-lZkIj4rdLQtIJ__5e02W5epduCq0wU-l7WKPSI8H3AS-viGV_4h_pEcpw_5g/w640-h426/colorful.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">One thing that happens with people who live alone and especially senior citizens, is that they don't go outside of their comfort zone. It feels safe in there. I know. I have had to step out of it many times in my life. I step out and am thankful I did but then I create another comfort zone. I believe that part of life is continually pushing myself to try new things and activities. At least try it for a period of time. Yes, of course, I want to feel safe and stay with what I know. But how many times did you try something new and wish you had done it a long time ago? My answer is more times than I like to think.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucoTT8mveke1Mal5EtDm29ktc_u9SmrjpAcAzHLnP6xBYpghNStBcA00_fCHyphOPwJj5pEyRzg0DmIoGxBtVrlj1tU8LFYdes32hWpCR1tDfU_EY8GYbdkmiIvEh_reh2VL9lUbkflFEZpTi-sFR1bdi409yx_e_F3NSVQUpITs-yfo6lZ_iVw/s2000/arts0.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucoTT8mveke1Mal5EtDm29ktc_u9SmrjpAcAzHLnP6xBYpghNStBcA00_fCHyphOPwJj5pEyRzg0DmIoGxBtVrlj1tU8LFYdes32hWpCR1tDfU_EY8GYbdkmiIvEh_reh2VL9lUbkflFEZpTi-sFR1bdi409yx_e_F3NSVQUpITs-yfo6lZ_iVw/w640-h426/arts0.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Martin Kappel Theater</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">This last week I did it again. Twice. Stepped out of my comfort zone. The first thing I did was to buy a ticket to go to the musical, The Wizard of Oz that was playing in the Martin Kappel Theater that is in the other half of the apartment building I live in. The Norwich Theater Company put on an excellent production and I enjoyed it very much. The theater was crowded and it seemed most of the people knew each other. People greeting each other and were happy to see one another. It was nice to see and no, I did not feel left out. Actually I enjoyed it because it was a happy environment to spend a few hours. I am a “people watcher” and there were a lot of people to watch that day. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwrYExFjn0iFTK7Xhv4O9rtMU7e7nB7BPpkhi6etlwb2PVG6EMJsrik6lVRfSha053EdoDURvzR6WIbcGHLnCr9nJkU6exkMUq1Wd1xl8IYr4DbYohGWyL9xV1XNBh37G8cOLjPNRQx7ngGWx31quvO5ALc9nbo0S50wtsxGox7edZ6dDBUwtGg/s2000/center.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwrYExFjn0iFTK7Xhv4O9rtMU7e7nB7BPpkhi6etlwb2PVG6EMJsrik6lVRfSha053EdoDURvzR6WIbcGHLnCr9nJkU6exkMUq1Wd1xl8IYr4DbYohGWyL9xV1XNBh37G8cOLjPNRQx7ngGWx31quvO5ALc9nbo0S50wtsxGox7edZ6dDBUwtGg/w640-h426/center.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Norwich Center where the theater is</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Because I was using a walker I was told to go in when they announce season ticket holders. Then I was directed to a seat in the back row on the aisle. It was perfect for me because I do not like being in the middle of a crowd. They had a 20 minute intermission and the lines to the bathrooms were long. If I had needed to, I would have gone upstairs to my apartment since it was not even five minutes away. I did not let the fact that I was using a walker hold me back. In fact, it made everyone be friendlier to me and try to help me get through the crowd of people.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSCZdB9MlTUchLHAlzq5zr_sDqiSF30RKuG4Z3NouOEEiur_a0JVDHtEC1cm1x2TvyQWYbhBhAkkf4lA-RJl1_uaU7qc_CgsFw5Vsc5Rwi2qSqNGI7AIUZPBYhhXYzE6rdWNMIRy6E_Vj7gZ4j1eOriaMBHqtTPMd7vNHyfXW8iEd8sVx0hBhfA/s2000/library_today.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSCZdB9MlTUchLHAlzq5zr_sDqiSF30RKuG4Z3NouOEEiur_a0JVDHtEC1cm1x2TvyQWYbhBhAkkf4lA-RJl1_uaU7qc_CgsFw5Vsc5Rwi2qSqNGI7AIUZPBYhhXYzE6rdWNMIRy6E_Vj7gZ4j1eOriaMBHqtTPMd7vNHyfXW8iEd8sVx0hBhfA/w640-h426/library_today.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Guernsey Memorial Library</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>The other thing I did </span>was to go to the library and get a new library card. I had that on my list ever since I moved here but never did it. I don’t know why but in recent times the ramp to the library had homeless people camped out on it all hours of the day. The library has been actively trying to discourage that so the ramp was clear. I am happy to say that I now have a library card and will be going there. I always loved libraries and spent hours in various ones over the years. This library is right across the street from my apartment so will be convenient. Right now they are doing major construction inside so I am anxious to see what they have done once it is finished. In the meantime, I am going to check out their online site.</span></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNb4kVhYC_EncVhUS8iU5BEHt2vicTAOWz8kRlIAV-8TGyNcla50zz8g0JI0TxVuHQstp-RDK_dfuSv1QTcnJOE6fdLWm0ZGAnUrmPwjOzv9VEYG9BuuCXDRISgknd1NYW4ASMnegPLp2cY9vZRF0WvsM9EX27-cKbiauGps5Nr4_nPF0A33s0Iw/s2000/abench.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNb4kVhYC_EncVhUS8iU5BEHt2vicTAOWz8kRlIAV-8TGyNcla50zz8g0JI0TxVuHQstp-RDK_dfuSv1QTcnJOE6fdLWm0ZGAnUrmPwjOzv9VEYG9BuuCXDRISgknd1NYW4ASMnegPLp2cY9vZRF0WvsM9EX27-cKbiauGps5Nr4_nPF0A33s0Iw/w640-h426/abench.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have found that if I visualize the activity or experience before I do it I will enjoy it more. In fact, I will be looking forward to it. If I went through life expecting to have the worst experiences than that is what I will have. Instead I visualize a rewarding experience and that is usually how it turns out. In my mind I imagine what it will be like when I step inside the building like the theater or the library. Will people frown at me and say, "What is she doing here?" Or will they say, "Oh good a new person is here today!" And come forward to greet me or ask if they can help me. It is usually the latter. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5y_NRSM2yXDima4CMzynOkk6KdCPdM_sJEjKCVT5hIF-oH4KoDTrghygp78wh3u5Md1zpywoZ9MvUp7W78j0BVjX-tt2jnCanOWYUKHKIm9gssHnd-EUAV-gWjaDmLzxV-WSdSpwv6ZMHztQGPe0-ytzN0RjLe2ax2vqvucxWW8CVkGOrvBdQQ/s2000/quiet.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5y_NRSM2yXDima4CMzynOkk6KdCPdM_sJEjKCVT5hIF-oH4KoDTrghygp78wh3u5Md1zpywoZ9MvUp7W78j0BVjX-tt2jnCanOWYUKHKIm9gssHnd-EUAV-gWjaDmLzxV-WSdSpwv6ZMHztQGPe0-ytzN0RjLe2ax2vqvucxWW8CVkGOrvBdQQ/w640-h426/quiet.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The park on the corner from my apartment</i></div></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>What have you done lately to step out of your comfort zone? The longer you put it off the harder it is to do it. After you do whatever it is, maybe like me you will be saying, Why didn’t I do that sooner?” Don’t miss out on life because you are stuck in your comfort zone! </span> </span> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_yofrNSflf7yNtLLub1gVQRheQzbNQfKlbcnRuCRMiyN-8qVrLifyUHUSov90udPvC6o6lwPkgS9Pv3yZiNVG27RX7FtIa7XEsydcq_n59dUks6LLD4AW1OxFNpF_4gHpvzi0G7NaNqqXHxVlEgNmP-GZFwjh72iwZqdDSXseptCY62Om0ceHA/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_yofrNSflf7yNtLLub1gVQRheQzbNQfKlbcnRuCRMiyN-8qVrLifyUHUSov90udPvC6o6lwPkgS9Pv3yZiNVG27RX7FtIa7XEsydcq_n59dUks6LLD4AW1OxFNpF_4gHpvzi0G7NaNqqXHxVlEgNmP-GZFwjh72iwZqdDSXseptCY62Om0ceHA/w320-h125/signature2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">G. </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">Lupole</i> </span></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-78240907591568369592023-07-29T07:41:00.000-04:002023-07-29T07:41:15.598-04:00Dental Work Canceled Because I Am Too Old!<p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YBTZA3V3tGSnfwXOX8VEhtAvQRBJy8oXdjTNsudr68hqCtOSqfpHoDJnWN-NhVo6FTzqDnKij44dSSOslx7ULgyn25rih3agp7XWVbvolfi8lNGRwVjr3G6P8PA1IjRnuYjgLF1ligh_gFKX0v3BuC2odDVhTtWu9-rxix19QwK-XCoMzkyLnA/s2000/clouds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YBTZA3V3tGSnfwXOX8VEhtAvQRBJy8oXdjTNsudr68hqCtOSqfpHoDJnWN-NhVo6FTzqDnKij44dSSOslx7ULgyn25rih3agp7XWVbvolfi8lNGRwVjr3G6P8PA1IjRnuYjgLF1ligh_gFKX0v3BuC2odDVhTtWu9-rxix19QwK-XCoMzkyLnA/w640-h426/clouds.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Long drive to go to the dental clinic</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Yesterday I was angry about something. Today I have calmed down about it and let it go. I realized when I was thinking about it last night that it may work in my favor. My dental clinic called yesterday to tell me they (Wilson Dental in Binghamton, NY) had canceled my appointment with the oral surgeon because I am over 70 now. When I started there I was 69 but they kept canceling my appointments so now I am 71. I was all set to get this done soon. Now I have to start over somewhere else. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZQIqrbbluqYo7jUOP6qyLmP4MOMWclRj1_p7WUg2_JN_DE3NfT4ML265IJrNrpeFSMmTXBawKi3Sou8WF9RYRyy3CDJQ6vVgLnGU356zwOI0ZwY5NN2MvS82fNQP2cEyH_6dF_G7eYs5MOQxjbOvAE6pM2lzLEk-O067lrhPDSFeui6pkSnhGw/s2000/lav.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZQIqrbbluqYo7jUOP6qyLmP4MOMWclRj1_p7WUg2_JN_DE3NfT4ML265IJrNrpeFSMmTXBawKi3Sou8WF9RYRyy3CDJQ6vVgLnGU356zwOI0ZwY5NN2MvS82fNQP2cEyH_6dF_G7eYs5MOQxjbOvAE6pM2lzLEk-O067lrhPDSFeui6pkSnhGw/w640-h426/lav.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">My dental work was going to be paid for by Fidelis Care (insurance supplement for Medicare and Medicaid). So I had to put up with them making me have an aide to assist me in my home. Even though I found after having several different ones that I did not need or want one. They said I had to have one and they wanted me to have one for fifteen hours a week. Can you imagine? FIFTEEN HOURS A WEEK???? The only reason I even wanted Fidelis Care was for my dental work and maybe for new glasses and eye exam. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvYknfNczYShDhdNc12FkVMOpPqHXd900Uyr9yNNLJYxBrj4TGCC8AZIRP8-FzcddnKA6ODq8To6jg16EzuJ6y2B0fdr8xa7OZMjQGdLz_4dyFde_FW0H00ysC59e3eZNZbG60UMNb17-coAQIts_H9ddDMYDGaQm2Ciin0H-eLlvaqANfojs3A/s2000/downtown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvYknfNczYShDhdNc12FkVMOpPqHXd900Uyr9yNNLJYxBrj4TGCC8AZIRP8-FzcddnKA6ODq8To6jg16EzuJ6y2B0fdr8xa7OZMjQGdLz_4dyFde_FW0H00ysC59e3eZNZbG60UMNb17-coAQIts_H9ddDMYDGaQm2Ciin0H-eLlvaqANfojs3A/w640-h426/downtown.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The other problem for me is that the only dental clinic I could find that would take Fidelis Care was in other cities (Binghamton or Syracuse for me). It would be much more convenient for me to find a dental office (with a oral surgeon that will extract teeth) locally. So for now, I have decided to go on the hunt for a new supplemental insurance company that will include the dental, vision, hearing and podiatry without making me hire an aide. After I find one then I will search for a local dental clinic. There is one not far from my home and I have my eye on that one even though their information does not say they do extractions or treat us people over 70. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbXHN7jn8TQyVaRGBy4h_iffqX7V8S0pjciF9PLGSDqxKAgyjbLK50Cpkqh_u3HIU9JNL3pUMmbQvy9Vt49mkm93B6gNvmOkZPFolz__DBgOYeJy3cmUN1MB3s-6yEpfAQCH-23GiikYvxb742WXIbOxZdMU5JOkx-gYx2pD4KAK7JHz7xfrQBA/s2000/dental.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbXHN7jn8TQyVaRGBy4h_iffqX7V8S0pjciF9PLGSDqxKAgyjbLK50Cpkqh_u3HIU9JNL3pUMmbQvy9Vt49mkm93B6gNvmOkZPFolz__DBgOYeJy3cmUN1MB3s-6yEpfAQCH-23GiikYvxb742WXIbOxZdMU5JOkx-gYx2pD4KAK7JHz7xfrQBA/w640-h426/dental.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Wilson Dental in Binghamton, NY</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I must admit I did not feel completely comfortable with Wilson Dental because it is like a factory for dental work. One cubicle after the other of dental chairs and equipment. As you walk through going to the cubicle you will be treated in, you pass by many others having their work done. It is a low cost clinic and they are busy. The waiting room is always full and the wait is long. Often my appointments were canceled unexpectedly. I had an appointment for a cleaning and they did not have time to do it so they just looked at my teeth and made another appointment. Just try to call them! That is a long process waiting for them to pick up and many times they never did. So maybe it was God telling me not to use them. Whatever it was, I am not upset about it now. Just moving on to something better. </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-USf8U5-ZxPduAKJzr6SPYFi6Zz2rXYMcgRO9NKv6ONSpJ__1cpelEK-J7nV3gCm2AdhTG6FW1xqLzmzk_mBgKmmRHagn6FY2MQcFCm51_sZvW0S6lkTSNZmgT2ghTu3cAnjpIpJil5wOHVMq9FcBeALOEIsaMfKXMEEHuQBq-pjGT4tLxDXNlg/s220/signature2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-USf8U5-ZxPduAKJzr6SPYFi6Zz2rXYMcgRO9NKv6ONSpJ__1cpelEK-J7nV3gCm2AdhTG6FW1xqLzmzk_mBgKmmRHagn6FY2MQcFCm51_sZvW0S6lkTSNZmgT2ghTu3cAnjpIpJil5wOHVMq9FcBeALOEIsaMfKXMEEHuQBq-pjGT4tLxDXNlg/w320-h125/signature2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen </i><i style="color: #666666;">G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-41623836565298010712023-07-26T08:07:00.001-04:002023-07-26T08:09:09.316-04:00Rev Up Your Daily Life! <p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k_-TUGV3cYjNHlYfl9vf3zy4URRV6oLuuSNQfwu8vb9Y0H9kUzj4yEFu6cb9EJWruTJtQ8By3enYOJkYW27TvmEK1YamY3Ir5Fgxx4rZd35dU9U1Z1RItqb6SAm1n87N1SehuLbD3fJL1FLhEgdiLqefY6_9h6OwktFtt_45qsU6eVFdg0RW5w/s2000/elegant.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k_-TUGV3cYjNHlYfl9vf3zy4URRV6oLuuSNQfwu8vb9Y0H9kUzj4yEFu6cb9EJWruTJtQ8By3enYOJkYW27TvmEK1YamY3Ir5Fgxx4rZd35dU9U1Z1RItqb6SAm1n87N1SehuLbD3fJL1FLhEgdiLqefY6_9h6OwktFtt_45qsU6eVFdg0RW5w/w640-h426/elegant.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Venture out of your home!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It is inevitable that as you age there will be times you wish you were younger. No matter where you are, whatever your circumstance, you wish for what you don't have or what you used to have. Good health, more money, better job, new car, big house, good children or a faithful, loyal spouse. The list can go on and on. It is good to a point to want a better life. We always think of things that could change what we have presently. Many times we have settled for what we had years ago when we were much younger. Maybe that hope of a change was somewhere in the back of our minds for years. Yet here you are at retirement age and no change in sight. No hope of change even lingers as a possibility now. As you watch your friends plan their trips to exciting new places you feel regret and sadness. Since you know that is not happening for you. Not now, not ever. Your daily life is all you have and it depresses you. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0ffiZbWxCffsbrCjdczOjhH8GEGqZ3xQ96zH3nv-dE4PfTQ2V_O-SPStrO-CYeJ_Z1kq6AmmULn2gOfhJ5hmONABSvDhFoxQpR1gv14uNL1IU4F82jNL5wh3d7IoCBzCldWze7xyDsnXENXWr4TMMIEQ1b7RqISSGLyRJbmky8KXXn2Gs2lrEQ/s2000/white_best.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0ffiZbWxCffsbrCjdczOjhH8GEGqZ3xQ96zH3nv-dE4PfTQ2V_O-SPStrO-CYeJ_Z1kq6AmmULn2gOfhJ5hmONABSvDhFoxQpR1gv14uNL1IU4F82jNL5wh3d7IoCBzCldWze7xyDsnXENXWr4TMMIEQ1b7RqISSGLyRJbmky8KXXn2Gs2lrEQ/w640-h426/white_best.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">No matter what you did when you were younger to create the life you have presently, this is not the time to dwell on it. It is a done deal. Nothing will change it now. Instead get to work on finding the life that is within your reach today. Maybe you just need to get out more often and make new friends. Does it have to be friends in your age group? No, you can make friends based on your interests that includes people of all ages. If you are intimidated about walking into a group of people under your age, don't be. Hold your head high and remember you probably have valuable experience to share with these youngsters.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lBblHVDRmRvq6foFuukUZ_RlkoaNySClJbJzKggMB3ANMu8RLNEZpBQtxkj1C9YV8gScZDyIk70ABOzdk3A3FsuVaFd3qsT9CAcQ3F9nWFMuS8LnjAQtINu9MtP4BbZx-OJdAZzkur7uKJcQ8GUk_1y2Eq811XzhzRn2SJu14sEGNkAD9AEFrw/s2000/front_lib.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="2000" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lBblHVDRmRvq6foFuukUZ_RlkoaNySClJbJzKggMB3ANMu8RLNEZpBQtxkj1C9YV8gScZDyIk70ABOzdk3A3FsuVaFd3qsT9CAcQ3F9nWFMuS8LnjAQtINu9MtP4BbZx-OJdAZzkur7uKJcQ8GUk_1y2Eq811XzhzRn2SJu14sEGNkAD9AEFrw/w640-h478/front_lib.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Library right across the street from my home!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Make a list of local events or groups that meet nearby that you can attend and pick one to start with. Your library or museums in your area are a vast source of information to expand your lifeline. Doing new things, meeting new people, going to new places or events can rev up your daily life to another level. Oh, you don't want to go because you use a walker or a mobility chair? Most places now are disabled friendly but you can call ahead to find out for sure. Want to learn new things? Take classes at your local college or high schools. I don't know if night classes are still a thing but I remember many times taking a ceramics class in my younger years. There were always a mix of young and old at these classes. Just search for a niche that catches your eye.</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsGlz8DBSWMjBaW1mPC_sNZ4UABCitL_dobUFHSbgMCf81wKOmGqQEMV83bNzc0XsIjh_SKMVQToLGdf4TZKCX8NGZ4Jau7bBb-IpjM8DGAVxkW0MTR7e63MXWnO1ntO1IZqyZoPEytrRJN25WNRF0Bo92Qyc9n_Oq2TEhvosQ_Edl1A7HBWLGg/s2000/lenova.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsGlz8DBSWMjBaW1mPC_sNZ4UABCitL_dobUFHSbgMCf81wKOmGqQEMV83bNzc0XsIjh_SKMVQToLGdf4TZKCX8NGZ4Jau7bBb-IpjM8DGAVxkW0MTR7e63MXWnO1ntO1IZqyZoPEytrRJN25WNRF0Bo92Qyc9n_Oq2TEhvosQ_Edl1A7HBWLGg/w640-h426/lenova.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to use a computer!