Start from the End

Hello, Monday my old friend. 

I love you so much more since I retired. 

Easily my favorite day of the week. 

Funny how perspectives change. 

Anyway, this is a good week with a good balance. 

Chiropractor, PT, dentist. 

A number of "special" social things (more on these later). 

A few volunteer things ramping up.

Decent space between it all. 

All brought to me by selective yes and no decisions. 

I got those pesky chores finished yesterday and that ALWAYS sets me up in a good way. I could've squeezed them in the space around the things this week, but that would set the balance askew. 

It's also the first Monday of the month and this month feels like a FS kind of month. The balance this week is indicative of the balance all month. 

Productive.

Self care.

Group social.

Fun. 

"Special" events. 

Curious how I'll feel at the end of it. Have you ever heard the technique of planning your time backwards? START with how you want to feel at the end (of the day, week, month, life) and plan backwards. I've done it before -- remembering it now and it's worth a go again.

How do I want to feel at the end of this week? Stronger and lighter?? Hahaha -- yep. This kind of sums it up. I'm going to filter this week and month through that mantra and see how it feels at the end. 

Jinxing it??? or creating something intentional. We'll see lol. 

Look at these cuties. 

Today is the chiropractor appointment. I don't have high hope for this appointment in terms of relief, but I want to see what he thinks about my shoulder pain and bicep weakness. I feel a lot better since the massage, but there's still something wrong and wrong enough that I'm not taking a chance of hurting it more. 

Have a good start to the week and month, maybe something intentional and starting from the end?!?  

I'm giving it a go too.

Later gators. 

Sunday Updates

It was a nice solo day. 

I got little pesky things finished and had time for that list I made yesterday.

Farmer's Market for peaches, corn, and tomatoes. 

Painted the Picasso Portrait practice -- it's okay. I hope I do better in the class on Friday.

Perfect ordinary day meditation. Lights out, candle burning. Looks like a seeing eye. 

Saw this little guy from the kitchen window -- landed on a post in the garden and stayed awhile. 

The garden has a tomato hornworm. He's eating up my tomato plants and I can't find him. Took the black light out and searched and searched. Little stinker. Every morning there's more damage so I know he's still going and growing!! I can usually find them with a little effort -- not so far. 

In all my "things" yesterday, I forgot to water my outdoor pots. Eeeeek. Hot and sunny day. I'll make it up to them today. 

Today is a list of chores -- not my favorite things, but I'll be glad to have them finished before the week begins. But first, a fun morning. Coffee with hubby and Duke. Visit to see my grandson and play cars for a bit. 

Oh -- we have a preliminary baby name and I LOVE it. Margot. Beautiful, classic, not too popular, not trendy, not strange. The runner-ups so far are not my favorite. Celeste. Celine. And some other name I had no idea how to spell. I hope Margot is her name!

Got to get going. I woke up, turned off my alarm, fell back to sleep. Geez. It's later than I'd like and the morning is going quickly.

Have a great day. Later gators.

Waxing Poetic

A little more ramblings of what's on my mind lately.

I'm still overthinking thinking about decisions. An interesting distinction is "what I want" vs "what I need." This came into play this week. There was something I would've jumped to do another time, but this week ahead was not the week. If I said yes, I would be overwhelmed, tired, even a bit resentful. In the past, I would've said yes because it's something I wanted to do so I SHOULD find a way to do it. 

When (if) I ask the universe to give me these kind of opportunities (experiences), and they come up, I should automatically say yes. Right?!?

But I NEEDED something different. 

I said no. 

And I'm disappointed. 

And I know this was absolutely the right decision for me.   

Slowly learning. 

Another little thing on my mind is a meditation practice from Martha Beck. You imagine a perfect ordinary day in your life ahead using all your senses. It's a fun (but long) meditation. 

