Tag: gluten free

Posted in Rants Raves

My 2013 Christmas Present

Posted on by Christy Petty

After much whining and begging and repeated searches on Craigslist Keith said I could replace my/not mine but my grandmothers piano that was given to mom for me, but my brother got when mom died ,piano. I like to plink a bit, t and find some kind of peace wasting time trying to play piano. AND I saw some really cool upright antiques on Pinterest that were painted and looked soooo cute and would go so well on that wall…. Keith though is too practical and in his universe he see’s no use for a big hunk of heaviness for a bit of plinking. So his giving in to my impractical desires, was/is huge!! 

 I thought this would be easy and cheap, it seems someone I know is always giving away or getting free pianos. Pianos are  in craigslist for free and under $100. Advertising they sounded good, might need a little tuning. Heck, the one I had was not tuned in over 50 years and it sounded amazing. In this piano shopping I have found that “need tuning’ means missing keys, the wires that exist are tied up to each other, and antique of course mean beat up piece of crap. 

Last week we woke up early on Saturday, , so we decided to drive to Lubbock (just over 100 miles away)to check out a couple of the ‘need’s tuning’ pianos there.  Bust. What keys played, damaged our hearing.  While in town we searched some more, realizing we may have to up the amount spent.  We found a gorgeous looking piano on Craigslist, but at this point knew looks were usually deceiving. We contacted the guy, turned out he was in Plano, not returning for a couple of days.  We decided to do a bit of Christmas shopping, head home and then come back in a week.  All this time in Lubbock we are hauling the flatbed trailer to ‘get’ our piano.  We hauled it back home empty. Did not even get to go to Costco, cause they close at 6 on Saturday- Bummer

We talk to the pretty piano guy during the week and are pretty sure this is the piano, it is gorgeous. He describes that it was last tuned about 15 years ago and he does not play, just has the piano for the furniture piece that it is.  My logic goes back to the lack of tuning my old piano had and it playing good. I KNOW it will be right. Keith has his doubts.

Thursday night, Lee, our oldest says he has heard it is to rain in Lubbock on Friday, and maybe we should borrow a covered trailer from friends. Weird, our forecast has just said we would be in the 50-60 and dry and sunny until after Christmas. We checked out the Uhaul rentals in Lubbock, the Uhaul center confirms having covered trailers available, I ask Keith if we should reserve, he said “No, they will have them tomorrow, besides we were not sure we would get the piano.” He might not be, but I am sure.

Friday morning we get up and get ready to run to the Christmas play of two of the grandkids, and check the forecast which says Midland and Lubbock both have 90% chance of rain.  I call my friend with the covered trailer, her house is right next to the school . Her son borrowed the trailer this week and has not brought it back, but we could pick it up at his house. Keith says ” The rain is not suppose to come till late, maybe tonight, we can rent a covered one in Lubbock, we still don’t know if we are buying”   We go to the play- The weather is cold, but it does not look like rain at all, it will be fine.

We discuss how ‘we’ will move it, the now owner said he would help a bit, but he sounded a bit iffy on his ability to actually be of help. Keith said ” With the dolly and straps he was pretty sure we could get it, as long as we had not big steps to maneuver . And he had contacted a guy that would come help us move it for $100, but we are not sure we are getting it, we will call him when we decide.

We get to Lubbock for an early lunch and go to our favorite Pei Wei and have our favorite Gluten free shrimp sdkfss. The weather is dry and cold.  We come out and Keith is grumping, because we should have brought our flat bed trailer.  We call the guy and tell him we are a bit early, he says come on over. When we get to his place we see that he is moving, not just going to be out of town beginning in two days. The piano is what we hoped for, Keith tries to get him to come down, just for the game of bartering, he won’t budge. We tell him we are going to go get a trailer, and explain why we did not bring ours, though it does not look like rain, just cold overcast. We will be back within the hour. It is a deal.

