010/19, Monday

1. Within Range: yes
2. General Wellbeing: 9 on SS
3. 10,000+ Steps: 8659
4. Fitness: walking
5. Self-Care: hot oil treatment
6. Fun: mowing
7. I learned/relearned: I can choose how I react.
8. Intentions: Seek balance & relax, rejuvenate, & recalibrate !!

First, Shel...mega kudos !!! Your daughter is adorable and absolutely radiant !!! Your cupcake display, food and photo lines belong in a party planner's portfolio, and your yard looks like it came out of a magazine!! How many landscaping crews did you have to hire ? Speechless, in a GREAT way !!! You must be exhausted.

I am attaching my Buddha area, per requests. Mowed and rocked yesterday. Awake and craving coffee at 3 AM today !!

I love the Buddha! SIL got one for her garden recently which is a bit smaller. Yours looks perfect in your garden especially with the stones. I love to look at beautiful gardens but unfortunately I hate to do the work... I pay a landscaper to mow and mulch and only replace plants in the garden when they get out of control. I did learn to enjoy using a sawzall to take down overgrown arborvitae and other bushes, but I hated having to dig the holes to put the replacement hydrangeas in. I have one more I need to add this year, but then they are hopefully going to be pretty good at taking care of themselves other than fertilizer now and then. I really SHOULD put some stone edging around the front bed with the hydrangeas to match some other areas, but I'm not sure I will get around to it. My biggest job when I get back will be power-washing the porches, deck and outdoor shower. I didn't do it before we left because the pollen was still so thick in the air that there was no point...and no time (at least in my mind).

The Bruins won game 6 in the Stanley Cup finals last night so they are tied with the Blues. The deciding game is on Wednesday in Boston. We watched last nights game at the bar here with a bunch of fans. And of course socialized all through it.

So...One benefit of being alone is that everyone else keeps picking up the tab. That won't happen while SILs are here, but it definitely has some advantages. I had some of the best grouper ever last night and have half of it left for another night or lunch. Tonight I am going out to dinner with my former neighbors of 20 years. They rented our timeshare unit here one year and ended up buying their own. I enjoy seeing them, but the husband and their 2 sons appear to have become very serious drinkers. They are at the bar by the first happy hour at noon and sit there all afternoon. I can't even imagine drinking that much for that long!

Time to get coffee number two, then take my morning walk. Have a marvelous Monday!

The last time we were in Florida (March), another couple joined us. The first day we went on a long hike in a nature preserve, had a great time. Then we went to downtown Disney to listen to music at House of Blues. The husband kept asking if we knew where a liquor store was close by. Dude, we're in a bar, at Disney, there are drinks here, but I assure you there's no liquor store nearby. Disney. So we stopped at one on the way back to the house, and his plan became clear. He wanted to buy a large amount of the cheapest whiskey. He got wasted every evening, and all day at the beach. We've known each other forever, and he's always been a party guy, but a fun party guy, who could have a few drinks, laugh, dance....very concerning, and frankly, boring company. You're in paradise, put the drink down, and enjoy it!

I know!

Weight was up a bit around 176 something.

I'm having trouble setting my weight goals for right now. I feel like I'm being simultaneously too hard and too lax with myself! I know it's been less than three weeks since having a baby, but I have 10 (or 11 today) pounds to go to get back to my prepregnancy weight...a weight that was pretty much at the max of what I feel okay weighing. 10lbs. came off immediately, then the other 5 in about a week...and I feel like I've been at a stall for a week. Which makes me think this last 10lbs. is going to take work. I'm kind of shocked because I thought since I only gained about 25lbs. that all of that would fall back off. (In my mind this would be true since I gained about 35 with Becca and the 25 came off easily).

Anyway, I know you guys can relate to how it feels when the old tapes start running. None of my clothes fit right now (since they were tight at 165 anyway) and then I start wondering if this is the "beginning of the end" and the easy slide back into the 200s and beyond. But then I keep making not great choices and it's like "duh" no wonder I'm not losing more weight!!

