@swenson19d - glad the extra medication is helping. I too don't like to take a lot of medications unless I have to but sometimes you just need more.
@rheddmobile - what is the longer range plan for your mom? Hopefully there is a light at the end of the tunnel and you won't have to be the food police with her much longer. I suspect she is feeling much like an addict whose drugs have been taken away. The sugars and fats have that affect which is one reason why we have so many obese people in this country. Maybe once she gets more stabilized with eating better and normal amounts it will get better? Not sure I could last that long dealing with her though.
So great that you found a replacement car! I keep towels in my car for the seats when it is super hot. Although mine are a dark tan and really don't get all that hot. I love the leather because they are otherwise so comfortable and are really easy to clean.
@cmorning99 - the IF that we are doing is much easier - we eat closer to a normal 'biorhythm' schedule 8:30-5:30. I couldn't go all morning without eating and this has had the desired affect on dh's blood sugar. It has been well into the normal range since we have been doing the IF except for last week when we were on vacation and not really following it or eating what we normally would. Hope the kitties are all doing ok.
@Avidkeo - yay for dh actually trying to make things work! Hang in there! It sounds like with all the effort you are both putting in now you will come out stronger as a couple on the other side!
@ddmom0811 - so happy you had a good visit with your mom! Great that your weight remained stable but you were doing a lot of running.
I am always surprised that you are back to school so early. I know you have to be there before the teachers and then the kids but it just seems like you just started your summer vacation!

We went back to the Hollywood Bowl last night for the 1st concert in 2 years! One of the couples in our group dropped out but there were still 6 of us and it was really fun to be back. I made bread and took a big green salad and fresh melon and an olive mix (we used the leftover oil and spices to dip the bread in - yummmm). One of the couples brought tri-tip and a pasta salad and the other brought cheesecake for dessert. So much food and so much fun! I am exhausted today though - just not used to the big crowd (mostly masked coming and going) and then being up so late. I think though I was the only one in the group who really liked the entire concert. The first half was the LA Phil with Dudamel conducting and then after intermission it was Christina Aguilera. She was amazing! She really has an incredible voice. It was an interesting crowd too. Lots of younger people there to hear her and then a generally older crowd of normal season ticket holders. You could see the younger crowd visibly getting antsy during the first half even though the music was selections from West Side Story and Bolero.

I finally weighed myself yesterday and I am up about 2lbs still after our little road trip. I am ok with that and actually thought it might be worse. We are going again this next week but just for 2 days, up and back, to visit one of our favorite wineries that is closing at the end of the month. We have been there so many times and have so many memories of hanging out there with friends, we really wanted to visit one last time.

I got a call yesterday from the Ortho office and I have to say I am pretty frustrated with the entire experience. I think I mentioned before that they couldn't figure out who I should see. Apparently the doctor I had the appointment scheduled with on Monday, looked at the MRI results and said - oh she has a torn rotator cuff and I don't treat those!?! What???? I told the scheduler I didn't want to be seen for my shoulder, it doesn't hurt and isn't an issue. Guess it is good to know there is a problem there but my issue right now is in my bicep. Well, I have now been rescheduled, after much back and forth, with a different doctor at the end of July... Apparently they are all so specialized now, they only see you for those specific body parts and if your problem isn't one of those they don't know what to do with you.

Those of you with cats - what kind of litter do you use? What Hilde used is terrible - it goes everywhere and doesn't help with the smell. Guess I am noticing it more because I am over there everyday and cleaning it out.

@shanaber We use the tidy cat clumping litter. It works good if the cats are good at covering it, Beanie does the drop and run and its so stinky. Daily scooping is key. Cats are messy. I think bear is the only one that doesn't make a mess. Cori shoves heaps out of the box. A litter mat may help with the tracking. Is someone coming to get the cat(s) or are you going to rehome them? I am so jealous of your outings! Horrible experience with the doc's though. The one here locally does both and knees and all joints. You figure those docs that do one thing would feel unchallenged by doing the same thing all the time.