As we drive over to the UHaul center, that had the list of available covered trailers for 71$, Keith says he just realized he left the phone # of the guy to help move in his other jeans. And that piano IS heavy. This guy had an option to deliver to Midland, maybe that would be about the same, since we were looking at renting a trailer. Keith searches his cell and finds one of the few movers he had checked with, calls and asks the guy how much to Midland. $800. Nope, we will be doing the moving.

Inside UHaul, the personnel, 2 women and a man greet us across the store and ask us our need, Keith is getting off the phone from one of the boys and I start to describe the need for a covered trailer, then Keith picks it up.  A woman named La Crissy (yes we are in West Texas) asks when, we say  “Now”.  She says ” Not gonna happen, there are none available, we should have reserved.

I say ” The site says you have them available.”

LaCrissy ” That site ain’t right.”

Keith is now asking about lifts/dollies and such

The man asks what we are moving.

La Crissy is explaining Tech students are moving mid term.  ” There is nutting to rent, we should have reserved.”

“A Piano.”

I am getting miffed at the LaCrissy spouting unhelpful things.

The guy begins to explain we really would want a trailer with a ramp,  and the un covered short one may work.

We are talking to him and out loud about the weather and if it going to actually rain, and we have flatbed at home,….

La Crissy interrupts the guy trying to help us solve our delimma and says to him “Don’t talk to them, I am taking care of this.”

My head screams “SERIOUSLY??” I bite my tongue and growl instead of saying “what the F chick?” I turn around and mumble obscenities as I leave the store and Keith and start searching out other rental places in town.  I find another UHaul with the uncovered trailer, that has a fold down back/ramp and it still does not look like rain, we have a tarp just in case.  I text the guy and say it will be more like 3 before we can get things worked out. I go in and tell Keith I have found a trailer. He has just finished a second attempt with La Crissy, and been put on a list for them to find him one. Keith says he got a call from Lee, it is raining in Midland.  Lee found a covered trailer at U Haul in Levelland and Brownfield. Keith calls about door height, decides the piano won’t fit, with dolly underneath, per measurement he remembered that the piano dude told him. Keith grumps about getting a flat bed when we have one at home… It starts to sprinkle.

We drive across town,they have a covered like we just gave up, in the lot, already rented. The door is taller than me, the piano would fit. We try to convince them to rent the already rented one to us and we will bring it back before it is needed in AM.  No luck.  We hook up to trailer and pull out of lot. It starts to rain.

We stop at Sutherlands to buy another tarp. I text the piano dude, ‘ 3:10’.  We come out with tarp and bungie cords, it is raining more, and it has dropped about 20 degrees. It is now 35 degrees.  We arrive at the house, the piano dude asks ” Where is the help?”

“We’re it.”

We strap the piano onto the floor dollies we brought. The men tilt and I push under. I did not get it centered the first try- Keiths foot had been in the way. They push it out. I am told as they get to the door I get to lift on back as they lift on front across threshold and down little brick step off at walk. I took off my coat and throw it back in house- Once we get to trailer, the wheels and expanded metal don’t cooperate, then the metal floor ridges hamper more pushing. As we struggle one of the guys who are repairing the fence for the new buyer of the house runs over to help. He is Navajo,from Denver, he has been in Lubbock 2 weeks, he  reeks of alcohol. The 20$ Keith gave him probably helped him stay that way.

It is raining. We are wrap and strap the piano- It a steady soft rain.  I ask Keith if we should cancel our trip to the new Costco? He said he wanted to go and the piano was covered and running down road or sitting would not be any different.

Costco was great! Found giant loaves of Udi’s Gluten free bread, and lots more goodies. As we are inside we realize that noise is the pouring rain outside.  When we get out it is still pouring.  Keith said we are eating at West Crust, to have there gluten free pizza.  I am nervous about the piano being out in all this rain and cold. Keith says it is wrapped, nothing more can be done. Have faith.  The pizza was great.

