Friday, November 19, 2021

Interesting comments about Online Dating sites yesterday. I met DH when I was 23 through friends, but at a bar. I imagine if I was that young again there would still be a possibility of meeting a partner that way. I signed up on an online dating site a few months after DH died because I knew I didn't want to be alone through the rest of my life and I just couldn't think of any other way I would meet someone. Any men my friends or I knew who were single were not interesting to me. I didn't want to hang out in bars looking for someone and I am not good at joining into church or other group activities. I did think about participating in Meetup but then Covid struck. I liked being able to text anonymously with someone before deciding to meet and because I am really good at Google research I decided not to meet someone unless I could determine prior to meeting them that they were really who they said they were. BTW, my interactions with Mike and research prior to meeting him made me feel really strongly that we could be very compatible. We valued the same things in life and had a similar lifestyle. We seemed to want the same things in the future. And in fact it has turned out that we work together really well. I make him more social and patient. He makes me more accepting and energetic.

Anyway, time to get moving and take my usual 3 mile walk with Mike. Tomorrow we leave at 9:30 to pick up his family at the airport and drive to the house he rented for the week. An entire week with Mike's family should be interesting. But he already lived with my DS for a few months this summer with my DDs coming regularly to visit. It's my turn now, LOL.

Have a safe and healthy Friday.

With bad weather descending on MI Sunday into Monday (snow and 40mph winds, I know the tiny 7 seater plane to our town would not fly and I'd be trapped in Chicago), I was able to get an earlier flight tomorrow. So fast forwarding the pre-travel anxiety!

I do not know how to dress for cold weather. I'm a flip flop girl. I better decide fast what to take. It's going to be in anywhere from 33 to 43 during the day there with rain on 2 days and snow on 1. I have a coat, hat, scarf, gloves. Footwear I understand less. Boots all the time or just in snow? Athletic shoes? I assume flats without socks are out... speaking of which, I don't think I have any socks that aren't no show ankle socks. Probably ought to get some. All I remember from college in CO is never being comfortable - either I was dressed for outside and burning up in class or dressed for class and freezing outside. I suppose layers are the answer, but what layers?

The therapist was good yesterday. Screwed my head on a little tighter.

Anyway, off to make a list. Any advice is welcome!

Nice boots for dress up are appropriate but not necessary if you don't have them. Flats are fine without socks indoors (IMO). For outside, boots or athletic shoes work (with socks usually).

Layers for me at that temperature should be a cotton long sleeve shirt with a sweater or sweatshirt over it. Jackets outside of course. For me that is too warm for turtlenecks or really heavy sweaters, so I would wear wool or heavier cotton sweaters work well.

Thank you!!!

Happy packing CC

I have snow boots I wear if I'm shoveling the driveway or going for a walk, but that's the only time I wear them. I've had the same pair for 20 years. Just going from car to house or store, I wear regular shoes. Right now I'm wearing Converse shoes. This week I wore different ankle boots, but they're shoes, not snow boots.

I always wear socks in the winter. I don't know what the etiquette is in Michigan, but in Minnesota, you leave your shoes at the door during winter. When people have parties, there are piles of shoes at the door. I personally dislike this practice, but I wouldn't dream of stepping on someone's carpet with my outdoor shoes unless they specifically invited me too. So socks it is! ( check for holes before leaving)

I always wear a cami, and then a sweater, or, a cami, shirt (blouse) and cardigan. Cardigan can come off if it's warm inside.

Coat and gloves outside, but again, unless I'm going to be out longer, no hat. You can mostly avoid the cold by running into the house or store quickly, and then stay indoors!!!

Thank you, DD!!

Things are a little brighter today than they were at the beginning of the week. Most of my school paperwork is up to date - just a few more IEP forms to fill out for various students. For a Gen Ed teacher I kind of have a heavy IEP load. 3 kids with Autism, 1 severely cognitively disabled, and three RS (learning disabled) kiddos. Anyhow, being caught up before a week off is a good feeling. Report cards and end of term data are all entered and checked off the list. Report Cards go home today.

Things at home are a little better, too. I am looking forward to puppies. It's been almost 2 years since I've had a litter, so I am feeling joyful about the impending births!

I find it interesting how closely aligned CC's and my feelings of self worth are. Sounds like the attention from our parents regarding our weight as youths, coupled with our own personality traits nature bestowed upon us has made us live a great deal of our adult lives feeling we deserve "less than" (in whatever area of life that less than may be) or less worthy of life satisfaction than others.

Not much to report on the weight and food front. Yesterday was a bit of a cluster F as far as carbs and sugar, but my overall calorie consumption must have been reasonable since it didn't show on the scale. Usually an overdo on sugar causes an instan****er gain for me, so I think I'm safe. Anyway... weight is stable. I suppose as long as I don't gain any weight during the eating season, I will be happy. However, I really would like to find the mental fortitude to eat for weight loss instead of maintenance.

Nutritional therapy today. After that it's a hearing aid check. Some sounds are still a bit "tinny", but overall I am pleased. I have realized that even hearing aids cannot overcome quiet little girls wearing masks! However, the TV is much easier to hear, as is adult conversation.

Knee is getting better, but I still walk funny - or at least it feels funny. I am so looking forward to a full recovery. I sure hope that's possible.

3 more hours until Thanksgiving Break. Yay!

Puppies !!!! Cant wait to see pics

What I found interesting in talking about it with my therapist was that I don't feel the same feelings about starting a relationship with MI guy if he ever gets around to expressing interest. Because I didn't "ask" for the attention. But putting myself out there on a dating site (being an active move rather than a passive one) is what makes it feel like I'm proclaiming I feel deserving of it.