Wednesday, January 24

DH and I did an Alaskan cruise as well and loved it. It is very different than being on open water as there is always something to see on land and it is much calmer. Of course the terrain in Alaska is so different from Caribbean cruises (which I have also been on). As Ann said, the best ones allow for a fair amount of sea time to relax and I felt that the Alaskan one did that (we went on Royal Caribbean, the opposite in size from what Ann described). I'd love to do another cruise, especially in the Mediterranean on one of the smaller ships, but whether we do depends on how DH fares over the next few years. We are planning a European vacation on land for 3-4 weeks this fall, so if possible (if that goes well) maybe a cruise next year, but we will see.

Thanks for the info Ann. I have been on two cruises and they were both great. But they were mega ships and I think I would like a smaller one. Went on mega ship because I thought they would be more stable. Not an issue. But last cruise I learned to call room service at 4 pm and have them bring me cookies and milk. No can do now.

I will check out the site. Thanks again. Diane S

I was scared to weigh today, but decided WTH and was shocked by 186! yay! small victories.

Paula-I didn't get that reference but I normally do! I was born a couple decades too late.

As proof positive I offer up that I went to the Moody Blues concert last night. It's incredible they can perform at that level at a 50 yr anniversary tour! I've always been a classic rock fan and vinyl snob. You never can know how many more opportunities we'll have to hear these performers. I think I heard Neil Diamond is retiring? This past year DH and I went to Tom Petty and it was INCREDIBLE. Of course he's no longer with us. And Paul McCartney is fab-u-lous. I know aging will be extremely difficult on me because I'm so resistant to new: new technology, new artists, etc. But honestly...will Demi Lovato be filling up a concert venue in 50 years? Maybe I'll be proved wrong. #oldladyrantover.

Actually now that DH and I have caught up on our tv series, I think it's time to break out my Carol Burnett show DVDs I got for my birthday :)

Why is making friends so hard, especially as an adult? I know I've griped about this before. But it's so hard, especially when you don't have convenient friendships like work friendships. I'm blessed to have a lot of people who would call me their "friend", and I theirs, and want to come to a baby shower, etc. But those people you can call up last minute for lunch? Nope. Or cry to? Nope. Are these just made up things in Hollywood? Do they really exist? And then you see those good friendships that you put so much work into and how fragile they still are. Example: My dad has a friend since college (so about 45 years). They've been friends through kids and out of state moves, etc. Friend starts new job. Dad calls friend. Friend FACEBOOK MESSAGES my dad to tell him he cannot accept personal calls between 7am-7pm. First: he's a 64 year old exec!! Second: 12 hours?! Third: Couldn't you have just called my dad at 7pm and said "hey bud, I've really missed talking but I'm swamped here so I don't think I'm going to be able to take calls during office hours." You'd think a 45 year friendship would warrant something better than a curt facebook message. (I internalize way too much as you probably can tell. But my dad is the sweetest, gentlest, most loyal person I know, who also happens to be incredibly sensitive and this just broke his heart :( )

But today's going to be a good day! I scored a brand new bedroom set on Craigslist for $900 that's exactly what we needed for the baby room!!! It was never used, in mint condition, and is nice and durable enough that she'll probably use it well throughout her childhood. Woohoo.

What!!! The Moodie Blues are still out there? Love it. Diane S

I love the Carol Burnett show!!

Oh my goodness - so much good chatter today! I'll never remember it all to comment on everything!

Mary, you are very welcome. Just like Ann is experiencing help from other widows, I am happy to help others that are going through things that I have/am going through! I benefit from it too. Kind of like all of us on this board sharing our trials, successes, lives with each other!

Shel - massage is scheduled for tomorrow - yay! Walked a bit at lunch today, so that counts for at least 1/2 and exercise session. I hear ya about painful MFP logging. Six oatmeal cookies yesterday! Thankfully I have only had 2 today! Hope you feel better soon.

Ann, glad you were able to talk with your yoga/widow friend. I have a good friend that lost her DH to cancer probably 15 years ago, he was only 32. She has been a great resource to me. Glad you had your pie too!

BB - so many great tidbits from you today, you were on a roll! Congrats on the nursery furniture find!

Diane O - good luck at the doctor's appts. Hope that heart of yours checks out fine and everything with Chuck checks out fine too!

Diane S - vacation planning sounds divine! Hope you are able to find just what you are looking for! I personally have never travelled anywhere that I needed a passport (went to the Bahamas as part of a cruise but we didn't need a passport - not sure if that is still true). Hope to change that one of these years!

Dave - baby pics please!!!!!

Cecily - we need some more hiking pics from you too!

Liz - Glad you are finding some games that DH is enjoying. Maybe the more active games like cornhole and jenga are just "the ticket"!

Need to log MFP before going out to dinner to see how much leeway I have! Lol!

Yea for your scheduled massage. I've thought about that, too.

Think I'll put that on my calendar. :)

Weight 163.6

Back home today! I went to Pilates and have a few hours before my painting class tonight. But next up is brushing out my dog's crazy pool-tangled fur, lest someone on our walks think he's being neglected. He was so funny on our walk this morning... There were two women on a park bench eating an early Chick-Fil-A lunch that included fries. You could smell them in the air. Fergus stopped dead in his tracks and sat right in front of them refusing to move. I explained, "he really likes fries" mentally adding, so does his momma. Let me tell you, getting an 85 pound dog to move when he doesn't want to is hard! It took a lot of pulling to get him moving again without getting a fry.

We got to spend some time with a golden puppy yesterday named Annie. She belongs to my dad's neighbors and is 4 months old. So sweet! It takes very little to make me want a puppy, and that certainly made me think. Fergus seemed to like playing with her. They took turns holding the ball and following each other around. Hmmm.

On the food front, I need to get back to making better choices. I'm still in the same 5 pound range, but I know I can make better choices even with the same calories. Namely, fewer empty carbs and sweets.

Onward!

Very funny image of Fergus sitting in front of the fry-eating people and refusing to move. Very funny.

BTW, a pet would be so comforting for me right now. But my obligations to it would feel enormous. So no pet for me. Not now.

Can you borrow a pet? So many people have dogs that never get out for walks.