02/09/2021, Tuesday

The snow, frigid cold and lack of sunshine made booking a southern break essential to health and wellness. We found and booked a house for two weeks next month in Pawley's Island, SC. It is on the 12^th hole of a golf course (close to the ocean and a river) and has a fenced in back yard for Atlas and Sadie. We'll drive and take all precautions but mental health outweighs Covid fear. The thought of digging the RV out of snow and packing it in frigid cold was just too daunting. In a perfect world, we will get at least one vaccine before we go, but supplies are really tight here. We have enough time to pack and prepare but we don't have to wait too long to go. I can feel the anxiety diminishing.

Excellent plan Diane! Yes, mental health has to be maintained/improved however possible.

Along those lines, Mike and my field trip yesterday was fun but it was further than we thought. Our one last week to Cocoa Beach was shorter and more interesting. We have recently started splitting meals when we go out to eat which I think is healthier for both of us. I eat 1/4-1/3 and Mike eats the rest. Interesting how our relationship seems to have transitioned so that we are much closer and more comfortable with one another. We will be essentially living together in one place or another for the next 6 weeks other than for the 4 days when I return north. It feels very different that when it happened in the fall. And btw, the gift he gave me for our 6 month dating "anniversary" was pretty significant.

Today is supposed to be sunny and warm so the plan will be beach club, then we are meeting friends of mine from up north for dinner.

Have a safe and healthy Tuesday!

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I think my weight caught up with me :( Isn't it weird how sometimes it's just "boom"--I notice that on the losing end too. And both times I can crazy talk myself about it. Like "see, Bonnie, you're watching what you eat now and it just isn't working."

Although I don't know to what extent I've been watching it. I feel like I've been making healthier choices slowly and overall more cognizant of what I'm snacking on which in theory should lead me to do it less. But without actually tracking my calories, it's just a feeling.

I agree that we have to protect mental health. I'm afraid it has taken a back seat this past year. I need to find out when I can get the vaccine. My parents and one set of aunt uncle have already received it. And their friends. We even have some friends. It seems to be going pretty well here. We have that trip booked to Hawaii under the assumption that things will look very different in late JUly. We are taking my parents. And main question is whether to take kids or not. We would have help, but obviously a vacation with two toddlers is more of a "trip".

As wonderful as that is, I think we need a change of scenery sooner. This has been a very difficult year already--in just a short 6 weeks we've dealt with R having covid, his mom passing, and massive layoffs. We did just fly to Florida and it felt very necessary (obviously NOT a vacation). But I'm back and forth on flying right now. I don't want any more illness!! I love OK, but we are very far from beaches and warmth by car!!! Ahhhhh to be in Miami right now. But maybe an overnight in Dallas will do.

We are below freezing and unlikely to surpass it in the next 10 days. Several single digit days.

Along with that means I hardly walk outside, honestly I don't feel like moving much at all. I feel like eat warm comfort food. So much for this diet!! I tried a turkey chili last night. It was "good" but it was NOT my chili!! I definitely need to find my balance because of course the full fat food is better. And I don't even think it's "bad" but it is helpful to be able to eat a little more and the macros are better on the healthier options.

You sure do need a break. Full time with small children is a lot.

Strangely I like my vegetarian chili better than any other (adapted over the years from one that I originally got from WW). We had beef chili on Super Bowl and it was good but I still like mine better.

Diane, your trip plan sounds just right. The fact you have time to drive and avoid airplanes makes it better. Enjoy. I've been pretty covid careful, and my dd is a fanatic, but we've felt comfortable in hotels, just stay out of elevators if you can.

Bonnie, get a babysitter and go to any hotel with room service. You deserve a change of scenery. I think the end of July will be a different story too, when it comes to travel.

I'm getting nervous about flying to Florida, but we don't have time to drive. A friend who is an infectious disease doctor said wear a mask, and a shield, and gloves. We will do all 3. And now the super bowl aftermath, we are flying in and out of Tampa. We will be super cautious in the airport. We won't check luggage, so in and out fast.

I'm suffering vaccine envy on behalf of my parents. Still don't know when they'll get the vaccine. My mom is seeing her oncologist this week, maybe they can expedite it. Minnesota is not doing a good job on the roll out, it's too confusing. I doubt I'll have mine anytime soon.

Hopefully the plane will be relatively empty as it was when I flew (the airport was as well).

Weight 192.2. Bounce. I walked 4 miles yesterday on two walks.

After doing day 2 of the flexibility program, I emailed them for a refund and got it. I felt like it was for people who were already Gumby-like in their flexibility and wanted to be even more stretchy. At one point the instructor said something like "if you feel shooting pains in your back or knees, wait until the next tone and ease out of the pose." The tones are 1 minute apart. Pretty sure it's a TERRIBLE idea to stay in a position causing you shooting pain for up to a minute. Shooting pain means stop doing that NOW. So I will continue to look for more sane and beginner level flexibility instruction. If anything, my inability to do the stuff on this program showed me how bad off I am in that respect. Even being in a position where my leg was behind me and my foot extended and the top was along the floor set off immediate cramps in my foot. Or sitting with my legs butterflied the instruction was to lean forward. The instructor was face flat on the floor. I couldn't bend forward even an inch from sitting up straight and later had hip spasms. Argh.

Today I'm having lunch with a friend (outdoor seating, obvs). Yay!

My poor dad had some complications from his surgery and spent 10 hours in two different emergency room waiting rooms/exam rooms. He's feeling much better now, but of course I'm freaked out about his possible Covid exposure. So far so good. His hospital visits were Thursday and Friday. Of course, I didn't hear about any of it until Saturday. Parents.

The buyer for the house has suddenly gone silent. Not a good sign.

DianeO, good for you for planning a getaway. I think what so many have lost sight of is life goes on and we have to take care of our mental health. If we don't, what's the point of living in isolation and hiding? Be smart, but live.

I like that a lot, "Be smart, but live".

Your Dad hasn't been vaccinated yet either? I don't begrudge anyone a vaccine, and the more people who are vaccinated the better for all of us, but... My daughter and her co workers are being offered the vaccine by the VA, because they work in healthcare, even though their studies are all online, and their office is having asbestos removal, and can't be occupied for at least the next year. She doesn't want to get the vaccine, but we told her she should, because postponing it won't get her grandparents one any faster.

No, but I put that on him. I think he considers himself a 100% Michigan resident so he doesn't feel entitled to a CA shot. I told him he just needs a utility bill with his name from the CA house (which he has) and his license to prove age (it's a MI license). But he shut me down really firmly that he's not interested and will get it when he goes back to MI in late March. Frustrates me as he's got cancer and is 79, but he is so stubborn and bullheaded.

My friend's 20 year old daughter is at college in IN and has a part time job working with kids. She's already had both of hers. I try to remember that any shots in any arm protect the vulnerable and the rest of us as it's one less person potentially spreading it around...