Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Weight 118, calories 929. I hate that my calories have been low the last couple of days but my weight has gone up both days. I know it will go back down, but boy I always hate that.

The walking group is going out to lunch at a restaurant today which we haven't been to. They seem to do that every 2-3 weeks. This morning is chilly again (52), but hopefully it won't go back to the 30's as it was a few weeks ago.

I'm getting most of the important tasks checked off my list slowly. I was hoping the cushions would get covered this week but they haven't called for me to bring them in (though they did get the fabric at the end of last week). The garage screen people measured yesterday and I put the down payment in for that, but it will be 4-5 weeks before they are installed. Everything in Florida seems to be in slow motion. The tubular skylight company recommended to me won't even talk to me until May (when I won't be here of course). I guess I have to call a few months before we arrive????

DH has been stewing for a few days because he says I won't let him do things. He wanted to go to the orientation for the Animal Shelter, but I wanted to go first to find out what is involved. He tried to volunteer at home at a food bank and they wouldn't let him, so I wanted to see if this would work. It will, but he has to be with me. I was also talking about house cleaning and said he didn't have to help. The last time he tried doing any of that I realized that he missed spots everywhere so I had to go over everything. So it really isn't worth having him do it. He doesn't see spots on the floor and doesn't pick up things. He used to do the bathroom but now he does one or two areas and then forgets what he did and thinks he is done. Sigh... Thanks for listening to my gripes!

Have a tremendous Tuesday!

Good morning ! I did some research on segments of the Appalachian Trail with Inns. There is a rustic option in Virginia, and some nicer Inns in Massachusetts and Vermont. The Vermont option offers shuttles of luggage between B & B's. The Massachusetts option has the most elevation challenge, up Mt. Greylock. https://www.appalachiantrail.org/.../inn-to-inn-hikes-on-the -a-ta99ad66668ce6efcb07 Many of the options are already booking up for summer, and prices jump up for fall foliage.

3" of fresh snow, so I hope to ski after I shovel. Sadie and I had a negative experience during our therapy dog visit yesterday. Sometimes I wonder if I am too rigid a rule follower, but I believe the TDI (Therapy Dog International) rule about one dog per handler is there for a reason. An elderly gentleman brings two giant golden labs. His wife, also a certified handler who works in the district, meets us in the library for part of the time. One of the golden labs gets jealous if other dogs get too much attention, and can encroach space and be overly assertive, sometimes barking and "rumbling" ****il yesterday, I never heard him growl). At the end of our 90 minute session, the man had his two dogs alone, there were three other handlers and our dogs. There were five middle school students and two staff remaining. This dog pulled to the very limits of his leash, and was barely under physical control. He growled, barked, and charged Sadie. She was between the dog and me and her hackles went up and she growled/barked right back, and postured to defend me, but she was physically under my control and I maneuvered her away. The students were fine.. they were actually quite oblivious... it was all so fast. I was pissed. Therapy work is stressful for dogs... they don't need this kind of crap. I told the TDI organizer that Sadie and I would attend visits where each dog had a certified handler who could control their behavior and if that was not the case, I wouldn't put Sadie in that position again.

Here's to shoveling putting me back in the zone !

Late summer or fall would the best times to go in the New England area as the spring can be really wet.

Diane, I would be so be in your camp about everyone having to follow therapy dog handler rules.

Good for you!

Yikes about the dog charging Sadie. Ever since I was attacked by a dog at age 18, I can't handle any aggressive dog. Several times when my kids were young, we had to retreat from a neighborhood walk due to one aggressive yellow lab (which are usually not so aggressive dogs). I wouldn't be able to break up a dog fight out of fear. I seriously had PTSD for a long time after the attack (ripped 1/2 my nose off and sliced through the area just above my upper lip)!

No wonder you had PTSD!

Yow Paula, awful about your dog attack. A terrible injury. I was bitten by a boxer at a young age on the face. I like nearly all dogs but not those. DS

Weight: 187.6 Staying pretty steady there the last few days.

I think I'm finally starting to feel all the glorious side effects of pregnancy. It's not really so bad, it's just that I've been so lucky so far to pretty much have none of the symptoms, so it's more of a curiosity having them now than a complaint. I'm not sleeping well and not sure if that's from anxiety/excitement or some hormonal insomnia + small bladder. My stomach has also been a little on edge...Dr. suggested maybe it's reflux (which I have all the time anyway) but I also wonder if there just isn't much room anymore.

Yesterday was the first time that a random stranger asked me about my pregnancy. People must have questioned before, but most people aren't so bold! I don't mind, though. I'm actually a little tickled. I made it 34.5 weeks...not too shabby.

I'm having a hard time remaining present. I really want to enjoy these last few weeks of pregnancy, but I'm so preoccupied with trying to anticipate all the ways in which life will change...which is insane to even attempt to do. But hey, I'm a control freak and a planner so that's how I cope. I'm also a little bummed that I have to get serious about food choices again in a few weeks. I didn't do THAT bad during pregnancy, but there was definitely a leniency I never allowed myself in life.

On that note, I've started trying to think about my meal plans/stocking the freezer for baby. But so many of the recipes are for crap food. There are some healthy chilis and stews, but the vast majority are for things like pasta casseroles and burritos. I don't mind eating a little of that on occasion, but that is just not the kind of diet I need post-baby. Will have to investigate more.

DH and I had a busy weekend. We had a date night out at a steakhouse followed by the symphony (I figure these will be few and far between in the following year!). Saturday we moved in the rest of Nugget's furniture. All that remains in the nursery is a rocker, a rug, and some decorations! And her of course! We then had a couple couples over for game night. Sunday we visited my parents and DH helped them to keep their pool from freezing.

Yay! Nugget is finally making her self know by your baby bump! I was showing (no kidding) at 12 weeks with my first!

Here's a bump shot at 34 weeks (last Thursday)