We remember we needed to pick up tamales at Pedro’s for our Christmas eve dinner, so start heading out to catch them before they close.  It is now 7 pm raining raining raining and cold. We stop for gas and Keith sends me to Auto Zone next door for a tarp. Either 5×10 or 6×12– I tell the clerk that when he asks what I need. He hands me the tarp I pay and leave.  A guy standing in the rain between AZ and the gas station asks me for money. I tell him maybe but my hands are full now. I get to Keith is under the awning, he unwraps the tarp and throws it out, it is about 5×4. The guy pulled the wrong size, no wonder it was so cheap. We cover the front half of the trailer. We give the begging guy $7 as we drive out.

The right lane of the roads are running rivers, the rain is pouring, each car that passes throws water so we can’t see till the wipers swipe twice. This is in drought stricken West Texas, on the day we are hauling a 1900 sawn oak piano 115 miles. We start reasoning on the rain letting up once we start towards home, since it moved in from south, it won’t be raining there anymore.  We pick up the tamales on the way out.  It starts to rain harder. The short tarp is flapping, in the wind that has started to blow much stronger now that we are on the highway.

Just outside  Lamesa, our halfway point stop, the tarp is only held by one front corner and is flapping like a sail. Keith slows down from the below limit of 50 to way below of 40.  He does not want to stop in the rain, the piano is still wrapped in two tarps, the top one was just extra. We will drive on to a gas station with an awning.  At the station, 2 other vehicles are tying down their cargo. It reminds me of the Grinch and his over loaded sleigh.  It is about 35 degrees and the wind is blowing now. As I stand on the wheel well and catch the rope that Keith throws me from the other side, my legs start to shake, my butt cheeks too.

We are back on the road, it has taken us an hour and a half on what normally takes minutes to drive.  It is still pouring rain. Evan calls to say he is off work and is very excited because we are finally getting some more rain in Midland. Grrrrrr.

Another hour and a half and we are finally home. Our roads are soup from all the rain, the mud squashes over the top of my boots as I open the gate. I get my car out of the garage and we back the trailer into the garage. We can’t call the boys over to help us unload after 10 PM.  We take off the short tarp, which is now much shorter and shredded. Then unhook the next extra large tarp, the tarp wrapped piano underneath is completely dry.

We prayed on the way to Lubbock. Prayed in Pei Wei. Prayed on way to mans house. Prayed in parking lot of U Haul. Prayed as we left Costco. Prayed when we ate at West Crust. Prayed as we left Lubbock. I prayed silently every time I looked back at flapping tarps.

God is amazing. In the midst of our storm He kept the piano dry. Just as the Isrealites crossed the Red Sea bed without getting mud on their feet.

My Christmas present is a gorgeous piano, something Keith had sworn he would not have. My Christmas present is God  knowing my concerns, my wants  providing just what I needed.  He did not dry up the rain, nor the roads. He did not remove the obstacles. The La Crissy’s of the world. Yet the results are exactly what I needed. IMG_0084

God does not remove all the sins, all the obstacles of this world.  He did provide a way  for us, to prosper and not be ashamed. He provided a Salvation in the midst of a storm.   One way, Jesus Christ, His one and only Son, born as a babe laying in a manger.

 

Advertisement
Posted in Rants Raves

Gluten Free IS Our Way

Posted on by Christy Petty

Been doing and going and being very busy. Always gluten-free. As long as it is my choice.

