Catching up again

Well, here I am again, catching up on what has been going on around here lately.

To start off, I’m typing this on my new Surface Pro 3 which I just got delivered today and am still in the process of setting up.  So far, I’m loving it.  Had a few little wrinkles in the very beginning but I think I’ve ironed them out.  At least I hope I have.  LOL  Got the purple Type Pad and the Wedge mouse along with it.  Not sure I like the Wedge mouse, so I may end up returning it.  We’ll see I guess.  I may be just a matter of getting used to it.

Last Saturday we had a Birthday party for Jerónimo and had a lot of people here and had a ton of food.  Here are some pictures.

Those were taken before eveyrone got there.  As you can see, there were a lot of deserts.

Jerónimo’s niece from California was here for 6 days and she had a great time.  At least that’s what she said.  We went down to Leonore, IL and had lunch at Smitty’s tavern, then we went up to Holy Hill in Wisconsin and stopped in downtown Chicago to take in the Bean and Millenium Park and we had a nice lunch and a few drinks in one the the restaurants there.  It was a real nice day.

Well, I have been dieting and watching the portion size and have managed to drop 23 pounds in just over 2 months.  So, I’m pretty proud of myself.  I have a doctors appointment on the 23rd of June and I’m sure he will be happy with my A1C results.

Weather here has been pretty erratic lately.  One day hot, the next day you need a light jacket.  Mother Nature must really be upset with us.

That’s about it for this posting.  Will try to keep up more often.

 

Catching up and health stuff

Have been on a self-imposed diet for a month.  The reason I started the diet is because I met with a Nurse specialist in Diabetes and she provided me with a lot of very helpful information.  I just wish I could find her phone number so I could call and thank her.  I followed her suggestions and when I first started, I weighed 237 lbs.  And so far, I am down to 217 lbs.  I also have not had to take my diabetes medication (Metformin) since starting, which is exactly 1 month ago today.  Yesterday I decided to check my blood pressure and was amazed at the results.  It was 119/63, which is excellent and I’m sure my primary physician and my Cardiologist will be very pleased.  I don’t have an appointment with my Primary Physician until June 8th, but am going to ask him if I can either reduce my blood pressure medication or possibly eliminate it all together.  I’m hoping is the latter because I really don’t relish the idea of taking all that medication for the rest of my life.

So, that is what has been happening lately and as anyone can understand, I’m completely happy with the results.  I still have quite a few pounds to go before I attain my “ideal” weight, but I’ll keep plugging along and slowly but surely, I’ll make it.

So, how has everyone else been doing?  Wish someone would leave m some kind of comment.

On another note, I upgraded my Windows Phone to the latest 8.1 Preview and boy oh boy is it something.  Microsoft has really hit the ball out of the park with this update.  I especially love Cortana, the new “Personal Assistant” and the Swype keyboard.  Those are the two things I will be using the most.  Cortana really knows me, of course I had to give her some hints as to my likes, but that’s OK.  She still loves me.  LOL  And that Swype Keyboard function is just fantastic.  No matter how far away from the correct key is, it still knows exactly what I am trying to say and I really don’t even have to think anymore.  Of course that’s stretching it a little bit, but that stuff is the “cats meow”.  LOL

 

 

Just catching up

Well,  still in love with my new Vaio Flip.  Still getting used to the touch though.  My big fat fingers keep touching the wrong thing.  LOL  I have the stylus, but  keep forgetting to use it all the time.  And of course I could always use the touch pad, but find that awkward.  So, I guess I’ll just have to buy a mouse for it and disable the touch pad.  Never satisfied.

Went to the doctor the other day because I’ve had a pain in my left arm since before November of last year and it just wouldn’t go away.  Doctor couldn’t figure out exactly what was going on and said it sounded like tendonitis so gave me some medicine to take for 2 weeks and it has helped but when the medication starts to wear off I can feel the pain coming back.  But, it’s only been a couple of days, so we’ll see after the 2 weeks what happens.

Had an Echocardiogram done last week and the doctor said he was very pleased with it, which is excellent news.  Now I don’t have to see him until July. 

Well, that’s about it for this edition.  Hope all are doing well.

 

Day 3 on my new Sony Vaio

As the title says, it’s now day 3 on my new Vaio Flip and I’m still loving it.  Got the majority of my software downloaded and installed and everything is working fine so I hope it stays that way.  Now I just have to download all the games I play on here.  I already have my Microsoft Solitaire Collection installed, which is what I enjoy playing the most, especially Free Cell.  And I already have Microsoft Mahjong installed which is really addictive.  Got a friend of mine hooked on it too.

Spent the day just surfing and reading emails and early this morning early went to the store for some stuff I needed, then stopped in at Walgreen’s for some more stuff.  Yesterday went to Macy’s and got a Martha Stewart 10 piece cookware set they had on sale and I also had a “Thank You” coupon from them so the final bill was only $26.00.  Then was looking around the store and saw some shorts on sale for only $9.99 but with other in-store discounts for using their credit card they were only $7.49.  I hate it when they give so many discounts because I end up buying more than what I wanted to.  But, I guess that’s pretty common.  But I like the quality of their merchandise.

