1st Social Networking Event with OcalaNetworking.com--topic is "Twitter"

Just returned from Denny's restaurant, where Danna Crawford presented a free class on how twitter can help your business. We had a good turn out, and learned about twitter. A few of us, myself included, had no idea what twitter was all about. Danna explained how to sign in, how to make the  profile, how to market your business weather it is selling on eBay, or blogging. She told us about the #, (hash tags), and how to use them. Danna explained how the use of twitter can direct traffic to our blogs, and our eBay stores. We got a lot of information from other guests as well as from Danna! After Danna's presentation, she opened the floor for discussion. We then had a chance to socialize a little. All an all, we had a very delightful, and informational, informal meeting! I'm sure everyone there had as good a time as I did. KODOS to you Danna, once again on a job well done!

Thanks an hugs, Danna!

W&M Day At Curves, September

Well,.....here I am again! There has been a little time that has past since I last posted a blog.  My mind has been wondering about what to blog about., and that has been my hold up! I thought I would just say a few things about my activities. As I have stated in the past, I do walk 2 x’s a week and go to Curves, thanks to Silver Sneakers, to work out 3 x’s a week with my good friend and neighbor Danna.  We had a weigh in again, (actually, this one is the second one), and my report was OK. Danna’s, on the other hand, was Fantastic! She has lost over 5 lbs, and I’m sorry that I don’t remember her other losses, but believe me when I say, SHE is doing an awesome job!!  I, on the other hand, have a problem. You see, I don’t get hungry! I know, some of you might say that would be GREAT! It really isn’t, cause you eat something just because you know you have to, and not because you want to. I have been known to eat just once or twice a day! Of course as you know, that isn’t good for you. So, when I weighed in last month, I confided in Joyce, who is the owner of Curves and is the most delightful person, about my problem with my appetite. I will say, that I also was not taking vitamins, or any supplements. My measurements stayed the same, except my weight loss was 1lb, and waist loss was ½ inch. My body fat percent, however, increased by .60%! I couldn’t understand this. After hearing of my problem, she said that possibly since I don’t eat right that I have loss muscle tone. She advised me to eat 4 or 5 small meals, take a multi-vitamin, and increase my protein per day. Well, I now take a multi-vitamin, and eat more protein. Eat the snack bars, and try to eat more through out the day. Well, we just weighed in and measured again for this month. I have gained in all my measurements a total of 1 ½ inches, gained 2 ½ lbs, and gained .10% body fat! However, I have lost ½ inch in my abdomen! Joyce is pleased, and said good job working on the nutrition! She said that for my build an etc. that my top weight should be about 138, and really everything else is about where it should be. So,...I don’t know....I would like to weigh at the lowest 125 to 130 lbs., and lose some of the body fat. Oh well,...maybe next month I will level out if I keep on with the nutrition. Guess we are never really satisfied! I do want to keep fit though. At 68, life isn’t as long as it use to be when I was 21! Ha! Ha! With that,
my wish for all of you who read this, is to keep fit!
Have a blessed day.

D.DAY!.........Rather M&W Day is today!

Well Folks, as some of you might know, Danna and I have been working out at Curves this past month! She joined, and I am able to participate through Silver Sneakers! Well,....today is Measure and Weight day! The dreaded day we find out how we are doing!  I am happy to say, that.. Danna and I BOTH have LOST! Isn't that Great! (fan fare)....wait.. for it,....I have lost a total of 3 inches; lost 1/2 pound; and .80% BMI! Danna has a lost a total ooooof,......3.5 inches; lost 2.5 pounds; and .4% BMI!! YOU GO GIRL! I am soooooo PROUD of her! Just think, one month ago, she could hardly walk around the block without getting winded! Today, she walks around 4 blocks, and is just slightly winded! She has been working very hard, and it has paid off!!! If she keeps going the way she is, we will see a NEW  Danna by the time she goes to California! That is her goal by the way!!  Soooooo,  a BIG congratulations to us both! Our routine is work out 3 days a week for 1/2 an hour, and walk 2, days so, she has a full week trying to do this and keeping up with all of her other projects! I am happy to be able to enjoy her company. She is always up-beat, (even when she is tired) and optimistic! We have a great time together, and I'm happy to call her friend! So, that said, lets all get behind her and give her that extra support to keep up the GREAT work!

