Sunday, July 10, 2022

I think I must take myself to Canyon View Ranch. It looks like a lovely place!

Diane, I wish I could stay put for longer than I have been lately. We have trips planned to Florida at the end of July, Saratoga Springs in mid-August, New Hampshire Lakes region in late August and Bar Harbor Maine in early September. Then there is Florida from mid-September through March with a trip back here at Christmas and a stay in the Florida Keys in March. In April we drive back to Cape Cod staying in St Augustine for a night and Hilton Head for a week before embarking on a 3 week cruise to Tahiti (our official honeymoon trip). Mike wants to go to New Zealand and maybe Europe afterwards. Whew!!!! But while we are healthy and have the finances to be able to do it we will. Someday we will be forced to slow-down but at least we won't feel like we missed much.

The couch was successfully disposed of (though I suspect it will be taken by someone at the transfer station). We had a nice drink and appetizer get-together in the late afternoon with all my children, then a great dinner out with my eldest DD here from New Jersey and my 2 SILs.

Today the 2 SILs and I are driving almost 2 hours each way to go to a baby shower. We are close friends with the soon to be grandmother and I am close to the new mother but it still seems a shame to miss a beautiful Cape Cod day. Mike wants to move to his place for the next few weeks this afternoon but unless I get super motivated it isn't happening until tomorrow. There is just so much packing one can manage in a short period of time! Yesterday would have been the day to pack for it if we were going today but I was seriously sleep-deprived after the long day getting home and then of course there was all the family company.

Off to drink another cup of coffee while snuggling with Justice before getting ready for the baby shower. Have a successful Sunday!

Sounds like a great time with your kids. It's such a good feeling to have them all in one place, if even for a short time. Moving to Mike's place: has his "tenant" finally moved out?

The weather is stellar again today. Our plans are simple, breakfast someplace in downtown Ipswich and a harbor cruise in Salem. I thought there would be a lot of down time, wandering, reading, beach on this trip, but we have been on the go most days. I'm so glad DH was able to let himself retire. I didn't know if he would actually be able to do it. But he did, and here we are, having an adventure! And today we share it again with both kids. I'm feeling pretty happy.

Have a wonderful day! The weather will be perfect for your plans!

On the issue of the "tenant": Originally she was supposed to have a summer rental close to her place of work (which she has been spending 90 minutes each way commuting to). We were hoping she would see the benefit of continuing to rent. Unfortunately that fell through so she is staying with various friends and family for July and August. Mike says he isn't sure she will be back September 1, but I am pretty sure she will. Sigh.

Of course I have my "tenant" too, but he is my son not my ex.

174.0

Busy, busy, adventurous people! Things to do..people to see, places to go- sounds so fun, but, let me quiz you this-

So, when in your life did the "take a trip-vacation away from home-explore new experiences" notion-way of life as opportunity allows it- did your families do that when you were kids???? I ask because I always thought that is what I wanted after retirement- but having the opportunity, don't. The seeming effort and motivation just isn't there and I find myself content puttering around home.

Yesterday was a much better food day. I practiced waiting on hunger and making better choices- especially by way of limiting simple carbs which are trigger foods for me. Feeling more confident and will try again today.

Oh, my..just noticed I used "try" up there and it now occurs to me that thinking "try" means maybe I will and maybe I won't. Like there is a choice here, which of course there is. Hmmmmmm.........

We did travel when I was a kid, camping and later, vacations to places like San Diego and Florida. When I was 18, I lived in Brazil for a year as an exchange student. For as long as I can remember, I've had wanderlust. I love walking into a hotel room. I crave novelty. I want to know how people live and do things in other places. Cultural norms fascinate me. My brother, mostly the same childhood (he's 6 years younger) doesn't like to go to new places, or crowds. He would hate NYC. He travels, but to the same few destinations. So I don't know if it's something I learned growing up, or if I've always been a nomadic soul.

When I was younger, I felt bad for friends who traveled infrequently or said things like, I've only flown once. Then I realised that not everyone likes traveling, and find it stressful, or annoying. To each his own. Maybe some people are already living in their happy place and feel no need to go elsewhere. I get that too. I like home, but the siren call of elsewhere sings just a bit louder.

My Dad is in the hospital. His drain stent got clogged. Very painful and they had to put him under to change it. Sad thing is, they were supposed to travel to Mayo to have it switched out tomorrow. I am so incredibly grateful he has his wife! He can't be released until his potassium and creatinine numbers come down. A non-draining kidney takes a punch. He's watching golf now and will call me later. Don't interrupt the golf!

I was listening to a podcast and it's a question and answer show. One of the questions was about food cravings. The guy who answered worked on gut health. He said that we have 10 trillion cells in our bodies and only 1 trillion have our DNA. Most of the rest are gut bacteria. There are "good" and "bad" ones. And they send out chemical signals to the brain that are interpreted as cravings. But the good bacteria can be overrun by bad bacteria. The good ones might crave certain minerals you're low on or protein etc.. The bad ones feed on sugar and ingredients in highly processed foods. So you eat too much sugar and processed food and those bacteria multiply and you get more signals sent to the brain for sugar and such. So your ratio of bacteria gets off and you end up in a cycle. He said cutting off the unhealthy foods and artificial additives starves out the bad bacteria and lets the good flourish eventually (by eating fresh whole foods) and your cravings calm down and your brain starts hearing the cravings for healthier foods more easily. I'm quite certain it is a very over simplified explanation, but it made some send to me with how I get stuck in crap food feedback loops I struggle to get out of, but once I break it, I wonder why I thought breaking it was so hard...

Anyway, I got a TON done yesterday. The mattress is gone, the sewing machine went to the Afghan refugees, I got rid of mason jars, serving platters, and hand weights on NextDoor. 5 boxes of books (all the ones I'm getting rid of now gone) and one box of miscellaneous to the donation drop off. All the manuals, extra fridge shelves I'm not using, special microwave trays, spare fridge filters etc. located and set aside for the new owners. A good day. I feel like I may be nearing the end of things I can think of to get rid of! Never thought I'd see the day.

Today I will finish up that and start on stuff to take to AZ. My friend is moving most of her stuff today and might be able to come by for the bed frame her daughter wanted and the succulent pot on my porch.

Hope you all have good days!

Wow! That explanation actually makes sense. I ate cake this afternoon (which I rarely do) and now I feel starved 90 minutes later!

This makes sense CC. Now where do I get some of that good bacteria? ds