Friday, August 16, 2019

I'm posting really early this morning, having awakened at 1:00 a.m., thanks to pre-trip restlessness. And then there was that full moon. And coffee! :)

I'm so very happy to be meeting up with my friends at the beach the next five days. It'll be great to be with friends who are compatible in so many ways. The tribe vibe is real.

I'm also happy I didn't wait until after this beach holiday before starting my clean-eating program. I have no doubt I'll eat "less cleanly" while I'm gone. But I feel much more stable than if I'd continued down the WTF? path I was on a few weeks ago.

It's muggy here this morning. These dog days of summer are when my sweetheart and I used to pack up and head north to Vancouver. The last time we were there Shel drove up to see us. She and I prowled the town, and what a nice town it is!

DianeO, I know you'll have a super time in B.C. Looking forward to your pix!

Remind me, Shirl ... when are y'all coming to the States?

DD, enjoy the Guinness.

Dave, you're turning into a sawyer.

DianeS, I'm sure your Pacific beach is much cooler than the one I'm headed for.

Bonnie150, I'm missing your voice.

BB, I saw your mom's pic on FB the other day ... she's really lovely!

Paula, your dude is such a cutie! Congratulations. :)

Devon, your eight-year-olds are absolutely precious. I love your goals for them.

Liz, it's so much fun to fantasize about new digs.

Ceci, when are you relocating back to SoCal?

Today's theme: Surf's up! :)

Good morning ! Quite an adventure getting to Vancouver. I was at my local airport at 6AM for an 8 AM flight. My best option was through Detroit, Seattle, then Vancouver. I don't like three legs, but LOVE Detroit airport, where I elected two hour layover. I did a bit of shopping...a sports bra and top I just HAD to have, and grabbed an Ahi poke bowl. After we boarded, they discovered mechanical issues and we were delayed at the gate just under two hours. I had a 40 minute layover in Seattle, so I missed my connecting flight to Vancouver. Sketchy wifi precluded me from checking Delta's efforts to rebook, so when I landed in Seattle, I had to power walk to beat out everyone else rebooking. Got the last seat on an Alaskan Airlines flight boarding in 15 minutes, two concourses away. Thank GOD I am fit !! I did it, with time to pee AND while talking to DD and DC to update. DD and her husband volunteered to drive to Seattle to pick me up, which ended up not being necessary. Delta pulled my luggage in Seattle, when making the flight to VC was impossible and by the time my rebooking two concourses away happened, my luggage remained in Seattle until a flight that arrived close to midnight. They will deliver it today and gave me a generous voucher to pick up essentials, including clothing. I always have emergency overnight stuff in my carry-on, so I'm in okay shape. My Airbnb has Folgers coffee in he kitchen, and I am currently on my 2nd cup as my body slowly transitions time zones.

The high point of my trip was flying over Mt. Ranier and picturing Shel. The mountains out here are magnificent and snow capped STILL, with many lakes dotting upper sections. I could see the inspiration for many of her photos. 40,000 ft was too high to spot goats.

That was one helluva trip you had there, girl. And you did GOOD!

Yea, Diane! Yea Shel!

DianeO, Ann, and DD: I hope you all have wonderful trips!

I am going to DH's PCP this morning to do a MOLST form for DH (called POLST in some states). It is essentially an expanded DNR form describing the treatment to be provided (or not) in an emergency. The daycare had asked if he had one and after looking into it I realized he should have one prior to entering Memory Care. My MIL didn't have one (I don't think they existed) and her assisted living facility sent her to the hospital for almost every complaint. When she was in her last days my BIL was still disagreeing about a regular DNR. So this will make it clear but it is depressing to contemplate as I sort of feel like I am sealing his fate. Last night I was also thinking about the timing for Memory Care and I was thinking around October 1, so I need to start setting that in motion.

With all that stewing in my brain, I too was awake in the middle of the night - from about 2 am on. SIL is cooking us dinner tonight and we have cookouts tomorrow and Sunday so that will be good after dealing with this stuff.

