Almost Fifty-Time for a Mid-Life Crisis Convertible

Sis and I will be fifty in January-where on earth has the time gone.  I still feel very young at heart though my body reminds me of the truth.

Laura and I bumped into some great friends recently and they shared their daughter was selling her beloved convertible.
Once we heard the word ‘convertible ‘ we were all ears.  We met with the sellers the very next day and the rest as they say, is history.

We've been without a second car for a few years now, so having another vehicle is a great blessing to us. Who would have guessed sis and I would not only get a great deal on another car but we'd get a convertible just in time for the big 50th birthday. We're having a blast driving around with the top down and listening to 70's and 80's music.

If you hear two women singing and laughing down the highway-that would be L and L; the happy twins.

YES-Twins Fight

I think many people think that twins mostly get along because of that twin connection. I'm here to say that we are no different than any other relationship. We get along on some days and fight on other days. I believe that the major difference between my twin sister and I, is how quickly we make up.

I will never forget a night back at college. We were hanging out with a group of friends when sis and I had a normal fight. I felt like I was on stage as people looked at us like it was wrong to see twins argue. I think many twins feel this 'on stage' pressure' of thinking we have to act like we always get along.  Just so you know, twins are no different than anyone else. Yes, we have a great and deep connection, but that doesn't change the fact that we fight. I strongly believe that fighting is healthy in any relationship.

I'm going to let you in on a twin trait that confuses singletons. Twins can have a huge fight one minute and hug the next. I'm not sure if this is true with all twins, but my sister and I love each other so much, making up quickly is normal.

I learned very young that people found my sister and I odd for making up quickly.  As I matured, I realized that we were role-models for not only twins, but all types of friendships. I try to to use my unconditional love for my sister as a reminder to everyone. Life is short, God wants us to love each other despite our flaws. I have always believed that my relationship with my twin sister is a Godly model of 'Unconditional Love.'

Twin Sister gets me in a Movie

One of the great things about being a twin is the great experiences we have together. We always have each other's back and are usually up for a good adventure. This is a story about how my sister made sure to get me in a shot in a made for t.v. movie called, "The comeback" starring Robert Urich and Chynna Phillips.

My sister and I heard about a movie that was going to be filmed in our own town. They were looking for extra's for two scenes. As extra's, we'd not only meet some stars, we'd make a little money while having a great time. How can you go wrong when your in your twenties and making money like this.

One of the scenes took place at a night club in downtown Minneapolis, and the other was set at a nearby bank. We dressed in fancy attire at the night club where they filmed us dancing. The club lights were set low to make it appear as night. Dance music played loudly as bright colored disco lights flashed and bounced off the walls and floor. My sister and I ended up dancing right next to Chynna Phillips, who was one of the main characters of the movie. She chatted with us just like any other girl our age. We asked her questions about the movie and she was more than happy to explain what it was all about. Neither one of us ended up getting in this scene but it was a lot of fun.

After we finished several takes at the night club, it was off to the bank a couple blocks away. We were told to dress casual for this part. There were about forty extra's to play the part of bank customers. It wasn't too difficult. They split us into two groups for the shoot. They had one group go upstairs to the second level  that overlooked the lobby. The second group stayed downstairs in the lobby and were told where to stand and what to do. I was put in this second group. I was instructed to stand at a particular bank counter and pretend to fill out a deposit slip.

Right after the first take of filming with me standing at my spot, I heard my sister above me. She tried to be discreet as she whispered and pointed. I finally figured out she was telling me to stand at a different counter. She noticed after the first take that I wouldn't be in the movie if I stayed there. She pointed to where I needed to stand so I'd get in the movie. I was feeling nervous and wondered if they would notice I wasn't where they told me to be. I took the chance in the name of stardom and stood where sis instructed, for the next several takes.

We knew because of our twin ship, I'd be in the movie. I'd be the girl standing at a bank counter, filling out a deposit slip.

Robert Urich and Chynna Phillips

When the movie came out, we invited a group of buddies over to watch with us. We popped up some popcorn, threw blankets over us and waited for my great debut. Sure enough, when it came to the bank shot, there I was in the background scene with Robert Urich and Chynna Phillips. I got in a movie all because of my sweet sister. She always has my back and I always have hers.

