06/08/2020 Monday

I caught up with both DDs yesterday. Canada is handling all of this so differently, with rational and consistent leadership. Oldest DD's Physics position sounds stable and secure and her husband's dissertation committee finally got their virtual act together in the states, and he should have his PhD in physics by the end of the summer, and be able to begin his new position. Youngest DD in NYC has aged significantly in the last four months. She looks tired and her eyes have lost some sparkle. Her apartment mate is a black PharmD who works in a hospital in Manhattan, and both ladies walked in a health care professionals' Black Lives Matter march in Brooklyn yesterday. Just what a mother wants to know. Both girls strongly believe that getting together is on hold until there is the promise of a vaccine. The international restrictions in Canada are still quite strict, and while oldest DD could probably get into the states, she is unlikely to get back into Canada, as a US citizen. Youngest DD has seen way too much to be willing to have family visit now, or to risk traveling upstate and doing quarantine. Many hospitals are cutting budgets and programs, and the longevity of her clinic is questionable. She feels time away is not viable right now.

On the positive side, DH and I had dinner at an outside table at our favorite restaurant on the lake yesterday. The menu is limited and we felt exposed without our masks while eating and drinking. It will take some getting used to. The nearby town with five blocks of shops and restaurants is voting on temporarily closing down the street to vehicle traffic to allow restaurants to expand outside seating into the street. Saturday, DC and I went paddle boarding at the lake. It was tough on his hips and he could only do enough to whet my longing, as he needed assistance getting on and off the board. I can't wait to get out again and really paddle, soaking in the sun and finding synergy with the water. We are also in the process of replacing wood decking and railings with Trex. That and yard work mean lots of steps here !

Love you all!

Weight 122, WW Bluepoints 13. My body just doesn't want to stay in the lower part of this range!

Diane O, as usual you are busy, busy, busy. I am sorry that NYC DD has had to go through all this. It has been a lot to handle for everyone but I expect especially for someone young and essentially on the battle line.

I am almost done with the slipcovers! I just have to finish the final sewing on the last cushion, attach the ottoman cushion to the base and make a couple of throw pillows. I will post before and after pictures once done. My hands will be happy when I am finished as they have a lot of arthritis and are complaining. And I have a sore back/hip from cutting brush the other day which doesn't love me sitting at the sewing machine. Oh to be young again!

I hate when there is nothing to do for day after day then it all gets smashed into one day. I have to get my tires replaced today due to a slow leak, am supposed to meet a couple of friends for an outdoor lunch, and have a zoom support group meeting. The tires were being ordered, so I don't exactly know the timing on them which complicates things. Oh well.

Have a safe and healthy day!

Weight: 157

Back on the wagon. I mean I haven't done so bad, I just gave up being super strict for a couple weeks. Which may be a good strategy in weight loss at this point. Both from a "avoid starvation mode" thinking (although perhaps that's a myth!) as well as, and more importantly, avoid burnout strategy.

So maybe I need to revise my former statement about not eating crap food. While that statement is totally true, it doesn't mean that I always eat the best, either. I had protein pancakes for breakfast while my girls had regular. I had sugar free syrup, they had (small bit) of regular. Of course the old-fashioned pancakes are better, much fluffier. It would win the contest every day of the week. However, I do really like protein pancakes. They feel "decadent" as Liz described her banana pancakes. This time of year I like to top with sf syrup, quartered strawberries, and a couple Tbsp of redi whip. I trick myself into believing it's strrawberry shortcake. I really enjoy it even though it isn't *as good*. And I guess that's probably true of a lot of hacks I have been using in weight loss stage. I'll eat a chicken burger for lunch. It's pretty good if I consider it a "light lunch" but a terrible substitute for hamburgers!

Wow Liz you amaze me with your sewing! You and Shirl sure know how to keep busy.

Diane O.-so glad you got to catch up with your girls! I can't imagine how much NYC DD has had to grow up, and in the way you probably didn't ever want her to have to. I've been surprised about interntional restrictions. I'm still a little fearful to go anyway less about Corona, more about potential for unrest there due to economic depression (although, my gosh, look at the unrest here!) and also concerned about getting back. But the travel agents I follow have been posting mostly about Mexico. It's so tempting. I don't know when/if we'd be willing to go somewhere. We're going to stay in a timeshare in San Antonio in August. I think that'll be okay. Really craving a couple's getaway.

DD-I think it was you who said you think things will get back to normal? I think a few things may change. Taking hand-washing even more seriously, santizing carts etc more religiously, and probably more masks in general. Although I think we'll be surprised how in a year most things are back to normal.

Well today is off to a heck of a start. I stepped in dog diarrhea on my way to get Becca up. Turned on light to realize it was all down the hallway. Not sure which animal is ill. I feel bad for them. But I also really don't want to deal with that, either.

