10/14/18, Sunday

1. Within Range: Day #3 just over
2. General Wellbeing: 8 on SS (Serenity Scale) ; needed Sudafed for allergies
3. 10,000+ Steps: 2155
4. Fitness: walking in stores
5. Self-Care:
6. Play/Leisure: Played Scrabble with DC
7. Interest/Talent/Skill: Knitting a fall scarf ; ordered two scrabble dictionaries (forward &backward)

The temperature went down to 39 degrees, but SS is warm and toasty. No new issues detected ! We are actually supposed to see the sun this afternoon! If the wind just stops gusting, we may be able to have a fire! Three days just above my range...prepared to begin tracking tomorrow. Not so sure about today's weight. Atlas woke us up at 2:30 AM and proceeded to chase two possums out of our back yard. Couldn't get back to sleep, so turned on coffee and hopped on scale. I need to address lack of steps and self-care beyond the basics.

Diane O, what a picturesque place to camp. Eating has been out of boredom. Morning coffee wakes me up and then it seems like I just want to nibble all day. I made chili last week. I made vegetable soup yesterday. It is good. It will be something I can eat all week. We made cornbread to go with it but I can easily do without it. Walking about 1/4 mile a day. DS#2 (PA for a neurosurgeon) said walking is the best for pain and will build my core muscles. I can pretty much take care of all my self care stuff. But can not bend to put my socks on. DW does not mind putting them on. It is humbling to ask for her to put on my socks. Kinda funny where we draw the line in what we do not like to ask. More later, David

I hope the back is feeling good!

Socks! Ha, I remember that! (Back surgery for DDD-lower X 2, 1999 + 2000)

I was just the opposite--Loved, loved having shoes and socks put on me--You're right- it is the last of the self care skills to master. I say, stick those tootsies up and enjoy!

Weight 120.2, calories 1394. I was at half those calories before I went to bed, but then I couldn't sleep. The remainder were consumed around midnight. I've had a fair amount of insomnia lately. Not as sporadic as it has been over the last few years, but a bit more regular (almost all days this week). Not good... I could have done the first post for today before I finally fell asleep at 3 am.

This morning, DH, SIL, DSDD (is that a darling stepdaughter?), and I are going to Provincetown for an Alzheimer's Walk. Our family and friends raised about $800 for our Alzheimer's organization which will be matched by an anonymous donor. BIL who kept talking about going and maybe having his own team cancelled out on the walk this morning. No surprise... It should be a good day with lots of people we know and the weather will be Fall-like but not too cold. I think I am wearing my Irish knit wool sweater.

We went to dinner last night with a former co-worker (and friend) of mine last night. DH was snappy at me as is often the case lately. When he gets depressed he also seems to get angry (mostly at me). The appointment with the geriatric psychiatrist can't come soon enough. We will be traveling to Portland and Denver on the current dosage.

Have a Super Sunday!

137.6

Good Sunday Morning! Up a bit early to address a chicken gumbo type dish that has been percolating in the crock pot overnight. Looks pretty yummy for a cold day as this one promises to be. It's setting on the counter waiting for DS#2 to arrive after church for final seasoning and finishing up (he likes spicy and probably going with a chipotle or cumin approach). Made WWbread buns yesterday. Easy-breezy meal.

Next clay project ---slab---design ideas due tomorrow. Must include a nod to some art work and or architectural style. My first thought is to morph the requirements into a teapot of sorts.

Have a restful and joyous day--all senses alert and attuned to the beauty in the world around us.

Weight: 132.8
Macros: Cals - 1,725, Carbs - 225, Fats - 47, Protein - 116, Fiber - 33
Sleep hours: 6
Vegetable/Fruit Servings: 3
Exercise: Walking
Meditation: Yes

This morning the scale said 132.8 for the third day in a row. I think my body and I have finally found my happy spot again. I'm not starving myself either. :)

And speaking of not starving, yesterday was an odd eating day, although I truly enjoyed its oddness. For one thing, I went to a fall festival and drank a craft beer (a brown ale), something I rarely do. And I liked it. :) I did have to pace myself, but finishing it was completely doable.

