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Post by holly2007 on Oct 16, 2021 18:55:11 GMT
Hi All,
It has been warm so far, but the weather is supposed to turn overnight tonight. Hopefully I just turned my air off for the last time this season. My parents and I are going to see my brother in Ocracoke next week. I’m really looking forward to getting away for awhile.
My neck and shoulder are still bothering me a lot due to computer use. My doctor ordered a CT scan to see if it is a pinched nerve in my spine.
Joan, that is the same concept from the Intuitive Eating book I read years ago. I am still doing well with limiting added sugars.
Sue, what kind of doctor is your nephew going to be? Yes! books are heavy for sure. I often get weights exercise just hauling around carts of them throughout the library, haha.
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jmg44
Transcendent Member
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Post by jmg44 on Oct 22, 2021 1:58:52 GMT
I broke off half my front tooth so have been to dentist this week and then to lab today as the lab guy wants to work on the best match possible. Have to go back on the 2nd for the tooth, last minute tweaking and then to the dentist to cement it in. I look awful with this temp which is wrong color and too large!
Having book club tonight on Face time—maybe in Jan we will go back to in person.
we are redoing our garden—took out the raised beds and bought 30 in tall raised beds—got them filled and now DH is working on getting the sprinklers set up for them.
Gotta’ go!
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Post by nov21987 on Oct 22, 2021 19:07:33 GMT
Hi! Been a busy week or so. We switched to new realtor, someone we've known for 17 yrs, she was the realtor for the developer of the condo we have now. SO gets annoyed by her - typical realtor type...but I've always thought she is very good at what she does and is very intuitive about what her clients want and good at matching the house with buyer. So there's been another round of meetings, 2 photographers visiting for photos and video, and tomorrow an architect coming to do survey in order to draw up floor plan.
It is still unseasonably warm here which is really nice! Perfectly comfortable temps and low humidity.
Holly, how was your Ocracoke trip? Is your brother still working at the same restaurant? Did you get the result from your CT My nephew is ob/gyn. He likes the idea of being involved from beginning to end, hopefully usually with a happy result of healthy baby. He also likes being able to do some surgery as well. He has already delivered a ton of babies!
Joan, how did you break your tooth?! That happened to me once when I fell and cracked a front tooth.
Speaking of teeth, I went and got my crown last week. My old dentist (SO and i had been seeing him for 25 years) retired early this year. So I ended up going to one of my condo neighbors who's a very good dentist...pricey although he gave me a friends and family discount. But he is very, very good and I feel secure with the best care. Very efficient, thorough. Crown looks great, fits wonderfully.
Joan, you are more than welcome to come visit me and SO in Tucson! I can't believe Jordan is 21, time is flying by
Last week was busy for us social wise. We went with ex-partner and wife to the art museum for the Jasper Johns exhibit, really great. Then dinner afterwards. Then next night another ex-partner came over with wife and 3 yr old son and brought over some sushi, I made fried dumplings and scallion pancakes. Great to see them.
I haven't tracked food in years, but am still weighing myself every morning. So, I've stopped drinking alcohol, it's only been a few days, lost some water weight. Decided to only drink when we have people over or go out to dinner. I had also been eating too many carbs so cutting that down as well. I think with the virus and moving and mom stressors, wine and carbs was comforting for me. I haven't gained any since last August when I started the stepper at home, but I hadn't lost either. I guess I was trying every other method...intermittent fasting, etc before giving up my comfort food. I'm not eliminating it, that's not realistic, but I'm digging in for the long run.
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Post by holly2007 on Oct 31, 2021 17:42:37 GMT
Happy Halloween!
Ocracoke was fun. I did a lot of knitting to get ready for the Handmade for the Holidays sale coming up. It was also a good mental break.
Sue, yes, he still works at the same restaurant managing the kitchen. He would like to buy some property there, but of course, it is expensive. I’m with you on the wine except in my case, it is beer. I am trying to be more mindful of the triggers and wean myself off of the habit. I’m doing really well with soft drinks, so that’s a plus.
Joan, I finished The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. We read it for our book club selection. Pretty bizarre, but funny at times.
I’m getting my booster shot on Wednesday. I am glad they finally authorized vaccines for young kids.
