Welcome my friends. I’m tweaking my weekly journey with my healthier living. It’s a step in the right direction for sure. I hope you come along for the ride. Instead of day-to-day comments, I’m going to post something from my personal journal to share. Hope you enjoy. Remember all of us go down this path and we are all in it together ❤
Week of 02/25-03/03/2018 – Week 8
“Dear Journal – We’ve had stumbling blocks lately. I admit that I got a little frustrated… okay maybe a lot frustrated. Before my surgery, I was in a great mind spot in working out and exercising. Being down for three months without being able to do much, I lost my mojo. Then work has been so loving in sharing multiple colds/viruses the past month. I get over one thing and then BOOM I get the next cold. My immune system is so challenged that someone with a cold can just look at me with a stink eye and I get sick. It sucks but the challenge is real. So Monday, I start again for the gazillionth time. It’s not how many times you start… it’s that one time that you finish. So back to baby steps and one day and one meal at a time”
Here for another important message for the day. Today, January 24th, is commemorated as National Compliment Day every year. It is a very special day and celebrated in most parts of the world apart from the USA. This day represents a positive theme – a positive tone in a positive atmosphere – everywhere you are whether it be at home, the grocery market, work or that place the humans feel to punish themselves by what they call “working out”.
Compliments – compliments – compliments – that is what we most do today. Have you ever noticed how someone just brightens up at a compliment, even a complete stranger? Do you notice how much harder you work when you get a compliment? So today, we shall compliment our little hearts out.
So here are some suggestions that can help you today on your National Compliment Day.
Give your co-worker an honest to goodness compliment on something at work. It doesn’t matter how small or big, express your thoughts in a generous compliment. Hey go for the gold here and even try to compliment that boss. Let them wonder what you’re up to..ha!
Compliment that person who is losing weight.
Compliment that human that is consistently working out in their hamster ball.
Compliment that human that really has touched you in some point of your life in a good way.
Compliment your spouse. Sometimes you humans don’t express your feelings enough to each other. Maybe if you compliment them, they’ll give you more nuts for the winter.
By all means, compliment your pets. They’re always there for you no matter what, even when you come home upset. They just want to love on you.
Compliment the guy that cuts you off in traffic this morning. Maybe he won’t hear you but you can smile and wave. Maybe instead of uttering fowl language under your breath, think to yourself, “Isn’t he a nice guy for getting in front of me blocking me from any danger.”
Compliment your mother and father – if it wasn’t for them, you wouldn’t be here. Heck, have your spouse compliment them too. If it wasn’t for them, your spouse wouldn’t have you.
Compliment your pups… I mean children. I’m sure they do something else besides being destructive.
Compliment your teacher. Compliment your bus driver or your chauffer.
While you’re at it – compliment nature and all of its little creatures, like me 🙂 Hey, you can even throw us some extra feed outside, we won’t say no.
You get the drift. You give out compliments and you give a positive sense of well being. You make someone feel great with just a few words. We all know that words can be so destructive. Let’s turn it around today.
I, Journalist Rocky the Squirrel, challenge you. I challenge you to give out a minimum of FIVE compliments today. I bet you can do more but FIVE is a good start. Are you going to take the challenge?
This is Journalist Rocky the Squirrel signing off. Have a fantastic day you beautiful humans!
Welcome my friends to our weekly issue of Journey with Friends. This is a time that we come together for support, for encouragement, for fellowship – all with one single goal in mind – to live better. Welcome to our journey to share our goals and our accomplishments and our disappointments and frustrations.
Together we can do this!
