I could have SWORN i did a long post in the past few days.. but i dont see it so its possible i'm losing my mind... if you see a little grey thing bouncing around the floor send it back will ya ?

Suzy.. omg.. 11 people lol.. i know it was spread out a bit with other family but still.. i hope you had a lovely celebration together.. its funny until I became an adult i never understood why my mom was never that hungry at holiday dinners.. we couldnt wait to tear into everything but she never ate a lot.. now i know why yes its exhausting when you're doing all the cooking and you have 0 appetite by the time its on the table!

i hope the physio is working for you knee.. i have been trying to be much more diligent with my back physio doing the stretches.. i keep the yoga mat on the floor now full time.. in front of my tv in the living room.. nobody ever comes here and its just me so that way i am guilted into them every time i sit on the couch and see it laying beside it...

WOWSA on the trip!! that would be amazing! I spent a month in England when i was 17 but i can barely remember it and of course, nowadays it would be a much different trip at this age.. way less partying and much more sightseeing! I've never been to Scotland either and my dad's side of the family are all from there so i really should have - i may have to get you to visit a few places on my behalf... rumour has it some distant relative owns a pub in Aberdeen .....look him up for me will ya?? LOLOL

Our winter appears to have started the past few days.. no snow yet but the temps have dropped significantly to around -2C .. not full on cold but after such a lovely november of 13C my body is in shock lol.. it doesnt like it!

I've been keeping pretty busy between the retiree group and my volunteer work.. unfortunately i have also been using that as an excuse for crappy eating... i know my blood sugar has skyrocketed and even tho i know that should have been a sign to smarten up .. nope .. the crap continued... plus i havent been exercising at all.. no pb just an occasional walk... today i had to pay the piper.. i had to do bloodwork last week and my doc called late today.. she has given me 2 weeks to get my blood sugars back down or its back on the meds.. in the back of my head i knew it was coming...i think some warped part of me thot well she's gonna put u back on them you might as well go whole hog and pig out now.. and i actually figured she would tell me today to start them back up.. but i have a 2 week reprieve and by god.. i am going to work my butt off getting them back down. i am so mad at myself.. i worked so hard to get off the meds.. i haven't gained any weight but i have been existing on pure crap so tomorrow morning the cycle breaks and i'm back to proper eating.. and moving every single day..

i hate that it gets dark by 5pm now... i seriously believe the lack of daylight messes with us mentally and emotionally .. i actually put xmas lights up around my condo.. just strands from the dollar store twisted around a floor lamp stem and looped around a glass/iron table.. as well as a few battery operated candles.. but it brings a bit of cheer in the dark evenings...

Tomorrow i have 28 of my retirees coming out for our first bowling event.. we try to do it once or twice a month over the winter its harder to find things to do indoors without crowding people and this is ideal as there is loads of space ... i did host a trivia afternoon at one of the community centres.. it was only $60 to rent the room for 2 hrs and i had 30 ppl so it only cost everyone $2 ... i spent weeks tho coming up with questions suitable to our generation lol.. and making up weird categories but it seemed to be a big hit so its another possible to repeat in january or february..

We have our final event of the year on Dec 8th which is our christmas lunch together.. we decided to have it a bit early in the month as people tend to get pretty busy after that... i have plans to get together with 2 old friends on the 10th and the 13th .. so that will be nice and just hope the weather holds for the travel involved in those.. i am only doing 2 shifts a week at the red cross which has worked out well and i'll volunteer to work xmas day if they need someone as all my family is down east so the day doesnt really matter for me .. i'll make myself a nice xmas dinner christmas eve and then i can have lovely leftovers on christmas day with no work and no clean up.. my fav kind of meal LOL..

SO that's me all caught up... if you're still awake any plans for you guys for the holidays?? Vail i do hope you find you are feeling better every day.......