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jojowo
Epic Member
SHORT AND SWEET GODDESSES
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Post by jojowo on Nov 5, 2021 5:07:22 GMT
Hi all, I’m back in California for two and a half weeks. My DDIL took a new job with an oil refinery as a mechanical engineer. She had been in management at Chevron so long that she says it is tough doing engineering again. She took a retirement package from Chevron last year so could not go back there to work. This is an independent refinery. She is trying not to hire someone to help her with my DGD until the first of the year. Her niece who just graduated from college and does not have a job yet has been there until I came. She is going to work out the rest of the time after me with her father and vacation of my son and herself. DH and I will be back out near Christmas for 2 weeks.
I will have cataract surgery sometime the middle of Jan. Went to get new contacts and the Doctor would not give them to me because I need the surgery.
DH is having some reconstructive surgery on his artificial eye socket as soon as I return from California.
We are really busy from now til Christmas.
Sue- exciting that you are building a house! Moving is always a big hassle and no fun but you do clean out a lot!!!
Joan - sounds like you two are now full time travelers with your new vehicle! Enjoy!
Holly - how are you and your sister getting along living together? I’m sure there are some challenges.
I saw pictures of Valery’s girls a short time ago and was amazed how they have grown! I guess the years have flown by.
How long have we all been on this thread now. I think I started just before my 2nd DGD was born , about 15yrs ago. There have been so many to come and go. I’m afraid though that since we’ve been on this sight, we just don’t get the traffic and will never get anymore people. No real way for people to find us.
Wt. wise I am staying pretty stable at about 127-130 . Would like 125 better but my body seems to want to stay a little higher.
I am trying to adapt to more “clean living” - getting as many chemicals out of my life as I can and relaxe with plant based products. I have also given up all milk products which has helped my GI problems tremendously. Giving up cheese has been soooo hard! I love it!
Sue when do you think you will move completely? Sounds as if your Penn. place is not sold?
Must get to bed now. Early morning. Goodnight . 🌙😘
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Post by nov21987 on Nov 7, 2021 22:05:50 GMT
Hi!
Holly, sounds like you're prepared for the holidays. I had to be in the mindset to stop drinking. It hasn't been hard at all, the hardest was just to decide not to do it, and I was stubborn for a long time!
Jojo, sounds like you are busy with traveling! I had one cataract out a couple of years ago. Have some ongoing issues, but I'm used to it now. It is not my "good" eye, so I don't mind it as much. But I do have better vision now. I hope the your DH's eye surgery goes well! I'm hardly ever on FB...I'll have to check out Valerie some time.
I started on the WW chat in Jan 2007. I remember because I became LF in spring of 2007. Good for you Jojo for keeping your weight the same!
It's been about 2 1/2 weeks, and I've lost over 5 lbs. I went out twice during that time, once dinner out with college friend and his wife, and another lunch with young woman that I mentored. Both times had drinks/wine. Dinner was great, per usual, the couple came over for drinks then we walked to dinner, then continued back to our house for some handpainted truffles and some very nice old wine from our collection. What we don't drink we'll have to take with us when we move, a few hundred right now.
Lunch was also great, last few times we got together it was with SO and her DH (they got married this spring), so this was just us and we spent a long leisurely lunch talking. One thing good about working mostly from home is more flexible hours.
So after each outing, weight went up a bit the next day, but then came back down again. I am also eating more healthy. I never ate too many processed foods but I'm trying to eat more fruit, nuts. The breads I eat are from local bakeries, using local ingredients.
I've also tweaked my exercise. Aside from doing my stepper every day, I've finally downloaded a pedometer app. It's only been 4 days but I'm averaging about 17,000 steps per day. Never realized how much of an incentive it is, seeing the number of steps I'm doing. Figures, being the overachiever that I am. And I started to intersperse push ups and planks with my stepper and walking. Glad I had personal training for almost 2 years, really taught me how to do strength training without machines.
Joan, you must be busy!
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Post by holly2007 on Nov 13, 2021 15:08:05 GMT
Hi All,
I started in April 2007 three months before a wedding. I ended up gaining weight instead, haha. I still keep up with some of the others on FB.
When I started the anxiety meds, my weight jumped up, but finally stabilized. I am continuing to work on diet, but not stressing over it too much.
Fall is in peak season here. The leaves are beautiful.
I’m going to a “pet and sip” event around lunch time. A local rescue brings their dogs. My parents are looking for two dogs and I’m looking for one for now. My BF wants a small dog, like a yorkie. I am more of a medium sized dog person, like Charlotte’s size. The key that I still need to fence in part of my yard, which will hopefully happen over the winter.
Jo Anne, my dad just had his first cataract removed. The second one will be sometime next month. How old is your DGD now?