Sunday, May 7, 2017 – The good thing about challenging myself to a perfect month is committing to exercise every day for at least 30 minutes. Once upon a time, it sounded so foreign to me to want to do this. These days, it’s normal talk. Funny how things change like that. Miles Moved: 1.47
Monday, May 8, 2017 – The best things about Monday is the start of a new week. Normally coming off of a weekend, I am so ready to walk some stress off. But with walking on the weekends now, it’s the fact that I *need* to really walk in a workout. Your life changes so quickly it seems. Just to think I use to be a couch potato that sat at my desk all day and on the sofa at night watching television. What have I become? Miles Moved: 3.20
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 – The days are getting hotter here. Soon I’m going to have to start changing clothes before I hit the streets during my lunch break. But it does seem like I’m seeing more and more people outside now as I walk. There was more people watching me over the winter months than I knew. People are watching me and that makes me feel safe in my walks through the neighborhood and building complex. You just never know who is watching. Miles Moved: 3.06
Wednesday, May 10, 2017 – I’m extremely busy this time of the month with preparing some monthly statistics. My mind is mush. So it really does feel to get away from my desk for a short period of time and walk off some steam. Too bad my mind doesn’t shut down while I’m walking. How can I walk and still configure numbers in my mind? Giggles – nerd never shuts down. Miles Moved: 2.26
Thursday, May 11, 2017 – Okay, I think I have this new way of living down pact with exercising and moving. Next week, new food choices will be put in effect. Of course my hub will act like I’m starving him to death – LOL. Must shop this weekend for all foods and restock the house with healthy choices. Miles Moved: 2.64
Friday, May 12, 2017 – I’m exhausted today. I feel wiped out like I’m trying to come down with a summer cold. Really Mother Nature? Please don’t do this to me okay. I really don’t have the time. Miles Moved: 2.40
Saturday, May 13, 2017 – What happened to the old me and where did she go? This was a day that did not end and I’ll tell you a secret. I loved every minute of it. I never would say that with the old me. We took my mom out today for Mother’s Day and afterwards went shopping to a couple of places. Then I went home and cleaned out my closet and dresser taking some items to Goodwill. Then I swept and mopped the entire house. Did a load of laundry and folded. Cleaned out the anipal rooms. What was I thinking getting all of this done in one day? So weird having all of this energy. Miles Moved: 2.85
Thoughts for the week: Another great week behind me to full rings every days on my Apple i-Watch. Go me! When I first started this challenge, I though it would be difficult. Yet I find myself having more and more energy instead. So very weird – I’ll take it anyday! My sister said that once you get on a row, you don’t want to stop. I so see what she is talking about! Let’s go for another perfect week my friends!
Welcome my friends to our weekly issue of Journey with Friends. This is a time that we come together for support, for encouragement, for fellowship – all with one single goal in mind – to live better. Welcome to our journey to share our goals and our accomplishments and our disappointments and frustrations.
Together we can do this!
Sunday, April 30, 2017 – So much for taking it easy on Sundays as my day of rest – LOL. Me and the hub unit decided to take my mom to lunch and then shopping afterwards. Me and my mom walked so much shopping for awesome deals. You know how you are looking for one thing and then it snowballs into another thing and then another thing. Rolls eyes – that’s how it went today. But I think I got a few things for the Hotel Thompson that I have been looking for. And when we finally settled back at the Hotel Thompson, my mom told me that the Hotel Thompson finally felt “homey” after the renovation from a couple of years ago. It just takes a while to get everything just right, you know. Miles Moved: 2.61
Monday, May 1, 2017 – It’s so good to be back to work some weeks just so you can exercise more and move more. I took a really good walk during my lunch break AND when I got home later this afternoon I took another walk on the treadmill. I just felt like I had a lot of excess energy to get out of my system. It felt great moving. Miles Moved: 3.02
Tuesday, May 2, 2017 – Today marks 4 weeks since the car accident. The doctor told me it would take 6-8 weeks to recovery. I feel like I’m almost getting there. I’m still having the occasional swelling in my sternum which prevents me from bending over. But other than that, my body seems to be adjusting and getting better. Miles Moved: 3.40
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 – I was hurting a bit yesterday but today it’s like I have my second wind. I’ve been sleeping like the pits the past couple of nights. But today while walking, I kicked it up a notch and made some good timing. It feels so good to move. I just hate that this weather is getting so hot. That I can’t take – LOL. AND, I need to get my eating back to the way it was. I’ve let that go a little for the past couple of weeks but now it’s time to eat clean. I haven’t done that bad this week but I know there is always room for improvement. Miles Moved: 3.25
Thursday, May 4, 2017 – Mother Nature hates me. LOL – Really she does. I love walking the path I made for myself around my building complex at work. But today, Mother Nature said, “Nope. Not going to happen.” It has been raining likes cats and dogs. And usually I would grab my umbrella and get at it – if there is no thunder or lightening. Well there was none today so I did just that. Too bad the wind didn’t want to play. It blew my umbrella inside out! So, I went to plan B which is making the inside of my office my personal treadmill. It’s not like the good walk outside but it does in a pinch – and in air conditioning! Miles Moved: 2.50
Friday, May 5, 2017 – Mother Nature Part 2: the rain continues. Sometimes it’s so hard that I’m thinking of building a boat. But it’s okay. I continued making treads in the carpet and warehouse here at the office. I even had a co-worker walk with me for a short time. I got this! Miles Moved: 2.51
Saturday, May 6, 2017 – It’s like it never rained here at all in these parts. Got up this morning and everything was beautiful, the birds were singing and Mr. Rooster next door was doing his cackling. But at last, I got up and out and me and the hub walked the stadium down the street from us. Then we did bunches of errands moving around, lifting groceries, etc. It really felt great after being holed up the past two days. Miles Moved: 2.00
Thoughts for the week: So in texting with my sister over the weekend, she had a perfect month for April. What exactly does that mean? It means that she completed all three circles daily on her i-Watch. That’s a feat in itself. No down days. She also logged 100 miles in April. You know this means war, right? LOL – what’s a little challenge between sisters. She threw the gauntlet and I caught it firmly. That’s the way we have always been together. It’s awesome. She keeps me in line and May I will rock! Here is my first week in May – a perfect week! I so got this Tina – you better watch out for my dust!
