Happy first day of spring to everyone!

Still hovering too close to the normal/overweight breakpoint; I feel the rebellion too. I will shake up some very entrenched habits this week (time management, or lack thereof - iPad obsession) to see if that contribution is significant. I believe it to be, so it probably is. I know it costs me a few hours of sleep each week and it does prevent me from doing meaningful tasks and enjoying more enriching pastimes.

Michelle, I agree with you that breathing is integral to successful snorkeling!

Saef, welcome back and I hope that the vacation put a dent in some of the frustration and stress. Keep focused on the great workout you had instead!

7 1/2 more work days. And less than two weeks to cruise! What a fantastic opportunity for a full digital detox.

I missed this. I agree completely!

Becky, you're sounding pretty good. Demob happy?

saef, overhead presses - that sounds excellent! Btw, I've picked up reading the New York Times from you. It's hard work for me (being foreign an'all) but I learn things from it.

The sun is out. I've already eaten too much so I've done that today. I'm going to check my lavender cuttings. It's a way of soothing myself even though drama continues.

silverbirch, !!! Had to look up "demob happy" and I'm not certain what I'm feeling would be quite as manic as I imagine that might be. I would call it more of a cheerfulness that stems from a gut-level knowledge that this was the right thing to do, and at the right time. And a certainty that no matter what unknowns come up, I'm going to be able to deal with them.

Beccy, you're very good at cheerfulness, it seems to me. We're all behind you!

Garden update. I checked the lavender cuttings and I felt the grass. It was dryish! I got out the push mower, set it on high and trimmed the whole lot (to be fair it is only small). I feel so much better. And it's pouring with rain again now.

Yep, you will. I think we all experience that sense of (for me) relief when we know a decision, no matter how uncertain it makes the future, is the right one.

Becky!

Dagmar

Tuesday morning, and I'm late for the gym. Thinking about my handsome, fit and fairly young neighbor, who was found dead in his apartment yesterday by his partner. The two patio lights have been burning all day and all night.

Also thinking about yesterday's news.

Weight at 155 exactly. I need to keep working at this. I didn't like how my jacket fit yesterday.

Becky-- where are you cruising to/from? I'm also cruising soon-- out of Miami to the Caribbean. We're not on the same cruise are we??

Sad news, Saef. So sorry!

Hi! I'm looking forward to my cruise as well! I have already decided that I WILL take my workout clothes and I WILL workout every morning (except for perhaps one). DH will go along with me. I have only one day that will be "booked" with an excursion, so exercise cannot be ruled out. I hope this means I'll either lose a little or at least stay where I am through the two week cruise.

And after that, I am considering going back on either Medifast or Nutrisystem to get back down to a manageable weight. This being "stuck" is not fun. And my clothes don't fit well.

Silverbirch, it sounds like you found the optimal window to mow. I see how close together your posts were, and with even a small lot you must have been pushing fast!

Saef, I'm sorry to hear about your neighbor.

Michelle, we'll be on Norwegian Escape leaving Miami on 4/1 for the Virgin Islands and Bahamas. It'll be our first cruise on one of the new "mega ships" so I'll be interested to see how it compares. Is it the same one you're on?

Allison, I empathize! Took a major illness for me to get unstuck, and I won't recommend that route to ANYBODY. EVER. And I'm starting to see the weight try to creep back on without me noticing. I would love to try Nutrisystem ... but my housemates would not be supportive. Best route is for me to take over the weekday cooking and not to allow anyone to handle my plate or salad besides me. DH will make a salad and cover it with cheese, nuts and dried fruit. Maybe okay as a lunch entrée; not so much as a side to a full dinner entrée. Grown, active men can deal with that level of calories! I held the line well on the last cruise we took, as we try to get the most active excursions we can. This time we have plenty of snorkeling and what is supposed to be a rigorous hike out to the Baths. With the ship being so big, I expect to be able to log plenty of steps. The folks I'm going with tend to like to move quickly, meaning many more stairs than elevators.

Dagmar, I have been sleeping ridiculously well since I turned in my resignation. I mean, like a DEAD thing sleep. It's nice to wake up rested!

I am working on the two-page exit interview form. It's one of those situations where you fill it out twice: once with the truth how you see it, and the other with the PC filters on and the careful non-bridge-burning language. It will take me a few days to get this the way I want it, which is a civilized straddling of the line between the two.

Becky-- nope-- different cruise. We are on Princess, leaving March 30-- we could be in the same islands at the same time though! I'd love to hear about your mega ship. How big is it?
We always take the stairs exclusively when we cruise. We also exercise each day we are at sea and have snorkeling and other active excursions planned for our port days. I still end up gaining but I'm hoping to reign it in some this time and not allow as many indulgences. I don't drink so at least that isn't part of the equation for me. Glad you're sleeping better!

Considering a cruise for late this year or maybe next year since they seem to book up so fast. Any suggestions from the experienced cruisers in the group?

Have you never been on a cruise, Shannon? Personally, I prefer smaller ships. I think I'd hate a mega ship because of all the people. The next one, and my last one, were on Oceania that holds a maximum of 600 guests (with the last one way underbooked so there were like 400 of us). A lot more intimate and it's easier to get to know other travelers. I have been on about a dozen Holland America cruises and do like them an awful lot. I'd call them a mid-to large sized ship. The Hawaiian cruise we did several years back was Norwegian. It was one of their smaller ships yet still pretty big. I've done one Smooth Jazz cruise and will do another next February. They charter ships and used to use a Holland America ship but this next one will be on a Celebrity ship. After that, I want to do a Panama canal cruise--in fact I just saw one for 18 days that goes from San Francisco to Miami and stops in Havana. That would be very cool.

Cruising first-timer here too - I hope. On Holland America up the St. Lawrence and around eastern Canada, ending up in Boston. In August if all goes well.

I'm sure the ship has a pool and I plan to reintroduce my body to swimming after about 25 years away from it. Will be walking every day on shore excursions too. I always wanted to see just about every port we're docking in so this will be a real treat!

I shall wave Bill when I am on the tour bus going through Boston from the cruise docking point to the airport.

Dagmar

I've never been on a cruise, but the ones that allow scuba diving (which DH and I both love) are quite tempting. One of these years, we will "take the plunge," though I keep saying that and we never go...

After months of continued shoulder pain following repeat arthroscopic surgery, I went to see a physiatrist. He informed me that I definitely have arthritis, that this is permanent and unfixable without a complete shoulder replacement, and that if was lucky and careful, I have about 10 years of use left before I need to get it done. In the meantime, I need to give up any weight-lifting that puts my arms above shoulder level for a "pushing" exercise (e.g., Saef's recently discussed overhead presses) if I want to get the full 10 years out of it. UGH. Just ugh. Along with my many work woes and the daily horrors coming from the Trump administration and Congress, this winter is just a nightmare.

I have managed to (presumably temporarily) reign in my evening eating by the seemingly simple method of making all carbs other than fruits and veggies off limits after 3 pm. I've been doing this for 2 weeks, and have lost 2 pounds. Not much, but better than continued gains.

Never been on a cruise and have never even looked into one. But a fine week in Tucson has given me a taste for travel. So, who knows?

I'm at 155.6 and disappointed in that slight edge upward, and also that the temperatures once again plummeted overnight. It's a zigzagging winter.

Work has slowed down, such that I feel guilty for how little I am getting done daily and know that later, I will regret not having used this time for something else. Also I have the ominous feeling that there will be an onslaught soon, as this is not the usual pace.