It's nice to know that there are no more holiday treats in the kitchen. All gone.

Unfortunately, none were tossed away. But some were sent home with guests. I've still not mastered the art of feeding Christmas cookies to the compost heap.

I shoveled a slushy inch of snow in the morning - laughing with neighbors that it was the first use of snow shovels this season. Perhaps snow is an anachronism that we won't be seeing again, LOL.

Our house is treat and alcohol free as of yesterday. I am now able to throw food away without first "aging" it in the fridge or sticking it in the freezer.

We have winter in full swing here - minus 18 windchill today.

Trixie has a stylish new red coat - she hates the rain and it was pouring yesterday so I got her a coat. I'm going to try it on the first walk today as she won't be wrestling with anyone so it won't get damaged. She's still basically naked over most of her belly so the coat should help keep her warm.

Dagmar

Whew! Typically the first three days away from sugar/chocolate are filled with cravings and a feeling of being "out of balance" in my blood sugar etc. There's also the thought that I can't live without sugar, as if I am giving up protein! By the fourth day (yesterday) the detox phase ends and it gets easier again.

For the past two January's, stressing with worry as we were facing the demise of our wedding chapel business, I let January go by without getting back on track. After the third day, it's easier and simpler to just go without sugar/chocolate than it is to have controlled amounts of it. But I never did that, and I got back into my maintenance weight range only very slowly. This year, lower stress and a determination to get back on track means this is a good start, an excellent start, to 2015.

I still have a basket of goodies on my kitchen counter. Snacks, candy, crackers, etc. from all the gift baskets I got for Christmas. I vowed to get rid of them instead of putting it all in the pantry for "later". This way they are shared with whomever is in the house--not just me! So far I've eaten very little of it. DS went back to school last night so he's not here to help get rid of it, but my in-laws will still be here each weekend and they're known to dive in.

I got some bad news last night. My sister and BIL drove from Texas to No. Carolina to visit two of his daughters for the holidays. While there my sister got sick. They started home (a 2-day drive) on Friday, hoping to make it home by Sunday night. They got as far as Birmingham, Alabama where they got a hotel for the night but my sister got worse (I thought it was a cold/flu, but it's not). BIL took her to the ER where they diagnosed a heart attack and they put in a stent. The cell service there was really bad. I got a text saying she was in the hospital and that was it. Finally got a call from BIL's sister-in-law (in Arizona) to let me know my sister's status (she's feeling a lot better). BUT my sister at about 2 PM yesterday sent my BIL to the hotel to get her laptop and charging cords for her phone and laptop. Six hours later he hadn't returned. She sent him early so he could go, come back, and go back to the hotel before it got dark (it's a 2 block drive). He has Parkinson's and is also showing many signs of dementia. I finally got through to my sister and she said she was having the ICU nurse call the hotel to have them look for her DH. I did get a text that they found him, but no one (including him) knows where he was for six hours. This is really distressing (not only for me but obviously for my sister who needs to recover--not have more stress). Please think good thoughts.

Allison Sending you all the good thoughts and best wishes I can. I hope your sister continues to improve and her DH doesn't go MIA again.

Dagmar :

Steeling myself for a call to my company's insurer today, to discuss my disability claim. They want supporting evidence from my orthopedic surgeon, which he was supposed to have already filled out and sent in.

My kitchen smells like freshly ground cardamom. That should be a calming scent, if there is any truth behind aromatherapy.

I'm in low spirits from reading posts from other people on the Internet who've experienced tibial plateau fractures, knowing how much further I've got to go before they'll let me stand on the leg, let alone re-learn how to walk again. I'm hoping that when I see the surgeon on Wednesday, he clears me for partial weight-bearing.

I am deeply envious of people walking, whenever I see them. A simple activity that I will never again take for granted.

Then there's my usual worry of whether I'm doing enough -- which I always feel about exercising, on the job, whatever, whether I am going at full capacity or slacking -- this time it's over whether I'm working hard enough at my physical therapy exercises. I'm acutely conscious that, to some degree, I am responsible for my own recovery.

Allison-- how terribly scary for your family! So glad your sister's hubby was located! I hope they both continue to recover.

We have our own scare happening with my MIL. She hasn't been well for a long time (I suspect Alzheimers amongst other issues). She wasn't doing great when we were in Houston and fainted (?) once. FIL took her to urgent care where they said she had a bladder infection (bad), and was dehydrated. They sent her home and FIL went to get antibiotics. The pharmacy had to special order them and rather than call the doc back, they figured they could wait 5 days!! (Didn't tell us). We fly home Thursday and by Friday, she faints again-- this time FIL took her to ER. They diagnosed pneumonia and possibly flu. So, she's in the hospital for awhile. They are so frustrating because they have never taken care of themselves and then they have issues as a result (for one thing-- she won't drink water-- I swear she only drinks scotch or wine all day-- no wonder she's dehydrated!)

