Work At Home Musings

When I was in High School in the 1970s, our school decided to take a vote about having a smoking area on the school grounds. I voted yes. Why? I was not a smoker and I hated smoking. I just wanted everyone to stop smoking in the bathrooms. The smoking area was established in a courtyard outside the cafeteria. Some of the hard core smokers would smoke there every day. Then there were the football players who decided that buying discount cigars and smoking them would be cool. The smoking area did solve the bathroom smoke problem as well.

Today, knowing what I do about the effects of smoking, I wonder if I would have voted the same. Probably. It saved me from a lot of second hand smoke. Oh, and by the way, the smoking area does not exist anymore. I guess they have gone back to smoking in the bathrooms!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The second book in the Hunger Games series is fantastic. The reader is easily drawn into the struggle with an oppressive government and how the people in the Districts must fight to save their own lives. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions but find Katniss a little too angry. Well worth the time!

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I have been taking a treadmill class at my local gym and I really enjoy it. The problem is, it is only one day a week. I am not motivated right now to go to the gym extra days. I think it is due to the cold weather. Hopefully, my new exercise plan will help me focus and get me into shape before the summer!

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed reading this book. The intertwining of the Olympic Greek Gods and modern society was enjoyable. Percy Jackson makes for a good hero and his two friends are great sidekicks. You get to meet many of the characters from Greek mythology - each have their own personality twist. If you read the book first, don’t go see the movie. You will be greatly disappointed! I suggest seeing the movie first. The story is more complicated than the movie.

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Eventually, I would love to get a new car. My van is almost at the 100,000 mile mark and I know things will start breaking soon. I have looked at car prices and, wow, cars are expensive. I think I might have to settle for a smaller car that I want. I am still looking at SUVs or minivans, but I could end up with this:

How many diets have you been on? I don’t think I can count the number. I have done everything from read xenadrine rfa x reviews to buying the latest fad diet book. According to the Surgeon General, diets fail because:

* Diets deprive us. Many diets involve eliminating certain foods or even whole food groups. This is not only unhealthy but also unrealistic for the long term.

* Diets are temporary. Once they have reached their goal, most people go back to “normal” eating, so the weight comes back.

* Diets often don’t fit into normal life. Weighing and measuring food may help you lose weight, but aren’t practical as long-term strategies for most people.

* Diets can be expensive. Buying special foods can rack up a big bill quickly.

* Diets can actually lower your metabolism. When you drastically cut back on calories, your metabolism tends to slow down. You burn fewer calories and the diet becomes less effective.

* Diet is only half of the equation. Lifetime weight management is not just about what you eat. It requires physical activity as well. Experts recommend 60-90 minutes a day most days of the week.

It seems I need a lifestyle change, not a diet!

I am always amazed at how quickly my children are growing up! My oldest daughter just turned 16 and it is not just her age that happened so fast, she also grew very tall. Of course, this has caused her some joint pain, especially around the knees and back and it only makes matters worse that she plays three different sports - soccer, basketball and track. She is not thrilled to be so tall (she is 5′9″ now), but she is thinking that maybe she could fall back on a modeling career if the sports thing doesn’t work out!

I often wake up in the morning with dark circles under my eyes because I did not get a good night’s sleep. I have found some good products that help with the dark circles, but I thought I might try this too:

Don’t Disturb Me is offering a free sample of their all natural sleeping aid product. I like the fact that it is natural, so I think I will give it a try!

It is Olympic time and we have been watching the Olympics faithfully at our house. We love the speed skating, bobsled, and ice skating. Plus the skiing is fun to watch too! One of my friends actually does testing (such as for hgh or steroids)for some Olympic athletes and she attended the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City a number of years ago.

Attending the Olympics is one of the items on my bucket list!

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