Monday November 6 2017

Weight 116.5, calories 833. In exactly one week I turn in my work equipment, sign papers and I'm done! Hard to believe. Today I am going into the office late morning for the next to last time mainly because I'm going to a dinner after work.

Devon, you sound incredibly stressed. It's hard not to revert to our old patterns when stressed out day after day. Hopefully your therapist can help with coping techniques (maybe reinforcing them more than anything for you at this point)? One of the sessions I enjoyed at the OH conference was developing a plan to deal with crisis situations (that was the one with the free book download). I plan on reading the book to see if I can develop a plan for myself. I know the crisis is going to happen sooner or later, I just don't know when.

DH and I did a 4 mile walk along the Cape Cod Canal after lunch yesterday at a great restaurant on the canal. The bridge in the pictures below is the Sagamore bridge which we take when going to Boston, but the bridge closes to us and we use most often is the other one, the Bourne bridge.

Have a monumental Monday!

Weight: 131.6
Macros: Cals - 1,494, Carbs - 173, Fat - 59, Protein - 90, Fiber - 16
Veggies/Fruits (goal 8): 3
Sleep (goal 8 hours): 8 hours
Exercise: Walking

Yesterday I just wasn't into V/Fs, which totaled only 3 servings and came from tomatoes, peppers, onions, romaine lettuce, and sweet potatoes. We had pizza for lunch (first time in a long time), which dulled my appetite for the rest of the day, so calories were lower than lately.

The highlight of Sunday was a lovely 3-mile walk in breezy weather under falling leaves.

And for some reason, this weekend turned into a football marathon. Football's not normally our thing, but after the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game on Saturday, which we sort of stumbled onto (yowzah!), we just kep****ching.

Today's theme is brought to you by the Mamas and the Papas: "Monday, Monday, so good to me."

Good Morning !

With enough coffee, I'll adjust to Daylight Savings time !! Sadie is making out like a bandit as I find myself offering additional food and treats out of guilt for her experience. I wonder how much I do that with food with humans !? The discomfort that question generates gives me my answer. I am much less of a food pusher than I was, but food and treats for others is still deeply linked to nurturing, care and love. Have to look at that.

A self care plan for potential (inevitable) crisis is a great idea. I, like others here, have to revisit my daily self care routine. I'm not getting in as much exercise or spiritual time as I know I need, to function at my best. I need to look at that too.

My brother and one of my sisters are bringing my 89 year old mom from the town the three of them live, here to see the new house and to have lunch. I've been to them, but they haven't been here. Have to pick up a bit before that happens.

Have a self care forward day !!

Food = love, support. It's not a completely crazy equation in many situations. But for some of us (cough!) it does go off the rails and down into the ditch.

I'd like to hear more of your thoughts about this.

Nice pictures Liz! Yay for single digits of work days left!

147.8 today. Did nothing spectacular to earn the loss but I will take it.

Work today and will also get on the phone to try our best to get the CT scan moved a little earlier. Soooooo hard to wait to hear if this is even treatable or not. I'm guessing probably not but at least we would know one way or the other and can start planning. I'm scheduled to work Christmas but will try to get off if Ben wants to travel to see his family.

Still tired!

Paula

I really love where we've come in maintenance. I actually think I feel encouraged by our struggles and survivals!! We're no longer in the honeymoon phase. That's okay. Life changes and we must adapt. And we're doing that!! Keep at it, good friends! Please don't think that struggle=failure.

Weight: 170.8

I'm bizarrely happy it went back down. 173.8 10 days ago was just too craaazy. But I do think baby's putting on weight, so I know to expect this month could be a growth spurt. So I'm at about 16lbs. up at 22 weeks. A little on the high end but I hope I"m managing it. I have felt a lot hungrier the past few days.

We know all about BEDLAM!! Boomer Sooner! My husband, dad, sis, and I are all OU fans, and my other sis, BIL, and mom and OSU fans. But my sis and bil left the kids and went to the game, making my mom the odd man out. It was a little uncomfortable. But with 4 grandkids running around, we didn't get to really watch the game anyhow.

DH and I smoked a pork shoulder on BGE Friday night and it was so good. HOnestly I could eat nothing but bbq for the rest of my life and be happy.