Boogie bear wanted me to sit outside with him this AM so I did. I stood up and stretched and have right mid back- rib spasms. Ice/heat, Valium/tizanidine, topical NSAID and I think it may let up enough that I can get on with HW, now 4 hours later. horrible. Dh was kind enough to Bring me Arbys though.

@rheddmobile I have black leather seats with tinted windows but have a towel from Orange Mud that is amazing after runs. I also am diligent with the window shade.
https://youtu.be/paU4gg-N1qM

@swenson19d - do you by chance take a magnesium supplement? There is some evidence that it can help to relax muscles. I am thinking it might help with your muscle spasms. You just have to make sure not to take the magnesium citrate unless you are constipated too.
Mitzi the cat will be going to a live out her life at a cat rescue society. Hilde has left money for her care long term and instructions that she is not to be adopted out. I am hoping that we don't have to wait until all of the financial is sorted out for them to take her but I need to call and talk to them. It will likely be a couple of months before we have things sorted enough that we can start paying for things like that.

That OrangeMud commercial is hilarious!

@RunsOnEspresso - I do love my heated seats! Not just in the winter either. When my hamstring hurt so much I would turn the seat heater on anytime I drove anywhere. It was like a heating pad.

@shanaber I take a multivitamin... IDK if it has magnesium in it or not. We do have mag citrate and mag carbonate (I think). DH bought some "elemental" magnesium and omg I tried to explain that no way was that an active metal in a bottle. You can't eat magnesium in its elemental form-metal. It reacts with acid and even water to liberate hydrogen and is used in fire works and sparklers... boom. But he argued with my BS in chem. Next time I get up I'll grab a mag compound. I hope the cat home will take her knowing they will get paid eventually for the good of Mitzi.

I use my heated seats in the summer too. Obviously I have back pain and it is wonderful for the drive to Dallas with the AC on. Luckily my AC is super cold and I can use the heated seats even if it's 90F out.

@quilteryoyo Congratulations on the size 8! I hate it when I hit a lower weight and get excited about it and buy new clothes only to "outgrow" them. I have so many I'll probably never get back into. I am in an 8 too. The bottom size doesn't bother me (I have no butt and would lOVE it if it were a full 8), its the top I hate. I seem to gain in the boob/arm pit area and feel like a football player with stick legs. oh well, genetics.

I have doc tomorrow, PCP's PA. yay! Back hurts but so far no cramping. I'm on the heating pad again but upright today.

Some nut bought dd's old car a year ago and has lost the title which never was put in the new owners name. So he's offering dd $200 for the inconvenience of getting a duplicate. I said "sure thing Bub!" I hope it's a legit story. It seems to be and we can call the guy that took possession of the car to verify that this guy did buy it.

I need to get this paper done... Monday is a wash with the doc and title-tag agency-notary run around.

@quilteryoyo - I have clothes I bought when I was at my lowest and they no longer fit. For a while it was because I gained too much back but now they don't fit in weird places, like my calves. I have these jean leggings I really like and was going to wear to the concert on Friday and they fit everywhere but my calves. So uncomfortable I took them off and put something else on. I also know my butt and thighs are bigger but it is ok - I never had much before (like my mom) and kind of like it now so I will deal with it. I really need to go thru my closet, I know there are other things that just won't fit any longer.
@swenson19d - the magnesium I take is magnesium oxide. I tried the citrate first not knowing the difference and it caused me some big issues.
Hope the tag issue is legit and it all works out for dd (and you).

We bbq chicken tonight that I marinated in olive oil, balsamic vinegar and oregano. it turned out so good! There is something about the vinegar - I think it helps keep the meat from drying out. We had that along with melon and a big salad. A perfect summer meal as far as I am concerned.

Dh asked me today about remodeling our kitchen (not in our plan) because we might as well since we are doing all the paint and flooring work. YAY! next maybe will be the bathrooms but I figure that will be phase 2. I think we will be getting started soon.

