Saturday, August 7, 2021

One more day until the wedding. All is going well on that front. SIL and DS took a break last night and we met with friends at the winery. Nice night out.

My hospitalized friend had a nuclear stress test yesterday and it didn't go well. His heart isn't strong enough for them to place stents. They are going to test again next week but this is feeling like a march towards his last days. If that is the case one has to wonder if it was in his best interest to interrupt Mother Nature's intent 3 weeks ago. But his wife who often struggles to function has risen to the occasion more than I expected so maybe she needed this time.

I had my 5 year post-WLS checkup yesterday and I spent more time sitting in traffic to get back over the bridge to Cape Cod than at my appointment. Sunny Friday afternoons can be brutal and it started early yesterday with a 4 mile backup at the bridge when I reached it at 1:30. My weight is up about 22 pounds again but my surgeon said it was still not out of a good range. Her emphasis was on eating more healthy for my BP more than my weight. Interesting. I was actually surprised I hadn't gained more because I have felt kind of pudgy lately. I should use this as a turning point to get started on losing. She suggested that an 80/20 approach might help (staying on plan 80% of the week but not worrying so much about it the other 20).

Not sure what today will bring but beach might be included. Have a safe and healthy Saturday!

Your doctor sounds like a wise woman ! Sorry to hear that your friend is not a good stent candidate. Yes, this interlude may well have been for his wife. DD, enjoy your party ! Hope the rain holds out !

Organizing and packing for my trip to NY. Sadie and I start the drive Wednesday and Sadie will stay with my brother while I am NYC with DD. Monday the 16th is my birthday, and I'm going to drive DD to work (hospital) and get a Covid test so that by the time I'm back in Syracuse to see my mom, I know I am negative. Between living in FL and traveling, I can't be too careful. C is currently in NY again. In the early morning, I am beginning to get brief glimpses of what fall in FL may be like.

Good luck getting organized for your trip. You must be looking forward to seein DD and your Mom!

Fall in Florida is wonderful- warm and sunny with lower humidity.

DD: Do have a fantastic party!

Thanks everyone! It rained this morning, but it's getting brighter out. Forecast is for some clearing, with scattered showers, and rain predicted again at 10:30pm. The party starts at 6pm, so we're hoping for a window to be in the backyard. But we're ready to move inside if needed. It will have to be more of a ****tail party at that point, because we do not have enough seating for 40. But anyhow, I intend to have fun. The fridge is full of prosecco :)

I hope everyone else's celebrations go well, both nephew's wedding and reunion with daughter and mother. How wonderful.

I like your doctor's advice Liz. I also know when I focus on eating for health, I just feel better.

Good morning!

DD's comment about the Minnesota drought made me chuckle. We haven't had rain here since March 18! The experts say we are in a 30 year drought cycle. Apparently this happens every couple hundred years in California. We often have single or double years of drought, but droughts of this severity are limited by the centuries.... sigh....

There is an official rain gauge just up the road at the fire station. March was a "wet" month. The rain collected in March was just over 1 inch.

My weight is stable and even creeping downward with no effort. My eating needs to improve, though. There is still "vacation" eating happening because of all the snack food left overs.

Air quality from the wildfires is so bad it has reached the unhealthy level. I cancelled the dog club meeting here today. It would have to be outside and we have too many older people who would have difficulty with the heat and air quality. Saves us a lot of work today, which doesn't upset me one bit. I will go to school and work on my classroom instead.

Liz, 22 pounds sounds like a lot, but it really is doable. Frankly, I'd be happy with only 22 pounds of regain. LOL! I do like your WL surgeon's focus on your BP. You might find that focusing on eating for you BP is easier than "dieting" and you will lose weight anyway.

DD, happy Party Day!!!! Hope it is a lot of fun!

Ocean Diane, what a nice trip to which to look forward! I'm glad C is in NY away from you! That must make daily life less stressful.

CC, so glad you had a good time at the party!!!! I know what a big deal it is for someone with social anxiety to manage those types of events. I'm not big on them myself, but don't have anxiety. I have a couple of friends with very deep profound social anxiety, so I've seen what you go through in action. NOT FUN!

Well, it is probably time to get a move on the day. Hope the weekend is wonderful for everyone.

Whew, it's sticky here today! Big storm last night and more rain tonight.

It's our town's "Days" this weekend. Like a fair celebration for the town each summer. All the little town here do it in addition to the county fair later this month. It's got the small town parade, classic car show, pig roast, craft fair, concerts, demolition derby, and fireworks. Extra special this year as it's the town's 150th anniversary. I got roped into making cookies for the high school football booster club's pig roast. So 7 dozen or so cookies got dropped off this afternoon. A few were eaten before I dropped them off and I gave some more to the neighbors who are always dropping off treats here. One was a cookie based on the Take 5 candy bars... they had crunchy peanut butter, pretzels, and Rolos chocolate covered caramels. So good. The other's were sugar cookies with rainbow sprinkles mixed in. I figured the young unicorn/princess crowd would go for those.

Yes, the party was fun! Lots of young couples and their kids running in the background. I met some nice people and knew 3 of them before so that made it easier. My brain tapes tried to start replaying and critiquing after as I tried to go to sleep, but I pushed back and said no.

We were supposed to have several people over tonight for dinner, but all of them (vaccinated) were heavily exposed to a guy (also vaccinated) who has caught Covid. So we have a lot of steak and corn and shrimp to eat over the next few days. She tried to find replacement guests to no avail. This virus is at best a spoiler of good times!

DD, enjoy your party! Peps, enjoy your new GOAT dreaming/shopping! Liz, I'm so sorry about your friend. Shirl, I'm sorry about your mom's birthday celebrations. DianeO, safe travels!

Greetings Dear Ones

Its overcast here and I think its just fog though there are bad fires to the east. 50 miles away and I doubt they will head here but they are still horrible. Some friends who live near there have evacuated due to smoke. She told me she packed up a lot of stuff and moved it to one of the few remaining storage units near here so they are prepared for a burn. Really sad way to live. They often get smoke in the summer and have to leave. I will take my little cracker box house near the ocean over the cabin in the woods any day.

Liz sorry your friend is having such a rough go. No easy way through it but bless you for being a good friend to his wife. Last time I was at my doctor he told me my regain was not too bad for 12 years. Sometimes I think its trying to roll a boulder up hill.

Cookie talk Cecily! I used to be the queen of making cookies. And eating them. Thats one thing that has stuck with me after WLS - much less of a sweet tooth. Guess that counts for something. Glad you have had some party fun.

Yeah covid is not done. Finally convinced the gallery to buy air purifiers since we have extra money. I worked at one gallery yesterday and it was so windy I had to take some of the outdoor signs down. Blowing around and banging against the building.

DianeO so glad your trip is planned and things are moving forward for you. Safe travels.

Peps you are the absolute king of the king of terriers. All your wins are so impressive. Sounds like great shows.

Little Poppy is a joy as a puppy. Really pretty good, unlike her mother who was a complete terror as a pup.

I must get caught up at the studio starting today. too many days of gallery duty and extreme scrabble playing make for no art. The studio has geared up for classes again starting soon but with the delta, who knows.

We watched the film of Hamilton the other night. It was extraordinary. And also Soul. Excellent.

Not much else here. This is Diane S, signing off.