Posted by Karen Zappavigna Hoogland | 0 Comments
It’s All in the Planning
In April 2011, I made myself a promise to exercise at least 4 days a week. For the past 4 months, I have made a point of exercising nearly every day. Since February, I have also tracked my food using MyFitnessPal.com. This tool has helped me lose 15 pounds, since February 26, 2012, by tracking and planning my exercise and my meals. Every week, I set a new goal for myself by changing one thing. Just one thing. Sometimes it is a change in my diet. One week, I stopped drinking soda. Another week, I added a serving of vegetables or fruit to my daily diet. Other times it is a change in my activity, such as adding in a Pilates or Zumba workout. While MyFitnessPal helps me plan out my meals, my recent acquisition of a Fitbit Ultra Tracker shows me that I need to plan a way to increase my activity levels even more. The Fitbit is a pedometer that tracks your activities in real time. The device is compact and light-weight. It can even be programmed to greet you by name. The Fitbit easily clips on to your clothing or it can be inserted into a plastic holster, which can be clipped on to your clothing. The set also comes with a soft black band that can be wrapped around your wrist; you insert the Fitbit into a slot on the band. The companion website, Fitbit.com, gives the user all sorts of detailed information on daily activities: steps walked, flights of stairs climbed, calories burned and even information on how you sleep at night. You can also log your food items into the website. My Fitbit arrived last week and I have been faithfully wearing it for the past few days. While I do work out every day, for at least 45 minutes, I was shocked to learn how sedentary I am for a large part of my day. I was so sure that my high level workouts were the equivalent of getting 10,000 steps each day. The Fitbit website provides a nice chart, showing your personal levels of activity hour by hour. This snazzy chart showed me that even with my daily workouts, I am not getting the recommended 10,000 steps a day! Since wearing the Fitbit, the most steps...
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Using Our Gifts
The particular manifestation of the Spirit granted to each one is to be used for the general good. To one is given from the Spirit the gift of utterance expressing wisdom; to another the gift of utterance expressing knowledge, in accordance with the same Spirit; to another, faith, from the same Spirit; and to another, the gifts of healing, through this one Spirit; to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, the power of distinguishing spirits; to one, the gift of different tongues and to another, the interpretation of tongues. But at work in all these is one and the same Spirit, distributing them at will to each individual. ~1Corinthians 12:7-11 – Today, our church observed Pentecost Sunday. This is the time when Jesus sent his Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to the disciples. It brought back memories of when I was confirmed. As a young girl, I can recall Sister Agnes telling me that we are all blessed with gifts from God and guided by the Holy Spirit in our use of those gifts. She asked, “What are your gifts and how are you using them to make the world a better place.” Sister’s question is still valid today. Everyone has his or her own special gifts or talents. Some spin these into a hobby while others make them a foundation for a career. Today, I had the privilege of reading these verses to our congregation. As I always do, I reviewed today’s readings last night. These are some of my favorite verses because they remind me to keep using my gifts from the Holy Spirit to make my corner of the world, along with those lives that I happen to touch, a bit of a better place. They remind me that one person can make a difference in the life of someone else. How are you using your gifts?...
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Another Thing Obamacare Does Not Fix
Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine. ~Lord Byron Yet another thing Obamacare did NOT fix: I went to pick up meds today and was told my order was “conveniently converted” to a generic format. When I asked where it was made, I was told “it’s made by Teva USA so it must be made in the USA.” I guess I must have really rolled my eyes, rather than thinking about it, because the girl at...
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It All Started With a Dance…
Love is like an earthquake: unpredictable, a little scary, but when the hard part is over you realize how lucky your are. ~Anonymous Today marks what would have been my parents 54th Wedding Anniversary. Four years ago, my folks renewed their vows at the 4:00pm Saturday Mass on their actual anniversary, May 10, 2008. For years, my parents were regulars at the 4:00pm Mass; it was wonderful to share their special renewal with the church community of...
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When Momma’s Happy, Everyone is Happy...
A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving Snug and cozy in my mother’s arm, adorned in...
