11/12/19, Tuesday

1. Within Range: yup
2. General Wellbeing: 9
3. 10,000+ Steps: 6739
4. Fitness: strength circuit
5. Self-Care: redid circuit charts to reflect both gyms
6. Fun: out to lunch with DH

Just like there's no perfect timing for taking dogs to the groomer ( they invariably repeatedly roll in something nice and gross the minute they are out of the car), there is no perfect time to steam clean the carpets. We should be getting the call that our new windows are ready to be installed any day and the thought of all of that mess has been deterring me, but the rugs are so awful... Weather in the 20's and snowy today. Both dogs LOVE the snow ! There's not enough to shovel, but I'm going to try out the leaf blower to clear the snow on the driveway. Peps, glad you and Ella liked the rick rack...the rainbow is my favorite ! Liz, I concur with Ann's insight that taking Paul out of his safe environment and the quiet room that seems to sooth him may just be too confusing and overstimulating at this point. How did yesterday go? Do they typically call you and DS to intervene if DH is difficult ? Ann, my resting HR is typically 55-65 and I can kick it over 95 when exercising. I wanted the HR aspect of the Versa to help me get a handle on the palpitations and racing feeling that comes with RH. I also like to track how effective my challenging intervals are when walking or stepping. Diane, will all of this swimming give you that final push toward shorter hair ?

Weight: 140.4
Veggies/Fruits: 10
Macronutrients: 1,566 cals, 120 carbs, 62 fats, 105 proteins, 30 fiber
Sleep: 6 hours (5'57" says my Fitbit)
Exercise: 15" yoga@home and 10,504 steps (with 53 active minutes)

Scale's going down again, like it should.

Yesterday I logged 10K+ steps for the first time since returning home from France. I was amazed at how easy that turned out to be. I like this new Fitbit very much. I like how it nudges me to get up and move at least 250 steps every hour. I also like that it doesn't give me credit for "active minutes" unless I do at least 10 minutes in a row, which keeps me moving longer than I otherwise would. And because my great room is almost big enough to play basketball in, I don't have any excuses not to move my patootie on a nasty day like yesterday.

This morning it's 14 degrees (feels like 2) with icy surfaces after yesterday's sleet and snow. School here will be closed "due to inclement weather," which is code for "We aren't tough like those people in Wisconsin!" School closings here also mean a lot of other events will be canceled, including my yoga class and an afternoon club meeting where I'd have been tempted to eat cake. Instead, I'll do a long yoga@home session this morning.

Tonight we get a full moon in a clear sky. November's full moon is called a "Beaver Moon" because this is when beavers are busy perfecting their winter dams; it's also called a "Frost Moon." I love full moons and imagine being up there on it, looking back at Earth. Now, THAT would be a trip I'd love to take!

Today's theme has to be ... "Moonshadow."

P.S. Following DianeO's example, today I'll call the carpet cleaners and schedule them to come out and make my rugs and floors sparkle! Thanks for that nudge. :)

Good afternoon- I have been busy with visiting brother, his girlfriend, nephew and his girlfriend. Fun but I'm glad to have some quiet time this afternoon while they go into Boston.

Diane, Sunday is the first time DH's memory care has called to ask us to come help. DS thought that the nurse on staff that night was a bit inept. But it was an unusual day for DH. He was better yesterday though still a bit off. Might be partially a full moon thing.

I had windows replaced in the house between Thanksgiving and Christmas once. IT MADE ME CRAZY! I think DH was already into Alzheimers when he made that arrangement. We hosted Christmas in those days. I remember working like a fiend to get the place in shape. The problem wasn't the windows themselves but returning all the window treatments and wall hangings back. They have to be taken down so they don't fall down with the banging. And of course it delayed my Christmas decorating so I had to work fast to get that done too.

Five days to Florida and 80 degrees! I can't come over to help with DH during that period, but hopefully that won't be necessary.

Have a timely Tuesday!

Good Morning All. Back home again - starting to feel like an out of control gypsy !!!

Our 9 week old Grandson came out of hospital on Monday afternoon and DSS asked if I could come over and stay that night and help on Tuesday - so I took a days leave and went. It was lovely to spend quality time with our grandsons and nice to be appreciated. DH came out on the train after work and I made dinner. He has now gone to Brisbane for work till late Friday. I am planning on enjoying having the house to myself till Friday afternoon - DS leaves to go back to his fathers this morning. Have a few appointments - new front tyres on DH Ute, A neuro apt for mum, a trip to Costco and of course some cooking. I filled DSS freezer with meals and they also have some in the fridge for the next few days. I am helping cater our neighbours little girls 1st birthday - so will make some zucchini and bacon slice on Friday before I head back over to DSS. We are there Friday - Sat helping with concreting. Sunday I am having lunch with some school friends which will be lovely

Weight is holding steady at 172.7 - happy with that

Reading back I see everyone has been very industrious - preparing for winter. Seems strange as we are going into Summer. And it will be a very bad fire season. There are already dreadful fires in NSW and QLD. Thinking of them all.

