@eleanorhawkins - those one or two days don't define you. You can get beyond it. It is definitely hard sometimes and we have all had them.
@quilteryoyo - I would consider talking to another service company and see if by chance they would honor the other company's warranty. I would also report the original company to the BBB or whatever organization TN has for managing consumer complaints.
Tippy looks so happy to be back home with you!

My weight is back up again after holding steady. I am sure not being able to run much is not helping and I am thinking about my PCPs comments about losing a few pounds. I have to make some changes to make that happen so I spent a great deal of time today looking at my calories and macros. I am going to cut my calories back and also realign my macros specifically to reduce the amount of fat.

@swenson19d - How are you doing? How is your dd doing? I hope she is ok and feeling better.

@shanaber DD never really got answers. She was told to see a GI specialist and the OB for her gynecological concerns, unpredictable cycles. I told her I'd go with her to a GI specialist if she wanted, but she isn't keen on being run around. The PCP wasn't concerned about any of her complaints, all is normal to him.

@Avidkeo how are you liking the shorter hair cut? Still happy with it? I am 2 seconds (not really but plotting) from cutting mine. My hair is almost pony tail length, well I can get most of it up other than the layer on the right.
I am not sure what I’m going to do with it.

I have the hip doc appointment Tuesday! Wow that snuck up so fast. I have a research class and have spent all evening in his publications for an assignment. I am willing to just do what he wants. My leg aches at night and I just wanna pull it off at the hip so it won’t hurt. Lol, what an odd desire. Oh well upside is I might be able to find a place and get my hair cut the same day in Dallas. I really do hate how long it it.

Food
Ate everything and I am sure my scale is a liar. It is either 125.8 ish or 128.5 ish. Maybe I should change the battery because it feels like 128 ish.

Bear and coriander
Still doing well. Seems this last antibiotic has fixed Cori’s diarrhea finally. He’s a strange fellow. He’s a pest. If he wants food, not the kibble, he walks under your feet and leans against you, just a pest. I almost broke something 3-4 times already from tripping over him. He snuggles under the blanket like Bear does, but insists on biting me. Beary is like an old man compared to him. Cori’s a good buddy, his personality is coming through finally. They still romp through the house and bear has taught him all the wrestling moves.

Had an annoying day today. Skipped breakfast, had a big lunch. Went out for a couple of hrs. Then around 3pm found half a block of chocolate (probably about 30 grams worth, wasn't big) and ended up eating the whole thing. Sigh. Then had an overwhelming urge to eat all the things. Ended up eating a small piece of slice I had cut already so knew the size.

I tracked everything and was only 100 calories over target so not bad. Given the other day I was 150 under, I call it even.

I find Sundays hard. My goal is only 1200, so without any exercise I don't have much give in the calorie goal. But rest day means rest right? I cycle Tues and Thurs, adding Sunday just so I can eat a bit more seems crazy right.

@Avidkeo I bought pony tail holders, bobby pins and headbands anticipating a way to keep my hair out of my face for clinicals. We will be written up and dismissed for the day if our hair is not tidy and out of the way. I get it, hard to administer meds or start an IV with hair in your eyes. I just keep waffling on short/annoying mid-length, I don't think I could do long. If I let it get much longer, I may consider a perm or wavy -do.

@bearly63 "Life is a highway...
There ain't no load that I can't hold
Road so rough, this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Just tell 'em we're survivors"

The hip highway struggle is real. I've been at this since March 2012. My pain is better overall, but I have lost the ability to do anything for longer than 10 minutes d/t pain. We can be hip replacement buddies. I had the steroid shot in the hip joint a few times, the experience is okay, mine is usually done by a dern cutie or a super nice fellow who offers so much support I wanna hug him. The calmer my hip is the less it hurts, so expect if your pain is high and tissues are inflamed it might be "hold your breath, or breathe slowly". They usually remember I do well with distraction. In addition to the steroid shot in the hip they will probably add dye and send you to the MRI to get a good idea what's going on. I love the MRI, it's nap time, meditation time, time to drift with the pulses. Hey, perhaps I'll have another one soon.
From the research I'd been trying to assimilate in to an assignment, women just get a bad deal with the hip issues. I decided I don't care if I have to do the THR twice because of my age, I am eager to redefine my existence outside of chronic pain.

The cats seem to be less allergenic than others, esp Beary. So perhaps you could get a couple russian blues. Dh isn't even allergic to him. And we have 5 hepa air purifiers in the house to help with all allergens. I couldn't manage without Bear-bug. He's my support animal.

ok... assignments.

@swenson19d - love the picture of your babies... I saw it last night and left it up on my screen so it was the first thing I saw when I opened my PC this morning! Made me smile - they are just so cute! I would love to have a cat too, don't want to deal with the litter box and DH is very allergic. When dd had the Sealpoint Siamese we had to give her weekly baths to keep the dander down so it didn't bother dh. She eventually came to like them but after those first few, my hands and forearms looked like I had been in a bad fight!
Did dd's PCP do any bloodwork or anything? I hate it when doctors are dismissive and just say 'everything's normal' when clearly you don't feel right. I hope she does see the GI and the OB/GYN I it could be her hormones are off.
I don't know how you and @bearly63 deal with the constant pain. I have only had mine a few months and it is making me crazy. The last few days with my knee on the other side hurting too, made it impossible to get comfortable to sleep. There is no position that works.