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Bliss
This was written for a poetry class I took about 10 years ago. We had to write a “found poem.” This meant we had to find a block of text, then edit out half the words and add back in no more than 5 words. I took verses from the Song of Solomon, from the Old Testament. My mother had recalled that when she was a girl in Catholic school, they were not allowed to read this book in...
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What’s In a Name?
For a project in my writing class, I had to go through my wallet, purse or junk drawer and find something to write about. I pulled out an old prayer card with St. Elizabeth Seton on it. She has always been someone I have admired. Like my siblings, my given name is short. Five letters. Simple. Karen. The last name? Not so simple and prone to many mispronunciations. Zappavigna. Try spelling that in kindergarten! Dad was all Italian....
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The One That Almost Got Away
For a recent writing project, I had to find a newspaper article and then use it as inspiration to create a fictional story. We had to write about 500 or so words, and then share just the first 300 with the rest of the class. Below is my first 300 or so words. I may just continue this story. She looked in the mirror and found the face of a 92-year-old woman peering back. “Who is that?” Elaine...
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Remember the Born Alive Infant Protection Act?...
“President George W. Bush signed the federal version of the Born Alive Infant Protection Act in 2002. The federal bill passed the U.S. House in an overwhelming 380-15 vote, with a majority of outspokenly pro-abortion representatives supporting the legislation. Even after NARAL withdrew its opposition to the federal version of the bill, Obama had continued to oppose the state version.” The Born Alive Infant Protection Act was passed on the Federal level in 2002. This act provides protection...
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They Called It A Near Miss
I am taking a creative writing course. One of the assignments was to write a short piece using dialogue. This is not necessarily my favorite kind of writing, but since I am taking the course to stretch out of my comfort zone, I decided to give it a whirl. They called it a near miss, but Jethro called it something a bit different. The alarm buzzed, the off button smacked. Jethro’s feet hit the floor. He could hear...
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Life’s a Dance
“Life’s a dance you learn as you go Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow Don’t worry about what you don’t know Life’s a dance you learn as you go” ~John Michael Montgomery Some fifteen or so years ago, my husband and I regularly took ballroom dance lessons. At the time, our sons were young and we really needed some time together away from the house and kids. Our neighbor’s daughter would graciously babysit the boys while we went...
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Silence Equals Acceptance
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Martin Luther King I came across this quote the other day when I was doing some research on how recent mandates by the Obama administration violate the First Amendment. This quote reminded of when my dad used to say, “If you see something going on and stand by silently, you are accepting it.” So very true! Over the past week or so, I have...
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Let’s Just Trample the First Amendment...
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. ~First Amendment On January 20, 2011, the Obama Administration announced it will force all insurance plans to provide coverage for abortifacients, contraceptives, sterilization, and abortions, including those plans provided by religious organizations vehemently...
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Obama: Government, Privacy and Dreams...
“As we mark the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we must remember that this Supreme Court decision not only protects a woman’s health and reproductive freedom, but also affirms a broader principle: that government should not intrude on private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose and this fundamental constitutional right. While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue—no matter what our views, we must stay united in our determination to...
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Pro-life – The Only Choice
On this day, in 1973, abortion was made legal in the United States. Since that time millions of unborn babies have been killed. While some may call this “choice,” I call this tragedy. Today, in remembrance of this anniversary, I am sharing the words of others, words of life. To me, life is the only choice. “He who denies that human life begins with conception does not need to contend with religion, but science. To deny this certainty...
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What Do They Mean By “Choice”?...
“If we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people to not kill each other? Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want.” ~Mother Teresa January 22, 2012, marks the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the legislation that legalized abortion. On that day, pro-abortion groups are sponsoring a “Blog for Choice Day.” I am joining other...
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That First Kiss Revisited
I originally wrote a version of the following piece in my journal following the delivery of my oldest son. Today, I celebrate the 23rd anniversary of his birth. I reflect on what I wrote all those years ago and realize that many of my concerns were very real and worked themselves out in their own way and in their own time. I look at my oldest son, along with his two brothers, and I feel confident in writing that...