There's a part in the visualization that I see myself walking in the morning to a coffeeshop. I'm carrying garden veggies and some jars with flowers and herbs. I'm meeting people I know and we're talking and such. It's not a coffee date, just meeting up with people at the coffeeshop. I'm sharing the garden stuff. Talking, laughing, feeling community, familiar friendly faces. 

I've seen this in the mediation for a few years. And it now happens most Friday mornings. Of course the picture in my head is a different look (but not as different as you'd think), but it's that imagined image in real life. I walked to the coffeeshop yesterday, skirt flowing in the breeze, carrying a vase of herbs and a cooler of cucumbers. 

The FEELING matched that meditation feeling exactly.

It makes me excited to think about the other aspects of that "perfect ordinary day."

I believe it's less about manifesting ANYTHING and more about your subconscious knowing what you want or knowing what's in store for your life if you listen. I wouldn't imagine singing in a musical, for example, even though I'm fascinated with those who do that well. 

Anyway ... those are my thoughts on a Saturday morning. 

I'm solo today without a car. Hubby is taking my car to Asheville to deliver a beverage refrigerator because ours broke. He needs a bigger car. I won't drive his lol (long story, nothing bad). 

This means a morning of walking -- farmers market and library return and then a day at home. 

Feels like a FS kind of day. That might be why I have all this kind of stuff on my mind. 

Farmer's market.

Painting.

Making soup. 

Fussing around my plants. 

Meditation (maybe a "perfect ordinary day" ... hmmmm). 

As I often say, I need to use this day for good, not evil. Taking the time to do the things that make me feel good (a.k.a not be a snacking sofa slug all day).

I hope you have a good day. 

Off to walk with Duke to the market. 

Living in a walking town is a luxury I'm forever grateful for and hope I never take it for granted. 

Later gators.

Home Sweet Home

I'm home!

Lots of balls in the air right now. I'm hovering on the edge of overwhelm, but actually doing better than I usually do. Making an effort to balance the calendar better. SPACE, not specifically for nothing, but space to do the quiet things that ground me. 

Garden, cook, creative time, meditation. 

This makes me feel like I'm not giving myself to a to-do list. 

I said no to a few things recently and that's opened space for yeses that matter to me. It's not always so obvious to me, but coaching talks a lot about listening to your body's first reaction. What do you feel before your mind jumps in for an answer. Sometimes the no is a disappointment, but my body knows saying yes isn't right for me in that moment.

This works both ways too. My mind says no way, but I felt the yes in my body first. This happens when fear jumps in to answer the question (aka hiking trip, new volunteer case). 

I'm working on it. 

I want this full life. 

I love the variety. 

I enjoy what I'm doing. 

Yet, I get caught in too much and overwhelm. 

How can I balance things? Watching and feeling that first visceral reaction is interesting. Sometimes I override it because it's not a big deal or circumstance warrant it (i.e. favor for family kind of thing), but I still notice it. 

That's what's on my mind this early morning. A few new yeses and a few recent nos prompted this little chat. 

I have a full day of things today (all good things) starting with a packed morning BUT, the weekend is nothing at all and plenty of time for balance. More on this all tomorrow. 

Little photo moment at the teahouse on the way home. While I waited I added a little note to the wall. What a fun idea for everyone. It's such a welcoming little place in a sea of not-so-welcoming stuff in that little town. 

Have a good day. Later gators. 

P.S. I often mistype 'gators' and it autocorrects to 'haters.' Kind of funny.

See You Soon, Asheville

Here's a little recap of the day.

The mountain walk was beautiful -- foggy, ominous. I saw this stack of 3 for my mushroom picture exchange with a friend. 

. 

I was incredibly hungry and nothing to eat at the house after I tossed the refrigerator, but I was determined to go to the restaurant for an early lunch so I waited for the restaurant to open and thrifted a bit ahead. 

The thrift stores weren't what I was looking for -- not "treasure" hunting, but more like places for people in need so I wrapped it up and headed into the town. 