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Please tell me that you know how to use a computer! Don't be one of those people who proudly declare, "I don't know anything about a computer!" I know a few of those people and some of them are always at my door wanting me to search something online for them. Or make a purchase on Amazon for them. There are literally millions of online classes, videos and forums for any subject you are interested in. If you do not know how to use a computer, now is the time to learn. Your local library is a good place to start. Call and find out if they have or know of a class for computer beginner users. They may have one that is specially targeted for retirement age people. </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj270L9nWwxyi58kARDgr4WMdSFzK4-1dHtHmax2IDh_XjNAHLNqaJOEyeNhctb7q786cfIy1Sjh55ez-u9d2En7o0HU9pkcUrnKdMnlbwVwKcAXbWqtO-Gsz9AIjchCs8TBMxkC9GuLacVjo3iEKHx6a8netZ_WO4ALQb6OHJn4pmoBUMOH8oKQw/s2000/west_manin.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj270L9nWwxyi58kARDgr4WMdSFzK4-1dHtHmax2IDh_XjNAHLNqaJOEyeNhctb7q786cfIy1Sjh55ez-u9d2En7o0HU9pkcUrnKdMnlbwVwKcAXbWqtO-Gsz9AIjchCs8TBMxkC9GuLacVjo3iEKHx6a8netZ_WO4ALQb6OHJn4pmoBUMOH8oKQw/w640-h426/west_manin.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Take that step out of your comfort zone!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What it all comes down to is that no matter what age you are now, learning and participating in new things is good for you. Good for your well being but especially for your brain. If you have not been learning new things in a long time don't worry about that. It is like riding a bicycle. Once you know how to do it, you can always do it. You might be rusty at first but it doesn't take long to catch on. Seeing new places, new people and learning new things is so good for you. It gives you something to look forward to and expands your life beyond your four walls. Try it one new class or event at a time!</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXw1zAruWE4TMo6L1otfFPMj5NDejHgiM7Pd720sxtnogdqx7KxSfsKka-ir9kAnB8k6eleqN4Ck4jkX9qc0-LQhxPnM54EyvmlADY6QWgUuKfMDQUATBP73WJSjKfMr9YtNqhmZidMeHzNIPXsC7rel8LhzBO9D--Bfrlo1pO_ijv-rs4ZIUPWw/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXw1zAruWE4TMo6L1otfFPMj5NDejHgiM7Pd720sxtnogdqx7KxSfsKka-ir9kAnB8k6eleqN4Ck4jkX9qc0-LQhxPnM54EyvmlADY6QWgUuKfMDQUATBP73WJSjKfMr9YtNqhmZidMeHzNIPXsC7rel8LhzBO9D--Bfrlo1pO_ijv-rs4ZIUPWw/w320-h125/signature2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen </i><i style="color: #666666;">G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-83726630948185020892023-07-23T12:10:00.000-04:002023-07-23T12:10:37.656-04:00Take Some Time to Chill Out!<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1C3CDk4LS0wNP7WqFHggq4U3Y60WG4-TOYID9sTUDIkbAlXpOyEu_AD1H0wp8H28_03NpckakOitQVYSueyLNlc5zuSAvE-v0LsPnDG6Y7i7BKOdv7nL8KYubzvqYGR23RGgjnxv6KOVIm6-XvsoQci2Z3uBmQLPzZkHXeZ-znZ9q7fZsk-1stA/s2000/blue_bench.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1C3CDk4LS0wNP7WqFHggq4U3Y60WG4-TOYID9sTUDIkbAlXpOyEu_AD1H0wp8H28_03NpckakOitQVYSueyLNlc5zuSAvE-v0LsPnDG6Y7i7BKOdv7nL8KYubzvqYGR23RGgjnxv6KOVIm6-XvsoQci2Z3uBmQLPzZkHXeZ-znZ9q7fZsk-1stA/w640-h426/blue_bench.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">There are some days I want to just chill. Not have any appointments or plans. Not have to talk to or entertain anyone. Eat simple food that doesn't take much preparation. Just be me. By myself. Take the day as it comes. Whatever comes to my mind I can do. I find when there are some busy days it tires me out and I just want to be home and alone. Someone used to mention wanting their "alone time" and not wanting to do anything. Yet when that person had any free time it was filled with doing chores of some kind. Well, I have plenty of "alone time" now in my present situation. I still value it and make good use of it. When you live with other people, including a spouse or other family members, it can be difficult to make time for yourself. If you do, it will recharge your state of mind so you can deal with the outside world. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7P4Fvm1kwV6DN7jvhKLjIAmSHDCDLYZB5OTJyR05do_MIZJmGcPgwtEp_8q_8p0C_cKT87Mkj3r-2aJUrkaN4GtumrhhglQh6zBtG4Nrh-SO4OxeVxE5cpHpdBqMQCmHim_E_REVjycUx-L1QtJuphQ_aGDhL-poo8PGDkiZpt8mwcKmRphyeg/s2000/pastels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7P4Fvm1kwV6DN7jvhKLjIAmSHDCDLYZB5OTJyR05do_MIZJmGcPgwtEp_8q_8p0C_cKT87Mkj3r-2aJUrkaN4GtumrhhglQh6zBtG4Nrh-SO4OxeVxE5cpHpdBqMQCmHim_E_REVjycUx-L1QtJuphQ_aGDhL-poo8PGDkiZpt8mwcKmRphyeg/w640-h426/pastels.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">There is so many products that have been developed over the years to make our lives easier and more convenient. Saves time. Time for what? Time for doing some other chore? Or for creating free time to do something you really wanted to do? I used to think I enjoyed cooking for other people. Now when I look back, I think not so much. Could be that I told myself I enjoyed it but it was a lot of work. Work hard creating a meal and it was gone in half an hour. Then the clean up. At least now when I cook a meal I can just heat it up for the next three days. That means if I don't feel like cooking or creating some big meal I can do what I like. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs93YrlZJjMcvBJEaeExXb-x806Dr1K40l0au9_gF3wAEySSyE_nCZdCfCjw0DsoeRE24FI4asWVdO5iZogrHYz20h51NHdY-rOGIYIDnTiPQDrT-F3fiNa0i2zRXBJskb_EMvsWXSLYF6Hx6O46-sTjcyRw6JHGpsETudEc6lzskGgj5Tuk5gDQ/s2000/eck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs93YrlZJjMcvBJEaeExXb-x806Dr1K40l0au9_gF3wAEySSyE_nCZdCfCjw0DsoeRE24FI4asWVdO5iZogrHYz20h51NHdY-rOGIYIDnTiPQDrT-F3fiNa0i2zRXBJskb_EMvsWXSLYF6Hx6O46-sTjcyRw6JHGpsETudEc6lzskGgj5Tuk5gDQ/w640-h426/eck.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">When someone asks what do you do all day? I have to think about it. Yet I know that person cannot appreciate my answer because what I do is different each day. Another person might think what I said I did was boring to them but probably not to me. I don't know whether it is an aging thing or health thing but I try not to talk about health conditions to others. If I talk about it too much I end up dwelling on it. I feel like, "Yeah, I have Osteoarthritis in both knees and Lymphedema but that does not define who I am." There are many people who are worse off than I am. I can deal with my own health issues privately.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHCpwyJgOVtOPet4A6v0m-7qqr9h7v-yMqk9DU0FUrsVsHuzllokzrQF-IVL53HXGzlQw0N3GD_Y_CyEk_-WGF6KQVXLmj2ihYDnrYQnvsZMu0bqmsnABWwcUWBDBmTsm0T3XTW96hM4STZ06JyJIAOcz5hI83tcoKa0yL7yGZcDdBWAcc28NIw/s2000/white_best.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHCpwyJgOVtOPet4A6v0m-7qqr9h7v-yMqk9DU0FUrsVsHuzllokzrQF-IVL53HXGzlQw0N3GD_Y_CyEk_-WGF6KQVXLmj2ihYDnrYQnvsZMu0bqmsnABWwcUWBDBmTsm0T3XTW96hM4STZ06JyJIAOcz5hI83tcoKa0yL7yGZcDdBWAcc28NIw/w640-h426/white_best.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">In life, change is constant. Especially in the aging process, though you may not notice it at first. When you are younger it seems like it is far in the distance. It catches up with you pretty fast though. Your situations change slowly at first. Then all of a sudden you notice big changes as if they just happened. For instance, relationships with your loved ones. You go from seeing and hearing from them every day to no contact for days. Someone who used to call you five or six times a day barely calls you once. They have moved on to a life that doesn't include you anymore or at least not as much as before. It is a process you have to accept. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcY2czZmQwh_tJgE-cULz3ThK1RD4Ekn-ZYqxPMeoX99-1W2w1LtPWTmcHTSbNKyxUrijXtEJKr63T6hCh4oalJWncmW1I1kJP0SbOiTjbIzPyLXcU3ZM3jb56VvSxZnelEAr2HaniqSySMI0BzUjVCEySpWwCqvu9Y3TcI5mWzVUOvzRaB_Gig/s2000/sweet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcY2czZmQwh_tJgE-cULz3ThK1RD4Ekn-ZYqxPMeoX99-1W2w1LtPWTmcHTSbNKyxUrijXtEJKr63T6hCh4oalJWncmW1I1kJP0SbOiTjbIzPyLXcU3ZM3jb56VvSxZnelEAr2HaniqSySMI0BzUjVCEySpWwCqvu9Y3TcI5mWzVUOvzRaB_Gig/w640-h426/sweet.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Accepting changes within your life must be done or else you can end up depressed and become a negative person. I have had many people come into my life and leave over the years. That is the reason for keeping yourself independent. If you depend on one person you will be sorry if they are not there for you anymore. If you have physical problems and cannot do everything yourself, there are ways to get help. Usually your local Office for the Aging will be able to help you find what you need. If you can afford it then money spent on a private aide, driver or handyman would be money well spent. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfQD4dwFfyImJoUqmYtomCOizQoPK-wm2t3ffEWdu0EIdVpQTZSSJ84NGmkXTBysfKG4S9CSmWl9Wujr-kAGAQ6u7VRQWIuC-ilE-j7l9MOSIZvp2bUc1FPnDq5FHRuS3g5xv-co9ca5kC6NELGTykqRx158rmVXT4l51Tl1Ew4joU801-IlVqQ/s2000/refreshing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfQD4dwFfyImJoUqmYtomCOizQoPK-wm2t3ffEWdu0EIdVpQTZSSJ84NGmkXTBysfKG4S9CSmWl9Wujr-kAGAQ6u7VRQWIuC-ilE-j7l9MOSIZvp2bUc1FPnDq5FHRuS3g5xv-co9ca5kC6NELGTykqRx158rmVXT4l51Tl1Ew4joU801-IlVqQ/w640-h426/refreshing.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Often times the changes happening are not your own but the other person's or people in your life. If it is someone you are involved with often you will see the changes in them coming and not have it sneak up on you. Prepare for it as soon as you notice it. Don't pretend it is not happening. Many times it could be your spouse and those changes will surely affect you and your life. Maybe that person, spouse or others just get tired of your situation and doing for you. Or maybe their own health is affecting them in ways you do not know. So being independent and able to move on is the only thing you can do. Self-care has got to come first especially as you become older. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacrPNn-3Rn2Ivyi2h8fYzuwuvsZ4oi6c7WXkOom_K5el5WbSg8JEsGzf-n0N91Kd7FDQgehTn5PxwTvtByCcwZV0NmlAgzCnxCx8AXlit9w1TL7tqUoWjszZM7vzHlji1BPCnl1eO8J6RZwzRSL4Pt3UXj7Viwm0b4P7BUQbiKq8_zog4VeQSwQ/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacrPNn-3Rn2Ivyi2h8fYzuwuvsZ4oi6c7WXkOom_K5el5WbSg8JEsGzf-n0N91Kd7FDQgehTn5PxwTvtByCcwZV0NmlAgzCnxCx8AXlit9w1TL7tqUoWjszZM7vzHlji1BPCnl1eO8J6RZwzRSL4Pt3UXj7Viwm0b4P7BUQbiKq8_zog4VeQSwQ/w320-h125/signature2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen </i><i style="color: #666666;">G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-56269649576343611412023-07-18T05:11:00.001-04:002023-07-18T05:11:57.838-04:00The Independent Disabled Lifestyle<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4N-D0q17IyUd6aUEqNHsmImZqH0tQacrXGbkIvHcUbtEaPCOahqYVMjAnQqX9-LxIMnYKmhN4RVKf4oZrvlU3ARjivuQ3KTKdIHcuZqf5cv125FiV7oAMob5KvhEUmEjf2_OO02YEDpXMFWSMA3l2-bFM1Lvnu8k-2PBsuV-nzmpepsI8478vw/s2000/lav.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4N-D0q17IyUd6aUEqNHsmImZqH0tQacrXGbkIvHcUbtEaPCOahqYVMjAnQqX9-LxIMnYKmhN4RVKf4oZrvlU3ARjivuQ3KTKdIHcuZqf5cv125FiV7oAMob5KvhEUmEjf2_OO02YEDpXMFWSMA3l2-bFM1Lvnu8k-2PBsuV-nzmpepsI8478vw/w640-h426/lav.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Becoming disabled as you get older might be something you cannot do anything about. If that becomes a way of life for you, there are ways to still stay as independent as possible<i> for you</i>. Every situation is different. Your reality may be different from others or your spouse. I urge couples to establish your own care plan even if you are living with your spouse. If something unexpectedly happens to him or her, you will be able to handle your needs. At the very least you will know what you need and how to do it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqgEBt5IbUOcX2dmxM9j-EOiJVzNPhwejBqwsMpaStwV0N1sUvUGXoMV3F54pF0WuxlQkDH84DPMdeggFEfy2helPOihlf97PDPVQ0-MhF6XYn8dOv-zeM1k2XT27QvWmmFSBX5VFN9O3K089K9qam35igVf03mSW3tM0aFiu7liiLYAUNJJ9rw/s2124/my_wheels.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2124" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqgEBt5IbUOcX2dmxM9j-EOiJVzNPhwejBqwsMpaStwV0N1sUvUGXoMV3F54pF0WuxlQkDH84DPMdeggFEfy2helPOihlf97PDPVQ0-MhF6XYn8dOv-zeM1k2XT27QvWmmFSBX5VFN9O3K089K9qam35igVf03mSW3tM0aFiu7liiLYAUNJJ9rw/w542-h640/my_wheels.JPG" width="542" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">When mobility is one of your health issues, as it is for me, there are a number of options available. As most people do, I started with a cane that I used for many years. Sometimes I still use it in my apartment or for taking something downstairs. Most of the time though I use a rolling walker. I wrote about this in a previous post, <a href="https://katlupesblog.blogspot.com/2018/09/disability-independence-with-rolling.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Disability Independence With A Rolling Walker</a>. What I especially like about this walker is that it has a seat with a bag under it. I can put my purse or camera or whatever I am carrying in the bag. It is also a good safety measure when walking outside where someone could just grab your purse. If I get tired or my legs or knees are hurting I can sit for a spell. It is comfortable and I even use it as my chair when going to someone's home or to any type of event.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL95axO4Iry9FAyWQlcrK0hn0qn53z9Xb8kKidW1gTfu5ho7JVreHbqEitEEtkgqO9rewraoPPnO94cGJwpfhAwgI29MF_ZBhsoFI_Usez4lBhEPzA2UO5PjfE49eTZXuXrUB1vsCYe-cTYqPz5VZM0H2hnd3hcmSDvn2Y_cR3wlI8QjjzmVy60w/s2000/bed.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL95axO4Iry9FAyWQlcrK0hn0qn53z9Xb8kKidW1gTfu5ho7JVreHbqEitEEtkgqO9rewraoPPnO94cGJwpfhAwgI29MF_ZBhsoFI_Usez4lBhEPzA2UO5PjfE49eTZXuXrUB1vsCYe-cTYqPz5VZM0H2hnd3hcmSDvn2Y_cR3wlI8QjjzmVy60w/w640-h426/bed.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I also have a stationary walker that I keep by my bed so I have something to grab onto to get out of bed. It folds up if I need to get it out of the way. Having aids like this can help you get around in your home. I live in a small studio apartment and I have kept it as open as possible. I could use a wheelchair in here if needed. Even in my kitchen and bathroom. My shower has a shower chair in it and I am fortunate to have a large open shower. So I could go from a wheelchair into my shower with no problem at all.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1-pS3SV64I3xl_JFkIxT7mKwQHquMsZRYdzjzkO8F87Uo68l64d9sbZC3GSZvtB1qVQw0QwAFrjOX2trmfiVWdsjyrZvG7UzZW3-7yeUE28pVSQAbYbSOvBzEl_-JkEKTxEsVIZXrDn9YDCV6xoeW7HrXPCgugw7fZwMRv-k_5t2wo7B8h0Kyw/s2667/crossswalk.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2667" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1-pS3SV64I3xl_JFkIxT7mKwQHquMsZRYdzjzkO8F87Uo68l64d9sbZC3GSZvtB1qVQw0QwAFrjOX2trmfiVWdsjyrZvG7UzZW3-7yeUE28pVSQAbYbSOvBzEl_-JkEKTxEsVIZXrDn9YDCV6xoeW7HrXPCgugw7fZwMRv-k_5t2wo7B8h0Kyw/w480-h640/crossswalk.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">When I moved here five years ago I chose not to own a vehicle. I figured living downtown I could walk everywhere. Well that was my plan but my ability to walk around is severely limited now. I can use the walker to get to some places but not all. The grocery store is farther than I can go with the walker. So I got a mobile chair, which I call "Jazzy" and it has been a lifesaver. I can drive to the store and back as quickly as if I had a car. Last year I had to have the tires and the front casters replaced as well as new batteries. Those expenses remind me to be careful on the city sidewalks and streets. People probably wonder why I am always looking down in front of me. I am watching for potholes, rocks, glass and other debris that is on the sidewalk in front of me. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP15KTbca8Id8Dzl-h2w2vnEg8k6HknU4bnAfprNMXs9PhRmghGL4ANfcq-7hVbay4cZRa_khn4MiVwmk5s5HG8Nwnn08YSUsS8J4naSlI9G8wzB-0363pdRlfLbq3bquci68g6dcCY4BlTmK2coIguEmDjr-KMprxXg4muN7kVkku_7HI_9AeVw/s1800/train_crossing.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP15KTbca8Id8Dzl-h2w2vnEg8k6HknU4bnAfprNMXs9PhRmghGL4ANfcq-7hVbay4cZRa_khn4MiVwmk5s5HG8Nwnn08YSUsS8J4naSlI9G8wzB-0363pdRlfLbq3bquci68g6dcCY4BlTmK2coIguEmDjr-KMprxXg4muN7kVkku_7HI_9AeVw/w640-h426/train_crossing.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">With a mobile chair or scooter you must be very careful because it is like driving a bicycle, car or motorcycle. You don't want to go too fast and hit something or someone. Do not look around while moving and make sure you are looking in the direction you are driving. I always slow up before a driveway or an ally because someone could be coming out of it real fast. I had to stop suddenly when a bicycle came out of an ally that was next to a big building and rarely used. Unexpected! I stopped in time. There is a hidden drive into a parking lot to city hall along my route to the store. There is a large bush hiding it and if you don't know it is there it is dangerous. The bush hides you coming down the sidewalk so cars pulling out don't expect you. They can see the street looking both ways. So just be cautious. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkYIsJr7B5QZ9skvaNrfCMwPFPrlR1aOVgrKY7Y6xwr1906Uua5XSFJwO2QvDsktkEvBEmp9AswJ9nKXarFmm02v3iXn4ZtFIZHpUI_nGPloHJamkabapg6S4D7_82bYGufTCRiEk0LLYjkS-XkqMso_sza1-j0desTIw3GFpQkEF7UavBZvO3A/s2235/jaz.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2235" data-original-width="1503" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkYIsJr7B5QZ9skvaNrfCMwPFPrlR1aOVgrKY7Y6xwr1906Uua5XSFJwO2QvDsktkEvBEmp9AswJ9nKXarFmm02v3iXn4ZtFIZHpUI_nGPloHJamkabapg6S4D7_82bYGufTCRiEk0LLYjkS-XkqMso_sza1-j0desTIw3GFpQkEF7UavBZvO3A/w430-h640/jaz.JPG" width="430" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">In my apartment I keep "Jazzy" in the bathroom in front of the shower. When I take a shower I have to move it a little ways away from the shower toward the sink. That means turning it on and moving it. I do not do it by sitting on it but standing in front of it. So moving it toward me could be dangerous if I was not paying attention. If I ran over my foot that would be one of the worst things I could imagine happening! Always watch your feet!! I charge it with the battery charger every time I have used it to go anywhere. Just plug it in after I get back home. That way it is always charged and ready to use.