LW: 140.8
TW: 140.8

Honestly--watch what you wish for. I said I wanted to not gain over the holidays, but I MEANT that I want to lose a little until the week of Christmas and then hang on through New Year's Day. I guess I wasn't clear about that! LOL

Houses--oh, yes. We call it having the wheels fall off. Things always go wrong in batches and it's always something. Our house was built in 1972, so we've gone through several of those replacing everything cycles.

Same thing with the cars. At least yesterday our mechanic, who we've known for years, took pity on us. We've spent $3000 at his shop in the past couple of months, so he didn't charge us for looking at the idiot light. (It was reacting to changes in tire pressure due to huge temperatures swings.) But in a few minutes, we have a carpenter coming to take some measurements so he can give us an estimate for doing some work in the basement.

And beds? We have a very expensive mattress and box spring on the guest bed that has been slept on less than 10 times. We got that because of my sisters' back issues. But our bed? We have an old mattress on our bed and we just have to replace it soon. We keep putting it off because our tastes have changed and we also want to replace the bedroom furniture. And if we do that, then we should also replace the master sitting room furniture. Mission creep!

Thankfully, today was not as hectic as Monday and yesterday, but I started worked work at 7:30 a.m. simply out of fear of what might come. It usually takes a few days for reactions in the field and by the public, and I expect that things will ramp up again on Monday when all the staff are back in Atlanta. There are a lot of people up here today. Thank God we live far enough out of the city that they don't just get the idea that they'll pop around to say hello!

From Wednesday though yesterday, I sat at my desk from before daylight until almost bedtime everyday. Thus my low, low steps. But I knew this would happen and I had gone into acceptance long before it came down the pike. But I had not included in my plan what happened last night.

Hubby had to go to a mandatory staff meeting following by a holiday party at his company's headquarters. They're allowed to bring a guest, but the event starts at 4 p.m. and it's more than an hour's drive, so I usually don't go. In fact few working spouses do. Hubby himself hates to go because it's a drink fest held in the same bar and grill (really!) every year because it's the favorite watering hole of the CFO. Those who don't want get hammered and spend the night in a nearby hotel (boss pays for the rooms) usually eat and get out of there as quick as they can.

Anyway, he was stuck there and there was nothing healthy and quick to eat in the house, so I ran out into the bitter cold (26 degrees with wind whipping) to get some sushi and fruit. When I came out of the grocery store, another car had parked very close to mine, so getting in with my purse and bag required a bit of contortionism. And as I did this, I felt a pain go through my lower back.

I guess I pulled a muscle. I took aleve as soon as I got home, but it didn't do much for the pain. I woke up several times during the night--realizing that it was the pain in my back that woke me up. I actually skipped my thyroid medicine this morning so I could take more aleve. I'll do the synthroid later. But now I'm wondering whether I'll be able to achieve any make-up steps this weekend. I'm pretty sure it's muscular--which is the only bright spot. I now know that nerve pain feeling really well, and this is different. But all I can say is RATS, RATS, RATS!!

Lois, I hope that your HVAC issues are soon resolved. The morning Post said that Phoenix's high today will be around 73, so hopefully that will give you a window of comfortable temps to get everything checked out and running again. We're bracing for an artic blast. Today the high downtown will be about 40 and we're usually about 3-4 degrees cooler. Mid- to high 30s with sun I can manage. But by the end of next week, we're likely to not get above freezing at all.

As I read our recent posts, I'm amazed at how we juggle similar issues and share similar wishes. That's the reason I always feel supported by your posts and appreciate hearing about what you do to try to stay healthy and fit and about your successes and challenges.

My plan for the coming week is (a) survive more long work hours and walk every chance I get, and (b) eat more fresh things. I'm actually almost craving fruit and vegetables after a week of eating meals based more on meat and starches. (Because that's what hubby likes! LOL)

By the way, how is Kelly doing? She seems to have moved entirely to Facebook.

Oh no Sarah!! I hope the Aleve kicks in soon.

thank goodness the weather was awesome this weekend. And, if it weren't for my mother in law, we wouldn't even be thinking of the house heater. Ha. The part should be here today - fingers are crossed that it will work this evening. We do have some warmer weather due this week, but later in the week, it is supposed to drop and oh Lordy.

I picked up mom at the airport (got in my 10k PLUS waiting for her plane), and while she was in a wheelchair for airport transport, I was seriously alarmed at how hard of a time she had to stand...and then again when we got home and she got out of the car...she had to stand for several minutes (i went back and forth taking in luggage and the grandkids and food before she was able to walk. And this was the challenge EVERY time she stood. Her cali lifestyle is not benefiting her strength and mobility. She got in 2k steps yesterday, but she was holding something the entire time and getting up from sitting was painful to watch. At almost 82, I'm unsure what muscle improvement we can gain in four visits to PT, if she even wants to go. I was in tears at how far she's degraded. And then I blew up when my son asked her what she wanted for Christmas "my car...I need my car". REALLY!?!?! I realize we've taken away part of her independence, but damn, she can barely move....and we're to allow her to drive a car? I don't want to get in a car with her behind the wheel, let alone subject other unknown commuters/families/pedestrians to be exposed to her behind the wheel. Oh Lordy...and it's only been two days.

We did have the grandkids Sat and Sun. We had a great time. Hubby and Cameron (who's going to be 9 in February) played this role playing game called Munchkin for over two hours. Cam just loves to play that game with grandpa. Before moving to AZ, I worked for a family company and a portion of hte company was devoted to creating board games. We developed Outburst, Taboo and quite a few others. One them was also in conjunction with Disneyland and Parker Bros. The game only had two runs printed, but I did manage to get two of them way back in 1990. well, Kelsie (who's almost five) and I played that game for almost an hour. Oh my goodness, she had so much fun going in circles "around the park". We didn't count points, but she got so excited at EVERY move, pick a card, pick a star, turn the clock...oh we had a fantastic time. We also walked our neighborhood to see the decorated houses (another 2k steps - woot woot). Sunday morning, sadly, Kelsie woke with a fever and ended up sleeping on the couch all day long. She drank some pedialyte and had an aspirin, but otherwise she was down. Cameron on the other hand, had grandpa's undivided attention and got to go out back and play with the "throwing knives" in the backyard.

We took the kids back and then I came home and began to prepare food for the week. Salad, hamburgers for lunch for me (no buns) and taco meat for huby and MIL. I was going to recreate one of my Hello Fresh dinners, but realized I failed to buy chicken, so it may be fish for dinner if I don't stop on my way home tonight. I need to focus on positive intake and keeping myself moving and calm.

back and neck are still out of whack, but I have my annual physical on Thursday....unsure that's smart to keep with the MIL added frustration, but I need to see him about the neck and back so, fingers are crossed for an average type of visit and reaction.