Alexander the Great by Apiro

Here is a picture of Alexander moments after being born.

And here is a video of him from the late summer-ish, running with his mom Frangelica.

Aren’t they beautiful!

For more videos of horses from Crooked Creek and Woodhaven Farms, see here…

 

Sunday’s ritual a day early…

Sunday mornings I tend to take the time to reflect on my week, see where I am at, and where I might improve. I am doing this today, since tomorrow I am off at the dentist and because I think I need to.

This year began quietly. I made my list of resolutions, of my goals, and of my hopes. With this I set up a new To Do List in my new iPod app Todo from Appigo, and organized my emails.

Most of my academic goals are the same, since these are made in late July/early August (i.e., programme review time). Most of my resolutions are focused on productivity and dedication, and not an end thing. My hopes, well they are many.

The first few days things were great. Most things were getting accomplished and I was on top of things. My resolutions were being met, but I was starting to fall behind on some of my goals. Did I take on too much? Perhaps. Did I give priority to the wrong things at the wrong time? Perhaps. As for my goals – let’s not even go there.

Why? I am not entirely sure. … But I’ll let you know what I come up with.

 

Because it was so very late when we returned from Winnipeg on the 30th we simply went to bed and decided to deal with unpacking in the morning. We were up early, unpacked, began to do laundry, then went grocery shopping and picked up the kidz (Beauty and Turbo). We spent the remainder of the 31st puttering around the house, thinking about what the New Year would, should, and could hold. We ordered in some very good Chinese food, had some wine, and watched a movie.

New Years morning was the start of my new diet. This diet is not to lose weight but trying to see if changes to the foods I eat will allow my liver levels to drop in addition to just eating healthier. The diet consists of little to no meat, reducing my bad fat intake, no processed foods, and cutting back on sugars and white flour. So most of the day consisted of making bread, preparing chickpeas and lentils, and finding new recipes to try. (On a side note, the process of grocery shopping was difficult and – dare I say – traumatic. I found it hard to walk through the grocery store and see all the things I could no longer have and so little of things that I could. I also found the sorting of the pantry challenging. I realized some time later that this diet is not about what I cannot eat but how badly I have eaten.)

In the evening, I decided to tackle my office. It, all to often, is a dumping ground for general household things, but became even worse while I was away. Cory helped and we got through the bulk of it. We still need to come up with a place for the household things…but at least it is coming.

Today, I’ll continue to putter by finding my way through the piles of clean laundry, figuring out some recipes, and cooking. Most importantly, I’ll do yoga, play guitar, and do some academic work (including the daunting task of getting through the many listerv emails and blog posts that I have not read, as well as filtering through the CFPs).

 

Grandma and I

Yesterday my mom and I went to visit Grandma (her mom). It was really great to see her. To my surprise she wasn’t doing to badly. She was reading a magazine with us and talking a little bit. She didn’t know who we were, but that’s okay. The best part is that she seemed to enjoy our visit together.

 

Happy Holidays!

 

Bauer resigns & Kelly relieved of duties

The very same day that Lyle Bauer resigns as the President and the CEO of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Coach Mike Kelly is “relieved of his duties.” This comes as news of his arrest for an alleged domestic violence incident in Bridgeport, PA. The Blue Bomber Board however is arguing that this is not based on Kelly’s recent arrest but on the Bombers performance last year. If this is actually the case, than why the emergency meeting. Couldn’t they have “relieved” him tomorrow? Or why didn’t they do this yesterday?

In any case, this puts the Bombers in an interesting position of being without a President/CEO and a head Coach. I am looking forward to what may happen…But no matter what…I say…

GO BLUE!

 

Hypothyroidism revisited

In August of 2008 my thyroid levels were off (see a previous post here). My doctor repeated some tests and determined I was within the normal range again and that I did not have hypothyroidism per se. I went for a check-up and my levels were still within the range. Then this past summer I had my annual physical and got a pretty good scare concerning my liver. Things turned out to be alright-ish. That is to say all of my levels were in the normal range but still high.

Now I am home again for the holidays and went to my doctor for a check-up and to have some labs done. I also asked for him to review the numbers of my thyroid and my liver with me. I also spoke to him about some of what I had been feeling the last six months or so. Granted much of this could do with family illnesses, but I wanted to talk to him about it. He let me know that some of what I am experiencing, if my thyroid was still elevated yet in the proper range might still be a symptom of hypothyroidism.

My doctor called today. My levels are still high but normal. I am 5.9 and normal is 0 to 6. He suggested that we try Levothyroxine and watch my levels very closely. In addition to this, my liver levels are still elevated. He isn’t overly worried, though he recommended that I begin to moderate my diet away from many of the things that can harm one’s liver (i.e., no more alcohol, sugars, and white flour, etc.). I am going to do some more searching and speak to a friend who is a dietician.

more to follow…