Sun, July 8th

Hello all!

DianeS, the book is The Overstory by Richard Powers. David, you might look into it, too. I think you would enjoy the writing style as well as the.....I don't know....the celebration of the tree culture (intelligence?) and human's many relative deficiencies.

Yesterday's hike up to Camp Muir went well. It was overcast for most of the middle section -- mountaineers call it being in a ping pong ball. Camp Muir itself was above those clouds but the very top of Rainier was mostly obscured. The very few times the sun barely broke thru, it became hot within seconds. It would have been miserably hot, even on snow, if there had been any sun.

(Cecily, your heat!!!!!! Are locusts next?)

Things I learned that I didn't know before yesterday include: 1) Mountaineers go incredibly slow, from the first step. And the farther you have to go, the slower your cadence. 2) Mountaineers use a rest step (to save energy) and pressure breathing (to improve gas exchange at altitude)

I think I'll consider going all the way to the top next year. I would have to up my physical game (everything! endurance, strength, flexibility) but looks like I am within striking distance. Next year is my 10 year cancer-versary (an ugly, ugly word, no matter how you spin it) and I wouldn't mind marking it with something epic. Or, I could go to Maui. Who knows.

Go find YOUR recess, today! (I'm jelly of those you have puppies for recess. Peps, I am sure you are exhausted....but how glorious!!!!!)

Shel

Well thank goodness you can have a 10 year cancer-versary! And be so fit and active! I am glad you are here enjoying all the beauty Shel.

Weight 117.8, calories 1451. Company is gone so I can return to my normal schedule of eating. I am finding that my restriction is still more pronounced with protein after my low carb week a couple back, but carbs can be added in between of course... I've continued thinking about head hunger and realized that I rarely actually feel hungry unless I am at home or I see food that I crave. So I am back to wondering, is it ALL head hunger (meaning that I am really like those people who say they are never hungry except that they must not have the head hunger part)??

Sleep was a little elusive last night. I woke up around 3 because of a beep, which repeated about every 5-10 minutes so I was awake until 5 when I went downstairs on the couch. I did sleep until 8 though. I have no idea what it was but think it might be DH's phone which is missing and isn't getting calls again. It may soon be time to cancel his phone. He is wearing the GPS watch and likes the concept, though he couldn't figure out how to pick up a call from me when I tried it while he was on a walk (I showed him at home but he forgot). It does track beautifully though - I know exactly where he is. BIL has downloaded the app and was chuckling yesterday when he could see where we were in Chatham.

DH had a good night last night when we had a cookout at home instead of going out. That was good because Friday and a lot of the day yesterday were zombie time for him.

Today the options are kayaking on our pond, going to the last day of the Wampanoag Pow Wow (next town and we know a lot of the participants), or beach. It is another perfect day like yesterday with sun, warmth (but not hot), and low humidity.

Happy Birthday to Ben in heaven, and I hope Xander and the rest of Paula's family can heal as best they can. It isn't easy.

Have a satisfying Sunday!

I'm glad the watch is working well for tracking. I would think that in a crisis that he won't think to take it off....it will just be part of him.

Maybe a different kind of phone is in order? I don't want him to have a kid phone necessarily....but there used to be phones out there with fewer options....ie large buttons to push that would call programed numbers.

My MIL was very sensitive to having things "dumbed down" for her....she was one of the earliest Apple fanboys and highly computer literate. Finding appropriate technology was very difficult because we quickly got to a point where it was hard for her to learn something different. We didn't do this very well, which was a shame because she didn't have hobbies that didn't include tech.

If I had to do it differently. I would have gone with simplified tech much earlier so she could (maybe) get used to it before she lost the capacity to learn. But all of this is just maybe, and of course, MIL is not your DH. And, you have likely thought of all of this.

How's Chaquita?

Chiquita is doing well since her fainting episode. I didn't take her out again into the humidty after that (kept her inside in the AC). Today is low humidity so I might try a short walk with her. Thanks for asking!

Paula, just read your FB and CB posts. I am sorry Xander is having a tough time. Peace and hope to you and family.

Cookies look fab :)

Shel, you continue to amaze and inspire me !! Paula, the cookies are calling to me !! Happy birthday Ben ! I'm sending positive thoughts to Xander and all of you ! Cecily... I hope you get some relief from the heat and that restocking your refrigerator isn't too bad ! Sounds like restocking the undergarments must have been fun, though ! Devon... the puppies are absolutely adorable !! 6/2... how common is a litter skewed like that ?

Our maiden voyage was wonderful ! This is the first time I've been in a canoe as a small person. Dave's comments got me thinking about all of the times I was the heaviest person in a canoe or on a rowboat by far. I can remember swamping a rowboat with my weight, and all of the "ballast balancing" gyrations people had to do to attempt to transport me. I felt like freight ! Yesterday, I felt like a feather ! When DH was shifted in the stern to do something starboard side, I scooched totally over and leaned out of the boat and couldn't balance things out. I have NEVER experienced feeling weightless on a small boat before ! What crazy things we all have to be grateful for !!

Canoe - feeling weightless - PRICELESS! EMPOWERING! SPIRITUALLY GRATIFYING!

Congratulations! I felt I was living vicariously and could imagine the feelings flooding you.

Props!

Lovely, lovely canoe experience!!!!

Good morning! Shel, what are the animals in your pics?

I didn't weight this morning because I had too much salt and too many calories yesterday and feel like a sausage in my suit/casing. After not wearing it for two days in lieu of compression workout pants, I hate to say it felt kind of good to wear it to bed last night. Weird that being squeezed all over could feel good, but it just does. If only it was better looking, not crotchless and cooler!

I got a text from my bank last night that my main credit card had been compromised with some fraud activity. They are sending me a new one, but I have 25 automatic billing things on it that need to be changed. After my last identity theft problem I made a list of all the things that automatically deduct from my bank account or bill my credit card so I don't have to hunt them all down, but it doesn't eliminate the work of updating everything. But that's for next week when the new card comes. The bright side is they are really good at catching this stuff and I am not financially responsible for it. This one they said the "perps" have made a card with my numbers on it and tried to use it in a bar in Hollywood. Creepy. Makes you wonder where they got the numbers...

Still hot here. It's already 90 at 9:15.

Peps, hope your puppies and mama are faring well!

Liz, all your choices for the day sound great. Hope you enjoy whatever you pick!

Paula, thinking of you on Ben's birthday.

DianeO, so glad your canoe trip was a fun one! Isn't it fabulous to not have to worry about your weight and just enjoy yourself?

Happy Sunday all!

I'm glad they caught the fraud!

Yes, I felt more "together" in my compression, especially at bedtime, for weeks after surgery.

marmot and grouse

There were many marmot lazing about on the way up, I wish I had time to get more pics. They didn't care at all about us two legged's. Sometimes it felt like a zoo but we were the zoo animals and they were jus****ching, sometimes with a snack from the food truck. (Or like M150's dog, drinking a margarita and smoking a cigarette.)

The grouse made a great sound that I haven't been able find on internet. Sort of low, slow WHOOP WHOOP. Like a low pitched dove. One of the guides had heard them a million times but never seen one so I made sure I got a pic.