I never would've stumbled on this restaurant because it looks like a dump down an abandoned road. Nope -- darling South African restaurant. They grow their produce in gardens and large green house, have farm animals. Lovely and I'm glad I waited to eat so I could try it.

Traditional dish. Chutney.
Saffron rice. Beef, eggs, raisin.

Also traditional.
Dried beef and apricot.

My sister's plans changed for the day so she met me for the afternoon and we vintage shopped. I got this fun little rainbow ring. 

It catches the rainbow
in the sunlight.

We ended with a quick visit to the teahouse. I was so dang hot that I got an iced chai instead of the usual, but it was nice to go again.

Home to cleanup and bed EARLY. It felt good to sleep. I was out in minutes. 

I started the exit chores this morning. Sheets in the washer, dishwasher, etc. I'll grab a to-go from a breakfast place to eat for lunch on the road. It won't be a straight shot home. I'll stop at a teahouse, stop for gas, break to eat. I need to be back for a sign-waving at 4:30.

This trip was a mixed bag. I was so relaxed on Tuesday until the storm and everything seemed a bit hard-ish since. They're paving our neighborhood and trees down and power lines still hanging low. It's rolling the dice to figure out how to get to the house depending on where work is happening. I had to try 2 routes to leave (turning around on these streets requires a 50 point turn) and 4 routes to get back. Road access was closed or blocked by vehicles. Luckily there are a lot of little side loop roads. Dang. 

I actually had to stop the car and get out to look at my wheels. I was afraid one side was going to slide off the embankment the access around was so ridiculously tight.

Stopped at the grocery store to replace the breakfast stuff I tossed and it was crowded. I had to circle to get a space. I forget it's technically the city. It took so long to stop for a few items. I was hot and tired and thirsty. Then the crazy driving to get back to the house. Yesterday didn't run smoothly, although nothing was actually wrong and there were a lot of good moments. 

This trip was an adventure of sorts. I'm leaving feeling a bit tired and ready to go home. 

Next trip is in a few weeks. 

Have a good day. Later gators.

WHAT a day!!!!!

Incredible massage. 

Worth coming up to Asheville. 

Worth the $$. 

I'm all loosey-goosey.

I came straight home after the massage -- too relaxed to do anything else. 

No teahouse. 

No meal out (ate what I brought from home -- turns out that was a good decision). 

I listened to a couple of webinars that I hadn't gotten to -- quiet and relaxing. 

I also started a few practice drawings. A friend belongs to a wellness study and gets free tickets to things -- she gets to bring a companion.

She's taking me to a Picasso Portrait painting class. I'm cheating a little and practicing from tutorials. I don't have paints in Asheville so I'll give it a go when I get home. I'm practicing because I have a hard time be artistic in a group setting -- not enough time to contemplate. No quiet space to figure it out. It's not because I want to be "good" haha. It's about wanting to have the creative ideas already brewing. I have no idea what the class will be like and this might not help, but it's actually kind of fun. I plan to do a "real" painting for my bedroom art wall.

Stay tuned for the colored version Picasso style.

Then DRAMA.

Tornado warning, seek shelter immediately. 

So scary. I was in the basement for an hour. Storm was sudden and massive. Tornado missed us by a few miles. When the warning came it was that strange light in the sky with absolute stillness. No sounds, no breeze. That's when you know it's serious. Then bam!!!

Lost power for 10 hours (glad I ate the food, everything else is getting pitched.)

What a night and I'm grateful nothing is damaged.

I have no idea what the situation is in other areas -- I'll find out today. So many rescue sirens after the storm (for hours). Also, who knew Asheville had tornado sirens? That's an ominous sound (I remember from living in Ohio as a kid.)

That was a full range day. Ultimate relaxation to ultimate stress. 

On another note ... 

I started inviting some girlfriends to a Summer Supper (tomato themed --- hopefully still available at the farm) before the outdoor concert in August. Ladies only. Part of hosting something easy and themed. I'm going to practice some Priya Parker gathering ideas. Stay tuned. 

