@RunsOnEspresso - Yes - he does!

Hey all.

I'll go back and read, haven't caught up yet after the last few days.

Sunday I ended up throwing everything to the wind and just enjoyed myself. Ate all the treats. It was nice having one day. I estimate I ate about 1600 over goal. Consequently today's weigh in is 1kg (2.2lb) over where I was Saturday morning (Tues here). Not worried, it will drop in the next couple of days. Its comforting to be in a place where I know one day won't cancel out all I have achieved.

I also had a reminder that I cannot manage other peoples emotions. Mum ended up leaving a little bitter and disappointed. She came for an open ended visit, max of 2 weeks, but DH was a bit over her by the end of 1 week, so I'd suggested she went home Tues. That would have been 1.5 weeks. Instead of being understanding, she got all upset and said she wasn't made to feel welcome.

Additionally I'm planning a big trip in April, down south with my kids. The intention was mum would join us, and over Christmas I also invited my best friend, who has twins only a year younger than my youngest. Mum was a bit put out, and eventually decided not to come. She said her reason was "we would have more fun without her". I was quick to say that the things we would do would just be different. Friend and I are big on getting the kids into tramps and walks etc. Where mum's more of a sit around and enjoy a relax by the pool with a book type of person.

So that was a disappointing way to end her visit. I keep feeling some guilt. But at the end of the day, her emotions aren't my responsibility, and getting upset about us asking her to leave after 1.5 weeks, and my inviting my best friend along on MY holiday is on her not me.

Baby steps.

@Avidkeo It sounds like you are handling life really well. Family relationships are hard. I'm all for taking a day to eat whatever I want every now and again. If I think I can't have something ever again, I will eat it or bust. I guess that's the rebellious teenager I never was coming out as a 61 year old. LOL

@Avidkeo - I agree family relationships can be tough and mother/daughter can be the worst! I do think you did what was best and it is important that she realize inserting herself in the middle of your family isn't always going to work. I can't imagine her canceling the vacation with you and your friend and kids unless she thought there would be no time for her to just relax. Heck I would go, tell you all to go off and have a great time while I just relax by the pool with my book, see you when you get back!
@quilteryoyo - I have tried peanut butter and somehow he gets it off and I will find the pill later in another room. Fortunately he doesn't have to have pills very often!
So what exactly is Electro-Optics?
@ddmom0811 - Happy Birthday to your dh!
I am shocked about the water pitcher! That would be terrible without CovId! They should never touch the pitcher to anyone's glass, talk about transmitting germs!

I am baking bread today! 1 loaf of sourdough and 1 of maple/walnut sourdough. Hilde gifted me her oh so fancy, never used bread maker so I used it to mix the dough for the sourdough, then baked it in the oven. The maple sourdough uses the discard starter and is more like a quickbread. I am making it completely in the bread maker. Not sure how it will turn out as the bread maker mixes it for the longest time... I think it is going to be fun making all kinds of bread. Just need to get some more flour now!

Ew @ddmom0811 . I never even thought about it before COVID, which is still gross. I don't want one molecule of anothers mouth germs. yuck. I wont drink out of a cup anyway. It better be bottled or disposable. I don't like the smell of cups.


@shanaber I still need to get Beary today for meds. I had him watch me give Cori his and he just shook his head (figuratively). I can get the pill down (1/4th a pill actually), but the liquid wormer is as if I am feeding him soapy rabies. Just all foamy and slobbery. The litter boxes are less full today so perhaps well be diarrhea free soon. yay!

Tha ks guys.

She's decided not to come, and I'm supporting that decision. The guilt I'd feel leaving her behind would be awful. I'd feel the whole time that I'd have to do what ever I could to keep her and my friend happy. And that sounds exhausting.

We are doing another holiday in a few months to the snow that she will come along. Its an annual tradition (well will be hahaha) and she came the first time, and knows exactly what it will be like.

Had a good day today. Another day sticking to goal. Also rode my bike too and from work. Whew.

Early morning tomorrow, as I'm working in ED (ER). Busy busy

I did three different walks today, each one a mile long. That is the furthest I have intentionally walked since the surgery. I felt fine while walking, but have been really wiped out since I ate dinner. I'm hoping that means I will sleep good tonight. (I slept a lot better last night.)

I did get my letter to the IRS in the mail today and got the credit card to waive the late fee they had charged me. One of my walks was to mom's to visit with the friends who stayed with her while I was having my surgery. After they left, I helped her get firewood on the porch. After I got home, I called a dear, older friend, and talked almost an hour. I'm trying hard to do better about keeping in touch with people - especially people like her who are by themselves with very few visitors. She'll be 90 in July, still lives alone, and still mows her lawn in the summer. She's super sweet.