'Bachelor Pad' finale, ends with a bang

If your a fan of the 'Bachelor Pad', the finale must have blown you away. Watching this show every Monday night is my 'guilty pleasure.' I take a break from thinking and watch a bunch of young adults act like idiots. I never imagined how dramatic and shocking the last episode of season three, would turn out to be.

There were two couples left, with a chance to win a prize of $250.000. Nick and Rachel reigned triumphant after their ex room-mates voted for them. Although they were victorious, there is a catch on 'Bachelor Pad.' The couple is asked to go back stage in separate rooms and make one final vote. Their given two options and must decide on one. They either pick a 'Keep' the money card or 'share' the money card. If both choose share, they divide the $250.000 evenly. If one of them chooses 'keep' and the other chooses 'share, the one who picked 'keep', wins the pot.

FYI: The past two seasons, the contestants both picked the 'share' card and split the money.

Before Rachel showed her vote, she talked about how she and Nick were great partners and how she trusted him to share the money with her. When it came to Nick's turn to talk, you could have heard a pin drop. Nick talked about how rude Rachel was to him, especially since her past romantic flame left the house. He reminded her that she'd almost left the house three times because Michael was gone, which would have sent him packing. He was clear about how she never thought about him or took him seriously, the whole time he was at Bachelor Pad. He said he knew she only paired up with him because he was the only one left. It was obvious he was sick and tired of being told by Rachel and her little friend alliance, that he was lucky to be there, as he was only a 'fan,' not a bachelor alumni. Seriously? who cares why your there. Do you actually think your better than Nick because he was a fan of the show, instead of being on a season of the Bachelorette? When he finished his speech, which was all true, he turned his vote to the audience. There for all to see was Nick's vote: KEEP
I wish you could have seen the faces of the Bachelor Pad crew. They weren't only in shock that he voted to keep the money, they starting spewing rude comments that he didn't 'deserve' to be the winner. Rachel began showing her true colors immediately. She said, "you wouldn't be up here if it wasn't for me." Nick laughed and said, "I played this game myself  until your ex left the show and we had to pair up." The show ended with Rachel chasing him back stage, pointing her finger and yelling expletives at him for taking all the money.

I believe the spoiled and immature Bachelor Pad guests, got what they had coming. They thought they were all that and deserved the winnings more than Nick. They ignored him, gossiped about him when he wasn't around, and used him to their advantage when they needed him. Way to bring them back down to earth Nick. You got the last laugh and played them at their own game which they thought they had mastered and in the hole. BRAVO NICK~ You not only won the $250.000, you made a statement about how ridiculous it was to think they were better than a fan.

A Day in the Life of a Anxious Person

Would you like to take a little trip down crazy avenue? Let me walk you through what's usually a simple trip to the doctor office for most people. For me, it's a anxious person's nightmare.

I found myself feeling really crummy this past week and had a hunch it was strep throat. Instead of calling the doctor and making an appointment, I obsessed about how much I dislike going.  Negative memories of blood pressure and pulse rate readings, swirled through my mind.

After suffering three agonizing days of a raging sore throat and total lack of energy, I finally made an appointment to see my primary doctor. You know I'm miserable when I get to this point.

Here's how my trip to the doctor went:
Luckily, I didn't have to wait long for the nurse to call my name. That's always a good thing, because the longer I wait, the more I think, which increases my anxiety. First stop: time to step on the scale. Oddly enough, this is the easiest part for me, even as a larger woman.  Things get tough for me once we step into the examination room.

Me talking to nurse: "I have to give you my anxiety disorder shpeel. I notice you have one of those electric type of blood pressure machines in here."
Nurse: "Yes, is that a problem?"
Me: "The first time you guys tried this new equipment with me, I ended up screaming and pulling the cuff off my arm. It put me in a state of panic. You'll need to roll in the old fashion blood pressure machine for me."
Nurse: "Not a problem, I'll go get that as soon as I finish my patient assessment."
Me: "Oh, by the way, I don't always agree to let you take my blood pressure or pulse. I'll let you know my decision when you finish with your checklist of questions."
The nurse begins going over my medications- and then...Decision time!

I find that this particular nurse has a calming demeanor that makes me feel comfortable. I decide to go ahead and let her take my blood pressure. Just as she's preparing to take my blood pressure, I see a twinkle in her eye and she loudly exclaims, "Wait, I just remembered-Have you ever experienced the wrist band blood pressure gauge?" "It would be perfect for you." She leaves the room to fetch the newest technology for her neurotic patient.

