Monica Kochelee

My sister sent me a link for a newspaper that she used to read in California. 

On the comics page are all the links to the day’s comics, which is cool if you don’t get a newspaper and want to read your favorite comic strips. But the best part is just below the comics where it says “Super Quiz.” They don’t update these links exactly right, but the bottom link is the oldest of 3 day’s worth of quizzes. The remaining 4 links are mixed up with 2 day’s worth of quizzes. ((It was meant to be a link for Mon - Tues - Wed - Thur - Fri, but they don’t keep it up like that. But out of the 5 links there are always 3 day’s worth of quizzes.)

The quizzes are very interesting on a variety of subjects, and sometimes even when you think you don’t know the answer, by having to talk out loud your reasoning and possible choices, sometimes you will surprise yourself and really know the answers. It is better to do the quiz with at least one other person - makes it more fun and it is nice to get the recognition when you come up with the right answer.

http://www.mercurynews.com/comics

One of the secrets to a successful diet and exercise program is to have a buddy doing it with you. So to support DH in his quest to lose 12 pounds by the first of summer . . . well, around here the first of summer is actually Memorial Day . . .I’ve invited him to join me in my walking each morning for 30 minutes. 

It’s really cold this time of year, but we are somewhat used to it and we have lots of great cold weather gear. The cold air just makes me want to walk faster, and that’s good for the exercise value.

So we headed out this morning just as the sun was coming up. It was very invigorating to be outside just before dawn and see the beautiful sunrise over our new home in the hills.  And it was nice to have company for a change!

Last week I happened to drive by the CompUSA store and saw a sign on the door about going out of business. Oh my goodness - what a shocker! That is the only place that I would go to get computer and printer equipment - I’m going to miss that store.

They have signs up saying that everything is clearance priced, so I went by there to see if there might be some bargains. Didn’t really see anything I wanted to get at a cheap enough price to buy it now. I could use an extra keyboard, but the only ones they had were $50, and I know I can get a better price at the Big W. The printers they were trying to sell were all too expensive, too. They didn’t have anything under $400. So, I didn’t spend any money in there and maybe that’s one reason they couldn’t stay in business - prices too high on stuff no one wants.

Just checking in and letting everyone know that I have been keeping my resolution and walking every day. The weather has just now started getting yuckky. We have cold days and then warm days and then cold and rainey days and then warm days. This yo-yo weather is when everyone seems to get sick, so I am even more determined to take vitamins and make sure I exercise every day.

I did not get the flu shot last year and did OK - never got sick. So I decided to skip the flu shot again this year. To be honest, I’m not convinced the flu shot is totally good for you. Part of me has a deep suspicion that it is a lot of hype so the drug companies can make more money off a lot of us sucker consumers. I will never trust the drug companies again - they are all about the money they can make - not about helping people.

Well, I’ve tried walking each morning all week, and I just don’t like being out there by myself.

 I thought I was going to be able to take my dog with me for the company, but there are so many other dogs in this neighborhood and some of my neighbors are unfortunately a little lax about keeping their pets contained or on a leash. We’ve had two very upsetting incidents with other dogs aggressively approaching my dog and that takes all the fun out of walking the neighborhood with him.