Chats, Challenges & Laughs 2nd home

[Cele21]

For all my Chats, Challenges & Laughs peeps! Since we can't get on the threads I thought I would start a discussion area for us. We may not be able to keep track of points standings easily but we can still talk.

I miss you!

[Glenda]

@CJ_Here   One non food treat for me would be a few new books.   When I'm in a grocery store I avoid diet disasters by promising myself something good but lower in calories when I get home.  It is still food treat, but not so bad. (Like frozen blueberries and fat free greek yogurt or 3-2-1 cake dusted with aspartame.

         I learned the very hard way about being very depressed or low and how to get out of it.  I just had to. I learned we do or can  choose what we think about.  Now at even a vague thought that I'm not happy...I immediately tell myself I CAN'T be unhappy.  I have far too much to be grateful for.  I might not be JOYFUL but.....(1),  Thank God I'm not a patient.  I don't have MS like my cousin.  2.  I pay taxes so I have an air-conditioned , heated, house with electricity for refrigerated food..  I'm so lucky to have a phone, car and fuel, appliances, clothes, shoes, google and artificial sweeteners.  We have an abundance of cheap available books and great recorded music.  (Live music when I was very young, was horrible on the radio.)    You have so much on your mind, it might help if you wrote all that down so you could more easily forget  about it until you are ready to deal with it.

                 I go to sleep to a CD recording of rain.  Anytime I wake I push the button and start it up again.  It plays for an hour but puts me right to sleep.  

[Cele21]

Hi everyone!

This has to be quick as work is still quite a bit overwhelming. I don't remember who posted what but here are a few answers.

My sister is doing ok. She is insured and already has a contractor/restoration company, the electrician has already been out, she is still looking for long term place to live (that takes 90 lb dog). She was able to get back in the house and box/bag up more items to move to the garage before work starts. I will be checking in with her again tonight.

I have not started PT for my heel. I called the place I was referred to but the cost is horrific. I have not met my deductible so would have to pay up front until then. I am going to call my insurance company and check out alternatives. In the meantime, icing it along with the heel lifts in my shoes is doing wonders.

Christmas in July only happened because of Covid. My brother and his girlfriend would not go anywhere they absolutely did not have to so December was a bust. We had such a good time, we decided that we might start getting together in July along with regular Christmas going forward.

Had a great weekend celebrating my daughter's birthday. She and her boyfriend (bf) came in on Friday and left Monday. On Saturday we went out to eat, went to a movie (with all the snacks and soda) and a comic book store then went home to nap/relax. On Sunday we all slept in, she opened her gifts, we went to a tiny hamburger place with excellent burgers and choose your flavor mix shakes. Bf loves coconut and he had a coconut banana shake that just hit the spot. I did not participate in the shakes or ice cream but I did pig out quite a bit all weekend and most likely lost my tenuous toe hold on onederland. Haven't weighed yet so we'll see. Sunday they spent the day with her friends from high school. 

Hubby's aunt had surgery as her abscess was not healing well. She was transferred to the re-hab area of the nursing home because she has a wound-vac and her nurses at the assisted living place are not trained in handling it. We were able to visit her yesterday and she is doing very well. The nursing home still has very strict visitation policies so we won't be able to visit again until next Wednesday. Hubby's sister is scheduled to visit tomorrow and she sees the doctor for a follow-up on Monday.

I don't reward myself for success as I usually just give in to my wants (bad self control over delayed gratification). Any non-food item is usually something I already do - binge shows, buy/borrow books, go for a walk, go to a movie, etc. I might have a glass of wine when feeling low but that is rare. Some of the things I'm working on come with built in celebration. Decluttering another item from the garage makes me very happy. I can see another bit of floor or know that the square foot of space from a box won't be occupied again. That and finding long 'lost' treasures that I forgot I kept or something from the kid's childhood that was special.

This ended up being longer than expected. Sorry to ramble.

[ElaineJ27]

5 points for Monday, two for Tuesday (water and tracking).

My weekly weigh-in showed a one-pound loss! I haven’t been working hard at it but this might be enough motivation to get more serious. 

This Saturday will be my first time volunteering at Kidzeum for its three-year celebration. It’s only the third weekend it’s been open and I asked for weekday volunteering except for special events. They should soon have clerical tasks for me through the week. 

My sister came up from Missouri today to get a copy of her first marriage certificate so she can get a REAL ID. She has the one for her current marriage but needs to show her first name change. I got a copy of mine while we were at the courthouse because I need to apply for my ID as well. I sent two large boxes of rubber stamp sets home with her for her granddaughter. Two more boxes out of my basement!