Before she puts the band on my wrist, I tell her that although I'm letting her take my blood pressure, I don't want her to tell me what it is. I'll look at it in my own time when I leave the clinic. Pheew-rules are all out there. Let's get on with it.

I go to my happy place (usually a tropical beach) and begin some deep breathing. Boom! it's done. I can't believe how easy this was.  Usually when it's the cuff on my arm, I can feel my pulse when it gets really tight, which is what puts me into a panic.With the wrist gauge, I felt none of that. I felt so confident afterwards, I even asked the nurse to tell me what my reading was. It was pretty good for someone like me with white coat syndrome. Icing on the cake-She said it took my pulse at the same time.

Once this part of the visit is over, it's smooth sailing. They swabbed  my mouth to check for strep and the results came back negative. I was told I had some virus that's common in the summer months. The doctor explains there's no antibiotic to treat it, but he can prescribe something to ease the pain of the sore throat. It's called, "magical mouthwash." It basically numbs the throat so your not so miserable.  He writes me a prescription and I'm on my way home, feeling extremely proud of myself.

I know- anxiety is exhausting, isn't it? Next time you have a doctor appointment, think of me and feel grateful your not in my body.

Trip to New York City was Incredible

I recently wrote about my sister and I winning a radio contest from "Cities 97." We won a free trip to go hear John Mayer's new album, "Born and Raised." This is my follow-up story to share our incredible experience.

Going to New York City for the first time was a gift in itself but being invited to a private listening party to hear John Mayer's new album, was icing on the cake.

We took a taxi to the party on May 16 at about 6:15PM as we needed to be to the "Electric Lady Studio" by 7:00PM. We unfortunately got a taxi driver that didn't speak good English and he took us in circles for the about a forty minutes. My sister, who I named 'Samantha' on the trip (the gal from Sex in the City) was dealing with the situation with the taxi driver. When the driver asked my sister for the address for about the third time and followed with, "where is this place?"- My sister firmly pointed out that we were from Minnesota and he was from New York. When it was obvious this man was totally clueless and lost, sis rolled down the window and asked a passerby on the street if she could quickly Google "Electric Lady Studio" and point us in the right direction. Thank goodness Laura thought to do this because that's the only reason we made it to our important destination.

We were a little worried about being late because they asked winners to be there promptly at 7:00PM. We were pleasantly surprised to get a personal greeting when we arrived. The gal from promotions was at the front door and said, "Hi, you must be the twins from the twin cities?. We apologized for being late and told her the taxi driver wasn't familiar with the Greenwich area. She reassured us  it wasn't a problem, we hadn't missed much, and led us upstairs. She pointed out the bar and said to help ourselves to wine, water or soda. We each poured a glass of white wine and walked to to the studio room.

We were handed a book of John's songs from the album as we sat in the back of the room. As I looked around the room, I noticed that people seemed pretty nervous. How can you sit so seriously when their playing John Mayer tunes over the speakers. The acoustics in this studio were amazing and I couldn't help but sway to the music. Laura and I were softly singing along to the lyrics in the book and moving to the beat. As a forty-nine year old cancer survivor, I make every moment count and was taking it all in.

Once every song from John's album played, it was time to meet John. He must have come through a secret back door, because the next thing we knew, he was standing in front of us, center stage. It was surreal to see John in the flesh.

John talked about what inspired his new album and then took questions from his fans. Being John Mayer fans and strong extroverts, Laura and I had no problem asking him a couple questions. After the Q and A was over, they lined people up to get their photo with John. During our photo with him, he was told we were twins, and he said, "cool, hi twinners." I thought it was such a cute comment and was impressed he was so personable.

After the listening party, some of the winners gathered outside the studio and talked. It was fun hearing where people traveled from. There were 15 winners from different states, and each winner could bring one friend or spouse. Eventually, we all went our separate ways to check out the night life in Greenwich Village. Laura and I headed to a well known Jazz club a few blocks away.

The trip to New York City was pure magic and an experience we will never forget. Please enjoy some pictures from our adventure.