I don't feel like I am getting much accomplished, but seem to be staying busy enough. I still need to write the thank you cards for some of the flowers/cards we received after dad passed away. I keep putting it off. I just need to pick a day and get them all done. I hope to do that one day this week.

@quilteryoyo - that is interesting about the electro-optics. I figured it might have something to do with lasers. My dh and I sometimes talk about how much IT has changed over the years. The systems we originally worked on were much smaller than what is in our phones today but they were able to process all the banking information for millions of people.
I think you got quite a lot accomplished, especially with three walks. I hope this time with the IRS finally gets it resolved!
Hi @bearly63! CA has lifted the extended stay at home order but the county wide restrictions remain. We are in the worst level and basically everything is still shut down. The restaurants can open with limited outdoor seating again though.
Strange that your dd had a reaction to the 2nd dose. Did she sign up for v-safe to log and get support if needed for the vaccine reactions? My dd was adamant that we sign up and provide feedback. She said it was really important, especially if we had anything more than a sore arm (we didn't).

Bread update and pictures:
Both the sourdough and the sourdough maple walnut bread are delicious. The maple bread isn't super sweet which I like. It also didn't brown really well in the machine but it was super easy to just put everything in and let it go. Even clean up was easy. Hilde wants me to make all of our bread now - ha!
Met with my pcp today and explained my concern that the issue with my hip as seen on the xray wasn't what I was experiencing as a problem. She thinks the hamstring pain is likely tendonitis as a result of the hip issue and is sending me to a sports ortho potentially for a cortisone shot and PT. She doesn't want me to go though until after I get my 2nd vaccine shot. She tried gently to tell me not to try running anymore and that running may become something I won't be able to do anymore. I am not ready to hear that or to accept it. She also wants me to 'lose a few pounds'...I'm trying, I'm trying...

Food - we are keeping with the IF even though not managing the early hours (more eating breakfast later and dinner a little earlier). I have learned that if we don't have enough protein in dinner I am starving by bed time and then can't sleep. I have to make sure I have a protein drink or something if dinner is protein light.
Dd also told me that we should not be having much carbs at dinner (for dh), basically keep it to protein and veggies. I need to work more on that. I didn't get in to customize our Hellofresh order for this week and the meals were all very high in carbs. One that we haven't eaten yet has 190 carbs per serving! Yikes!! I am not sure I will even make it. I won't waste the ingredients but I will make something else that is healthier with them.

I listened more to the Keep Sharp book today and he was talking about the link between metabolic disorders (obesity, belly fat or large waist sizes, etc.) and dementia/Alzheimers. As he said more research is needed but there appears to be a connection; as obesity has increased so has Alzheimers but they don't know yet what the specific connection is. He did talk about the connection to insulin and having the brain cells become insulin resistant and essentially starve. I listened to this section 3 times today. I hope my dh will listen to it and maybe it will provide some incentive to get him up and moving. He is eating better so that should help too.

Hey @shanaber Your bread porn pics are amazing. I am such a sourdough fan. It became my pandemic guilty pleasure. One of the fun restaurants here is called Easy Tiger - a german beer garden with good sammies, sausages etc. To deal with the pandemic shutdown, they started making and selling their bread and starter at the local groceries and whole foods. The multigrain sourdough....better than anything. I finally stopped buying it after the new year.

Your hip sounds like my hip....but my pain is right on the front - hip flexor area. I am in the same boat. xrays clear. MRI shows edema (swelling and inflammation) but no fractures. A few small labrum tears which are normal wear and tear for my age. So Sports med doc says I am fine to do whatever I want....run on a treadmill, cycle. The pain is the annoying thing but it only hurts when I do strength, yoga, stretching that involves the hip flexor. PT was more about evening out the imbalanced strength from my compensating and also my slightly twisted pelvis due to tight hamstrings. hahahah.....what a mess. So back to square one. I am thinking one more opinion from a different PT/Doc and then pull the trigger on the cortizone shot to lose the pain and move on. Too many cooks stirring the pot!

That book sounds good. The Book "Live Wired" touches a lot on brain health and aging. Highly recommend. And the Mark Hyman series I mentioned last week does too - he is all about how food is medicine and the links to disease. The series was free last week and over the weekend and now its for sale of course. I ended up buying it because I couldn't listen last week and it comes with a cool workbook with all of the details the experts mention in the podcast. I let you all know if anything is worth sharing.