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Fun With Comcast
Calling Comcast about a bill increase is always fun. For me, it goes something like this: Me: Hi, Will, yes, I love Comcast! However, my 6 month promotion just ended and my bill went from $110.67 to $131.85 per month. What can you do to make my plan more economical? Will: Sorry, Mrs. Hoogland, the only thing I can advise is to drop your TV service or your Internet service to the next lower level. We do not...
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Ladies Home Journal: Dispelling Myths About IUDs?...
But because we live in an age of science, we have a preoccupation with corroborating our myths. ~Michael Shermer In the November 2011 issue of Ladies Home Journal, tucked a few pages after recipes for Sticky Buns, smart phone apps to give you dietary willpower and information on diabetes, there is an article called, “The Best Birth Control You’re Not Using.” The article is about IUDs (intrauterine devices). It is on page 146 for those who get the...
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Fall is in the Air
By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer. ~Helen Hunt Jackson The season of autumn officially began this morning. Fall is my favorite time of the year. The oppressive heat of summer has passed. The nights are cooler. Some days are rainy; others are brilliantly sunny. The combination of these has always given me a sense of renewal, along with the urge to jump in the...
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And Boys Will Be Men
You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was. Abraham Lincoln This year has been one full of big changes in our household and family. This weekend I was looking through some old photographs and found many that were scout related. All of our boys joined Boy Scouts of America when they were in first grade. Our oldest is an Eagle Scout; the middle one reached the rank of Star; and the...
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And Another Year Passes
Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes. ~Gloria Naylor Today marks the third anniversary of the death of my dad, Remo. Three years without him here. How did that happen? During that last year of his life, I attempted to picture what my life would be like without my father being there to talk to, to laugh with, to hug. The reality does not match the vision. At times, the reality is much more empty...
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Concealed and Carry Laws
The Wisconsin House and Senate both passed a bill to allow law abiding citizens carry concealed handguns. This makes Illinois the only state that does not. In a recent article in the Daily Caller, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn was quoted as saying, ““About two-thirds of the people of Illinois are strongly opposed to that proposed idea and public safety comes first. We should listen to the everyday people of our state when it comes to their safety that...
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Take the Time
If a dog jumps into your lap it is because he is fond of you; but if a cat does the same thing it is because your lap is warmer. – A. N. Whitehead We have a saying in our house that Jethro, our first cat, goes from person to person to “steal their warmth.” At times, I find this annoying, particularly if I am trying type on the computer. Other times, I find it endearing, such as...
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Senior Tax Freeze Renewal Must Be Completed Every Year...
You have to love how our government officials keep making laws that basically screw the regular guy. A recent change affects the senior citizen property owners here in Cook County (or perhaps I should call it “Crook County?’). Since 2007, seniors who filed for the Senior Freeze Exemption for their property taxes automatically had that exemption renewed yearly. Starting with 2010 taxes, which are payable in year 2011, seniors will have to submit an application every year in...
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Ask Them What They Mean By ‘Choice’ Blog Day is January 21!...
“The undeniable fact is that those who defend the destruction of innocent human life in the form of abortion and euthanasia cannot confront the moral issues, nor can they confront the history that proves beyond a doubt the similarity between their reasoning and that of the most heinous murderers of history.” ~ Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro-Carámbula, HLI Interim President, Human Life International e-Column, September 24, 2010 Tomorrow, January 22, 2011, marks the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the...
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Christmas Eve 2010
“I heard the bells on Christmas Day; their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the word repeat of peace on earth, good-will to men!” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Our Christmas Eve was truly a blessing. David and I were able to attend the late Mass with our sons, niece and my mom. We were fortunate to have a fellow parishioner snap this lovely photo of all of...
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Remembering Uncle John
“Trust in God’s timing. It’s always right.” (This essay was originally written on Monday, December 20, 2010.) I am trying to keep this saying close to heart today. This morning, my dear Uncle John was called home to heaven at 9:45am. To some who saw him, but did not know him, he probably looked like just another elderly man, toting around his portable oxygen for the past couple of years. To me, he was always the man who...