That’s about all that has transpired since Friday.  Going to make an apricot pie tomorrow.  Hope it turns out well.

Hope everyone is doing well.

(((((HUGS)))))

 

New Notebook

Well, sitting here typing this on my brand spanking new Sony Vaio Flip 14 that I picked up yesterday.  The reason I had to pick it up is because they weren’t supposed to deliver it until Monday the 17.  I went to the gym and when I was done with my routine, I checked the status and saw that they had made an attempt to deliver it yesterday.  I only missed him by 2 hours so I called and asked if they could reschedule it for yesterday.  The young man I spoke to said that he was able to reschedule it for between 12:00 and 2:30.  So, here I sat and a little after 2:30 Fedex called me and said that they couldn’t guarantee delivery.  So, the door tag said that after 5:00 I could pick it up in Hillside, which is a 30 minute drive, depending on the traffic.  Anyway, when I got there I asked for the manager and before the attendant called the manager, I had to explain everything to her first.  But she was the nicest person.  I wish all customer service reps were that nice. 

The manager finally came to the front and she said she was going to go searching for the item.  Apparently the driver didn’t even check in when he returned.  They just shrugged it off.  I really don’t care because the manager found my notebook and I am a happy camper right now.  It’s one of those notebooks that has several configurations.  I can use it just like I am right now, as a notebook, or I can lay the screen down and use it as a tablet.  Then I can turn the screen around so that the keyboard is in the back and it’s like a stand.  I really like it.  Haven’t tried typing on the on-screen keyboard though, maybe that will have to come later.  Since I’m a touch typist, I don’t now how that is going to work.

Here is a link to what it can do.  http://store.sony.com/vaio-flip-pcs/cat-27-catid-Computers-Convertible-Flip-Series

Anyway, hope everyone had a great St. Valentines Day.

 

Well, here we are, 2014

So, did everyone have a nice New Year celebration?  I hope yours was uneventful and all arrived home safe and sound.  Mine was nice.  Spent it with my extended family.  Managed to get home safely by 1:00 A.M. in spite of the snow that was falling.  Only one thing marred the evening for me and that was that the person I care most about in this world didn’t even bother to wish me a Happy New Year.  To be honest, I was very depressed because of it and some pretty crazy thoughts passed through my mind.  I’m glad I hadn’t drank any more than I had because God only knows what would have happened.  I know, the world was not going to come to an end, but it’s the little things like that that show that someone really cares about you.  I said “Happy New Year” and it was ignored and it hurt, what can I say.

Anyway, today it is snowing like crazy here and we already have about 6” and the possibility of another 2 to 6+ inches could fall by tomorrow afternoon.  Mother nature really must be mad at us for some reason.  Oh, wait, that the “global warming” everyone is talking about.  Yeah, that’s why they are stuck in the ice in the Antarctic and can’t get out.  I never did believe it and attribute what is happening to normal weather cycles, not global warming.

Ok, hope everyone has a fantastic 2014 and everyone’s lives are filled with much Health, Happiness and Prosperity.

God bless you all.

(((((HUGS)))))

 

Catching up again.

Well, again it’s been a very long time since I posted anything.  Since the last time, I spent 5 glorious weeks in Mexico.  Most of the time was spend in Cueramaro, GTO and surrounding area and I did manage to squeak in a week in Puerto Vallarta, which was fantastic.  Here are some pictures of where we stayed and surrounding areas.

 

What a glorious time we had there.  When we got back to Midway and stepped outside, the cold air was like a slap in the face and made me think I had made a big mistake in coming back.  LOL  Anyway, I guess I’ll get used to this cold weather.  After all, I’ve dealt with it all my 67 years so don’t know why I’m making such a big fuss about it.

Spent a lot of time with Jeronimo’s family.  Here are some pictures.

Also spent some time in some of the surrounding areas, like Las Musas which is close to Manuel Doblado.

What a beautiful, relaxing place that was to have a picnic.

Also got to spend some time this summer with my brother John and his daughters Melissa and Denise and his granddaughters Ann and Peggy.

Had a fantastic time with them all and it was great to see my brother.

Other than that, my life has been rather dull.  Just waking up, going to the YMCA 3 times a week (fortunately I’m losing a little bit of weight) and coming home and doing nothing but sitting around watching TV or sitting on the computer.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.  Leave me a comment or two please.  Would appreciate it.

(((((HUGS))))) to all and wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy, Prosperous New Year.

 

Just wanted to catch up a little bit.

Well, it has been a long time since I’ve posted something here so figured I had better get on the ball or people will think I’ve fallen off the edge of the earth.  Oh, wait a minute, they discovered a long time ago that there is no edge.  I forgot the earth is round.  Just trying to be funny, that’s all.  Did it work?

