Saturday, 11-17-18

Miss150, hoping your healing is going well and speedy.

ShirlAus, Hoping your knee heals fast too. I have had both my knees scoped and cleaned out. After years from the procedure if I sleep in the wrong position I am reminded, for days, how important body posture is even while asleep.

Ann, If putting drops in your own eyes is too freaky, try pulling down the lower lid only and then placing the drop. If i try to hold open both lids i always jump when I place the drops. Speedy healing to you too.

In perspective I hate to even mention that I am in the middle of a head cold. Miss Adalyn gave it to me. They have given her some steroids and antibiotics to dry everything up. My big mistake was that I went to the grocery store. Feed a cold starve a fever. In my weakened state I bought a BUNCH of carbs. Carbs that I do not normally crave. The remainder is just on the shelf mocking my decisions. At least it is in the shop pantry where it will not be constant temptation for DW. Maybe.

I have been lazy while it was cold and did not walk. Some pain returned. I am in less pain if I continue to walk. The past couple of days I have been walking to the mailbox and back which is about 1/2 mile. Uphill both ways. Yesterday I walked the woods. More than 1/2 mile. I have been able to cut back on my pain meds. I also have not had any alcohol for the past few days. So the big picture is surgery was a big success.

I have been struggling with mood since surgery. They must have given me steroid intra op. It makes me over eat like I have been doing and makes me even more depressed than my baseline. Med adjustments helped but in combination of 8 lb wt lifting restriction I can not distract myself with woodwork and mowing. Healing takes precedence.

More Later, David

Weight 123.2, calories 767, air temperature 48. But we return to around 80 during the day and a low of 60 at night today so that's the optimal in Florida (AC not needed but plenty warm enough during the day).

Dave, I'm so glad the surgery is proving to be a success and nice to see you starting us off today! Healing definitely must take precedence.

I washed all the windows (since it was cool enough) and hung the new bathroom mirror as well as a bunch of pictures yesterday. My back, arms and hands felt it last night and a little this morning. But it will subside quickly.

I think I'm deciding to go ahead with new appliances in the kitchen. Since I am judging whether to make improvements based on the payback if I have to sell, I think it makes sense as the kitchen will then look completely done (with the new countertops) rather than halfway. That's my logic this morning anyway!

Oh, I was over at the neighbors place briefly yesterday to see their Christmas tree. They have the same unit facing the same direction. Wow was it dark! It felt gloomy to me (and smoky as they both smoke). But it sure did highlight what an improvement we've gotten with all the light adding changes!

We might go south to ***** Gorda later to poke around. We haven't don't that yet, but have to see if DH will come. If there is music at the pier I think he will...

Have a satisfying Saturday!

Loving Chicago! DD Lindsey finally made it out of JFK at 9:30 PM, and arrived at our room a bit after midnight. I have done a ton of walking and have reactivated my Uber skills. Rehearsal dinner at Italian restaurant at 8 PM and the crew wanted to do some bar hopping after. The meal was sitting heavy and I was exhausted, so I listened to my body and Ubered back. A lot like LA in the west loop.. seven miles can take ten minutes or an hour. Traffic and construction rule.

Need shower and more coffee to hear up for the day. Have a breakfast market run soon for bridal party. My sister ordered bagels and doughnuts and I'm adding fresh fruit!

Chicago is awesome! Our daughter went to college at Loyola University, so we got to spend a lot of time there and even learned to sort of love the red line on the el. Lake Michigan really does make Chicago the third coast. I hope you continue to enjoy your stay!

Good Morning!

David, nice to see you kicking off the day! Healing takes patience, too. About comfort carbs....I (dysfunctionally) gave myself permission to eat a lot of goldfish crackers when I was filling out financial forms for DD's college and she was filling out college apps. It was like OF COURSE I must have carbs. I couldn't help but notice that DD didn't join me and she loves goldfish crackers. Maybe we aren't related after all.

Ann, all those eye drops! Healing vibes to you, too. And patience :).

Bonnie150, best wishes to you. It is quite an amazing journey. I'm glad you have your family, Lyle and Kachina to lift you up. And, of course all of us here, too.

More later....

Shel

Weight: 134.6
Macros: Cals - 2,219, Carbs - 271, Fats - 67, Protein - 99, Fiber - 22
Sleep hours: 7
Vegetable/Fruit Servings: 2 (yes, two!)
Water glasses: 3
Exercise: Walked 8,500 steps
Meditation: Yes

And that, ladies and germs, is what can happen when you attend a Midwestern "ladies luncheon" with a small salad, chicken casserole covered with potato chips, a chocolate cupcake for dessert, and a glass of Martinelli sparkling cider that didn't even have any ALCOHOL (not fair!) - even though you don't eat any bread or the mystery salad dressing or cream (no milk available) in your coffee or all the potato chips atop the casserole.

And then last night there was the (actually, rather good) sushi joint I took my niece to eat at before the movie. The shocker there wasn't the calories, although they were certainly a lot more than if I'd eaten at home, but the freakin' sodium! Did y'all know that 3 tablespoons of soy sauce has 3,960 grams of sodium? That's 150% of the daily recommended amount of sodium. In fact, the whole day's sodium count put me at nearly three times (6,746 mg.) the daily recommended sodium amount (2,300 mg.).

Yet somehow I managed to lose almost half a pound overnight. My Baptist upbringing assures me that the weight check will come due tomorrow morning. I'll push water today.