Vail.. i must be losing my mind.. i DO remember the extensive dental work, and after having gone thru some nightmare dental myself.. i cringe just reading about yours.. but NOWHERE do i remember seeing you going on a trip to HELSINKI and HAMBURG??? HOW did i miss that??? omg..... can you see me turning green with envy?? altho .. umm.. yes its likely to be colder there LOL... but still how fabulous!! Just layer up .. and layer.. and layer!!

im so sorry you are still trying to recover from the cold and of course your earlier bout with covid... if possible use the few days before you go to just REST as much as possible.. which i know sounds ludicrous if you have to get ready for a trip.... is it a tour group ? how long? honestly im gonna go back thru the threads because i swear i don't remember hearing about this... can i come ?????????? altho its getting cold here and we had our first snow today.. not enuf to stay but .. not sure i want more cold right now lol.. but i truly hope you can get some rest and the the worst of the dental is now behind you.. im guessing the extraction site has to heal before the implant goes in... but then again these days maybe they put it in right away... either way i DO feel for you i had to have a similar treatment with several removed... so believe me when i say i feel for you!!! Sending gentle hugs

omg Vail.. that's AMAZING!! I'M SO excited for you.. not only cause of the 2 trips but that you get to see your fav band plus with the meet and greets/backstage passes.. wowsa!! WHAT agreat way to celebrate your birthday!!

and yes it never fails $$ wise.. you spend then something big breaks down and you think really??? But we all know that always happens so better we seize the moment and get to play anyway!!

and yep on the dental... ugh.... i was wondering if you had to have a bone implant as i know the bone has to be strong enuf to take the screw ... i didnt realize tho the top had to wait til after the screw set in the bone but i guess that makes sense.. these days they have come so far with dental implants i see "mini" implants are now available whatever the hell those are.. but i was in a somewhat similar boat with the gaps for a while too.. different boat, different storm but i can at least empathize with you for sure! Im not gonna tell you how much THAT cost me cause im sure you already know the joy of that aspect of it on top of hte pain and the gaps.. ugh...

I truly hope tho you have a fabulous amazing time!!! and i hear ya on the not being thrilled with sharing a room but really - who cares... its basically just so you have somewhere to crash between the partying anyway ... so have a wonderful time enjoy every minute and we wanna hear details when you get back!!

omg Vail... it sounds like you had the adventure of a lifetime!! What a fab way to spend your birthday and getting the hugs total gifts!! Honestly im so impressed that you decided this was what you wanted to do and went for it!! I'll take any more details even if its in bits and pieces lol!! Truly it sounds almost magical and i'm so happy you had such an amazing time!!

Suzy i'm so glad your TG was lovely.. and now sounds like you will have a great Christmas surrounded by family!! Better health goals are also in my plan for the new year I just need to sit and for me, set some beginning goals ... but i plan to start a day or 2 before the new year.. too much pressure for me when its on Jan 1st lol haha.

I wish you and Vail both a very Merry Christmas, and for all of us a happy and healthy New Year with lots of new adventures and opportunities!

love the idea of tossing out topic ideas to start the new year Suzy.. i like both the ones you mentioned... just tossing in a couple more potentials

Take Charge: Be HEALTHY, Be HAPPY

A healthier you.. today

It never gets easier, you just get stronger

Do something today that your body will thank you tomorrow for.

Wellness is a connection of paths: knowledge and action.

Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.

i have to admit Suzy i liked that one too!

I came across this little ditty today so thot i'd share as we're only a few days away from the New Year...

As we approach the closing chapter of another year, it's the perfect moment to reflect on all the beautiful possibilities that lie ahead in the new year. And what better way to kick off 2024 than with some self-care—because your body & mind deserve it.

I kinda like thinking of my goal for 2024 in getting healthier as "self care" rather than "weight loss" or "exercise" or whatever.. but thats just me lol but i thought i'd share it anyway cause i liked it ha

so i think we all agree we like "Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start" as our motivator/daily reminder for 2024? if so we can make it our topic for next year's thread..