DANNA,......HUGZZZ to you! Till next time.....your friend and neighbor, Donna

To read more of Danna's success, visit her link!
http://powersellingmom.com/DannaCrawford/

Lets Get Fit!

O.K.......so, Danna and I walk on Tuesdays, and Thursdays. This past Thursday, June 24th, she tells me that yesterday, Wednesday, she had enrolled in Curves, and was going to go again tomorrow, Friday June 25th. I asked her what it was like. She told me that that they have machines set up in a circle with these recovery boards between each machine. She also said that they honor Silver Sneakers. The SilverSneakers Fitness Program is an innovative health, exercise and wellness program helping older adults live healthy, active lifestyles, through many health plans and medicare supplemental plans. (Go to SilverSeakers.com to see if your health plan is listed as a benefit).I have used it in the past an it's GREAT! I was interested in what she was saying. Danna said to let her know if I wanted to go with her. Later that day, I called and said I would go.

On Friday, at 9:am, we get into her SUV and go to Curves. Since there are a couple of locations here in Ocala, I asked her which one we were going to. She said the one at 500 SW 10th street just before the overpass on the left. Since Danna had already joined, she went ahead and started her workout while Joyce, the owner, started me on my paperwork. I filled out my health history, Dr's information, and of course what was my goal. I told her that I would like to lose a little weight, lose some body fat and basically firm up! She took my weight, and measurements, then put these figures into a hand held machine which I had to hold and squeeze. It calculated what my body fat was. As it turns out, according to the charts, my weight was in the middle, and my body fat was just a couple of points high for my age and everything. So,... my goal is to lose about 10lbs, and to lose the body fat!!

We then went over to the machines. As I got on each one, she explained what each one was for, and how to use them. She said that the machines are hydraulic, and thus gives you resistance like you would have if you were in water. They have Biceps/Triceps, which is double positive machine, meaning it works two directions of resistance; Leg Press,is a single positive machine, meaning it has resistance in one direction; Leg Extension/Leg Curl, double positive; Shoulder Press/Lat Pull, double positive; Ab/Back, double positive;
Hip Abductor/Adductor, double positive; Chest/Back, double positive; and a Squat, single positive machine. These are all strength training machines. Then in between each machine, they have what is called a recovery board. You run, walk, jog or dance in place. These boards are to maintaining the heart rate at a cardiovascular level. You work on each item until you are told to go to the next one. You keep changing machines and recovery boards until your 30 minutes are up.When you start, just start at any available machine or board.

The Curves workout has been proven to be effective at protecting muscle, burn body fat, and raising metabolism. In clinical trials, the LEAST fit exercisers expended 164 to 238 calories during a 30 minute Curves workout, while the fittest burned more than 500 calories.

So ladies,.....an gents.....come on. LETS GET FIT, AN STAY FIT! We all need to take a more healthy look at our lives!       Ladies,........We take care of everyone else, why not ourselves?

A Job Well Done

We all piled into the car and headed South to St. Cloud. Upon getting to our destination, we were greeted with hugs an kisses as she was leaving for the Osceola Heritage Park for the services. Soon after, we once again piled into the cars and headed there too! We pulled into the parking lot, which by the way was packed full of cars, and parked. We all got out of our cars and walked down to the entrance to join the many people standing in line! In about 20 to 25 minutes, we were finally allowed to go in and find seats. Now,... here we all sit, saying goodbye, with tear filled eyes and a glint of pride, to yet another chapter, and "HELLO" to all the new challenges as she embarks on the next phase of her life! My granddaughter, Tiffanie, graduated from high school Thursday May 27th. It doesn't seem possible! It just seems like yesterday that she had started school! Where did the time go?
  
Tiffanie came into this world on July 4 1992, and has been our firecracker ever since! Now,.....here is where I get to invoke Grandparents rights! That's right,...I get to brag about her! lol This firecracker has graduated with honors! Mu Alfa Theta and National Honor Society for this year. Out of 377 students in her class, she was the 10th highest in grade point average with a whopping 4.38! (The highest was a 4.7). There was a total of 72 students that had a 3.5 or above grade point average in her class.