A friend declined since she's out of town, but invited me to come along the following week with her and her visiting mom to a peach farm and then home to make peach preserves. YES!!!!!! Couldn't say it fast and loud enough. How stinking fun is this?!?! Once I learn, totally taking this idea for future gatherings. 

I love, love, love finding creative friends. 

Now for today. 

Thrift crawl in Black Mountain (assuming no lingering storm stuff)

Lunch at a South African restaurant. 

But first, mountain walk. Bears?!?! Maybe. Nothing too long, but I'd like a little nature time before a shopping day. Also assuming there aren't too many down trees, etc. 

Needless to say, I had a crappy night's sleep. I have ZERO sleep resilience. It did feel like camping with the windows open and no fan noise. I heard ALL the critters. Power crews arrived a little before 4 o'clock and that woke me up for the morning. Lord, they've had a long night. 

Maybe I need to work on sleep resilience a bit ... especially if I hope to do a hiking trip with the club. None of the luxuries of home AND a roommate for 8 nights. Eeek. 

I hope for a less eventful day.

Hope you're having a good week. 

Later gators. 

Asheville

I've been in an odd pattern with Asheville lately.

Good morning, easy drive, great mood. 

Arrive.

Feel sad and want to go home?!?!? 

What is this? Happened again yesterday. Woke up and it's all gone and I'm happily in Asheville mode again. New travel issue unlocked? I'm ignoring it. WTH -- not starting this drama. 

So .........

Asheville morning has been all "Asheville."

Decided to run this morning and I'll walk tomorrow. I've already seen 6 bears. They're out in force right now. It NEVER gets old and I hope it never does. Nature is amazing. 

On the cooldown walk -- whimsy in Asheville. 

Someone's backyard.
That's a bold choice in the best way.

Before I left for Asheville. Garden fail. This HUGE cucumber hid in one of the small garden beds. I cleaned it out. Picked things. Went around it over and over AND NEVER SAW IT. I thought the little chonker was a miss until I found saw this granddaddy. 

Bottom on is regular size.
Chunky in the middle.
HUGE at the top.

Back at the house getting ready to plan the rest of the visit. 

Looking forward to the massage this afternoon. 

Have a good day. Later gators.

Off to Asheville ...

I liked my day yesterday. It was a good balance.

I took care of myself and my future self with things that matter to me. 

Walked before the adopt-a-road cleanup. 

Made a summer veggie soup to stock the freezer.

Finished the sign-waving posters (nothing fancy, but easy to read from the road).

Sorted out some hormone RX things for this week (lots of backorder pbs). 

Managed to pick up said RX just as the pharmacy closed. 

Well done, me. 

I'm heading to Asheville for a few days. Massage tomorrow to work on the shoulder/neck issue. 

Chores this morning before I leave though. It's a trip I don't get to just walk out the door, but I'm in no real rush. I don't expect to go out today. I'll fuss around the house, read, early to bed. Tuesday and Wednesday are the "fun" days. 

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I haven't gone to the teahouse for the last couple of months. The timing hasn't worked out. It's not the pull it once was -- guess things are shifting a bit. Planning to go this trip though and I wonder if I'll have missed or it's falling off my "usual."

I'm not sure what I'm doing on Wednesday, but Tuesday is a mountain walk and massage. I'll be toast in the best way (hopefully) after the massage so nothing Tuesday evening, but relaxing.

The temps look better on Wednesday. Some version of thrifting, nature, new restaurant, teahouse. Home early Thursday. 

Even though I'm in not particular rush, I best get going. I have a long list before I get out the door. Have a good start to the week. Later gators.

Adopt-A-Road and Mushrooms

Stomach recovered. 

Did all the things -- morning sprint.

Then a car and truck marathon all day -- 8 hours!!!!

