05/30/19, Thursday

1. Within Range: yes
2. General Wellbeing: 9 on SS
3. 10,000+ Steps: 4845
4. Fitness: walking
5. Self-Care: haircut, color, and nails
6. Play/Leisure: retail therapy
7. I learned...: I can lean into being still with myself.
8. Intentions: Seek balance & relax, rejuvenate, & recalibrate !!

I continue to lean into being still with myself. Purposeful meditation, basic yoga, walking with an audiobook all have a focus besides being still with myself. While I love being busy all of the time, I intend to seek and appreciate down time more. I went out on a limb and got an asymmetrical hair style... love it !!

Peps, I can only imagine all that you and Ron are going through...and no formal closure until 06/07... thoughts and positive energy streaming your way !! Same to all those dealing with violent energy in the atmosphere or unsettled energy in their lives.

Weight 134.2, calories 732. I am with SIL at Dana Farber for her first infusion. Traffic wasn't horrible and the pace between steps has been pretty quick so far so hopefully we will be out of here by midday. DS has DH ready for the daycare bus already so that is a relief.

DS made a veal tenderloin dish with asparagus last night - amazingly great!

Have a timely Thursday!

Hiya!

Peps! Just when I think my life is Crazy, I see what Crazy really is. Such a (seemingly) peaceful passing has turned into a bit of a nightmare. What a great story.

Speaking of stories, Ann, I listened to a few of the Iowa writers podcasts. So interesting, even from the outside!!! I imagine you soaking up all that wisdom. Plz, Plz Plz ask a question at the one you attend so I can hear you in the future ;) I heard someone on the radio the other day (Mary Miller? Book title might be Biloxi) that said she always gets put onto Southern Lit forums. In my ignorance I didn't realize that was a genre. By the way, I love that picture the other day. Such a beautiful country we live in.

Liz, my heart is with your SIL today! Best wishes for smooth infusion and tolerability in the days to come.

My parents are coming into town in a week. DD's friend group party at the house in 9 days. And I am sick. It probably started before MSH. Maybe allergy induced bronchitis type thing? I'm seeking care today....I think I need at least an inhaler, maybe two. I want oral prednisone but I know I won't get it. I am short of breath just walking up a small hill in neighborhood.....can't imagine wearing a pack with weight. Appetite seems suppressed until I ate three small desserts (ok, one was full sized) at a potluck last night.

Dave, your self soothing sawing makes me smile. :)

Cheers! Shel

Weight: 177.2

So I'm down about 14lbs. and have about 12 to go. HOping it comes off fairly easily in coming weeks but not holding my breath.

I have been trying to watch it a bit more. Tuesday was pretty easy for me to eat less. And half of yesterday. But last night and this morning I could not seem to get satisfied. Oy vey. Back to that nonsense. I think my body is just going to have to relearn how to be a little hungry and to be told no.

Following along reading with you all. Peps that does sound crazy! HOpe the other part of end of the school year is going well.

After kicking and screaming to stay off Facebook, I joined to get into a group about the heart disease Ferg has. I ended up connecting with a gal I went to elementary school with who just married her 7th grade boyfriend after 30+ years apart! She sent pics this morning of us in 8th grade. So cute. The thought that crossed my mind was, how did I ever think I was fat back then??? And had I had felt differently about my body back then, would I have given up and ballooned like I did? Hmmm. If time travel was a possibility, I'd go back and talk some sense into that girl.

Lots of packing to do today, picking up for the cleaning people, etc.

That's great that you made a connection with an old friend.

I remember when I was about 15, I thought I was fat too, but in retrospect they were just curves. I went through puberty early (menstruation just under age 11). So I was much curvier than most my age but certainly far from fat. Interesting how our self perception can make us ambush ourselves.

Weight: 138.2
Macros: Calories - 1,469, Carbs - 101, Fat - 36, Protein - 140, Fiber - 23
Sleep hours: 6 hours
Veggie/Fruit Servings: 8
Water glasses: 2
Exercise: yoga class, 6,500 steps

Boy, there's a lot going on here. But it seems there's usually a lot going on in this room. We are NOT people who are very often found sitting around on our derrieres, eh? I just wish there weren't so much activity and stress caused by forces outside our control at the moment. I'm ready for some "Summertime, and the livin' is easy!"

I ate too much yesterday, even though it was protein and veggies, because I was hungry. Today my appetite is back to normal, whatever that means.

Yesterday afternoon the bottom dropped out of the skies here, and it rained and rained and rained. In fact, it rained so much that I canceled my facial in town because I was nervous about navigating a couple of low-water crossings between my house and paved roads. Instead, I stayed here and gave myself a manicure, then got all dressed up in serious ****tail attire with makeup and high heels and sat on the screen porch amidst all the deluge, lightning and thunder drinking my evening glass of wine. Is playing dress-up a guilty pleasure? Or just a pleasure? :)

BTW, I don't understand how digging in the dirt bare-handed seems to encourage my nails to grow longer and stronger than they do during winter when they're cosseted in lotion and gloves.

Today is beautiful. That's the weather pattern lately--flash flooding alternating with gorgeous May days.

This morning's yoga class was its usual kick-ass self. Then I did some grocery shopping, got a roofing nail removed from a low car tire (I know where that nail came from), and made some lunch. This afternoon I'll read a short story, listen to a U.Iowa writing podcast, and study French. I treasure afternoons like this, because they're so much more intentional than they used to be.

And finally, here's another nice concept I learned about recently: Niksen - a Dutch concept that means daydreaming without focus or purpose, i.e., doing nothing. In fact, I'm going to start my afternoon with a little beginner niksen.

Today's theme: Niksen, baby! Learn about it here.

I would like to be Dutch. The seem to get so much right. I hadn't heard about Niksen. My German mother would disapprove.

Me too. They are a tall people. I would blend in!

I am a master of Niksen! I refer to it as the gift of lounging. I can while away a good chunk of time just sitting on my porch, watching the birds hop around in the yard, and flit through the trees. Watching the colors shift and change on the water as the afternoon begins fading away is my idea of high entertainment.