Third Quarter Posts: July 1-September 30.

KonaKat

Maryanne--I agree that this year has passed all too quickly. It is almost officially Fall and we had little Summer.

Helene--Enjoy the trip to Boston as well as the stop at the apple orchard.

Slow day here. Just another dayl

Helene610

I had a touch of heat exhaustion yesterday while apple picking. The orchard was very hilly so walking up and down between the various variety of trees took more effort than I expected. I wore a hat but forgot to bring water. I felt my heart racing and got very flushed after on particularly steep hill. By the time we got back to the entrance, I felt very light headed. DH was able to get water from the gate attendant. I sat in the shade and drank and that helped. Other than that, it was a very good day. I weighed in this morning and I'm down 2 pounds since my pudding experiment. As they say on TBL, I would have liked more but I only did it 100% for 2 of the 4 days. Based on that, 2 pounds is good for me.

Helene610

Slow day here today. I hope everyone had a good day. I tried the LC Marketplace salmon and basil tonight. It was the first of the black box meals that I didn't like. The salmon got tough during the mircrwaving. I won't buy this one again.

PamS53

Maryanne, I know you watch Dancing With The Stars, so I'll direct this question to you. It seems to me that the dances are much shorter this season, or is it my imagination?

mdubbs1

Pam - I haven't watched this week yet but the first week I thought they were very short. I remember thinking it was either to make it easier on the "celebrities" the first week or to pack everything in. I have NO clue what they are going to fill two hours with tonight.

I'm anxiously awaiting the start of Survivor tomorrow night. It's one of the few shows I watch as it plays on TV. DH is anxiously awaiting the start of the Amazing Race Friday. We DVR that because it's on after his bed time.

I also watched the Big Bang Theory last evening without the DVR. Probably won't do that again.

Helene - instead of sending DH to buy apples in PA I should send him out to pick them. LOL! I was always SO glad that my parents didn't force me out into the orchards to pick apples. Many of my friends had to do that. They often got sprayed when the farmers sprayed the trees. One of them had an oncologist who posited that that was the reason so many people in my tiny high school class got cancer.

I'm swamped with work at the moment! It feels never ending. I swear I haven't taken two days off in a row (except for a CROM event possibly) in 5 1/2 years. That includes weekends. Oh well, have to make a living.

Helene - sorry the salmon didn't cut it. Tough salmon - yuk!

Tuffy and I do watch a fair amount of TV (probably too much). There aren't many new shows I'm anxious to see. I've discovered I don't like shows that are one big long story. I prefer the complete story each week concept. I'm a huge James Spader fan and was a huge Blacklist fan but they've changed it too much. I doubt I'll even DVR it this year.

Helene610

Pam..Some of the dancers have mentioned they get 90 seconds for the dance. Part of that is probably having enough time to get everyone in. I thought Gary Busey's dance seemed shorter than that. I woke up with a scratchy throat this morning. I think I picked up a respiratory bug from a friend. In fact, DH drove her to the doctor yesterday. Her's has developed into bronchitis. DH woke up with it today too and he's also congested. So I'll be doing rests and fluids today, hoping I can kick it before it progresses to the congestion phase.

mdubbs1

Helene - how kind of your DH to drive your friend. I'm hoping it doesn't "cost you" in terms of getting sick!!!

Helene610

I think it already did. We caught this from her over the weekend. It's just one of those things. Maybe it will be good for losing a pound (I wish).

KonaKat

I'm tired from working and not sleeping well because of pain. I'm gearing up to watch "The Voice." I love that show. I'm off to see the cardiologist tomorrow.

mdubbs1

Jean - I'm so sorry you're in pain! Good luck at the cardiologist!

mdubbs1

I can't decide what I want for breakfast. That's never good!

Helene610

I've spent a quiet day taking cold medications and resting. I didn't have the energy for anything else. I canceled a couple of appointments and rescheduled them for next week. I'm coughing and didn't want to spread this bug around. DH isn't much better than me in how he feels. Ugh. I'll console myself watching Survivor tonight.

KonaKat

Maryanne--Breakfast starts the day so sometimes the choice of food is a very important ne.

Helene--I do hope you feel better soon. Rest is good.

The cardiologist appointment went well, but I had already seen the reports which we discussed. I may have a sleep study done to see if I have sleep apnea as that also negatively affects AF. My pulse rate yesterday was 60 and BP was 104/60. That is a big change from the periods in which the rate would go to around 180 to 200 without exercise and the heart go out of rhythm. The 3 weeks of heart monitoring showed no AF issues but that doesn't mean it won't occur at some point.

I did go grocery shopping after the appointment. I didn't see any black box LC that appealed to me as much as the regular LC yesterday.

Breakfast was a Kellogg's flatbread egg sandwich.

mdubbs1

Jean - I'm glad the cardiologist appointment went well.

Helene - I did try the LC white mac n cheese (on a plate of steamed broccoli/cauliflower) and you're right - it's excellent.

I'm up and ready to start the day. I bought some frozen whole wheat pancakes yesterday because I'm in the mood for pancakes but during the week I tend not to take the time to "cook" breakfast.

Helene610

I feel just a little better today. I'm not coughing as much. DH on the other hand feels a lot worse. I had a blueberry waffle with a half of a banana for breakfast. My appetite is below normal because of the cold and cough medicine. That's not necessarily a bad thing. But I'm not one of those people who gets sick and drops weight during the illness. I have to work for every pound I lose.
Jean...It sounds like you got some good information from your appointment. When do you go back?
Maryanne...I'm glad you liked the mac and cheese. I need to stock up on some. I only bought one to see if I'd like it.

