Wednesday February 16, 2022

One month until the wedding. Other than not knowing which dress to wear, most things are figured out. I have the venue and DJ booked for the August party and the wedding itself booked. I need to find a silver band to use as a wedding band until we get back to our usual location and can shop for something more permanent. I saw some nice ones in Sedona and want to check around here. We are going to Sedona for a day trip tomorrow so can get it there if I don't find one here today. We plan to leave here early tomorrow, do a hike, get something to eat, go to the jewelry store if necessary and be back here by early evening.

DS has gone silent, which is his usual second step. No way to know when he will come out of that. I hope he does book and appointment with his therapist but he hasn't gotten back to me on that.

SIL is doing pretty well with COVID. She is a little lethargic but no fever. Hopefully that will be it.

The weather is going through a changeover today - probably the same front CC had yesterday. It got cloudy yesterday afternoon (for the first time since we arrived in Arizona). We may get a bit of rain mid-morning so we are waiting until that clears to do a hike this afternoon (without Justice unfortunately as it is not a dog friendly trail). Tonight we are eating at a popular restaurant that eldest DD gave us a gift certificate for at Christmas.

Have a safe and healthy Wednesday!

Hi friends!

Birthday eating was indulgent - almost a little bingey later in the evening, but I'm okay with that. Nice to see my dad having a nice time with the group. Last time we had a group dinner he was a little bit withdrawn. Looks like his driving days are coming to an end. Watching his independence slip away and seeing his dependence on my brother grow is really thought provoking. It's as if I'm seeing my own future while dealing with my dad's present. A little creepy. I have no doubts that I will go down the same path...

I am feeling very stressed about the upcoming show weekend. Not enough time to prepare for it. I have school stuff to do (2 hour on line PD), another decompression treatment today, pack for the weekend, groom the dog, and load the van.... This should all be done before bed tonight. HA! I simply have to figure out how to lighten my load. My anxiety level is taking on physical manifestations.... I get a jittery unsettled feeling when I'm overloaded and I am feeling that way right now. MUST - FIND - BALANCE.....

Not much else to report.

That's a tall order you've given yourself Peps. Trying to find balance seems like an ongoing search for a lot of people.

And ugh to the online PD. I'm really over any PD these days. Just let me do my stuff and potentially catch up on all the mandated paperwork and maybe have some time to plan some lessons that might engage the students. I know how to do it, I just need the time...

It is so hard to watch a family member decline. Very sad really.

Liz, I'm glad to hear your sil is doing okay.

My Mom is going on year 11 of fighting lung cancer, and I always worry that even though she's thrice vaccinated, Covid could make her very sick. Her first round of treatment was surgery, (half lung removed, staged 2C), then a couple of years later, chemo (staged 3), then radiation (stage 3), now a tumor in her femor, more radiation, and although no one has said it specifically, it would seem it's moved to stage 4. Her last scan (this month) shows she's stable again, so on we go.

CC, the non profit is lucky to have you volunteering all this time. Your weather sounds crazy, but I hope every drop of rain helps California and the drought.

Today someone used the phrase, it wasn't worth trying to fight, she went straight to surrender. This phrase really stuck with me. I do find myself going straight to surrender sometimes at work, when previously I might have argued or kept pushing for some change. It's hard to say whether I've gained more insight, accepting the things you cannot change, or if I've grown somewhat apathetic. Maybe a combination of both. There is some peace though, in knowing when to surrender...

I'm not eating super low carb, but I have all the signs of ketosis. I had to get up in the middle of the night to brush my teeth again, because my breath was bothering me. Yesterday I was so hungry, today my appetite is less volatile, another possible sign of ketosis. However it's happening, I welcome the suppressed appetite. To everyone else (what a time to stop masking!) I apologize for my breath. There might not be enough altoids in the world.

I am a combination of both apathy and acceptance! I think it comes with our years in the school system.

testing 1 2 3

Greetings Dear Ones

What an interesting little group we are. Fun lives all around.

Liz you amaze me at pulling your wedding together so quickly. Hope it all goes well. A dress will turn up somehow. Hope your DS comes out of his funk. Probably needs a good dose of time.

Peps and DD I don't envy your PD sessions. Like you don't have enough to do. Thats part of what drove me out of my profession - big law firm trying to manage all this little junk that just got in the way of doing your job. Can you just play phone games while you sit through it?

CC your non profit is indeed lucky to have you. Lots to be done on that front. I spent today doing an IRS appeal - but it was to correct my own mistake so its my own fault. Time to do the next gallery tax return but I am going to have someone else proof read it so I don't F it up.

Yeah I am stuck in apathy - acceptance of weight issues. Not cool as I used to have a ton of energy and ability to not eat crap. I still think its the old grehlin coming back (auto correct wants gremlin) Lol. Turkey pot pie last night and tonight. Deli designates it as Country Turkey Pot Pie and DH thinks the crust is different. I assure you it is not. Country=whatever stuff they had on hand other than usual recipe.

Studio visit today and classes are running. Its fun to watch other people work on a potters wheel. I am making some little slug figures that have a Q anon shaman hat on. Amuses me for a bit.

The dogs are lurking about suggesting they want dinner. I spend more time preparing food for them than for us as the old one needs special food.

DH helped our widowed friend get some tv in her apartment. She had none. He set up a tv with an antennae that works like the old days with rabbit ears. I think she gets about 5 channels now. She also did not even have a radio. Fortunately she has an iPad.

Cheers Diane S

Laughing at auto correct changing grehlin to gremlin!!! Very apt. So by what mechanism does the grehlin return? I agree, for me, it's never returned to my ravenous, constant state where I was never saited, but my hunger/cravings are more insistent than the first few years after surgery.

Yep, hunger today is not what it was pre vsg. But my surgeon told me that grehlin is made in other body places besides the stomach part we all ditched. Wish I knew more on this. I know I do not crave sweets like I used to but I do crave carbs. Probably should work on my protein. Hmmmmm