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSX6E2C9kcUbvK8G_9CqVKvJfWSMXoAVFphUGj4Zey4LkmKpK-nIUquFFdLbPvzNk1yO3R-VqGZqVa0BNJTBkzTWbD9TdPFZW2R0Z6sNnAw1YQVadmCGkyiXOI-wqgLvyDHxIdhcO1ybcE4l3KDLGHDTrKZuMpvc3UYIUMkXFXi3pGi7LVx28xWQ/s2000/best.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSX6E2C9kcUbvK8G_9CqVKvJfWSMXoAVFphUGj4Zey4LkmKpK-nIUquFFdLbPvzNk1yO3R-VqGZqVa0BNJTBkzTWbD9TdPFZW2R0Z6sNnAw1YQVadmCGkyiXOI-wqgLvyDHxIdhcO1ybcE4l3KDLGHDTrKZuMpvc3UYIUMkXFXi3pGi7LVx28xWQ/w640-h426/best.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The design of my small studio apartment is perfect for a disabled person and that is what they had in mind for all the apartments in my building. Not all of them are alike and the ones that seem the easiest to get around in are the studios. I believe I have taken things a step further in the way I use things and the aids I buy to assist me. Keeping an open floor plan is very important. So no coffee tables or unnecessary pieces of furniture in the way. No electric cords across the floor. Simple and easy is my motto! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijt9WracigpvGVso2fq__IRAETANCBs8q8ttnxD-31Jorwiufj-tEvHhv1Iqv2vlQV5qrOXRknQCRYYZZf327O9xWpfKgUCksmfJMmlrpZFPCqLdFfBqZ47rR1EzYLk4Ttd7036vHhTuUIqWDrmXwl1BHJYYbQdY8jl5Q9ShUoTKQtuX9Uy2qwFQ/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijt9WracigpvGVso2fq__IRAETANCBs8q8ttnxD-31Jorwiufj-tEvHhv1Iqv2vlQV5qrOXRknQCRYYZZf327O9xWpfKgUCksmfJMmlrpZFPCqLdFfBqZ47rR1EzYLk4Ttd7036vHhTuUIqWDrmXwl1BHJYYbQdY8jl5Q9ShUoTKQtuX9Uy2qwFQ/w320-h125/signature2.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /> </span></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-85144760723569421092023-07-15T18:01:00.000-04:002023-07-15T18:01:27.199-04:00Problems Cause Worry & Stress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTP2NXXIfTT_1X9C3fUXz7Vn5I2vZ7ehLZIoyv06d8-ouu6iPZe0QlAFOltauOaOTtLmgfM2I1vziMZQ7K7t-NKh1-UoMuLRgPYvPpJH6R74ub-IP8NRRz31zcm0wPlaKhjRG5oIysoP0EMTHblZNjN9evOVFWMhOcFBubgqVwoeV9y4UJW08nfQ/s2000/bench.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTP2NXXIfTT_1X9C3fUXz7Vn5I2vZ7ehLZIoyv06d8-ouu6iPZe0QlAFOltauOaOTtLmgfM2I1vziMZQ7K7t-NKh1-UoMuLRgPYvPpJH6R74ub-IP8NRRz31zcm0wPlaKhjRG5oIysoP0EMTHblZNjN9evOVFWMhOcFBubgqVwoeV9y4UJW08nfQ/w640-h426/bench.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Often times I have a problem that is stressing me out. I worry over it constantly. Especially if it is a very serious problem. Though aren't all problems serious? It takes up my whole day and I go to sleep with it on my mind. Some problems are the type you really can't do anything about. They take time to resolve themselves. Besides I can't change the outcome of it no matter what I do or don't do. So instead of wasting time with worry I am becoming more productive. I pray about my problem whatever it is then let God take over from there. He knows what he is doing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMhJX6ja4xBovsY9Y-efs4OcMdzWwogijKRxF5l61MRNjJZ--1nRfPHSrsFdWXsg9TBfIhgE6LSZrvuw6sqAmkJCYk82oko_bXfkV2FE57WIVqd0NryAdW8DWftJzypfcKn6p956VZeRfDv_WgTvr1V_dZuPc-11iMEaCBPGl7thryAbboygsqA/s2000/purple.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMhJX6ja4xBovsY9Y-efs4OcMdzWwogijKRxF5l61MRNjJZ--1nRfPHSrsFdWXsg9TBfIhgE6LSZrvuw6sqAmkJCYk82oko_bXfkV2FE57WIVqd0NryAdW8DWftJzypfcKn6p956VZeRfDv_WgTvr1V_dZuPc-11iMEaCBPGl7thryAbboygsqA/w640-h426/purple.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Some problems have a way of working themselves out on their own. I will worry and worry and then some time later the problem is gone. If I forget about it because it is not so prevalent at the moment I realize it is not important any longer. I like that type of problem. Wish they all were like that. Life will always have problems that stress you out. Stress is the worst thing for your health. What are you going to do? For me the answer is to keep busy. When I am busy doing things I don't worry so much. So that is what I am doing. M</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">y problems are not so bad compared to the problems others </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">have. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJg3r6bREfWGKQD2dH8bWi29won61uHMDCQqQR0IZvy5st5Q1m9tSD_5B-nc4QQ6fQ8d39o1wTjiT4C8SqKMNWl5QgcmD9ah2anUOq1laVBlQyM0LthEc-pgDJR2et9Ivx_nPbVNXvsFcPTSljzPNao0Pjk9zee2BiEcqI1f8jYqcHqt6frMhx8w/s2000/apple_pie.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJg3r6bREfWGKQD2dH8bWi29won61uHMDCQqQR0IZvy5st5Q1m9tSD_5B-nc4QQ6fQ8d39o1wTjiT4C8SqKMNWl5QgcmD9ah2anUOq1laVBlQyM0LthEc-pgDJR2et9Ivx_nPbVNXvsFcPTSljzPNao0Pjk9zee2BiEcqI1f8jYqcHqt6frMhx8w/w640-h426/apple_pie.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Keto Chow Apple Pie Ice Cream</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Being a carb addict and emotional eater is a big problem if you are dealing with problems in your life. I have learned that using food to soothe your state of mind is not going to solve anything. I no longer snack or binge on anything. Not even ice cream, which was always my go to in those cases. If I want ice cream, I plan for it in advance. I use Keto Chow meal replacement shakes for ice cream. I can eat the whole pint of ice cream for one of my meals and it is okay. It is more than okay since it is a healthy alternative. Keto Chow has a really good taste so it does not have that "diet" taste that most low calorie or low fat ice creams have. Plus it is better for you. It is my belief that if you or someone you love or care for is still drinking Ensure or Boost, then it is time to change that. I spent many years working as a CNA and seeing what is in those drinks is scary!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKND5B_WBakVVHQ3qGYEIocXZH2C8wBA_XKeaGQjXA5_fjUr5PXbVk1maGodEgPrAoL29fpHdsIlf0BmU-6-FfI5Lcls5AwsNiFdHVAT7O4Tup4vV5Ym0g3rek9XjLAuWPVq2gsdMnGHgOZD7Qy9YKnYNGNk7qyQ5ujd4qck2-sVUPhoIcgFEsQQ/s1800/gerinum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKND5B_WBakVVHQ3qGYEIocXZH2C8wBA_XKeaGQjXA5_fjUr5PXbVk1maGodEgPrAoL29fpHdsIlf0BmU-6-FfI5Lcls5AwsNiFdHVAT7O4Tup4vV5Ym0g3rek9XjLAuWPVq2gsdMnGHgOZD7Qy9YKnYNGNk7qyQ5ujd4qck2-sVUPhoIcgFEsQQ/w640-h426/gerinum.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">One way I cope with my problems is by listening to music. It really does help. I like to color in adult coloring books while the music is playing. It gives me that time to think and reflect on whatever is troubling me. Sometimes I make problems out of things that are not my problems at all. My mother told me not to worry about something until there was something to worry about! Boy, that sure is the truth. Wasting all that time and becoming stressed over situations that never happen. I see a lot of people are doing that. Worrying and stressing, that is. Usually about things in the news. That is the media's intention. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0epgpUnZAvFnhtM4ok5_sYdr1WYG-UO4luWNWy8GCD0K-Kl5-l2fhqwvCihHn368R3-1J2fYfuJBW7l6gv7qqLPBnezmakhm8wHeuv5I32E_UAtXKmgVcDYD385vCe0XgW35HtmfBFcigDo0RLIqKQhenOS9rQrW5S0t-pGp6i76aYVJFCHXHA/s2000/treesz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0epgpUnZAvFnhtM4ok5_sYdr1WYG-UO4luWNWy8GCD0K-Kl5-l2fhqwvCihHn368R3-1J2fYfuJBW7l6gv7qqLPBnezmakhm8wHeuv5I32E_UAtXKmgVcDYD385vCe0XgW35HtmfBFcigDo0RLIqKQhenOS9rQrW5S0t-pGp6i76aYVJFCHXHA/w640-h426/treesz.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: large;">In the park!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Living in an apartment building for seniors and disabled as I do now, I see a lot of people get upset by rumors that get passed from one person to another. Just like the old telephone game. It gets worse and worse as it is passed along. People make assumptions based on how a prospective tenant dresses or looks. Nobody takes it into account what that person's financial situation, illness or disability is. I looked a sight myself till I got moved in and was able to have my hair cut and new clothing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-qCP2syqs3QlP9uXUQijAhCLB3YW4facwcDujHks9SdWeyrPfOgQXSlLoGiOPeR4Ota1_HeJef4ZV3Jyj2ddyAPxyPQE-PtcW8ja2k-lyOb5sE_6oBpfApFeZSk1cSKpGneQInnNVqo1mgSGEoO4KqYS5uxhOcJwzYSoKiGAhPDoTiMIJEEfLA/s220/signature2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-qCP2syqs3QlP9uXUQijAhCLB3YW4facwcDujHks9SdWeyrPfOgQXSlLoGiOPeR4Ota1_HeJef4ZV3Jyj2ddyAPxyPQE-PtcW8ja2k-lyOb5sE_6oBpfApFeZSk1cSKpGneQInnNVqo1mgSGEoO4KqYS5uxhOcJwzYSoKiGAhPDoTiMIJEEfLA/w320-h125/signature2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-49799185199075125732023-06-22T13:09:00.000-04:002023-06-22T13:09:29.135-04:00My Life Five Years Later<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjYFfZD0YersRozUV9f__3pj0J_qg5tZIYvIB-RQZ9ThwvHVBP1T7z9bsXG4SptaZtCB092MY9RRH82uaWgIKuJrJ32lAGP84b8aw3yqGhxExjLByHZwgKT534YrKTbQnx9Zo40PfPOWX-A3WHPl8Io4me9zuIWCeBHVkfv9rsfSw_7eN_5GjLw/s1000/to_oxford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjYFfZD0YersRozUV9f__3pj0J_qg5tZIYvIB-RQZ9ThwvHVBP1T7z9bsXG4SptaZtCB092MY9RRH82uaWgIKuJrJ32lAGP84b8aw3yqGhxExjLByHZwgKT534YrKTbQnx9Zo40PfPOWX-A3WHPl8Io4me9zuIWCeBHVkfv9rsfSw_7eN_5GjLw/w640-h426/to_oxford.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">It has been over five years since I moved from my Peaceful Forest Homestead. For years, I sold online. On various websites and wrote four different blogs. Not to mention all the physical work that had to be done living in an off grid house. I am thankful every day for the shower in my apartment. As well as the refrigerator with a large freezer that I have now. When I was living off-grid from 1999 to 2018, I presented in what I wrote and my photos, as if it was easy. It was not easy. Especially as the osteoarthritis in my knees worsened. I kept thinking it was caused by what I was doing. To make it even worse, my feet were swollen, red and hot. Sometimes I was so hot I could not stand it. The only relief I got was when I soaked my feet in cold water directly from the well. It wasn't long before that water would get hot from my feet! That turned out to be the beginning of Lymphedema. I now have it under control but back then I was afraid of what it might be. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YUfSZAyM_L4xNgU3u7vfMrP8DvLtT8iWfIe3uUn0N27swx1wd80dEF94eAml5rCukUpHMYD_011nkuSJU0o_hjuS9sO2sBjHeK5hGPiNxcBcprhLhUkknv7iL58xvHHF7E0_vGtDOZY-qe40C8DRlsz-FuXwMl5m51T6BZBvhSps9KTyspFidQ/s2000/kero.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YUfSZAyM_L4xNgU3u7vfMrP8DvLtT8iWfIe3uUn0N27swx1wd80dEF94eAml5rCukUpHMYD_011nkuSJU0o_hjuS9sO2sBjHeK5hGPiNxcBcprhLhUkknv7iL58xvHHF7E0_vGtDOZY-qe40C8DRlsz-FuXwMl5m51T6BZBvhSps9KTyspFidQ/w640-h426/kero.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Another thing that was difficult was not having any power after the energy system was turned off in the early evening. Imagine sitting for hours before bed time in the dark. In the first years that I lived there, the kerosene lamps were the only lights used. There were fourteen! They worked but they are not as bright as an electric light bulb. They have a smell that not all people can endure. I did because I think I got used to them. There was also the smell from the batteries that stored the power as they were charging. I knew they were highly dangerous, especially with the huge wood stove a few feet away! I had no way to change anything when living there. That is why I value my own independence now. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwL4cUkViPVNFyDGkdU73hv4Eq9mzukhe7jQV-jTbNBOpNR6bLTKM8-fdcx-jZLRGRERF_00OUfI86TOoy8a5j7-VtBzaRmw788OuGRzIrse8KTBRCWIc6xN4rLhEZYd7o_8iJARyTVA4Nt4RUHMwufZcKJCwNLIialeW1v2T65h8Blry_V8grzg/s1000/jewell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1000" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwL4cUkViPVNFyDGkdU73hv4Eq9mzukhe7jQV-jTbNBOpNR6bLTKM8-fdcx-jZLRGRERF_00OUfI86TOoy8a5j7-VtBzaRmw788OuGRzIrse8KTBRCWIc6xN4rLhEZYd7o_8iJARyTVA4Nt4RUHMwufZcKJCwNLIialeW1v2T65h8Blry_V8grzg/w640-h512/jewell.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The smoke from the two wood stoves affected me also. A chimney needs to be cleaned often. Even more if you have a chimney inside the house that has elbows and goes through the floor to the upstairs. I loved cooking on the wood cook stove but I never felt safe with it going at night after we went to bed. If the weather was cool, but not cold it meant the wood stoves would heat the house to very high temperatures and I could barely stand it. Many times I would get so hot that I would go sit outside on the porch in the middle of the night. My cats loved them though! Their motto was the hotter the better! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCOEh-_nC5fDPpBwObG50FnVY9-WZpx2i0w-lvqtCy7ApJBIZx4mO6Ip4l_bW89nkl-3wr-DqBVV-U55MDi5imFyefy-zUiP07T5XTC5UFGrHL9X4kBzA4l6BaHe2enJgqgJGIcJSBCAixh9m1dMiZV3sV9zAk66Nj_BIl6GPcrnE1fPtDjMXog/s2091/luxuries.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2091" data-original-width="1866" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCOEh-_nC5fDPpBwObG50FnVY9-WZpx2i0w-lvqtCy7ApJBIZx4mO6Ip4l_bW89nkl-3wr-DqBVV-U55MDi5imFyefy-zUiP07T5XTC5UFGrHL9X4kBzA4l6BaHe2enJgqgJGIcJSBCAixh9m1dMiZV3sV9zAk66Nj_BIl6GPcrnE1fPtDjMXog/w572-h640/luxuries.JPG" width="572" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Boom Box, Lamp, Television.......Bunny!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I eventually started getting things on my own to improve my life. Like a small fan that I could use if there was enough power. Could not use it during the night though when I really needed it. Music always improves my life and puts me in a good mood. So I bought a boom box (that I finally wore out this year and had to throw it out). I would use batteries in it and always bought some at the store so I could keep it going. After that I got a MP3 player and an external speaker for it. I would play that at night when I was in bed. I had to go to bed early because it was dark. The Kindle Fire also helped me endure those dark nights. I read all the time. I even read out loud to others until they fall asleep.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsSpAQ1tj_L940mfyYNg07ytx9UxPxNLvqaiACecBBwnq3pZVrj0aY0zSSYiXY7dfCWCvyrhIfvkzg8EUwsO2iPEOooh8tZI8YRCJF3f8bwnCXRSM5NG0CED1Z5g7-s5V_O_rkDs23f9dVkFPMg2rse4XGgAmxwybugTxPrXusXh4e8tBRZq67Q/s600/laundry_jeff.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsSpAQ1tj_L940mfyYNg07ytx9UxPxNLvqaiACecBBwnq3pZVrj0aY0zSSYiXY7dfCWCvyrhIfvkzg8EUwsO2iPEOooh8tZI8YRCJF3f8bwnCXRSM5NG0CED1Z5g7-s5V_O_rkDs23f9dVkFPMg2rse4XGgAmxwybugTxPrXusXh4e8tBRZq67Q/w640-h426/laundry_jeff.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>My son doing laundry!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">When I mention to others that I used to live off the grid it gets all kinds of attention. People glamorize it. People think washing your laundry by hand and hanging it on a clothesline is great. It is not. I never felt that I could get my laundry really clean. I did not have enough strength to really scrub it clean. You have to scrub hard! Then carry more water from the well and rinse. After that I had to carry the laundry to the clothesline to hang. I have horrible problems with my shoulders and maybe that is how it started. Reaching up always hurts me now. Luckily I don't have to wash by hand anymore. I do hang my clothing on the shower rod to dry. Though I can use a dryer if I want to and I do for bedding and towels. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXC1_vBbA7qj5TYKnr3JWsk0IdiUNSYF4w6Tr33fCwzNPq41XVZvcyanPnVGpEOiTU8EDf2UF6WitfzbvE_8MU-e7UsyAyNyOJbkuBJy-f_cLG1v2oXUBvtg2WeayXYmKmllswP77P3qlR6vJyx5GroN0zK1iitTvcM0l2wihJMx7IkGXMjfFU8A/s2000/police_station.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXC1_vBbA7qj5TYKnr3JWsk0IdiUNSYF4w6Tr33fCwzNPq41XVZvcyanPnVGpEOiTU8EDf2UF6WitfzbvE_8MU-e7UsyAyNyOJbkuBJy-f_cLG1v2oXUBvtg2WeayXYmKmllswP77P3qlR6vJyx5GroN0zK1iitTvcM0l2wihJMx7IkGXMjfFU8A/w640-h426/police_station.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Yes, life is easier for me now. I am still active. I still clean my home and cook foods that I prepare myself. I now have friends I see in person almost daily. I can go to the store if I am out of something and not worry about whether I have enough gas to get there and back. No, I can't walk in the forest or work in my garden. Those are things I had to give up in order to improve my life. I do other things instead. As you get older maybe it is not such a good idea to live secluded with no friends or in charge of your own life. Being single has made my life easier to stick to a budget that I set up for my own needs. Not what someone else wants. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJR4y9U-r84B4A299-Ik28XMSVu1U0xxfslncCWjDZWeeuEjxIAtnexax8QevwFiLC2LpclbSGrqhHhggMJpZytfRSicVJdrracZzQ1TiVcmPuMNA6y5iEbByyDrvCfkHUKn5VqEsohd0BP6C7bXBbCBf0oQ1DJN5R-mOkyZeESUtTfTGvGtkOJg/s2000/going_home.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJR4y9U-r84B4A299-Ik28XMSVu1U0xxfslncCWjDZWeeuEjxIAtnexax8QevwFiLC2LpclbSGrqhHhggMJpZytfRSicVJdrracZzQ1TiVcmPuMNA6y5iEbByyDrvCfkHUKn5VqEsohd0BP6C7bXBbCBf0oQ1DJN5R-mOkyZeESUtTfTGvGtkOJg/w640-h426/going_home.