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I didn't see any on Iona the one day I was there, but maybe I'll see something hiking. We did see a beautiful ring on Orkney called the Ring of Brodgar. But it's true, they are all over the place in Scotland.
I suspect your nieces feel about you the way I feel about her. I have/had 2 aunties who mean/meant everything to me. My Dad's sister whom I am named for was another guiding North Star for me.
You are so fortunate to have such a generous and supportive soul as your Aunt! (From now on I will also capitalize her.) Of course you'll go and experience the magic of Iona and the spirits of three generations of beautiful souls!
ANN 5'5", AGE 74, HW 235.6 (BMI 39.2), SW 216, GW 150, CW 132, BMI 22
POUNDS LOST: Pre-op -20, M1 -10, M2 -11, M3 -10, M4 -10, M5 -7, M6 -5, M7 -6, M8 -4, M9 -4,
NEXT 10 MOS. -12, TOTAL -100 LBS.
137.6. Down!
Staying at my brother's while visiting my Mom for a few days. Her cognition has definitely declined since her surgeries. She did stand today which is good, would like to see her able to take some steps. At least she is getting PT and OT.
I skipped lunch and am starving for dinner which my brother is currently making. Chicken chop suey I guess!
5' 4" tall, HW: 242, SW:215.4 Weight Loss - pre-op: - 26.6, M1: -15.4, M2: -16, M3: -11.4, M4: -11.2, M5: -12.2, M6: -7.4, M7: -7.8, M8: -2.0 Goal of 130 lbs. reached at 8 months, 2 days post-op!
I have eaten alligator. Along with various other water based critters (eel, squid, octopus, frog legs, snail, shark, swordfish and many other types of fish from carp to Mahi mahi.)
5' 4" tall, HW: 242, SW:215.4 Weight Loss - pre-op: - 26.6, M1: -15.4, M2: -16, M3: -11.4, M4: -11.2, M5: -12.2, M6: -7.4, M7: -7.8, M8: -2.0 Goal of 130 lbs. reached at 8 months, 2 days post-op!
Wow! What an exciting year of travel you have planned! Enjoy!
5' 4" tall, HW: 242, SW:215.4 Weight Loss - pre-op: - 26.6, M1: -15.4, M2: -16, M3: -11.4, M4: -11.2, M5: -12.2, M6: -7.4, M7: -7.8, M8: -2.0 Goal of 130 lbs. reached at 8 months, 2 days post-op!
Greetings all
Still another sunny crisp day. I will take it. Started the day waddling at the gym. Watching classic football game, listening to Aretha, and observing skinny people lift impossible weights was almost sensory overload. Then I went to the studio and made a few things. Ho hum.
Paula you get the award for consumption of unusual meats. Anyone eat alligator? I swear one time in Japan I ate a bar-b-qued guppy. Awful.
Yes Peps quilting is so great! Such an under appreciated art form. Love both the old traditional and the contemporary. I have a few that my grandmother made. Patchwork from other things she sewed. My mother had a quilt made from scraps of the clothes she had as a kid. My grandmother was also a wonderful seamstress and I wish I had learned more from her.
Cripes its hard to imagine that you teachers have to be concerned about ICE raids. Not like there isn't plenty to worry about.
Yow DD such a great travel outlook for you! Iona sounds wonderful. You are so lucky to have such a generous and fun auntie. Are there any stone circles there? We went to one in Scotland but I can't remember the name.
We watched the rest of No Good Deed last night. Good show.
Thanks for the passport reminder. Need to do that just in case we ever go anywhere.
Question: Why does the pencil smell bad?
Answer: Because it is a number two....
Diane S
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Wow!!!! What an exciting year of travel you have planned. Your DH is a gem among gems! (But you already know that!)
I am so glad to be retiring. When I read the email about ICE protocols my gut turned. It's wrong on so many levels. Sheesh!
Peps, I love, love textiles! Quilts are definitely art. I always check out the linens etc at thrift shops. Sometimes I see obviously handmade quilts and it makes me sad that somebody would give it up. My grandmother was a gifted seamstress, and I treasure every little thing she created, tea towels, quilts, Christmas tablecloths. I wish I was more gifted with sewing.
We are supposed to be getting our ICE training too. Can they actually come and remove children from GRADE SCHOOL? I figured it would be more likely to happen at a high school. I can't imagine how frightening it would be for all children to see people dressed in black with guns in the building. Pray it never, ever happens.
I nope there was pool floating time. That sounds delicious!
I'm having a weird day. Last night I could not sleep, not a wink. As 4:30am rolled around, and my head was now pounding, I finally made the decision to call in sick. I fell asleep around dawn, and slept about 5 hours. It was like some kind of bad trip, random bits of songs and other weird thoughts floating through my brain. Small nervous breakdown? DH says I need to be out in nature and reset brain, but it's not warm enough. He has a good point though, maybe I need to go walk in an indoor park. There are a few around here. I hope tonight goes better. If it continues, I'm going to suspect the new cancer medication. My weight also ticked up a bit. If it takes me for a ride like the Tamoxifen did, I don't think I will continue taking it.
On a completely different topic, I had a delightful surprise last week. Long story. 2 summers ago, my Aunt and her husband took us along on a cruise of Scottish islands. This aunt is truly my fairy Godmother. She has no biological children (she gained 2 adult step children when she remarried after my Uncle died)She took me to Greece when I was 22 for college graduation. She paid for my therapy when I was 30 and suffering depression. She is the one who offered her cottage in Ipswich 3 summers ago, gifts me art and Waterford Crystal, and offers love and support my whole life. She is also one of the most fascinating and charismatic people. I do love traveling with her in the style she can afford :) but I would ride on a city bus just to spend time with her.
On our cruise, we stopped at an Island called Iona. Iona has an Abby that has existed for 1,400 years and was the epicenter of Western Christianity. It is stunningly scenic, and the energy is off the chart. 1,400 years of holy people praying, making pilgrimages. The other place I felt this kind of buzz was a set of Pyramids in Belize. We all felt the same pull, and agreed it would be worth visiting for a longer stay.
Monday, my Aunt asked to zoom with my daughter and she announced that she wanted to pay for a trip to Iona, all expenses paid, to celebrate my daughters graduation for her masters, and my retirement. We were stunned. She originally hoped to make it a girl's trip, but she no longer feels her health is good enough to travel that far.
So in September, when I would typically be starting the new school year, I will be on Iona, hiking, reading and meditating with my daughter. I picture us drinking tea, wearing our Irish sweaters and having great conversations.
It is a bit of a pilgrimage to get there. We fly to Glasgow, then take a 3 hour train ride to the coast, take a ferry to the Isle of Mull, cross Mull on a bus to another ferry port, then a ferry to Iona. An adventure!!!!
The only downside for me is having to leave DH behind, knowing he also wants to return to Iona one day. He is so gracious, telling me, this is the gift your Aunt wants to give you, a girl's trip. You should accept the gift and enjoy it. If we weren't still planning on going to Egypt, he would join me after DD left and we would travel in the UK. But a week or 2 in the UK together and a trip to Egypt, and Brazil is a bit too much adventure and funds. We'll get to the UK together another year.
My dance card is full! Florida in February, Memphis in April, Boston in May for DDs graduation, return to Boston in July to help her move, Scotland in September, Egypt in Oct/Nov, Brazil in January. As DH and I like to say, not too bad for a shopkeep and a teacher. Or our other catch phrase: how did two schmucks from Lakeville end up here? Lucky indeed.