Sue, did you get everything worked out with your mom’s house? Yes, I love being able to track my steps on my watch. Only thing is, it tracks knitting as steps, lol.
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jmg44
Transcendent Member
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Post by jmg44 on Nov 18, 2021 23:55:43 GMT
I am in Los Angeles—we came down here with Sharon and Jay—friends who fire my pottery—they are in early 80’s—good conversation-ists == however, he is having some walking issues—cannot go fast, needs to rest often—She told me on the way here that he is starting to have some aging issues—didn’t explain, but I am seeing that now as well. He’s a fun guy tho—great personality. This morning we did the Broad art museum—love it there but sadly only one floor was open—the grand opening of all floors is Saturday so we just missed it—was free tho and still saw awesome art! After lunch they returned to room at the Omni—a beautiful hotel with large spacious rooms, awesome bathrooms—walk in showers and separate tubs—just really nice—we are on 13th floor and overlook a beautiful view of down town LA and a Concert/park area right below us.
Today DH and I stayed out and did lots of walking—walked all around the new Disney Concert hall, designed by the famous architect who also did the Ruvo center for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s in Vegas (connected to the Cleveland Clinic)—the building is amazing—Frank Gehry. I joined the digital notifications—would so love to come over for a concert there and experience the sound—then we walked through Grand Park and to the City Hall, a major famous building in LA—built in 1926–the elevators to the top are closed because of covid. They were shooting a movie in the park and the entire set crew was set up right to the side of City Hall—we talked with security and they said the area is literally reserved for movie set crews—seeing it made you realize why the credits at the end of a movie are so long—wow, it was practically a small town by itself!
Tomorrow we go to the LA auto show which Jay has never seen and always wanted to—DH knew that and promised him when it was safe we would bring them over. So will be sitting in Maseratis and all kinds of exotic cars tomorrow for fun—am worried about DH obsessing about a new vehicle—being a bit OCD is a challenge in situations like these!
I am holding my weight at 125-127–not tracking, not restricting—just trying only to eat when I really want something or am truly hungry—funny how allowing myself to eat anything, takes away the craving for tons of it when I cave in and have something forbidden—I weigh only weekly—they want me to give it up completely and I hope to eventually—right now I feel as tho it is a check to see if this lifestyle experiment is working—am always astounded when I weigh and it’s right in that three pound range!
We are eating out at a place called Mrs. Fish tonight—Japanese—I am probably having the black cod—the others will have some sushi which is their specialty—there are supposedly aquariums of fish overhead—it’s listed as a TripAdvisor place to try—and it’s .2 mi from the hotel—making it possible not to get the car out. We have to pay extra for parking—$58 @ night! Like most city centers real estate prices really make parking expensive space.
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jmg44
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Post by jmg44 on Nov 19, 2021 0:06:55 GMT
Wow, lots of surprises—cutting back on drinking—great way to save calories for actual food, Sue! But you love your vintage wines so much—has to be a challenge at times I would think.
Holly, why on earth does your watch record knitting as walking? That’s nuts!
JoAnne, you are doing lots of traveling to avoid the DGD having a babysitter! I’m sure you love the time with her tho—but still that’s hard to leave so often and fly so far!
I’ve been doing pottery non stop—trying to get a few gifts done for the holiday—some holiday themed mugs for friends, made six mini loaf pans which I hope are dry enough to bisque fire when I get back on Saturday—I will back sweet breads of different types and give to neighbor friends for Christmas. I made about 35 little tiny flat-ish bowls—like for rings or for a tea bag, etc., and have about half to glaze when I get back! I still want to make animal vases for each of the DGK’s—paint them like their pets—I’ve been practicing drawing their cats and dogs so that I can manage to make them resemble them!
DGD17 got accepted into University of Oregon journalism school—has applied at Missouri U and two schools in DC as well as one in Syracuse. DD and I want her to do DC or Missouri or Oregon—easier for us to get to to visit and bring her home. She wants to do Syracuse and it is not easy. Will see where else she gets in and if anyone offers her any academic scholarships.
Going to DD’s boyfriends house in Vegas for TG—I am taking what I had planned to make for DH and Jordan and me as originally DD and he were going to friends (which I felt was a bit odd for TG dinner) but now things have changed. Am glad I’m not doing the whole dinner and we would like to meet his relatives as well. Cannot believe it is already coming up on TGiving.!
My broccoli and cabbage and beets are doing very well in the new raised garden beds—love them so much!