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">People think living in an apartment building is not a good idea because of having such close neighbors. For me, in the building I live in I can go a whole week-end and not see another person. I do my laundry and will be alone in the laundry room the whole time. If I want company I can invite some of my friends to my apartment for coffee or stop in their apartments to chat. We play Bingo downstairs in the Community Room. People seem to gather at various times in the lobby on the first floor. It depends on the building you move to. I honestly don't know how you could check it out before you moved in though. I didn't know what to expect. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bIMnii5NBqv88qvIF7TQs2_YMLkxdZA3KZEHhXunRaD7MeLD1iMw64K90NJJdW7NmWxMA3JTA1QCGfXRbZahU_fRs7rmxNSSr62E9xyEo4GxUsK7fw5tSdTZHSqGJsA317TUjLVkQKXqIv0QaPMD08b9rS_BFvZB9434vOz3UDqlnJHE3LuhYw/s2000/downtownDD3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bIMnii5NBqv88qvIF7TQs2_YMLkxdZA3KZEHhXunRaD7MeLD1iMw64K90NJJdW7NmWxMA3JTA1QCGfXRbZahU_fRs7rmxNSSr62E9xyEo4GxUsK7fw5tSdTZHSqGJsA317TUjLVkQKXqIv0QaPMD08b9rS_BFvZB9434vOz3UDqlnJHE3LuhYw/w640-h426/downtownDD3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Stores, restaurants, coffee shop, drug stores, 4 parks, the library and the county office building are all within walking distance of my apartment. I use a mobility chair for the times I have trouble walking or if I want to get somewhere fast. It is more like my vehicle since I do not own a car. I didn't need the expense or headaches owning one includes. There is a bus system here as well as taxi service. Grocery delivery has been an added improvement for me! I use it all the time. As I look back on these last five years, I think it was the right decision to move here. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9yN4ZQ_ylDfdS-loQeX-GBJBk8zRnTfmLNe0Hy-Ag1BljSnEiPkmLGnoGpoomTFWhdFK_ykNXFCW8HbjiPmUPGPRwxAAi6Z2IuEpsCL2kmiqzddD6e8LhXFlpiddhywjmzFOxnfvaSyATRpsvVpOEycUBqFQgHmb4U5ciV-8oWIEAlakj7ebTg/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9yN4ZQ_ylDfdS-loQeX-GBJBk8zRnTfmLNe0Hy-Ag1BljSnEiPkmLGnoGpoomTFWhdFK_ykNXFCW8HbjiPmUPGPRwxAAi6Z2IuEpsCL2kmiqzddD6e8LhXFlpiddhywjmzFOxnfvaSyATRpsvVpOEycUBqFQgHmb4U5ciV-8oWIEAlakj7ebTg/w400-h156/signature2.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-8718874058165134802023-06-21T16:18:00.001-04:002023-06-21T16:18:51.845-04:00Carnivore Crisps Grass Fed Beef Flour in Chaffles<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwJmOj-NmJNqG7n5pmxAJubclH5sAR0UYghJIDmJfduIANCKlRUWwZbXRp3Hrh_hlIqsWMzrK5G7j9eXFbBoSsMolTf1jsjQSTP4RUAsf7siiNhtIrwgASnQFRLWA7I4uyWw0P6EOAbuZFWpw1Fygo7BZoMpeTe6OeJBNL3jGNbnio4hJ7iGvoQ/s2000/carnivore_chaffles0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1555" data-original-width="2000" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwJmOj-NmJNqG7n5pmxAJubclH5sAR0UYghJIDmJfduIANCKlRUWwZbXRp3Hrh_hlIqsWMzrK5G7j9eXFbBoSsMolTf1jsjQSTP4RUAsf7siiNhtIrwgASnQFRLWA7I4uyWw0P6EOAbuZFWpw1Fygo7BZoMpeTe6OeJBNL3jGNbnio4hJ7iGvoQ/w640-h498/carnivore_chaffles0.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have been using the Cornbread Flavored Chaffles recipe that 2 Krazy Ketos used for their Stuffler recipe for corn dogs. I use the same recipe but make chaffles in the Mini Dash waffle maker instead. That was great and I loved it. I wanted to try it with the Carnivore Crisps Grass Fed Beef Flour in place of the almond and coconut flours. Less carbs! This is a test batch. I normally make a double batch and freeze them so I can have them with my fried eggs for breakfast. I will be making more. One thing about these is they really fill you up. More so than the others did. Must be the beef.</span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-URU8h73Mvo-6fJMf8jsw_ATE9Oy8vEp6XF3t_BXXMTzC62Rcg2hZHBcQCqOp7f1y4Tr8whnBTbm6Hwwu2KQHbplLmhgAu1qgX0xMwQy44b_3ZXcKDiu5p_dSCxc5e8iuvZ0uf8RBYR049qbiKiN6lnBiq-bUrMS1NryHHHm7C6OpDv8XIQoVg/s2000/beef_flour2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-URU8h73Mvo-6fJMf8jsw_ATE9Oy8vEp6XF3t_BXXMTzC62Rcg2hZHBcQCqOp7f1y4Tr8whnBTbm6Hwwu2KQHbplLmhgAu1qgX0xMwQy44b_3ZXcKDiu5p_dSCxc5e8iuvZ0uf8RBYR049qbiKiN6lnBiq-bUrMS1NryHHHm7C6OpDv8XIQoVg/w640-h426/beef_flour2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I posted these pictures on my fakebook page and the comments I received were the typical ones from people who follow the sad (standard american diet) lifestyle. The price.........yes, it is expensive but when I purchased bulk foods from prepper sites it was about the same. Food that is dehydrated or freeze dried or ground into flour or crumbs is going to cost more if you compare it by ounce or pound. You do not use that much of it and believe me it does last a long time. I just finished a large can of dehydrated red pepppers that I bought from Emergency Essentials before I moved here. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlkZzDgey4B5USxe6YsIb2X8400p81JcVAK0HQwEL2JLj6W3ixUiGa6k67MtOD50H9FCZ_Sop_VTkPfGvy0M0k9m8Tv02TxgTzn-TyRQxU5rQcnU-KJnxl-VYdfz02f7EDx4Arwy1lZcJEnVwwoYoM0ufsUjcN-QdAJfnh0AKjkynXDbuLh8fpg/s2000/chaffle_inside_crp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="2000" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlkZzDgey4B5USxe6YsIb2X8400p81JcVAK0HQwEL2JLj6W3ixUiGa6k67MtOD50H9FCZ_Sop_VTkPfGvy0M0k9m8Tv02TxgTzn-TyRQxU5rQcnU-KJnxl-VYdfz02f7EDx4Arwy1lZcJEnVwwoYoM0ufsUjcN-QdAJfnh0AKjkynXDbuLh8fpg/w640-h488/chaffle_inside_crp.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The texture inside the chaffles</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">These chaffles came out a much darker brown than the ones made with coconut and almond flour. They are savory but you can add sweetners, Swerve brown sugar or one of the sugar free syrups to change it to a sweet chaffle. Does it really matter is made with beef flour? Not really except it does lower the carb count and that is why I wanted to try it. They do taste good too but I don't think I actually tasted beef. I add cornbread flavoring to it and that gives it a distinct taste.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDstCYWt0R7-xCrpJPqbshY9BcWmL-PvEa7jSoBG7ggmkRXIHQ9xNVaX5xqTltRIF83qrUi1i_6t0H8iL6A7VrnJQmcKMaQcxwHLUM4gIhz-3Qz3djPlmQvmpSsCYqoLB6xp70V3SUXkx7V1CD09yvItIGOKOpN02dthELMW2o5pNGqc_Y7j1JiA/s2000/chaffles_bacon_eggs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="2000" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDstCYWt0R7-xCrpJPqbshY9BcWmL-PvEa7jSoBG7ggmkRXIHQ9xNVaX5xqTltRIF83qrUi1i_6t0H8iL6A7VrnJQmcKMaQcxwHLUM4gIhz-3Qz3djPlmQvmpSsCYqoLB6xp70V3SUXkx7V1CD09yvItIGOKOpN02dthELMW2o5pNGqc_Y7j1JiA/w640-h456/chaffles_bacon_eggs.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">One thing I see about my grocery budget is that it is consistently less now that I eat "clean" ketovore or keto foods. None of those so called "Keto" snacks, cereals, crackers, etc. Just buy food that is very low carbs with no sugar, no other forms of sugar, no grains at all and no starchy vegetables. Whatever you choose, do not use the bad seed oils such as canola, soybean, corn, sunflower, etc. Then you can buy eggs, dairy, meat or products that I consider ingredients, like the Carnivore Crisps. These chaffles can be used like you used to use bread. Which is what I do with the fried eggs. You can make grilled cheese sandwiches with them too. That is very good! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgBNSPknI_FCf59sbtKN_zhMTrkD0eKy5ildqG9KbUj-WUY5J9Sm5MMMxNircBuJV6dcPspO3tSX1Avw8DOg5gHF9Pe-vSSw-DA-QEvLO5pIBwAAMHSblbiDe_9IEGWcZuuTQX2ZbyYbmcl5OY9TQvfV99qD_TSVIXyX1VCGc-7_QDW8irLOEDg/s2000/chf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgBNSPknI_FCf59sbtKN_zhMTrkD0eKy5ildqG9KbUj-WUY5J9Sm5MMMxNircBuJV6dcPspO3tSX1Avw8DOg5gHF9Pe-vSSw-DA-QEvLO5pIBwAAMHSblbiDe_9IEGWcZuuTQX2ZbyYbmcl5OY9TQvfV99qD_TSVIXyX1VCGc-7_QDW8irLOEDg/w640-h426/chf.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">These are the cornbread flavored chaffles made with coconut and almond flour. See the difference? Much lighter in appearance and light. They are still good and I am not going to stop making them. These too are made with pork rind crumbs. You cannot taste them. I love these chaffles not made with cheese but I make some with cheese depending on what I am using them for. A big bag of these in your freezer makes meals easy! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcitMI4Az5ZHiGyIt6iW_CogDr8GgM10feFPfhYzaWigmE-S42dFLDxjaTWB1XkT6juStqhGZqy_0wEP-mBlZfMec3H_09GDWQf14JkjwEQeFPQrYkqy2MNuEXschDkYe_ceO648DKJQ9OOa62h-tCIBL_eZyuCkBVS3uuIbJUjtkOFDmwH8XHQ/s220/signature2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcitMI4Az5ZHiGyIt6iW_CogDr8GgM10feFPfhYzaWigmE-S42dFLDxjaTWB1XkT6juStqhGZqy_0wEP-mBlZfMec3H_09GDWQf14JkjwEQeFPQrYkqy2MNuEXschDkYe_ceO648DKJQ9OOa62h-tCIBL_eZyuCkBVS3uuIbJUjtkOFDmwH8XHQ/w320-h125/signature2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-55281885503871503882023-06-13T10:35:00.002-04:002023-06-13T10:35:44.471-04:00Living With Health Conditions<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-B7TlWlMZYIVk4T-VCjprxI-1ktTgTDlHP6u7HLgw82xJNqrWrqyNkI89tlreUHH4pgSDMsyAt5mGZWkzg0JdVGOuIbwsUtvct6J2feAJ1t47ue9ynqIVFMdK72CYaf61PVJ4DJcZEU9YGgwBeQI0eCthlQ0zE9yryQ3x9rk-WrOvY2TRj5o/s2000/welcome.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-B7TlWlMZYIVk4T-VCjprxI-1ktTgTDlHP6u7HLgw82xJNqrWrqyNkI89tlreUHH4pgSDMsyAt5mGZWkzg0JdVGOuIbwsUtvct6J2feAJ1t47ue9ynqIVFMdK72CYaf61PVJ4DJcZEU9YGgwBeQI0eCthlQ0zE9yryQ3x9rk-WrOvY2TRj5o/w640-h426/welcome.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">It would be easy for me to say that I cannot walk anymore. Just stop doing it. I don't have a disease that causes it like some people do. Though maybe Osteoarthritis is actually a disease. I consider it a condition. Lymphedema is a disease but does not actually stop me from doing things. As long as I wear the compression stockings I can walk with it. Even if my feet and calves are swelled and/or tight. If you knew me in person, you would not think I was the strongest person. Not by a long shot! My strength is the kind that is inside. Inside my brain and mind. I refuse to quit. It has been quite hard for me to accept having an aide help me with cleaning my apartment. I could see it if I had a huge house but this is a small studio apartment. Yet there are some jobs I find difficult to do. They will take me hours to complete! I have accepted having an aide and I will give her more to do as I see her ability to do what I want done.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQV3jdw6FC063NV9Lq3aO0BCCY216sSuFbe_lp4F_pYKPxz4WoWNFxGRe2LnKaLzX64pLRTyLW-d5rGZAPOMBUFwlw76sjVc1YxbmDem9dCoBp7TFnMy6LRw8m6xFCVYI3jgeQ1aDZRp3fWj28CrsEdGMqcVdPdhBwA0zBaWd4aPpjhWxzOsM/s2000/smoke_free.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2000" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQV3jdw6FC063NV9Lq3aO0BCCY216sSuFbe_lp4F_pYKPxz4WoWNFxGRe2LnKaLzX64pLRTyLW-d5rGZAPOMBUFwlw76sjVc1YxbmDem9dCoBp7TFnMy6LRw8m6xFCVYI3jgeQ1aDZRp3fWj28CrsEdGMqcVdPdhBwA0zBaWd4aPpjhWxzOsM/w640-h492/smoke_free.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">In recent years, I have realized I do not like to go anywhere. Not social activities or events. There are many local events that go on within walking distance of my apartment. I don't go to many of them and if I do, I am in and out rather quickly. I do not like to be around cigarette smoke and it seems to be everywhere these days. Even when there is a no smoking sign I will see someone smoking right next to the sign. Either they can't read or they don't care. They act like it does not apply to them. Most smokers have no respect for others or the environment, polluting the air and littering by throwing their cigarette butts on the ground or out car windows. (I apologize to the smokers who do not do those things but the others know who they are.) So I suppose even if others do not like the smoke they will tolerate it to go to something. Well, that is not me. Breathing is important to me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqI5D-HAEODzEbBW-_j1F906EFlHdNQY3_95c7dc-6f5rHk_mOj1qvhf-gusYHeAj_oUoWEUwIqD-_hcq4DcTAZY-5EYNGXYBeKJ4cxihbKqcDKCU43cuWxq2IS7BqPArbkB3LvyXXUorFeop2YNx6YRQ1eK4RP0hR3GSI-_V2nv-eMLK-4qo/s2000/computer_cropped.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1676" data-original-width="2000" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqI5D-HAEODzEbBW-_j1F906EFlHdNQY3_95c7dc-6f5rHk_mOj1qvhf-gusYHeAj_oUoWEUwIqD-_hcq4DcTAZY-5EYNGXYBeKJ4cxihbKqcDKCU43cuWxq2IS7BqPArbkB3LvyXXUorFeop2YNx6YRQ1eK4RP0hR3GSI-_V2nv-eMLK-4qo/w640-h536/computer_cropped.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I research. That is what I do. I was one of those kids who would read a whole encyclopedia just for fun. It is one of the reasons I love the internet. So I have learned over the years since moving here how to manage the problems I have with my health. My knees are not going to get better but I can live with them. Sometimes they are not as bad as other times. Inflammation is the key and controlling it with your diet works. But.........you have to stick to it 100% and I am doing that now. Another thing I have learned is to not baby them. I walk with a walker and I am able to walk every morning in the hall outside my door. So no matter what the weather is I can do it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW2kzK6QY9QTfKRYE-KSlX3CZnJjMp4usMGk_EGWlFknZtYi-pbPwHcLn43msRKycEneND_cTOkDP1TmsW3meRLvQm3NlV3wQl1CFcTLIeymwCZCL_4i0EdeLLJOygKNZqBHsY7pYYvO3GqwPRYsB8f2ebdIWs5RUhemyePvAZwsDHbMcHKM/s960/violets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW2kzK6QY9QTfKRYE-KSlX3CZnJjMp4usMGk_EGWlFknZtYi-pbPwHcLn43msRKycEneND_cTOkDP1TmsW3meRLvQm3NlV3wQl1CFcTLIeymwCZCL_4i0EdeLLJOygKNZqBHsY7pYYvO3GqwPRYsB8f2ebdIWs5RUhemyePvAZwsDHbMcHKM/w640-h426/violets.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">If you have a health condition, even being controlled by a doctor, it is good to do your own research and learn what you can about your condition. Ask questions and record or write down the answers. Then research it again. I never rely on anyone else and many times I tell the doctor what I want done and they usually do it. However long I am slated to live on this earth I will try to do the best I can. Many times the tests and treatments are worse than the disease or condition. It helps if you have a doctor you can totally trust but these days they are hard to find. Most are controlled by the insurance and drug companies. If they don't do what they say they won't get paid. Oh to go back to the days when the patient paid the doctors out of their own pockets and the prices weren't out of sight. That was a true doctor patient relationship!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyjpbvParSxwfPPk7GiitKKGT6j4he7P2wDT6-D6sZ-7nmDEVUp1E1CBVNt5xkOKKsHiYLEzTXEzXNqdg2DggEZWUB6mVS1vZJSySRHeaackcixvTDeCJs-IdCVjzFxzDNZmVOm5dYvXXY2tJwwP89CzHRfbZxDB6CUCzO_-ypbGBLFfv71Y/s2000/ribeye.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyjpbvParSxwfPPk7GiitKKGT6j4he7P2wDT6-D6sZ-7nmDEVUp1E1CBVNt5xkOKKsHiYLEzTXEzXNqdg2DggEZWUB6mVS1vZJSySRHeaackcixvTDeCJs-IdCVjzFxzDNZmVOm5dYvXXY2tJwwP89CzHRfbZxDB6CUCzO_-ypbGBLFfv71Y/w640-h426/ribeye.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Ribeye for supper!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">What nobody tells you is that food is medicine. It matters what you put in your mouth. Look at how many people buy special foods for their pets.......spending more for better quality food. Then go to the grocery store and fill their own grocery carts with high carbs, grains, sugar, fruit and highly processed foods. Foods that hinder you instead of helping you. Of course, it does not heal you overnight but you need time to overcome whatever is wrong inside your body. Many people would rather take a prescription cocktail every day rather than give up their favorite foods. Your choice. I am not trying to influencing anyone. Just saying what has worked for me. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQqSV9hMg2aUUSBxuXWCgl_oGpJYfHyEjibVBBwYcpWFDKvFKPL9hTIPCuOis2g3_RvhqXjCsRlNkm8XGgEsJmw8Hr8SriDmK2FTlLNOTapTzXQ6umRlH1GNZtH5fC-4xFM0HxuxdG0Mae1SgP-5YMtBktJdOZY6nT6oW2BKnbtOIShuHaMA/s2000/LMNT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQqSV9hMg2aUUSBxuXWCgl_oGpJYfHyEjibVBBwYcpWFDKvFKPL9hTIPCuOis2g3_RvhqXjCsRlNkm8XGgEsJmw8Hr8SriDmK2FTlLNOTapTzXQ6umRlH1GNZtH5fC-4xFM0HxuxdG0Mae1SgP-5YMtBktJdOZY6nT6oW2BKnbtOIShuHaMA/w640-h426/LMNT.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>LMNT Electrolyte Drink</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am trying to increase my mobility and decrease the fluid under my skin (Lymphedema). You need to figure out what you can do that helps your own health issues.Things that work for me is:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Keto Lifestyle (food & preparation)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Walking</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Leg Massager</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Compression Stockings</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Lymphedema Therapist</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Taking electrolytes (LMNT not one with sugar)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. Increased Salt</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Good Protein</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. Dry Brushing (before shower with a dry brush)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Sunshine (daily if possible)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLWANdxLu89dfUALT096F7bdivAk9BQnl3al4VKFmYAnjjzE2E8rR2txdAscTBgb5G7ajLBgjl8Eb08N4qDWfnSvrlHsNirI7eANJRFUfroYDIKtnLq3h_sX8vDl9gfnwICYlfteW7qOgGwRQS5X78Hw-rLPgywsM-y5P83SS7D3EqgSUPw0/s220/signature2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLWANdxLu89dfUALT096F7bdivAk9BQnl3al4VKFmYAnjjzE2E8rR2txdAscTBgb5G7ajLBgjl8Eb08N4qDWfnSvrlHsNirI7eANJRFUfroYDIKtnLq3h_sX8vDl9gfnwICYlfteW7qOgGwRQS5X78Hw-rLPgywsM-y5P83SS7D3EqgSUPw0/w400-h156/signature2.