Serial Starters

Hey there, All!

Ang, I haven't bought GS cookies for years. I can't afford them, TBH. But, like you, I don't need them. :)

Lana, all is well now…thanks! And free pizza works for me, too. Hope you had a safe trip the rest of the way home!

Things are back to normal as far as the Wifi is concerned. Had a couple nice surprises yesterday. My biggest brother sent me some more money for my doggy's vet bill….that took away some of the anxiety. And I got my food stamp allotment today and it went UP….$40 more a month. I guess they realize the cost of food is getting ridiculous. I spent $100 a couple weeks ago and the only meat I bought was 2 pounds of ground beef. I want to get a pork shoulder this month so I can make pulled pork which I can get several meals out of. I found a great recipe.

Looks like its the Dodgers and the Phils for the NLCS. Glad we got home-field advantage.

Have my dental cleaning today…bleah. I took fish out of the freezer for dinner. Will have a chicken sandwich when I get back from the dentist. Yesterday's food was pretty good even though I had potatoes with dinner.

The 160s are getting OLD. I can't seem to break into the 150s. I had the same issue the last time I was here and lost 50 pounds….I couldn't get under 160. But I am not giving up…I am going to hit that 150 mark if it takes a year!

Till tomorrow…

Sandy

TMW - 161

hi all. Another UTI. Had an ultrasound, all good. Will see urologist. Feeling pretty well otherwise.

I woke at 3:45 and had the day off”off” for dental work. Tools dogs on a 3 mile forest hike—no moon, and lots of stars. Cool and glorious. Such a nice day! Dentist did his thing and I got a cleaning—all good.

Sandy, hang in there with us. It feels like an echo chamber at times I know. How nice of your bro and I’m glad you can get better food. That’s great.

I’m planning to be back to healthy routines now that the dread first month of school is over. I’m not so tired (when well-both days, haha). And will aim to walk 5 days/week. Plus I’m almost ready to start jogging again—once I leave obese 1 and am “only” overweight. That motivates me like nothing else. Walking is my fall-back. I did well this summer but I don’t do well “just” walking during the school year. I want nice jigs and weekend hikes and the weather and I are ready.

Lana, I hope your trip was fabulous. I’ll bet it was beautiful out there.

Ang, I hate pics of myself. Always have, even the thin years. Can’t bear to subject myself.

Sara, we should hope Monster doesn’t fall over board. It would be wrong of us to hope for that. Maybe she’ll find try-luv and never return? We can wish that for her. Even if she is married haha.

TTFN.

Maureen

Good afternoon! It' is a lovely cool October day in NC, Lana! We are lucky.

So glad it's Friday. I've logged and am checking in here, plus I only went over by about 100 cals. I'm going to bed as soon as it is 7 pm, I swear. I plan to take the dogs for a long walk well before sunrise :) There's a very cool place that's all but abandoned, with a 1.5 mile trail in that I take in and back out. The only folks who seem to use it are cranky county maintenance workers who arrive off and on during the day. So if I go really early, I avoid them.

Have a lovely evening, all.

Maureen

*** October 5 ***

Good morning everyone~

It seems I brought home an awful head cold as a souvenir of my travels. It has knocked me down. Earache, sore throat, stuffed up head, nose running a marathon, sneezing, and body aches—Blech! I guess I should be grateful that I got it on the way back home and not on the way out to visit peeps.

Maureen, it is so great that you have so many places to go walking!

Lana

242.6 today

Good Morning!

Oh, Lana! SO sorry! I know there are viruses going around. Do take care of yourself and hope it passes quickly!

Maureen, I went to the grocery yesterday, too....I prefer to go with someone or during off hours during the week because crowds cause me to have panic attacks. The SO went with me this time. I cleaned out my freezer a few weeks ago.…was glad. for the extra room. But I keep ice packs in the empty spaces until I need it....keeps the freezer from working overtime.

Sara, Ang....hope you're doing well.

The Phillies lost. 😔 They have to win on Monday or they may as well pack it in. Hoping the Eagles can make it 5-0 this afternoon!

