Sadly,XW had to have DSS's kitty put to sleep yesterday. They had three cats, one (DH's cat that she kept in the divorce) has cancer and died a couple of years ago, one that started going outside and was killed by an animal. This third cat went into renal failure yesterday after some stomach issues over the last month. We haven't told DSS yet. He is with us all week and goes back to her house on Friday, we'll tell him tomorrow. He's been very focused on mortality issues this week, it is going to be hard on him. My cat Gracie is just plugging along here - she's mostly blind so bumps into open cabinet doors and such, but seems happy. We set her up a box downstairs so she didn't have to climb the steps, it was getting hard for her.

Michele - I'm going to be low today on steps most likely, but will pop back in tomorrow! You are on fire this week and last week.

Shannon, I'm sorry for your DSS.

I'm doing OK but not super well with healthiness these days. I've gotten over most of the fatigue from the "superviral" infection. Now, the struggle is purely motivational. I'll admit to having some envy too - DH is out every day having a great time in the beautiful Oregon summer while I'm trapped at work. And my sister, a teacher, is off for months as well. We have a series of visitors coming, starting with my MIL for next week then my sister's family the following week. At least I have the weekend off work, we're going to get out of town for a change and go to the coast.

Friday morning, at 158.7. This is a small mercy. I'll take it.

Another climactic meeting today, to present a plan for the retirement of a badly aged product and how we'll replace it. It's about 10 slides, maybe two minutes on each slide. Last time I presented it, I botched it. I was reminded of the time when I talked for too long about one complex slide, and that threw me: I raced through the rest, stuttering and repeating myself. I have a chance to redeem myself. This will take an hour, from 10:30 - 11:30 AM.

This week has been a triathlon of varieties of oral exams: I was interrogated by a lawyer at my deposition on Monday. I was interrogated in an hour-long job interview on Wednesday. I expect to be interrogated again on this product plan and the research that I put into it today.

The good thing is that, before noontime today, this ends. No more meetings. At least, not until after July 4th holiday. There's one on my calendar for Monday, when I am indeed working, but I'm fairly certain my manager will cancel it beforehand.

And yes, JZJ, summer doesn't much matter when you're looking out at it from car windows or office windows. I try not to think about those people who aren't working.

Some of us work outside. It can be great but whenever you "insiders" go to the bathroom, get yourself a coffee, do stuff on the net, or are warm and dry all day you can think of me. I don't have any of those things during the day. Plus and minus for everything right?

Dagmar

Hey folks! I'm back from vacation with a few pounds to show for it (at 154.4 this morning). Went to the grocery yesterday and managed to avoid all of the things that tempted me except for beer, which isn't that bad in the grand scheme of things. Made a healthy dinner, and so far so good today. Next week: back to the gym.

So sorry to hear about the kitty, Shannon!
Hugs to dss and you!
My steps Sunday will be nonexistent as we will be driving back to California.

Posted this on a Facebook group I'm in and too tired to type again so...

Hello from Arizona, day 2.
Helped daughter all day. Water good, the rest so-so. No real exercise except helping her in 110 degree weather. It was 106 still after dinner! Food could be better, but could be worse.

No relaxation except unwinding now in the hotel room. Low point of the day was dd getting rear ended and having to deal with that for the next several hours. We are counting our blessings- it could have been much worse. No one was hurt, the other driver accepted full blame, the car is already dropped off for repairs and rental car secured.

Tomorrow we hope to get a ton more done as we leave early Sunday to drive back to California.

Today is full of things to do. I don't see this as a bad thing but I don't like getting tired out. I'll pace myself.

When I finish here I'll go and do my exercises. Today is a heavy weights day. As I'm just getting back into this I'll feel that special kind of tiredness this afternoon. If I plan things right I needn't eat like a horse. That's right, isn't it?

Michele, you're busy. How long will it take you to get home?

Jessica, glad you had a good holiday and saw your Dad.

Dagmar, yes, swings and roundabouts. Six of one and half a dozen of the other. So true.

saef, it's Saturday morning and I'm wondering whether you'll be sitting at your kitchen table working out your menu and shopping list for the week.

JayZeeJay, going to the coast sounds like a lovely thing to do. It blows away my troubles for a while when I'm on the beach. ETA that I've just read that Oregon is slightly larger than the UK. How far are you from the coast?

Shannon, love to you, DSS and Gracie. Those hard conversations about feelings don't get any easier.

to all.

Saturday morning, at 156.9, which surprised me and leads me to believe in cortisol.'

The presentation went better than I'd hoped yesterday. I started talking and I could feel a kind of calm certainty and confidence descend, and I knew I was going to perform well. When this happens, it's like achieving a state of grace. It also seems almost as random as gambler's luck, because I could have used it on several other occasions during the past week. Probably there is a golden midpoint between well-prepared and overprepared, between stage fright and a helpful boost of adrenaline, between being fearful and being motivated. But I'm just grateful that I was "on" yesterday morning, as they say, and in front of three layers of management: The whole line for the dept where I hope to move, and my current manager's manager.

And now to sink into the weekend, if I can let myself.

Yes, Birchie, I've got my grocery list and I'm heading out the door shortly. It's Cornish hens and something to do with ground turkey this week.

Birchie- if we don't make many stops and traffic isn't too bad, approximately 12 hous. Unfortunately, I'm lousy in the car. I get very anxious and am not a fun passenger. I bought an audiobook and am hoping I can focus on that and not be a backseat driver!

12 hours would make me a very "unfun" passenger too!

Dagmar

We're about to embark on two 8-10 hour car trips to get to our first destination, then a 3-4 hour trip to our second destination, and then at least two 8-10 hour trips to get home.

This menopause stuff baffles me. I haven't had a period for two years. Perhaps a little bit here and there when I go to the bathroom, but nothing that requires a pad. And then this morning. I was making breakfast and thought I'd peed my pants, but knew I didn't feel the need to go. Nope, copious amount of blood. What? Two years and then this? And to think I was completely menopausal. I guess I'm still peri-menopausal.

And, my weight is NOT budging. Has anyone heard of IIFYM? Perhaps that might be a better route than the DASH diet I'm currently doing. Still, the amount of protein seems really high to me (for what the calculator suggests). Maybe it's for people who REALLY work out rather than the more casual workouts I do (and I've been really good at doing workouts at least 5 days a week).

Sunday, right back up to 158.7, as if yesterday's drop had never happened.

My tiredness yesterday was almost scary, the cumulative result of a week of nerves. I worried there was something wrong with me. Nevertheless, I went to the grocery store and the gym, and I did some cooking and a load of laundry. Only one episode left of the original "Twin Peaks." What a mixed bag. Some great stuff at the end of the very long second season, but also a lot of filler.

More than halfway home.... very ready to be out of this car.....

I do hope you're there now, Michele. I can't take too long in the car so I have overnight breaks.

A busy day ahead. Exercise beckons. Thank goodness I've got time and space to get back to it. It really makes all the difference to me.

I'm looking forward to being back at my house and being able to do yoga and weights again. There is a third floor full of gym machines here but I'm not familiar and don't have any time to learn them right now.

Dagmar