what are you planning on doing in Phoenix?

I managed to get a full walk today, hopefully I’m on the mend

boy I wish I had good advice for peri. I have been SUFFERING with menopause for over three years. The hot flashes are the devil. I have three fans in my bedroom and keep the house around 68 degrees or less. I’m still sweaty.

I think peri-menopause and menopause manifest differently in each woman. My two older sisters have never had hot flashes but I had many in my 40's and 50's and still get hot when I'm sleeping. However, they never sleep through the night and are usually up between 2-4am for the day. They end up falling asleep in their chairs in the afternoon. They are passed menopause but have had this issue for a long time. At home, I sleep without pj's most of the time. We also have a ceiling fan and another fan on my side of the bed going all night. We have had many different comforters trying to find the one that doesn't cause me to overheat. I also bought cooling pj's for travel. They worked pretty well on our last trip. I get leg pain and discomfort in my body in the night. I often have to take advil in the night to get through until morning pain free.

My friend Candy lives in a 55 and older community in Phoenix area. Her husband will be in MN working for the week so it will just be the two of us. The community has 3 pools, fitness rooms, golf course, putting green, pickle ball courts, etc. We plan to spend time at the pool, walk, drink margaritas, and show me around the area. Another MN coworker lives a few blocks away from Candy in the same community. Her house is her winter home. We are going to get together with Janeen while I am there. Temps are suppose to be 75-85 I think.

I went to the fitness class for active/older persons today followed by water yoga. I liked it. Combo of weights, resistance bands, ab work, balance, eye hand coordination…It will be good for building strength, core, and losing inches.

Happy Weekend!

I am excited for your sourdough adventures. Expect failures and successes. Share recipes that you like and I will do the same.

I am leaving for AZ tomorrow and will return Saturday. I probably won't check in while I am gone but will when I get back.

Snow falling today 😥

Have a great week.

I had my days mixed up. I fly out tomorrow early morning. I packed my bag yesterday and just have to put my toiletries in the bag.

Today I mailed Rory's birthday present to Minneapolis, went to lunch with friends from Power Book Bags and then went to the Power Books office to help pack for the move to the new site. I just got home.

Russ and I will go into town for dinner and then I will shower, put my pj's on, watch Spring Baking Championship and go to bed early. I will need to be up by 4am and get to the airport by 5am.

Sourdough seems to be the popular hobby right now. I love the process of making a loaf and seeing if it turns out or not.

I never see the scale change downward, only upward. I'm judging my health by # of workouts per week, strength and how my clothes fit. Otherwise, I get discouraged.

Have a great week and I'll check in next Sunday.

Jenny

Yesterday I didn't run on my lunch break as I had planned to do hill repeats. It was also raining and I don't like running in the rain at lunch, as I can't take a hot shower after!

I got home and was waiting for a phone call appointment with my doctor to get my prescription for my anxiety renewed. I wasn't wanting to go run. I was tired and hungry. I stood in the living room looking out at the rain thinking I really need to go. I went into my bedroom and changed into my running gear. I waited a little longer for the call. (She can call anytime after 5pm, it was now a little after 6) I decided not to wait, I was going. If she called me on my run, who cares. So out the door I went.

I got completely soaked and ran though lot of puddles so I squished when I walked, but IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to do that. I had to do a cold rain run (it was only a couple degrees above freezing). I had been using that excuse for far to long. My last run in the rain (I keep running journals) was December 29, 2023. It's the next day and just thinking about it gives me a runners high!

(and the call from doctor didn't come to 7:30!)

I actually did it. I put my first application out in over ten years. No matter what, I'm proud of myself. Just taking the step to apply for something is a huge deal for me.

BTW - I highly recommend the "Cool Nights' collection of sleepwear from Soma. I have tried other 'cooling' brands and they by far are the softest, most comfortable and best for me personally as a sufferer of sweaty, hot flashes. There are also some on sale right now. They are expensive at full price, but the $29 dollars right now on some styles - is pretty good deal.

Just took my cat Wesley to the window to show him the birds in the backyard. He's perfectly still, except the tail.😂

Yesterday as I was getting home from getting my hair done and a few groceries I took a look at my flower plots. My tulips are coming up! I was so excited to see them. I planted the bulbs for the first time in the fall. Since I didn't inherit my mom's green thumb, I was uncertain if any would come up. I spotted about a dozen of them starting to come up. I then raked half of the yard. (Note: I rent, it's not my responsibility…) to get up the leaves that were never raked up in the fall. At least half of the yard looks better now! I might do the other side next weekend. I would have done more, but the compost bin was almost full. I do plan on talking to my landlord to see if I can clean up the rest of the flower beds in the front yard and get out all the weeds in them. I am pretty sure he wouldn't mind the help in getting the front yard to look a lot nicer.

One of the girls in my Sunday School class turned 12 today. She loves unicorns and the colour pink. I found a pink kids unicorn camera on Amazon for 50% off. She loved it! Yes I spoil my Sunday School kids (my kids as I call them) and my nephews. I have no kids of my own so I do.

Then again Wesley is my furry baby. He gets spoiled as well. Usually food wise. He's now on a diet with me. I weighed him last week and he's over 16 pounds. Ooops. I picked him up weight management food yesterday. He likes it. Then again I haven't found anything he won't eat! He even was licking my lunch today. Needless to say after that my lunch was done and I wasn't eating more!

I’m glad you had a fun trip Jenny

I don’t mind the freezing at the dermatologist. Cutting is way less fun

Bernie had a CPAP machine for years. Well I guess he still has it, but he doesn’t use it as much. I would suggest he investigate that enspire implant I have seen on tv, but that would require he actually go to a doctor. He hasn’t done even an annual visit, or bloodwork or anything for years. It makes me frustrated.