Still, I enjoyed yesterday. For one thing, I got to dress up like a grown-up. And last night (back in Levis) I so enjoyed my niece's 19-year-old joie de vivre. "Bohemian Rhapsody" was wonderful and IMHO a must-see. The movie was serious time travel for me, given that I survived the go-go 1980s as a single woman in L.A. and S.F., living amongst the awesome California music scenes, trying to avoid STDs, and navigating the illnesses and deaths from AIDS of friends and a cousin.

Today will be much less social with house cleaning, decluttering (it's a constant thing), grocery shopping, walking, water-cleansing, slicing, dicing and eating veggies and fruits, a little gentle home yoga, and a facial.

By the way, my new eye is clearing up and, I'm sure, now working at 20/20, maybe better. Cannot WAIT to get the other one fixed!

David, I'm so happy to hear your back surgery is delivering significant pain relief. I'm also proud of you for walking outside. Today's weather will be beautiful (mid-60s here) and encourage us to go outdoors. Lucky us!

DianeO - your Chicago wedding trip and visit with family sounds like a fun trip. I'll be up there before Christmas and look forward to shopping on Michigan Avenue, city-walking, and also renewing my Uber skilz.

Liz, I like your condo-enhancement enthusiasm. Home ownership responsibilities never end, but they're a lot more pleasant when we get to play house and decorate instead of replace roofs and pipes.

Shel, I've missed your voice. Good to hear it. Your goldfish story reminds me that I recently noticed that when I get stressed (especially by financial and paperwork chores) my stomach seems to generate more acid and starts to hurt. Apparently, that's why I procrastinate doing those kinds of chores and, when I finally tackle them, I want to eat crackers or bread or other foods that will quickly turn to mush and give me relief. Turns out warm decaf tea also works! ;) It's hard to believe I never noticed this sequence before. I'm incredibly slow to notice s**t like this.

Bonnie, if you're lurking, we are thinking - nay, obsessing - about you and wondering how you're doing. BTW, still nothing posted on her FB page, which continues to make me think no news is at least not bad news.

We all seem to be going through large or small changes right now, i.e., we're living life. I hope each of you is feeling strong this morning.

Today's theme: "Do the right things - if not all the time, then enough of the time." (I just made that up.)

Greetings All

Well I woke up and realized its 9 years ago today I did the VSG. Yeah a little regain has occurred this past couple of years but overall it has been great. Yay for me. And thanks Dr. C. I am down a half today. Shrimp and green beans for dinner last night.

Hey Dave, glad you are healing and getting some walking done. Phooey on the head cold. Why can't the drug companies figure a way to get rid of them. Yeah I know, many different viruses. I guess there is no Round-Up for the sinuses. Yeah, healing comes first so maybe catch up on reading.

Ann so glad your eye is doing well. Thanks for the movie recommendation. Gotta see it even though I was never a big Queen fan. Freddie does rule though. LOL at the ladies lunch description. Casserole with crunched up potato chips on it, probably also red jello with fruit ****tail in it, cool whip salad with marshmallows, green bean casserole with canned onion rings and cream of mushroom soup - all staples of the midwestern gathering!! Of course, everything is made with canned ingredients. My grandmother's church put together a little recipe book as a fund raiser which I still have. Everything in it is such food. Church basement food.

Hmmm Shel, goldfish crackers as an accompaniment to filling out forms. Some things just go together. For years I had to have a packet of peanut m and m's when getting on an airplane. Its a rule. Hope things go well on DD's college apps. Lots of work there though things have probably changed since I did that 50 years ago.

Yesterday was studio time and a little decluttering. Very little. I put stuff away and more appears. Nature abhors a vacuum and also any empty counter space.

Well we now have Thanksgiving plans. We always gather at this one friend's house but this year they were going on a river cruise in Europe. But they got a call that the cruise was canceled because there was not enough water in the river to float the boat! We were going to probably go eat at the casino restaurant which serves a thanksgiving plate and is quite nice. But better to go to friends. I will take mashed cauliflower and cheese crisps.

Hey Diane O, Chicago is indeed fun. Glad you are having a good time and good for you for bringing some fruit to the donut infestation. Enjoy the events.

Peps, I am guessing its still super smokey there. Saw some awful pictures. Stay inside.

Shirley love the stories of life on the farm. More please.

Well thats about it here in la la land. Time for more coffee and football. Cheers all. Diane S

After a very quiet week, where I even had some after work naps, everything is cranking up. Last night we were in Minneapolis to watch our high school team win state semi finals to and head to the state champion game next Friday. Today is batch cooking because we need some food, I need to bring some to my parents, my sil and her family, and now a dear friend who fell at work and broke her kneecap in two places!! Dh and I are counting our blessings that all we have are some aches and pains that usually go away after stretching. Sunday we return to Minneapolis for a play, then have houseguests ( My Aussie sister) arriving around 10pm. They're just visiting while in route to my hometown (about 65 miles away) to see my parents. Tuesday I drive 3 hours roundtrip after work to retrieve my son from college, and daughter flies in late Wednesday. Thursday Thanksgiving with my extended family ( a 30 year tradition, my Uncle has hosted 30 -40, bless him and my Aunt) and then a swing by a friend's house (our chosen family) for dessert. Saturday Thanksgiving with husbands family, and then Sunday drive son back to college, Monday send daughter back to Boston, and then collapse from happy exhaustion. Can't wait to have the two offspring sleeping under our roof!

Busy week for you!

Proof the universe likes to troll me once in awhile, my husband decided he needed to cut back on what he is eating, and he's lost 12 pounds in two weeks. Mostly by not eating seconds and avoiding, but not eliminating, sugar. When I jokingly protested, he said, oh, it's probably water weight (oh look, he has been listening). I guess it's a win for me too, because he does look pretty cute in his Levis 501s instead of the those relaxed fit Dad jeans.