Wednesday, July 10, 2024

"Tub faucet diverter" freaked me out so much I had to look it up. Thank God I don't have one.

What's strange is how fearless and effective I am in many of life's serious situations, but how weenie I am when faced with some of the home maintenance/repair situations y'all have described over the years.

One of my friends did the rent back strategy when the buyer wanted to lock in the mortgage interest rate, but they couldn't close on their new home right away. Worked great for them.

The pictures of Kirby playing with the kids were so sweet. I hope he can have more playdates.

Miss150, argh trapped in phone hell. It's one of my worst emotions, the building impotent rage when being held hostage for nonsense.

Yesterday, if, as passing through the house, I thought I should .... and it would take 5 minutes, I paused and did it. So instead of a to do list (which is sometimes how my entire life feels when working, you have 30 minutes to buy groceries etc) I let the house tell me what to do. Many little chores completed. I also made progress on a craft I started last year and put away. I think I can finish this week. (hand sewing pillows for the deck chairs, hand sewing because sewing machine is kaput and I actually enjoy mending etc) I think I will do more of the same today after I workout.

Texts are flying about more resignations at work. The Executive Special Services Director resigned this spring, and his job is yet to be filled. Now the Special Ed Director who worked under him has left. They are the 2 positions that set all policy and expectations for us, and control the money, and do the hiring. Any other special ed administration is grade level (example High School or Middle School Coordinators) and they take all their direction from the Executive Director and Special Ed Director. I think building principals can hire special education teachers on their own, for their own building, if anyone applies for the numerous openings that still exist. But as far as ordering supplies we need to start the year (curriculum, licenses for online programs, supplies, replace furniture, etc), I don't know who can approve the purchases. What a frigging mess. Anyhow, I'm not fretting too much about it, there's nothing to be done. I think those of us who stayed are going to have power to set some parameters if we stick together. And I think we will. That is always the bright spot in my job, I have such awesome co-workers. (Although fewer of them after all the resignations). Having only one year left also gives me a lot of detachment, otherwise known as I don't have any more $&%!s to give.

Yesterday I had another decent protein day. Feeling very virtuous. Weight holding steady.

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What a mess at work! My last year I also ended up in an environment I wouldn't have put up with if I had a choice but the I don't give a you-know-what attitude and good co-workers made it tolerable. And it made it really easy to leave and not miss it (though I missed the people).

Yes, we are truly a tremendous tribe of determined, talented, caring people invested in living every moment to its fullest ! Diane, my Mahjongg session was like your Scrabble games sounded. I came out strong and won the first game resoundingly and lost the next five ! I love playing win or lose. CC, I agree with the prediction that Kirby will be a water dog! Three feet in is a great start ! I took Sadie for a walk after a deluge this morning. The heat and humidity are favorable for pop up storms, so I wanted to get out while the getting was good. She was fabulous off leash, checking in with eye contact, responsive recall, and staying out of the ponds. Right at the end, she found some mud to roll in. Of course she did ! A neighbor walked by while I was hosing her down in the driveway and asked why I didn't just use the dog washing station in our development. "Aren't you sweet for asking ?" is a southern response for "Are you FKM ? If you think I am going to wrestle my 85 pound dog up a ramp and into a tub designed for a dog half her size and then further traumatize her with high pressure water, you don't know me at all !" I dried her off with a towel and then washed that, her harness and her collar and took my car to the car wash while she decompressed in the laundry room. I have a monthly subscription to limitless excellent car washes, and then there is an area with free vacuums, glass cleaner, leather cleaner and towels. I certainly have enough sand in my car to use it more than I do !

Everyone kept asking if we should pull Kirby into the water with a leash or carry him in. I was adamant that NO, it would be his choice and only by encouragement. Doggies deserve agency too!!

Yes, he'll figure it out on his own. Or maybe it will never be his thing. There are worse things than a big dog who doesn't get all wet!

Having been born in Florida (albeit residing only a few years), I feel I own the right to throw a few southern phrases around now and again. My favorite is "Bless your heart " which can mean any cotton picking thing you want it to.

Love the idea of unlimited car wash subscription. Years ago I nearly rusted through my gas tank when I spent a week on South Padre. ( yes, some months later...drip, drip, drip) Who knew that the salty beach sand got stuck up on the undercarriage? Not this girl!

Good thing Sadie has such a good Mom!

Down another pound this morning. Going up in dosage seems to accelerate weight loss the first week, but then levels out. If this loss holds I will down 2 plus pounds for the week.

I tried on old dress shirts last night. Still a little snug on my neck. I checked Costco on line and found a couple on sale for $15 each, so I ordered those. They will arrive on Monday. Gotta get rid of the tents I have been wearing. The necks are comfortable, but the rest of the shirts are like circus tents!

I have to trim BFF's dog today, get to the pharmacy for my BP meds and lab for bloodwork to see if the semaglutide and tirzepatide have lowered my A1C. I would assume that it has given my weight loss.

CC, I'm wondering what kind of appetite suppression you are wanting? The med does not really suppress my appetite, per se, but greatly reduces hunger levels and the brain noise about food. My appetite is still quite in tact. However, what I am finding is that I want very specific things - specific proteins, a specific fruit or carb, and of course dessert foods! Yesterday was all about protein. Didn't care where it came from, just craved protein throughout the day. The other thing for me is that my eating schedule is WAY OFF from societal norms. I often don't feel like eating anything until noon. Then I want to eat again around 4 pm and then will get hungry around 8:30 or 9:00. Yesterday I made myself a large lunch around 2 (had a Quest Bar at 10 am), didn't want to eat at dinner time, so I grabbed different flavor Quest Bar, proceeded to groom Molly until 8:30 and still didn't ant to eat. I flipping got hungry at 10 pm! No Bueno! I popped a TV dinner in the microwave and ate all the turkey and stuffing out of it, but left the potatoes. So, I'm getting enough protein, but I will say my eating schedule is really weird. I'm wondering what will happen once school starts again next month. I do better on eating schedule when Ron is home because he is a dinner eater. (He's in Kansas City at a convention, so I'm solo this week.)

What's fantastic is I don't feel like I'm dieting. I know I will get to the point where I have to look at what I can reduce and eliminate, but so far, so good. Being mindful, putting protein first and limiting carbs and sweets is working.

Tomorrow is another shot day. 2 pounds to get to my next mini goal.... Whoo hoo....

I still feel like snacking all the time. I will never not eat until 2 or later! I can still want to eat a full plate. So half a small appetizer isn't going to cut it where it might have early on. Carbs and sweets are still my draw. I think I need to stop reading about other people's experiences on the medications. Makes me feel like a piglet or that maybe hormones aren't my problem. While early on I lost the food noise, it's still there now (though maybe not quite as overpowering) even on 10mg. It helps, but I have to work at not overeating.