As many times as we have discussed the importance of getting enough sleep, I stayed up until 2:30 yesterday morning watching Gone With the Wind. I must have been in the right mood because I enjoyed it almost as much as the first time I saw it, which was the summer of 1976. I remember that my shirt was soaked from the tears running off my chin. (And the shirt was a halter top!)

[MargaretG139]

3 points for both Thursday and Friday (exercise, steps and water)

So much for me posting more regularly. I tracked my sleep, breakfasts and activity for two or three days this week and was disappointed in myself until I did my weekly check-in on my WW app. I tracked each more this week than the prior week - progress not perfection!

Today will be at least 3 points as well as I already took a 4+ mile walk. I am walking at about 3 MPH. I did my weekly weigh in and am on a 3 week GAINING streak. If I don't turn that around this week, I will be out of onderland.

Tomorrow Hubby and I are heading to my sister's. She lives about two hours away so I am planning to get another 4 mile walk in before we leave. Walking one mile for each hour I'll be sitting in the car sounds reasonable to me.

I will also be going into my office to work on Tuesday. Our company is still in the pilot phase for reopening offices but is adding quite few more locations this week. Since the office I worked out of is now included, I signed up but won't be going in more than once a week (if that) for now. All our US based offices will be opening in September. We had the ability to work from home before COVID. Based on the limited info we've gotten so far, that will continue and probably be expanded. I have no intention of going back into the office 5 days a week but won't know what my options will be  until more information becomes available.

@ElaineJ27since it was so long ago, I can't remmeber if I saw the movie or read the book (Gone with the Wind) first. I do remember enjoying both.

@CJ_HereI had gotten into a really good sleep routine for quite a while but then started having trouble staying asleep again. I've found that there is a connection between how well/poorly I  eat and how well/poorly I sleep. The other thing I need to get better at is maintaining both a consistent bedtime routinue and even more importantly a consistent bedtime. Although I really don't have much trouble falling asleep initially, I do listen to the sleep stories on the Calm app. When I first started doing that, I wasn't waking up as much overnight. I also try and limit how much water I am drinking later in the afternoon / evening.

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend.

[ElaineJ27]

Wow, I haven’t posted since Wednesday. Sorry for that. 

I played golf Thursday, then did nothing the rest of the day. On Friday, 7-year old grandson had a doctor appointment in Springfield, and since his dad works in Springfield, I went to pick up my little guy. We toured Lincoln’s home and walked around the neighborhood that has been restored to 1860s period. Then we had lunch at the place Hubby calls “The Dead Animal” bar. Deer, smaller mammals, all kinds of fowl, and even a black bear decorate the walls. There’s a canoe hanging from the ceiling with a manikin. The kid’s meal is served in a tackle box but they were out of them. Then we went to New Salem where the village of log cabins have been restored to 1830s era as Lincoln lived there as a young adult. He was interested in it all until the rain got heavier and he was soaked. Luckily my golf towel was in the trunk of my car. 

On Saturday I volunteered all day at Kidzeum’s ope

[ElaineJ27]

Wrong button!

Kidzeum’s opening celebration. I spent the day walking around replacing plastic food in the marketplace, pulling toys out of the water table, and basically cleaning and rearranging. I also gave first-time visitors an overview. By 4:30, my feet hurt and I was exhausted. 

Yesterday we celebrated my father-in-law’s birthday. Hubby and I made ice cream. We have an electric mixer so no hand cranking like when I was a kid. It’s a treat we only have once or twice a year. 

This afternoon I am driving Hubby’s sister to the train station in Springfield because we don’t want my mother-in-law driving downtown during rush hour. It does give me an excuse to miss the church guild’s luncheon!

So today is still another reset Monday. The thing I’m going to work on is consistent bedtime and getting up. I’ve been staying up too late and unless I have an early appointment, I sleep late. This makes it hard to get into my morning routine and have a productive day. 

Waiting to hear how all of you are doing. 

[Glenda]

@MargaretG139  Margaret, At least some water in the evening is so much better than a diuretic like wine or even regular caffeinated cola.    You seem to have lots of interesting places to visit.    Texas doesn't even have much interesting old stuff to restore.  So good of you and @ElaineJ27  to show those historic things to your grandsons.  Good for you. 

