Sunday December 11

Nice couple of days on the relaxing front. 

I read Diane O.'s comment about her retirement countdown being in the single digits and I had to laugh because this morning while still in bed at shortly after 8:00 am, I thought, now won't this be nice when I retire - a full 7-8 hours feeling like it's time to get out of bed. I still have many years of teaching ahead of me, but I can start dreaming right?

Intense workout on Friday with the trainer. My chest is still quite sore this morning. As per usual after a workout like that my weight has gone up a couple of pounds. Then yesterday was not the best food day at the party. I was truly amazed there was no fruit, no salad, no veggie tray. Little Smokies, dips, chips, cheese, crackers, and sweets. Thank goodness I went having had a decent breakfast. I ate a rib and some baked beans a few over cooked green beans (the only vegetable to be found) and a small spoon full of a baked potato casserole and half of a dinner roll. Don't know if it was the baked beans or the potato or the roll, but the beast was awakened and I could have friggin' devoured the entire dessert table. Not a single sugar craving all week and then WHAM! It was a battle the rest of the day. On the way home I bought a pint of Halo Top to help me through. I'm not going to lie, it did help. I ate probably a third of the pint. 

I can feel the stiffness in my fingers from the sudden water increase and the scale reflected it this morning. It's okay. I'm not terribly disappointed with myself. Perhaps just a little bit because I had intended on being full on a protein based meal before going and I did not do that. My weekly weigh in is tomorrow, so I don't think I will show that 5.8 loss tomorrow for the week. Perhaps a 4 lb loss, which is still pretty good for a single week, right? Right! 

Looking forward to another "free day" on my end. Oh, boy could I get used to this no obligation weekend thing really quickly. It's pretty awesome! 

Greetings Valiant Maintainers

Well just a few more weeks and the Season of "Stuff Yourself" will be over. I think we are all doing pretty well through this time. You guys are being far more challenged than I am with the school sugar buffets, kids cookies and family baking traditions. I used to love to bake Christmas cookies and have a huge folder of special recipes after years of experiments. Quit doing it years ago and never looked back. But I do miss the apricot cardamum pecan drops. 

Glad China has a good warm place thats convenient. Dogs bring so much to our lives but it takes work too. So sorry Sadie is sick again. Doesn't the doggie day care require proof of vaccinations for kennel cough for all patrons? Our kennel here is very strict about that.

But just think Diane O, soon you will be retired and can do stuff with Sadie all day. I admit I love being retired and can sleep in. Though I have lots to do and don't get paid for most of it, I love it when my Google calendar says "you have no events scheduled today".

Actually I have a guy scheduled to come today to cut brush and stuff in the back yard. He works a lot for a friend of mine so should be ok. 

Well the bad news is 132 today, up a half. Ate a fair amount of cheese yesterday while tending our studio holiday art sale. Its there for our customers but calls to me when I walk by. Art studio party tonight but don't know if I will make it. 

Well, heres hoping for world peace (fat chance) and inner peace to us all (good chance). Diane S

P.S, Dave there is a thing called a "Snuggle Safe" that you get at a pet shop. Its a plastic disc that you heat in a microwave and it stays warm for 7-8 hours. We got it when we had puppies. put it under a blanket and they can get on it or away. We use it now for our 7 month old puppy under her crate pad. Might help China stay warm.  Diane S.

I have an electric heater that slips under the dog bed. It got too hot and almost melted the floor. Now I have an electric oil filled space heater and a brooder light. The room is 8x8 so she is nice and toasty. It stays above 50.