Good morning everyone!

So many updates! I love it!

@shanaber Kitty litter is such a racket! So expensive just for them to poop on LOL We by costco litter, it seems to be the best low price litter. I think the key is the kind of mat you use just outside the box and daily cleaning.

I use Myosedate for muscle cramps/soreness. I get it on amazon and it is a magnesium blend that mom's doctor recommended.

Skipping breakfast is hard for me, but easier with no running LOL. I might move up my times to maybe 10-6pm? 10am is an awkward time though...might as well wait the hour till lunch LOL

Weekend recap:

So much going on, coming here and telling ya'll about it helps me put it in perspective. I feel really guilty when I am not working up on the ranch and "wasting" my time....but I do do a lot.

On Friday I totally missed the dumpster guy, bless his heart he said he was working overtime on Saturday and could drop off another one for me. I set my alarm to get up and go for a morning walk and then 30 min later reset it to sleep. I got up to the ranch around 10am and the guy was late. I started packing up some boxes of stuff I wanted to keep from the old mobile home and decided it was a waste of time since I had no where to put them yet. I decided instead to sit in the car and look at the mail I picked up from mom's PO box. There was a letter from the IRS...seems to be my turn. They sent me a letter (mind you, dated 19 JULY! I got it on 16 July) saying my payment was late. I checked the bank and I had a weird debit withdraw 2 weeks prior for the amount of the payment I had sent in late June. I called the bank and they said the IRS had converted the check into an electronic check using a 3rd party service so there was no check showing it was cashed...that is when I looked at the date of the notice and saw it was dated in the future. Might wait to see if that sorts itself out. I also got a bill from the lawyer...$110 for .2hrs of "consultation" boo. Dumpster guy finally showed up and he is a really nice guy, he lost his 18 y/o son 2 weeks ago so we bond on coping with grief. I looked at the dumpster he dropped off, it was now after lunch, and I said screw it and picked up mexican food and went home. Grey cat said we should take a nap so we did...for 3 hours...one of those dead to the world, don't know what day it is, drooling naps until 5:30. Needless to say, I did not sleep well that night.

Sunday we lazed about, grey cat was pukey so I gave him a pepcid AC and that seemed to work. I had called mom's friend, she is 70 and wants to help, to see if she wanted to do some "demo therapy" LOL. She is a beast! We cleared out a 5th wheel mom had bought as a guest house? Who knows. We then started in on a compound she had at the back of the house. We worked hard for about 3 hours and called it quits...filled about 1/3 of the dumpster. I have a bunch of old chairs mom swore were valuable that I need to sell. They are really pretty. The rest was in the dumpster. I am pretty sure no one in my family threw anything away...and they were all big cooks so I must have thrown away enough dishes, pyrex, mass produced glass servers, and kitchen appliances to fully stock 4 kitchens. We found an old food processer...it was so heavy, we weighed it and it was 15 lbs! The fun thing we did find was an old TV with built in VCR player...and then we found some tapes from the mid '80's. We took some time and had some good laughs... the tapes only really played in the middle, I am sure they go bad at some point.

My neighbor (who is mega rich) keeps asking me why I am doing it myself. I have requests for quotes in but I am finding people are so flakey! I can't wait 2 weeks...and if I can fill a dumpster while I am waiting and not pay someone...so be it.

This week I have a lot of work stuff. Finally have the well appt on friday. Still haven't gotten my car fixed (talk about flakey people). I also have a pad going in to put a storage container that is squirrel proof...we live on sand so you have to put down some sort of base. Also need to chase down these demo guys or find new ones.

I stuck to 1600 cals for the last 4 days. This week I HAVE To run! PT test in 2 months and I think I am going to have to DNS on this 25K...it will be a miracle if I can do it.

Everyone is busy!

I had a day off work yesterday and spent it with the family. It was a beautiful sunny day so we went for a walk along the coastal walkway, then played on a few playgrounds, and introduced the kids to sushi for lunch. Overall they liked it yay.

