Monday, June 12, 2023

Really interesting article in the Washington Post this morning about the new weight loss drugs: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/06/06/ozempic-w eight-loss-ruth-marcus/?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20230612&i nstance_id=94814&nl=the-morning®i_id=191401853&segment_id=1 35323&te=1&user_id=9546c8beb3aa9aadb8414fa980cd3344 . Quite interesting that the writer's descriptions of how it felt to be on it mirrored DD. I really wish I could afford to pay for them but I just can't justify it.

Another day in warmth doing not too much. Our only specific task is to drive DD and her partner to their event tonight, then probably find a place to eat dinner near there (the high-rise area vs where we stay in the low-rise area).

This week we are going to be attending a Happy Hour memorial for a friend we knew from here who died during the holidays. He actually died here and had planned it that way by prearranging for his body to be shipped back to the US. He had been battling cancer for a long time and knew the time was coming soon so came here for his last days. I had known him since I first came 13 years ago. At that point he was a cigar smoking, overweight alcoholic. But a sweet alcoholic (and mostly sober during the day). Many years ago he cleaned up his act so he could care for his parents who were also here every year with him. He cared for his mother through dementia, then for his father in his last years. After he was diagnosed with cancer he spent as much time as he could in Aruba between treatments. A very kind and friendly man. He is missed and we will all remember him every year when we are here. I think he would be pleased about that.

We stayed in bed until 8 again today. I think DH may have a bit of a cold (or allergies) as he is slightly stuffed up and very tired.

Time to take the first walk of the day. Have a marvelous Monday!

Liz, glad to hear you slept in again. 8am is my summer wake up time. It feels so luxurious.

Thanks for posting that article! Very interesting read. It is a very strange place I find myself in, holding the golden ticket. This never happens to me! And wow, this stuff is crazy expensive! In the first month I lost 4 pounds. If I were paying out of pocket, that would be close to $400 a pound!!!! Maybe it would be a little more cost effective if it were someone who can lose faster. I've excepted my fate that will not be, as long as I'm taking tamoxifen. So I am incredibly grateful that I have such good insurance! It saved my life when I needed it to, and now it allows me the chance to improve the quality of my life. But it seems terribly unfair that not everyone who would benefit has access.

Today's plans are simple. Go work out, then stop by Costco. High today is 80. Its still cool and fresh right now. Heat is returning tomorrow. Beautiful start to summer break!

I got my quarterly water bill and it looks like this quarter I used 100,000 fewer gallons. I think it will be even lower next quarter as this one includes March and I didn't get the leak figured out until toward the end of March. So I'm thinking maybe I'll cut another 30,000 gallons off the bill next month. Phew. Feels good to have that solved.

Another day in the 70s. I love it. I have some things I need to get on before I go to Michigan. Not sure how long I will stay this year. It's a weirdly anxious feeling to leave a house empty for that long. Houses don't like to be empty and things go wrong when they are for long stretches. One of the things I need to do is hire someone to check on it for me. I always had a friend do it, but a professional might be better and feel less imposing especially given I don't have close friends here I would feel comfortable asking.

I talked to my dad and he is feeling a lot better. He was released Friday and spent the weekend watching golf on tv. He sounds in great spirits.

I got a sudden sweet tooth the last few days and was inches from driving to the store for chocolate last night. I was only stopped by already being in jammies and having messy hair. So I ate what little carby stuff I could find in the cupboard. Like a mouse! Sigh. Sugar is the devil and is so addictive. Time to recommit.

On that note, off to make some eggs.

Enjoy your Monday!

I have never really checked the number of gallons of water I use - just whether the cost has changed. I am guessing the cost of water there is very high? It is much more expensive in Florida than Massachusetts though electricity is cheaper in Florida.

We use a property manager in Florida to check the house(s) when we aren't there on a regular basis. Gives one piece of mind and I have to think it keeps some semi-retired people busy and employed.