My good old body is TIRED this morning.

But ... I have a nice balance today (I think).

I'm volunteering for the adopt-a-road cleanup with our group. I like contributing to keeping our town nice, but I really like spending time with such a great group of ladies. It's basically and walk-n-talk. The trash cleanup is easy.

It's a road along a river path so I'm going a bit early to take an easy walk -- not a workout, more like a walking meditation.

Then I'm making veggie soup from the garden. I have eggplant, beans, tomatoes, peppers, garlic, herbs. Got some summer squash from the farmers market too.

If all goes as planned, I'm in the craft room for the afternoon finishing protest/rally sign and painting rocks. 

It's a relaxing and productive day before I leave for Asheville. 

Speaking of meditation. I've asked the question a few times about what to do to get my body in a better place -- heal my neck, strengthen without injury. The answers that came up were interesting and I'm following up. 

Are they the actual answers or a step to lead me to the answers? I don't know, but I believe I had these thoughts for a reason.

First -- get back with my PT who helped my back. Took some doing, but I have an appointment in early August.

Second -- once cleared (fingers crossed), start private Pilates training that focuses on recovery. I've found a few local places that aren't workout studios, but sort of a combined PT and Pilates format. I can't seem to get stronger with lifting without injury. Maybe this is a step in the right direction.

Neither were answers I had swimming around in my conscious mind. Meditation (just getting quiet) is a game changer and I often skimp on it or plain old forget to do it (if I'm not in the workout room). I've never meditated in Asheville (for example). Why not? I'm trying to remember to be more consistent. 

On that note, time for a meditation before I walk. 

Here are a couple of cuties I've noticed lately. I've been exchanging mushroom pictures with a friend. 

Have a good one -- later gators.

Churning and Burning Stomach

I'm "planning" a bit of a morning sprint of activities ... but my stomach is upset so I'm in a holding pattern. It was bothering me enough that I dreamt I had a stomach ache and it woke me up several times. Maybe the magnesium I started?? It's not the one for constipation, but I wonder if that's upsetting my GI system. 

If all settles, here's the plan.

An outside run (in about 45 minutes so my stomach needs to settle soon). First in too long so I can expect to be sore. "Starting over" sucks, but a means to an end. Dang. 

Dog walk through the farmers market and the library for a drop off. He loves this walk and I'd be happy to have some fresh veggies.

Coffeehouse meetup to get postcard script for a local candidate (not in my district, but I really like her so I'm helping with her campaign). I'm the point person for our group and am actively recruiting help.

Add a shower, track setup, toy setup for a 10 o'clock drop off. Babysitting solo all day while the kids and hubby finalize the move out and prep of the townhouse for closing next week. I mention solo because I have to be ready with all the things. No helper hands or someone to keep an eye while I setup. 

Good news ... heavy rains most of the day yesterday and all my outside gals are watered. Yea!!! Such a time saver. Delights me even though it's actually a bit too much water at this point in the humid summer. Hello, fungus and mold.

I've promised book talk and keep reneging on that promise. Here's a little bit. 

I had no idea Stacey Abrams wrote fiction (yep, that SA). It was a really smart book about AI and murder. I liked it, but the subject matter was a bit close to home and gave me all the AI worries that are plaguing us right now. That's my only critique -- I'd absolutely read more of her suspense writing. Pro tip: have a thesaurus handy lol.

Signed copy since she
visited the bookstore.

Started this on the recommendation from a friend. It's a slow burn, slow read, but good so far. Another big fat book this summer. Seems to be a theme this year. I have 2 more chonkers in line. Heading to Asheville on Monday and this is a good Asheville book -- timing worked out well.

This is the return to the library. Fast read, nothing fantastic, but I enjoyed it. The ending was wrapped a little too tight, but that's fluff book for you, and feel-good feels good these days.