Recently several of my gluten-free clan have had an infiltration of wheat gluten. The youngest grandchild was given goldfish crackers, accidentally. The child care staff had some newbies. The typical apology, with follow-up of observation of he did not get sick right away, maybe it will be ok, this time, comment was given to his mom.  Then, just a week later, he stole some goldfish from another child at snack time. He found out those gold-fish taste way better than the raisins all the gf  kids get while the others get their exceptionally good snacks.  Another grandchild has had a flare up with his psoriasis, he recently started kindergarten, and the family went on a mini vacation and of course ate out for 3 days, so there is no telling where he ingested wheat. Keith and I both had wheat somewhere sometime, either fries coated with something, or the chili verde at the new Mexican restaurant, that looked a bit thick. Or something at Johnny Carino’s really wasn’t gluten-free.  The 3 weeks of indigestion and frequent  bathroom trips are just starting to slow down. I went into Evans apartment  a month ago and found him eating Pringles potato chips, and showed him the content list with wheat gluten on the back of the canister. He  had not thought to look on chips, and I had not told him Pringles are forever off-limits. He has been a grump and  ‘slow’, for weeks and now I know why.

Thank God, we don’t drop dead when we ingest wheat, like those who are allergic to peanuts could when they breathe peanut butter fumes. We would all be dead and buried a long time ago. When wheat does pass our lips per accident of the server, and we catch them, we always get the typical apology and then” well you didn’t die so it mustn’t be that bad” kind of response. They just don’t get that it sets off a chain reaction that begins in a few days and lasts for weeks, if not months, and it  is not just a stomach ache.  Yes, many of us will have stomach (bowel) issues, sometimes before we can even leave the restaurant, but there is soooo much more. Our immune systems begins to attack the body, to rid itself of this poison that has entered it. Migraines, joint pain, fibromyaliga flares, psoriasis (grandsons went from an itch to a bleeding sore in just a week) Addictive cravings for wheat, just as a recovered alcoholic would have if you slipped him some alcohol. ADD/ADHD. Sleeplessness. Night terrors. Muscle cramps. diarrhea, constipation, acne flare up, asthma, indigestion, skin rashes, more susceptible to infections. The ingestion of wheat causes a reaction that leads to another that leads to another.

t distressing to say, but, I don’t think I have been totally wheat free for more than 6 months, due to some ‘mess up’, either of my own, or some bonehead in a restaurant. This is frustrating, to say the least. The mistakes I make have been from not reading a label thoroughly, or from having a tried and true gluten free item change it’s ingredients.  Why does Blue Bell Chocolate ice cream have wheat in it? Why must McDonald’s put wheat on their french fries?

The gluten full  public don’t seem to take the gluten less population seriously. Or they just don’t care.  Somehow we gluten free are deemed as health nuts, hippies, freaks. I know when we ask for no bun on our burgers they always seem surprised that  we do want fries and cheese and not just vegetables. Jason’s always brings ‘baked’ healthy chips with the GF sandwiches. Most of us are not watching our carbs, we are not eating healthy, we want all the sweets and fattening stuff out there, just without wheat/gluten.  I don’t know what one with a peanut allergy has to ask for or watch out for when eating out, but I would bet if they do ask the server about peanuts in food, the server will bend over backward to make sure no peanut gets in the customer.Why doesn’t a peanut allergy person get called ‘one of those’ ? The gluten full public seems to have the attitude that we gluten less are making up our illness. We don’t look sick. Like the diabetic doesn’t look sick, until their glucose gets too high.  If one in a wheelchair goes to a restaurant they are given a table that can accommodate the chair, less traffic from those passing by.  When we go to a restaurant and ask for gluten free menus for both, we are brought bread and croutons on our salad. Is it being inconsiderate or ignorant?

There are probably about 10 families in our church that know they are GF.  Recently our church started serving all gluten free communion. PRAISE! For years, we have just passed up the little stale crackers. (No big loss) and concentrated harder on ‘the Body’  while others chewed. 😉 The reason for the change is another GF joined our ranks in the church, the new Pastors wife. Having an ‘in’ has it’s benefits! At first there was a question and trial on how to serve to those few that were GF; Have them raise their hands and be served from special plate? Have them go to back where GF communion was set up?  They asked me to brain storm with them for ideas. It was a short storm. Just serve EVERYONE gluten free! The crackers are blech anyway, gluten free won’t hurt anyone, and gluten full would! We had a couple of hand raising communions, then they started the everyone eat GF. I am sure some are @#%&* about the cracker change, but if they are, they got more to deal with that GF crackers anyway. 😉