[CJ_Here]

Still working on getting back into "it".  Did track on my LoseIt app for the first time in weeks yesterday.  I haven't gotten up to my usual water intake yet and now I may not be able to for a while.  Today, for the first time, I am required to attend a jury duty day.  I've never done this before (have been excused twice).  We are allowed to bring in one sealed bottle of water.  I probably won't drink all of that for fear I'll need to use the restroom in between break times.  Maybe it's the same all over, but in MN we are required (when requested) to serve one month's time.  Since it's already the 20th, I may not be chosen for any upcoming trials.  I might enjoy that service, but hope I don't have to just because I can't imagine sitting all day with limited breaks.  I'm nervous about not eating and drinking for many hours at a time and yet nervous to eat or drink anything due to potential stomach issues.  Wow, being retired and going through COVID lockdowns seems to have turned me into a basket case.

After 20 days, we received 5/16 inch rain.  We are grateful!  It doesn't appear we will receive any more soon.  I sure hope our drought is just this summer.  We are not used to this.  I can't imagine how it is to live where it doesn't rain regularly year after year after year ... 

[Cele21]

LW - 199.8 (7/5/21)

CW - 198.4 (7/17/21)

So even after the mega food week, I lost!

This has put me back in the much needed mind set that I had last August.

Did some healthy shopping and starting to cook dinners again.

Was even able to up my water intake a bit since Sunday.

Good sleep hygiene is the ever elusive goal.

[Katrin]

Hi Everyone,

I'm not quite sure where the time went. I don't think I was THAT busy but I've had a lot of activity going on so maybe I was . . .

I missed my deadline again. I'm so close. However, this week I started with more appointments than ever - 11 first times and 3 2nd times. It's like playing baseball - you can't score a run if you don't take a swing with the bat. Having enough appointments is all the times I get to bat. I've got until 8/12 to secure my ads for October and I really only need 2. More appointments = more potential sales so I've just got to work the numbers!

Still nothing from the guy. Mentally I've really been moving on - thinking about him/us in the past tense. I've even identified one or two things I might like to focus on finding for "the next time". I'm not ready to start actively dating but the fact that I'm even thinking about possible characteristics of a future relationship I think is a healthy sign of healing and moving on so I'm going to allow myself to just go with it.

Having quit the advil about 2 weeks ago, I'm still not functioning the way I wish and now my foot just really hurts all the time and is often swollen. So, I had my appointment with the GI and am eagerly (not!) looking forward to my endo/colonoscopy on 8/20. Before then she wants me to have an ultrasound and also some blood work to check my thyroid and some other processes. I've scheduled both of those as well.

@Glendawhat kinds of books do you read? What are some good recommendations you've read recently? I LOVE books and am involved in 3 book clubs. To me buying them, checking them out from the library or even browsing someone else's shelves is such a treat! I'm currently enjoying Upstream - it's business-related and it's about how to prevent problems before they emerge rather than fix them after the fact. It's filled with many case studies including Chicago Public Schools improving graduation rates, NFL preventing injuries, and Expedia decreasing the need for customers to call customer service. Really interesting and it's made me excited to apply to my own life. I also just checked out the Coincidence of Coconut Cake that I'm told will be nice to enjoy poolside.

@CJ_HereI was fascinated by your Jury Duty. I've always wanted to serve but have never been called. I'm so curious to know what it's all about. I share your anxiety though about having my body schedule conform to the government rather than have free reign over my eating, drinking and bathroom breaks!

@ElaineJ27your Kidzeum sounds like so much fun! What a great way to get involved in the community!

@MargaretG139for sure Corporate clubs have a different set of problems and solutions than community or specialty clubs. It is really cool that the corporate environment supports TM clubs. Fun fact: the largest concentration of Corporate Clubs in the world is in the DC area and the ratio of corporate clubs to community clubs is significantly higher here. Also true, we have a super large volume of multi-club members. Many are a member at work but also of community or specialty clubs. I've personally known several people involved in 6 or 7 clubs at once! I've been part of - either as a member or a coach or guest/supporter of 6 total clubs over my lifetime but never more than 2 at the same time. Also a piece of trivia - I had the good fortune to meet Helen Blanchard, the first female Toastmaster, and hear her speak about what it was like. She was funny but mostly I remember how humble she was - she didn't really think of herself as a trailblazer and just made different decisions when faced with closed doors.

I hope everyone is having a great week!