I’m wearing a red merino wool sweater today—sometimes I wish I could just wear red and black every day—my best colors for my skin I think—-oh, I think I’m way too tired so think I’ll just stretch out on the bed and hope for a few winks of sleep (something I never do during the day so we’ll see).
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Post by nov21987 on Nov 23, 2021 23:48:59 GMT
Hi!
Is everyone preparing for Thanksgiving? As usual, I'm bringing the turkey and gravy to my sister's house. All but my eldest nephew will be there, the second nephew will be bringing his GF, they live together in Brooklyn (and will be with her parents for Christmas). My BIL's younger brother and BIL will be there, my BIL's oldest sister passed away 2 years ago and her DH has been spending some holidays with my sister and BIL.
My sister and nephews want some turkey leftovers this year so I am doing 2 turkeys, one for me to take over and one for me to keep at home. They are small turkeys, 9-12 lbs, so I can spatchcock them, I love cooking it that way. Just almost had a minor disaster. They were supposed to deliver my 2 turkeys last night and I only got 1, I think the delivery person left it on the truck. So they promised it to me by noon today and of course I didn't get it. Finally, they said they are delivering by 6pm tonight. We'll see, if it's not here by 6 I'm canceling and will order a turkey breast after Thankgiving. Will probably be cheaper by then anyway. Crazy that pre-thanksgiving cost of turkey breast costs more per lb than a whole turkey!
Holly, did you find a dog yet? Well, the house my mom was going to buy is under contract with another buyer. We are just waiting for them to finalized and then we will negotiate some kind of settlement amount based on what we had bid and what they are getting from the new buyers. We may end up paying the difference.
My pedometer does the same thing with counting steps if I happen to shake my phone. Joan, with my free phone app (not a smart watch or fitbit), the counting of steps is not always 100% accurate.
Joan, you sound so busy as always. The concert hall in LA by Gehry is the third or so iteration of a design he did for the Bilbao Museum, THAT was groundbreaking, the ones he did in that style afterwards are not as good (still decent though, just not as impactful as the first one, speaking as an architect). He has since moved onto other styles.
Thanksgiving with friends is now called Friendsgiving, haha, for people who can't celebrate with family.
My nephew is in Syracuse for his residency, I had never been there before but was surprised it took less than 4 hours to get there from Philly.
Still doing well on my "diet". Still averaging 17k steps per day and not drinking every night. Have lost about 8 lbs in over 4 weeks. I know it will slow down drastically soon. I would like to lose at least another 10 that will get me down to what I usually weigh when I go on my cruises and then ideally I'd like to get below 120 which I feel a lot more comfortable with.
OMG, (it's been several hours since I started this post), they delivered my turkey and it is a pre-cooked turkey! I called them and said if they don't give this to me for free they are welcome to come pick it up themselves because I refuse to pay for something I would never order. I'm not thrilled by this at all, but I would have had to make the trip to the farmer's market tomorrow otherwise. Luckily, turkey is not the star of the show for us, we have 3 Beijing ducks with mandarin pancakes as the dish that everyone loves.
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jmg44
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Post by jmg44 on Nov 25, 2021 2:16:15 GMT
Oh my gosh, Sue—turkey trauma!! Well, it will make this TG a memorable one for sure! LOL
I’m not doing any prep until tomorrow morning—we don’t go over to DD’s BF’s till 5 so lots of time. Yes, have been super busy—trying to do more gift items for Christmas with very little time left before my surgery on Wednesday—fixing the eyelids—know I won’t be able to do clay for a couple days as the first two days are all about lying around and icing. I’ve been taking arnica the past few days in hopes to cut down on bruising.
today I surface decorated two tumblers—I am working on a style of decoration that is actually out of my own head—the process is one I learned from a potter whose classes I’ve done twice. I’ve made two before but didn’t really think ahead—this one was well planned—still have to tweak some stuff—I think I will be making some more as I would like to enter it in the clay guild show next time they have one.
Friday is my Black Friday Pottery “sale”==will get rid of lots of marginal stuff that people can take and give a donation—3 of my potter friends are joining me this year so we will have about 4 large tables of stuff—should be fun—we are donating all proceeds to Three Square which feeds the hungry and is constant need of funds now. Will allow me not to feel at all guilty about tons more building! I don’t have as many total mess up items this year so they have a chance to get a few nice pieces.
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Post by holly2007 on Nov 25, 2021 17:15:10 GMT
Happy Thanksgiving!
I got “20,000” steps yesterday, and about 17,000 of that is probably from knitting, LOL. It is the rhythmic wrist movement that caused it I think.
