RANDOM NEWS AND COMMENTS

An update on the menu change. Starting on Monday, January 4th, I weighed 365.0. On February 1st, my weight was 347.0. That is like putting a 15 lb bag of potatoes, and 5.0 pounds of ground beef, back in their display cases at the grocery store. My pants are feeling a bit looser.

The weather in these parts has been very frosty in the mornings. Nearby rooftops look like they've had a light dusting of snow, but it is just the frost. I take the humming bird water in at night, and set it back out in the morning, to keep it from freezing.

My cousin Sharon Clark, age 83, had a stroke last month, but is doing well in recovery and physical therapy, according to one of his sons. It must be the royal pittts to be getting older and have something debilitating like that happen. Our only surviving uncle is 92 and doing well.

A week ago Sunday, our water heater gave up the ghost at 10:45 PM. Thanks to a local plumber, Dan, he came out and turned off the water heater, drained it, and came back Monday morning with a new water heater. I am glad he lives nearby.

Last year, I formulated a spicy dry seasoning mix that I call "Kick Bhut" due to a key ingredient being dried Bhut Jolokia pepper. (Pronounced Buh-hoot.) I learned that Dan the plumber likes spicy food. So I gave him a sample. He likes it, and is willing to try something hotter. I will be making up a special batch just for him tomorrow or Friday.

I did not listen to the entire "State Of The Union" speech by President Obama tonight. However, I did see the part where he barbequed the Supreme Court for their decision that will undo campaign contribution ethics. That did not sit very well with Associate Justice Samuel Alito, who grimmaced and made a few remarks to others sitting near him. I do believe that was very inappropriate behavior for such a Judge. It think it was the late President Harry Truman who said something like "if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."

I have an instant dislike for anyone who disrespects a speaker during the speech, especially if it is the POTUS. There will be time for making comments after the speech. If Associate Justice Alito is pissed at the President's comments, then Judge Alito can damn well write an editorial comment for the various papers who would be more than happy to oblige him.

I think that President Obama did a good job calling on all members of Congress to be more focused on the prize, more coopoerative, and more financially responsible. It was interesting how he pointed to the facts that the current financial mess and dissaray is a result of the previous administration's ineptitude.

During one of the camera pans of the crowd, there was a pause at Senator Chuck Grassley, who is Chariman of the Senate Finance Committee, and a Republican from Iowa. He was scowling big time. My mother and her mother, if they had been watching would have made the comment: "Senator Grassley is an old sourpuss." On the other hand, maybe his hemmorhoids were itching or enflamed a bit.

The bottom line is this: It is difficult for partisan politicians to cooperate, no matter what they are doing. President Obama was encouraging, to try to get people to work together.

Friends Jon and Dan are selling their houses, and will hopefully be moving into new digs soon.

Amen, and pass the rice cakes, please.

PLEASE HELP THE PEOPLE OF HAITI !!

I feel safer giving a donation through the Clinton Foundation, mainly because it has one of the lowest, if not the lowest of overhead percentages at about 4.1%. That means 95.9 cents of every donated dollar goes to programs.

I thought you might like to know that.

http://www.clintonfoundation.org/haitiearthquake/

Also, The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul posts their IRS returns on their webpage, so anyone can see the expenses, etc. A very high portion of every $1 does go to programs.

http://www.svdpusa.org/

The biggest need in Haiti right now is water, medicine and body bags, and it looks like the aid efforts are beginning to make a difference. Here are a few of the "your dollars end up in the helping programs" percentages, more than likely from 2008. For every 1.00 donated this is how much reaches the programs:

American Red Cross = 90.1%
Volunteers of America = 88.8%
Plan America = 75.8%
Salvation Army = not rated

LOSE SOME WEIGHT !!

Last Monday, I started a new menu, with a goal of losing weight. It is not a specific diet, or eating program. Rather, it is a combination of dozens of diets and eating plans I have heard about over the past 10 to 20 years.

The idea is to eat smaller portions about five times each day, consisting of lean protein, with green or yellow vegetables, salad, some fruit and nuts, and filtered water.

However, my plan includes eliminating the consumption of wheat products such as bread in any form, and sodas. Instead of using those, I will be using organic rice cakes, and I will make my own carbonated beverage.

Knudsen's sells a variety of juices that are 100% with nothing added for sweeteners. 25% to 30% juice and the rest with club soda, makes for a very palatable carbonated beverage, that has a lot less sugar or chemicals than the average cola product.

My intention is to lose 100 pounds by August, 13, 2010. By the way, that's a "Friday the 13th." The goal is to lose the weight, coupled with moderate exercise, and try to become healthier in the process.

I declared before God and everyone else, that I would report my weight on Facebook each Monday morning, warts pimples and all. So, here is a link to my Facebook page, so you can learn about what happens.

So you will know, I use the name Dakota Clark, and, Whistle Berries, for making comments.

My first report will be tomorrow morning, and I do believe there will be some favorable news to report...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=nf#/WhistleBerries?ref=name

2010 - AN OPPORTUNITY

Well, 2010 arrived. It is something that in 1960 seemed so far away, so distant in terms of reality. When one graduates from high school, there are certain aspirations, certain dreams for the future.

50 years ago, I was not sure that I would live this long, or that I would have the experiences that I have had. There have been many experiences. Some have been interesting, some have been happy and some have been sad, but all of them have been educational.

I often wonder exactly how many people meet their goals in life. Being a millionaire by the time of age 30 is one that, more than likely, a lot of people share, but very, very few succeed with that goal. I know that I did not.

My main goal in life was to learn and experience things, and to try to help others. I still am doing those.

So, while some people believe that a new year is just the start of another year, we must also consider it as the beginning of a new decade – an opportunity. It is a chance at a fresh start, especially for stalled projects or derailed goals. What can you do in the next year to 10 years that will help make a difference to you and to others?

With a computer in almost every household in the United States, there is the chance to stay connected, to learn, and to stay informed. I know people who only check their email every 90 days; and, there are some who check their email several times each day. I am one of the latter, because I make an effort to stay informed.

There is a difference between a new year resolution, and setting new goals, with a blueprint or plan on how to achieve those goals. For me, I realize that I need to bring my weight under control, and I will start that on January 4. Also, there is the long delayed spices, and writing projects.

None of us have to look too far to find things that need fixing or doing. So, the appearance of 2010 is the ticket for change – an opportunity. It will be the opportunity to learn, to experience, and to help others.

After all, “We cannot hold a torch to light the path for another, without brightening our own. Happiness is a journey, not a destination.” Quotes by Ben Sweetland.