Liz - Sorry to hear DH got overwhelmed with his party. So hard on all of you. I found with my Eldest when he was younger (he has Aspergers) that he would remove himself from noisy environments and go read a book till his senses settled and he didnt feel so overwhelmed. Harder for your DH - Sending love x

Diane S - Hoping you find some treasures when the kiln is opened today

Diane O - Snow - I have never lived in a place that has snowed - always had to travel to see it. Sleet and frost yes but real full blown snow - nope. I love it - looks so magical

Ann - Sorry to hear the sleep thing is still bothering you - sending you long sleep vibes

Peps - Welcome back from another success dog show. Your kennels are on fire (not literally) I can only imagine the demand for Ellas litter being out of control. Hope she is doing well and cant wait to see pictures of the puppies in a few short weeks

Cec - Welcome to Sydney - yesterday was the hottest day and the smoke from the fires is awful. But good to see you enjoyed the harbour and surrounds. Its a pretty place. Melbourne is also nice - for next visit :) And there is an aussie hostess who would love to have you :)

DD, BB, Miss 150, Leap and anyone else I have missed - Hello x

Well I best go drop this Ute off so it can get new tyres - hope everyone has a wonderful day

S x

Something is draining me. Once the workday is done, I feel depleted. Usually this is a clue I've let life become a grind, and I need to plan some fun. But I have had outings and fun the last few weekends. Maybe the weather, maybe the dark, maybe I need more sleep, or iron, or exercise. I'll need to give all this some more thought.

Stay warm everyone, and stay off the ice!

I will send you a parcel of Aussie sunshine x

Hope you feel refreshed sooner than later. Hard with Winter coming - I tend to want to hiberate when its bleak outside

Am posting twice today ... because tomorrow morning I leave the house at dark o'clock to drive to The Big City for my (belated) Year Five bariatric surgery follow-up visit.

Received a copy today of my annual bariatric blood test results, and see that a few odd (but not awful) things are going on. I'll get 'em sorted out with my bariatric team and with my primary caregiver (Shirl, that's American medical jargon for "family physician").

It was very cold here today ... high was (I think) 27 degrees. But sunny.

Tonight for dinner I made some luscious grass-fed beef (93% lean) and black bean chili with Rotel tomatoes and green chiles. Loved it!

Am hoping to get some good sleep tonight. Talk to you all tomorrow or on Thursday. Have a good day tomorrow.

Good luck with your 5 year checkup Ann :)

I am learning the American jargon every day. PCP - we call a GP General Practitioner. Our medical systems are poles apart. Some of our GP's bulk bill - so full cost of the visit is covered by medicare (which is government funded) You then have private health insurance - a portion of specialists are partially covered under medicare or private health. Any hospital treatment can incur an excess as per your health fund agreement if you go private or generally if you go to a Public Hospital its free - but with that comes long waiting lists for anything not deemed an emergency. For any surgery - you have an out of pocket expense generally for the surgeon and the supporting staff but its subsidised by your private health fund.

Your dinner sounds lovely :) We are putting a cow in the freezer at the end of this month. I cant wait to have home grown meat again :)

Time has flown by. Everyone is so busy. Thought it was past time to check in. Weight remains 250. Eating is mostly good. Carb cravings really bad with a stomach bug that Adalyn shared with me. But eating overall was relatively low calories for the day. Knee is still giving me fits but I guess it will heal. I completed my PT for now. I got up and made an end grain cutting board yesterday and this morning and had to park in my recliner the rest of the day.

Sorry to hear you have been ill Leap :( Sending Get well wishes to both you and Adalyn

It sounds like your knee is giving you lots of jip as it heals. How long is it now? Im mulling over in my mind when I will have mine done. Im finding Im limping around virtually every day and chewing pain relief. I see the specialist again next month after some further xrays and we will likely decide then. Safe to say I am not looking forward to it based on what I hear but I have also heard than once healed and you can put the horrible part behind you - you are better off. Not sure I should be asking you this at this point in time

Sending you lots of healing thoughts x