I love spring bulbs. I have never been very successful at growing them unfortunately

Sunny and 40's today. I went to Aquafit this morning. We had a sub and it was a weird class. She instructed us to do more dance moves and ballet. A little bit of hopping and jumping, but movements that didn't really elevate the heart rate. Good for balance and strength though. I will walk this afternoon since it is a nice day.

I assume I will end up with a CPAP machine. They have a small one that would work for travel and not take up the whole bedside table. I did see a sample of the Aspire but that is implanted. We shall see what they recommend. Russ was diagnosed many years ago but used his machine for 1-2 nights and stopped. He didn't like it. Luckily he has lost weight over the years and doesn't snore as much. His story is that they told him he could use it if he chose to. Not true but he has his own reality when it comes to himself and his memory, LOL!

I went to a classic movie at our small town theater yesterday. They call it the Bay Cinema Society and show a classic movie on the last Wednesday of the month for $2 or free if you are a member of the theater. A man who is a professor of film, I think, is the person to introduce the movie, give background and hold a discussion about the movie afterwards. The movie was called A Face in the Crowd with Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Walter Mattheau, and Lee Remick. It was filmed in 1957 and was a debut film for Andy and Lee Remick. I did not enjoy it. Very sexist but a sign of the time. Great acting but a disturbing film.

I visited Sarah in the nursing home after the movie. She was "out there" but I rolled with it. We watched a rerun of Phil Donahue show and discussed the dysfunctional people.

Well enjoy your Thursday.

Feeling fatigued and under the weather. I was able to take off my bandages from my biopsies. One stitch in each biopsy (2 biopsies). I am not sleeping well at all so I am tired throughout the day. It doesn't help that it is rainy and cloudy outside. Last night we had a huge wind gust with a rain, thunder, lightening storm. The house shook. Luckily we didn't lose any trees or shingles on our roof.

We had a second painter come out yesterday to measure and give us an estimate. We will call one more company so we have 3 estimates to choose from. We hope to have a new roof in the next two months.

My back is still sore and my body is achy. Russ thinks I have a bug and should just sleep if needed.

I started my higher dose of Ozempic for Type 2. My doctor thinks it may help accelerate weight loss too. My appetite is pretty depressed but along with that is slight nausea. I'll see if I can tolerate it over this next month.

Happy weekend!

I wish medicines didn't have side effects. Hope you get your dosage right, Angela.

Raining here and snow is disappearing. Very gray and dreary though. An hour east of us got ice storms and all is coated in ice. So far, we just have rain.

Russ and I are doing a light cleaning of floors and dusting furniture. My sisters are coming for dinner tonight. Becky, middle sister, is just like my Mom was. Checks out everything and makes a judgement, including cleanliness. Needless to say, I don't invite her over often. Russ is roasting whole chickens and vegetables with lemon and garlic for dinner. We will have a salad too. Becky is bringing dessert and Lynn is bringing the rolls. I haven't seen either of them since before my AZ trip and after we got home from our southern trip.

Hannah is really starting to plan what she wants for the wedding. She sent me potential color scheme in a photo. Shades of blue and Eucalyptus green are being considered. I dread having to find a dress to wear but I will do that next Fall so I get the right season.

The daily news with Trump and his minions is so depressing and scary. I think it is really getting to me. I worry about the future of our country as they dismantle all we stand for. What will it be like for our kids and grand kids? I don't mean to talk politics but it weighs heavy on my mind so a little venting…

Happy Sunday!

I have taken a nap two days in a row. I went to visit Sarah at the nursing home this afternoon so I didn't need a nap.

Russ is making a chicken and wild rice casserole from the leftover chicken from Sunday's dinner. Yum!

We had a beautiful sunny day in the 40's today. Suppose to rain tomorrow. Marla, it sounds like you get the weather swings this time of year too. AC to heat! I imagine our heat will be on until May.

Have a nice night.

Yay Angela!!!!

My stitches were taken out of my biopsies today. Still don't know biopsy results. Within the next week…

Rainy, icy sleet all day today.

Tomorrow I hope to go to Aquafit if roads are decent.

Glad you are feeling better Angela and that you feel successful and are enjoying your runs. Your cat is a cutie!

I am reducing my time spent on Facebook or Instagram. Today was a blackout/boycott day for FB and I have not checked it at all. I need to stay more present in myself and off screen time more.

I went to aquafit this morning and then to Power Book Bags to volunteer. I stayed several hours and enjoyed helping pack literacy bags, organize materials and talk with the other volunteers. They just moved to their new location so lots of organizing to do.

I have been making arrangements to meet friends when we go to Mpls in a couple of weeks. I am having lunch with a group of friends one day, meeting another for coffee another day, and one more for lunch a different day. We will see Rory and Hannah in the evenings and on the weekend. I plan to drive back to Mpls in June for a retirement party for colleagues/friends I worked with for years.

Angela, you must have gotten the rain/ice storm we had. Today was warmer and sunny so snow is ydisappearing.

Marla, what are you up to? Did you hear anything from the application you completed?

Roxy has had a nice long life! My last cat, who I had to give away to a friend when I moved, will be 18 in June.

I love Wesley's little black nose and that permanent dirty spot on his chin. He's a complete and total cuddle bug.

Last night I didn't go on Facebook until sometime after 8:30pm. I got scrolling and scrolling and wondered what I was doing and quickly logged off it. I was going to practice my piano last night, but I had my nose in my book until I finished it.