Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Four hours of sleep last night: I didn't fall asleep until 11 pm and I've been up since 3 am. Of course that is Scotland time which equates to going to bed at 6 pm and getting up at 10 pm at home. Jet lag at its finest. DH had some moments of clarity yesterday, but he is foggy a lot of the time even with naps in the afternoon. We did have a good hike at Holyrood Park, behind the Palace, late yesterday afternoon and he was almost like his old self. Pictures below. On to Inverrary today!

Weight: 139.2
Macros: Cals - ?
Sleep hours: 37
Vegetable/Fruit Servings: 5
Exercise: None
Meditation: No

I'm spending my first cuppa coffee this morning catching up with all the VSG maintenance group's Labor Day weekend posts. Change continues amongst us, and it always will. And y'all are funny! :)

Liz, your Euro-pix are great. Sounds like a good trip and that your hubby is tolerating the trip well. That must be such a relief. I hope your jet lag settles out soon. Bonnie BB, congrats re DH's job offer, whether he accepts it or not. Bonnie, re constant change ... big, big subject! David, I soooo hope your upcoming surgery gives you relief from pain. I loved all your pix, too. I think of you often. DianeO, good luck to DC and you with Alexa. Most of my friends who have one mostly use it to play music. I thought of you a gazillion times last weekend when I saw RVs of all lengths and shapes on the highways. Devon, it sounds like you're navigating life well and self-care well and finding joy these days, even with the grooming reboot. Diane S, sorry about all the peanuts in your life. Best wishes to your DH re his hernia surgery and eye care. Cecily, yes, DO go on that hike. How good that you're finally recovered from surgery. That was a booger! Bonnie 150, your zucchini rapture made me laugh. Paula, you skinny *****! :) Respect! But I have no doggy advice at all. Hugs to anyone I missed.

My trip to Chicago was wonderful! Got home last night before sunset. I thought I knew Chicago, but this trip was a real eye-opener. I've spent a lot of time in Chicago on scores of business trips, but I'd never spent this long (5 days) in the Second City as a tourist, hanging out and sight-seeing.

And sight-see, we did! My friend (whom my niece and I visited) was an incredibly generous host. We ate one dinner out, had two fabulous brunches and some great take-out, went to the theater and enjoyed serious shopping trips on Michigan Avenue, an afternoon at the Art Institute (sigh), an afternoon on the dog beach, a hot (95 degrees) "power yoga" class, multiple trips to the local dog park, public transportation, food shopping (in gorgeous grocery stores!), hanging on the terrace overlooking the lake and the downtown skyline, and wonderful conversations.

And, of course, there was lots of driving (9.5 hours up and 8.5 hours back) as well as the intensity of spending five days night and day with a 19-year-old who's navigating a highly emotional transition between teen years and adulthood. I truly adore that child but, boy, am I exhausted!

Re my food/weight/exercise, although I fully enjoyed myself food- and wine-wise, I was surprised at this morning's high number on the scale. Last night I did NOT sleep well or nearly enough, and I'm severely dehydrated. In fact, not drinking nearly enough water is probably my WORST habit when I'm away from home, especially when running around all day makes bathroom breaks problematic. Still, it's a challenge I must do better at.

I haven't decided yet if I'll go to the pool this morning. Otherwise, today I plan to take things VERY easy.

Today's theme: There's no place like home!

Good to have you back, Ann! Did you venture into Eataly by chance? I was so blown away by the food available there and so bereft to be visiting it without having a kitchen to take any of it home to...

No, we didn't eat there. However, we did drive by it at one point and all looked longingly in its direction. :)

Weight 166.8

It's blowing like crazy here today - a hot, humid wind from the south. Thunderstorms on the way. So glad I put in a/c last month.

I'm surrounded by three smelly, snoring goldens as my dad and wife are at Mayo again for a procedure. Poor guy. He feels good, but they keep having to mess with him to try to contain the cancer.

I'm thinking grocery store, treadmill, and reading today. Maybe a trip to the recycling place (they don't pick it up here). Very exciting; I know you all are on the edges of your seats!

Have wonderful Wednesdays!

Bright Line Eating: very much worth the read. A lot of it seems to me to be based on Robert Lustig's Fat Chance and the research he did. Bright Line Eating is a DIET (don't care what the author says), but I can see the benefits of the diet and life philosophy for someone with my struggles and high susceptibility to food "addiction". Just reading the book puts my addict brain in hyper vigilance. My left brain is working very intensely to find logical reasons to keep my addict and downgraded dopamine receptors happy! This book is really f'ing with my happy place! LOL!

Workout last night was INTENSE! I am loving my new trainer. Warm up was 60 basket ball toss squats with a 20 pound ball. Workout was walking push ups using a lazy susan (so it was like being clock hands walking around the dial stopping for a push up with each hand step, then back the other way), sled with 150 lbs down, and 270 lbs back, kettle ball swings (sets of 20), and then a dumb bell combo move: curls (up), to shoulder press, to slow "pull down", to chest fly, release of curl. Did three sets of that. Doesn't sound like much perhaps, but damn, I was huffing and puffing and sweating!

Reports from all sound positive. Good to hear from David. Lesa, where are you???? Liz, glad DH is having some lucid moments and engaging. Does exercise help with that? Just wondering. Ann, so nice to open the board and see you posting this morning. I missed you!

Best to all!

Yes, exercise does help. DH is at his most foggy (kind of zombie like) in the morning. He is at his best after walking/hiking around.

Thank you, Devon. I love traveling, but I swear ... I think I love coming home the best.

And then I'm very happy in my nest and routine, until it's time to go away again.

:Repeat:

:)

Greetings Wednesday Wonders

149 today. Showing effects of the "one nut" slice of chocolate cake. The cake baker always puts a circle of whole pecans around the cake edge. Then he takes orders for a one nut, two nut or three nut slice of cake. And tomorrow is DH birthday and he wants a lemon cake. I think I will go to this one good coffee shop/bakery and get a tiny one. Or go to the new cupcake store which I had sworn to never venture into. I had hoped we could take a picnic to Fern Canyon but he has lunch with friends and i have a bunch of art duties over the next few days. I am thinking of ordering him a "poo pourie" as he would love the gadget.

Love the Scotland pictures Liz and glad DH is doing well. Enjoy.

Hmmm, Peps, I might have to read Bright Line Eating. Or get it for DH who is sliding back into junk food. That workout you described sounds killer. I could not to 10% of it. Such a wuss be I.

My kiln products were a failure yesterday. My pink glaze burned out into white. I tried a new one and it failed. So I am going to reglaze and refire a few. Curses. The fire gods were unkind.

Cecily I hope your bad weather passes. Horrible reports from the midwest on flash floods etc. We washed both the cars yesterday as there was just a hint of ash from some of the fires.

Well speaking of excitement Cecily, I too am getting big thrills from getting papers and junk into the recycle and from DH beginning junk removal from the back yard. He had piled up some worn out cushions from deck furniture and now plants are growing out of the cushions!! They are also growing out of the rain gutters!

More studio work to be done today. I started a new piece and once started it needs daily attention before it dries out. And maybe a trip to the big city discount grocery store.

Coffee #2 is almost gone. Time to spring into action. Diane S