Supposedly an average family of 4 uses 12,000 gallons a month. With 3 fountains, a pool, and a sof****er system that regenerates weekly, plus all the trees to water, I'm going to come in high even as one person with short showers. I was at 164,000 a quarter before the leak was discovered. This last quarter was 67,000, but that was with still wasting as much as a toilet flush a minute for nearly the whole month of March. So I'm hoping next quarter is more like 36,000 or 12,000 a month. My water bill went down $600 this quarter to $400. Whew. I think water is expensive because it's a community well that only serves 11 houses (2 more soon). We don't have the economies of scale that a city has.

Sorry to have been MIA ! I was sucker punched by the horrific gastro virus going around. I couldn't keep ANYTHING down for two days, vomiting and excreting bile . By the third day, I had lost 7 pounds and was dehydrated. I saw my DR and he gave me IV fluids and an anti nausea medication and by late that day, I could keep Pedialyte down and began BRAT (banana, rice, applesauce and toast) nibbles the next day. I thought I would never eat anything but saltines and chicken & rice soup again. I have not been this sick since gall bladder removal and VSG, which both amplified impact of this virus. My family doctor always insisted that he wanted me at least ten pounds OVER the lower end of normal BMI range. Now, I totally get why. Feeling soooo much better ! Regained only 2 pounds so far, which will rise when I am able to tolerate additional regular foods.

Will catch up on posts.

Wow! So glad you are on the mend as that sounds miserable. I hope you can move onto regular foods and feel well again soon!

Sounds horrible, Diane! I know another person in MI who cam down with that. Said she'd never been so sick!

Luckily, my absentia was due to being dog show and company busy and not because I was bitten by a gastrointestinal bug! Poor Ocean Diane!!!! I despise vomiting, so I sympathize. To me there is not much worse than nausea.

Company departed yesterday after the last day of two weekends of dog shows. Sadly, one of the visiting dogs (a puppy I bred) did not like Lovey. After a few days they got into it and Lovey ended up with a bloody ear. She's fine and will mend without an issue, but the rumble freaked out both Ron and the guest. I took it in stride, but was not pleased. The other dog guest (a litter mate to Cujo-lita ) is the happiest girl. She loved all the dogs here and couldn't get enough play time in.

I am choosing to have a "slug" day. I am relaxing and not worrying about getting anything done, except getting over to my dad's place to help with some tech stuff. Looks like his cable modem needs to be reset. The physical therapist asked that we remove my dad's Persian rugs since they are a tripping hazard. One of them is actually mine, so I will pick it up and I think I will take it to the rug dealer and see what kind of an offer they make me. Back in the mid 90s my mom was offered 40K for it. I can't see keeping a rug of that kind of value in my house of terriers. Much too much chance of chewing damage.

Even after a week of eating out at least once, if not twice per day, and a lot of sweets, my weight continues to be on my low end. Today is the day that I have been considering as a starting point for a true attempt at weight loss. Fingers crossed. First Goal: Drivers' License weight.... that's 16 pounds. I think that's doable in a couple of months.

Diamond Diane: Welcome to SUMMER!!!!!

Liz: Enjoy your annual stay in Aruba. (kind of jealous of that annual trek of yours!)

Diane S: Prepping for new floors is horrid, but boy when it's done, it is so worth the effort. I LOVE my luxury Vinyl Plank. Best home decision I have made - especially with the dogs.

Diane Ocean: Feel better ASAP! Yes, a few extra pounds for cushion when one gets sick is not a bad idea. I get frustrated with my dad for his continued aversion to any extra weight. He needs it at 93, but he's got his own hang ups about weight.

CC : I freaked because we were using close to 700 gallons per day at one point. We are still using more than I would like, but I don't think we have a leak. I think it's Ron's addiction to keeping up with laundry! LOL!

Shirl: Hope the time with the grandbabies at the farm was delightful and that you are feeling back to your normal self!

Poor Lovey. Dogs do all have different personalities don't they? Justice is super-sensitive to other dogs temperaments and can tell right away if the dog is aggressive or anxious. His hair stands up, his ears pull together almost touching at the tips, he shows his teeth, and barks. With a relaxed, friendly dog his hair and ears stay down and he does the sniffing dance.