Share Your Day
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The antibiotics are working which means I am a lot more comfortable.7
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And one of me too (in a restaurant bathroom)...looking all too satisfied by the gourounopoula there...XD
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Wow @Dante_80, you're looking gooooood! One would never guess from the bits of you that are visible in this picture that you're literally half the man you were! Your skin looks amazing. You must have excellent genes....
And the landscape photos ain't too shabby either! Zakynthos and Rhodes are my two favourite Greek islands...4 -
Wow! Just wow! You look amazing and the vacation pictures are beautiful.2
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Gorgeous pictures! And that guy's pretty good-looking, too! (grin)4
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A little slice of heaven - and as everyone before me said ... You look gorgeous!
All these handsome men in our group 🙂3 -
Thank you for the kind words guys.. I feel a little embarrassed, I'll get over it though.
Bella_Figura wrote: »Wow @Dante_80, you're looking gooooood! One would never guess from the bits of you that are visible in this picture that you're literally half the man you were! Your skin looks amazing. You must have excellent genes....
Most of my excess skin observes the laws of gravity, so it mostly resides in my gut, hips and thighs. I'm a little lucky in that department, since it doesn't show a lot when I have my clothes on (you can still see the bowling ball shape tho)..C:
I generally don't have many pictures of myself, especially from the past. That is a mistake, since the before and after comparisons would have helped a lot with my mild body dysmorphia now. Anyway, I don't really have any pictures from my highest weight days, but here is one from July 2020. According to my records I had already lost 27kg - 50 pounds by then. Things were a lot worse than this. VVVV
Zakynthos was terrific btw. Twas my second time there, but it's been so many years since I last visited that it was essentially a new experience for me.
Onwards!
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HOTTIE 👍2
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There is one silver lining to the tooth issue. I probably won't get the molar that is the cause of the current tooth pain dealt with until into July. (They sent me to an oral surgeon; first available for CONSULTATION ONLY is the 30th. FML.) Soooo... eating is rewarded with a shot of nerve pain.
My habit of snacking to deal with emotions is going to hit a brick wall of necessary change here. This is not fun, over and above the pain. I think it will probably be good for me in the end to redo these habits, but it's not one bit of fun right now.6 -
@Dante_80 you’re transformation is nothing short of astonishing. And you’re right about the body dysmorphia - there was no hint of a bowling ball in the second current picture. Man, you’re one good looking dude!5
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Alexandra - I'm impressed by your ability to find the silver lining in this situation!
Dante - you must feel so good! so light on your feet - literally!
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I agree with everyone Dante, your transformation is amazing!…you look great!3
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D U D E !!! The island ain't too shabby either! Like wow!
Alexandra: I hope it proves a bit less painful than it sounds
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I'm enjoying one last day of comfort before we head out for our delayed week of wild camping tomorrow.
Seven days/nights with no electricity, no Wifi, no showers, no campbeds, no mod cons...just composting toilets...solar lighting...bedrolls and sleeping bags...firepits, oil lamps and camping gas canisters....
We're staying in a remote area that receives absolutely no phone signal at all, so we'll be completely cut off from the world.
I can't wait!
Only downside is that I guess I'm about to lose my 460 day logging streak...5 -
But what a way to break your streak!
I haven't camped that way in about 6 ??? years. But next week my younger son is coming by and borrowing the camping gear to take his girlfriend camping.
Almost made me cry when he told me that. It was so pleasing to know those childhood trips had made such an impact on him that he wanted to share the experience.4 -
So far today I've made a quichecake (bacon, grilled onions and mushrooms, Swiss cheese) and folded four loads of laundry with two feline assistants. "Get out of that drawer, Nyx!" and "No, Jeoffrey, you can't sit on the folding board," "There's nothing in the laundry hamper, I'm not sure what you're getting out of jumping into it," and "Yes, I still love you but I am trying to get this folded and put away before your brother pees in the clean laundry."7
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Sounds adventuresome Alexandra and sounds a lot like herding cats!!!!😹
Garfield sounds as if she needs to be herded into a nice climate controlled Hotel that has invested in refrigerating their quality seafood -- but what would I know!!!😹3 -
They do make my life more interesting.
Have found a source for a large dog crate, so that's one of the bigger ticket items off the plate. We still have to hang a door on the pantry, but that is something that can wait a couple months while we get the money ready.4 -
Alexandra I wish that shipping were not such a major pain and expense (and our shipping costs from up north are downright insane). I just dropped off an extra large dog crate to a local shelter together with a bag of blankets and towels!2
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Ah, well. We're wanting a pittie so probably your crate might have been a bit big.
We can afford the dog day to day, it's just getting all the initial stuff that's a bit cramping on the budget. I think the door may have to wait until Girlfriend's school loan is paid off, which is two more months. But we've wanted a door on the pantry for ages. It will help with heating and cooling and allow us to have a sally port situation so we can bring groceries in through the garage without danger of the cats getting out into the garage. (They get out there, jump up on things, and climb up into the suspended ceiling over the pantry, and then cry because they're stuck. Unnecessary drama.)2 -
You need a herding dog!😹1
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Got home from my vacation late yesterday. I had so much fun in Chicago. I grew up just north of the city, but barely did anything downtown because my father was overprotective (comes with being a cop I guess). Had a wonderful hotel in the loop across the street from the Willis (Sears) Tower. I would 100% stay there again! Rooms were beautiful and service was outstanding.