Then I had counselling in the afternoon.

It went well. She said my energy had changed a lot since she last saw me, and she's going to encourage Ian to continue to go to counselling. He has an individual session next week, then we will get together for a joint session. I'm happy atm, but worry that things will just go back to how it was. We are going to keep fighting together, which feels good.

I've also talked to her about my eating and mental state. I don't think she's really used to dealing with that sort of thing so I'm trying alone for now. Weight has ballooned to 73kg. DH is being supportive about it. Uniform is uncomfortably tight so must get in top of it. Sigh.

I thought I had already responded to some of the above. Not sure where the post went. Anyway....

@CMorning99 I hope your IRS interactions are better than mine and it gets straightened out soon. Sounds like you needed that 3 hour nap. I feel like I could use one right about now. Glad your mom's friend helped you out on Sunday and you had some good laughs. I'm sure that was good for both of you. I tend to do a lot of stuff that I could hire out myself too, because you don't know who you are going to get and I often feel I do it better myself - maybe slower, but better. LOL I hope Grey Cat gets to feeling better! Hope you sleep better tonight. I feel pretty exhausted myself and am thinking it is due to not enough sleep lately.

@swenson19d It's probably good that you are going to speak to the psychologist. Why do you have to drive out of state for a virtual visit? Did I miss something in an earlier post?

@Avidkeo Glad DH is cooperating and you are fighting together to make the marriage work. Hang in there with the eating. It's probably from all of the stress you are under right now. Glad you had a nice day with the family.

@swenson19d - lol that Orange Mud thing. I couldn't tell if it was fake or a real commercial! Hope you got paper done and appts go/went well!

@quilteryoyo - yay on size 8. That's what I am also. Even with my weight being higher than I want I still fit in my 8s. Thank goodness! You got it this time!

@shanaber - Same with butt and legs. Mine feel huge to me now. Peloton and all that lifting! Does your DD like/user her Peloton much?

We went out for Mexican tonight. No margarita for me! That's a win. I have a big day tomorrow and didn't want to potentially have a headache or stay up late and not sleep well. I was going to make a Purple Carrot meal but worked late so we rushed out for Mexican. They have something called Sante Fe salad at this particular restaurant and I alway say "no chicken, but can you add more avocado instead?" Perfect for me! So good.

@quilteryoyo - I remember a few years ago I was really excited to get into size 2 pants and told my trainer about the new ones I bought. He told me not to invest much in new pants because next we were going to build up my butt to at least a size 4 (now a size 6).
@swenson19d - The magnesium I have is 'oxide' I had to check it but for sure it isn't the one for constipation. I know the citrate works for that but I'm not sure on the glycinate.
I hope you make a connection with the psychologist. I think that is the hardest part, finding someone you are really comfortable talking and sharing with. I also think you could do the virtual call from anywhere. How would they know where you actually are?
@cmorning99 - it is good you are making progress. What is the plan for your mom's house? Are you going to tear it down and rebuild or just fix it up? I think in either case all that needs to be done and accounted for can seem overwhelming. Hope you can get your car taken care of too. That is just so frustrating!
@avidkeo - sounds like things are working out with your dh. Just keep putting in that effort and hopefully he does too.
@ddmom0811 - my dd likes her Peloton but misses going into her cycling club, the social side of actually going there. It is completely out of business now so it isn't even an option any longer. She does have a couple of friends who also have Pelotons and they discovered that they can see each other on the video and chat while they workout. The only problem is they missed the cues to change power, speed, etc.
@rheddmobile - love that you got your car!! I am sure you will get used to all those fancy features!

Dh had a colonoscopy today so I got out and ran early just to get something in since I was his chauffeur. Those kinds of things mess me up for a couple of days (anesthesia I guess) but he just bounces right back. Just amazes me.
Tomorrow we are heading up the coast for the day and overnight to visit that winery that is closing. I am not taking my running clothes and will probably regret it but it is going to be so hot and I doubt I would get much in. Also found that the brewery we normally go to is closed. They got hit by ransomware and are trying to get everything restored.

