Feeling better today. I emptied out the fridge in prep for taking garbage to the dump, and decided to clean the inside a little. I listened to a Mel Robbins podcast while I did which always helps the time go by better. It was 3 things to do for your health, and of course exercise is one of them. One of the speakers talked about doing 11 push ups a day, or working your way up to that, which sounds like a doable goal. Another was spend less time on your phone/social media which definitely makes sense, and the third was connection. I don't like hearing how loneliness is bad for your health as you can't "cure" that as easily as other things, but worth thinking about. I called BFF later in the day to vent a bit which was quite helpful, and then got some stress out by mowing the lawn for 30 minutes. Part is still left but its much better, and makes me feel good to look at it.
Today is groceries and prepping for DD's surgery and after by doing laundry, gassing up the car etc. We have to be at the hospital by 6 tomorrow morning, ugh but at least there won't be traffic. I will bring some books etc and hopefully be able to take a nap in the quiet family area again. I'm kind of in denial this is happening so soon which is easier than worrying about it.
Onebyone- I like your perspective on banking summer days. I'm not into the extreme heat, but we've been lucky with some lovely days this summer too.
Bill-good to be reassured on your purchase. Apple does make it challenging to not spend money every year or two on a new phone.

curlyjax: I'll be thinking of you and DD tomorrow morning!

Need to get to work
 

Coaches

Today I cooked from scratch using some ofnthe veggies that came from the farm yesterday. I chose an easy one; new potatoes with barely there skin, I made wedge fries in the air fryer. Very healthy except that they are... Potatoes. Sigh. However it was a smallish portion. It was accompanied by 2 "butter chicken" burger patties made at a local grocery store. Ground chicken with seasonings. It was good. I'm going to stock up on some maybe tomorrow.

The other thing I did today was work ony sketchbook. I'm almost caught up with the daily assignments. I've found it hard to sketch this past week.

I'm feeling down and lonely lately. I'm staying home a lot to hide from the heat. And staying.home makes me aware of the black of space and the decluttering I need to do that I just have up on. Tomorrow I will start again. I need to remember that if I start tondo something like that, eat frogs, then by the end of it I really feel.better. I don't start by feeling good. I end by feeling good because I have done what needs to be done. I've broken my procrastination. And that feels hopeful so I will do that tomorrow... Break my procrastination.

BillBlueEyes: It seems rare and unusual that you get tripped up by a FREE sample at a store. You have an excellent avoidance record as far as I can tell. I'm glad you course corrected right away. This is the key to maintenance of weight newly lost or lost over a decade ago. Credit.

Curlyjax: I see that you too are feeling lonely. It made me wonder if the promise of good weather and summertime fun builds upy expectations toouch. Or I just expect too much and then feel let down. I don't know. But to our solution to call a friend, to mow the lawn, are good examples of what helps that feeling pass. Actually what I just realized is I didn't eat over it and neither did you! Brilliant. Credit us. Also I wish you and your DD well tomorrow for her surgery. I will also be thinking of you both.

Monday- Start date of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar used by the Maya (3114 BC)
 

Diet Coaches/Buddies - Exercise was setting up chairs and tables for DW's small sale of native plants that she'd grown from seed. About 13 folks from her garden club came with shopping bags ready to buy. They're a congenial group who like visiting with each other as well as buying plants knowing that the full price goes to their garden club. Spikenard was the most talked about. Folks who know it are big fans.

My new library book is David A. Kessler M.D.'s . I hope to get a better understanding of GLP-1 weight loss drugs from a source I trust. (Author of The End of Overeating.) So much conflicting information in the general press. It's becoming harder and harder for me to sort through sloppy disinformation, deliberate disinformation, off-the-cuff opinions, and valid information. Gotta read fast; it's only a two-week loan.

Eating was on plan with no daytime snacks, CREDIT moi. Dinner was omelettes - the dish that could be prepared most quickly after a busy day. We chatted on the patio a long time with so many tales that her gardener friends had brought. One young couple had just bought a house and wanted the first thing they planted to be a native plant. One gigantic stroller carried all three daughters. New house, three toddlers - that's one busy couple.


onebyone - I'm so tired of reading that potatoes are good for me - it's what I put on them that isn't. Yes, true enough, But potatoes were made for butter, LOL. Congrats for "I've broken my procrastination."

Joy (gardenerjoy) - I echo your good wishes to curlyjax.

curlyjax - Sending tons of supportive thoughts to you and your DD for her surgery today. It's so neat that you have a BFF with whom you can vent.