I, we, have been passive about our being gluten free. Cringing when we hear of those who are gluten free and cause scenes by having all the condiment bottles cleaned for traces of wheat contamination. I think we have felt some shame on having to ask about coating on fries, or wheat thickener in soup. I know I search the menu for something that just can not have wheat in it to avoid the conversation at all. We don’t want to inconvenience. I am realizing though the concern is not reciprocated. Most people are not concerned for us or ours. They themselves do not want to be inconvenienced.  In truth it is their  job, whether a waitress, cook, child care giver, teacher is serve, the patron whether it be gluten free or not.  Celiac disease/gluten intolerance/wheat allergy is an illness, an autoimmune disease, it should be accommodated, by us and by those who are in contact with us, not opposed. We should expect it, we pay for it.  And if we don’t expect respect for our gluten free request, we will pay in another way.

 

 

 

Posted in Politics

Why Do You Believe That?

Posted on by Christy Petty

The Nina Pinta and Santa Maria, with Christopher Columbus,  never landed on the coasts of the USA, or any North American coast.  I was taught a lie in school, for years. I think they still teach the same lie.(Along with others).  Technically,he did not ‘discover any land, any New World, because the lands he ran into on his way to India/Asia were already inhabited, with Native ‘Americans’. Peoples who had already populated the area’s. Chris did get close, by accident, but no cigar. Or maybe he did get a Havana because he did land in Cuba. I will give him some credit, he did find some ‘new people’ to tell others about. He did somewhat prove that the earth was round and not flat as many ignorant people believed,at that time. He was a great explorer. Though, some say he was not so great to the ‘natives’ he found. He tortured them and enslaved them, which to me is also ironic that the USA would celebrate ole Chris with a national holiday.

I realize more EVERY DAY, the lies we were/are told by the powers that be through media and educators(government influenced).

What was all the government  shut down about? Was it  the Republicans in the senate don’t like President Obama and his Obamacare?.  Is it because the USA does not have enough money to pay it’s bills? Or is it that Obamacare does not work on the internet? Does the website not work because we ran out of money and cant pay our internet bill?  The Debt ceiling had something to do with it, because it got raised.  Kind of backwards thinking actually. Debt means you are in the hole, so the way I see it is ,we actually just dug the hole a bit deeper. Some of the truth of the shutdown is in this article

One main point I think should be taken from this is “Perhaps the biggest of the big lies is that the government will not be able to pay what it owes on the national debt, creating a danger of default. Tax money keeps coming into the Treasury during the shutdown, and it vastly exceeds the interest that has to be paid on the national debt.”  The USA is not out of money. We The People are giving money daily to the government, via taxes taken from our pay checks and the numerous taxes  we pay daily on fees and gasoline and purchases. The money for paying employees, and maintenance and upkeep of parks and government buildings is already budgeted and set aside. Just as our SSI and Medicare is. (supposed to be).  The money was/is there. Even IF the monies were frozen (they were not) pay does not come at the end of each day.  The reason people were furloughed and parks were closed and gliches occured with food stamps is because the evil President and his liberal crohnies were blackmailing those that are trying to save this country , by deceiving We The People into believing the sky will fall ,if we don’t have our government to hold it up. The President wants MORE MONEY to run HIS empire. The senate has asked the president for a budget, and to keep to the budget. The president has refused.

