Spring Break

It is time for Spring Break! Dave gives a final on Tuesday, we take Marge to respite care on Wednesday, and Thursday we are flying to Las Vegas. We have never stayed there before, so we are staying one night before driving a rental car to Phoenix where we will spend Easter with Mark and his friend, Alan. They don't have much time off, but we will see them over Easter weekend. We haven't planned much past then, and we don't fly back until Thursday (from Las Vegas), but there is a lot to see and do in Arizona.

In the news

This is what has kept our minds occupied for the last several days:
Lincoln Journal Star story
Earlier news story

Our son-in-law, Rob, was outraged last week when the Judge's decision came out regarding the death of an 11-month-old little girl. He talked to people he saw around town for a few days and realized that many more people were outraged as well, so he decided to do something about it.

The news articles summarize fairly well what has happened so far. There is quite a lot of work ahead for Rob and about 50 people who signed up to help with the recall petition.

How fast are you?

I found this on the website of someone I tagged a few days ago. Try it!
75 words

Speedtest

Some deer friends

It was just about dusk and I noticed our cat, Kitty Meow, concentrating intently on something outside. She was standing/sitting on her back feet and looking out the patio door. I got down on the floor next to her to see if I could figure out what she was looking at, but did not really notice anything. Marge looked out and she did notice something moving in the tall grass near the tree line. I was surprised to see a doe and an almost grown fawn browsing through the grass fairly close to the mowed part of our yard. We watched them for about 15 minutes and the fawn actually came down into the yard pretty close to the deck. Both were very cautious, slowly walking a few steps, stopping to eat a little grass, then both heads would suddenly be up, with ears perked and noses sniffing. Then they would relax for a minute and repeat the whole process. I watched the fawn nibble on my new lilac bushes, but I know it is not the first time because I checked them earlier in the week--not much left. The rabbits are also eating them. I'll be surprised if we have any when/if spring ever arrives. By the time it was almost dark the deer were heading south, having jumped the barbed wire fence, and were walking along the tree line.

My numbers

Diet and exercise really do make a difference. A year ago I had my cholesterol checked on the Memorial Health Care Systems Health Fair. It was 313, which is quite high when you look at the recommendations. I visited with my doctor about this and she suggested I take fish oil capsules. So, I bought a huge bottle of them at Sam's Club and I would take one if I remember to do it. Meanwhile, I started working at Concordia and there was a health fair on campus in October. By that time I was a little better at taking the fish oil capsules because I had spoken to a woman about my age who told me that they had made a real difference, and that it helps if you keep them in the refrigerator. You can avoid the yucky aftertaste that way. In October my total cholesterol level had dropped to 271, an improvement, but still way over 200. Under 200 is good. Yesterday the student health service on campus had "Health Decision 2008" with about 50 booths and displays. For $10 bucks I had my blood checked again and my number is now at 227. I have lost 15 pounds since October and am exercising more, which also helps. My LDL is down and my HDL is up (this is good). And my blood glucose is good.
So, I am feeling pretty good about my numbers!