Camera man setting up

John answering questions

Band @ 'The Garage Jazz Club'

Front door of Studio

Posing with John 

I'm flying to New York City to hear John Mayer

I still can't believe it's really true. My sister and I won a free trip to hear John Mayer's new album. We registered for it on a local radio station here in Minnesota, called "Cities 97." The first time the DJ, Brian Oake, called a name, no one called back. He called the next name at about 8:20AM and my twin sister's ex-husband happened to be listening to the station. He called Laura and told her she had ten minutes to call back  and that she'd won some trip. The rest is history...

Sis and I board the plane tomorrow morning. Their putting us up in the Hudson Hotel in mid town. I guess it's steps away from Central Park. We plan on putting our things in the room and then doing some walking and shopping before the big release party. The Cocktail party starts at 7:00PM at a Studio called "The Electric Lady." It's a famous studio that Jimmy Hendrix actually built for himself to record his music. I'll be getting lots of pictures of sis and I with John Mayer and will share them with all of you.

I've wanted to go to New York since I was a young girl. My father lived there before he met my mom. He always wanted to take us but we never made the trip.  He'll be in our hearts as we go there for a once in a life- time experience.

The new album is called, "Born and Raised" which includes the single, "Shadow Days."

Watch out New York City-Here come the Minnesota Twins from the Twin Cities

A Great Day for a Cancer Survivor

Some background information

I am in the best mood today. I'm a lung cancer survivor of eight years this coming St. Patrick's Day.  I get cat scans every six months unless they see something that looks suspicious. I have had my share of 'ify' scans that show spots, but thankfully they have always disappeared by the time of my follow-up scan. Not long ago, a scan revealed four spots on my right lung which is the same lung that had a tumor. It was a really scary time for me, to say the least. I prayed, cried and hoped it wasn't the lung cancer coming back. This past June was when I went in for the follow-up scan. It was one of few times I brought my sister with me. We needed to be together to support each other in case we received bad news. We were grateful to learn that all four spots were gone. Sis and I celebrated by doing the 'happy dance' as the great news was announced. My oncologist said since I was almost eight years cancer free, I could choose whether to come back in six months or one year. I chose to come back in six months just to be safe. We agreed that if this scan was clear, I would graduate to yearly scans. 

Had my scan yesterday

I'm always a nervous wreck the week of my cat scans because I never know what it's gonna show. Facing your mortality is one of the things you learn to deal with when your a cancer survivor. As scary as it can be, it also gives you a rare insight into how to live every day to it's fullest. Anyway, I had the scan at 8:20AM yesterday. Afterwards, sis and I went out for breakfast as a courage builder. Knowing I have to wait for two days to see the oncologist with the results, is always a tough thing for me. Basically, I don't sleep much until that appointment is over. I was given such a gift when I heard the phone ring a few hours later. "Hi Linda, this is Nicole from Park Nicollet. Your oncologist knows how worried you get after a scan and asked me to call and let you know that everything looks great." I was so grateful that they decided to give me this call and save me from myself and my thoughts. I thanked her profusely and told her, "you just made my day-God Bless you." I go in tomorrow morning for my appointment with the oncologist, but this time I wont have to go in there scared to death. Because of that call, I will sleep like a baby tonight. I'm sure the biggest message to me will be that I've graduated to yearly scans.  YIPPEE! I am so grateful and  happy.

No more...

Your false ideas of love

cut deep within my flesh

Leaving scars beyond repair

my heart's a broken mess

The times that I believed you

when you uttered all the lies

Left me dead like washed up seaweed

alone with just my cries

Promises you made to me

whispered in the night

Made me want to trust you

convinced me it was right

Truth turned inside out

was all you knew to give


Like vampire's food of choice
deceit; your blood to live


I'll no longer be your conduit
for evil to the core


My soul desires happiness
and love forever more...

My Superwoman Dream

I have always been a big dreamer since I was a young child. Most mornings I can remember at least ten vivid dreams. Let me give you a little peek into my active dream life by sharing one of many, from last night.