Why do we believe the earth is flat? Why to we believe it is round? Why do we believe a man should be honored for getting lost ?Why do we believe only Africans were enslaved peoples? Why do we believe dinasaurs died off before man walked the earth? Why do we believe blood letting with leaches will cure? Why do we believe wheat is a good food source? Why do we believe public education is best? Why do we believe someones soul leaves their body when they sneeze?  Why do we believe immunizations cure and not infect? Why do we believe only an MD can deliver a baby? Why do we believe we should be free of the tyranny of the Old World monarchy?  Why do we believe chemical additives  are needed in our foods? Why do we believe the side effect is better than the illness? Why do we believe independence means dependence on a government? Why do we believe prejudice is to not agree with someone of a different origin? Why do we believe it is respectful to recognize others idol gods?Why do we believe the world is getting warmer? Why do we believe there was an Ice Age? Why do we believe we can control the climate? Why do we believe in one true God? Why do we believe guns kill people? Why do we believe our government will and can protect We The People from all harm? Why do we believe someone must be crazy to stand and speak of God and His displeasure with this nation? Why do we believe it is right to give support to peoples who will not work? Why do we believe that stopping a beating heart is not murder, as long as it is inside of it’s mother? Why do we believe conservatives to be oppressive and liberals liberating? Why do we believe Obama is a black man? Why do we believe anyone who does not bow down to the liberal dictatorship of our government is of the rebel Tea Party?  Why do we believe a husband is a male and a wife is a female? Why do we believe it is wrong to think that? Why do we believe the President is removing all of the citizens liberties and moving us to communism? Why do we believe there could be a classless society and freedom?

We believe what ever ‘they’ tell us. Truth and lies.  Some of us get lucky and we hear the truth we know it, and believe it. Sometimes we get experienced and we learn the truth. WE ‘got’ Celiac, so we KNOW the truth about wheat.  Some of us get caught up in the rhetoric. Some of us know the truth but are too afraid to stand up and point out the lie. Some of us would rather be dumb and never search out the truth, never take responsibility. Some of us don’t want to admit we are wrong, our pride keeps us down. Some are willing to loose their freedom, but not their lives because they have no hope for change. Even though they voted for it. Some are willing to loose their lives for freedom because they know the only hope is the Truth.

Posted in 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 6

Posted on by Christy Petty

5:12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”   Paul is continuing to explain that is not only ‘OK’ to judge and expel one within the church, but it why it is….6 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?  Why would you go to someone who does not believe in God nor his law to make decisions for you?2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people believers will judge the world? be in a place of superiority over the ‘worldly’ unbeleivers, possibly the example for. And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?Believers have the wisdom of God, the leading of God3 Do you not know that we will judge angels?  the unbeliever angels, the evil angels, believers are superior to. Also Christ did not die for angels, he died for man.  How much more the things of this life!  If we have a future of being with God, so important that we are chosen and received by God, then shouldn’t believers be able to rely on wisdom from God to solve problems? 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? Why go to someone with no knowledge, mere worldly knowledge with problems?  5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? Paul is really pointing out how stupid they are being, accepting the sexually deviant, the liars, the ‘powerful’ and not judging right from wrong themselves. 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already Not only are they not standing for what is right, they are suing each other over issues. All issues CAN be solved with the truth and believing the truth and standing on THE TRUTH, you can not debate the truth . Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. They, the believers, are cheating, lying, manipulating not being TRUTHFUl so they can get their worldly way. Have you ever stretched the truth, omitted some facts,(truth) in order to get a ‘good‘ thing, to oppose evil? All in the name of God? That is cheating, That is doing wrong. Paul is talking to church goers, admonishing for their lying 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?Pretty black and white, many do not want this to say, will not get to inherit the kingdom of God, but that is what I read.  Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.I did not write this, nor say this, Paul did as a spokesman for God, it is in God’s Word, THE TRUTH. Paul is speaking the truth,in love, just as he is telling all believers to.  And that is what some of you were. (sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, greedy, drunkards, slanders, swindlers) I can not think of anyone, myself included who can not claim one of these titles.  But you (those who know they are these, sinners, and accept Jesus Christ as their only WAY)were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. When you believed, that became who you WERE and not who your ARE.

