Mothers Day 2020 (5/10/20)

Weight 122.2, WW Bluepoints 14. Stuck at this weight but it is in my range, so no big deal. I would like to hover on the lower end of 120-123 though. And I wanted to be doing that before I go home where DS will be doing a lot of cooking and may have snacks that call to me. I have been periodically tracking calories as well as points and with the amount of zero point foods I eat, I have been varying between 1000-1200 calories most days. I may need to drop a bit lower in calories to get in that lower part of my weight range.

Happy Mother's Day to those of us who are mothers or who are honoring/remembering their Moms. I rarely see my kids on Mothers Day which is okay with me as it has been a day with mixed emotions since my eldest DD died. But SIL and I are going out to eat and youngest DD gave us gift certificates to the restaurant once she heard we are going.

The beauty salons are opening Monday. Because I already cut and highlighted my hair myself I am not going to try to get in this week but I probably would have otherwise. I bet I'll be doing another round of doing it myself in Massachusetts before they open.

I sort of wish I was staying longer but everything is too much in motion especially with DS' spirits to not go. At this point it looks like all my medical/dental appointments will have to be delayed and there won't be a trip to Aruba so it might have been better to stay here. Maybe I will come back for a few weeks in June (flights are super cheap).

Enjoy your day - stay safe and healthy!

Not gonna weigh until Saturday!

Liz-what a fun parade! I still get tickled that its name is Elmo!

Cecily-glad Ferg had a good test result

DD-I must've missed the battles with the neighbors. Our issue with neighbors was when we turned an attic space into a room, which of course by code included a window that overlooked our backyard, and therefore somewhat theirs. They freaked. Even though we have quite a bit of distance between the two houses. They already had security fence on top of a retaining wall (plus we're lower than they are) but they added an additional fence on top. I think technically they are now in violation. I guess oh well. I might have to post a photo to TT because it's so tall!! It's absurd. And begs the question...what on earth are they doing back there?

We're supposed to be in phase 1 reopening, with restaurants to have limited seating in dining rooms, but when we headed out to pick up food last night, the parking lot was PACKED--I mean pre-covid packed. I'm not sure if the people were just packing the patios and even then I'm not sure how they were allowed to do it? Restaurants are supposed to be doing the social distance thing. And then I found out a friend has covid. This is the first person I really have known to get it. He and his whole family are quarantining. But he has no symptoms. I also wonder if either his wife or 4 kids will end up with it.

I've taken a 24 hour hiatus from my strict calorie counting to enjoy Saturday dinner and lunch today on mother's day. Rich is smoking a beef tenderloin, my aunt is bringing macaroni and cheese, I'm roasted asparagus and have a cucumber tomato salad, and my sister is bringing dessert.

It wasn't until I was picking out a mother's day card that it hit me like a ton of bricks that I wouldn't be buying a grandmother card this year.

It is days like this when the loss of a loved one can hit suddenly. Hug those sweet little girls close!

Happy Mother's Day. You certainly are a busy one! :)

That piece that Paula (and many other FB friends) posted yesterday about the greater dangers of infection in indoor spaces and at celebratory events with people we feel emotionally close to (which naturally tempts us be physically closer to each other) makes a lot of sense to me.

I'm already starting to think about how I can design "Round Two" of sheltering in place better than I did "Round One." It's going to require more structured ways to socialize outdoors (walking a lot) with friends. Not dealing with post-cosmetic surgery complications and recovery should also help a lot!

BTW, I think fairly often about how important your grandmother was in your life and how much you must miss her.

Weight: 137.0
Veggies/Fruits:
Macronutrients: Cals - 2,081, Carbs - 221, Fats - 80, Proteins - 102, Fiber - 23
Fitbit Recorded Sleep: 7'18"
Exercise: 9,168 steps and 2 hours of weeding

Yesterday afternoon and last night I had an ice cream "accident." I don't think I will want to eat ice cream for another 6 months! And that's all I'll say about that.

New fun fact: Did you know it takes 66 days (on average) to nail down a new habit before it becomes "automatic behavior"? As in weigh first thing in the morning, drink a glass of water. Get dressed, make the bed. Make coffee, empty the dishwasher. Finish dinner, wash the dishes. Put on my pajamas, brush my teeth AND do my evening skin care.