DH and I got out to see Rocketman on Friday and there was popcorn. A friend brought over dinner last week and it involved a coconut chess pie. OMG it is so good. I just couldn't throw it out. Tonight another couple is bringing over dinner. At least they like to cook healthy, although she did mention beef bourgignonne!

But other than weight, life is good. (Though I worry if I let this fester too long, that panic and insecurity will bleed into other areas of life). I have two super great babies...but some days are still a challenge. When you're excited about a break...just to get to load and run the dishwasher or fold clothes haha! My how life has changed. DH and I used to travel at least a half dozen times a year, date nights, movies almost every week. Hard not to miss that (especially the travel) but I keep telling myself this is just a season and to fully immerse myself in it. It all goes by so quickly! That being said, I am a big believer in babysitters!

So Charlotte slept from 10pm-6am last night! Wowza

Good morning, cool (60 degrees), but bright Sun today. I've read the paper, drank chai, bathed, folded a load of laundry. I'm meeting my Mom for lunch, and dear son said he'll join us. It will be a nice surprise for his grandma. After lunch, Costco run, and potting some bedding plants I bought yesterday. I like being "retired", if only for the summer.

Greetings Summer Celebrators

No weight today. So it goes. Its going to be hot here today. 70 degrees! Thats hot for our coastal zone! But our deck really heats up so I pity our carpenter who is still working on the deck. Dogs have to bask indoors in front of the slider. And the Coast Guard is out and about flying helicopters that seem to be circling our neighborhood. There is a base very near here and they patrol the beaches big time on sunny days. I think they just like flying around.

DianeO love your Buddha and stones and pic of you. You do a great job of self care. Note to self: make apt for a facial - my favorite spa thing.

Liz so glad you are having a good time in Aruba. Don't worry about your yard stuff at home. Soak up all that great Caribbean sun. I have been thinking of fall cruises and Caribbean is high on the list.

DD ditto for you enjoying Florida. Guess you just have to ignor the big drinker but its hard because you may feel like you have to sort of look out for the guy. Have fun.

Hey Peps, what's up? School's out. Or is it?

Good news - just found out my upcoming art show is in August, not July as I somehow thought. Gives me more time to prepare. Kiln opens today but I don't think I have much. Can't remember. And the gallery called demanding more stuff. Retirement is hard work!

Well coffee #2 is nearly gone which is my clue to get busy. Peace all. Diane S

Good Morning All - back at the city house late last night. Couldnt sleep in this am so have been up since 5am pottering. Second cup of tea being consumed - fireplace is slowly heating up the house

Have a few errands to do after work today, collect a set of headphones, check mailbox, collect a starter motor for one of the ride on mowers at the farm and also go to the produce store and get some hay for bedding in the chook house - oh and more food for them.

Diane - Love the Budda pic :)

Liz - Glad to see you are having a great time and unwinding

Bonnie - Good to hear from you - glad things are going super well with the girls and DH

DD- Enjoy your lunch and pottering - must be nice to ease into your summer break

Diane S - Good luck with the kiln opening :)

Waves to anyone following. I best go tackle work emails

Take care all

S

Lovely Buddha area, Diane!

My aunt arrived today. She's actually been very nice. But there are concerns about her memory by the family and about her ability to live by herself. She went to use the powder room and called to me needing help getting up, but she won't use a cane or walker. She forgets to pay her bills, didn't remember which day she was flying to see us after being told a few dozen times, misses doctor's appointments, stuff like that. So I think life may be changing for her this year.

My cousin's daughter and her boyfriend leave in the morning, so I get my house back (they've been staying with me). They are very sweet, but I am a crotchety old lady who likes her own space!

Radish seeds are already sprouting, so hopefully I'll have some nice pics for you soon!

So maybe some of your Aunts nastiness last visit stemmed from developing dementia? Some of the people in my support groups have had people with dementia become really mean and nasty especially in the early stages. I remember one woman crying because of the horrible things her husband kept saying to her which apparently was completely out of character for him previously.