12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. Paul is speaking to the ‘believers’ arguments for salvation, their belief in Christ, is their excuse to NOT be a slave to the ‘law’, they are saved by grace so they can be as immoral as they like.13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will hasn’t happened yet raise us also. We truly only exist for God. God has saved us, for after this world life.  15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? This statement puts far more meaning into sex, even what we consider non meaning, no ‘love’ involved sexual encounter, BINDS two. For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Believers become a part of Christ, Holy Spirit dwells within a believer.

18 Flee from sexual immorality. Remember this stems from and adulterous affair a step son(we hope) is having with his step mother, and the church turning a blind eye to it, because of the people involved.  All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Satan tells us it is our body, if it feels good do it, and IF it hurts anyone it is just ourself. WRONG.  19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? Believers in Christ, HAVE received the Holy Spirit, God gave us this. You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price.  I was bought at a huge price, I am not worth that price. The body of THE perfect Man, Jesus, God with us, was destroyed for me. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

THEREFORE  HONOR   GOD   WITH  YOUR   BODIES. 

Don’t eat wheat. Exercise. Cut back on carbs. Cut back on sugar. Self Discipline. Sleep. Sex with your husband/wife. Relax. No Drugs. Dress well. Read the label, if you can’t pronounce it don’t put it in. Don’t get drunk. Get a great haircut. Get a massage. Smile. Pray. Honor God.

Posted in Rants Raves

Quid pro quo

Posted on by Christy Petty

As of today I am on probation, for 6 months,180 days. I must commit no offenses agaist the laws of the State of Texas or any state including traffic offenses. They tell me actually no traffic offenses, but I am not planning on committing any others, either.

I was accused of failing to yield to a vehicle entering or leaving highway. Accused. By a police officer, who happened to be the vehicle leaving the highway. He is, was and always will be WRONG.

I did yield.  To the vehicle in front of him (another police man) AND to the policeman, who claimed I did not , who was driving very fast (probably to proverbial doughnut shop) behind the first police vehicle, AND to the construction cones that ate up my lane. AND again, to the same policeman as he waved me into his lane ahead of him. Stupid move, on my part, to beleive he was being courteous. The policeman informed me he had it on tape that I was in the postion in front of him, though it was straddeling my ended lane and his traveling lane, so if I contested then he could show what happened. But not his waving me in.

Here are/were my choices for the ‘pleaing of this accusation:

  • Guilty– pay it and it go on driving record-cost Court cost $97 and ticket fee $32, and what ever premium hike insurance comes up with.
  • No Contest/Guilty pay it and pay to go to driving school and it not go on record.–cost $97 and ticket fee $32, $10 driving record from DPS and $25 online driving class.
  • Not Guilty and go to judge or jury trial- my choice. –$200 bond, refundable IF win, and a court fee(which could be $1-higher depending on ? ) IF loose then pay ticket and it goes on record.

Today I received the other option choice, from the city attorney,( who ‘they’ suggest I speak to, though he is not ‘for’ me but for the State of Texas, prosecutor of me).  Probation, pay the  $32 and $97 and be ‘good’ for 6 months. The prosecutor emphasized that it would basically be my word against the policeman who does have a tape of the alleged ‘crime’.  He explained the policeman states  I was beyond the yeild line, so that would go against me.  I agree that I was beyond the line, at the time #2 policeman came, waiting at the cones for him to pass on by. MMMmmm.

So my choice.

What I have to consider:

  • I don’t like to pay anyone any money, for something I, me, myself, don’t get. I am not a good donator. 
  • I don’t like to be accused of something I did not do. And I very much like to point out that.  I don’t like being caught at actually doing wrong either, but I do take responsibility of it.
  • I don’t want to pay extra on insurance, insurance is a pet peeve of mine also.
  • I want to pay the least amount possible to get out of this mess.
  • I don’t like to gamble, it depends too much on the ‘dealer’ and my being able to play my cards right, and ‘they’ not having one up their sleeve.

