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Tuesday morning - March 4th - although I wrote this date all day yesterday so I guess I'm ahead (or a head case?) I want to begin by sharing this quote: Don't tell me what they said about me. Tell me Why they were so comfortable to say it around you. Love it. Wish I'd had that one in my arsenal back in the day of corporate career wars. But I'll keep it in my tool box just in case anyway.
All Things Food? Chicken soup and a bacon cheese spinach quesadilla yesterday. Two nights in a row of no peanut butter & jelly on my oatmeal. I want to see if I can go a week without it. Well, wait. I know I can. I want to see if anything changes for the better by going a week without it.
I am looking forward to Spring bringing not only the warmer temperatures but the natural craving to return to fresh clean food so this will help jump start that behavior. Spring and Summer always seem to hold the image of fresh vegetables and grilled fish and chicken compared to the beef, pork and starchy carbs of Fall and Winter. Hoping to shed maybe another ten pounds ala shedding my 'winter coat'.
And I'll begin by 'coming clean' about something right now. This latest winter blizzard blast of cold frozen miserable weather thing... it's my fault. Yep. While I knew better than to tithe at the Lowes Nursery for fresh spring flowers just yet, as we always get at least one more freeze before Easter, I unmindfully bought sandals online Saturday evening. So yeah, that sleet that arrived and is now making us all miserable in addition to screwing up UPS deliveries every where... I'm sorry.
Here's something Not Necessarily About Food At All but I find ironic and want to share as well. The irony of 'rules' and the BS that accompanies it. I've often quoted so much of the red tape we find ourselves bound within is nothing more than legalized mafia type protection and this whole 'service dog tag' seems to be the latest of that realization.
Think about it. You have to 'pay' to have your phone number unlisted in the phone book yet every auto dialer in the world can get to you anyway despite being on the no call list. Yet you have to pay to be listed in the yellow pages so they get you coming and going. You have to pay to have voicemail to catch the calls you don't want to answer although you're paying to have a phone for people to reach you. I'm speaking of landlines of course. If you don't know what that is, look it up, ha ha. I could go on about some of these ironies but I think you get the gist of my theories. Back to the service tag topic.
Of course, no soap box from me is ever mounted without the hopefully politically correct disclaimer so here it is: yes, I know true service dogs serve very useful purposes and bless the ADA for making it possible for them to be in the lives of those who need them from predicting seizures to assisting in Law Enforcement.
But the rest - seems like a scam that others, including yours truly, have managed to use to our advantage. Yet it can be the longest running debate since 'tastes great vs less filling' if we choose to make it if I had to put up my reasons for bringing Mushy with me versus the outrageous behavior of some children (then again, many adults) I see in public.
After paying nearly $300 to get Mushy dual certified as an emotional support AND service dog as she does remind me to take medications (she has this built in timer that reminds me of many things I need to do daily) I discovered by accident I could have bought the very same thing on an auction website for about $25. And when you get right down to it... all I have had to do is flash the 'badge' when asked and that's the end of it. No one DARES to question it (so far) or contact any specific agency to verify if it's valid. The ADA has also, thank you, made it illegal for the asker to demand the dog prove it's 'service' ... and that's only if the asker has the nerve to question it.
For example, Friday as we entered the Hyatt for the trade show an employee of the convention center stopped me at the door, "I'm sorry, Ma'am, but you cannot bring a dog into the convention center." I just showed her the badge hanging from a lanyard around my neck and she smiled and said, 'Thank you.. that's all we needed to see...' and dropped to her knees and began fawning all over Miss Mushy with 'I LOVE these Dogs!'.
I found that $25 one at a website by accident... too much money too late.. but after that it dawned on me had I just photo shopped one myself I could have probably achieved the same thing.
Point? Actually, this does somewhat related back to All Things Food if you think about it (and if you do... it means you have a mind like mine and I'm so very sorry because I think it's what causes these very painful tender spots on my scalp.)
I think of All Things Food - this is absolutely the best website I've ever found for healthy living choices, good friends, and great encouragement. And it's FREE. No triple digit memberships to gyms, weight loss clubs, CD's or DVD's or prepackaged food or pills or any other magic potions.
Just good people who immediately welcomed me upon arrival and make me feel happy to be here every time I visit. That alone has lifted more weight off my shoulders than any diet pill ever could.
Maybe we should all wear a badge? I can make you one for about ... $300, LOL.*
Have a terrific Tuesday.
Bells
*Second disclaimer - that was a joke. In no way do I wish to profit from this website. Just kidding. Don't sue me. I can't afford it. I have to pay for dog tags.
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