Channel Nine News Reporter Dream
Before I begin telling you about my dream, I need to preface it with some information. The last couple of days in Minnesota have been a mixed bag of strange weather. It went back and forth between raining, sleeting and snowing. I am an avid watcher of the local news and have my favorite stations. Most of the time I watch channel nine and the reporters and anchors feel like part of my family. The other day when they were talking about the developing weather storm, they sent one of their reporters out in a car. I felt kind of bad for the guy as he was driving around telling us how dangerous it was getting on the roads.  Enough information, here's my dream:
I'm a roving reporter for Channel nine (hee hee) and driving my car to do a segment about the status of the winter storm that's just begun.  My co-pilot in the passenger seat is none other than Jeff Passolt. Jeff is our local, well known anchor in real life, for channel nine. Anyway, Jeff and I are driving around when we suddenly hit a slick spot in the road. The car becomes air born and I'm thinking, "this isn't good and I don't want Jeff to get hurt." I make a plan in my head that will save my co-worker and myself from impending death. I roll my window down before we make impact. When the car is just ready to land on the road, I put my arms out of the window. I'm obviously hanging upside down and drop my hands to the ground to hold the car up. I'm like Superwoman as I patiently steady the car until Jeff gets out. Once I crawl out, Jeff starts asking me how I managed to have the superhuman strength to bench a car like it was a paper weight . I humbly retort that it must have been the fight or flight reaction of adrenaline. He stares at me; eyes wide with awe and says, "are you in any pain?" I reply, "my arms are a little sore and my back is probably going to kill me later, but other than that, I'm good." Jeff and I, for the most part, come out of the car accident unscathed because I'm like some kind of superhero.

Happy Birthday Dave-I Miss You Brother

I Miss you Brother

Dear Dave, I've been thinking about you more than usual lately because you would've turned the big "50" on January 8. It's hard to fathom you've been gone for ten years already. I've been trying to write you for some time but I guess I wasn't ready until now. So many feelings come up in me and I think of what you could have been if it wasn't for that insidious disease that crippled you and took your mind, body and soul prisoner.

We were very close in childhood and well into our twenties. You, Laura and I, pretty much did everything together because you were only a year older. The three of us even looked alike and had many things in common, especially our love of music. Laura and I loved when you called us on stage to sing with you and the band. That is, until alcohol started to pull us apart. Your drinking changed you. Your sweetness, charm, intelligence and incredible talents started to fade away as your alcoholism progressed. You even turned your back on your beloved passion and true love of your life. The guitar was always a part of you and when you put it away, I knew you were losing your greatest joy in life. To me, this was when I knew you were giving up and alcohol was winning the battle.

Those last ten years of your life were painful for you and difficult for loved ones to watch. I will never forget the night I was watching the local news and there you were. Your mug shot reflected a sad man that had lost his soul. Your physical body was there but your true being had gone somewhere else. Your eyes were now hollow and desperate. You were driving home from your job at the airport after putting in a full day. You were pulled over because of reckless driving and given a breathalyzer test. Your blood alcohol was a shocking 4.3 The police found luggage in your back seat that you'd stolen from baggage claim. I remember getting phone calls from friends, family and past acquaintances. Many who called were callous and insensitive and asked if I was embarrassed about your latest escapade. I told them in no uncertain terms that I was not embarrassed, just grateful that my brother was still alive." I knew then as I'd known for years, that this disease had a hold on you and may cause you to die early, just like mom. You tried sobering up and voluntarily entered treatment three times but you'd eventually succumb to your craving and addiction for alcohol.

Your roommate of many years, finally had enough. She kicked you out, knowing she was enabling you and your drinking. She was in love with you, even though she knew you weren't in love with her. For you, she was a friend and a place to lay your head. She would fill the refrigerator with beer and make sure to keep it restocked to keep you happy. It was a toxic and co-dependent relationship yet she found the courage and strength to let it go.

You now found yourself living on the streets and eventually moved into a homeless shelter. Several months later you qualified for a place to live. It was a stable apartment downtown, serving those who were deemed homeless.

I received the dreaded call I'd always feared would come. It was your older sister, wailing on the other end, trying to get the words out. "A policeman just came to my door Linda. He is dead, David is dead."

No one had seen or talked to you in a few days and became worried. When the landlord walked into your apartment, he saw you lying in bed. You were fully dressed, you even had your shoes on. You died due to an overdose of oxycontin and alcohol. You were thirty-nine years old, the same age mom died of alcoholism.

Our cousin Mike told us at the funeral that he bumped into you, just a week before you died. He had no idea the healing he provided, telling us that you'd recently taken out your guitar again. I believe God knew you needed to play before you died.

P.S. I know we didn't talk much those last years but it was too painful for me. I had to set limits and take care of myself, especially when you'd call me drunk and get verbally abusive. I know now that your in heaven, you understand why I had to sever ties. I loved you David, it was the behavior from the addiction I hated. I dream of you often and like having that time with you. In my dreams, your healthy as a horse and not addicted to alcohol. It's just you and me, the way we used to be before you got so sick.

