@shanaber My weight is at the OMG stage too - the number I never wanted to be over again. I always seem to gain weight in the summer, when I'm more active. It really makes no sense. Maybe the rheumatologist will have some answers or maybe you are just at a really big plateau and you haven't gotten to the edge yet.

@CMorning99 Thirteen pushups would be a lot for me, regardless of the time limit. I think it is because of my scoliosis that it is so hard for me to do them....plus I'm just lazy and don't try. I've always had awful upper body strength. That run sounds pretty speedy to me. I hope your old shoes feel better. Taking 6 months off after you retire is a great idea. Yeah for not gaining weight last week!

@CMorning99 I hope you get the things done that you are planning to do over the weekend. Sorry your reselling business isn't picking up. Maybe the closer it gets to Christmas you'll see an increase. I guess getting a job temporarily wouldn't be the end of the world, but lets keep our fingers crossed that you will get the rental. When will you know for sure? Sounds like you are doing great with your running. You are going to kill that fitness test!

@CMorning99 - hope things went well for you over the long weekend and you were able to get lots done.

Hi @swenson19d! Your new doctor is a cutie and looks SO young!! Hope he has a great personality and patient rapport!
Could Kevin go to school with your as your service animal? I am sure he would love the attention but he would have to sit still during class. I think one of the big differences between cats and dogs is that cats are generally picky and dogs will eat just about anything.

We handed Beaux off on Friday to another friend of his parents. Hobbes seemed generally sad to see him go and was looking for him around the house. Hobbes was also exhausted and I don't think he cloud have handled much more. I also find it a bit exhausting because I have forgotten how much work puppies are and he is so busy and in to everything.
Friday night we went to the Hollywood Bowl. It wasn't supposed to rain there until early Sat morning, even though it had already started raining at our house. DH wasn't thrilled to be going but we were bringing the main course for dinner for our friends and I wasn't about to bail out on them. When we got to the parking there (took 2 hours!) we weren't early enough to be on the outside of the stacked parking. We headed up to the entrance in the rain and I remembered that I had towels in the car so I ran back and got them. We used them to wipe down the table and chairs for dinner. The rain was so heavy that there were rivers of water running down the tablecloth but we still had fun. The rain stopped for the most part when we headed up to our seats and for the opening group. By the time Duran Duran came on though it was pouring. We stayed for about half of their set before deciding we were just too wet to sit there any longer so we all headed back down to the cars. Our friends were there early and parked on the outside lane of the stacked parking so they were able to leave. We unfortunately were stuck but were able to dry off a little in the car. Our friends made it home and we were still sitting in the parking lot but were able to watch the fireworks from the car in the pouring rain. I had wondered if they would be able to set them off with it so wet out. Oh also it was hot - in the 90's for the most part. This was also the first time in all the years we have been going that we have had rain and they don't allow umbrellas. I weighed in today and am finally down a little. Trying just to be as consistent as possible. Maybe all those walks while Beaux was here helped too even though it was too hot to actually run much.

Good morning folks!

Been quiet on here.

@Shanaber I am so jealous you got to see Duran Duran! And jealous about the rain!

I am marching a long. Submitted my retirement papers last week so now I am just waiting for them to be approved. I asked for 1 Sep 23 as my official retirement date so that will give me 24 years 20 days. I tried to ask for the 5th so I could have 24 years 24 days but they said no, I was already 20 days over.

So ranch. Moved mobile seems to be holding up still. DH and I took 2 days off work last week (we both had time off we had to use anyway) and the plan was to go up and help build the skirting around the deck. Our bestie handyman was going to do it so we were on his time...slow living time LOL. I think we got the framing done and just need to cut and put up the lattice. We also replaced some exterior plugs and we still need to do the bathtub drain. The mobile home repair company called me back and let me know they would call me a gain to schedule an appt, they never did. I love using small companies but damn! I look back now on the mobile movers (who I like as people) and they really didn't do a great job...and I still don't have a bill. Handyman said mover guy was venting the other day when he came up to see his daughter about how he hated the job and was in a "mountain of money". IDK what that means, I am paying for it. I got the quote for the fencing and it was $12K for just under 1K ft of fencing...and that is with using my own wire! I asked about just doing the tenants yard and they still wanted $6K for 415 ft with using my own wire and half my own t-posts. Buggers. I didn't do it.