No answers on my stomach yet. It's churning and burning. Evaluating from a "bathroom emergency" perspective. Can a run an out and back without needing to GO?!?! Undetermined at this point. I can pivot to a Peloton ride if I'm not completely confident. 

Have a good Saturday. Later gators. 

Name Guesses

Good morning.

I'm feeling a start of an upswing in "doing" energy. It's an odd distinction about energy. I can get in a slump that makes doing things feel too much -- like I don't have the energy for it, but I do have physical energy. It's not like a depression feeling of climbing under the covers and ignoring life either. It's a specific feeling of not having the bandwidth (desire, energy) to do things. 

I have no idea where it comes from, but I think it's hormonally related. I increased my cream application when the labs came back so low again and 3 weeks later I feel more like myself. It's like a fog lifted.

My gynecologist officially increased everything (and it's on backorder), but I'll see if I can source it another way. That's on the agenda today before a mammogram. Also, she agreed, I'm NOT in menopause yet because of the full period in June. Clock started over. Looks like I'm planning another celebration next June. 

I'm also back to being excited and looking forward to small things -- aka I feel happier about my day, week, etc. 

I need to get my shoulder and neck figured out though -- working on it through three channels. Massage, chiropractor, PT (via primary). 

I'm naturally waking up closer to my usual time again. I can tell I'm more rested. Sitting here in my workout clothes waiting for the sun so I can get in the garden. Changing first thing makes all the difference. I'm going one step further to set out my workout clothes -- keeping morning decisions and "work" to a minimum.

I logged my guesses for a granddaughter name in my One Sentence Journal. My grandson's name was on my guess list, but we had a hint that they wanted a simple name and liked vowels (Owen). We have ZERO hints on a girl name.

Here are the girl guesses ... I love them all. I told them I had a guess list and they didn't ask for it hahaha. 

1. Nora (or Eleanor)

2. Louisa

3. Louise

4. Julie

5. Eden

6. Ivy

7. Josie

Today is a simple day -- mammogram late afternoon so I have all day ahead. No plans, but I have office things I want to do and some outside time with Duke. I'm holding to an every-other-day workout because of my injury. Today's an off day, so maybe a walk around town with Duke if it's not impossibly humid (too much for him if it is). 

I'm working on balance. I'm good with my eyes closed and AWFUL as soon as I shut them. Fell immediately. I'm up to about 20 seconds on each foot -- not pretty, a lot of rebalance as I stand, but it's progress. Including this and meditation each day regardless of workout schedule. 

I made a first cottage cheese dinner -- very late to this bandwagon. Eggs and cottage cheese in the blender for the base of an egg bake. It's really good. Stays creamier with the cottage cheese added. It's doesn't seem to be too much dairy for me. I'm making an effort to focus on protein and fiber -- nothing diet-like, just wanting to add more to my day. Protein powder was a total failure and returned it immediately-- absolutely gross. 

Dinner was the egg bake with veggies and garden veggies on the side. My recovery stats were excellent last night. Connection? I'll have to experiment more. More protein to end the day OR less junk food to end the day? I'll suppose both are good. 

Sun is up -- off to quiet, slow garden. Have a good day. Later gators. 

Announcements!!!!!!!

I have news.

Two reveals ... one amazing and one for fun. 

FIRST ...

I'm going to have a grandDAUGHTER!!! Generations of boys and we finally have a girl. Baby is going great and due on my grandson's birthday. 3 years apart. We are super excited that our family is growing. 

I don't know if I'll know what to do with a girl hahaha. I spent 4 hours playing cars and trucks yesterday (probably a little longer). I don't know how to play babydolls. (Of course, I know this is a gendered generalization, and we'd welcome whatever interests from any child.)

Over the moon!! Have to start name guesses -- I hope they announce the name ahead again.

NEXT: 

Color analysis results.

I'm a COOL SUMMER. Summer wasn't hard to guess. COOL was a surprise to me. What this means is a color palette I wasn't expecting, but I absolutely saw how these colors looked nicer with MY coloring. Maybe a third of my closet is in season ... eeek. 