So, Saef... I have the utmost faith that you are going above and beyond to ensure your recovery. I can only imagine your frustration.....when we were experiencing infertility (before our girls), we couldn't stand to see families with babies-- so jealous....

Back to work today.

I've got my follow up later today with the spinal specialist myself.

Michele~I seriously believe it has something to do with their age and why they don't drink water. My Dad is the same way (although a bit better than he used to be). He refused to drink water at any time saying "I'm not thirsty" as if that was the only reason to drink water. He wouldn't listen to reason, either. I think one of his doctor's may have finally gotten through to him as he has a water bottle within reach at home.

I hope your MIL gets better soon!

On a train on my way to a hospital meeting about my uncle (dementia of some kind + mystery periods of unconsciousness). Just had a good swig of water after reading all the above.

Allison, Michele - much sympathy. Dealing with dementia is difficult.

Saef, difficult feelings. When do you see your physio next? And have you been able to see your therapist since the accident?

If I got off the train here I could catch a ferry to another island. It feels very attractive at the moment. Another time.

Happy New Year, maintainers!

I'm sorry to hear it sounds like some of you are having a rocky start to 2015. Allison, I'm sending lots of good thoughts for your family. That sounds like a terrifying ordeal. My bf's dad has Parkinson's and his dementia has been progressing rapidly over the past year. I know that can be difficult enough to deal with on its own, without a heart attack to boot.

Michele, also sending positive thoughts for your MIL. Will she eat any soups or foods with more liquid content? Hope she's feeling better soon.

Saef, I hope your road to recovery is smooth from here on out. I can't imagine not being able to walk; it's one of many things I definitely realize I take for granted.

Dagmar, I have not yet mastered getting rid of food without "aging" it in the fridge or freezer! In fact, I have some holiday cookies stowed away in the freezer that probably should just make their way into the garbage.

Today is the second day in recent months I've missed school/work for menstrual-related issues. This is major reinforcement for my new year's goal to finally follow up and have a women's health checkup.

Okay, we need some good news here! I don't have any to report myself, but I am praying for all of these situations.

Saef - it just flat out s*cks. Don't know what else to say. Usually some good comes out of these awful situations. Like you are going to write a bestseller - you are such a good writer.

Allison, gosh that's so scary that he was lost for that long. I know with dementia, when it is dark, it can get really bad and getting lost is common. Thank goodness he was locatd. Your poor sister must have been (and still be) a wreck.

My MIL doesn't drink water either. She says it "hurts her stomach". huh?

Today was the first day back to school. I was dreading it but it wasn't that bad. I always dread it (as do all the teachers, lol) but it is never as bad as the worrying about it is.

I have a ton of leftover cookies, chocolate, etc. I am going to bring them to school and give to my students.

I too don't like to drink water and even less so in winter. There are no bathrooms open where I work. I put two 500 ml bottles out on the counter every morning and force myself to chug them at some point in the day.

More bad news here unfortunately. Two of the dogs clipped me in the off leash yesterday as I was lifting my foot to take a step. Their combined weight yanked my foot forward and down. I had a moment of paralysis as my body took stock of how serious it was and then was able to hobble through the rest of the day.

I will be hobbling for the rest of the month probably. My ankle is swollen and stiff this morning but, as an intense cold wave comes in here, I have to go out and work. Some of my clients are already annoyed that I took some time off during the holidays and I have no illusions about being valued enough to not be replaced immediately should I falter now.

I see a lot of over the counter pain meds and an ankle brace in my immediate future.

Dagmar

Oh no Dagmar! Hopefully it will heal quickly. Try to rest it as much as you can and ice it - although with your weather maybe you don't need to ice.

Hope you heal quickly, Dagmar! Take anti-inflammatories if possible. Those silly doggies!

Dagmar, you're reminding me of something I meant to tell you. Since I got home from the hospital and got back online again, I've been visiting Internet forums in which people who also suffered tibial plateau fractures compare notes about their diagnoses, their physical therapy, and their progress. Everyone has a story about how the injury happened. It amazed me that more than one of these accidents originated with a really big dog charging sideways into a person, usually a woman, knocking her to the ground and fracturing her leg!