Friday, December 29, 2023

We are home (arrived back in Florida just after 7 pm last night). The plane was comfortable and pretty much on time, BUT one of our suitcases did not make it on our flight (a nonstop). We don't know exactly what happened but an email was sent to me at 6:13 pm (while we were still in flight) saying that they were sorry my bag was delayed and providing a claim number. So it either was left behind in Providence or went on the other flight going to Raleigh at about the same time. Someone must have found it and said OOPS! We don't really need anything in it right away but hopefully it shows up in the next couple of days. I ordered and sent AirTags to DS who is flying here on 1/9 so he can use one. Apparently we should all do that. I have had bags lost previously but it has been a long time. All the previous occasions were flights where there was a plane change and the bag didn't make it on the second flight.

Not much else going on. It is going to be in the 60's today (it is high 50's now) which is a *****illy in Florida but at least the sun is out.

Time for a Justice walk. Have a fine Friday!

Argh, the lost bag. Last time I had one, it was on a non stop on Delta out of Boston. It did show up the next day, and they had a delivery service bring it to our house. I hope your bag shows up today.

CC so sorry to hear about your friends. Yes, this is an especially tough time to lose loved ones, especially when it is sudden and unexpected.

The Emma Stone movie, Poor Things. Hmmm. This month I have seen 2 freakadoodle movies, this one and Saltburn. Poor Things might be intellectually more challenging about what makes us human, and the purpose of polite society. Mark Ruffalo is absolutely marvelous fun, as he goes way over the top (as he should, fits the story well). Everyone else was awesome too. But it definitely was freakadoodle and full of potentially deeply offensive material, so not for the faint of heart. When it ended, we just sat there, kind of stunned. Then DD said, well that was interesting to watch with my parents. I'm not sorry I saw it, but it was a lot. Peps, if you do see it, I would love to hear your thoughts.

I thought I was going browsing yesterday, but instead, I came home with some treasures. A couple of things I just love from Chicos, and even better, were 70% off, a clearance sweater from Loft, and some badic s like long sleeve t shirts from Pennys. It's all about the layers!

My parents were supposed to drive 2 hours to my Uncle's house today. My brother was dead set against it, I thought it might do them a world of good if they were feeling well enough. I started getting texts this morning that they couldn't find my mother's portable oxygen generator. So they're not going, my Mom is very disappointed. But maybe that's an indication they really can't be going on these trips alone. I wish their story was different.

DH and I are planning to go to a wine bar tonight to hear some music and eat some charcuterie (and drink wine of course). We're not going out this NYE, as DD has a very early flight Monday morning. Normally we go to a party at our friend's home (since 1999!), but this year they are in Taiwan for their son's wedding. I'm fine with that. We've had some crazy fun at these parties and getting home at 2am, but a quiet night sounds good right about now.

I would prefer to skip freakadoodle movies, though I do like Mark Ruffalo. Shopping treasures are always fun!

Sounds like it was best that your parents didn't travel.

Great that DD is recovering.

Greetings all

Sorry, missed yesterday. I had gallery duty in the afternoon. It was decent - a friend came by with her dog that is one of our puppies - she is a firecracker! (dog, not friend). So we caught up on stuff. She is building a second house on her property with the idea of it having a sort of caretaker. Good idea - she is 80 years old. Also sold a fair amount of stuff for a weekday after Christmas. Banking to be done. Dinner was ham and sweet potato tots. Quite good.

DD its probably for the best your parents didn't undertake that drive. Hope it was not to big a crisis. Thanks for the movie updates. DH wants to watch Napoleon but I am luke warm about it. Brother recommended The Days which is about the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan.

Liz sorry for lost bag. It happens. I think I have only lost one for good in my life. They usually show up later when some guy knocks on the door at 2am. Just another travel joy.

Peps sorry you are having anxiety. No fun. I have it off and on and had a huge bout after the crazy pat chronicles. I have used Klonipin which works great and fast acting. You can take it as needed and feel better fast. I haven't taken it in years but when you need it, it's excellent. I also take paxil which is a lot like prozac but has more to help anxiety. Might mention this to your prescriber. Yeah therapy can get old and seem like a burden and make you wonder whats worth it. . But I would keep it up so long as the anxiety is bothering you.

Speaking of therapy, anyone think there is a correlation between being overweight and needing or utilizing therapy? Those of us that were chubby kids know that there are elements of self doubt and loathing deeply imbedded due to weight. Who knows. And other people think that an overweight person must have serious mental health problems so they overeat. Yeah right.