And then I burned the sausage. Can't wait to see what's next.

But today is mother's day out and I don't have any work to do so I'm excited!

Oh to live in Canada. I've suggested to my kids that it might be something to consider. When we travel abroad, people often assume we're Canadian.

Diane, my mother's heart aches for yours. Zoom is wonderful, but you must be longing for their physical presence. I've read about the border closing, they keep reminding us because lots of people like to vacation in Canada. We were thinking about driving the Lake Superior circle tour, but it's off the table unless Canada changes it's essential only travel.

I had a mammogram this morning. It was weird getting up and getting dressed to leave the house. I haven't had an appointment where I've needed to be somewhere specific at a specific time since the middle of March.

Well back to work, 2 days left to update sped paperwork and post grades.

Weight is continuing a slow downward trend without actively dieting, counting calories or macros. Yay! Continued focus on fruit and protein I think will help me stay on this track. I must remember Baby Steps and Setbacks are a normal part of this recovery process. Perhaps you can tell I'm doing my level best to not consider this approach a weight loss process/goal - even though weight loss is an anticipated result of the process.

Three Diane's is a little hard to keep track of at times... LOL.... So.... Diane Ocean, so sorry about your daughter stress. Sometimes when I interpret the worry and fear that parents have for their children, I'm glad I don't have that worry. I never really considered having children, nor longed to have children, so it's not something I feel I missed in my life. But I can certainly empathize and understand the lifelong worry and concern parents harbor for their offspring.

Today is a nothing to do day - yay! The weekend was very busy.

As for 're entry' (such an odd term in ways...) I am disturbed by the lack of concern or regard some people have for personal space. I understand that people are tired of COVID restrictions, but I'm still trying to be quite careful about exposure and the spread of the disease. I don't allow people in my home and dog activities and transactions all take place outdoors. The exception to outdoors is grooming. But I don't allow people to stay with me in my grooming room. It's drop the dog off, keeping the windows wide open and turn on the fan, pick the dog up in a couple of hours. So, imagine my surprise when someone I don't even know grabbed and hugged me to say thank you for setting up her puppy's ears!!!!! I thank God that on Saturday I just read an article on how to introduce hugging and touching back into our lives with safety precautions. It is that type of behavior that is going to cause wave #2, IMO.

I still need to set up 2 more estimates for the redo on the floor.

Time to get a move on with the day. I've done nothing really productive all day, so I do need to do a few things on my list!

Marvelous Monday to all!

What are the hugging safety precautions? I want to hug my son when I finally see him this month.

Here is the NY times article I read the other day.

how to hug during a pandemic

Good Morning All

Brrrrrrrr Winter is certainly here in Melbourne ! Got back from farm late yesterday afternoon. Temperatures overnight - between 24 - 30 degrees but warmed to beautiful sunny days and temps of around 55. Perfect. The farm is magical when you wake and open the blinds to white crunchy grass and the valleys filled with pockets of fog. I have posted some pics on TT Group to share a little of my weekend with my BFF. I spoilt her lots and we had the best time exploring and just hanging out. It was exactly what she needed and she didnt want to go home. I hope we can do it again.

No weight this morning - I will try and be brave enough to face the music tommorrow. A gain it will be but I enjoyed every moment

Im planning on going back to read what everyone has been up to during the course of the day

Tonight I am taking a chicken,bacon and Veg pie over to DSS and his family for dinner. Will make a salad to have with it and maybe use the garlic bread leftovers from last week that I popped in the freezer. I have bananas that need to be used up so may make a banana bread too. See how time goes.

Love to you all as always

S

X

Liz's Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake is in the oven. The recipe is so simple and so open to variation that I bought some other pudding flavors to create a few variations. I'm going to try a Cherry Vanilla and a Banana Blueberry Creme.

It's cherry season here so I thought might as well give it a try with some beautiful fresh Bing Cherries using Vanilla SF pudding and extra vanilla extract.

The banana Blueberry Creme will be done with Banana Creme Pie SF pudding with a sliced banana and blueberries.

Both will still be Zero point desserts.

I am feeling absolutely giddy at the prospect of having these wonderful pies to eat and am thinking they might actually be a more than satisfactory substitute to ice cream. I tasted the 'batter' from the spatula used to scrape the bowl of the mixing bowl I used. OH MY FREAKING GOODNESS! DELICIOUS!

Sound delicious Peps :)

I have just taken a banana bread out of the oven - plus an italian yoghurt cake. The Banana Bread I will take over to DSS mates - as they have just moved into their first home and Im going to see it. The Yoghurt cake will be desert tonight with Berry topping :)

House smells delicious now as I am sure yours does