Thursday, September 7, 2023

To Diane's question about grab and go protein snacks, I think I've burned out of all my mainstays: hard boiled eggs, jerky, protein shakes, cottage cheese... maybe that's telling me no more snacks?

Chilly here this morning! We had very little rain from the storms yesterday. Boo.

View from my security camera last night in AZ:

I am so ready to have strangers out of my house. Even if I'm not there, it creeps me out and gives me anxiety. I need to text the contractor and ask when they are going to be done and out of there.

Anyway, that's all for me this morning. Hope you all are well!

I am back at school with a vengeance! It is my first time at 3 of the sites this week. Kind of funny that I'm having my "first" day with some of the students and it's the 4th week of school. However, the warm welcome of from my former students was overwhelming. Nothing like hearing, "Mr. Allen's here! YAY! We missed you!" ring out when I walk in the room.

Yesterday was a carb heavy day. I didn't over eat, but certainly not enough protein. Have to change that today.

While Covid symptoms are basically gone, except for the residual gunk in my bronchia and a little cough to get it out, I do have the Covid Tired. After school hits and while I'm taking my little sit down break after school, usually playing solitaire, I find myself nodding off. Even with a little nap, I'm still ready for bed earlier than usual.

I need to track what I am doing at school. I am seeing a trend that as the week goes on my weight goes up. Over the weekend my weight returns to where I like it to be lately. Monday rolls around and all is well on the scale. By Thursday, I am up 3-4 pounds.

Dinah and Blitz have been bred. Hoping for a female version of Buster. If not, I will wait for a puppy from Molly. Puppies, if Dinah is pregnant, will arrive first week of November. It will be absolute mayhem in the house come Christmas! Not sure how that is going to work for hosting Christmas Eve as usual.... But it makes me smile just thinking about it. Think of the photo opportunities of puppies, presents and Christmas Trees! Fingers crossed.

Here's to a thriving Thursday!

Somehow puppies are always a blessing though a lot of work!

Puppy mayhem is the best kind of mayhem!

That picture is freaky. What was he doing!!!!

Right?! My friend was cracking me up with nipple jokes...

So I am not on Block Island though today would have been a perfect beach day. We had to cancel the trip.

I am apparently falling apart. I developed pretty significant neck pain Monday after spending the day in Provincetown walking around. When I woke up Tuesday my neck was so stiff and painful I thought I had meningitis. I went to urgent care and got a prescription for a muscle relaxer with a diagnosis of muscle spasms. Very little improvement since Tuesday and getting my head from a position lying down to upright is excruciating. I have to hold my neck with my hands to try to keep it as still as possible. So this afternoon I am seeing my primary care PCP to see if I should be doing something different.

So I have been mostly in pain and very sluggish from the muscle relaxer. DH thinks it is related to my shoulder stuff and it does seem like a weird coincidence. I am seeing the shoulder guy tomorrow to get a steroid injection.

Off to the doctor. Have a thriving Thursday!

Could it be the sling? Neck pain is my only recurring ailment, so I so feel sympathy for you! It's awful.

I actually have not been wearing the sling lately so end up holding onto a belt loop to keep my arm in a sling-like position. Mike theorizes that I am hunching my shoulders when I do that. The PCP said that was possible but no way to really know!?

Mike could be right - compensating to protect your shoulder could put stress on your neck or other parts. I hope you feel better soon!