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-23507968138303119482023-05-05T10:03:00.000-04:002023-05-05T10:03:15.152-04:00Why I Choose To Live Without A Vehicle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7d_RZ1B2VinnZVluNhXxnoASqh9hqMtvbRrdW7hOfptaRt0OVD6S--s8fxAHxPjwWuVLz4gohTleE0YWh4w3-Yydu2DF2qBWbtLb_VnKKKb_82WYyZ3X-KdbyI0Rlj2KlN-R56K6yLY7TwMwfJ1Pfho7LQWLBV_E5rVHuai-93itakJE2tbU/s1216/Atlanticgas_station.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="1040" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7d_RZ1B2VinnZVluNhXxnoASqh9hqMtvbRrdW7hOfptaRt0OVD6S--s8fxAHxPjwWuVLz4gohTleE0YWh4w3-Yydu2DF2qBWbtLb_VnKKKb_82WYyZ3X-KdbyI0Rlj2KlN-R56K6yLY7TwMwfJ1Pfho7LQWLBV_E5rVHuai-93itakJE2tbU/w548-h640/Atlanticgas_station.jpg" width="548" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">There are many reasons that I chose not to own a vehicle. I am still thankful not to have one. Cars have always been a big part of my life. My father owned a gas station back in the fifties and early sixties. He liked working on cars and my brother did at a young age also. My brother was driving a 49’ Dodge around the big field next to our house. Over the years, I had many different cars and some were better than others. The last years though, I was poor. I did not have the money to pay for repairs and if I did, I had to use a credit card to pay for it. So it changed my opinion on owning a vehicle when I was moving here in 2018. I decided not to have one. Best decision I ever made!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGiCE7jEZpEOIiGzwm4UaMLjpomlD91bHJhHQwJos2rY6owgoH2lWgcfleCCkoc_9RJcV30i_32AdD3z3S2A_HHkqt1DlJvZnp4bAuZghFpZNz4ommSV0wJHrBMFUlTbv6B8HGNlQxwwDvzI-31F4hB5vZpgv3HppigXyeCJnQv2SnwpOdTs/s2226/bus.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="2226" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGiCE7jEZpEOIiGzwm4UaMLjpomlD91bHJhHQwJos2rY6owgoH2lWgcfleCCkoc_9RJcV30i_32AdD3z3S2A_HHkqt1DlJvZnp4bAuZghFpZNz4ommSV0wJHrBMFUlTbv6B8HGNlQxwwDvzI-31F4hB5vZpgv3HppigXyeCJnQv2SnwpOdTs/w640-h410/bus.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>County Bus</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Living in the city enables me not to really need one. In the country you really have no choice. It is more than a necessity. Here there are other ways to get around. A county bus that will pick me up right at my apartment building Monday through Friday. Our building is one of their bus stops. Taxi service that is pretty slow due to not enough of them and many people are using them. I would rather use the bus because it is more affordable and maybe even dependable. I have a mobility chair, “Jazzy” which is like a car to me. I can take it to the grocery store, drug store or dollar store. Of course, I cannot use it in bad weather, especially heavy rain or in the winter. For the most part though, I love using it and it makes going anywhere fun.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNdgt9ItMylODSFwNgQFMbnmVKzV8VlF3V5UsWP5F5zIc3Y1qsJ_OHdf_TnLnvzrygIjDpHR6utENOm7_zau2rG17UU8GtrIXEXKF6ch7VpHvcsfIKQb24wzeqpvS37IjpP1A6noqao9BG8IPpb2UTYqiBsP1hC20KhswAbeeXxEbr1ToI24/s2000/library.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNdgt9ItMylODSFwNgQFMbnmVKzV8VlF3V5UsWP5F5zIc3Y1qsJ_OHdf_TnLnvzrygIjDpHR6utENOm7_zau2rG17UU8GtrIXEXKF6ch7VpHvcsfIKQb24wzeqpvS37IjpP1A6noqao9BG8IPpb2UTYqiBsP1hC20KhswAbeeXxEbr1ToI24/w640-h426/library.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The library right across the street.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Not having a vehicle is one of the reasons that I try to use the businesses closest to my apartment. And there are many since I am in the center of the downtown area. There are four parks within walking distance of my apartment. The library is right across the street. The county office building is within the block. My son’s apartment is two blocks away. Restaurants, bars, a coffee shop, 2 drug stores and hair dressers are a walking distance away. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmr5m9XKw4jVAfMzNuQ9b_pRxPs7LvotZurhHwxnVu4_g8btqc_xb-GUq_F3MMHxnxzfrLJtbIQ0MIALMfTxFxq9SnKn7pLmyLXVxq7IxKaZ3iOZk_vmzvHbiGo8Tn4xRsUF8TiFa2_rdN41OnvRv3HviL9993BNT1-cczDzURU6bmHdzp2A/s1800/cleaning_cars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmr5m9XKw4jVAfMzNuQ9b_pRxPs7LvotZurhHwxnVu4_g8btqc_xb-GUq_F3MMHxnxzfrLJtbIQ0MIALMfTxFxq9SnKn7pLmyLXVxq7IxKaZ3iOZk_vmzvHbiGo8Tn4xRsUF8TiFa2_rdN41OnvRv3HviL9993BNT1-cczDzURU6bmHdzp2A/w640-h426/cleaning_cars.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>December 2020</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">We have winter here in New York with a good amount of snowfall. Cars being covered with snow is pretty common. Tenants who own vehicles have to clean off their cars and move them so the snowplow can plow the parking lot. So glad that is not something I have to even think about. Often they have to park their vehicles somewhere else if our forecast is a major snow fall during the night. So parking in another area and walking back to my apartment would be difficult. I cannot do that.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_UHpQ8K6xDdWomvfTWRZVp0Clb5nDQdu0A2qfvbmHX_HGKtV5298n5yHYkbWk4MYDM-ek7i6HeYY51raD3JjYYb33JWRiVhhxqti8yBgqCYeWSpYZUKeF5a5EWfJ4ddva9U6_oEdNH-Fzr_l2MFb1joK20OCt9l11YE9zxVh3_awQ-ivjt0/s2672/cougar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2672" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_UHpQ8K6xDdWomvfTWRZVp0Clb5nDQdu0A2qfvbmHX_HGKtV5298n5yHYkbWk4MYDM-ek7i6HeYY51raD3JjYYb33JWRiVhhxqti8yBgqCYeWSpYZUKeF5a5EWfJ4ddva9U6_oEdNH-Fzr_l2MFb1joK20OCt9l11YE9zxVh3_awQ-ivjt0/w640-h480/cougar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i>My niece and me with my car 1988</i><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Not owning a vehicle also means no auto loan, no auto insurance, no auto registration or inspections, no preventative maintenance, no repairs or tires, etc. etc. The list can go on. Not getting stopped by a cop either! I still have my driver’s license and plan on keeping it. I haven’t driven in a very long time, probably since 2019. Quite honestly, I do not miss it one bit. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8aMg8tkUlqU-YLPR3NM8fE64dqtqzFSicXmudCr0VYl7QU1P33_Ga9UoLA-ksPFf-V0itdbgSUMPf70KADOp-msPLaaJzCFhEBKIwaqgvVBG5HP4VRDheW4WeIahcfs_tZfkYq19c0v4R_B2qDs2tOGtUAYY88JVxziQ50KV8s_6yu4Rrvk/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8aMg8tkUlqU-YLPR3NM8fE64dqtqzFSicXmudCr0VYl7QU1P33_Ga9UoLA-ksPFf-V0itdbgSUMPf70KADOp-msPLaaJzCFhEBKIwaqgvVBG5HP4VRDheW4WeIahcfs_tZfkYq19c0v4R_B2qDs2tOGtUAYY88JVxziQ50KV8s_6yu4Rrvk/w400-h156/signature2.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-34834479694309419162023-05-03T08:57:00.001-04:002023-05-03T08:57:50.252-04:00Busy Busy Busy, That's me!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIJrk_wejmV6wE0YnO_gR9YaaAokk07rpBnsnV_ufCKm9oBVbztG5A_JH3x7sWUuKvoo_4bq8qEQvqGHQl7IIKETCKd15hM2UmaeMUlLodtCHHSnordIeoDHYybs_AHc_mmOrH_ab7ITpNxpWJiTJk877Agok7h-yznnBmWSojSxt-erkWro/s2000/dandelions.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1864" data-original-width="2000" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIJrk_wejmV6wE0YnO_gR9YaaAokk07rpBnsnV_ufCKm9oBVbztG5A_JH3x7sWUuKvoo_4bq8qEQvqGHQl7IIKETCKd15hM2UmaeMUlLodtCHHSnordIeoDHYybs_AHc_mmOrH_ab7ITpNxpWJiTJk877Agok7h-yznnBmWSojSxt-erkWro/w640-h596/dandelions.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Loneliness is an emotion many people feel at one time or another in their lifetime. I live alone except for my house bunny, Rabbit. I have always been an introvert so being alone does not bother me as much as some people. I admit that I talk to Rabbit as if he is a person. He listens but does not join in our conversation! Living in an apartment building, downtown, means I can connect with others whenever I feel the need to. So it is not like I am isolated away from others most of the time. If I am, it is my own doing.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFRRLo0AEkls6YeyCLdxYN-714YOeHaBdW2XLVTjwYC1URiszt5EMrjgLwADo0i_0glqvB_W4Iw7iwdsY7maFp69_wP42Tg375AWL4VONueiBE39AUcyjWrDACXRU29OY5_0aRbasT94VaP0Os84C6adIWklIn7e82y6Dpq2z3jPSoj60il4/s1800/jeffs_block.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFRRLo0AEkls6YeyCLdxYN-714YOeHaBdW2XLVTjwYC1URiszt5EMrjgLwADo0i_0glqvB_W4Iw7iwdsY7maFp69_wP42Tg375AWL4VONueiBE39AUcyjWrDACXRU29OY5_0aRbasT94VaP0Os84C6adIWklIn7e82y6Dpq2z3jPSoj60il4/w640-h426/jeffs_block.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">My son lives a couple of blocks away and I see him almost daily. He is disabled and it seems to me his disability is getting worse as he ages. So that is something I have to contend with the best I can. Since I am alone it my problem and I deal with it. What else can I do? It is part of being a mother. If he did not have a disability, I suppose I would not be so involved in his life. Probably I would not like that so much. He is my son and I will take care of him as much as I can. I know he gets angry with me but I am on his side all the time. He just does not see or understand it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkxDO27TwAg1IQtSK06W_cjGvD2j2RNOWL10XtLxvccO0aeB2-mG8esXZFimQCFb-NDN82XS0gn-92Vso5qpr7wUpYR7e9ieOrBhFnloEi_wlSibtAXBz485hdZPEVdAhFUgXT7-7dh5YehB8qOypS1gz5Pnd4OvIwfS4s6mcZ8nbavU30fU/s2000/computer_crp2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="2000" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkxDO27TwAg1IQtSK06W_cjGvD2j2RNOWL10XtLxvccO0aeB2-mG8esXZFimQCFb-NDN82XS0gn-92Vso5qpr7wUpYR7e9ieOrBhFnloEi_wlSibtAXBz485hdZPEVdAhFUgXT7-7dh5YehB8qOypS1gz5Pnd4OvIwfS4s6mcZ8nbavU30fU/w640-h580/computer_crp2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lenovo Legion Laptop</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have been working on a story that I started back in 2010. First I had to figure out how to get Libre Office into my new computer. It took me a year to do that! I was also able to figure out how to get my old external hard drive in it. So I found my old stories and eBooks that I had been working on. In fact, when I bought this new computer, I had to teach myself how to do a few things I thought previously I'd <b>never </b>be able to do. One of those things was to remove Windows completely out of my computer (since it comes in the new computer..........packed full of advertising and things I would never use). I did it and put Ubuntu in and have been happy with it ever since. Did it all on my own with YouTube videos. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q29U4S5zGzFYULZQ4A3jWJ6vuGBxXMrYR3PxO-8Ix_zwh0T34DEcJ_labftkcHc07r5mMjgyG1C-UIurPsy_2Q39FKBXMg1JG8ulbHldpQfRF9Gg8Yzt--4I1cC0SixSQO-OtrUB0aGi6tqBmvegFdVv7jX6pZ6v0E2dGpUdpNu-qRgCdLU/s2000/living_rm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q29U4S5zGzFYULZQ4A3jWJ6vuGBxXMrYR3PxO-8Ix_zwh0T34DEcJ_labftkcHc07r5mMjgyG1C-UIurPsy_2Q39FKBXMg1JG8ulbHldpQfRF9Gg8Yzt--4I1cC0SixSQO-OtrUB0aGi6tqBmvegFdVv7jX6pZ6v0E2dGpUdpNu-qRgCdLU/w640-h426/living_rm.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Basically I am pretty busy all day. Even if it is doing trivial jobs like housework, making meals or editing photos in the computer. The day just gets by me and I am always saying, "how could it be this time already?" I don't really like to live by a schedule and for the most part I don't. I might eat breakfast at six in the morning or at noon. Yet there are other things I try to do by a certain time. Like cleaning my bunny's cage. Or using my leg massager. Or getting the coffee ready for the next morning in the coffeemaker. If I am an hour or so off it is okay and I don't stress about it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4I3_a9D02xAJEeAEftHmeUVgZ-LYmodus16VMlybJUoaslUjBy6I5_5OU9-pHCOTxvO3k-e8SI0pffbKe8T6P_Ca4rdEP3IiIG6MuL5u8oKonKcxlaqblodSLljY8VqWl04kp3TU2EP10esQ5_HpY2AuLIcaY0lvXwV0WX9M2OV2_WrjkUs/s2000/coloniaDD.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4I3_a9D02xAJEeAEftHmeUVgZ-LYmodus16VMlybJUoaslUjBy6I5_5OU9-pHCOTxvO3k-e8SI0pffbKe8T6P_Ca4rdEP3IiIG6MuL5u8oKonKcxlaqblodSLljY8VqWl04kp3TU2EP10esQ5_HpY2AuLIcaY0lvXwV0WX9M2OV2_WrjkUs/w640-h426/coloniaDD.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">It doesn't bother me to do things by myself. Never did. I remember I used to go to the movies by myself if there was a movie I really wanted to see. Now I could do that easily here since the theater is within walking distance of my apartment. It is being upgraded due to the beautification grant Norwich won. So that will be interesting to see. I loved the vintage feel of the old theater but think that is why it did not have a lot of people attending movies there. I probably would not go to a night time movie since I do not like to leave my apartment after dark.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xmvXzZ1DqVTMY5vyyvDt9MkCw0m3q2vxVk2vBBnQaIkt_ahUwy-8UuQuRsarGE1qcdcgIZ8Ax8E7CX-jdxury4mX6hw1crG3Ix0rtqnDKlIFoabyvGDGKI0gFs2VHI4-4ZdZBsw_FrBUymJ9Lqta-2v9FL2eXDsfQJvas3D5Lrzj2nhjF9M/s2000/traffic0.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xmvXzZ1DqVTMY5vyyvDt9MkCw0m3q2vxVk2vBBnQaIkt_ahUwy-8UuQuRsarGE1qcdcgIZ8Ax8E7CX-jdxury4mX6hw1crG3Ix0rtqnDKlIFoabyvGDGKI0gFs2VHI4-4ZdZBsw_FrBUymJ9Lqta-2v9FL2eXDsfQJvas3D5Lrzj2nhjF9M/w640-h426/traffic0.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Presently I am in the process of changing all my health care to local only. The dental I have no choice on but hopefully soon I will be finished with them. In establishing my independence, I need to get to the appointments on my own. Eventually, your dependence on someone else will end or should end. I chose not to own a vehicle and I do not regret making that decision one bit. It does make it difficult at times if I have an appointment that is 40 miles away though. So changing where I go for medical and dental is important now. I wish I had thought of that when I first moved here. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCDAgMA_y6J6r1cK1DPmjiZhZEDTf0JCD69HeQDSTPbxQr-aiXAAN1OALXljgBPORSSWw1g4VAi72M0nIGdogeeIQzmxnx1J8Gx60u4r64lh1ZCHOXDF44LOnmAYspErlOKPfmnZw8iuJ_X0ouyr-1f7o_vx3O0vbQ6uhiCamdmjreYnll8I/s2000/corner_light.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCDAgMA_y6J6r1cK1DPmjiZhZEDTf0JCD69HeQDSTPbxQr-aiXAAN1OALXljgBPORSSWw1g4VAi72M0nIGdogeeIQzmxnx1J8Gx60u4r64lh1ZCHOXDF44LOnmAYspErlOKPfmnZw8iuJ_X0ouyr-1f7o_vx3O0vbQ6uhiCamdmjreYnll8I/w640-h426/corner_light.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">As a single person you have to make an effort to keep up your friendships. Sometimes I may not feel like doing something but after I do it, I am usually happy I did. It gets me out of my apartment and usually I enjoyed myself. Sometimes I just sit in the park in the sun and watch people and traffic. Having four parks within walking distance of my apartment is pretty nice. Can go to a different one every day. There are a number of activities that take place right in the area I live in all summer and fall. So the week-ends here are busy and there are a lot of people around. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVxjEoVAUYxBTPhO-R07rtDUGc3DcA-quOMNv-nanHfN7D1l_TVBm7Po4tGXIsvtl0Lm1Rb0-1aPmSun0U7UFKsu7jaAMSyHh2v72n-KPbITqq1h7VboStmxsBSNVHWSTa91rJKJv0On3rrUcaPV0fuRe9dNB2Krm79O8Se0Y31NbFRDSAog/s2000/a_massage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1413" data-original-width="2000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVxjEoVAUYxBTPhO-R07rtDUGc3DcA-quOMNv-nanHfN7D1l_TVBm7Po4tGXIsvtl0Lm1Rb0-1aPmSun0U7UFKsu7jaAMSyHh2v72n-KPbITqq1h7VboStmxsBSNVHWSTa91rJKJv0On3rrUcaPV0fuRe9dNB2Krm79O8Se0Y31NbFRDSAog/w640-h452/a_massage.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fit King Compression Leg Massager</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I think when you have health issues you spend most of your time focused on that and rightly so. Lately I have realized if I don't think about that so much then I feel better. In fact, I will go half the day and then remember I was worried about something that seems to have disappeared or does not seem so bad. Lately I have made progress on Lymphedema and that is because I have committed myself to doing my self-care <b><i>every day no matter how much time it takes.</i></b> Along with sticking to a clean Keto lifestyle. It really does pay off! How do I know? Because the day after I eat ice cream or something else that contains sugar or inflammatory cooking oils I am not good. One bad food equals days of discomfort and depression. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepIAmrkPhpRHBXz8mLE-lZnx21Abz8Tp7AO20YgbSu44RBrH-8B8cQuN90RpZ4YWy8eP4ixQCAmzxZADqUQEYsv28G_uOKy--Z3yPG1hLqO4-tKB7-lmd9Df4M3Yeo8WGlQJLUaIimAZk698smTjOcZ_1zlIaRnl-pQ2-b7m3n6R44M0ErIg/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepIAmrkPhpRHBXz8mLE-lZnx21Abz8Tp7AO20YgbSu44RBrH-8B8cQuN90RpZ4YWy8eP4ixQCAmzxZADqUQEYsv28G_uOKy--Z3yPG1hLqO4-tKB7-lmd9Df4M3Yeo8WGlQJLUaIimAZk698smTjOcZ_1zlIaRnl-pQ2-b7m3n6R44M0ErIg/s1600/signature2.png" width="220" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">Updated 2023</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-62239374863527402402023-03-02T08:29:00.002-05:002023-03-02T08:29:20.035-05:00Electric Vehicle Charging Station in Norwich, NY<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ula0asr0zBxZxG3mDSYaf8Jqpw70MjnzyJJ_5TW680bkawz91phvaWXLeOicslxbAwMqczx9_VGC8DhKhTcMTiqRAZpS4Pra2NHieAp9sPowAhIeT06p3BN0Vy_V6-hRm0tO7lVX8Vu3JEr22XiidA0Q6NdQkcjl18QEpG3OjLt-0U4pj5c/s2000/charging_sign.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ula0asr0zBxZxG3mDSYaf8Jqpw70MjnzyJJ_5TW680bkawz91phvaWXLeOicslxbAwMqczx9_VGC8DhKhTcMTiqRAZpS4Pra2NHieAp9sPowAhIeT06p3BN0Vy_V6-hRm0tO7lVX8Vu3JEr22XiidA0Q6NdQkcjl18QEpG3OjLt-0U4pj5c/w640-h426/charging_sign.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Recently I went for walk, which is unheard of in February in New York! It was really a nice day and I spent time sitting in the sun in the park and watching traffic. I remembered that I noticed a small electric vehicle charging station in the parking lot next to my building. So on my way back home, I took a detour. I figured I would snap a few pictures of it to share on my social media. </span><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_68oIx-tBIFI0pV67hZ3y0m9Dcjl1DgCyGwMkHy0NtLn7by-EbXfsuJBfbQWEBs6In1274JFmNQiM1wx6yRSdBc4RtGYlEMPWgrnQp6aBEvFVnTt33s78jRSKNkaEupRuCxMHGjTuftR6zTSC4znIuXUVsoPzoEtzNCNk7qHQbuSeZFkjEDQ/s2000/charging.