What are you reading now?

[Linda and "Toby"]

It will be fun to share books we love! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There are all kinds of personal trainers, and the majority of them are not only not degreed in any related field, but some personal trainer certifications can be purchased by taking a weekend seminar or mail-order course, without ever having worked one-on-one with a single human being. You want someone who has a degreee in physiology, kinesiology, or some related field, and preferably someone with ACSM or CSCS certification. (Look at the letters carefully, because there are certifications with every possibly combination of those letters, designed to confuse you.) There should be a specialization in rehab work or special populations. In addition, you want someone with a lot of experience under their belt, i.e. they have worked with dozens if not hundreds of people and can give references. Unfortunately, most of the trainers working in most gyms, unless they are in a supervisory capacity, are not very experienced, simply because that's sort of where you get your experience when you're fresh out of school, and the pay isn't very good.

A physical therapist is probably your best bet, but you need a doctor's order for that.  

[F, Calla & Luca]

Also, I think that physiatrists, or Doctors of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as they are officially known, are a good place to start. They can order the tests and physical therapy, give you treatments but they don't do orthopedic surgery. If need be they can refer to surgeons but why start there?

[Linda and "Toby"]

We definitely need to exercise caution and common sense when it comes to traditional vs holistic healing. I must say, however, that I have personally witnessed some genuine "miracles" performed by a healer (an elderly woman named Patsy Ruth Welding who passed away a few years ago, whom I loved and adored - she was a truly gifted psychic) that make me lean towards taking a holistic route if/when I ever come down with a serious illness. Hopefully, I will never have to make that choice. 

Side note - one day, as I was in the middle of typing an email to a friend, I recalled something that Patsy had told me several years ago. I got really excited, and was telling my friend about it, when suddenly my laptop that was sitting on a nearby bookcase (which I hadn't used in weeks) turned itself ON!!! The sound of the Windows Vista melody that plays at startup made me jump. I caught my breath as the power button on the side began to glow. What are the odds that my laptop would turn itself on at that moment? While the lid was down/shut??? And just as I had recalled an important message Patsy had given me before she passed away? Coincidence? Perhaps. I prefer to believe it was her way of letting me know she is always nearby and she "hears" me. It's comforting.  :)

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Do dogs Laugh? Just started it.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I don't know about laughing, but they definitely do smile.  Hey, that might be a great focus for the weekly slideshow.  Dog Smiles.

[Linda and "Toby"]

That would be adorable. I used to have a Lab who wrinkled his nose and showed a big, toothy smile whenever he was really happy. It was soooo cute! (If you didn't know it was a smile, it would have scared you - haha!)

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Right now I am reading Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz which I am enjoying.  I have read The Puppy Listener by Jan Fennell several times since we got our Australian Labradoodle on Valentine's Day.  This is a terrific book for those of us who have new puppies. 

For enjoyment I read The Help by Kathryn Stockett and loved it.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I also loved The Help.  Borders is closing here, so I went in and got a bunch of books.  Should keep me busy for a few weeks.  Anybody read the book Heaven is Real?  My friend recommended it to me and I bought another copy for my mother.  I'm not a religious person, but the book was great.

[Linda and "Toby"]

MY mother in law just loaned me that book. I saw the family on the Today show and I'm looking forward to reading it. Have you read "Embraced by the light?" It's several years old, but timeless, and very good. 

Oh, my gosh I've got so many books to read now and zero time to do it! I'm itching to read A Dog's Purpose. I've had it on my iPad for months!

[Anna and Achilles]

I loved that book!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Me too.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Haven't read it, but I will put it on my list.  Is it available as an e-book?