It was such a fun experience to share with my DIL. I'm very excited to explore all the ways to use the information. The color host was out of the big color book so that's being mailed. She also promised an email with a link to a plethora of information -- I haven't received either yet. I'll probably need to follow up. 

In other news ....

Yearly gyn appointment today. I hope we can make a plan to stabilize my hormones. 

Mammogram tomorrow. 

I'm working on getting to PT for my shoulder/neck situation. Waiting on a referral approval from my primary. Not sure if that'll be a go or not. Might need a visit to Urgent Care to get a referral. This is something that needs attention. 

I'm slowly shifting to feeling like myself (probably hormones are shifting). I have a plan and I'm back to focusing on "stronger and lighter" -- jink be damned. 

I sat down and looked at small things that are tripping me up and how can I course correct. 

For example:

I'd like to garden earlier, but I can't seem to get outside. By the time I do, it's hot and I'm rushed. Didn't fit my morning routine and started to feel like a chore instead of fun.

The problem: my garden is in the front of my house and I'm in my pjs until I change to workout. I didn't want to garden outside with neighbors and cameras looking on.

The solution: wake up and immediately change into workout clothes. 

It's working so well, it's embarrassing because it's such a simple solution. I start the tea pot and espresso machine and head outside. It's cool-ish, quiet, perfect moment to have a garden moment. 

I've also made progress on ruminating over friendship woes. I seem to have let "that" person almost leave my head completely. She gets under my skin for a minute here and there, but I've otherwise kicked her out of my thoughts. How? -- practice. Noticed I was doing it and told myself "nope, you want different energy" or some version of this and redirected my thoughts. 

Freeing up headspace is leaving me space to put my energy into other areas. I signed up for a couple of volunteer opportunities. Not sure where either will go, but I'm back to feeling like I'm moving in a direction that suits me. 

1. Directly helping refugees.

2. Donating my garden extras to a local food bank using a donation program. 

I'm waiting to see if I've been approved for either. The refugee situation is more involved and probably won't move forward until the fall.

This was a big lesson from life coaching ... you have to let go before you can have space for other things. Match your energy to what you desire, not to what you don't want. This was the driving reason to stop ruminating on a person and a group that doesn't work for me. I'll hike occasionally with the Tuesday group (maybe) and that's enough. I'm moving in a different direction, but this was a good stop along the path. 

Okay, I was a bit more chatty this morning. Hope your week is going well. Later gators.

Hello, Monday

Good Monday! Let's get at this week. 

"Friendship" streak ends today. It was a really fun 9 days of social stuff, interesting gatherings, good friends, great conversations. Today is a lunch with my DIL's mom -- might get postponed because the restaurant she wants to try is closed on Mondays. We'll see -- I sent a text to send later this morning. We haven't caught up in a bit and we now have another grandchild in the works to get excited about. It's nice that we have a friendship and were able to navigate any competition or such that comes with sharing family.

This week is somewhat back-to-business. A couple of yearly medical appointments mid-week, chores (hello, indoor plants), errands. 

I'm organizing a poster making coffee for our Friday group for upcoming protests and rallies. I suggested something small at my house, but it's grown to something bigger at our coffee place. I'd prefer it here (and that was the original invitation) because it's an easier setup with supplies. I agreed to move it to coffee with the stipulation that I'm not bringing a lot (no paints). Make it simpler. Holding my own quiet boundaries. 

That's the week in a nutshell. I'm going to try and focus to get my neck and shoulder on the mend. 

Rest.

Eating well (for inflammation).

Sleep. 

Fingers crossed.

This means going back to sleep this week after my very early natural wake up time. It cuts into my morning routine time which is already a little pushed in the summer heat (garden, etc), but it's worth the extra healing sleep. Oura ring agrees. Last 2 mornings I got up at 6 o'clock instead of 4:30 -- and my sleep stats were noticeably improved. I think my body needs it right now (hello, wonky hormones). 