[Glenda]

@Katrin   I read all kinds of books except fantasy.  Usually the more serious books appeal to me more than those trying to be funny.   I've been trying to empty my book shelves of paper books.  I only have 4 shelves of fiction left to read.  And if some are fantasy that will go faster.  But then I'm working on non-fiction.  I have a friend who wanted Atkins diet books and I had 5 and my daughter likes Weight Watchers and I had 14 of those.  So I'm making fair progress.   When my daughter inherits my house, no matter how much clutter and unnecessary junk is in it.....it will be so much better than if I hadn't been trying to clean out this stufff for years.   LOL

     I think my doctor would like for me to have a colonoscopy every year.  I always have polyps.  I hope yours goes well.  Your foot situation sounds very stressful.  So sorry you have that problem.

[CJ_Here]

I ended up enjoying my jury duty and was disappointed when it ended.  I was chosen as one of the 15 to go sit in the jurors' box and be asked questions (voir dire).  After that, we had a break while the defendant, prosecuting attorney and judge came up with the seven jury members needed.  Not positive who weighed in the most, but it was at this time that I was not chosen to proceed.  I have some ideas why the defendant may have not wanted me based on my answers.  I know I could have been objective in the case, so it was disappointing to not get to participate.  The judge felt the case would be decided yet that day meaning the evidence would have been short.  Oh, well.  Oh, and they had a couple of hearing aids (headset with microphone amplifier) available that another woman around my age and I used so that was awesome.  They may call us in next week, but I think my term of service is done.

@Katrin , I can hear in your 'voice' that you are healing, progressing and getting your self back.  I'm excited for you as you embark on this new journey.  When you receive your two needed ads, are you able to use the additional ads secured for upcoming magazines?  I see you in a batting cage where you can set the speed and spacing of balls coming at you.  Or, on a golf range practicing your swing using different clubs.  You go, girl! 

I'm feeling self-stalled.  I'm allowing my power to be given away by 'feeling' that I can't do what I want, when I want.  It comes down to Hubby and I working at different speeds.  When he's out of the house, I want my reflecting, down time.  When he comes in, he likes  (if I ask, he'd say he doesn't care, but I don't believe it) me to sit and watch tv with him.  Today I am going to try and get busy when he comes in and see how it goes.  I have to change this cycle of not doing anything all day long.

[Katrin]

@CJ_Herethank you for sharing your story of Jury Duty. I'm so envious! I can't wait until it's my turn! Funny story, my mom has been called 3 times (we've both been registered in VA the same amount of time) and she's actually served twice. It's funny because she was a federal prosecutor and generally lawyers, especially prosecutors, get cut because no criminal defense wants a prosecutor sitting in judgement.

I also appreciate that you mentioned you hear my "voice" is healing. I definitely feel that I am but I'm glad that my rebound is shining through to all of you too. It serves to support my own intuition and I want to be a positive voice for others whenever I can so I can support them. I prefer to give when I am able.

Regarding my work, yes, I get to keep each ad for a minimum of 12 months. Most of my sales are 36 month campaigns but the minimum is 12. So each month, if I sell just 1 ad thereafter, I'll increase my monthly paycheck by that amount. More increase if I sell more ads. That will continue until the end of the first year where I'll need to renew any expiring 12 months. If I lose any, I'll want to already have sold enough to stay above the baseline for that term. The big worry will be in 3 years when I'll have most of my initial sales expiring but I have 3 years between now and then to replace them. Or I have 3 years to ensure that they are so happy that they continue to renew with me!

Your story about your husband wanting you to watch TV reminds me of a boyfriend who also liked that. One day, he was watching Duke basketball - he was a huge fan of Duke. To be contrary, I decided to root for the other team - FSU. I kept cheering for "Florida" and then FSU started actually winning and Duke wasn't doing very well. My boyfriend at the time (this was a LOOOOONG time ago - long before my current guy you've hears so much about) started getting cranky and finally he blurt out - Florida isn't even in this game. Stop cheering for them! Turns out FSU was Fresno State University. Anyway, he never wanted to watch sports with me again after Duke lost . . .

With my now recent ex, he sometimes would watch football on my TV and I didn't mind even though I'm not a sports spectator. I'd sit on the sofa with him and a glass of wine and my book and my kitty. He could watch TV and it was enough just to be side by side but doing our own thing. Maybe your husband would agree to that?

[ElaineJ27]

0.8 pound loss with yesterday’s weigh in. Completely underserved but my saving grace may be that I don’t have any snacks in the house. 

@Katrin I am also surprised that your mother was chosen to be on juries. I was a legal secretary for 25 years and it was highly unlikely I would have been chosen for a jury in our small town. I was called once and we were given the general directions, then asked to wait about half an hour. During that time the case was settled. Whenever one of our attorneys was going to trial, all employees were asked to review the list of prospective jurors and note anything we knew about them. One time a deputy stepped into the office to warn us not to go out because they were pulling people off the street because they didn’t seat a jury with the original call!