The research about this 66-day commitment is all OVER the interwebz. I had no idea. I was working on old rules of 14 days, 21 days, 30 days, etc. Turns out that's an insufficient runway to build most habits. Actually 66 days doesn't surprise me at all, given how hard I have found it to permanently groove in some really obvious daily habits any civilized person would/should be doing. Happily, if I miss a single day of doing the habit I haven't blown it. But I must pick it up again the next day. Sounds simple. It isn't. But it's necessary to change one's lifestyle.

The ramifications of this fun fact are pretty big.

You're welcome.

And today the weather here is again ideal for weeding, and that's what I'm doing. Time to get back out there.

66 days huh? I guess I never thought about how long it takes to make a habit but it always felt like it required a significant time commitment. So 66 isn't a surprise (and maybe even longer for some things). For instance, I felt like remembering not to drink with meals or for 30 minutes after took me a year or two before it was second nature. I used a 30 minute timer after meals for a really long time.

66 days. I thought that three weeks rule didn't work for me!

Good Morning All, I didnt make it here yesterday (Mothers Day in Aus) cause I had a beautiful 1 1/2 hour call with stepson, his partner and our grandsons. It filled my heart. Our second Grandson started crawling this week so we got to see him scoot around.I was able to watch her open the little gift that I sent her and they watched me open mine. Thats when the tears started. The first one was stunning wooden hand painted coasters with a beautifully worded card. The second was a set of matching aprons in my favourite colour with Nannas little helper and Nanna embroidered on them. That was it for me - the happy tears started. I will post in TT the story behind it with pictures

Had calls from all our kids wishing me Happy Mothers Day. Felt very special. DH put a lot of thought into my gifts and made Mum and I a delicious brunch. I had ordered decadent donuts to be delivered for us all. And we got Thai takeaway for dinner. It was a great day

Happy Mothers Day to you all - Thinking of those of you missing those special women in your lives. Hope memories bring a smile to your faces xxx

Today its back to work - no weight - huge avoidance after what I have eaten on the weekend. We are awaiting an announcement from our Premier as to what Stage 1 will be for us. Crossing fingers it means that we can finally bring our family back together. I am already planning a huge dinner for them all. A full house is a happy one in my books. It would also mean we can re-start going over to DSS house every Tuesday to spend the afternoon and evening with them. Its when we get to spend precious one on one time with our beautiful Grandsons and I treasure it. It will likely also mean my Mum moves back to her house. We discussed this over the weekend and I said Im fine with that but not comfortable with her going to the supermarket etc etc - due to her being high risk so we have agreed she will meal plan for a fortnight and I will go and get everything she needs. I will take her over to her place this afternoon after I finish work so we can sort out what needs to happen for her to move home - what she has in the freezer etc etc. The positive thing of her staying with us has been I have finally got her moving - every hour she does her short walk and is now drinking water as she should. I have noticed a big improvement in her gait and balance and have made her promise she will keep it up once she goes home. She admitted shes feeling much better in herself so thats wonderful.

Well I had best go start my working week. Really not very motivated but it must be done

Have a wonderful evening all xxxx

S

You are so right - being able to get together with our loved ones is more important than anything else right now. I'm glad you had some enjoyable moments on your Mothers Day!

I agree that Mother's Day, and other holidays that focus on family are often bittersweet. The year I was pregnant with our first baby, my husband bought me a little mother to be present. And then he sadly said, I wonder what silly thing I would've picked for my Mom? By this time we had been without her 3 years. There isn't a milestone that comes and goes, in the midst of truly celebrating, that he doesn't have a wistful moment. I think you just learn to accept that it will be part of everything, while also feeling grateful for whatever happiness is in front of you.

Very quiet here today. DH has to work. Not only does he have to work, but they are scheduling people 10 hours a day. Because only essential stores are open, he said it's like the state fair every weekend. He's an automotive specialist, and works with service appointments and special orders etc, but they're so short staffed, he's unloading trucks, and stocking shelves, and sometimes having to jump onto a register. I hate it. I can't believe he hasn't gotten sick yet. He thinks he might have had a mild case in March. It's hard to know without access to antibody testing. It would be a blessing if it were true, then I wouldn't worry so much.

I have all my hanging baskets by a south window until I get the all clear about frost warnings. My daughter brought me my breakfast (as requested 4 slices of bacon with some bendiness, I don't like crisp bacon, that's more like bacon dust) and starting laughing, It's me, Persephone, I'm back. Haha, the weather here is often a version of the underworld, but it can last a lot longer than 6 months.