We got another hearing scheduled for the property split so hopefully we will have all the formalities done by Jan and maybe sell in Feb/Mar. No movement from the draftsman. So freaking mad. An odd thing happened. Mom's old boyfriend (they dated for like 15 years long distance) called out of the blue yesterday...I think he is like 94. He and Mom had not talked for probably 18 years? He left her for his aerobics instructor. He did call about 3 months after mom died, not sure how he found out, and said he was sorry but then almost gleefully? asked what I was going to do with all the land...it was really weird how he asked. Now he and mom bought that land together back in the late 80's but when mom started to figure out he was cheating, she asked him to do a quit claim on his half and he did (he wasn't the brightest bulb in the box). I know for years after he tried to recoup some money from Mom but she just blocked his number. He has called 3x now and it is weird, I am 100% sure I am on speaker and he only talks for about 4 min and then ends the convo. He asks about the trial and the land. So he called again, same routine he asks if I have started building yet, if I am still in the service, and the trial. So what is weird, about 2 hours after that call I get a 1 ring and hanging up (like someone accidently called me) from his daughter. His daughter was nice to me when I was a kid, I remember her taking me back to school shopping and I think I stayed with her once in HS. But honestly have not talked to her in 25 years. What sort of worries me is she is a lawyer, I may just be paranoid, but I just wonder if they are trying to do something to get some money out of the land. I have never told him I was selling some of it so IDK. We shall see.

Black cat and grey cat are hanging in there. Grey cat is slowing down a lot faster lately but still has a good appetite and happy to sleep 23hrs out of the day near us.

I haven't run in over a week. I am now 35 days out from PT test and 10% more fit LOL. I bought some recovery protein shakes at Costco, they are pre-made, going to start drinking one for bfast...no excuses. It was blazing hot all weekend and none of my shorts fit...I resorted to wearing my PJ shorts that are extra stretchy.

Good morning and happy Monday!

Sure is quiet on here! But here is my weekly update.

Still NO CONTACT from the draftsman. I have sent him 2 texts and 2 emails in 2 weeks nearly begging him to give me an update. On Wednesday I am going to call (I hate having to call) and if I get nothing by the end of the month, I am going to tell him contract is over...and we are back at square one after 1 year...again. I missed a call from the mobile home repair folks, I called back but they have yet to return. le sigh...glad this is not an emergency...I hope (It is raining today). I got the bill from the mobile movers and it was the exact form they sent me for the quote, even with my "nice to haves" which didn't happen (but wasn't charged for, invoice just says it would be extra). I suspect they have a sus record keeping policy.

My retirement papers are at the last stop before approval. I also learned that when I have approved retirement orders, I am exempt from my fitness test! Best news ever LOL.

Still looking at options for after retirement. I have friends who are currently retiring and they are going full corporate. IDK, I am just not that excited to jump right in. Big difference is that they have kids and bills. They keep sending me reading material on resumes and interviews...it all sounds so dreary.

Reselling is average. Still no growth in my sales and sitting at 1/2 of my needed income. Been working hard on getting all the pallets I bought in February done. The company I bought them from is now out of business, I bought used clothes pallets and I finally went through it and ended up putting about half on the curb for free. I really hate un-manifested cargo, but it is so much cheaper.

Kitties are still doing well. Grey cat even had the old man zoomies this morning, it was adorable. Black cat is pre-diabetic from his steroids so we are cutting him back so we can hopefully reverse it and increasing his chemo since he has gained so much weight (he was previously on 10lb cat dose, he is now nearly 12lbs).

Weight is holding steady at 172. I am not making much effort. Finally drinking my protein shakes in the AM, I am starving. Maybe with the stress of taking a fitness test gone, I will be more willing to workout with what I want to do. I really think when I retire I will lose weight, I am so active on my days off vs sitting at my desk all day.

Have a great RAINY week!

@CMorning99 - It is quiet here. Seems like we lost @rheddmobile and @Avidkeo and then everyone else kind of dropped off other than the occasional check in.
I'm sorry things aren't going well with all the 'No's'. I know it is frustrating but hopefully things will start moving in the right direction.
Glad all the other things are going well and that your retirement was approved! Did you get results from the MRI and a plan for getting your shoulder fixed?

Not sure how it is where you are but it is so hot here again. I have been getting out to run if I can early in the morning. I was so enjoying the few cool days we were having. Now when it is over 80 by 8am I just want to stay inside. I ran in the heat on Saturday and planned to go out on Sunday but when my alarm went off I turned it off and went back to sleep for another 2 hours! Today I got up and out the door early so for the most part it was pretty pleasant although I was drenched when I got home. Went to agility class tonight and it was 87 me at 8pm when we were heading home - yuck!