Joan, that’s a great idea. I’m working through my stash to sell knitted items and donate a portion to charities.
Sue, so did they give it to you for free? Seems like everything is way too complicated these days with delivery.
We’re eating at my parents’ later. Just my immediate family this year. The BF goes to his parents’. I made a pumpkin torte. I should have waited to put the cool whip on until it cooled in the fridge overnight instead of following the recipe. The cool whip is half melted into the pumpkin. Oh well.
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Post by nov21987 on Nov 25, 2021 18:04:58 GMT
Happy Thanksgiving!
Gravy is made. It is soooo good (if I do say so myself, lol). I simmered the turkey stock (used turkey carcass- frozen from Thanksgiving 2019,yes still fine - and neck, giblets from the one uncooked turkey that got delivered), for 6 hours! Strained over 4 layers of cheesecloth. I could just drink this stuff.
Holly, yes they gave me a credit for the cooked turkey. I'm sure the pumpkin torte will taste just fine, the flavors are there, just might not look exactly the way it is supposed to. Yes, half the time it is better do what your experience tells you rather than follow a recipe exactly.
Joan, what a nice way to make money for charity! And your artwork will go to people who appreciate it and won't go to waste! I know turkey drama is not the worst thing that can happen, I am grateful for all that we have - just got caught up in the moment...
So looking forward to all the good food. I will be mindful but not go overboard. There are many dinners out the next 10 days.
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jmg44
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 2, 2021 22:39:08 GMT
II am going to type without looking at what I type! So you never know what mistakes may be here! Had my eyelid surgery at 4 yesterday and I look like Frankenstein today—OMG I am so swollen—icing every 20 minutes for 20 minutes. It’s really bad. But I’m not in pain—have not even taken a Tylenol today although I am allowed.
OMG, I got another hundred dollars for two of my nice cups from a friend for our donation—shocked me!
Today we unloaded my friend’s kiln and I also unloaded mine—I made two latte tumblers and they are so awesome—my own design and I love them—made two before and worked out some design flaws and I think IF I were interested in selling pottery, these would sell—showed them to a friend and she said she would pay 40 dollars for one of them. Also got my Christmas mugs for friends gifts back and my little cardinal cups on pine boughs turned out just the way I had hoped! Was so excited—we had 100% good results—first time ever I think! My work is evolving and getting somewhat better—fewer fails all the time as I am getting pretty versed in glazes by watching and reading a ton on my group sites. I made the two DD’s a horse and a cow—it’s a container sort of a mini loaf pan shape with heads and tails—they are going to be so cute! Cannot wait to paint them—going for a modern look, not realistic at all. the grandkids’ dog and cats vases are almost dry—hoping I can see well enough to paint them by Sat and Sunday as we are bisque firing them on Tuesday! I think they will be cute if I can get the colors right—I did a practice one and really did a good job on the eyes so now am encouraged.
Ok I have to ice again—yuk. Hope this text doesn’t say anything bad—it’s totally blurry from my eye meds.
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jmg44
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 8, 2021 4:57:38 GMT
Still very, very bruised especially my right eye—tomorrow I have a 2 pm appt to recolor my crown for my front tooth—I’m dreading it as I’ve not been out around anyone other than having my DD see me and my pottery friend—supposed to have lunch with friends for Christmas on Thursday and I’m uptight about that as well.
I doubt I’ve ever tasted gravy that good, Sue—cannot imagine it but I bet its amazing.
I have been building pottery like mad today—-making spice jars for DS from SLC and his SO. Also still have to make Asian tea bowls for Jordan—Sue do you have some? The ones that have no handles? Wonder what size they should be,. Jordan loves his tea. I’m making these things in a clay that is easily fired in my little kiln and is faster to do since the clay vitrifies at a lower temp. It’s terracotta. Yesterday I finished painting the terracotta horse and cow I made for DD’s. Tomorrow all the animals will ready to pick up from bisque fire. Will have lots of clear glazing to do but that’s realatively easy—might have to add some deeper colors on DGD17’s cat Rosie. Also have to add all the whiskers.
my potter friend is leaving town on the 21st so everything has to be glaze fired before the 20th.
Our front yard is super decorated—we have three new blow ups—the cutest is a travel trailer that has action—the door opens up and Santa peeks out the door. The neighbors are loving it! Our permanent lights look really good.
I have possibly my last session with my dietician tomorrow—so I will weigh. The hardest part about this surgery is I’m not allowed to walk for a week! And its killing me!
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