Readers -

Good Morning, Coaches.

Last Day of Michigan. It has been a wonderful trip. DS is really growing into a fine man and he is eager for us to see his progress. I am so grateful we enjoy the same things - well DS and I do. DH is just over the moon to be in the same house as his boy. We went to a minor league baseball game - the Great Lake Loons versus the Lansing Lugnuts. We watched the Sound of Music, watched dS in his fencing tournament and visited Lake Huron ( my first viewing). Yesterday was the big day. DS has met a nice gal at his new parish. Well, really he met her uncle who said " Do I have a nice gal for you!" We had lunch with her yesterday and then went over to meet her family. She is a very accomplished gal - double major in Spanish and journalism. She is an accomplished violinist and the oldest of six children all of who are musicians. Everybody sang and played for everybody and i was in seventh heaven since I love kids and music. The gal is off to teach English in Madrid for nine months which could be a good thing for the young pair to strengthen their bonds.

Today is my anniversary - 24 years. I can't think of a better place to spend it.

I am grateful wit the structure of intermittent fasting. My weight has been highish anyway and with the change of timezones I could return to California with a disastrous scale reading. But yesterday, as a result of timing, I was able withhold from eating until noon. Then I stopped at 6:00 which kept me out of ice cream when we returned to DS' place. I want to repeat that today.

onebyone: Thanks for the link to the portfolio diet. I am going to do a little research on it.
Curly; Best thoughts for the surgery.

Wave to all.

The scale is not cooperating. I don't think it means much, yet, but something to keep an eye on.

Exercise: 60, 590/1800 minutes for August
Weigh-in: 83.15, goal for August is 82.1

BillBlueEyes: I'm looking forward to your reporting on the Kessler book. DH was offered a GLP-1 drug last year. He resisted and lost weight on his own. No pushing from the doctor this year, given that circumstance.

maryann: One of my favorite sleep podcasts is called Sleep Baseball -- games from a made-up league in the Northwoods. They have names exactly like Great Lake Loons and Lansing Lugnuts. The tagline is "It's a perfect night for baseball."

onebyone: I hope the energy and determination that you had last night carried into today. Looking forward to hearing about it!

curlyjax: Thinking of you and DD!

Coaches

Quick check in

Ate well, from scratch, no snacks. No seconds. No sugar. drank water.

I started a decluttering master list. I may need some input. I'll ask tomorrow.

Also tomorrow. I am sampling ng a weight-loss coaching program, having my teeth cleaned, seeing the Superman movie at the theatre and that's what's ahead. But right now, sleep.

Tuesday-Physicist Erwin Schrödinger born - or wasn't (1887, Vienna, Austria-Hungary)
 

Diet Coaches/Buddies - Did some sidewalk superintendent work. A house being renovated added an eight-step flight of stairs to the back door without a hand rail. Suspect that'll have to change. I get a slight pleasure bringing in the empty trash and yard waste bins because that much 'stuff' is gone. When my kids put me in an institution, I wonder if I'll miss taking out the garbage.

Accomplishment was jumping through enough hoops to set up a review of our 'estate plan' with the lawyer next week. Their super secure system would either send an email to DW or to me, but never to both. That was a problem because one document required both of us to digitally sign. Got through the bottleneck, but didn't solve the problem. No doubt that I contribute to the problem because any computer can detect that I'm grumpy when thinking about lawyers.

Eating was on plan with no daytime snacks, CREDIT moi. Didn't get into snacks set out for our DS because they are traveling so didn't visit. That's a harsh way to avoid snacks, LOL. Dinner was a standard hamburger on a crisp roll. I'm still super excited by my heap of our garden's tomatoes and cukes.


onebyone - You had a good day. "A decluttering master list" sounds like a serious affair.

Joy (gardenerjoy) - Kinda neat the the offer of a GLP-1 drug helped your DH lose weight on his own.

maryann – LMAO at "the Great Lake Loons versus the Lansing Lugnuts" - what a sense of humor. Major milestone to step back and see your DS as an accomplished adult and to accept his new girlfriend.

curlyjax - Waving. Hope all went well.

