Monday, March 17, 2025 St Patricks Day

Happy St Pat's Day! If I had been born a day later my name would be Patricia. That was the deal between my parents. My mother wanted Patricia and my father wanted Elizabeth. Because my mother had named their prior child, my father got first dibs unless I had been born on the 17th.

Yesterday was another day out of a dream. We were mostly at Jost Van Dyke Island in the afternoon stopping at a few local bars. We met the owners at Soggy Dollar because they are friends of people we know in Florida, then went to a bar with no one else there where you make your own drink however strong you want it and pay them when you leave - all honor system. The food was amazing again. DD did like the grilled Mahi Mahi and salad for lunch as well as the tagliatelle carbonara for dinner followed by a coconut birthday cake. At least breakfast and lunch were quite healthy with the fish.

This is a small boat: A 64 foot catamaran with 4 cabins. There are 2 decks to hang out on and lots of sunning locations. We are on the boat with 2 other couples from Florida, a captain, steward, and a chef. Truly a trip of a lifetime. We spend the days in bathing suits and coverups. No shoes anywhere - not on the boat or at the bars on shore.

Our cabin is in the drawing below on the bottom right side. All cabins are en-suite with a small shower and lots of cabinets/drawers. The couple who arranged this are in the bigger suite with the bathroom open to the room and a larger shower. Our room is fine for us.

Have a lucky St Patrick's Day!

A true sign of vacation is being off on the days of the week! Yesterday was Sunday and today in Monday (I only know that because I have to put the trash out on Mondays).

So glad you're having a nice birthday, Liz! Did you know the other couples before the trip?

The trash is out and Kirby and I are being buzzed by balloons. Interesting wind patterns out there today. Must be swirling as the direction they swiftly took off is the opposite way of my house. Suddenly Kirby has decided the house needs bark protection from them.

I am headed to Flagstaff late morning to have a chip in my windshield repaired. It's not a crack yet and is on the passenger side so it can be filled. I may stop at Target up there. I haven't been to one since 2022!

Anyway, can't think of anything else just now. Have a great day!

LOL! I just fixed the days!

Yes, these are friends of ours in our community. The couple who coordinated the trip are our closest friends in Florida. They have been in BVI previously when they first met so started the idea of doing this together last summer.

It would be fun to photograph the balloons with the beautiful rock formations you have in your neighborhood!

Back in CA after a fun, wet and cold weekend in the Tacoma, WA area. Sadly, planes were delayed and I did not get back to CA until 12:20 AM. By the time I got home it was 1:30 AM. Took a while to settle the dogs and unwind. Didn't get to bed until almost 3 AM. UGH... Needless to say, I decided it would be best to be "sick" today. I found a good sub last night while waiting in the Seattle airport and booked her.

Weight is stable. I didn't eat a lot over the weekend, but I didn't eat low cal. Had a magnificent shrimp boil Saturday night. I haven't had a boil done quite that way before. I'm not exactly sure how it's done, but the food arrived in a big plastic bag with the seasonings and butter all hot and melted. I ordered the headless shrimp, but they were still in the shell - so sweet and beautifully firm! No silverware was brought to the table. All finger food - even the boiled potatoes! Lots of napkins, plastic gloves if wanted, and wipes!

I had a good/honest session with nutritionist on Friday before the trip up to WA. In a nutshell all the "issues" I have with the remaining weight are eating disorder related. Not sure how I will move forward at this point, but I will figure it out. I'm kind of at the one day at a time phase of this process. A bit disappointing, but understandable (at least to me).

Glad everyone seems to have had a good weekend. Liz, I continue to think good thoughts for a positive outcome for your DD.

Not much else....

128.4. All good!

Plastic surgery consult went well today. He thinks I only need a moderate tummy tuck (no muscle tightening and not a 360 lift) and a full inner thighplasty. Price is quite reasonable for the two at just over 23K. I'm getting a lot of discounts due to having surgery there before and having multiple surgeries now. OR time for the 2 is only 3.5 hours, so I think I will do both at once. It would be a different story if I was going to do a 360 or need outer thighs as well as inner. Probably will book for the beginning of September so we can enjoy the Wisconsin summer!

DS3 will be here through dinner, DS2 went back to Madison yesterday and DC1 works today. Making corned beef, carrots, new potatoes and cabbage for dinner. Once a year always around St. Patrick's day (though we are not even a little bit Irish)!

Should get on the treadmill and then clean the wood blinds before the window washers get here tomorrow!

Good for you moving forward! Sounds like you have a good PS not trying to oversell.

My BIL and SIL used to own a yacht similar to the one Liz is on, except theirs was a tri-hull. It was constructed right here in Minnesota, and when it was done, they had it hauled to the Minnesota River, which flowed to the Mississippi, and deposited them in the gulf where they headed towards St. Thomas. They hired a captain and booked tours. I think it was hard to run it profitably from Minnesota and they sold fairly fast (after spending years constructing it). The closest I ever got to sailing it was sitting on the deck shortly before they launched it.

Apparently salmon the fish can generate as many emotions as salmon the color! I vote in the middle. I cannot for the life of me make delicious salmon, no matter how fine a piece of fish I buy. But I do like it when it's prepared by others. Salmon the color is not really a favorite of mine.

Peps will retire before me. I have to go until June 13, but it is easily in sight now. I think we are going to enjoy Mondays a lot. We are going to switch our coffee date to Monday when I retire because it's less crowded AND St. Vinny's next door has 20% off for senior citizens. A bargain on bargains!

A pretty standard day today. I'm hoping to finish up To Kill a Mockingbird this week. After 20 some years with Atticus and Tom Robinson, I will say goodbye to Macomb Alabama.

The weather is pleasant today in the low 60s and sunny. It will be cooler tomorrow. No snow, so it's all good.

To Kill a Mockingbird was such a great book (and movie). I am reading The Adventures of Huck Finn for book club and having a really hard time with the vernacular. James comes next.

Greetings all

Today started with rain but the sun is out now. Who knows for how long. Missed the gym yesterday due to power outage festivities so I made sure I got there today. Lo and behold the elevator was out of service due to yesterday's power failure. So I sucked it up and walked up two flights of stairs. Not as bad as I expected so I guess I will have to start doing that too. Walking down was almost harder. After that I picked up payroll and took it to the studio. Picked up new stuff and took it to the gallery. Home now enjoying a glass of Fairlife milk.

Liz that boat rocks!! LOL. Looks great. What a fun birthday. No shoes! Perfect.

Yep DD soon you and Peps will escape the tyranny of week days. Enjoy Atticus and Scout for the last time. At least you get to teach that.

Paula keep us posted on the plastics. Agreed you do not need the 360. Inner thighs sounds like a good plan. Thanks for the thoughts on nephew's early baby. She is well over 4 pounds now. Hope she gets to 5

Balloons and barking CC. That will keep Kirby very busy. Yep trash pick up is how we tell days of week. DH never forgets. I do.

Not much to offer here on food and weight. Only that shrimp makes a good dinner but ya'll know that. Yeah DD I don't like a lot of fish if I make it. Better if someone else cooks. Everyone says the secret to fish is to not overcook it but it is hard not to because the thought of undercooked fish is gross. I like salmon ( had a friend who said "I do not eat orange fish") but am picky about whether it is wild caught or farm raised. There is a new fish farm being built near here but no clue on what sort of fish.

Well enough stream of consciousness. Stay warm and dry all. (Except Liz who is living it)

Diane S