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_68oIx-tBIFI0pV67hZ3y0m9Dcjl1DgCyGwMkHy0NtLn7by-EbXfsuJBfbQWEBs6In1274JFmNQiM1wx6yRSdBc4RtGYlEMPWgrnQp6aBEvFVnTt33s78jRSKNkaEupRuCxMHGjTuftR6zTSC4znIuXUVsoPzoEtzNCNk7qHQbuSeZFkjEDQ/w640-h426/charging.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Far corner of the parking lot</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">As I got closer I saw someone working in the fenced in enclosure near the chargers. This little charging station is located in the far corner of the Hayes Street parking lot. This parking lot is behind the stores and restaurants on South Broad Street (Route 12) in Norwich, NY. I suppose if you have an electric vehicle it would be convenient to park it here to charge while you go to one of the restaurants or shops.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkckoe_vF3Noui6Maqdi_ezXnu069QOV-liYYiD7pJ-NoOa-urczqG3gMSheIDMKCeKPJ8EN8TOwcY3LXrHq54r0ppP_09dw2pIg6l9RtpNy6tFfFKjEwE0K0ZSYpWa2tkaG-ZtKDF-T7bODqxMbnK0lYqypVP3p1bytAEpNvSBBMM9wBjyo/s1464/truck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1464" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkckoe_vF3Noui6Maqdi_ezXnu069QOV-liYYiD7pJ-NoOa-urczqG3gMSheIDMKCeKPJ8EN8TOwcY3LXrHq54r0ppP_09dw2pIg6l9RtpNy6tFfFKjEwE0K0ZSYpWa2tkaG-ZtKDF-T7bODqxMbnK0lYqypVP3p1bytAEpNvSBBMM9wBjyo/w640-h292/truck.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Dept. of Transportation</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><br /></p><span style="font-size: x-large;">It turned out that the man working there was from DOT (Department of Transportation). He was very nice and showed me how the charger worked and how you pay to use it. New York State has an <a href="https://ddot.dc.gov/page/electric-vehicle-charging-station-program" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Electric Vehicle Charging Station Program</a> available to vendors to place chargers in public spaces. This way the chargers are available to vehicle owners who do not have chargers at home.<br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZA-CTm7OT3fZlRcVGzN8uNiRGvKN1OILtPmKpqRt2qECRcjJQY8T2OSLZPcTJe-yH1DeMDAhImLc74QpmKrx6kRwbtfU7Qg-h_kSmPRbnyvcMYf4o9DonlwC1rWiXplMDJ7bYiyOsAI16MggY2LuRrw1W7umTB9YL1Ga-Zjhn1NcfaNzKkI/s2000/charging1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZA-CTm7OT3fZlRcVGzN8uNiRGvKN1OILtPmKpqRt2qECRcjJQY8T2OSLZPcTJe-yH1DeMDAhImLc74QpmKrx6kRwbtfU7Qg-h_kSmPRbnyvcMYf4o9DonlwC1rWiXplMDJ7bYiyOsAI16MggY2LuRrw1W7umTB9YL1Ga-Zjhn1NcfaNzKkI/w640-h426/charging1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Electric Vehicle Charging Station</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">There are two chargers at this location. I personally have not seen a car being charged there yet. It is hidden away in this parking lot so maybe nobody knows it is here. The restaurants could add it to advertisements and get some business when people are looking for a electric vehicle charger. </span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNTEuY0ByXF0rLQZT8MXbji1EzQQOYkBqzaVFpA7k4z2t9n5i5sOVpyJJf2eNhCUSarvkxxNGlDmfk9cQ_KogqG38txsxqjumHRxI3Jw2X_3vagD8A5mwOq-iy0RUvjtYD_msfyOAz1z8AvF7SLxnFLfmpQZwGArVGPgrfJmE5-GP27h5Ifs/s1515/charger_small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="1023" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNTEuY0ByXF0rLQZT8MXbji1EzQQOYkBqzaVFpA7k4z2t9n5i5sOVpyJJf2eNhCUSarvkxxNGlDmfk9cQ_KogqG38txsxqjumHRxI3Jw2X_3vagD8A5mwOq-iy0RUvjtYD_msfyOAz1z8AvF7SLxnFLfmpQZwGArVGPgrfJmE5-GP27h5Ifs/w432-h640/charger_small.JPG" width="432" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>BTC Power EV Charger</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The chargers are BTC Power chargers. The system can charge two separate vehicles at the same time. This charging station is able to charge four vehicles since there are two chargers. BTC Power is a manufacturer of electric vehicle charging systems here in the US, Canada and Europe. They are located in Santa Ana, CA. </span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6ow5-NO7IncVaPzmhg4v3sULqsJzZsOHG12P6pSjAx_a1k3J2E-KiYawobY_lW8PxvjlEnFlyDik2sjWuHkvUKq4FISMycLctwwg8T3GKRcyykAbFZ1UbnzruPvaUJxlk1CkETy_3NZxhd-V5sBgp7zTzzBfg-jBGSRZjsnIK4zNnkgyVdA/s2000/city_lot2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6ow5-NO7IncVaPzmhg4v3sULqsJzZsOHG12P6pSjAx_a1k3J2E-KiYawobY_lW8PxvjlEnFlyDik2sjWuHkvUKq4FISMycLctwwg8T3GKRcyykAbFZ1UbnzruPvaUJxlk1CkETy_3NZxhd-V5sBgp7zTzzBfg-jBGSRZjsnIK4zNnkgyVdA/w640-h426/city_lot2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Hays Street Parking Lot</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I can't tell you much more about this charging station at this time. As soon as the weather permits I will go back and take some more pictures. I wanted to get close up shots of the charger but the DOT worker was there and I didn't want to bother him or take his picture. Hopefully I can get a picture of a vehicle being charged here. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF16UZZIziWGOqw9cEoN6nIBVOBAMtP7tU6rOaixgyeLGwpr91YLBQ-0PF4tttbNBe3CETzUeCLH81VXzX76Bs0zpGlKWb-auT6S9pzD2DxBL1C1ZlmqcaJz9IhfWm55_dihnOQ7PT4-LyvWf-sUGhvLd_2fXw95hh3HF2WH0d5_lPp0-gHkw/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF16UZZIziWGOqw9cEoN6nIBVOBAMtP7tU6rOaixgyeLGwpr91YLBQ-0PF4tttbNBe3CETzUeCLH81VXzX76Bs0zpGlKWb-auT6S9pzD2DxBL1C1ZlmqcaJz9IhfWm55_dihnOQ7PT4-LyvWf-sUGhvLd_2fXw95hh3HF2WH0d5_lPp0-gHkw/s1600/signature2.png" width="220" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-10589111053779645902023-02-28T12:30:00.000-05:002023-02-28T12:30:00.799-05:00Making Chicken Wings Using the Ceramic Crisping Tray<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CnQpwuHZymwL25e5s84a-uanoA8Zk_R67c9tCtH6iV7muNptqjw_oQDmof3d_8nbx05z5yzHLCgCPc9dQEEidAqPVsEtQisDp0jMlu-aYszkARURkcl4vuOPbcXuZBEAMH_AL3pRHe22pZ79sE5ZkbqgSh8njdJWT_hrIxQXvX-nwzAQ5bM/s2000/crisping_tray100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="2000" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CnQpwuHZymwL25e5s84a-uanoA8Zk_R67c9tCtH6iV7muNptqjw_oQDmof3d_8nbx05z5yzHLCgCPc9dQEEidAqPVsEtQisDp0jMlu-aYszkARURkcl4vuOPbcXuZBEAMH_AL3pRHe22pZ79sE5ZkbqgSh8njdJWT_hrIxQXvX-nwzAQ5bM/w640-h366/crisping_tray100.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Copper Crisping Tray</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Since I do not have an air fryer I use a Nuwave Pro Plus Infrared oven for most of my oven meals. In case you are not familiar with the Nuwave, it is a counter top cooking appliance that uses infrared, conduction and convection heat to save time and money. I have been using it for almost five years. As much as I love it, I was a bit jealous of all the air fryer meals I was seeing online. Especially the ones with the crisp coatings or for finger foods such as chicken wings or fried shrimp. I was afraid an air fryer would get too hot for my small kitchen and could possibly set off my fire alarm or cause a fire. Discovering the crisping tray was the best thing I could have done. I can make any type of low carb breaded foods which come out as if they were deep fried or cooked in an air fryer. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefM2PmKcwSp_iuwRZffUzx990_5D-McMV6evxggp3p4KXwZklH0isRXrOvgDeeHuyisbmY99k_C7A_4PbqZJClgwjmN91wr1lDoga_XgEQVep1pWbcb4ibGMJ6gIznPJqA9INov1dEvuDsymp7ylxOfXniDHf58A9IEVQCTAQL3ce4u3fRzc/s2000/chicken_wings.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1301" data-original-width="2000" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefM2PmKcwSp_iuwRZffUzx990_5D-McMV6evxggp3p4KXwZklH0isRXrOvgDeeHuyisbmY99k_C7A_4PbqZJClgwjmN91wr1lDoga_XgEQVep1pWbcb4ibGMJ6gIznPJqA9INov1dEvuDsymp7ylxOfXniDHf58A9IEVQCTAQL3ce4u3fRzc/w640-h416/chicken_wings.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Chicken Wings ready to cook!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I recently made chicken wings in the Nuwave using the crisping tray to get the skin brown and crisp. On these I did not put any kind of breading, just seasoning. I made sure to allow space between them so they get browned evenly. I used a parchment paper liner on the bottom of the tray but you do not have to do that. Actually it is not recommended. I started doing it so that cleaning the tray would be easier. One thing I also do with the chicken wings is to put them uncovered on a tray in the refrigerator for a few hours before cooking them. That way they are drier and hold the seasonings better. </span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSCLdheow11x1pPPGGpw1F1xO7R5xlzE9zK00pbPIU6gsakySb7KQLI2AX85UddCfTbtXlGh--iZR6ZjXmdAuWxsg5LXN3jUKweV0geSW4lIDdIbnxrq0eeG4QZztUNCkSmuNdyd1jWOoDYQD0NPczQNTFd5jpG7mzRJ0VqxC4KRMq667xlU/s2000/nuwave.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1964" data-original-width="2000" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSCLdheow11x1pPPGGpw1F1xO7R5xlzE9zK00pbPIU6gsakySb7KQLI2AX85UddCfTbtXlGh--iZR6ZjXmdAuWxsg5LXN3jUKweV0geSW4lIDdIbnxrq0eeG4QZztUNCkSmuNdyd1jWOoDYQD0NPczQNTFd5jpG7mzRJ0VqxC4KRMq667xlU/w640-h628/nuwave.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Nuwave Pro Plus Infrared Oven</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Then I set the dome on top of the Nuwave Pro Plus oven to cook. I think I set my cooking time to 20 minutes. Now according to the instructions for the crisping tray you do not have to turn the food over. I turn it anyway. Then I season the other side and cook it for about 12 more minutes. Check it to see if it is done and if it is browned enough for you. Depends on how you like them.</span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ysVO69UVSRcDetO1kSNKPARdEGn3XrUfLLcfxWozxjYrHrYFh2sb6iH716ABLYSgbIMrFbnOMdBax1Mf7PhchBhrxGdTt7dxqSJXgLXgq6MNnzG5SJxQTOD8WU7lg-F-n_DlZkWoxzD04fyu9BhgfpujOlDJblDkLnXCIKZ1VOAknP5q2FM/s2000/seasoned.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1735" data-original-width="2000" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ysVO69UVSRcDetO1kSNKPARdEGn3XrUfLLcfxWozxjYrHrYFh2sb6iH716ABLYSgbIMrFbnOMdBax1Mf7PhchBhrxGdTt7dxqSJXgLXgq6MNnzG5SJxQTOD8WU7lg-F-n_DlZkWoxzD04fyu9BhgfpujOlDJblDkLnXCIKZ1VOAknP5q2FM/w640-h556/seasoned.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Time to turn!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The seasonings I used was Redmond Real Salt, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper. This is not a set recipe for me. I do it different every time. Whatever type of seasoning you have a taste for. That is what I love about using different seasonings! This time I did not make Buffalo wing sauce but sometimes I do that too. Then put a bit on them and back in the oven for 2-3 minutes. Or you can just dip it on your wings when you put them on your plate.</span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8SPeHp6cSFPx-y0081m_9If25RFMXlMKV7ZRm4hwZClhusdZeeHC9QQKc6XX7lCIfRLcHSI8FCG6we1RrmmPI4plUrovg21aVnE2GRlgjVdMvS1IKuK-OCRi_I_-t8hg4PntKlqiCLxkZiu5ErJ9FezMmYMEv4ZoLuxVCjgfiKhMgxfNxbQ/s2000/browning.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8SPeHp6cSFPx-y0081m_9If25RFMXlMKV7ZRm4hwZClhusdZeeHC9QQKc6XX7lCIfRLcHSI8FCG6we1RrmmPI4plUrovg21aVnE2GRlgjVdMvS1IKuK-OCRi_I_-t8hg4PntKlqiCLxkZiu5ErJ9FezMmYMEv4ZoLuxVCjgfiKhMgxfNxbQ/w640-h426/browning.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The other side!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I used to like to order chicken wings from local restaurants. They have gotten to be so pricey lately that I don't buy them anymore. Also I cannot be sure of what they put on them or cook them in. Many restaurants use canola or other vegetable oils which is really bad for inflammation. I am trying to control mine and don't want to take the chance. So not only am I controlling what I eat but how much I spend. It is a double win! </span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaiOBAaIv0eJN5e_YTWjx0XXZDf3W8dtFqbn-B0scp3mUGcQnOBKg9OiR-g8T9uBAZbyIjF0gVSRKs6YqMo9bkUFgTfboRfoCPRmowdL4AjkLN7WPX3904wDAExm0AOk3mbDQzTGeDw_sSuBEH7MBjBxnO4DOkYS-fjkWi5-MRhbRqfip1l4/s2000/chicken_wings0.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaiOBAaIv0eJN5e_YTWjx0XXZDf3W8dtFqbn-B0scp3mUGcQnOBKg9OiR-g8T9uBAZbyIjF0gVSRKs6YqMo9bkUFgTfboRfoCPRmowdL4AjkLN7WPX3904wDAExm0AOk3mbDQzTGeDw_sSuBEH7MBjBxnO4DOkYS-fjkWi5-MRhbRqfip1l4/w640-h426/chicken_wings0.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Chicken Wings with salsa and sour cream</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Normally I would have served these wings with my homemade Buffalo wing sauce. Since I was out of blue cheese dressing I had them with salsa and sour cream instead. Was just as good. </span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzYxSkGDNBhCJcQeW6IdiSuVRqb6FwcdTqFZ6FyrHUEHJxHFACU49sLqsfsvhqEWR8iMSK-kSfqpcS_nb3hoYBGxu_pjrsi3a0PsYxNENnYKFmswihiLdxg-ciR7aQa-iTiWI688aO_fpsBGOwNxchX2QooKQMogDNAMMFVC3DpR08mwhjSk/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzYxSkGDNBhCJcQeW6IdiSuVRqb6FwcdTqFZ6FyrHUEHJxHFACU49sLqsfsvhqEWR8iMSK-kSfqpcS_nb3hoYBGxu_pjrsi3a0PsYxNENnYKFmswihiLdxg-ciR7aQa-iTiWI688aO_fpsBGOwNxchX2QooKQMogDNAMMFVC3DpR08mwhjSk/s1600/signature2.png" width="220" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-25093605968244493262023-02-26T09:34:00.000-05:002023-02-26T09:34:11.878-05:00Repairs and Preventative Maintenance on My Mobility Chair<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJahe29B6PmLnDDuLq-MHkhUttcYvwLG0CK9K9nP7eFvse5xehB79oOHymcgUSEk7Lnl9R1ysxWpfdjA70fa8mSJJpiOGp2NBZjwH1N59BpgV595mulE0-t0Z3eMBbfG17FMaKhbnLemmIYuIjSq5cEU-e-n6pNSBJekerzyGR8g4zwCbj8eE/s1600/jazzy_crp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1095" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJahe29B6PmLnDDuLq-MHkhUttcYvwLG0CK9K9nP7eFvse5xehB79oOHymcgUSEk7Lnl9R1ysxWpfdjA70fa8mSJJpiOGp2NBZjwH1N59BpgV595mulE0-t0Z3eMBbfG17FMaKhbnLemmIYuIjSq5cEU-e-n6pNSBJekerzyGR8g4zwCbj8eE/w438-h640/jazzy_crp.JPG" width="438" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Just like a car, things need to be maintained or repaired on your mobility power chair and scooters. It isn't cheap either! Hard to do when you are a person who needs help walking let alone repairing your chair or scooter. Even something that sounds as simple as changing the batteries is not a little thing. Depending on how much you use it though your batteries need to be charged often. I make it a habit to put the charger on it every time I come back from using it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisQI3gG3oOlqiifLMkFVGBXPRms18fmACrknoekx4ouuUptiDakoiG_uB2GYfTt9cvMjKFzK3VV4mc4-gFScDrsXrNFYyvrg8mNEMR3gXB9T5b0ICW3yJPhd_RE8HLu8L3-Bz8gdQwvFe28FNGv844qwTkBhcsVTAPACqnxFrfloo5QPH3gw/w640-h426/2_batteries.JPG" width="640" /></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Last summer I purchased new batteries because it was not holding a charge very long. I did not want to be stranded somewhere. My friend who drives a scooter had to buy new batteries almost every year because she uses her scooter often. The batteries are not cheap! So it is best to build up an emergency fund for batteries and related repairs on your mobility scooter or power chair. The batteries I purchased were Mighty Max sealed lead acid batteries that are under warranty for a year. Since I got them though I have not used the chair enough to know how well they hold the charge.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gTFHlhyz-yM0myAwHvSLxAt3QxfS4FBI1m0XCTSUq_VEckHqJZk6flBmT9-V-53E-mrsMXKi6DrBz2_0A-BaWjhSovUSze4M_gpDH6YNp9S4gBMawf7G4geLDHwIHkqCQkz-WIC4AgbcvFzc-KVIBiNPDQAPPJZp8jZ7tDld-n8HEMUb2t8/s2000/new_tire.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gTFHlhyz-yM0myAwHvSLxAt3QxfS4FBI1m0XCTSUq_VEckHqJZk6flBmT9-V-53E-mrsMXKi6DrBz2_0A-BaWjhSovUSze4M_gpDH6YNp9S4gBMawf7G4geLDHwIHkqCQkz-WIC4AgbcvFzc-KVIBiNPDQAPPJZp8jZ7tDld-n8HEMUb2t8/w640-h426/new_tire.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I had tire problems and had to have new ones put on and that was NOT an easy fix. Somebody did it for me and getting the wheel off proved to be very difficult. It took weeks to finally get them replaced. These new tires have tubes and give a smoother ride. I keep a tire pump nearby to pump them up when or if needed. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2qZxc5FzEC-wRGo0wlGBc9Jq2Srp3IaOtTQjprZM3jBSczo0TO_uyYSTfpJbuVlgeEm_y1uWewyvr01C2aJrnYzIyqbDBrKxh-hfo6oFxcJnXre-lvYllNZX6wDYqVySLkevEzhn09WprsV2pAT2s7H8eBpt35kTslgnNRqbvESa9jEU0Qk/s931/caster_wheels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="931" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2qZxc5FzEC-wRGo0wlGBc9Jq2Srp3IaOtTQjprZM3jBSczo0TO_uyYSTfpJbuVlgeEm_y1uWewyvr01C2aJrnYzIyqbDBrKxh-hfo6oFxcJnXre-lvYllNZX6wDYqVySLkevEzhn09WprsV2pAT2s7H8eBpt35kTslgnNRqbvESa9jEU0Qk/w640-h454/caster_wheels.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">So I thought I was all set and ready to go! Then I drove to the store and it did not feel right to me. I prayed to get home on it. Turns out the caster wheels, particularly one on the front, needs to be replaced too. This is beginning to remind me of a car or a truck. Well, I have the caster wheels now. Just waiting to put them on. I have been watching YouTube videos on how to do it. I will need a couple of tools to do this. My problem is that I am not very strong so it is hard for me to do. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwxTiJ2qI4uFzMTcTq6KCFsn47P0XrXoD9-07sGJmR5KE6WrcxYLMfRPT5EDLCL7QuCsoB2Ed5M6b6Jevgb8gcljJEjLi5kXgb9KyPPkjO0Ef9gvd-FF51FneksnEGN5lzog9SyEL3soa38vRD8LZrZV5JpX3uPlFI7JuIIatoctgnsKAf-k/s2000/new_casters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1505" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwxTiJ2qI4uFzMTcTq6KCFsn47P0XrXoD9-07sGJmR5KE6WrcxYLMfRPT5EDLCL7QuCsoB2Ed5M6b6Jevgb8gcljJEjLi5kXgb9KyPPkjO0Ef9gvd-FF51FneksnEGN5lzog9SyEL3soa38vRD8LZrZV5JpX3uPlFI7JuIIatoctgnsKAf-k/w482-h640/new_casters.JPG" width="482" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">So these are the two new castor wheels and hopefully I will get them put on soon. Maybe I can have a friend do it for me. The weather this winter has been good enough that I could have used Jazzy to go to the store. Instead I had to use Instacart and spend more money. Running to the store will not be something I take for granted again. I love my mobility chair and hope to keep using it! It has given me so much independence. I hate to have it sitting in my apartment not being used. Soon I hope to have it road ready again! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiF2YW605xyHywiJ9ikrQYVxxl6U1g9wGqYjU-p_CZCG6BP4XBm2aUyugb5OkkH2aBislF54an7SDTMWpR8rGyBLe_-a3UYKvAoNSc_9knxn6AFBZWR2wjxhKQwy5d26A5IaE2Ori0txkLkZ2Wctn14myaJu6uvB2YBd3viZMwsbUvX5SNlo/s220/signature2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiF2YW605xyHywiJ9ikrQYVxxl6U1g9wGqYjU-p_CZCG6BP4XBm2aUyugb5OkkH2aBislF54an7SDTMWpR8rGyBLe_-a3UYKvAoNSc_9knxn6AFBZWR2wjxhKQwy5d26A5IaE2Ori0txkLkZ2Wctn14myaJu6uvB2YBd3viZMwsbUvX5SNlo/w320-h125/signature2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2023 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-15403789090386172762022-09-19T09:10:00.000-04:002022-09-19T09:10:27.193-04:00Keto Friendly Food is Worth Every Penny You Spend<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJFTMMsWpMA69isQnQT60hwC9J5YhAXdzuVknq16q95_tXuAS0UthX4TqlJqob3MFmCdKEvauPTzfwVrYoo9Z5loKIupWjHySyKMZUn-dfjc7fGVpdzidFxi8eqcxlNCBQnR7K-fPbpUIOva5vwWty86ZX53_4kMsnomNxNlr-3vAGyVIBt0/s2000/grand_union.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJFTMMsWpMA69isQnQT60hwC9J5YhAXdzuVknq16q95_tXuAS0UthX4TqlJqob3MFmCdKEvauPTzfwVrYoo9Z5loKIupWjHySyKMZUn-dfjc7fGVpdzidFxi8eqcxlNCBQnR7K-fPbpUIOva5vwWty86ZX53_4kMsnomNxNlr-3vAGyVIBt0/w640-h426/grand_union.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">People are always saying to me, "how can you afford to follow the keto lifestyle with the prices of meat and dairy so high now?" I say back, <i>"how can I NOT afford meat and dairy now?" </i>Times like this call for making the most nutritious meals you can with what you buy. Look at the prices of those snack foods you buy. A family size bag of potato chips is as much as a two pound package of ground beef. How much nutrition is actually in that bag of chips? Since doing keto I no longer have the need to snack. Basically I eat two meals a day. Sometimes three. If I feel hungry I eat. If I am not hungry at supper time, I do not eat. Sometimes I will eat a Keto Chow ice cream that I make in my ice cream maker for a meal. Usually fills me up just fine. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJczBW4Ws9k6oAZNhrOLhuGforKjCrBZ80ySD0WQboqo2CNbbkzs9dXIOVmg_MScRv9jERWLJLs3jga_pkhYJJPHWdEaF8tyDhFA6sX1yl1RTFJZaOw1DrLeWAZGaO8S_dnE4J1xMod0LjtvODErwhCWgVVJHc8_28ONTZQMLJh_RNZzvWAw/s1800/beef_bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1555" data-original-width="1800" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJczBW4Ws9k6oAZNhrOLhuGforKjCrBZ80ySD0WQboqo2CNbbkzs9dXIOVmg_MScRv9jERWLJLs3jga_pkhYJJPHWdEaF8tyDhFA6sX1yl1RTFJZaOw1DrLeWAZGaO8S_dnE4J1xMod0LjtvODErwhCWgVVJHc8_28ONTZQMLJh_RNZzvWAw/w640-h552/beef_bag.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I used to buy a large package of ground beef and then divide it up into smaller packages. Then I would vacuum pack them for the freezer. Not lately. I have found the small one pound packages are the same price per pound as the larger ones at this time. So instead of wasting the vacuum pack bags I just buy the one pound packages and freeze them immediately. I like to make a pan of ground beef with various seasonings and dehydrated vegetables and then put a couple of fried or poached eggs on top. Mmmm! One of my favorite meals!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pIi3aPUGU9COcsD6O6S6_6O2WsFJ3yMQaEjy58GPnFiwMK1zDisJ9BCxtyQVz-5TE4_XrT1CDdgvIK0sis9PTi-8EGAIarHHNM_3gz1HjySJdq9tnciUPhcBPJUxHw7jwiTentDxjIyZlrT-QS8n4hLciTcvEx11xMKex3qJRkwTkGv4XD0/s1000/bacon_and_eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pIi3aPUGU9COcsD6O6S6_6O2WsFJ3yMQaEjy58GPnFiwMK1zDisJ9BCxtyQVz-5TE4_XrT1CDdgvIK0sis9PTi-8EGAIarHHNM_3gz1HjySJdq9tnciUPhcBPJUxHw7jwiTentDxjIyZlrT-QS8n4hLciTcvEx11xMKex3qJRkwTkGv4XD0/w640-h426/bacon_and_eggs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Bacon and Eggs</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">One thing I do splurge on and always will is bacon and eggs. Regardless of how much they drive the price up, I will buy them. Even if I have to go without other things that I normally buy. The best aspect of a keto lifestyle is that you can eat bacon and eggs as much as you want. It has always been the meal that satisfies me. If I have bacon and eggs for breakfast I am not hungry most of the day. If I ate cereal, oatmeal, waffles, pancakes, etc. I would be starving by lunch time. I see people asking for margarine or low-fat options and I think to myself, that is why you can't lose weight or stick to a diet. Low fat keeps you hungry for more money. I know this. I used to do it myself. <i><b>Fat is what satisfies you</b></i> and keeps you from eating more between meals. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicx2L54wTcTiucE-JdcG2X6svK_zfPLJ9cPOizn06_jzzAdftXKIHC9Tl9E9SwpHdj2LZecrK8v3mk-oKJ_J4AxqB4_affBIQ7euV2IgOtED1lEHkUjE4HXfIG1Xu-tscc3rJRcjRZifYCJJpcu8PIb_TAG9Z3QMYlWdedfgjAyiQKx2x80BE/s1600/fastfood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicx2L54wTcTiucE-JdcG2X6svK_zfPLJ9cPOizn06_jzzAdftXKIHC9Tl9E9SwpHdj2LZecrK8v3mk-oKJ_J4AxqB4_affBIQ7euV2IgOtED1lEHkUjE4HXfIG1Xu-tscc3rJRcjRZifYCJJpcu8PIb_TAG9Z3QMYlWdedfgjAyiQKx2x80BE/w640-h358/fastfood.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Fast Food</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">If you take "cheat days" or say you are dieting to lose so many pounds and go back to eating the standard American diet you will gain it all back and more. The reason you cheat on your low-fat diet is because your body wants and needs the fat you are not giving it. Fat does not make you fat! Sugar does! No, salt does not make you retain water either. Sugar and preservatives in your processed store bought foods does (go to Amazon and search for the Salt Fix book). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLH1xPipkcRrtQ0792xtxegDl3LgoUPmQPxbJJeMCHylC1tytJPEukfJq9wJUd32PhzpzrpDaZlcY76aIalGbFDx_9Ye0v3cEWvkqVQ__4Cie0dbh7XCn9I8yTP5GCJc25F4Rw1wzpcy-HoxNfxqB_5WnSsiyzxtJVldrmJ1w95hnucn_zUs/s2000/bone_broth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLH1xPipkcRrtQ0792xtxegDl3LgoUPmQPxbJJeMCHylC1tytJPEukfJq9wJUd32PhzpzrpDaZlcY76aIalGbFDx_9Ye0v3cEWvkqVQ__4Cie0dbh7XCn9I8yTP5GCJc25F4Rw1wzpcy-HoxNfxqB_5WnSsiyzxtJVldrmJ1w95hnucn_zUs/w640-h426/bone_broth.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Homemade Bone Broth</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">A good way to save money when following a keto lifestyle is to make as much of your own food as possible. Things like keto friendly condiments, broths and ingredients will be much more expensive than what you are used to use. Read the ingredients labels. Does it mention soybean or canola oil? Put it back on the shelf! I lived on store brand ranch dressings and Hellman's Mayonnaise for years. No wonder I could not lose weight or improve my health. Now I buy Primal Kitchen condiments or make my own. Making my own is such a budget changer! Makes it so I can afford meat, eggs and dairy easily. I am doing that more now.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33eQWeLNnWDUIpNX26-ZpYZ7HUE5TG-xiw2Bf1dDodhD5IDGIqyI3gbPIV8PSVIeuTvpbRMdG6IcPtup8ST5cd1Z55EOoZuzWkSqWl-yUwAvgLMZl33HszG-6lyX04Y2chrsvwgkvunIp5QsMVbkN_wZ22xWw27fLX7Sr-EPAayuGebQ6WJc/s2000/cone0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33eQWeLNnWDUIpNX26-ZpYZ7HUE5TG-xiw2Bf1dDodhD5IDGIqyI3gbPIV8PSVIeuTvpbRMdG6IcPtup8ST5cd1Z55EOoZuzWkSqWl-yUwAvgLMZl33HszG-6lyX04Y2chrsvwgkvunIp5QsMVbkN_wZ22xWw27fLX7Sr-EPAayuGebQ6WJc/w640-h426/cone0.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">It is too bad that we have been taught from young ages the wrong information about our foods. Not only from the government who favors the food manufacturers so they can share in those profits. From the medical industry (yes, it is an industry) as well. I see it in so many of my friends who say they want to lose weight or deal with a particular health issue. Yet they continue doing what they have always done even though it has never improved their health. I never say a word to them now about it. <i>It is their choice. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPos4SMaygTqa1W2jYeiDkRC3RbX2Q_c4ExMtGOsbN95kXuuaeKMqQNrOyfWUAtZasgRI3ljXgSJpdGFfechwl3Wrn4dEsPZ65l0ODSxLgTci7dwnoqFl73c_-YMX6p0XeeUvrz8s2d-iedSyX6PJKNe6tw0RxIwTUvRnhrSNhAW_XPu17Lg/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPos4SMaygTqa1W2jYeiDkRC3RbX2Q_c4ExMtGOsbN95kXuuaeKMqQNrOyfWUAtZasgRI3ljXgSJpdGFfechwl3Wrn4dEsPZ65l0ODSxLgTci7dwnoqFl73c_-YMX6p0XeeUvrz8s2d-iedSyX6PJKNe6tw0RxIwTUvRnhrSNhAW_XPu17Lg/s1600/signature2.png" width="220" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2022 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2022 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-39622800254955181422022-08-27T05:15:00.002-04:002022-08-29T07:21:19.093-04:00Random Thoughts on my Mind Today<p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_YVbu4eSmL5nIT3pL4DIe9jcovOocz-MWGuIoAUcb2TwUZ0zXYlVhLOT513Qew8MW57C-B3x23qdA071uOtQVF9tOV_jbTvPsODWTtluERtJyPIu9hKy-4c0I3ggjkiddHbLTOY5sEmRKUQRe8L0b3pUWPDSbHxwjQgRVhMbe1z7ix3RLVo/s2000/broadst.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_YVbu4eSmL5nIT3pL4DIe9jcovOocz-MWGuIoAUcb2TwUZ0zXYlVhLOT513Qew8MW57C-B3x23qdA071uOtQVF9tOV_jbTvPsODWTtluERtJyPIu9hKy-4c0I3ggjkiddHbLTOY5sEmRKUQRe8L0b3pUWPDSbHxwjQgRVhMbe1z7ix3RLVo/w640-h426/broadst.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Downtown Norwich, NY</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Recently I took a walk with one of my friends who lives next door. Crossing the street to the park, talking and enjoying the sunshine and fresh air was so refreshing because I usually walk alone. There are actually four parks within walking distance of my apartment building. My favorite thing to do is to take my camera and take pictures while on my walk. Then I find a spot to sit and just people watch. Sometimes there are no people! The city I live in is not huge, so many times I go for a walk and don't pass another person the whole time. Now the traffic is another story! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcO9XBaYJl1LEdaNeFYSMnMgd_NiOTsggkjL4KYrP--n5UQfwQSjuo0kolGaNu8o3tZPccD9qeMoGt657t2OhKFElEeZ0fmRkIU7RsWH3H4Fib4M5076J68gfSN-5x3yufQ8UKymenjsRQ16YFGWIORMQvxJ-kHluCCIbzCbRcVPtb4oFmAo/s2000/broad_st.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcO9XBaYJl1LEdaNeFYSMnMgd_NiOTsggkjL4KYrP--n5UQfwQSjuo0kolGaNu8o3tZPccD9qeMoGt657t2OhKFElEeZ0fmRkIU7RsWH3H4Fib4M5076J68gfSN-5x3yufQ8UKymenjsRQ16YFGWIORMQvxJ-kHluCCIbzCbRcVPtb4oFmAo/w640-h426/broad_st.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">When I moved here I chose not to get a car of my own. The reason was because of the expense. My experience with vehicles is that they are very expensive even if you drive an old one. In fact, an old cheap one would probably be even more expensive due to repairs. I am quite happy with the decision not to own one. In winter I see the people cleaning off their cars so the snowplow can remove the snow in our parking lot. I am relieved I don't have to do that. I am keeping my driver's license though so I can drive a car if I need to. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatv9RyRJHdYOSFvvsOD3-U8s-3d2M5T_kt5QYHwaqWWNmOq8AnULEcbJxTiv4fF8W88WMn_i-UkrFTW0A66ne-Pew4wE2Rl3cLgrpQmtU8Ighevbq1QsKMheEpCkvf2L6UB5WZ8S3h-eRgctUrTKVb4LglS4bC2Mwc_o3jJAbSoqc03rWjh8/s2000/est.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatv9RyRJHdYOSFvvsOD3-U8s-3d2M5T_kt5QYHwaqWWNmOq8AnULEcbJxTiv4fF8W88WMn_i-UkrFTW0A66ne-Pew4wE2Rl3cLgrpQmtU8Ighevbq1QsKMheEpCkvf2L6UB5WZ8S3h-eRgctUrTKVb4LglS4bC2Mwc_o3jJAbSoqc03rWjh8/w640-h426/est.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>On the way to the store!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Unfortunately I cannot walk to the grocery store. It is too far for me so I take my mobility chair, "Jazzy" when I need to shop. I also have a subscription to Instacart which I have used mostly in the winter so far. Race walking used to be my form of exercise in my previous life. Now just walking with a walker to the dumpster outside my building is an accomplishment. One of the things I want to stress to others is that no matter what disability you have it is important to strive for doing something out of your comfort zone. Otherwise you become stagnant. Not only in your physical body but in your mind as well. Instead of saying, "I can no longer do this." Say, "Since I can't do that now I will do this instead."</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwI4vvFCdIUu6BpfgFhwhWvWUsspW9sHQRy-xTjCFpitq7l_x2eTiYBDjApW57wxATFbtpF9kuU_DLi9HRL2Uv9p4nDNVMFEZAvkaAbvYBomLJwqBPGYTodrgv1B9-FDB-K6-PmuhoQcLULAEoPwVRP0imAwskMSkBCQpV4Kd_wdXUSfNPPQ/s2000/milkweed.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwI4vvFCdIUu6BpfgFhwhWvWUsspW9sHQRy-xTjCFpitq7l_x2eTiYBDjApW57wxATFbtpF9kuU_DLi9HRL2Uv9p4nDNVMFEZAvkaAbvYBomLJwqBPGYTodrgv1B9-FDB-K6-PmuhoQcLULAEoPwVRP0imAwskMSkBCQpV4Kd_wdXUSfNPPQ/w640-h426/milkweed.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Even a weed has a purpose though many only see it as a pest.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I know it is not easy to look beyond what you are going through at the moment. Sometimes I can't see past today. Wondering why I can't walk like I used to? Why did I have to have this Lymphedema on top of it all? Well, I remember my mother saying she couldn't understand why God let her get Cushings Syndrome and become crippled for life. I am not sure why we have to get diseases and accidents that impair us for life. Maybe it is not apparent to me right now. For myself, I have satisfied myself with the answer that I have to be an example or a helper in some way to others. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqodwnq6uWqwhq6hIcTHYOF_RhdVAQ5s1nA7aiJjeuft-8LU7LpiLKqxeaJueaZlKJJVv_sH25LFA_TEUgYcMTtnUvCSGAGvvxjVwSPOGifg7-nTPtxY2ElggUa5VgKR9EsmqvvTz6ZmWAIUD1IXjHYv3UVy9uVotTysWmXRxfG0WYuNcIGU/s2000/abunny.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqodwnq6uWqwhq6hIcTHYOF_RhdVAQ5s1nA7aiJjeuft-8LU7LpiLKqxeaJueaZlKJJVv_sH25LFA_TEUgYcMTtnUvCSGAGvvxjVwSPOGifg7-nTPtxY2ElggUa5VgKR9EsmqvvTz6ZmWAIUD1IXjHYv3UVy9uVotTysWmXRxfG0WYuNcIGU/w640-h426/abunny.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">I LOVE BUNNIES!!!!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">A few days ago the thing that was upsetting me was that I had been banned on "fakebook" (as I call it, I know that is not its name and I don't care) for commenting "head shot" on a photo of a wild rabbit looking directly in the camera. Of course anyone who knows me knows I would NEVER be promoting shooting a rabbit with anything other than a camera! When they said that to me and that I was going against community standards that was it for me. I knew I did not want to be censored by them any longer or belong to their so called community. The thing is I have felt for a very long time that fakebook promotes violence every day. So I am not planning on going back. When my time is up I will be taking all my own content off and give everyone my contact information. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtGkCz7_E01ffBaHe-bKLTIyZSEXqS7EtBcaCrW5f6ZsCtobAXRJPoc0j9fPjpUueBT784NEUesxRjIE82bvjhdDggcRSrYk9fF50b1Hz4tlm3miWhSAqUIO568hjAgMfoDzq75mCWOwAkSGiVF2j4cp4BoWTwrJQlXP2hQh997Mmt3Ln9Zs/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtGkCz7_E01ffBaHe-bKLTIyZSEXqS7EtBcaCrW5f6ZsCtobAXRJPoc0j9fPjpUueBT784NEUesxRjIE82bvjhdDggcRSrYk9fF50b1Hz4tlm3miWhSAqUIO568hjAgMfoDzq75mCWOwAkSGiVF2j4cp4BoWTwrJQlXP2hQh997Mmt3Ln9Zs/s1600/signature2.png" width="220" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2022 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2022 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-28660823104860096682022-08-26T09:02:00.001-04:002022-08-26T09:02:00.214-04:00Trying to Understand the Seniors' Healthcare System<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawM7T5dihhFkb-g5b3ntRuDnQL0dFU2zl9lIeVWSYLRfIfvj0dH6vDzzkANBQ1cooKr1vVwtqcyAjJPxOFpPKUTr24Yetx4Ig0tvDz6GLWB1wqc4oC34-MYBVPofKQ5t2r1WSnb06G8PkM10yxNlzHkAG2Wd26aqLnBmw2u_EC6oTdbTz3EM/s2000/clouds0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawM7T5dihhFkb-g5b3ntRuDnQL0dFU2zl9lIeVWSYLRfIfvj0dH6vDzzkANBQ1cooKr1vVwtqcyAjJPxOFpPKUTr24Yetx4Ig0tvDz6GLWB1wqc4oC34-MYBVPofKQ5t2r1WSnb06G8PkM10yxNlzHkAG2Wd26aqLnBmw2u_EC6oTdbTz3EM/w640-h426/clouds0.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am beyond frustrated with the so called health care for seniors system. System it is. The representatives on the phone are useless. All they want is to sign you up for personal aide services whether you need it or not. The only thing I needed was dental, vision and foot care. They refuse almost everything from those but want you to sign up for personal care. Hard to believe they approved that for fifteen hours a week! I don't have enough work in my apartment for fifteen hours a week! It is a crazy. I need teeth, eyes and feet instead! If someone else did all my household chores then what would I be doing? To tell the truth, I really like being as independent as I can and that includes cleaning and caring for my home. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEids0LsS9xQyLNT05El1Bq5Imrq2oGxecMHXH1GBiPdkiqvgOwl9Rjogj37mcPu5n2_UmQLcUE0NDYleogx1b8t4Rp4n6EjtQcJN_q3avOtzOMkLTY2kP22HR3zWJJu2dEiruL4SDNawm6mcjDHnhyMvbI5mA6UpStFTGInljLAzspIoroBp-Y/s1800/upstate_medical.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEids0LsS9xQyLNT05El1Bq5Imrq2oGxecMHXH1GBiPdkiqvgOwl9Rjogj37mcPu5n2_UmQLcUE0NDYleogx1b8t4Rp4n6EjtQcJN_q3avOtzOMkLTY2kP22HR3zWJJu2dEiruL4SDNawm6mcjDHnhyMvbI5mA6UpStFTGInljLAzspIoroBp-Y/w640-h426/upstate_medical.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>It is no secret that I have no respect for allopathic medicine. I feel like they want me to have something wrong. So I do not trust them or their tests. I know many people will swear by them because they saved their lives. But at what cost? How many parts did they cut off your body? How many prescriptions did you put into your body? How many side effects have you suffered from? </span>I think when they see a senior citizen coming they think about all the profits they can make from them. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVdrsV4dKbs25sI-EzpJJB5CHXVQibN7LkiebXw3Fk65BluPbFvLGMTWkHs-E9Wmeioe4uAZ6RDeEa3lfK2bLpAlndiII00GZYgjHUSObl-6JoFshl5V25rU8b4dVQmpL5TjDQHoW0Xo15T2XQ1rFHJv8U1N2WU2Skw7y1p5vpyB86yeo9fQ/s2000/service.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVdrsV4dKbs25sI-EzpJJB5CHXVQibN7LkiebXw3Fk65BluPbFvLGMTWkHs-E9Wmeioe4uAZ6RDeEa3lfK2bLpAlndiII00GZYgjHUSObl-6JoFshl5V25rU8b4dVQmpL5TjDQHoW0Xo15T2XQ1rFHJv8U1N2WU2Skw7y1p5vpyB86yeo9fQ/w640-h426/service.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Maybe I am wrong, but then again it is my choice. I do not like to have services or processes pushed on me. It seems to me a better system would be that your insurance carrier would just approve you for a certain dollar value of services for a certain number of years. When you use it up you are done till a certain date. Then it starts over. It should include all services, even the so called alternative medical. Instead of giving doctors bonuses for certain drugs they prescribe, give bonuses for keeping patients healthy and alive to certain ages. Reward them for doing a good job not how many prescriptions they can write.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCVzFjgddEozI8mfMTFhW7bAmoVWMk3uk8haqVWcstzuf6Nqynq-cSlxk3zGQxUSV80x3BRS9VN2jBPuHZXeFyx_8o9aR8Fm1T3gE_FVLXiX0TK6d7qSJL8W3YU9g0u96Kw4-9IherXt0AeMXXzWEt8QNnQISiVBqrO3joH_7Q7ZHMb_a5lo/s2000/dental.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCVzFjgddEozI8mfMTFhW7bAmoVWMk3uk8haqVWcstzuf6Nqynq-cSlxk3zGQxUSV80x3BRS9VN2jBPuHZXeFyx_8o9aR8Fm1T3gE_FVLXiX0TK6d7qSJL8W3YU9g0u96Kw4-9IherXt0AeMXXzWEt8QNnQISiVBqrO3joH_7Q7ZHMb_a5lo/w640-h426/dental.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The one I have been using will not pay for anything else unless I accept the aide for fifteen hours. The aide I spoke to on the phone said it is not worth it to her to work two hours a week for me. So I have declined all aides now and will forego my dental and vision and figure out how to cover those expenses myself. I am struggling to stay free of any more debt. I could pay on credit for the dental but just don't want to do that. The vision I can pay for if I save up for it over a few months. In the mean time, I am wearing my old pair of glasses that I tried and found that they were better for reading and the computer. As for my feet, I am cutting my nails myself and the bad toes I am using essential oils on. I could always get a pedicure at my hair salon but right now I am trying to be very frugal. I do what I can myself and will stick with my own plan for now. </span></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbHC9JJLGtvz9T7t-Xl-jdoHDPiKRtTwyDfnfrdyi1MStV8lFLQS6efYopjVQz6CT48zC7qoqVRfzROSA3pz1fKfNkZWF8VhlJh-YnjhhWP89GxFVgk57QBn_luO7RTr8ifp6Vzhii6-kk-df9Kj31Sjlh-vGb2VTt-n1WrNQI9GJirZyuFM/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbHC9JJLGtvz9T7t-Xl-jdoHDPiKRtTwyDfnfrdyi1MStV8lFLQS6efYopjVQz6CT48zC7qoqVRfzROSA3pz1fKfNkZWF8VhlJh-YnjhhWP89GxFVgk57QBn_luO7RTr8ifp6Vzhii6-kk-df9Kj31Sjlh-vGb2VTt-n1WrNQI9GJirZyuFM/s1600/signature2.png" width="220" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2022 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2022 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-19979654458484224902022-08-25T07:20:00.000-04:002022-08-25T07:20:00.676-04:00Computer Know How Using Ubuntu 22.04<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAOlSFSUbVFIKmehvyVB_zcObskNXRI0TrNofBy4mu6dNGm1XdyEo4NiLCW45rhmX9wrdceeiLHEU2eFb7DXqrJ2kgf7GKtp22UE3a8aT5on7Z-wsVweF54a8koYujluymwfLtmW2f3LkHc6lmiS3KVV7rgEEUgxc195UQKJe6bMyGUJDpoI/s2000/lenova.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAOlSFSUbVFIKmehvyVB_zcObskNXRI0TrNofBy4mu6dNGm1XdyEo4NiLCW45rhmX9wrdceeiLHEU2eFb7DXqrJ2kgf7GKtp22UE3a8aT5on7Z-wsVweF54a8koYujluymwfLtmW2f3LkHc6lmiS3KVV7rgEEUgxc195UQKJe6bMyGUJDpoI/w640-h426/lenova.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I was never really technologically talented. All the years before moving here in 2018, my husband took care of all that for me. It was a learning experience for me when I bought a new computer last year. There was no way I was keeping Microsoft on it! I had been using Ubuntu for over six years already and did not want to change back. Just firing it up for the first time the Microsoft spider web tried to steal it from me. I quickly learned how to install Ubuntu and removed the nasty Windows from this computer for good. There are still traces of it in some areas since they just cannot believe you would be happy without it. I am though.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWWan70kGPrsH43ZSvJyspMl7coUIX9QZhIhb1uAL0jqV9pC2u9UpS32j7dgX1VrCTuC9BNFQcApZht-KMZyRgXM47fzyLUO3ukX9ckdZi9i2h5BYkJSjhJAoz_J6ZsJqeacM5p9ifMh0U9fr4CX6aqh0BOchtAjPz8noTD0eUFrEUDdPY5M/s2000/ubuntu_installed.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWWan70kGPrsH43ZSvJyspMl7coUIX9QZhIhb1uAL0jqV9pC2u9UpS32j7dgX1VrCTuC9BNFQcApZht-KMZyRgXM47fzyLUO3ukX9ckdZi9i2h5BYkJSjhJAoz_J6ZsJqeacM5p9ifMh0U9fr4CX6aqh0BOchtAjPz8noTD0eUFrEUDdPY5M/w640-h426/ubuntu_installed.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Even though I was using it every day there were some programs in the old computer that I could not access in the new one. I would work on it for hours and then give up. One big thing that I could not use was Libre Office. Not being able to get it installed was heartbreaking for me. Everything I have written for years was in that program and if I could not use it on my new computer that meant I would never be able to see those documents again. Including my eBooks! Everything I read said that Libre Office was included in Ubuntu when you install it in your computer. It was not the case for me. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8njzbfadX2fKU6xU6XHuou-eVj0ZAcByrmEz8uhfhGBE4xu2evW1orHPzRXJ7hLwUyejnpIVup62hE0u3g7XeNYrGJUJHiM9Dqm8RICdSbCRA4h-S7oSKQZcXkD4NcmDP0UjidAlq6Wa0yVRV7BpqGv0JihXBsw6f5qAqZnD3ets8YLnF2qY/s2000/abunny_crp.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1327" data-original-width="2000" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8njzbfadX2fKU6xU6XHuou-eVj0ZAcByrmEz8uhfhGBE4xu2evW1orHPzRXJ7hLwUyejnpIVup62hE0u3g7XeNYrGJUJHiM9Dqm8RICdSbCRA4h-S7oSKQZcXkD4NcmDP0UjidAlq6Wa0yVRV7BpqGv0JihXBsw6f5qAqZnD3ets8YLnF2qY/w640-h424/abunny_crp.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">My helper</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I started working on all this yesterday because I could not use my printer anymore. Just one day my computer could not print from it nor even find it. I worked for about four months on trying to figure out what to do. It made no sense to me because I had used it on this computer many times. Yesterday, since fakebook banned me from their stupid site, I spent time on figuring out what was wrong with my printer. I searched on Ubuntu's and Brother's sites and found my problem. I didn't even need to download a driver which is what I thought I had to do. I removed all the printers showing up and added the printer I have (which was the same one as one of those I removed.........). Worked immediately!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZWWoyUxseoY2UHX4T82YrATNkAeA8t-sxHLeKuoSqnLLoj0knxTJCGLxsrEkNJUVogE-ocX4z6cUUjBajrFc8K-Kai50boEBjymod5_LeeTcfudUxFf73RS5LxjmdW5fHZU6FVu5h7Eeyc9787muOvK2ka-DHeCjrWEK2ADgDy9Y0YyJklI/s2000/prpl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZWWoyUxseoY2UHX4T82YrATNkAeA8t-sxHLeKuoSqnLLoj0knxTJCGLxsrEkNJUVogE-ocX4z6cUUjBajrFc8K-Kai50boEBjymod5_LeeTcfudUxFf73RS5LxjmdW5fHZU6FVu5h7Eeyc9787muOvK2ka-DHeCjrWEK2ADgDy9Y0YyJklI/w640-h426/prpl.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">That encouraged me so much that I searched how to install Libre Office in Ubuntu. Followed the directions I found there and in a minute there it was! If I could dance around the room, I would have. I found all my old documents that I could access. Now I will go into my old external hard drive and transfer more of them into the newer external hard drive I am using now. The newest version of Ubuntu I am using is 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish and I am quite happy with it. I don't normally like to upgrade to anything due to it changing things in my computer. So far I am okay with it as long as I can use my printer and Libre Office.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrRnKZDdbQoUqy7Osvboqzvq2yuEfRn_0Z7TrUEuM_5qlhTKJhLIxcUYsLuj2VtCCWzgQaXlOoC7XGewZhvtfRlxlb6g2wXKPqu1efyyDuygybesWXSZ6Y14r1WeYUqi4eLt6XNb9g8ipzqrqy7uTCoF3KBthUgI6af0RjwZQDXT8s-BWbjY/s2000/aplus.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrRnKZDdbQoUqy7Osvboqzvq2yuEfRn_0Z7TrUEuM_5qlhTKJhLIxcUYsLuj2VtCCWzgQaXlOoC7XGewZhvtfRlxlb6g2wXKPqu1efyyDuygybesWXSZ6Y14r1WeYUqi4eLt6XNb9g8ipzqrqy7uTCoF3KBthUgI6af0RjwZQDXT8s-BWbjY/w640-h426/aplus.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Since yesterday was such a good day, I decided to solve another problem I had today. The graphic program I use is called GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program).</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span><span>I kept getting the dreaded "Permission Denied" message.</span><span> No matter what I did I could not open the photos in the external hard drive in it to edit. I had to copy them to the picture file on the computer's hard drive. Edit and then transfer them back to the external hard drive. It wasn't that hard to do but I resented having to do that extra step. Especially for something that used to be easy on my old computer. This morning I went to GIMP's site and found that it was a very easy fix. I learned how to allow the permission and it worked instantly! Happy dance here! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPBmF8DDOF7qx2YP6J5hl4Qnz88s_1aFGeXURfyxBq9NlaAcrKcvbFFySk1ZohDhnUCrd9Cc2T6m0_Ikeu3h-sBcmja3JziWF7oRwKJUEAp-PrDLJ819t44w681cfnWCVFTqJNZp1jdXTyRIXWoI2Ykffbqxlp7LS_AONWOTa02vVeop9R4Y/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPBmF8DDOF7qx2YP6J5hl4Qnz88s_1aFGeXURfyxBq9NlaAcrKcvbFFySk1ZohDhnUCrd9Cc2T6m0_Ikeu3h-sBcmja3JziWF7oRwKJUEAp-PrDLJ819t44w681cfnWCVFTqJNZp1jdXTyRIXWoI2Ykffbqxlp7LS_AONWOTa02vVeop9R4Y/s1600/signature2.png" width="220" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2022 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2022 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13791174.post-46345907486024067642022-08-23T11:00:00.001-04:002022-08-23T11:00:29.524-04:00Heart of God Fellowship in Owego, NY<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFE84DoD9Dbg3BIau5DDKCWqFR5wxFb1lTTqmH6nX0LENVh6VRihQckBlpquOX78athwt58dYSpQ-7Th3CMOF0psLlas5bpn3sf38XMztJjw7TIDbqv39cNhQwfanrOqFqWCzSIYih15OSCH2GWq_HNTjIejkP-V_4DhtmjMj7Ntsi05Z6gw/s1935/heart_of_God_crp.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1935" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFE84DoD9Dbg3BIau5DDKCWqFR5wxFb1lTTqmH6nX0LENVh6VRihQckBlpquOX78athwt58dYSpQ-7Th3CMOF0psLlas5bpn3sf38XMztJjw7TIDbqv39cNhQwfanrOqFqWCzSIYih15OSCH2GWq_HNTjIejkP-V_4DhtmjMj7Ntsi05Z6gw/w640-h392/heart_of_God_crp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-style: italic;">Heart of God ~ Owego, NY</span><br /><br /><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In 2006, I started going to the Heart of God church in Owego, NY. It was a very long drive. About fifty miles or so one way and could not keep up with going. This little church with a tiny congregation was powerful. At least in my life it was. Even though I had been baptized as an infant in the Catholic Church I had never attended one.......well once. I went with a family of friends to the one in Norwich, NY. The first thing that happened after mass was the priest welcomed me. Then a woman who must have worked for the church came right over to me to tell my where I had to go for Catholic instructions and then how much I had to pay for going to church there. Wanting to know my household income, not my income but "household" income. Even though my husband was not coming to the church. I was out of there. Never wanted to go back to a Catholic Church after that experience.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTcNSkXInXN5eMzfKpJOIjCuVgTOewev-1on40ynVz-Pyh7fba-RNlAg077vHK8dvu12GswKuydj12UariYH7b_mJLlyuKUHpvUrxdxDAJlSCrKtcX64Zu_da8ngxSJGP61xHt-uyD76nAQEZH6TvAXSsH5DQb93o3d38CjPa0siNOgdK4jA/s2000/church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTcNSkXInXN5eMzfKpJOIjCuVgTOewev-1on40ynVz-Pyh7fba-RNlAg077vHK8dvu12GswKuydj12UariYH7b_mJLlyuKUHpvUrxdxDAJlSCrKtcX64Zu_da8ngxSJGP61xHt-uyD76nAQEZH6TvAXSsH5DQb93o3d38CjPa0siNOgdK4jA/w640-h426/church.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The reason I went to church in Owego at The Heart of God was because I met Pastor Joy in my mother-in-law's hospital room. I felt her energy when she walked into the waiting room! It was a feeling I had never had in my whole life. Not long after meeting her, I convinced my husband to take me to her church on Easter. I will never forget that day! It was one of my happiest days. The welcome that we received as soon as we sat down was amazing! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYPEsVoQbplpSb7qanf2OVEdkHFRTfKfDtqhTfLRnI4YYcYuP2ccy-1umT6S_RXFsPopUapjwkADPXllvNGvoxgFKfk6MA96PzS7K_aAeDLHjt_NDXwZaNTEJSXbzem2FX0SI9S_GQQXH7uvwFjvpZA0infB4bMxRMW22_SfTqNCLJZ8QexE/s2000/memorial.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="2000" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYPEsVoQbplpSb7qanf2OVEdkHFRTfKfDtqhTfLRnI4YYcYuP2ccy-1umT6S_RXFsPopUapjwkADPXllvNGvoxgFKfk6MA96PzS7K_aAeDLHjt_NDXwZaNTEJSXbzem2FX0SI9S_GQQXH7uvwFjvpZA0infB4bMxRMW22_SfTqNCLJZ8QexE/w640-h414/memorial.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I thought we had become good friends with the people there and Pastor Joy and her husband, Arden. Along with other issues, including the long drive to the church every Sunday, I had to stop going there. It was a sad time for me. The people there were having conflicts with each other at the time and it was just not good to attend any longer. After that I did not go to any other church. Nobody could measure up to Pastor Joy and when I did hear someone else preaching, including on the internet, something was missing.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lxq5m5tjbc8" width="320" youtube-src-id="lxq5m5tjbc8"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pastor Joy's Sermon</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">August 14, 2022</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Since I watch YouTube, it wasn't long before I started following Pastor Joy's moving sermons on her channel there. It is helping me at this point in my life. I feel so much conflict around me lately. It always goes back to that problem of other people <i>always</i> thinking they are right about everything. Even though if you look at their life it doesn't seem to be so. I just keep my thoughts to myself as I used to. I have always done that and probably always will. If you watch these videos, there is a part 2 on each of them. They are worth watching and subscribe to her channel if you can.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NZKsaNsJVOg" width="320" youtube-src-id="NZKsaNsJVOg"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Pastor Joy 2011</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">You get to a certain time in your life and you do not want conflicts in your life any more. So I just make small talk with others. Not about me and what I think or feel. I write those thoughts for myself in my journal. Life should not be about defending your choices or beliefs. I do something I learned when I went to Al-Anon some years back when I was married to an alcoholic. It is called "distancing yourself". I do it all the time. It works. Then whatever they do and how it affects their own life is their choice. Not trying to change anyone's mind to believe what I believe or do. Though I keep in mind that you should surround yourself with 'like minded people". Unfortunately, I have not met any in person. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_wUALH5yigy1PHys0ycjx692Zr4WONBaYKTWh4-yofjIPIs9AtpZw8HpOiJLAC_CuhIl1J1At25g1JNAjdHlNekUyWN1afJRZerl5g0IM4CrotMwCxTd30HtogwQhpzNe-klucV4c_BCE5ox3u-LxHV8dDe02hFCyChhPyVVysaDeA6qvj8/s220/signature2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="220" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_wUALH5yigy1PHys0ycjx692Zr4WONBaYKTWh4-yofjIPIs9AtpZw8HpOiJLAC_CuhIl1J1At25g1JNAjdHlNekUyWN1afJRZerl5g0IM4CrotMwCxTd30HtogwQhpzNe-klucV4c_BCE5ox3u-LxHV8dDe02hFCyChhPyVVysaDeA6qvj8/s1600/signature2.png" width="220" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copyright © 2022 Kathleen G. Lupole</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #666666;">All Photographs Copyright © 2022 Kathleen G. </i><i style="color: #666666;">Lupole</i></span></div></div></div></div>Kathleen Lupolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07562756964576497196noreply@blogger.com0