Got a great jump on the cleaning. Got the spare room mostly straightened out and now have to move the living room furniture so I can do a good vacuuming. Then I can put out the decorations. I think that will help my mood. But this summer weather is NOT what I want now. Makes cleaning more difficult. I am trying to not run the a/c.

Have a great Sunday, Everyone!

Sandy

TMW - 162

Good Mornin'!

Lana, too late. 😉 But I have an artificial tree. I hope you are feeling a little better today! ❤️

I got the furniture moved, rearranged and did the vacuuming. I got a bit of a workout…my Shark vacuum is pretty heavy....but it got a workout, too. I was surprised as to many times I had to empty the canister. I mean its not like I never vacuumed. Now I just have to put out the decorations, put a few things away and I can relax.

Sports was a waste this weekend....the only team that won was Temple....lol!

My food for the day will be beef stew (got from the soup bar at the grocery store) and a salad.

To everyone who comes around, I hope you have a nice day!

Till tomorrow....

Sandy

TMW - 161.6

Howdy, Ladies!

Lana, yeah....practicality won out. When my boyfriend was alive, he would only have a real tree, which was fine with me. Every year, we went to a local garden store and let me pick out one. He was responsible for transporting, setting it up and watering it....I was the decorator. I miss that....Christmas was his favorite holiday and he made it special.

Phils lost again. 😔 The odds of them winning the next 3 is slim to none.

Still have a few decorations to put out, then put a few things in storage until after Christmas. Everything is looking much better!

Had an Atkins shake for breakfast. Will have leftover stew for lunch. Tuna sandwich and small salad for dinner.

Keep smiling...

Sandy

TMW - 162

*** October 8 ***

Good morning all~

Monday night I took a fall in my bedroom - not even sure how the heck it happened. My left hip area is so sore and lots of other muscles seem to be hurting. Jeez! At least the head cold seems to be diminishing.

I need to go shopping this morning - there's no protein or veggies in the house!

Sandy - sorry to hear about your team. Glad that you got most of your decorating done.

Maureen - Your knee!!?? Oy. I hope that it improves very soon.

Waving to Sara and Missy and Ang and anyone who pops by today 🍎

Lana

243.8 today

It was a long time coming, which included some unexpected extra appointments, but I finally got my dental implant today! I am so happy. I was to be fully done with the implant and crown by now. Now I need to wait 3 months before I get the crown. By the time it's fully done, it will have been a full year process.

I should be in bed, but I am watching my Jays. They are one win away from winning the ALDS. It's the 6th and it's 2-1 right now and they lead the series 2-1. If they win tonight, they win the series, if not its back to Toronto for game 5 and home field advantage

*** October 10 ***

Good morning all~~

Ang - how wonderful that your dental work is moving along~

Sandy - keep us posted on your son's interview results~

I am still schlogging through this cold and cough. I can't kick a cold in one week or less, as I did when I was young. 😟

🌴The Cabana Boys are setting up for the Friday Poolside Happy Hour 💃🏻 🪇🌴

Lana

242.0 today

Hi, all. I've had a busy work week and am glad it's Friday. I had thought about driving to see my daughter and her son who are now only about 4-6 hours away, but it's too much on a regular weekend. IDK when I'll go. I'm rather sad about it.

On the other hand, I am glad to have a quiet weekend to myself. I will walk again starting tomorrow. It's been so long now since I've walked consistently. I wish I didn't hate the idea of having to walk after work. I was always so much more motivated to run. Maybe I'll walk in the morning before work a couple times next week, and just stay later if I don't go in so early . . . I did that some last year and it was fine. There are other nutcases in the neighborhood walking and running between 4 and 5 am, so I'm not necessarily alone, which cracks me up! How can so many insane people live so close to one another?

I'm eating too much yogurt again and not enough of anything else, so I'm swearing off my favorite yogurt. Back to beans more, and potatoes. I love them, but yogurt is just so easy.

I hope progress is going reasonably well for all.

TTFN.