KonaKat

Helene--I go back to the electrophysiologist cardiologist in December and back to my cardiologist in six months. Normally, it would be three months but since I'm having the super cardiologist appointment in December, they thought coming back in six months would work.

I'm getting back into the mood to really work on the weight again. I've been focusing more on getting adjusted to the new meds, etc. It has really created cravings.

Helene610

We're heading to the doctor for a walk in appointment. I'm feeling better (not well, but better) but DH feels really sick. I'm wondering if it's the flu. I feel for him. he's feeling miserable.

mdubbs1

Helene - here's hoping the doctor can help! I haven't had a flu shot yet. Guess I'd better get on the ball.

mdubbs1

Nikki Dubbs 1997-2015

It is the end of an era. Our last feral. I can't believe it's been 11 years since her beloved Rossi went on ahead. I hope he's there waiting.

I think a combination of kidney and hyperthyroid finally got her. The vet and I had agreed we'd just let her have her last couple years so I've only got the visible symptoms to tell me what likely happened.

She had a very good summer, enjoying a lot of quality time on the cat porch. But the last month she had just hidden under the tv stand. I waited to see if she might snap back but it wasn't to be.

PamS53

Maryanne, I'm sorry for the loss of another of your fur babies. You gave her a good life and I'm sure she appreciated it, even if she wasn't as loving as some of your other kitties.

Helene, I hope the doctor is able to help you guys out. My friend and work out buddy seems to have caught something that sounds a lot like the flu and she is really miserable. I got my flu shot on Tuesday, so hopefully I can escape it. I got the quadrivalent shot this time, since it is supposed to protect against more flu strains than the other shot. I hope this year's version correctly predicted the strains that will be prevalent this year. Last year they didn't do a very good job on that.

Jean, I'm glad your cardiology appointment went well. Perhaps now you will be able to find the motivation to start your weight loss efforts again. It's hard to focus on that when you are adjusting to new diagnoses and medications.

Not much to report here. I've been busy getting caught up from our vacation, but it's all very routine and mundane. I've been in the mood to bake something and this time of year apple cake sounds good. The problem is I have way too many recipes that I like and I'm having a hard time deciding which one I want to use. I need to decide soon though, or my apples will spoil before I get around to using them.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Helene610

DH was much sicker than I am. He's been consistently running a fever where I only had a fever at night. He was finding it painful to breathe as well. We're both on antibiotics and we got a prescription cough medicine for bedtime. We'd been spending the night coughing so this should help us to get some rest. He had a throat swab and got a chest x-ray. He took some toast and coffee this morning and is back in bed resting. Hopefully the antibiotic and extra rest does the trick. I had my last flatbread sandwich for breakfast. I really need to get out to restock a few things.

mdubbs1

Pam - apple cake sounds great!

Helene - continuing to send out "get better" thoughts. DH says the flu is hitting early and hard this year (at least that's what he read) so I guess I'd better get to CVS and get my flu shot sooner rather than later.

Helene610

We'll get our shots as soon as we're better. I'm a big believer in getting them. I haven't had the flu in 25 years and I give the flu shots credit for that. The one time I had it, I was too sick to even get out of bed. I've never missed a shot since then. Thanks for sending good thoughts my way. I had one of the black box Vermont cheddar mac and cheese today. It was just as good as I remembered.

KonaKat

Helene--Hope you and DH feel better soon. I agree that when you get over this that the flu shot is on the list to get. I have already gotten mine.

Maryanne--I am so sorry about your fur baby. With you by her side, she had a good life.

Pam--Anything apple sounds good. I'm sure whatever you select to make will be very yummy.

I went to the city today to get my hair cut and colored. I didn't do anything else there. I just returned home after the appointment as I had a headache.

mdubbs1

Someone on ebay has Jenny Craig 5-day kits. I'm not sure they are still making them (but haven't spent a lot of time investigating that). Looks like the expiration date is mid February. A little pricey but I confess I ordered two.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111782312139?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2661&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

KonaKat

Good morning, everyone! I love this! Little critters were crawling all over my screen, but then an ad appeared for Frontline to "arm your dog against fleas and ticks." The little critters are now gone.

I saw WalMart had the five day NS kits as well as packages of muffins. I'm well supplied except for muffins but I passed. I like them but they don't satisfy like other breakfasts such as oatmeal, etc. for about the same amount of calories...and which are also cheaper for the Quaker Weight Control oatmeal.

Maryanne--I've never tried Jenny Craig. Good luck with it but I know you have used it before.

mdubbs1

That Frontline ad would be spooky. I just had some kind of dark blob spread out all over my screen. I didn't even wait to see what it was an ad for, just clicked on the "x".

Tomorrow is DH's birthday and he wants steak for dinner - easy enough!

KonaKat

Maryanne--Steak for dinner for your DH's birthday sounds like a winner to me. Think positively! Perhaps the dark blob spreading on your screen was an ad for Smucker's jam.

Tomorrow is the day I return to eating right.....I hope!!!

KonaKat

Good morning all!! Off to work fueled by coffee and a Kellogg's flatbread egg sandwich. Love those things.

mdubbs1

I had eggs for breakfast this morning. Picked up a beautiful frittata mix (onions and peppers) at the grocery store but there were tons of pepper seeds in it. Someone did a really poor job of cleaning the peppers. I spent an inordinate amount of time removing seeds. Made for a great egg breakfast though along with a whole wheat roll.

DH enjoyed his steak birthday dinner. I haven't been doing all that great on food in the couple days since Nikki died but I had a heart healthy steak and NS cheesy potatoes so at least my dinner wasn't too disastrous.