Yesterday was a busy day of taking down Halloween decorations and then trying to prepare the living and dining room for wood floor installation. Yep, we're about to do the flooring thing again. Hopefully this is the last change we'll make, at least before baby. And since the flooring store is installing them, I'm hoping their "be done by Friday' estimate is correct! Because just a week later, Thanksgiving company arrives!!

I have been doing nothing. Didn't take my stimulant yesterday. Slept on an off yesterday and of course slept poorly last night. I am back to trying to be productive today and may go back to the house on Wed or Thurs. Grout to put in and lots of painting. Painting is easier on the back. I am eating but nothing tastes like it should. Not even N&Y. Ate the toppings off of a pizza for supper last night. Coffee, now that is still good. I did manage to walk ride the dog. I took the RTV and gave China, our pit bull, a walk and I got out and hiked around the water but for the most part it was doing something not work related and not sleeping. More riding than hiking. China loves the water. Head under water and everything.

Diane O, I can't believe your dog caretaker just did not show. No call. Nothing.

Liz, hang in there working on these terms are almost over.

Shel, we had a house cleaner one day a week when we were at the children s home we worked at. It was a god send. I could use one in a week or so at the house. Good suggestion.

Paula, It is so important that you and Ben take care of yourselves. You both have so much on you. I can only imagine the stress you are under. Find a way to treat yourself. Prayers seem so inadequate but both of you are in my prayers.

Diane S, slothdom and out of coffee do not go well together. Makes me panic.

Kairk, my FIL was in education most of his life in university setting. They did not mess with his teaching plans much. Certain programs needed him to include specific content. I am sure there were little things but have you thought about a more adult learning setting? You seemed pretty content with your setting until now.

BB, Good thought about struggles and survivals. Could be used in other areas of life.

Cecily, that is a lot of steps.

More later, David

pictures of the dog walk. Found a hawk feather. I think it is a $10K fine if you possess it.

Ann does this look familiar to your area?

Yes, Dave ... so familiar! Although it's more hilly around here than it looks like in these pix.

I had no idea there was a $10K fine for possessing a hawk feather. We have so many hawks around here (all kinds, but mostly red-tailed hawks) and see feathers like this on the ground often.

Greetings Marvelous Maintainers

Cool bridge photos Liz. Nice to sort of have a destination for hikes. And nice to be in the single digit retirement countdown.

Ditto Dave's pictures. Beautiful walk site. Makes me feel guilty for not taking advantage of all the trails and views here.

Ok, weight is up to 141.5!!!! Oh the horror! Yesterday was a bad day. I had a sort of anxiety attack and buried it in junk food which DH keeps around. I think the attack was brought on by an endless string of emails about furniture at Pat's apartment and who did it belong to and what should be done about it and repeating stuff. I wanted to say I don't know and I don't care but could not be impolite to old lady who is trying to do the right thing. That plus DH was binge watching the 12 Monkeys, a creepy sci fi show that just put me on edge. And contracts came in on mom's house for me to review and they were all wrong. And DH is obsessed about how Tesla won't eat and wants me to fix it immediately. And further I found a new nodule of Dupuytrens disease on my right hand and it hurts and does not bode well for the future. Anyway I got through it and should have taken a walk (it was raining). But today is sunny and I have new resolve to get moving. Enough whining. Those potato chips did NOT fly into my mouth. I put them there. Its on me.

Hey Paula I hope you can rest and that the test issues resolve soon. Nothing is more exhausting than worrying about a problem when you can't take any action on it.

Glad others like college football - one of the great treats of fall.

BB sounds like you and baby are doing well. Any more kicks? We want to hear about them.

Dave sounds like you need a rest day after all you have been doing. We are not young kids ya know and downtime needed. Hope the little bugs are departing. Years ago we found a huge wasp nest under the house eaves. I mean big as a water mellon. We decided to call someone to remove it as it was not for amateur hour.

Well I am going to treat myself soon to a trip to Bed Bath and Beyond. I have a little extra money and decided I need to get rid of these old kitchen towels I hate and worn out bath towels and old pillows that are grubby and uncomfortable. And I will toss the old ones and not keep them around. So there.

Have a great week all. I used to hate Mondays but now I see them as a new start. The glass is half full and all that. Or in my case its the coffee cup is half full. Diane s