06/25/18, Monday

Paula, the pictures from the celebration of Ben's life were so heart warming ! May all of the positives illuminated by this experience sustain you in the days to come ! All of the adventure planning is certainly getting me thinking ! Who knew I'd ever be filtering destinations by the associated activities available !? Peps, congratulations on your fabulous achievements at this past weekend's shows ! How are your plans to take August off and cut back a bit in July progressing ? May the force be with all of the healers, home improvers, life balancers, creative outlet finders, movers and groovers, sleep seekers, and life lovers !

Yes, Shel... you saw right through me ! I do love my mowing !! However, this is the second time I really wanted to get it done on Friday, due to forecast and plans, but "saved" DH some mowing, then ended up playing catch up on Monday. Big deal...little deal. Sadie, Atlas, DH and I meet our new vet today. DH is taking time off from work to join us. Wednesday, I have my monthly ninety minute massage. Friday, Atlas resumes his formal service dog training, after recuperating from his tummy troubles.

Weight ?, calories 648 (protein 100,carbs 5, fat 23). I usually don't post those details, but the carb number made me chuckle. I'm eliminating as many carbs as possible for 2-3 days to calm my carb cravings from vacation. I guess I was successful yesterday. I'm also holding off on weighing for a few days while I am in this eating mode.

All the laundry got done and clothing put away yesterday, plus I did some food shopping. My jewelry is gone for good - our friend who is still in Aruba checked with the resort and since I've unpacked everything it isn't tucked away anywhere. So I just ordered the watch I originally bought on Amazon 6 years ago. I was amazed that they still had it but I love tha****ch.

Today is back to normal routine. I've walked Justice for the first time. Yoga at 9, Alzheimers group at 1 and ophthalmologist appointment for DH at 4:30. Our deck guys should be finishing either today or tomorrow, so then we can finally put all the patio furniture out. I have to clean the house after they are done, as they had to pass through the house to bring the material to the deck, so it got dirty and dusty fast in the main rooms.

Paula, what a wonderful tribute to Ben. He was truly a well rounded and well accomplished man and he obviously will be remembered by many.

Have a mainly good Monday!

Oh Liz, that's so upsetting about your jewelry! I wear mine through the screener and haven't had a problem. Have you set off the detectors with it before?

Yes I did in the past, which is why I did this. Sigh...

Liz, last time I went through customs in the Caribbean (Barbados) I "lost" a very important piece of jewelry. Will NEVER carry real jewels with me (unless I'm wearing them) to that part of the world again.

I actually don't bring my best stuff and these should have been in my pocketbook which doesn't leave my possession. It was my error somewhere along the way. I also had a necklace stolen on my honeymoon in Bermuda when I left it in my luggage so I am careful about that too.

Weight: 133.2
Macros: Cals 1,479, Carbs 156, Fats 34, Protein 97, Fiber 27
Sleep hours: 6.5
Vegetable/Fruit Servings: 10
Exercise: Deck yoga (45")

Sounds like we all had good weekends. DianeO, thanks for getting us started this week. Enjoy your 90-minute massage -- wowzah! And Liz, I admire your post-vacation discipline. Showin' us how it's done. ;)

Devon, huge congratulations to you and Tank for your big wins at the dog show this weekend. I loved seeing your two happy faces alongside each other's on Facebook. :)

And in VSG maintenance news, this morning I weighed the same again. That's three days in a row. I like that. :)

I haven't reported on V/Fs lately, so yesterday's 10 (!) servings came from little multi-colored potatoes sautéed in spray olive oil with lots of sliced green onions tossed with spring greens (Nicoise style with tuna and a boiled egg), blueberries, avocado, greens, peppers, plantain, and perfectly ripened cantaloupe. Yesterday morning I spent an hour cutting fruit and veggies and prepping/cooking food that otherwise would have gone to waste. I felt engaged and productive -- and a bit self-righteous, since I'm not an avid or capable chef.

Yesterday's long, slow rains were great for the creeping drought that ails us. Mercifully, it held off during the sunrise hour, and I enjoyed my Sunday morning deck yoga, this time with all my clothes on. We may get more rain today.

Today includes aquarobics, physical therapy, and lunch with friends (an older couple, i.e., older than me) whom I adore but haven't seen in several years. HOW does that happen - that we don't see people we really like who live just a few miles away? That's not cool.

Every day I'm getting more excited about my trip. Am now inhaling books set in Venice, including rereading Thomas Mann's "Death in Venice" and starting a recommended 1990s novel "Dark Lagoon" with protagonist Italian police detective (Aurelio Zen). Several years ago on another cruise I read the dishy 2006 non-fiction "The City of Fallen Angels" by John Behrendt, who wrote "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." I realize that nobody else probably cares about any of this stuff, but at the moment I've got a little crush on Venice.

Today's theme: Fall in love - every day!

I care about your books! What a delicious pastime. And I love your Venice jag.

I have been listening to the Overstory by Richard Powers on my hikes. Environmental Fiction.

Sometimes it is a little too tree-sy for my taste. But, then I look at the surroundings of my hike and realize I am in the exactly right spot for for this book. So, why not?

I never know what to do with plantain. I have had it at Mexican restaurant on the side of the main dish (delicious!). But, what do YOU do with it?

The plantain comes in this -- Healthy Choice Cuban-Inspired Power Bowl. It's not a whole veggie serving, but it's a surprisingly substantial portion.

I just took a screen print so I can look for these books. I loved Venice (I hope I get to go there again some day).