Readers -

The surgery went quite well, thanks for all your well wishes. I actually managed to get a nap in the quiet family room that I remembered from last time. Recovery should be a lot easier this time, she's on only one med and had much less pain yesterday. We were both zonked, I took another nap yesterday at home and still managed to get to sleep at a decent hour. Eating was quite dreadful with various treats throughout the day but that's done now. I'm home today. I have a zoom meeting with my aunt's facility-her caregiver was quite frustrated at how hard it was to get through to them as well. I've been dreading various thing like this but i'm sure it will be fine. Everytime I read what's going on in the US, or go to the grocery store and see how much groceries are, I get into the depths of despair. I can't operate like that so i'm going to stick my head in the sand for a bit. I know I need to be part of the solution but I'm just not able to right now, I need to get my mental health back into good shape. It's time to pull myself out of this rut.
Plan for the day-clean up the kitchen, do my meetings etc (the new exterminator is coming too), make a list of what needs to be done in terms of various paperwork things i've let go as well as the house stuff, and get some exercise in at some point even if brief, while attending to DD's needs. And back to healthy eating. I do feel mentally a bit better today; probably the surgery being over is part of it.
Maryann-so glad you got to spend time with DS; it sounds like a wonderful time.
Onebyone-I need a master decluttering list too! I like your insights about loneliness, that makes sense.
Gardenerjoy-that is awesome that DH lost weight. That sleep podcast sounds fun.
Bill-DW's sale sounds fun. I look at these young moms, and I just can't remember how I had the energy to do it.

Thoughts and things
 

Coaches

I've been mulling something over for a few weeks. When I was at artist residency in July, my friend Greg's wife would drop by quite a bit. She is finishing up a Master's in English at one of the local universities, York University. We got to talking and it rekindled my desire to get an MFA. I asked her what it was like to go there and she liked it a lot. I think she's a could of years older than me. She was an accounting .professor until she recently retired. Anyway after one of these chats with her I looked the MFA up and discovered that at York if you are 60+ some of your courses are free and others are at a much reduced rate plus you are eligibles for bursaries and grants etc. I asked her about that and she said yes. The only thing she had to pay were the school fees: insurance, some academic memberships or something and of course books. She said she was offered quite a bit of $ too, though she didn't need it. I would. So I've been giving serious thought to all this and I am going to apply. It's a five semester program. I'd have my own studio again.My first step is to really read through the info online and then make an appointment with someone in the graduate department.

Today I am getting my teeth cleaned at.noon. Then we are seeing the Superman movie at the VIP cinema. It's Taco Tuesday there today. We'll probably eat at the theatre. They have food service right to our seats in the VIP theatre.Mpvie starts at 3:30.

Then at 6:30 I have a zoom call with the weightloss coaching group I might join. I'm hoping I can get back from the theatre in time to make the zoom call. Movie starts at 3:30, zoom call 6:30. Should be able to do it even if movie is 2 hrs long.

Ok time for breakfast.

BillBlueEyes: When you wrote "any computer can detect when I'm angry" I thought right, soon AI will demand we be happy all the time. I also just thought happy and docile. AI with an emotional filter. Truly scary.

Curlyjax: I'm very happy to read DD made it through her surgery and all is well. Excellent. I am sure the surgery being over has lifted a big weight from your shoulders. I'm glad.

I'm building up energy for two evenings out, tomorrow and Thursday. I can't remember the last time that I was out two nights in a row. Both are meetings I'm attending to contribute my bit to changing the world for the better. Tomorrow night includes a meal out. I think someone else is choosing the restaurant. I want to get that figured out today so that I can pre-plan my meal.

Exercise: 60, 650/1800 minutes for August
Weigh-in: 83.1, goal for August is 82.1

curlyjax: Glad to hear that you and DD fared well on surgery day. I hope you can do the things that work well for you today.

Wednesday - Astronomer Christiaan Huygens discovers Mars's southern polar cap (1642)
 

Diet Coaches/Buddies - Am rushing because we're off to get the (9 yo) DGD for the day. Plan a trip to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts - her choice from a list of options. Kinda psyched - it's always a pleasure.

Eating was on plan with no daytime snacks, CREDIT moi. Dinner was grilled shrimp, a real treat.


onebyone - We can all address you as onebyone, Master of Fine Arts. You make AI terrifying.

Joy (gardenerjoy) - Thanks for the reminder that we do it bit by bit, "attending to contribute my bit to changing the world for the better."

curlyjax - Good news that your DD's surgery went well and recovery might be easier this time. A hospital provided nap space is neat.