Anyway, nothing exciting has happened since I got back from Mexico in December.  Had a doctors appointment and he beat me up because I haven’t been taking my cholesterol medicine and it was bad, so he hollered at me a little bit and now I’m taking it regularly.  He also increased my Metformin to two 500mg tablets a day because my sugar hasn’t been as good as I want it to be.  It all started with the trip to Mexico.  Darn Mexican food messed me up.   But oh was it good.   Especially the “chinchulines”.  For those who don’t know what that is, it’s chitlins, and they are fried up nice and crispy and served as an appetizer and oh my goodness they are out of this world.  I know, I know, organ meat is not good for you, but I just can’t help myself.  So I guess I deserved getting hollered at by my doctor.

I think the weather is finally getting straightened out here in the Midwest.  It was 69º here today but it was windy so didn’t really feel all that great.  Some of the southern suburbs made it over 70º.  But then it’s going to cool down again so heaven only knows when we’ll see real spring weather.  I think we just might skip it and jump right to summer.  Mother Nature must have gotten her wires crossed.

Had to return the Logitech Solar Keyboard I got because one of the keys dropped off and I couldn’t get it to stay on and Logitech didn’t help at all.  Fortunately Best Buy took it back without a problem and I hope this new one doesn’t give me any headaches.  I really like it though.  Can sit back in my recliner and type away like mad.  The height of laziness.  Also got a new wireless Logitech Mouse.  Wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, now all I need is a wireless headset and I’ll be set.   No wonder I can’t lose weight.

Still going to the YMCA three times a week.  Some days I just don’t feel like going but Jerónimo bugs me until I give in.  But I must say, I feel much better after we go.  Now that the weather is starting to get better, I’m going to start walking on the other days that we don’t go to the YMCA and hopefully I’ll be able to lose some pounds.  It’s so darned easy to put it on, but boy to get it off is a chore.  Think I’ll get a zipper for my mouth as that will be the only way. 

Made shrimp cocktail for dinner tonight and boy was it good.  It was the Mexican style.  Used 2 pounds of shrimp, onion, tomato, cilantro, avocado, ketchup, Clamato, lime juice and Valentina hot sauce.  MMMMM delicious.  We didn’t eat it all so will have some more tomorrow.

Well, that’s it for today.  Hope everyone who is reading this is doing well.

Have a great week.

 

My vacation

Returned on 12/12/12 from a 3 week vacation in Mexico.  Most of the time was spent in Cueramaro, Guanajuato.  Made some side trips to Silao, Irapuato and Mexico City where we spent 4 days.  Stayed with Chava and Lulu Reyes.  They are a fantastic couple and really know how to make you feel at home.  Got to see Lola, Chayo, Erica, Rafa, Regina and Romina as well as Estela and Toño Saragoza.  Only thing is I wasn’t in the best of moods.  Had some digestive problems but it only lasted 2 days, fortunately.  Other than that, we had a fantastic time in Mexico City. 

The side trip to Silao was to visit the Gonzalez sisters.  They have such a beautiful home and boy can they cook.  Here are some pictures of their home.

As you can see, some fantastic plants.

In Irapuato, we went to dinner at the Hacienda de Torres.  They have fantastic food there.

 

We really had a fantastic time and before we left, I was thinking that 3 weeks was going to be real long time, but boy it just flew by.  Seems like we just got there and it was time to come back home.  And yes, it is nice to travel, but it’s much nicer to get back home and to sleep in my own bed. 

That’s all for now.  Hope everyone is doing well.

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.

 

My new Windows 8 machine

And boy do I love it.  Still learning all the new, neat stuff it has, but slowly but surely I’ll master it, just like I master everything else in life.  I got the Dell XPS One 27 from the Microsoft Store in Oakbrook, IL  They gave me a nice trade in allowance on my HP DV7-T laptop, so that was nice.  They really know how to treat their customers out there.  It has always been a very pleasant experience.

EDIT:  I have since returned the Dell piece of garbage and replaced it with a Lenovo Ideacenter A720 and boy is it magnificent.  Much nicer than the Dell crap.  This one has a 27″ monitor that lays flat so it can be used as a Surface.  Nice, really nice.  Only objection I have about this system is the keyboard.  The keys are in odd places and there is no single Delete key and you have to do a Shift and press the decimal point key on the numeric keyboard in order to delete something.  Rather cumbersome if you ask me.  So, today I went to Best Buy and got a Logitech K750 Wireless Solar Keyboard and boy is it fantastic.  Can hold a charge for up to 3 months even in complete darkness.  Was also looking at the K800, but that one is too big for the little table that I have the computer sitting on.  I need to get a bigger table.  Maybe I can find a carpenter who can make me one.  

Other than that, everything here is going well.  Am losing a little bit of weight and my sugar and blood pressure are both under control.

Hope everyone had a nice Halloween and have a nice weekend.