Today’s Shopping Around the World is being hosted by our cousins Teddy and Angel Sammy from TWOspoiledcats. This month Teddy and Angel Sammy are hosting main meals that do not have meat. Now this is a tough one. Anyone that knows my daddy, knows that he is definitely a meateater. So mom got creative. She told daddy he had to come up with a meatless dinner. HA! It’s not so funny or easy when the job falls on the daddy. Good one mom! So without further ado, this is what daddy came up with for Shopping Around the World.
Dad here. I told the mom I had this one. I can do a meatless dinner. Sure I can. I have that much talent. Okay, maybe it’s not how the mommy does things on Shopping Around the World but I’m a man… give me a break this time okay. So over the weekend since we had a difficult time, I told the wifey I had dinner. That’s when we went to a restaurant called Mellow Mushroom. See, I know you are suppose to cook and post recipes but I do have a visual impairment so I get a learning curve, right? Thanks friends.
We started out by ordering a lil salad to share. It had romaine and iceberg lettuce, shredded carrots, red cabbage, onions, cucumbers, green peppers, mushrooms, Kalamata olives, Roma tomatoes and mozzarella. See that’s a great start. And I added candied pecans for crunch. Yummo! The salad cost $4.49 and there was plenty for me and the missus to share. Sorry for the picture. I forgot to snap it before I dug in.
Now came the hard part. Getting a meal without meat. This was the most difficult choice in my life in some time. I mean heck, first up my wife usually makes my food choices and she knows I like my meat. This body was made for meat! Second up, I don’t do much cooking so I kind of had to cheat and go out since I was challenged with this Shopping Around the World. I thought hard about what to order as a meatless entree. I think I nailed it.
May I introduce you to a large wheat dough Mellow Mushroom pie with an olive oil and garlic base (extra garlic please), fresh mozzarella cheese and black olives – no meats. Doesn’t that look awesome. I also sprinkled it with red pepper flakes. The pizza cost $16.96. And here’s the kicker. Me and the wife like to call this kind of meal, a meal that keeps on giving. There is enough pizza to last a couple of more nights – Deal of the Day, right?
So for a total of $25.00 (including a tip), we have a meatless dinner that lasts three nights for two peeps. So that’s what, $4.17 a person? Not bad for a dude huh? So I hope I pulled off Shopping Around the World this month.
Thanks again to cousins Teddy and Angel Sammy for hosting this month. Sending you much love from the Hotel Thompson ❤
January 24th, is commemorated as National Compliment Day every year. It is a very special day and celebrated in most parts of the world apart from the USA. This day represents a positive theme – a positive tone in a positive atmosphere – everywhere you are whether it be at home, the grocery market, work or that place the humans feel to punish themselves by what they call “working out”.
Compliments – compliments – compliments – that is what we most do today. Have you ever noticed how someone just brightens up at a compliment, even a complete stranger? Do you notice how much harder you work when you get a compliment? So today, we shall compliment our little hearts out.
So here are some suggestions that can help you today on your National Compliment Day.
Compliment that human that is consistently working out in their hamster ball.
Compliment that human that really has touched you in some point of your life in a good way.
Compliment your spouse. Sometimes you humans don’t express your feelings enough to each other. Maybe if you compliment them, they’ll give you more nuts for the winter.
By all means, compliment your pets. They’re always there for you no matter what, even when you come home upset. They just want to love on you. They know no hate.
Compliment the guy that cuts you off in traffic this morning. Maybe he won’t hear you but you can smile and wave – with your entire hand not your middle finger – HA!. Maybe instead of uttering fowl language under your breath, think to yourself, “Isn’t he a nice guy for getting in front of me blocking me from any danger.”
Compliment your mother and father – if it wasn’t for them, you wouldn’t be here. Heck, have your spouse compliment them too. If it wasn’t for them, your spouse wouldn’t have you.
Compliment your pups… I mean children. I’m sure they do something else besides being destructive.
Compliment your teacher. Compliment your bus driver or your chauffeur.
While you’re at it – compliment nature and all of its little creatures, like me 🙂 Hey, you can even throw us some extra feed outside, we won’t say no.
You get the drift. You give out compliments and you give a positive sense of well being. You make someone feel great with just a few words. We all know that words can be so destructive. Let’s turn it around today.
I, Journalist Rocky the Squirrel, challenge you. I challenge you to give out a minimum of FIVE compliments today. I bet you can do more but FIVE is a good start. Are you going to take the challenge?