@CJ_Here I totally understand about your hubby wanting you to sit with him. Since my hubby is doing agriculture work this month, there were a few days that he was rained out and turned on the TV. He wanted me to join him but when he was done and left the room, I was in “TV” mode and never got anything done. 

A friend gave us some sweet corn yesterday and I sat outside cleaning a few ears for dinner. I was swarmed by mosquitoes big enough to carry off a small child! (Slight exaggeration) The corn was so good, I didn’t even butter it. 

[CJ_Here]

Today's duty was to contact AT&T to notify them again that something must be wrong with my phone and how can I receive a new one.  So, today's third step in the process of proving it's the phone a gentleman stayed on the phone with me as I did a backup of my phone, erased it and re-installed.  This was after connecting with two reps prior to this.  Now I get to spend time with my phone to see if that did the trick or if I need to deal with Samsung warranty directly.  Ugh.  I am so grateful that I'm retired and do not have to deal with computer issues, people issues, work deadlines, etc etc etc.  A half a day of being back in the saddle was enough to go into the fridge for a lite beer, lol.  (and, eat a box of nut-thins to boot).  

@ElaineJ27 , I sure hope we can find some good sweet corn.  I think it's been a couple of years since we found anything seriously yummy.

[Glenda]

@CJ_Here I have AT&T phone, internet and direct TV but I bought my phones at Walmart.  I can't believe AT&T provides you with a phone.  Lucky you?

@ElaineJ27 I thought everyone cooked ears of corn in the microwave in the husks !!!   It is so fast and easy.!

[CJ_Here]

@Glenda , I probably worded poorly as far as my phone.  I bought my phone from a local AT&T location (maybe that's not normal.?.).  As of yet, I do not believe anything is different.  However, the tech gave me the impression that it will probably be near impossible to convince Samsung that it's not just a connectivity issue since we are so rural.  Really frustrating since there are millions of rural cell phone owners.  

Finished 'scarfing' up the 10 snowmen hubby had made out of word.  They should sell quickly once the season rolls around.  It was fun to do.  The only not so fun part was finding the fabric to use from my boxed up; messed up craft room.  The contractor finally has the correct shower pan and will be back this coming week.  I will say my goal next week is to be working upstairs on the guest and craft rooms.  Prior to that I really need to pick up white paint and convince my hubby to get the upstairs door off the hinges so I can paint it prior to the contractor re-using for our bathroom door.  

Tomorrow I'll be attending a family gathering for a great nephew's 1st birthday.  After that I hope to going floating in a lake at my sister's place.  Hope everyone is healthy and moving forward on their goals.

[CJ_Here]

Just finished printing a "Plan / Schedule for July 24th through August 1st".  This is the first actual plan list that I've done since I retired two years ago.  It's not overwhelming.  I have a 'mine' column, a column for items I need hubby's help with (basically hubby needs to do with me as helper) and a column for items that can be done by either of us.  After I printed, I made notations on what day I'm planning on doing the projects and included my days that I need to be away from the home.  This all hinges on no jury duty (and no rain next Sat 7/31).  If I stay on task and just do what's on each day's plan, we'll have all the things done that have been hanging over my head keeping me stuck in procrastination mode (the craft room may take more than the two days allotted, but the worse of it will be taken care of).  It'll be a win, win, win since this will keep me away from the 'eating chair' too!  Feeling really excited and hopeful for a fresh start 🙂  (Having the contractor and plumber here will help keep me working on my tasks since I won't want to be just sitting around right next to where they are working.)

[ElaineJ27]

I have been consuming all my water and not consuming extra food, although I haven’t tracked my food in quite some time. 

Today I cut up watermelon, cantaloupe, and peaches that I bought Thursday at the farmers market. I also cleaned the rest of the sweet corn that our friends gave us. Now all I have to do is remember all of it when I’m looking for food. 

@CJ_Here good job on planning all your jobs. The closest I’ve come to that is making my daily to do lists. You have motivated me to make that kind of plan for next week. I will have 7-year old grandson most of next week and I need to schedule some activities instead of letting him play video games all day. 

[ElaineJ27]

Yesterday I tracked breakfast and dinner, as well as my water. I tracked faithfully for several years so I don’t understand why I no longer even think about doing it. 

I did not make a detailed list/plan. When I sat down with my planner, all ideas suddenly abandoned me. I completed several household jobs and errands yesterday.