Thursday I went up to the skydeck of the Willis Tower, then walked around a little bit. Had dinner at Italian Village (good, but not outstanding).
Friday I spent the whole day at the Field Museum. Got there before they opened at 9 and walked out when they closed at 5. I had even walked from the loop to the museum campus which is not a short walk. But I did it. I then had dinner at The Berghoff which was AMAZING. Some of the best German food I have had... and I have been to Germany.
Saturday I was lazy in the morning and then went to the Art Institute when it opened at 11. Then I walked down to the river for a bit, grabbed a donut and frozen hot chocolate at Stan's Donuts (donut was good but not great while the frozen hot chocolate was outstanding). Then ordered a personal deep dish pizza from Lou Malnati's to take back to the room with me where I ate pizza in bed while watching Ghost Hunters and reading a book about Ebola. Cause I am odd like that.
Sunday I got up, checked out of the hotel (cries), had them hold my bags, and walked down to the museum campus again to visit the Shedd Aquarium. I was sort of disappointed honestly. I don't know if I remembered it wrong or what, but it seemed kinda run down and not as impressive as I remember. I went back to the hotel, got my bags, and headed out about 2pm Chicago time which got me home about 6pm Indiana time (3 hours drive plus the time change).
One thing though... I realized I am not happy in my current life. I'm lonely and I don't get to do nearly as much as I want to do. This trip really opened up my eyes to that. I cried multiple times Saturday and Sunday because I did not want to come home. Yes, I wanted to see my kitties, but everything else? I wanted nothing to do with it. I'm stressed and depressed. My anxiety has been horrible. Here I am at 40 just trying to survive.
So... I am gonna start the job hunt. See what is out there and if someone will pay me what I am worth (the downside of government work is that the pay is pretty sad). I will be looking here in Indy, but also in Chicago. Lots of finance jobs in Chicago. So we will see.6 -
Note to self: if ever visiting Chicago as a tourist, ask @Athijade for info ahead of time! Of special interest when airlines insist on going that way!
Note to self #2: I've had a complete pie over two days. I've had a keg dinner for father's day. The chocolate pie is less calories than a "Keg" (local chain entry level steakhouse) Or definitely LESS stuffing. Maybe the chocolate pie has secret powers? Or the Keg's food has secret powers to account for the fact that dinner for two nowadays costs as much as dinner for three used to cost. PLUS a tad more. And no I am NOT exaggerating.3 -
Food prices have soared. And it's a real problem for us because he had weight loss surgery, and we've discovered through experiment that vegetarian protein isn't enough; he's got to have meat, and not a lot of carbs either. I have the IBS and the nightshade issues that together rope off most common vegetables from me, and so I have to eat meat for my protein too. Girlfriend can eat whatever (except eggs and walnuts) but it's easiest to just feed her like us. (sigh)
Since he went back to work three days a week outside the house (he's working from home the other two) on the day he works we eat the sort of carb-heavy things that he can't. Pasta with marinara sauce, or French Toast, or sausage gravy and biscuits. It works well enough.
The other thing that doesn't help is that the new job he has isn't at all stressful and he likes it and etc.... but we make $850 a week. And that's.....rough. That's real rough. Three more years til Girlfriend graduates and can add to the family income. Oof.5 -
Oof indeed. You mentioned too, I think, that it was with a government type agency? I've been told by US based friends that such jobs tend to offer better than average health (primarily) and pension (secondarily) benefits. Don't discount cooked egg whites as an awesome (and relatively not super expensive) source! Also... given how enterprising you are... I hear that home made yogurt is definitely a thing!3
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Oof indeed. You mentioned too, I think, that it was with a government type agency? I've been told by US based friends that such jobs tend to offer better than average health (primarily) and pension (secondarily) benefits. Don't discount cooked egg whites as an awesome (and relatively not super expensive) source! Also... given how enterprising you are... I hear that home made yogurt is definitely a thing!
Government work has great benefits like paid holidays (12 some years and 14 in election years), good PTO, low cost health insurance, and a pension. The pay though is on the low end. Alex and I are in the same state and I also have a government job so I know very well what it is like. It is hard to make it on the salary I am getting, even as a supervisor, due to the rising costs of housing, food, gas, and everything else.
Which is why I am polishing up the resume and will start the job hunt again.3 -
If you going to make a job move, now is the time. Lots of opportunities as people rethink work vs. lifestyle. Son changed jobs 2 month ago after ten miserable years. He’s much happier now. It’s work at the university at which he has put in enough time to retire in five years with full medical and a pension. He will need another job afterward but there’s a nice cushion to rely on.
Hubby retired military and the worked another 20 years for the state government. I retired from the state university. So we’re all low paid government worker but have really nice benefits. Also unless there’s complete reorganization, government jobs are secure.
I wish you luck finding a new job and a happier place to live. Amazing how better work situation makes the rest of your life more serene.3 -
@Athijade - Reading Yooly's post made me feel very hopeful for you! I hope the job search is successful. No point in continuing a lifestyle that leaves you full of anxiety and depressed. I wish you luck.
Alexandra - Yes! I too have really noticed the increased costs - even though I dont eat meat. It is pretty crazy.3 -
from the land of zero pensions.... pensions look good!
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