Welcome friends to my and Easy’s first Halloween Challenge of Before and After. The challenge on this spooky Halloween is to post a picture of you before your day starts and after your day starts. This was a fun challenge to show how much fun we can be.
Daddy thought he would go first. So I took his picture of before he was presented for the day and after…. what? Yep, dad looks the same. Goofy man that he is what can I say?
Then mom did a series of pictures. First straight from the bed with her hair pulled back… then with make-up and hair curled and then the final masterpiece. Mom says show it with pride my friends!
Hey sweet friends. It’s almost Halloween – can you believe that?! This week, me, mom and dad went shopping for my outfit. I think we found one. But nope, I can’t tell you what it is just yet. This was us that in the Jeep rolling to the store so I could pick just the right costume. It has to be cool – not scary though. Something easy for me to put on and take off… you know if I have to go potty. But yet something that is current and cute… like me. We shopping for a while and I think we have one picked out.
Now, I also want to talk about Bacon’s Halloween party on “Before and After”. Come on friends – you got this. The challenge is to post a before picture in the morning and an after picture in the day. It’s Halloween. So decorate yourself, put on a costume, put on a disguise. It’s going to be awesome for sure. Bacon is trying to get mom’s before picture before she gets out of bed… you know so you can see her horns – barks with puppy laughter. And there are LOTS of filters and photo shop programs out there friends. Work it and make it yours. Be sure to join us on Halloween for Bacon’s Before and After. Have fun with it because that’s what this blog is all about – having fun.
Here is YOUR chance my friends to participate in my 31 Days of Spook.
Me and my brother Easy from across the pond are co-hosting a fabulous project called “Before and After”. Sounds lame huh? Not so much though. This will be one of the scariest projects ever produced in blogville. Here’s the challenge – if you are brave enough to accept. We are asking YOU our friends to post pictures of the before YOU in the morning before you face the world and then a picture of YOU after you are ready to face the world. Shivers. Some of these pictures will be scary I know. Some will make you scream. Possibly some will make you call out for your mommy and hide under your bed. Of course, we will try to put on a brave front and try not to wet ourselves and run away in terror.
So my friends, will YOU accept the challenge? Are you brave enough to show the world your before and after pictures for the day? Are you like Linda Blair from the Exorcist before make-up? Or are you like a meek lamb before getting ready for your day?
Our Before and After challenge will be hosting on (of course) October 31, 2016. Link back to mine and Easy’s blog upon posting your scary before and after pictures. We do hope you are up for our Party.
P.S. If you don’t have the nerve to show before and after pictures, you can always show yourself in ‘disguise’ – we leave it up to you my friends. Mark your calendars to attend! ❤
UPDATE: Friends Halloween is all about dressing up. It’s OK if you don’t want to show the real YOU in your before picture. So make up yourself in a decorated BEFORE picture. You can do this. You’ve got creativity!
Last week on 07/29/2016, it was National Wing Day. Now this day is kind of fun for my humans. You see a local restaurant near us puts on a challenge for how many wings can you eat. Last year, my dad ate 37. He thought that was awesome but there were some peeps that did so much better. So knowing my dad, the challenge was on this year for 2016!
He prepped, he exercised, he didn’t eat a thing hardly all day Friday until Challenge Time. It was almost like watching Joey Chestnut prep for the Hot Dog eating contest on Coney Island every year for the Fourth of July. I pushed him on – even at times encouraging him to exercise just a little bit more. You know to show him his full potential in this challenge.
Then as the time got closer and mom was headed home from work, dad went through the, “Oh no, what have I got myself into” syndrome. It’s typical I’m sure. But never fear friends. I talked him down and tried to take his mind off of the situation by chasing him up and down the hall. I looked at it as trying to build up his appetite. Yeah that was it.
So they arrived at Hooters and daddy was ready to throw down. His first 10 were regular breaded wings medium and they came with french fries. But daddy is no fool. He let mommy eat the french fries. I mean they are just potatoes to weigh heavy on your tummy, right? The second 10 were breaded lemon pepper wings. He was going strong and mommy was snapping pictures and doing a play by play on Facebook. The next 10 were back to regular breaded wings again.
♥
But then daddy hit the proverbial tummy wall. Could he do it… would he do it? YES – 10 more were delivered to the table in a breaded Cajun seasoning (mom didn’t get a picture of those for some reason). Dad found his second stomach and gobbled them down. That was 40 WINGS, beating the last count of 37.
But wait a minute – hold everything. Mommy had some left on her plate and he ate two of hers.
♥ The bottom score – 42 WINGS ♥
Way to go daddy! And friends you can start practicing now. There is what 359 more days until the next National Wing Day!
Miniature pot bellied pig and friends - Bacon, Houdini, Hemi and all of the Rock Clan with Journalist Rocky the Squirrel all out looking for adventures from the Hotel Thompson.
Me and my brother 
Piglove 