No Healthcare For You!!

Let me start by saying I try to stay away from talking about religion and politics because I find that many people argue about those topics.  Unfortunately many times it is because we don’t take the time to get educated in all the knowledge surrounding the topics, and/or we are naïve and do not want to believe in the truth around us, and/or we are not able to practice empathic listening and our way is the right way! 

No matter what the reason, health care IS something that is on the minds of many Americans this year with Obamacare being scrutinized.  Some like it, some hate and others just don’t care.  Well it’s time to start caring ‘cause it WILL affect you at some point for the good or bad.

Please correct me if I am wrong…

It was promised that everyone would be able to get and afford healthcare

No pre-existing conditions

You CAN keep your current provider, policy and Doctors

More coverage for Children

Expanded Medicaid

Implement health intervention programs

Etc.

You can find these promises at http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/subjects/health-care/

With that said, the problems overall seem to be that people are NOT able to keep their providers and policies and doctors (this is not really fair), those that couldn’t afford it still cant afford it AND they are now being taxed if they can’t, AND those that didn’t want it have to get it or incur a penalty. The list goes on. The problem that will happen is that small businesses and other entities will 1) not want to pay healthcare and get fined 2) cut employee hours or laid off workers to compensate for the fees or healthcare and therefore other employees take on more responsibility 3) Close their doors causing more unemployment, thus more economic issues and then low interest rates and a never-ending recession.

Here is an article showing how the grandfather clause should have been disclosed differently… http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/obamas-health-care-promise/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

On the plus side, more people have options for healthcare that didn’t previously due to pre-existing conditions AND there are credits for individual and businesses to help them in affording healthcare. Whether or not those credits are good or not are to be seen. I tried to check for my parents to get this credit and was excited about it, until I read the fine print of all the underlying penalties that come with getting this credit break. But, Obama is thanked for helping severe cases of those that were denied in the past, especially with severe medical issues.

The question is whether or not this was an intentional or unintentional lie…it remains to be seen. Read more about it here http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/obama-health-care-promise-named-lie-year-v21880402

I know that for me I am still with my provider, but not sure how long that will last. If you don’t have healthcare you will now have to pay higher premiums or get taxed to stay off of healthcare. If you do have healthcare you might eventually get moved out of your policy and end up with premiums double what you have now.  It is all still up in the air, but I know that there are many sides to one story.  What is your thought on this and has it been positive or negative for you??  Let me know at https://www.facebook.com/BaggageDrop.  Just like in Seinfeld’s “the Soup Nazi” episode, for some people it’s “No Healthcare For You!”

SNOWMAGGEDON!!

So it’s almost March and I do not see the snow clearing up anytime soon.  The sun is helping to melt the ice crystals and form glistening mini streams down driveways, highways and streets, but as long as this temperature keeps staying on the frigid side we are stuck with our lovely white grass!  AND, it looks like this week will be mighty cold!! 

I hope for warmer weather the next few weeks, but even so the ground is frozen and it will take time for spring to arrive with the sight of grass, flowers emerging, and squirrels (as well as us humans) losing their hibernation weight from this long winter.  With that said, you are probably saying thanks for making everyone just a bit more depressed! Well, I am a Michigander and know that “it is what it is”. This is Michigan and we need to come to grips, if we haven’t already with the fickle weather. So instead of us belaboring or complaining about it everyday the way it’s easy to complain about our aches and pains and the meds we are on as we get older, let’s change our perspective on SNOWMAGEDDON!!!

Something that has recently put me in a good mood was seeing the movie FROZEN, and listening to the tracks “Do you want to build a snowman?” and “In Summer”.  The movie almost makes ice and snow seem fun and exciting. What perfect timing for Disney to come out with this film! Also, Olaf the snowman made me once again remember my childhood building a snowman and I laugh every time I hear him sing “In Summer”.  Listen and watch and see what I mean!! Remember, he is a snowman… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFatVn1hP3o

This winter I realized that Michigan is one of the few places where we shovel to make room for more snow!  Haha! This makes me laugh. So I decided to stop shoveling this month. In the beginning of the winter I went crazy with it. Finally the last few snowfalls I gave up, and although it gets a bit messier I figured the sun would eventually melt it the way it’s suppose to. It’s just not worth the time and effort and pain on my body. So I take that extra hour or so to watch a movie and have some cocoa. I have finally for the first time in my life realized how beautiful snow is and that it has a mind of it’s own…it doesn’t wait for an invitation or leave when you ask.  So, the key is to change your perspective and learn how to live happily in it while it’s here.  I now bundle up warmer, have more hot chocolate, play with the dogs in it, and even built a snowman this year!  Coffee with friends around the fireplace also became the new relaxing spot. Our dogs enjoy the fluffy stuff!!

With that said, I’m going someplace warm next week for vacation!! J

What’s your favorite (or least) favorite part about the snow and SNOWMAGEDDON we have had this year!??? Let me know on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BaggageDrop.

It's a Dog's World…??

What?!!!

Did I just read that correctly??!!

It’s a dog’s world??

What exactly does that mean?

Dogs seem to have it all figured out…and yet seem less stressed than humans.  Here are 13 reasons why our dogs know that it IS their world…

They get to sleep a lot….ALOT! Dogs do not sleep for 5-6 or even 7-8 hours a day. They sleep so much that we wonder how they do it. So they are not cranky, irritable, struggling with weight loss, or tired day in and day out due to the endless hours of zzzzzz’s they are able to accumulate.

They have an abundant amount of energy! Doesn’t it seem overall that most dogs are always running, barking, wagging their tails or excited? Our dogs can over bark, take 2 walks a day, play a ton, and still are always alert, tail wagging, and seem to be high on life.

