The Gallon Challenge

I sometimes get these crazy ideas to improve my health. Sometimes I feel like my body is just my place for experimentation. I was listening to the radio in my car last week and the D.J.s were
talking about how they were going to do the gallon challenge for a month to see if their health improved. They were talking about all the benefits and mentioned before and after pictures of people who had completed the challenge so I decided that I needed to at least look into it.

I was reading about chronic dehydration and it turned out I had half of the symptoms listed, although I can't vouch for the accuracy of the website. The other thing I learned is that people at high altitudes have a greater need for water than the usual recommendations. I am also pretty sure that people who live in the desert need to drink more water. I figured I was a good candidate for the challenge so I decided to make the commitment.

So far so good. At first I had a few mild headaches before I went to bed the first couple of nights. I guess that is pretty normal because as your water percentage changes in your body, your brain swells and shrinks. As for drinking too much water, according to what I read, that usually happens when a person drinks six gallons in a day or drinks 2 liters within an hour. Yea for water!

Marie's Method

Marie has been out here in Utah visiting me for the last two weeks and it was interesting watching her meet people and make friends with total strangers over and over again. As I watched her I noticed that there were usually a couple of steps she followed.

1. Compliment the stranger on something, it may be their earrings, their shoes, their shirt, their sunglasses, their hairy legs, their dress or anything really to get a smile on their face and get them to acknowledge you.
2. Introduce yourself by extending your hand, telling them your name and then asking them what their name is.
3. If they have a dog ask them what their dog's name is and if you can hold or pet it.
4. Tell them that your birthday is coming up and ask them if they can come to your birthday party dinner at Applebee's.
5. Ask your sister if she can take a picture of you and your new friend.

I probably watched her run through this routine 20 times during her stay.  Somehow I think if I were to follow her steps I wouldn't quite get the same results. Here are pictures of a few of the friends she made. 

Sometimes she broke from the steps like the time we were leaving Applebee's for her birthday dinner and we were passing a waitress that was wiping down a table. Marie stopped and started to rub the woman's back along her spine before she introduced herself and told the waitress that it was her birthday. I think Marie might have caught her just a little bit off guard. It was moments like this and when she started to touch a stranger's tattoo or rubbing a guy's leg that made my mom worry and talk to her about appropriate touch. Such a crack-up. You never really know what that girl is going to say or do next.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIE!!!