Finally talked to brother after his big trip. He is doing ok and the trip went well though he had some times he felt really lousy. We shall see. He is a skinny person and has been unintentionally losing weight. He is kind of a health freak but doesn't cook much and avoids sugar and salt. I told him if he wants healthy calories to eat lots of nuts. Order the good ones from Sunnyland Farms. Actually he should just eat ice cream all the time but he avoids the cholesterol. Makes me think of when I was at my lowest weight after VSG which was 117. I took to eating a large spoon of peanut butter each night to stop losing. I swear there is some magic switch that makes you lose or gain weight and i seem to lack the neutral gear.

DH is going out for lunch at Chinese buffet. Its pouring rain so I will stay home and wash the mountain thats in the bedroom.

One of our gallery members is resigning. His work is very sophisticated and nuanced and does not sell well. So in his resignation he said that our gallery was crafts and gifts, not art. Whoa, them is fighting words to artists and a predict a stink! Always something.

Diane S

Diane, you may be right about the switch, and I'm more and more convinced it is hormones that control it. I read that once you are 50 or more pounds overweight, your fat can also click the hormone switch, and becomes its own entity, almost like another organ. Whereas only 5% of dieters can keep off weight lost over a 5 year span, only 1% of dieters 50 pounds or more overweight are able to do so. Why we need medical options like WLS and pharmaceuticals.

No doubt every obese or formally obese person carries some emotional scars. It's hard navigating a world where so many people judge you as weak and not worthy of the same quality of life as "normal" people. I remember seeing the dismissal in peoples eyes when we would first meet. I spent a lot of energy showing them they were wrong to dismiss me. Especially professionally, it was sometimes an additional task to get people to overlook the fatness and see the competence.

Sure sounds like your brother needs some extra calories to our some weight on. My mother was super skinny in her last years and when she got very sick her doctor said she had no resources to draw from while her body tried to recover. So a bit of extra weight is a good thing sometimes. I hope his trip will yield good results ultimately.

I got out early today to go to the grocery store and the car wa****'s a ZOO here the week between Christmas and New Years! An absolute zoo. Interestingly, a ton of Asian tourists, many seemingly from abroad. Lots of commiserating on NextDoor about how it took an hour and a half to go 5 miles. This is why I live on this side of town. I may have to contend with several hundred poorly parked cars and hikers walking in the road, but it's not the bumper to bumper traffic those from the south end (Village of Oak Creek) fight through daily.

Clearly high, young hippie panhandlers at Safeway with a cardboard sign that read, "passin through anything helps". Here's my "help" - get a job! Who gives money to people like that? Other high hippies? Last week it was gypsy travelers with a baby out there in the strong sun all day. That's child abuse in my mind. And the seemingly able bodied guy with dogs sitting in the sun all day. Animal abuse. I have no problem giving to legitimate charities that help people who are struggling to feed themselves, or giving part of what I bought for the food bank to the homeless man minding his own business at the picnic table outside Safeway, but I don't trust panhandlers. Rant over.

We finished the last season of Jack Reacher last night. Really good. I'm sorry the series is over. And we did another episode of Reacher. Not as good, but entertaining.

DD, glad to see your daughter is feeling better. And hope your suitcase shows up soon! I had a bag list one year coming home from camp with a wet bathing suit in a plastic bag as a kid. The suit went in the trash! Peps, sometimes I think trying a new therapist or taking a break is just the thing to reset how therapy works for you. DianeS, can't wait to hear about what kerfuffle the departing artist's words kick off!

I think that's all I have. Take care all!

Mexico had a campaign at one time with billboards that said, Your charity keeps me chained to this corner". The position of the campaign is people would sit with their kids, or worse, send their kids alone, as long as it worked, and people gave them money. They wanted people to do what you do CC, give donations to reputable organizations.

Yeah CC, lots of panhandlers around here. I only give money to the elderly ones and not often.. Lots of transient people here I always wonder what their stories are and how they came to live this way. You can tell the long term homeless by the patina that their skin has. A weathered look. There was a case here of a woman panhandling outside costco with a two year old. Police investigated. Turned out she was not homeless. Not sure what they did. ds

Panhandlers are difficult to view especially when you doubt their need. I wish our country took better care of the people who truly need assistance.