Very cool about keeping the tomatoes and peppers warm! I will have to try it this fall. We have a few volunteer squash coming up but not where they were planted last year. I wonder how the seeds traveled 15 yards. Last summer we had the squash jungle. Despite DH's best intentions to pick them when they were small, some of them escaped and hid in the jungle where they became giant. But DH got creative and made a meatloaf inside a big one! It was delicious. I was eating about 2 pounds of squash per day last summer. Very healthy and with the spiralizer it's easy to get creative.

I am feeling gratitude this morning for the continuance of the thaw and the rapid shrinking of the gritty & sooty snowbanks.

This means I'll be able to walk to the gym with my cane. But I am terribly daunted at the idea of crossing the road, particularly the crosswalk in which I was hit. I know I have to make myself do this, and that after I manage it successfully, I will be okay. I know if I don't, it will hang over me and diminish and circumscribe my life. Still, I am not looking forward to it.

And you all with your tomatoes and peppers, we won't see those growing around here till June. But I am not longing for June yet. I am looking forward to Easter, to late April, with all the flowering trees and shrubs, and the bulbs sending up their showy flowers.

We had our driveway and front walk replaced yesterday with paving stones. Oh, it is so beautiful! But I can't post any photos just yet. Our son comes home for spring break next Friday and we didn't tell him that we did it. We've told him there will be a surprise for him and we're wondering if he'll actually notice it!

We also bought some bliss lights for the front garden. They will replace our spotlights that shine into the trees. These are green LED lights that shine a spray of tiny green lights up and those that hit the leaves light up the leaves. They're really quite pretty. We have an electrician coming tomorrow to hook them up for us.

Saef-- I'm glad for the continued thaw. I will be with you in spirit as you cross the street. I'm sure it will always be hard at that intersection but will get easier with time. When I was a teenager, I was in a flash flood and lost my car (basically had to swim away). I still feel tremendous anxiety if I have to drive in heavy rain. Then, I was hit a few months ago (my car, not me) at a four way stop right by my house. I drive by it multiple times a day and I'm always wary, so it doesn't fully go away.

Allison-- sounds beautiful! Can't wait to see photos!

saef, I'll be there in spirit too when you cross the road. Can you get someone to be there with you in person or do you want to do it on your own?

Well, I managed it. I walked to the gym and home for the first time since November.

But not alone. At least not on the way there. Aside from you both thinking of me, Michele and Birchie, I had my mother escort me across. I was feeling particularly frightened of going in the same direction that I was going when I was hit. I was also anxious for her when she turned around and went back. Someone in a black SUV was making a left turn, which made me want to scream. But she was okay. And so was I, after I was done at the gym and walked home alone in the dark. At two intersections, I encountered drivers making left turns. I stopped and made eye contact with both before crossing with my cane. One even waved rather impatiently. Dude, if you only knew why I am so wary ... It occurred to me, we don't know peoples' stories, and if we did, maybe we'd be kinder sometimes.

I did it. I just have to cross in the other direction, going alone. I think I can do it now. Maybe the evil spell has lifted.

Saef, you made my morning. Haven't checked in so was reading from the first post and was so happy to read the last post that you did it. Beautifully stated that we just don't know people's stories.

Allison, I love those bliss lights. Saw them on Qvc a couple years ago and bought some to use for Xmas. But one of them just completely faded after thirty minutes so I ended up returning both. The one that worked looked so cool on the house.


DD comes home today for spring break! Wish I could take off a day or two but I don't think I can. I only get two personal days and have to use those plus one day unpaid for her graduation in May. but can't complain with the summer off.

Glad you made it, Saef. Even in the dark! You are brave!

Sharon, my dd comes home tomorrow. I set up my book fair today and it runs all next week. My dd will probably come help some so that's nice.

After my book fair I always feel the school year is winding down. I just need to make it through next Friday.

Saef, Brave, indeed! Re stories, yours is certainly compelling and inspiring. I think of you often these days when I let the distress of my current work situation get to me and I lose focus or get paralyzed by the amount I have to learn instantly, and your recovery does help me put things in perspective. Keep calm ... and carry on.

I am struggling. Not with weight or eating; I'm in a setpoint place and practically on remote. My attitude needs a huge 180 about work, and fast. I am challenging myself to make a game plan this weekend and be able to walk in Monday ready to fake it til I make it. The work is not beyond my capabilities, and if I can ignore the politics and divorce myself from the utterly conflicting goals ... I have to remember that they cannot fire all 400 of us, at least at the same time.

Thinking good thoughts for you and your work situation, Becky! I hope Monday brings a vast improvement.

Last night a couple came over to our house. He is an electrician and is going to install our Bliss lights for us. They're younger--closer to my DD's age. And it was quite obvious that they are in excellent physical condition. Muscular. I was talking with the female half and said (rather than questioned) "you lift." She acknowledged (my DD is into lifting as well--power lifting at the moment. She has a pretty fuchsia lifting belt). She said she does lift but they both do a lot of crossfit. It showed. It makes me want to get back to it. As with Becky, I need to work on a plan.

But for now my weekend plans include two days of golf and a dinner party on Sunday. Crab and avocado enchiladas. Not exactly diet friendly with all the cheese but if I keep my portion down I'll be fine. I'm obviously the type that doesn't restrict food--just portions and calories.

Becky . You're right, they can't fire all 400 of you. I know you will find a way to make it work for you and "keep looking up" as each new challenge comes at you. You ARE strong and capable and can ignore all the stuff flowing downhill around you.

Dagmar