Serial Starters

I’m really, really over this year. Really. My step dad is in the hospital. First time in 20 years, I’ve known him to be in hospital or, sick enough to warrant trip to ER. Not that he’s healthy. Just never needed to go. He hadn’t been feeling well all week and meds Dr gave him, didn’t help. Mom took him to ER, today. He is in Congestive Heart failure...Really? Crazy thing, that is what my Dad died from. Wow....mom doesn’t want me to come home. Thinks he’ll be released tomorrow. I may go, if he isn’t...was planning a visit next weekend...

Just not sure how much more my head can handle....

*** SATURDAY July 11th ***

Hello to everyone who stops by today 👋🏻

Lana

Maureen - Cute photo! Looks like it was glorious weather indeed!

Lana

Good morning. Dawn, my heart hurts for you, your dad, and your family. Prayers for all.

Lana, thanks. I love that pic.

Sara, I like getting out early to stores, too, even under normal circumstances. I pretty much hate all shopping, so the fewer people in my way, the better. It's frustrating if I time it slightly wrong and there's only one check-out open for 5 people in line, but that is still better to me than negotiating aisles or dressing rooms that have people in them. The good part I've noticed is that the steps add to my mileage It's so much cooler to walk in a store some days. Do you wear something--phone, watch--that keeps track so you can count that as part of your walk today?

I woke up tired today--my Garmin says I covered 7.7 miles yesterday, so that could be why. Looks like we are back to hot and humid, so it will be a good day to move slowly when I'm getting in my basic walks. Trying to think of the shadiest areas that have grass and no undergrowth, on high ground--less buggy. I wear bug spray but it's still annoying if the bugs are thick and it's humid. They literally drown when they land on my sweat--how's that for an image? Thank god most don't land when I wear the spray.

I've been so busy the last 2 days my food logging has been disrupted. I am still making good choices and not depriving myself. I had a lovely ice cream to add calories yesterday after my exercise took me about 1200 over my budget. That's really rare--usually my exercise adds 300-500, which is just perfect for my appetite and levels of hunger. I also used a calculator to figure out what exercise I'd need to do to keep that number of extra cals when I reach goal, and it wasn't as bad as I thought I know myself and if I only get a budget of 1350 or lower at maintenance, I'll struggle to maintain. But those exercise cals make such a difference to me and 1600 cals will keep me happy. I'm more than willing to walk the extra mile or two for those.

Good morning, all. It's a pretty day here--not too humid, clear and high of 84 predicted. I got up and out early with the pups, did my jogging, had some coffee, and got a load of laundry ready to go. Haven't actually put the laundry in the machine yet, though.

I've been frustrated with my own lack of motivation--laziness--for a very long time. Yesterday, I realized I know how to improve my performance as an "athlete," (not elite!!!!!!), and why wasn't I applying my own knowledge to my other concerns? So, as of today, I'm using some of my strategies for improving fitness/exercise performance to address other shortcomings--and it begins with starting small, just like weight loss, and making change gradually.

My Garmin is telling me I have covered 3.6 miles already today, and I'm wondering how that can be right. My phone says 2.7, and that seems almost exactly right--but usually the Garmin is more accurate (I think!). Maybe I got up and walked around after midnight and just don't remember--wearing the watch, not carrying the phone. It's a mystery.

I'm keeping an eye on all the debate about reopening schools. It seems so obvious that it will be a disaster of epic proportions if they reopen during this spike--but who knows where things will be 2-4 weeks from now? I suspect we will still being seeing numbers going up then, and all the clamoring "open them" will stop. But then, I'm using reason and science to form my opinion. And for some reason, I don't feel particularly vulnerable. I have no reason to assume I'll do ok if/when I get Covid; I don't have a lot of risk factors (obesity, mainly), but many healthy, younger people have gotten quite ill and even died, so why do I feel relatively safe? But, I'm glad I do-and I try to keep anxiety about my kids to a low level. One son had Whooping Cough in an outbreak here and has had some lung sensitivity since, but that's only in winter and he's a college athlete. He's the one I worry about most, until I remember that part about "even healthy, young people . . ."

Hoping you all have some good plans for the day. I want to kayak later but my usual boating buddy is not available, so I have to find someone else. I don't boat alone. And the dogs will go to the DP with me later. We did our morning exercise in the conservancy that is right outside my door.

Have a good one, folks.

Sara, I have not seen young folks partying, but only b/c I'm never where I might see them The teens in herds on our local trail are enough to have me shaking my head. As a teacher, I know darn well that half or more of them told mom, "But I'm just meeting Becky, and we will be safe." Umhuh. I thought about taking pics and posting them to a neighborhood page, so parents could see what their kids are up to, but that would be creepy and possibly illegal, I suppose. A lot of teen girls are incapable of walking independently and must be draped over one another, too. Under normal circumstances, it makes me smile. Not so much when I think how their parents will feel if the kid gets sick.

Sounds like you have a good plan for the day. Stay hydrated.

Good morning Sara~~

I bet it feels good for you to have gotten some things done: the chair, the bulletin board, lights and filters, the meal prep. Yay for you!

I am still struggling with staying on program. That is because I am fragile emotionally, and I live alone with no "adult supervision".

Once again, I will be looking for The Key today.

Waves to all who stop by later on~~

BBL

Lana

I've been on hiatus for no good reason. Dawn, I think, sorry if I got the wrong name, sorry to hear about your step dad. I of course don't know the severity of his congestive heart failure but it isn't necessarily life threatening if the treatment takes the fluid out of the lungs. Both my parents was treated and released for it. It is not to be taken lightly but can be treated unless the heart is already compromised. Think good thoughts and prayers. Sorry for the wrong verb tense.

Got a date with my lovely therapist..... always good, even on the tough days. The its a home made naan bread vegan pizza (I'm not vegan but eat a lot of vegan as my daughter is). Then I aim to walk into town instead of driving in. And that depends on the rain!

Hi, all. I think I missed yesterday. I'm getting too careless about logging. I need to slow down all the useless stuff I'm filling my time with, and take time to log. I have not bought breakfast food yet this week, either, so I am letting myself get too hungry while waiting for a suitable time to call the first meal "lunch." I know I can get too hungry doing this, so I need to stop. But so far, have stayed on track with my calorie budget.

Nice weather the last 3 days and I've missed most of it, being inside and sore and not walking like I should--well, just yesterday. Heading out after this post to get some exercise before I go to a friend's home for a social-distancing get together. Another colleague is bringing her daughter who has a severe, chronic illness, so we will all be super careful. Skye gets to go, too.

Hoping all are doing well.