We have a New TV

I was not planning on getting a new TV until ours in the bedroom broke. But the DVD player in it did break and so after a week or two we decided to get a LCD TV with HD. It's 32 inches and we have to put it on curio doll stand because it is too big for the ceiling shelf.

We had trouble hooking it up and had to call and get help through Costco's customer support. It was saying there was no signal but our Comcast box was working fine. We had to use a whole different type of cable to get it to work and luckily we already had one. Now it plays beautifully. We are going to get an HD cable box today to get the full benefit of TV.

Dieting: It's Like a Roller Coaster

I have started my NutraSystems diet and I have lost some weight. I weigh myself each morning and it seems like I am on a roller coaster. One morning I was down almost 10 pounds and the next morning I will only be down 8 pounds. I am on a flexable diet where I can eat regular food (not really rich food) twice a week and that seems to throw me off a couple of pounds. So I guess I will not be able to be on the flexable diet. All I know is, I need to have some joy in eating out and so I am not sure how much I can lose. Eating is one pleasure in life that makes life better. This NutraSystems food is so so. I will admit it makes menu planning easy. I am just not too sure if I can keep to it when my weight keeps going up and down like a roller coaster and this is when I am following the diet like I should. That gets me discourgaged really fast. I am supposed to drink a of water but I can't seem to drink all that much. And then I have to pee a lot so it is discouraging.

But like I said, I have lost some weight; it's just like it gets stuck of going up and down and that's what is discouraging. I guess I just need to give it a little more time.

Our Las Vegas Freemont Experience

We enjoyed a three day trip to Las Vegas this past week. We went to attend Jennfer and Robert's renewal ceremony. We stayed three days at the Golden Nugget Hotel on Freemont Street. Freemont Street used to be a regular street but now it is a tourist attraction that has a light show every hour on the hour. The hotel was very nice with a big screen TV and a swimming pool that was designed along a shark pool so that it looked like you are swimming with the sharks. It also had a tube slide that leads right to the pool. The pool is kept quite warm but was not warm enough for me because the weather was only in the 50's. I did get into the hot tub though or should I say I fell into the hot tub. I misjudged the distance to step in and landed with my whole body underwater and made a fool of myself. Oh well, it would not be a vacation if I didn't fall. I have fallen on most every vacation I have gone on.

We dined at restaurants in the hotel and had a brunch at the buffet with the family that visited to see Jennfer and Robert renew their vows.

The Freemont Experience is wonderful with a light show that cannot be appreciated unless you experience it in person. We had a great time and it was hard to come home. Even though it was not warm in Vegas, it was a heat wave compared to here. And we resisted the urge to gamble. Matt and Kelly and Kipp and Tina and kid also attended as well as Robert and Jennifer's friends from Seattle.

Also, happy birthday to Jennifer: February 13, 40
Jaden Carrillo: February 14, 2
Andy Riehle: February 17, 24

Elvis is Still Alive in Vegas

We spent last weekend in Las Vegas. Jennifer and Rob decided they wanted to renew their wedding vows and what better way to renew them than to have an Elvis wedding. They didn't get a wedding for their marriage because they were in Taiwan. We had a wonderful time there. Jennifer dressed retro in a 60's style coat and dress and was going for the Jackie O look. The ceremony was cheesy and fun. They had it in Cupid's Chapel in Las Vegas.

We also enjoyed an after ceremony snacks at her spa condo at the Golden Nugget. She had a steam shower, mirror on the ceiling, a jacuzzi and a bidet (however you spell it) The family and friends also met for a brunch before the ceremony at the Golden Nugget.

Bella

We have a new little dog. She is a Shi tzu. Her name is Bella. She is a very good little dog. She rides well in the car and goes potty outside and she sleeps all night long. She wants to play with the cats but they are old and grumpy and won't play with her. She is a little over a year old. We got her because her former owners didn't have enough time to spend with her. We had to get her clipped all the way down because she was so matted. We are crazy I know to get another pet. But she will be a lot of fun to take camping in the summer.

The High Cost of Being Thin

Me in the 1970's
Boy how I wish I had a waistline now!

Well I have started my diet for real. Let me tell you that in addition to the cost of the NutraSystems food, I have spent just that much in buying healthy foods from the grocery store. I had to buy fat free dressings and vegetables and low-fat cheeses and fruits etc. I cannot believe how much it all costs!! No wonder people in this country are overweight: junk food is so much cheaper. Also, I have been trying to use the exercise bike each day. I did 20 minutes today.

But I am learning what kinds of foods I must eat and so I probably won't need to keep buying the NutraSystems food after a couple of months. I will just eat the same types of foods that I have learned to eat with NutraSystems. The Alli Pills will help too because they will help me not eat too much fatty foods. I started the Alli and so far no gas or indigestion which means that I haven't eaten any fat at all.

But when I go to Vegas or on a cruise, especially the cruise, I know I won't be able to keep on my diet then and will have to make some of it up.

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Sunday we enjoyed a wonderful turkey dinner with Charlie and Tammy. It had been Savannah's birthday two days before. I wanted to get some good photos of her but I think my digital camera has a problem. Most of the photos are grainy or too bright. I set it back to all the defaults but the problem still exists. I am not doing anything different so I don't think it's a user problem. It seems to have a lot to do with the lighting or something but it's set to default so I am not sure what to change since it worked perfectly for a whole year.

Anyway, Savannah is so cute and was so glad to see us. She even wanted to go stay overnight with or me stay overnight with them.

Of course, Randy enjoyed their dog, Bear.