P.S.S. I love you and miss you brother. Happy 50th birthday.

© 2012 Linda Rogers

Ghostly Apparition over Lake Victoria

Athereal Apparition over Lake Victoria

I heard a loud shriek coming from the upper living room today and ran to see what was going on. Laura was on facebook and yelled for me to come see something our older sister Shelly had posted. "Get your cheats on for this Linda," Laura proclaimed. "You wont believe it until you see it." I could see tears welling up in her eyes and knew it was something big.

My childhood wasn't always an easy one. I am one of five siblings, with my twin sister and I being the youngest of the brood. I have been told, that although mom and dad were heavy drinkers before we arrived, it became increasingly severe after we were born. Life at our house became very unsafe and chaotic as their alcoholism took over.

Sadly, by the time I was nine years old, I lost my mom to this insidious disease. She was only thirty nine years old. Losing a mother so young, was one of the hardest things I've ever experienced. Dad continued to drink after her death, despite pleas from his kids to stop. After several years and going through treatment five times, dad was able to stop drinking for the remainder of his life. He was an inspiration to many who struggled with alcoholism and often told them, "if I can stop drinking, you can too."

Throughout the years since mom and dad's passing, each sibling has had their share of heavenly visits. Each contact is unique to the relationship between mom, dad and their adult child. The latest such incident happened to my sister Shelly this past weekend. She was standing at her balcony window when she noticed a wispy figure hovering above the lake. She captured this ethereal image which I've uploaded here. She knew it was an angelic sighting but after closer inspection realized it looked just like our mother. It didn't surprise her to know mom would make an appearance at this critical time in her life. Mom knew her daughter needed her.

© 2012 Linda Rogers

Happy 49th Birthday Twinner

Dear Laura,

It's about 7:30PM on our birthday eve. Your out and about with your kiddos right now and I have the house all to myself. I'm getting really pumped up for our birthday tomorrow and celebrating at one of our favorite restaurants. I still get excited like I did when we were younger, because I always know that I share this special day with my Best Friend. I hope your planning on staying up until midnight, so we can bring in this 49th birthday right. Some day we won't be able to stay up late so let's get the jammies and slippers on and watch the clock strike Midnight. It's going to be another Friday the 13th birthday. Those have always turned out to be amazing birthday's for us. I think with all the superstition surrounding the date, our expectations have been low, which made them that much more fun.

I guess I'm writing this birthday wish for you, so you'll always know, in no uncertain terms, what you mean to me.

Laura, I can truly say, that my journey in this life has been Beautiful because of you. Life has thrown us some curve balls but because we love each other, we manage to not only Survive, but Thrive. When I was diagnosed with cancer almost eight years ago, as scared as I was, I knew I wasn't alone. I knew my twin sister would be there for me, through thick and thin, and never waiver.

My love for you is so strong, that I was glad it was me that ended up with cancer and not you.

Your love for me is so strong...


When the pharmacist told you my medical insurance ran out and I was no longer covered for pain and nausea medication, you went to bat for me. You caused quite a commotion at Health Partners Clinic that day. The poor, unsuspecting pharmacist didn't know what hit him. Though you tried to be strong for me so I could get the needed medication, desperate pleas and flowing tears illuminated your Unconditional Love for me.


When you hadn't come back to my room with the medication for about twenty minutes, the oncologist had an "aha" moment. She'd seen this happen before and realized that my health insurance probably ran out. She assured me, I would get the chemo drugs I needed to help combat the bad side effects, but added, "there may be some confusion with the pharmacy, you'd better get downstairs and let Laura know we can take care of it." Before I even reached the lobby, I could hear my frightened twin sister, pleading with the pharmacist. "Please, if she doesn't get the medication, she will be deathly ill." Her voice was loud and firm yet sadly vulnerable. By the time I entered the pharmacy lobby, all eyes and ears were on Laura. I noticed that people were looking at her with compassion like they'd been in this situation too. Many onlookers had tears in their eyes as they watched my sister fight for me. When I finally reached Laura, I wrapped my arms around her and said with all the love in my heart, "it's ok honey, my oncologist will take care of the medication." You could've heard a pin drop as the people in the lobby witnessed the unconditional love of a sister. 