I chose to take the six months. It is the least amount of money, of all the amounts due. Yes, if I won on trial, which I may have, it would have been  basically nothing, BUT, if I lost, it would cost me more out of pocket and my insurance would go up, double whammy.  No, I don’t get the satisfaction of proving myself innocent, and rubbing the punk kid cop’s face in his wrongness. (Maybe I need to work on this need for vindication)

There is another plus with the 6 months probation, I will be paying attention to my driving all the more.  I will not be fudging on the speed. I will not be talking on the phone in town, and then realize I am driving through a school zone. In checking my p’s and q’s ,just for a day, I realized I have become a slacker driver.. There have been a lot of deadly wrecks here recently. I need to be paying attention. So now I will be.

I think about not ‘doing’ wheat, being a choice. One no one really likes to make. None of us ‘deserves’ being gluten intolerant, we did nothing wrong. Sometimes we resist and won’t accept the fact that there is no way out, other than removing the wheat, and we will try everything else. Pills, masking/treating symptoms, surgery, denial. We will pay with money and pain and misery, instead of just retraining ourselves. Putting ourselves on probation, removing the wheat, and getting better.  Once you make the choice to remove wheat, you find it really did not cost you anything, compared to all you saved, yourself included.

Do the right thing. Go on probation from wheat, for 6 months. Know that if you mess up you will cost you more physically, mentally and monetarily.   Pay attention to the wheat and you will pay attention to everything you put in your body. On 4/12/2013 you will find that you feel better, look better, and think better. You will be better for it.

Posted in Traveling

GF in the Air with BA

Posted on by Christy Petty

We ordered Gluten Free Meals on our flights to and from the States, by checking a box on their web site. It worked.  We ordered Gluten Free on our last trip abroad, with Continental. It worked too.  On BA, the meals served from Houston to London were about the same as the meals received on Continental, rice cakes for our ‘bread’ ,and subbed grapefruit in for dessert. Once we were flying with  with a European Crew and European supplies. we received gluten free bread and fruit with a sauce. One the trip from Zambia to London they lost one of us, so there was only had 1 bread roll for the 2 of us at brunch, which actually worked fine, I had the top skinny and Keith had the bottom FAT and most of the butter.  The main dish seems to always be the chicken with rice.  ALWAYS.  I glance at the other flyers meals and they look gluten free also, somthing beef stewish and steamed fish on rice, I wonder on the ingredients,. Maybe, just maybe they  contain soy sauce, or wheat as a thickener in the gravy?   I think, that they too may be gluten free, they just have not been labeled so.  I am thinking my next change the world mission will be to add to or include gluten free meals into the mainstream of flight cuisine.

The ‘snack’ meal was the same on all flights, egg salad sandwich, with a lot of fresh dill and no  mayonaisse on the bread.  The bread was a great looking white bread, but like most GF bread it really needed the extra moisture of some sauce.  The othe flyers received a ham or turkey and cheese crossiant, again we could have had the guts, if they only would think outside of the pre-packaged airline box.

Posted in Traveling

Traveling Gluten Free

Posted on by Christy Petty

Keith and I are starting a mission into a vacation trek into other parts of the world.  We will be in Zambia South Africa for a time and then we are stopping over in France for a bit!

We will fly Continental with no meals to catch British Airways in big Hub and have Gluten Free meals, 6 over and 6 back.   We will see how British does!!!

The Zambia stay will probably not have much issue with GF eating, unless they try to Americanize for us and add pasta.  France I am totally clueless about, I think I may be wanting of pastries and such. Aren’t the French suppose to be pastry people?  It is an adventure and I will take you along!!

Check in and see what we eat!! I can not promise the posting will be real consistent, seeing we do not know when we will have wi fi- But I know we will once we reach Paris- So for sure in about 10 days I can tell you about Zambia, if not sooner!!

Tune in!