They are always happy…or so it seems! Our dog Cody does show his defiant side here and there, but overall all of our dogs greet us many times a day with tongues hanging, tails wagging, and millions of licks. No matter what, they continuously do this and unless I hold back on treats or have to discipline them, they are usually exhibiting smiling behavior.  Well, after all what do they have to be sad, stressed or upset about.

Their food is the same everyday with no complaints- As long as they are eating, and for our dogs as much as possible they are content. Our little ones are lucky to have gourmet Dick Van Patton food in many flavors from Venison and Sweet potato to Wild Boar, to Duck and rice.  They get 2 solid meals, a couple treats and are always grateful.

They believe in drinking “8 glasses” of Water-Well it might not be quite 8 glasses, but they drain tat water bowl a few times a day. Diabetes and other medical conditions are not present in them due to no sugary colas, juices, or other fake sweeteners.

They do not judge -Not on looks, brains, money, status, race, religion, culture, color, job, or any other trivial means. That speaks for itself.  They are very Godly.

Their share their beds- or at least our dogs do…I catch them shacking up with each other a lot!! They all have their own beds but our little Chihuahua Rosie loves to sneak in with our Yorkie Cody at night for a rendezvous! J

They are selfless and their main purpose is to love- They know their purpose in life AND they know the true meaning of unconditional love…now how many humans can say they truly get both of those concepts.

They have amazing senses-They can smell if you have cancer, smell their owners from a mile or so away, and smell emotions. Can you imagine if we could do that? We’d be able to tell if our friend’s family or spouse was in a bad mood before we see them.

They make YOU likeable and attractive-Who doesn’t fall all over a guy or gal with a really cute dog…even the not so cute ones get attention.

Their Grooming is overall basic-One cut and clipping once a month or so, a couple baths here and there, brushing as needed and voila!

Vet Care stays the same and they have cheap caregivers-This is extremely important! Forget the Affordable Health Care Act, dogs don’t have to worry about that…their care is always the same….a cash business! Well maybe other forms of payment welcome, but over all the dog insurance business is not ruling any major markets as of yet. If they are sick they go in, you get the expensive bill and they get treatment. Preexisting conditions welcomed! Also, they get top notch care for free until the end!

They helped in our mission to kill Bin Laden! (see picture below) - Now come on, if you cant admit it’s a dog’s world by now then you’re in the wrong business…I mean wrong species kingdom ;)

Do you have dogs that RULE!? Comment below or Facebook me at https://www.facebook.com/BaggageDrop to share your reasons why it’s a Dog’s World!!

Diet fads…or diet "SADS"??

My new years resolutions is……wait for it…. to go on a DIET!!  Again??!! Ahhh… yes it is a vicious revolving circle of always telling ourselves we are going on, are on one, or need to be going on a diet. My husband and I both have been the victims of diet fads or diet "sads" as I call them.  I think they are sad and IT is sad because it seems that the minute our lives go back to normal we gain the weight back. No one can continue to take pills, eat a minimal amount of calories continuously, exercise every day, or even have prepared meals at every sitting. It can last for a while but then once the motivation wears off and results are finally seen, our lives go back to "normal". Well, this is misleading. Losing weight or being healthy is not a diet but a lifestyle. 

So I have thrown the words " to diet" out of the dictionary.  I think that it's important to have a healthy lifestyle.  There are any ways to lose weight and if they are all added to together intermittently over time will cause people to maintain healthy weights and lifestyles.

To start, here is a list of "DON'TS" for a healthy lifestyle…

•   DON'T remove all bad foods from your diet to start (If you do you will crave them even more!!)

•   DON'T take pills that say they'll help you to lose weight, not put further weight on, or decrease your appetite. You can only take these for a period of time and then eventually you'll be back at square one. Also they CAN BE harmful to your heart and body!

•   DON'T eat less than 1200 calories no matter what! We are meant to get fuel from eating.

•   DON’T think that you will keep weight off if you do not exercise

•   DON’T skip breakfast or eat after dinner

•   DON’T eat a lot of processed foods and breads and sugars

•   DON’T replace water with alcohol, pop, or other sugary drinks

A list of DO’S…

• DO eat 5-6 times a day…smaller meals
• DO watch your calories but don’t count everyone!!
• DO exercise and be physically active. Yes it is possible to still move around in many different ways.
• DO breathing exercises...trust me, as a singer, they help in weight lose!
• DO drink a lot of water!
• DO add muscle tone…muscle weighs more than fat and burns faster than fat!
• DO indulge at times…allow yourself to have a cheat meal here and there! (It will actually increase your metabolism)
• DO take your vitamins and minerals!

I use to have an eating disorder and can tell you first hand that it’s not worth it to worry about what you can’t eat all the time, but more so what you can eat. I can eat chocolate cake every now and then because by doing so I won’t crave it as bad. My suggestion though is to replace the really caloric “dangerous” items with substitutes. My husband enjoys 200 calories of plain yogurt with a bit of stevia in it and a couple blackberries and chocolate chips, just as much as he did a 600 calorie piece of cake that caused him to be hungry again an hour later.

So remember, diets “fads” are diet “sads”. They will ultimately make you sad later on when you regain the weight. Also, many people diet for their health, not only the weight. Learn to live a healthy lifestyle with smaller meals, more frequent meals, Dash substitutes for salt, more veggies, less sweets, and lots of exercise and you too can still eat without taking pills and you will lose the weight!!

One last note: I do believe in mixing in a protein supplement as a snack. I give my husband the Lean vanilla protein from Xyngular mixed in a shake with Chia seeds, berries, juice and ice. This is an awesome drink that has amino acids and proteins to help you with your metabolism. However again, the key is to maintain a lifestyle that you can do for the rest of your life with no quick fixes!  

P.S We did eat our whole wedding cake as a treat…but boy did we pay for it!!