I was also hungry for protein, so I ate a lot, which meant I didn't have much room left for V/Fs. Gee, does that mean I was practicing the dreaded intuitive eating? ;) Then last night after supper (protein), I ate a pint of Halo Top Chocolate Mocha Chip "ice cream." Of course, Haagen Dazs is a lot better, but for 320 calories it wasn't bad.

Yesterday's eating doesn't mean I will abandon my V/F enthusiasms, but it was fun to try new things.

And this ... lately I've been meditating (by which I mean actually meditating, not ruminating) on events and behaviors that cause me anxiety, pain, frustration, anger, grief, etc. In doing so, one of the steps I'm practicing is giving compassion to myself -- the same kind of compassion I would extend to someone I care for very much, but that (cough!) apparently we aren't particularly good at giving to ourselves.

For this step I'm using a mantra that goes like this: "I want my pain to end, to be happy, to find peace." For me, it's proving to be a surprisingly powerful affirmation. I don't think I've ever "asked the universe" so clearly for these gifts. I think ??? I always thought those were things I had to deserve and to earn by working hard. And Lord knows, I can work hard -- it's my super'est superpower. Needless to say, there are other steps to the practice, but I thought some of you may be interested in this one.

Today's theme (won't surprise you, eh?): "I want my pain to end, to be happy, to find peace."

Amen and amen to that.

Greetings Faithful Ones

Down a half today. 151.5. Yesterday was gallery duty and I sold a few of my things. It sure helps being there to "talk up" your art. And I did get after the cobwebs.

Well Tesla dug under the fence and got into the neighbors yard. We are getting the fence replaced with the neighbor. She is a very nice person but has three small extremely noisy dogs. She calls them monsters. I need to configure something in the yard so our dogs can't even get close to that fence. Neighbor is going all out in Halloween yard decorations. Looks like a Disney set.

DianeS so love your camp spot. It looks wonderful and glad the kinks are out of SS. I am jealous that your DC will play scrabble with you. My DH won't play any games with me. You should read the book "Word Freak" about competitive scrabble. I have met some of the featured players.

Liz good on you for doing the Alzheimers walk. Hope that appointment for your DH is soon.

Bonnie, slab work is fun. There are a lot of on line ceramics sites that have interesting stuff. Its fun to cruise them. A cool thing is to take old pieces of lace and roll them into the slab. Cool texture.

Well our football team did the unthinkable. They were ahead by 10 points in the last few minutes of the game. The other team caught up and won in overtime!! I am sure its on all the play of the day highlights. Can't catch a break.

Burgers for dinner last night. The deli sells bacon cheese burger patties. I break them in half and smash them flatter. A few cherry tomatoes and its a good meal.

Ann you are on to something about inviting good things and blessings. Yep, who says everything has to be earned.

Well the early morning fog is breaking and it looks like a sunny day. No excuses for not taking the dogs out. Their manservant (DH) has been off duty lately. But he is recovering well now. All good.

Peps I don't have any dog show trips planned. Kind of up to Tesla's breeder. Her own girl needs to get finished and out of Tesla's way. That should be soon.

Peace and brown ale to all! Diane S

133.8 - moderate amounts of exercise this past week. I try to walk daily on work days if no noon meeting and I did a hike in the woods yesterday. I probably hit my 10,000 steps 4-5 days per week - should be daily.

DS#3's football team is doing very well. JV went undefeated and varsity is named the conference champs - now on to playoff games to see who goes to State. We have a chance!

Work good, relationship with new beau good, kids mostly good. Nothing to complain about!

Ultra busy! Went camping for the day with the scouts yesterday - won the Dutch Oven cooking competition - loaded baked potato soup!

Bills and housecleaning today - oh joy!