@swenson19d That makes sense, I guess. But, like you said, unless they ping your cell phone, how would they know if you lied or not.

Thanks @ddmom0811 . I am always excited when I get to the single digits in clothing. This is only the second time in my entire adult life, that I recall. Pretty sad, really. I don't know how you are "good" at a Mexican Restaurant. They are my downfall. I can't resist the chips and salsa.

@rheddmobile Yeah on the "new" car and that you found your 50K magnet! It's about time something good happened for you.

@shanaber haha about the size 2 pants. You are doing great if you are in size 6. I don't know that I really want to get much smaller. I kind of like where I am now. Glad your DH bounces back quickly. So sorry for the businesses that are closed/closing. I hope you enjoy your trip!

@RunsOnEspresso Hope you are feeling better.

Sounds like Grey cat's episodes are horrible, @CMorning99 ! Hope you can figure out what is causing it, if it is an allergy. Sorry you are having issues with the car repair. Some people just aren't real good at customer service...should get a different job. Sorry about your shoulder too. I don't recall you hurting it. Hope your week continues to be productive.

I am up too early...
then Cori started meowing and I just got up. I let the boys outside and left the door ajar. Cori came in growling and the dogs started barking, Bear quickly followed. It's too early for them to be out 415 anyway. Seems like a good day to schedule a nap.

Counselor appointment yesterday...
It well I suppose. I am curious about the process. Dh said he'd accompany me if she wants to see us together and felt it'd be useful in helping him process grief and help me. I am still unsure how this helps, so much of the time seemed to be small talk and pleasantries. The focus will be managing my surprised anxiety/childhood trauma responses, the anniversary of Alex's death, and she said we can do an EEG to look at brain function/processing to discern dh's claim that I am ADD. I took a notebook and took notes to keep on track between appointments. Overall it did feel good to be listened to and perhaps I can learn to manage/understand a bit better. We can do biofeedback for pain if it returns to the level it was prior to the vitamin D, but I bet that was a big part of it. I am back to cranky pain not hit by a bus pain thankfully.

@shanaber looks like you all had a great trip. Are restaurants closed due to covid? nothing here or in Dallas is effected by restrictions. You can go maskless if you are vaccinated, but employers are still having help wear them.

@CMorning99 I agree with @quilteryoyo regarding the coughing fits. Might be worth looking at different litters, food, molds etc. Beary has allergies and gets stuffy once or twice a year. When it first started he came down with what presented as one of those nasty cat viruses, but I think it is just a rhinovirus/allergies. Hope you can find something to help the little thing.
You wanna talk out of shape? jeez. I am getting stronger. Yesterday I parked on the 4th floor and took the stairs- work out opportunity. I made it up 2 flights, slowly, before having to go slower and stop between half flights. My leg and core muscles just tighten up and I get winded. DD told me it could be my antidepressant. What? It can cause you to be less heat tolerant. Which explains why I can be outside a short time and feel like I am going to pass smooth out. Thank goodness for AC. Maybe I'll retire to Canada instead of warm sunny Florida/California like most. Of course, I think it could be a neurological symptom too.

@rheddmobile Love the new ride!

well the kitties have settled down (inside), perhaps I can go back to sleep.

ContraryMaryMary wrote: »

Eating all the things today. Telling myself I’m fueling for my race on Sunday but know I’m simply indulging my PMT cravings.

Recovery and fuel! Did you eat donuts? I swear I thought of eating them and really don(u)t care for them much. You're gonna have to "share" all the things you ate, I need exposed to new things

Glad you had a nice trip @shanaber . It is sad that so many places are closing. Love the picture of you and Hobbes!

@swenson19d Glad the Counselor appointment went well. I hope you continue and it helps you sort things out. Hope you get a nice nap in today.

@ContraryMaryMary Either one of those is a good reason to eat all things.