And same on the protein thing. I am focusing on getting my macros right. My method on MFP has been to set my minimum cals and add back and eat my workout cals as motivation. I figured out how to set my added back workout cals to different macros....so I am adding back more carbs and fat and little protein. I want to get the protein regardless of my work out days. We shall see. It only works if I actually track.

@bearly63 I have not tried those. I'll check it out. Thanks.

Morning all.

Been on the edge of developing a cold all week. Last night I thought it finally was going full bloom but apparently not. Now maybe it will just go away.

Scales finally going down again after Sundays binge. Went as high as 1.3kg over Saturdays weight, down to 800g over. I'm working out of town again tonight, so Hopefully back to last week's weight Saturday. Will see. I've got all my food ready for the next 2 days again. So not worried about food.

Did not sleep well last night and am experiencing some DOMS from Tuesdays workout. Might have some retention from that.

Just generally down today.

@shanaber that bread looks so good! It took me about a year (then losing Alex) to realize I'll never run again. I was thinking today that perhaps I'll be able to bike but haven't even tried to get on the bike with all the cranky back pain.


Amazon
I bought an over the toilet shelf and thought I was careful in the measurements and dang if it does not fit. Terribly embarrassing after dh accused me of spending too much money. I also got the floating shelf for under the TV and it looked horrible so I put it in the cat room and it works great for accumulating the stuff I am working on that day.

Cori and Bear
Cori is still chief running butt and has a vet appointment friday. We all agreed on a diet plan for him since it could be food. And I found out (er, sort of... internet chatter) that cats can't have raw eggs. oops. Bear has been eating them like a hungry aaig suckin' snake. LOL! I'll ask the vet friday to be sure, but think I have to cook them so it won't interfere with his nutrition. I thought cats naturally ate eggs. Cori isn't playing as much as Bear wants him to. Bear is whiny and cat calls(?) to him in a whiny voice, "Wheeeer aaaareee yoooouuuu?", all dang day. or the little incessant chirps "play. play. play". Gah he's lucky he's so lovable. I let Bear out to see the birds and took Cori out. He's a do-do. Just goes out the front and back in the garage, out the front and back in the garage. Well, now what that the garage is closed? oh he'll just wander off to the back yard and get scared of the dogs and run off. Meanwhile, Beary is trying to get him to follow him around like it's a grand tour. LOL! I may need to get Cori a harness and leash for a bit.

new (and only) friend
I am a bit overwhelmed. I can do the day 1 intro stuff beyond that I am not good at engaging others. She bought me coffee today. First coffee in 4 months? my guts are still unhappy. Thank goodness for text messages, perhaps I can fake know how to be friendly long enough to cement a friendship. LOL!

School
ugh behind.

Violin
ugh so behind. and she's stepped up the complexity. Which is great, but I struggle to find the time to get everything done. Dh is going to a meeting later, so I will have the house to practice, IF i get some other stuff done.

Hi all. Mind if I hop on this train?

@avidkeo - it must have been something in the air yesterday. I had a down day too and had a really tough time even getting out for a walk. I did feel a bit better though after I getting out in the sunshine a bit.
@swenson19d - I am not ready to accept the idea of no longer being able to run, I mean my plan all along has been to run until I am at least 80 or until I seriously can't move like that any longer. I don't think I am there yet. Besides I need to still be able to run for agility with Hobbes the Vizsla. Once I get in to see the new sports/ortho doc I will see what he says. He is BTW very young and was an assistant team doctor to the Lakers, Dodgers and Kings here so hopefully he is pretty good. His ratings are very high too.
You could write a book on the adventures of Cori and Bear!
I also agree with @quilteryoyo regarding your friend - just be yourself and expect normal give and take.
Not to enable your shopping (please don't tell dh!) but have you ever shopped at WayFair? My dd loves it and has found so many things there that she likes!

Welcome @noblsheep and @avidkeo - we really aren't hiding out over here. I think we just feel more comfortable having those life conversations here than in the bigger group.

We are supposed to get really heavy rain and thunderstorms tonight and tomorrow. I figure tomorrow in the rain will be a good time to go for my knee xray since I don't imagine too many people will be going out if they don't have to. I may get out for another walk this afternoon since tomorrow will likely not be a great running/walking day. I am still feeling down in general and will have to push myself to get out. So much easier to just sit here.

Food - has been ok... yesterday was better than normal, today not so much. I need to figure out what to make with the ground beef I have from the HelloFresh meal we aren't having. I am thinking maybe tacos. Anyone have any better ideas?