05/04/19, Saturday

1. Within Range: yes
2. General Wellbeing: 9 on SS
3. 10,000+ Steps: 12, 068
4. Fitness: walking, mowing
5. Self-Care: long shower in massage mode
6. Play/Leisure: organizing & stowing
7. I learned...: To work on relaxing into the feels.
8. Intentions: Seek balance & relax, rejuvenate, & recalibrate !!

There is so much going on in our little family ! Ann, so glad your yoga instructor's cue resonated with you so ! Feel it, then relax into it. Feeling the feels, then learning to relax into them... sounds like a great way to negotiate maintenance (and life) during the tough times ! Liz, positive thoughts to you, DH, SIL, and DS as your family moves through this series of challenges. Miss Bonnie, I so admire the grace that permeated your post about upcoming PET and oncology visit. We are with you !!! Positive thoughts and energy abound ! Cecily, thanks for the links to the articles you posted, and especially the photo of Fergus ball balancing. Sadie does something similar. I'm going to go with Devon's outlook on longevity. Devon, ingenuity through pain ! Sorry about your back, but loved the picture of you dancing with Ginger ! (And the one with the lad who lost his PE license !) Hope the pain is subsiding ! Diane S., I want to be in my jammies eating some of those great suppers with you. Hope DH finished the yard !! Shel.... MY GOD... dangling and spinning ?! Please tell us that is NOT something you aspire to !!

Sleep seems to be an issue for many of us ! I sleep a solid 3-4 hours after going to bed, them wake up WAY too early. I can usually glance at the clock and roll over and get a few more hours, but the last couple of nights, my mind gets racing and I'm awake for a couple of hours. When I lived alone, I kept a pad next to the bed, and would jot down things that were racing through my mind. DC is such a light sleeper, I've stopped doing that. I'll put a pad and pen in the bathroom, and see how that works. We leave tomorrow for what is forecast to be a rainy five days in the northern mountains of PA. I've got the Febreze and couch protector packed ! Thank goodness they stopped putting carpets in RVs !

Weight: 140.2
Macros: Calories - 1,404, Carbs - 95, Fat - 15, Protein - 130, Fiber - 15
Sleep: 7.5 hours
Veggie/Fruit Servings: 5
Water glasses: 4
Exercise: 6,000 steps
Meditation: Yes

I realize that the purpose of our little group and our daily posts is not to entertain each other. But some days, like yesterday, the posts read to me like a modern novel. Guys, each of us is dealing with life's important stuff that's not only challenging, but life-affirming. Perhaps best of all, we're not boring, even when we're pruning Princess bushes (I gotta look that one up). Somehow the stories of our daily lives and perspectives and the humor, sadness, terror and joy all go together like a perfect bouillabaisse. It is an honor to be in this room with you.

(Sniff!)

Now back to macronutrients and other metrics: Last night's ****tail hour with my friend turned into 4.5 hours of red wine. I also nibbled a lot of grilled skinless chicken strips dipped in Kung Pao sauce and some pickled asparagus (I had no idea until yesterday that it came in a jar!). After my friend went home I got in bed with some SF Torani-sweetened Greek yogurt and blueberries. All told, I'm pleased I didn't overeat. But I bet when my friend got home she told her husband, "I'm starving! Let's order a pizza!"

More rain yesterday and more rain today, which makes weeding both necessary and easier. And that's the way it goes. :)

Today's theme: Live like today is the last day.

Yes, we are a novel I think. Real life stories from everyone.

DH must have been exerting extra effort to function when his brother was here. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that he has crashed a bit. He changed multiple times to go to the pool yesterday. He only went once, but wandered back several times without shoes and ultimately I had to go get all his stuff. That was after a major bathroom cleanup in the morning. I awoke at 4:30 am or so to DH having changed into clothes and sitting on the stool in the closet. He sat there for about an hour before he finally came back to bed in his clothes. Sigh...

SIL came home late yesterday afternoon but has to go back early next week for follow-up outpatient tests prior to meeting with the "team" on Friday. Other SIL will go at minimum, but we are hoping she will allow her son to come as well. I think we are all dreading that conversation. My DS still won't talk to me which is making me more sad.

Today will probably be another quiet day other than picking up some things at the store. Maybe I will get some fresh veggies at the local farmers market.

Have a safe Saturday,

Even though we all recognize the "like" button is all we have available during a quick fly by, when we really want to say "I hear you, I empathize, I support you in your challenges " , sometimes I just can't click "like".

Yes and yes. I often use the like button---translate those from me as, "I see you. I hear you, and I hold you in my heart".

Me too

Wish we had a thinking of you button x

DS just called! He usually calls daily so it has been tough not hearing from him this week. He is going to see SIL (his Aunt) tomorrow.

Patience really is a virtue. Especially patience while someone else is working through their own s**t at their own speed, without trying to fix or control them or be pissed or frustrated or irritated by their seemingly illogical behavior.

However, doing so is a struggle for me. Right now I'm dealing with something similar with a sibling.

Obviously, she's an idiot, but I'm rising above that. ;)

You are correct of course. It is hard being patient sometimes. I asked him how he was and he said he just didn't know because he had so many emotions around the news about his aunt. Strange (but not) how the 28 year old reacted the same way as he did to similar news about his sister when he was 12.

138.8

Good morning, dear friends. Thank you all for the loving support sent in my general direction. The power of such energy is real and true-an extension of God's grace and mercies.

Ann--pickled asparagus?! I've already chosen a recipe to try. It is for a refrigerator variety. Am hoping for a quick aging, 3-10 days, so that if they come out well- There may be enough time in the season to can a proper batch. Garden asparagus comes and goes so very quickly. Well before the pea pods are ready, DH stops cutting.

I've got desk work to muddle through, and have been procrastinating because it involves decision making that inevitably will necessitate a Pandora's box of side jobs to muddle through. Think in terms of what extra work is generated in the seemingly simple and straightforward Decision to straighten up a closet. One hour turns into a day.

Maybe I'll just scrub the kitchen floor.

Enjoy this super Saturday--I'm off to play with asparagus.