Happy Birthday Laura-I love you with all my heart and soul and can't imagine my life without you.

How to Keep your New Year Resolutions Realistic

Every year as the new year rolls around, we start thinking about what our resolutions will be. Some of us don't bother making changes because we know we wont be able to keep them anyway. Those of us that do decide to make changes, start out with much enthusiasm and confidence that we'll succeed. We start out motivated but eventually the optimism and gung ho attitude, fades into the winter doldrums. Why do so many of us fail with our resolutions?

I've been attemtpting this New Years Resolution thing for quite some time now. I know what has worked for me and what hasn't. Here are some suggestions that may help you avoid giving up on your '2012' resolutions.

• Set realistic goals-This can help you be more successful
• If working out and losing weight is on your list, focus on how much healthier you will be instead of focusing on numbers on the scale.
• Don't tell the world what your resolutions are as I've learned from experience that it creates pressure which can lead to failure which can lead to feeling depressed and embarrassed. Your close friends or family members will likely figure out your resolutions which can hopefully help and not hinder your progress. In short, love yourself enough to know you don't have to tell people as your doing this for yourself.
• If your cutting out or cutting down on certain foods or sweets, don't be a black and white thinker. It's fine to have a little treat once in awhile and this shouldn't cause you angst or thoughts of giving up. Cutting down on certain foods is a lifesyle change and choosing those foods now and then, means just that. You can cut down without giving it up completely.
• Pamper yourself as your working on your New Years Resolutions. Maybe a spa day would make you feel good if you have a little extra cash. If your looking for something free and simple, take a nice hot bubble bath. These simple rewards can help motivate you as you accomplish goals during your journey. I try to get a massage once a month because it's something that makes me feel special, relaxed and rejuvenated.
• If one of your goals is to drink more water, go out and buy a fun water bottle. I know it sounds simple but it's helped me to consistently drink the recommended 64 Oz. of water a day. I found my cool bottle at Caribou Coffee but you can find them all over. Anywhere from gas stations to big outlet stores like Target and even grocery stores.
• If healthy eating is on your list, be prepared. Make sure to buy and stock healthy foods, so you don't go for the junk. I even bag my meats in a sandwich bag so I know it's the right serving on the Weight Watchers Program.
• If working out is one of your goals, know what exercise you Really enjoy. I've learned that power walking is something I stick to because I genuinely enjoy it. If weather permits, I prefer to walk outside. If weather doesn't permit, I jump on the treadmill with headphones. Research has shown that people will stick to an exercise routine more consistently when it's something they enjoy and not an exercise they have to talk themselves into.
• If your trying to quit a bad habit like smoking, think about joining a support group to help you stay motivated and on track. These days you can even find support, online.

No matter what your New Year Resolutions are, give yourself permission to make some fun choices now and then. This makes your goals easier to stick to, because you know it's a lifestyle change and not a death sentence for no more fun. For those of you that have decided to make some resolutions, good luck to you and I wish you a Happy Healthy New Year.

Sincerely, Linda Rogers

Happy New Year Everyone

Here we are in the year, "2012." That year sounds strange at this point and I know I'll be writing 2011 on my checks for awhile. I don't know about you, but I get very sentimental and nostalgic as the New Year rolls around. Looking back at the previous year and looking forward in hope, to a new one, gets me emotional. I want to wish all my blogger friends, a Happy and Healthy New Year and thank you for all your support of my writing here.

I had an amazing New Years Eve and thought it would be fitting to put on a video and lyrics of the 'Auld Lang Syne' song. Whether you sat at home on New Years Eve or went out on the town, you probably heard this infamous song. The song was written by a scottish poet by the name of Robert Burns, in the eighteenth century. It's well known to ring in the new year as the clock strikes midnight but it's also played on other occasions as well. The first line of the chorus, Auld Lang Syne, basically means, "for the sake of old times."
I brought in the new year with my best friend and twin sister. We started the night at a local restaurant and had a cocktail and an appetizer. Then we came home to our two dogs and watched 'Dick Clark's Rockin Eve' special. It's tradition to put out a delicious buffet of our favorite finger foods which we graze on throughout the the evening. So far, sis and I have always made it to midnight and sometimes beyond. The Dick Clark special actually ends at 2AM Central time. I made it till the show ended but sis pooped out around 1:00AM.
Lyrics to Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld Acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?
Chorus
for auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.