Maureen

TMW 195.8

Lana, it's not going to be this weekend. The most recent infection is NOT cleared up and I'll be calling doc for a new Rx. I had a great walk this a.m. with the dogs and hope to get out again, though. And I see the specialist on Monday, thankfully. How are YOU doing???

Sandy, what lovely news for your family. I'm very happy for you all.

I'm down to my last two yogurts and planning to enjoy them immensely :)

I'm posting pics in a sec from my pre-dawn outing; headed west first and got home before sunrise, haha.

Have a lovely weekend all.

Maureen

Good morning, Ladies!

Maureen, LOVE the photos! I wish I could have the ambition to get up that early. But there's nothing that pretty to take pictures of where I am…would have to drive a ways. And thank you!

Lana, thank you! He lives in Dorchester….a suburb of Boston…so he is on the track of the storm, too.

I slept TOO late…finally woke up at 10:30. That's not good. I slept through my meds alarm at 9. I guess I need to set a regular alarm that won't stop until I turn it off. A silly thing, though. I was lying in bed last night, and for some reason, the theme for Darkwing Duck went through my mind. I used to watch that with my kids years ago. So I had Alexa play it for me…I was surprised it was available. Don't ask me where such thoughts come from….I have a weird mind, I guess….lol!

Today I get to taste my chili that I fussed over all yesterday afternoon. I learned a few things. First of all, good chili isn't bright red like most photos show…its more of a dark reddish brown. I thought I did something wrong, but no…. that's how it's supposed to look. And buying the poblano peppers was the right thing to do…. definitely added to the flavor, as well as adding a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar. Next time I make it, I will add some dry Ancho chili pepper…just a touch…for even more spice. I don't like a lot of heat…just a little.

My daughter called me last night…she was not happy. Seems the hospital is changing the schedules after the orientation is over in 2 weeks. They were supposed to start 12-hour shifts for 3 days a week, but now they have let them know it will be 12-hour shifts for FOUR days a week. Several of the people in her group were very vocal about it when they heard…she said one girl broke down crying. The reason is that Penn is opening up operating rooms in the old section of the hospital, and they need more staff to cover the extended hours. There was no contract, so the hospital can set the hours as they see fit. I can't imagine being in an operating room setting for 12 hours, 4 days a week, and not being totally exhausted. I think my daughter is wondering if she can handle it. She has to get up at 5:30 every morning, and she will actually have it easier than some of her group….she lives in the city and takes public trans, but several of the nurses have to drive in from the burbs (and drive home in rush hour traffic every day). Not to mention some of her colleagues are making $10 an hour more than her because they transferred into the program in-house, while my daughter came from another hospital, and Penn won't accept the floor time she accrued there. She has to be in the employ of Penn for 15 months before she will get the raise in pay. She hung up with me at 9…she said she had to shower and go to bed, she was that tired. I am concerned about her mental health. She needs a life beyond that hospital.

It going to be a dreary weekend all around. I have to head over my brother's to take in his mail in a few. And turn on the heat….but I don't mind that. Gas is cheaper than an electric air conditioner.

TTFN…

Sandy

TMW - 161

*** October 12 ***

Happy Sunday Y'all~

I am determined to have a good day today. I feel a little bit better, so I will make hay even if the weather is awful.

Maureen - I hope that good things come from seeing the specialist today - keep us posted!

Sandy - It is essential that your daughter change her mindset, or she will be very unhappy. We all have pain in our lives, but we choose whether or not we suffer. She needs to do a gratitude practice immediately. This job, with its conditions, is what she has right now, and she can make the best of it if she chooses to. She needs good shoes and good food to get her through her work days, and she needs to be active and do life-enriching things on her non-working days. She needs to choose joy. 🤗

I'm speaking from experience. I know what it's like to work seven days a week with 5 of them being 15-hour days, for years.

Waves to Sara and Missy and Ang and anyone new who stops by today~~

Lana

245.0 today

Good morning Missy~

That's great that you have a holiday today! How are you doing with the weather up north?

I am sick of the gloom! Some sun would be very welcome here.

Trees fell in my neighborhood, so the power has been going on and off as crews get the trees off of the power lines.

Time to get into the shower—-

Lana

244.0 today