I feel like after DH goes into care I can refocus on myself. Hopefully that is feasible. At least I will be able to get out more and get more active. I really want to go back to yoga.

Have a full Friday!

Liz, I saw your post on FB. I loved what you said -- it was transparent, but not explicit (if that makes any sense). Mostly though, it felt to me like you were inviting support. And that was SO smart!

As you to down this road I'm with you in spirit, my friend.

As a nurse that was on the code team I appreciate planning ahead with healthcare options. What happens during a code in so many cases is just not a kind thing. It is usually tremendously expensive for often not an improvement in life.

I think about you as you grieve your gradual loss with DH.

My daughter worked in pediatrics and knew exactly what could happen during a code. That's why she did a DNR when she found out that her cancer was terminal. She told me that it was just brutal and more often than not did not work. Her frank discussion with me about her own choice helped immensely when reaching that point with my mother as well as in setting up these directives for my husband. Though DH obviously cannot understand the questions now, we had discussed the issues a lot when DD was dying and later when he was serving as health care proxy for his mother.

Greetings Coffee Lovers

I am sipping and saluting Shel with this marvelous coffee (thank you dear Dave) on a lovely summer morning in the beautiful redwoods. Learning more about gratitude on the Brene Brown talk and I am sure feeling it today. Plus I am down half a pound. And DH brought my old chair in from the garage and must have bumped up against the scented geranium plants as the room now has a delightful lemon smell. Which I could send you all some. The stuff grows like a weed here.

Diane O, good on you for making the airplane olympic team! I always think checking in for a flight is like checking into a mental institution! You don't know what they are going to do to you or when they will let you out! Enjoy Vancouver!

Liz we are all thinking about what you are facing. You have the strength and courage to do what is need but that does not make it any easier.

Enjoy your trip Ann. Yep, our ocean is something like 56 degrees. Not exactly for swimming. All the surfers wear wet suits. Plus there are sharks.

I have been playing musical chairs here sort of. My old computer desk chair is a cheap one. Our new studio annex had a couple of nicer executive chairs that were unwanted so I brought home a seemingly comfortable one. Turns out the fake leather covering is coming off like a bad peeling sunburn and pieces of it were all over everything. So yesterday I bought a different chair at costco. Got it home and used it a short while and I hate it. So I am back to my original one. I guess I could return the new one but may just donate it rather than haul it back. I am back in the familiar old one. Very few chairs are comfortable for me - I am the Princess and the Pea. The true lesson is I spend way too much time in front of computer. Note to self: get off aZZ.

Studio time today. Shrimp for dinner. Life is good. Diane S

Woah, big time sleep in this morning, 9:30. Except I did get up at 6:30 for dog pills and 8 for more dog pills and dog breakfast. But quickly fell back asleep after both. Felt good.

Today and yesterday I went for short hikes. Eating too many carbs/bread-like things.

Ann, I think I am going back to CA in early October.

Happy Friday all!

Happy traveling to Diane O, Ann and Diamond D! Adventures are wonderful.

Aging is a double edged sword. Parts of aging are great - others not so much! Liz sadly you are having to deal with one of the hardest parts of aging. My heart goes out to you. It is a devastatingly hard period of life for you. If I could somehow lessen your burden, I would.

Weight was up a bit again today. Uh oh! That is not a trend I want to see. Perhaps I am stress eating a little more than I thought? It does not feel like it. I am still quite sore from my workouts this week. Maybe water retention? Whatever it is, it is only 2 pounds, but I don't want those 2 pounds to come back permanently.

Still obsessed with Delaware realty. Must stop!!!! LOL! I figured out that I can most likely sell my home here in CA pay it off and buy outright a nice house on an acre + in Delaware and still have a little cash left over. So, so tempting even though I'm not ready to retire! I almost want to buy something and rent it out for several years! LOL!

Lunch is almost over, so back to it!