I did talk to dd about what the sports doc said about continuing with walking/running and she said it is true with most tendon/muscular injuries and especially arthritis. Her favorite ortho doc that she consults with says 'motion is lotion' which is similar to what I was told years ago by my ortho about keeping my joints moving despite arthritis. So @bearly63, unless there is a specific issue that they don't want you to move, I would keep moving as much as you can tolerate.

@quilteryoyo - I bet having Tippy home will make you sleep easier too! I know when Hobbes isn't here it is hard because I keep listening for him.

@avidkeo - I have never really thought in terms that I need to exercise today so I can eat more. I just try to stay within my guardrails for my different levels of activity. Today is a rest day but I may do some strength work just to move a bit and because I haven't done enough of that this week. But it is also super bowl so we'll see.

@bearly63 - I need to clean out my pantry too. I did a partial clean out not too long ago. I find I buy ingredients for something I am making at the time and then the leftover sits and doesn't get used. Typically I decide to make something that uses the ingredient and then find it is expired!
I had to laugh about the laundry! I have gotten into the habit of just leaving things in the dryer. They don't get folded and put away until I need the dryer for something else I have washed.

Hair - with the shutdowns here I have not been able to go, since before March, to the place where I have gotten my hair cut for several years. I had planned actually to go in March since it was at the end of December 2019 that I was there last. Then that wasn't possible so I figured I would just wait not expecting that the shutdown would be so long. I finally broke down and had the lady who colors my hair cut it too. She just does a basic trim and adds the layers but doesn't cut it in a way to help control the curl. My hair is now longer than I have ever had it, I think in my entire life mostly because I would get fed up with those in between lengths and I would cut it off. I put it in a pony for running but now have to loop it up so it doesn't hang down on my neck/back and get all sweaty. I may hate it when it starts getting hot overnight but for now I am enjoying it.

Food has been good the last couple of days. We had Mediterranean last night from a favorite restaurant and I got my usual chicken kabobs. They give you 2 with meat and one veggie so I always order an extra veggie and have 2 meals. I talked to dh about maybe making them on the bbq one of these days. It is a pretty healthy meal for both of us (he gets rotisserie chicken).
For the SB today I made a big batch of turkey chili in the slow cooker so that should be healthy meals for a few days and some will go in the freezer for later.

It was hot here yesterday (80F) and then cold overnight (40F) so woke up to thick fog this morning. Once the sun is out I need to get out and harvest tangerines. We have so many again this year! I will take some to the folks at agility class and see if the neighbors want some as I don't want them to go to waste.

I have only had one MRI that I can remember and that was for my knee. It wasn't an issue for me. I am a bit concerned about this next one because of the pacemaker even though the one I have is supposed to be safe.

@swenson19d - Hilde has always had a cat or two inside and outside and some of the outside strays later became inside cats. Every single one of them have become obese and developed diabetes, even though she only feeds them a special prescription kibble. I am convince she is somehow giving them something else too. But then they get no real activity inside and rarely even move around much.

Dh has the pre super bowl show on and they are showing scenes from previous super bowl performances. I wasn't paying attention and then Whitney Houston was belting out the Star Spangled Banner and it gave me chills! Wow what a voice she had!

@shanaber understand your nerves about the MRI. If its any help the MRI techs are very very careful, especially with pacemakers. And if they say its safe, I'd be happy with that.

Wow @ddmom0811 ! I was worn out just reading about your week! I hope it calms down just a little bit.

swenson19d wrote: »

Aww, my poor beanie will be going to the vet tomorrow. We all noticed she wasn’t quite herself and dd just noticed her hip is swollen and she is in pain, not just being grumpy. Poor girl.

Awww noo! Hugs!

@swenson19d I hope Beanie is okay and they can make him all better.

Bean update.
I was loading her up to take her to the vet for a drop-off appointment. She hates going, runs from the sight of the carrier and it takes two people to get her in the crate. Tag DD in this scenario. I'm cat wrestling trying no to injure her and have to say the heck with it and brace her between my ribs and forearm applying pressure to her hip. Might be kinda gross for the squeamish- not a photo I am so happy it was an abscess, but have you smelled an abscess before? I phoned the vet and I'll just take her in Wednesday and try to keep antibiotic on it. Thank baby cat Buddha. I thought the worse that it was hip and she needed a hip replacement or was going to lose the leg. Of course the abscess could still be an issue with it's location and a piece of tissue with a hard bit came lose. Perhaps she had a foreign body in there.

@quilteryoyo Well least you are off emergency heat. Cute that Tippy is protective of you, men typically aren't animals favorites, least not in my bunch. Except Bean, she loves dh too much and i am jealous.

Noon and I am just getting sorted. I cancelled violin so I can clean the mess and wash the bedding.

My scale was down again today below my oh no weight. Dh even mentioned that he hasn't gained much even though he eats terrible and isn't running. I think it's time to change the battery. my clothes tell another story.

Hmmm change of plan. Finally got up and opened the curtains. It's dark and brooding. Rain is imminent. I don't want my first big ride in the rain. Call me a coward.

So stationery bike it is. Oh well

@swenson19d Oh no! I can't even imagine trying to clean up that mess. But, if it has to be something, I guess an abscess is the best thing to be. Glad someone's scale is down. I think mine found it.

@Avidkeo Yeah for the weight being down. Like I told @swenson19d I found it. I'm was a little over 140 this morning, my oh no weight. Gotta do better this week.