Readers -

DD continues to do well, knock on wood. So well that she is getting bored already. Hopefully she'll be able to drive soon so she can get out. She's off work for quite some time as she can't lift anything so she needs to think of stuff to fill her time. We even went for a walk in the heat yesterday- I only lasted about 5 minutes and then sat in the shade, but she walked for quite some time.
The meeting about my aunt was brief and things are going okay there, so that's good. The pest guy called and we decided it didn't make sense for him to come set traps as the mice sounds have stopped; they'll come closer to when they do the armor shield thing which might not be for 2 months due to lack of staff. I talked myself out of eating ice cream multiple times doing the day, and then succumbed at night. I watched a movie called Men Up, a fictional account of the true clinical trial in Wales of the pill that would become Viagara. The movie was quite good, and of course had all the lovely Welsh accents (which made me think of Silverbirch).
Gardenerjoy-so glad you are out there doing your bit.
Onebyone-how exciting! you should definitely go for it if it works out financially.
Bill-how lovely that DGD chose the MFA. Have fun.

Late night
 

Coaches

It was a day of firsts.
I wound up my six week ceramic class today. I already had my invoice prepared and today I hit send! That's a first for being prepared in advance and for sending it off asap.

My students all completed.their ceramic glazing. Everything is ready to be fired in the glaze.kiln. it's a first that everyone did everything and didn't need extra time. There is an exception though. The two students who missed last week also missed this week so they will hopefully come next week, same time same place, for the make-up class. Still excellent results for everyone attending to their work. One student (I know her as a painter and a mixed media artist) gave me a handmade card with a Starbucks gift card as a.extra.thank.you.That put the day over the top.

So I attended the coaching weight-loss session on zoom last night I think it could be helpful.
I forget that it's good to see and hear from others in real time who are dealing with weight-loss issues and struggling. After.the meeting I had a brief after.meeting with the coaches and I ended up pouring my heart out, just listing the stresses/things I am carrying besides the weight. I realize I am.preaching to the choir here. I need something local to be more accountable. I need more support. They have meetings 6 days a week and will have 3 zoom meeting once the fall starts. They do have a voluntary weigh-in which I may actually do. I don't know. We'll see. It kind of gives me shivers up my spine but maybe it's a necessary thing to reinforce what I am trying to do.

Today I revealed to a really good friend my idea of returning to school for the MFA. Her daughter is working on her PhD at the same university. She was very excited for me and encouraged.me to take the next steps. It made me feel happy to hear the delight and enthusiasm in her voice.

It's been a good day.

BillBlueEyes: what a DGD you have who wants to visit a Museum of Fine Art. You have to tell me what she likes to look at and what she says about it.

Curlyjax: That's a lot of house organizing going on still.for you. And not just your house but your aunt's and in a way your DDs too! So good.to hear she's healing fast. I hear you about fighting off food thoughts over and over. I have that too. So long as we keep on going we'll get there.

Thursday - 1st claimed powered flight by Gustave Whitehead (1901, Bridgeport, CN)
 

Diet Coaches/Buddies - Exercise, CREDIT moi, was three hours walking the galleries of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts with our (9 yo) DGD. She looked over the web site before we left to choose a dozen rooms she wanted to visit. When we got there, she was designated tour guide. It worked that she made the choices. It didn't work trying to decode the museum's mysterious numbering of its galleries. We ended up hustling about stumbling upon what we wanted. Good time.

She remembered all her favorites, sometimes even their location in their gallery. Her most favorite: a small Russian Bulldog with ruby eyes by none other than Peter Carl Fabergé. Also spent time examining Orpheus and Cerberus, discussing what three names she'd give a three-headed dog. She's still a bit put off by the blood in the huge paintings with Christian motifs of the crucifixion. Gawked at Your Dog, a six foot black fiberglass dog by Yoshitomo Nara. One might notice a trend, LOL.

Eating was high even though no daytime snacks, CREDIT moi. High because we had lunch at the MFA's cafeteria which, apparently, only serves hungry giants. My French Dip sandwich with a cup of au jus for dipping came with four onion rings. I'd forgotten that I can leave food even though I've paid museum prices for it. Fortunately, didn't have to finish the young lady's flat bread. DW and the DGD each had a 'cookie' - a large round slab of confection. CREDIT moi for not falling into that one.


onebyone - The universe is sending you positive feedback about getting your MFA. Congrats for being able to accept your students' warm appreciation for your teaching.

curlyjax - Terrific that your DD is making rapid recovery. Ouch that you now have a bored patient to attend.

Readers -