Sandi Chats

  With the exception of a very short walk outside on Sunday, I have been confined to the house since last Thursday. I do not feel terrible, as some have, but am still tired and listless and stuffy. If I knew this wasn't Covid I would just buck up and power through. I hear sometimes this can turn unexpectedly serious and would like to avoid that fate if I could. And I don't want to spread it to anyone else. So I am on Covid vacation until all symptoms disappear! Honestly, it's almost a relief to have finally contracted this demon so I can get it over with. It's been hanging over everyone's head for 8 months now, with no end in sight. I am thankful to only have a mild case and wish everyone could be so fortunate. Being confined gives me time and opportunity to pray for those who are so very sick with it. I have endeavored to turn this into a vacation for myself by only doing the things we need done to survive. It has taken me two days to do two loads of laundry! And I

Warning: this post is entirely promoting the Ketogenic Diet, so if you're not interested, this post might not be for you. Feel free to share with others who might not be readers but are interested in "going Keto".   I've been promising for two days that I would tell about my Keto journey, so here it is. First of all, notice I called it a journey not a diet. We have the idea that diet is temporary, just until we reach our goals. A journey is a path we continue to follow, hopefully for the rest of our lives.  I have passively resisted making dietary changes my whole life. I give lip service to healthy eating habits but what I actually eat does not resemble healthy in any way, shape or form. I want what I want, and I have a voracious sweet tooth! I have not been a stranger to dieting. I have probably been on every diet ever known to man. I have done TOPS, Weight Watchers and Weigh Down, counted calories, cut the fat, cut the carbs, eaten cabbage soup, tried the Trim Heal

This is a time of the year when I always reflect on my life. I had a birthday last week, and once again I am face to face with the idea that the years are adding up for me. Age is just a number, and people always say you are only as old as you feel. Today I am thankful to feel 68 because it's a whole lot younger than I felt when my chronological age was 66! Exactly 2 years ago right now I was as sick as I had ever been. It was a series of ailments that was robbing me of any anticipation for the future. I had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2007 which had escalated to the point that walking was painful. I had seen many doctors and undergone several types of treatment, all to no avail. Then just a few weeks before my birthday, I had finished off the last good I had in  my knees while in New England for our fall tour. The walking and the damp chill just did them in. Then, as a birthday present, I came down with a case of shingles. I had always thought of shingles as someth

To say that 2020 has been a most unusual year is to understate the obvious! Covid 19, the elections, rioting, and on and on it goes. What next? Today I am sitting at home, quarantining. I have some mild cold-like symptoms, and with Covid hitting so close to home these days, I am opting to err on the side of caution. Mike and I made up our minds months ago not to be tested if we got sick unless medical intervention became necessary. So far tissues and cold drinks to sooth my throat are all that I have required. So far Mike has no symptoms. For some people the interruption of everyday life is frustrating. For me they don't change a lot. I am not going into my part-time job until I know I am not spreading Covid. So what will I be doing with all this time I have at home?  The list of options is endless. I have 4 large totes of yarn that I've been thinking I should do something with. I had sorted out collections for 4 baby afghans to take to Arizona with us, but that still leaves 3

When I began this blog I promised myself I wouldn't tread into controversial territory, namely politics and religion since these topics seem to be divisive, and I just wanted this blog to be fun. I wanted to write about the every day things in my life and my perspectives on them, and maybe laugh at myself just a bit. Well, I am going to break my own rule today! As I have studied my family history and gotten to know my ancestors through genealogy, I can't help but notice that I come from a long line of elected officials...politicians! Back in the early days, when my ancestors resided in Pennsylvania, much of my family held positions of political influence. Even as recently as 115 years ago, my great-grandfather, Ben Painter, served as the Sheriff of Keya Paha County and was elected as a commissioner some time after that. My own father served as a deputy sheriff and a commissioner. My sister held the position of County Clerk in this county for a number of years, and I, myself, wa