Tiffanie has been in JROTC (Junior Reserves Officers Training Corps) since first starting high school, and finished in the position of Battalion Commander, the highest rank available cadet officers in the program can achieve. She was crowned Queen at the military ball, and has donated over 250 hours of community service through the JROTC program. She was Social Chair Officer of this years Honor Society, and was on the JROTC Drill Team, Raiders Team, and Sabers Team! She was awarded Cadet of the year, Superior Cadet, and Over-all Leadership Cadet. She has already completed 6 college classes, 2 in her Junior year and 4 in her senior year! In addition with her Bright Futures scholarship, her scholastic ability has earned her $38,000 towards her college education. Tiffanie has been accepted at and will start in August. Her major is going to be in forensic analyst, and her minor will be in psychology. Kudos to her! Don't know where she found time for everything!

Tiffanie,...keep following YOUR dreams, honey, and don't settle for second best in anything! Set your sights High! Reach for the stars! Always remember your family and friends wish you the very best that life has to offer. We love you and congratulate you on the, Terrific job that you have done! We Are Proud Of You!
                                             
                                               Love,
                                                 Grams

May 18th Surprise attack!

Well, after reading Danna's (my GOOD FRIEND and Neighbor) remarks about what her doctor told
her about taking better care of herself, I decided to take action! Neither one of us went to
bed last night until after 1:00am. We were both working on our perspective endeavors, seems
like we have another thing in common, we are night owls! Upon awakening at 7:30, I got up,
left Bandit out (my Shih Tzu), fed him and my outside dog, fixed myself a cup of coffee, and
preceded to map out my agenda for my SURPRISE attack! After all, what are friends for, Right?
 :)

About 8:17am, I gave her a call. Needless to say, she didn't answer her phone. I figured she
was STILL in bed! WHAT SANE PERSON WOULDN'T BE! But,... she called me back about 9:00
and she asked me if I had call her. (She was trying VERY hard to sound as if she had been up!)  :)
I told her I did and asked if I woke her up, knowing full well I had, which she confirmed. I said to her,
"Get dressed, drink your coffee, cause we are going walking.  No procrastinating!" She had the
option to say she couldn't for one reason or another, but, she was a trouper and said, "I'll meet
you outside when I'm ready." A few minutes later, she was walking across the street. I locked
up, and met her. We started off, first down our street, then over to the 2nd street. Now mind you,
we were walking at a good pace. By this time, Danna started to slow down. I mentioned this to
her, an she said to remember that she wasn't use to walking at that pace! So I slowed down a
little....don't want to make her toooo tired and sore! Now, we only have 4 streets in our allotment, so
when we got up to the end of the street, we went down the street we missed and came up our street.
So in all, we walked 3 of our 4 streets! Not bad for a first walk! Unfortunately, I didn't time us.
Oh well, can't remember everything! Lol

Well, after we got home, Danna wrote on my Facebook wall. " Danna Crawford  Thank you Donna for
dragging my butt down the street and getting me to start walking! {{{{Donna}}}}!"  Now I ask you
truthfully, does that sound like she really was sincere??? HaHa. I simply wrote back saying, " No problem! I enjoyed it! Do it again Thursday am around 8:30ish."  To that she promptly replied, "Oh wow, you mean we have to do this again???? ;) I have it on my calendar but if it rains we will cancel! **praying for rain** lol Joking, I am giving thanks to you as my friend! {{{Donna}}}} I wrote back, "Ha ha! Twice a week! Tuesday and Thursday if you aren't busy! Now don't you go and book something! LOL  :) It is cooler in the mornings!"

All an All, she was a pretty good egg about the whole thing! The Yolks on you! But in my defense, she had mentioned to me about walking with her sometime! So Danna,.... little did you know that, YOU would be the next topic for my blog!

I thank you! I had fun planning  your surprise attack, and had a WONDERFUL start to my day with you!
Enjoy the rest of your day!

HUGZZ to you!  :)

To My Mom

Mom, I love you and miss you more than can be expressed. You were my best friend, my confidant, my inspiration, my role model, my rock, but most of all, the best mom I could have had, and you were mine! You were always there for me no matter what. Through thick an thin, I always knew that you would be there for me to lean on! So with that said, I repeat what I wrote for you on your memory card:


                                                         
In Memory of Mom

When God calls someone special
To dwell with Him above,
We mortals sometime question
The wisdom of His love.
 
He saw that she was getting weary
Of the struggle and the fight,
So He wrapped His arms around her
And He took her home that night.

A golden heart stopped beating
As she closed her eyes to rest,
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
That He only takes the best!

Until the time we meet again,
On those streets of gold,
You'll always live within our heart
And all the memories that it holds.

               I love you Mom