I have been reading about fueling for endurance 'older' women athletes and essentially it is the same information that the nutritionist told me a few years ago... eat more to fuel and recover from workouts, more protein, more natural foods and more calories - minimum 1900 calories for me. I did lose weight when I was eating that way and that many calories and lately I barely hit 1400 most days. I need to do better. I see my PCP in a couple of weeks. Not likely I will have lost much by then but it is what I need to do regardless.

My DD is coming this weekend - gets here Thursday evening. She will be busy with friends but I am excited to see her for as much as we can.

Wish it actually felt like Fall! I am longing to need to wear sweaters and sweatshirts again!

@CMorning99 - I have been thinking about you and wondering how things were going. Happy to see your update.
You have so much on your plate right now! Between work and all the planning for the house and work on the mobile home on top of your reselling, I am amazed you aren't exhausted every night. At this point I think maybe you shouldn't be worrying so much about what you are going to do once you retire. Maybe just focus on what you need to do now and get some of that out of the way and see where things are once retirement is closer.

So glad the kitties are doing ok and hanging in there! I hope the adjustment in meds gets worked out for Black kitty

I have been able to run a bit more the last couple of weeks as it is a little cooler here. Hobbes is getting older though and not wanting to go with me as much any more. I am taking him in next week for titers and a check up. He is starting to stumble a little and missing when he jumps up at home. He still does fine at agility. My weight is down a little too which is good cause I see my PCP next Monday for my annual check up.

Sorry I haven't checked in for a while. I've just been super duper busy. Not a great excuse, but it's the only one I have.

@CMorning99 Glad your retirement was approved and you don't have to worry about your fitness test. I think you should do what you want to do after retirement and ignore what "everyone else thinks you should do." It's your life and your retirement. Since your husband is okay with you taking some time to get things sorted out and then decide what you want to do when you grow up, that's the only other person that matters at all. You may decide to do some part time work that has nothing to do with your AF career. I'm pretty happy doing what I am now - subbing at daycare. It's never something I would have thought I would do, but it sort of fell into my lap several years ago and now I'm not sure I ever want to quit. I do need to cut back a little, but I love it - even if some days I want to scream and quit...if that makes sense.

Sorry you are having so much trouble getting things done at your mom's place. I hope the new architect gets your plans done quickly.

@shanaber I need to check out that link. I don't think I need any bras right now, but realized the other day that I really don't have many long sleeved running shirts.

I haven't been eating well lately. Long hours and then trips with mom and my neighbor lead to eating out more than I would like. I really need to get back to cooking and eating less processed foods. Wednesday we went to an apple orchard and on the way back stopped at an interesting road side café for lunch. Everything they serve is either smoked or grilled and you eat inside a converted school bus. There are pictures under the spoiler, but realize it's hard to see the bus for all the things they have in the "yard." I had a sandwich and then just couldn't resist trying the pecan pie that had been smoked. It was pretty darn good. LOL

I'm not sure how, but I have lost a couple of pounds. I was 150 at my highest last month. Today I was 147.4. I'm trying to run more, but am having some issues where I may have rubbed my private parts and there is a sore area...so am going to take it easy this weekend. At least I think that is what may have happened. I am going to try to see my gynecologist next week, just to make sure. I have been having some minor issues with cracks in that area being post-menopausal, low estrogen. Cream seems to help that, but this is different. Just want to get it checked to make sure it isn't anything to worry about.

I hope you all have a great rest of the weekend.

@CMorning99 - it is crazy how little part time employees get paid but I know many whoo take those jobs for the same reason as your handyman... the discount. I always said if I decided to get a job in retirement it would be at Starbucks (coffee!!) or REI (amazing discount and free stuff from various vendors).
I hope the people that put the steps in aren't charging you to come back and install the railing since it was their mistake.
Could your handyman do the work needed for the mobile home repair and maybe even the fencing?
I don't know the rules on the property taxes when you build something new. For sure if you sold it the buyer would pay much higher taxes.
Glad the resale is picking up. Do you have to pay for your bay store?
Hope the results of the MRI lead to you getting some direction to get it resolved - hopefully not surgery! What did the rheumatologist say about DH's hands? I have never heard of that before but it does sound like what an autoimmune would be...

Speaking of autoimmune I think the vaccinations I had earlier this week caused mine to flair up again today. I went out for a run and I hurt all over again and for several hours after.

I did get some good news though. Had my yearly blood tests (Lipid panel and Thyroid) and I was pretty excited at the results

It is the lowest/best I have had in almost 10 years. Note I don't take any medications other than the thyroid and for my autoimmune.