That said, it's getting late and hot so I need to get in the garden. 

We'll chat Color Analysis soon -- fun and interesting. 

Okay, hope your Monday is a good one. Later gators. 

A Pity Party

I have some sort of problem. 

Remember the neck, shoulder situation? It comes and goes and was relatively feeling good so I tried an easy arm workout yesterday. No pain. Got to biceps curls and I have a significant left bicep weakness. After about 4 slow moving curls (cause I couldn't move faster), my bicep quit. Couldn't lift the weight at all.

After a rest, regained some strength and then it petered out again. It feels strange this morning and is less defined than my right arm (which is common for me being right handed), but in light of this weakness, I wonder if this is a symptom too.

Then add sign holding for 2 hours and I could barely move by evening. 

Chat thinks it's a C5/C6 nerve pinch, but this isn't something to screw around with. I don't get medically worried often, but this is worrisome. Pain is one thing. Muscle weakness without pain at that moment is another. 

I think I should quit "stronger and lighter" because it's bringing the opposite. Am I being superstitious-- you bet!!!!! Feels like a big jinx. 

This is a crappy setback for my fitness goals. Workouts are on hold or modified. Figuring this out with the medical insurance and such will be such a slog. For now, I'm resting it and will see what next week brings. Chat said not to "test" it repeatedly because I can make it worse. Not sure where to start. Guess it has to be with my primary. What a potential long road. 

I'm absolutely feeling extremely sorry for myself today. Hello, pity party.

I'll tell you all about the color analysis another day because it bothers my neck to look down at the computer screen. It was a lot of fun and a big surprise (to me) -- I want to give it its proper dues. 

A couple of pictures from the protest with the signs I brought.

Also, Duke and I walk past this little funny setup most days. I love whimsy. 

The fake armadillo always
startles both of us lol.

Kids over for the World Cup final today. Getting takeout to let my arm rest as much as possible.  

Have a good one. Go SPAIN!!!! Later gators.

Friendships

The friendship week continues (and is still going for a few more days) ...

Lunch at a friend's house was lovely. Her gardens are beautiful and there's something so nice about someone cooking a meal for you. I brought tomatoes from the farm stand and cucumbers from my garden -- "just right" little something to bring.

Our friend who lost her husband was there and it's hard to know what to say. She's deep in grief and I questioned so many things that I said -- was it right? too much? too little? I'll keep showing up and doing the best I can. I understand why people pull away when there's such intense grief. You feel like you're not helping or you're doing it wrong or you're making it worse. Of course, that's going to happen because everything hurts for her right now and she doesn't even know what she needs moment to moment. We want to make it hurt less and we can't. 

Friday was a long meeting at our standing coffee -- small group this week, but lots of laughs. My friend made me cucumber gazpacho with pineapple (my cucumbers). Another meal gift and it was fabulous. 

Not too sweet, bit of heat
from a jalapeño.

I baked a loaf of GF bread from a mix my DIL gave me at Christmas. Trader Joe's has been out of their GF sliced bread. Proofed "rustic" hahaha, but tasted great. Tomato sammie for dinner. Worth the long drive to get the tomatoes. 

Soft warm bread.

Incredible texture.

Proofing a bit wonky.

Excellent mix with the yeast
packet included.

Today is a full day. 

We're having a local protest in town. ICE raids are unacceptable and awful. It probably won't be a big crowd since it's last minute and not a national protest, but I'm going to support a friend who organized it AND, of course, support human rights. It'll be full sun and very warm -- can't wait for the weather to break a bit. 

Then switching gears a hard 180 and getting a color analysis with my DIL (same one who gave me the bread). Coffee after to chat about it. Looking forward to the afternoon. Am I a summer? a spring? Stay tuned.

Hubby is back by evening. 

It's been a good week. This was such a nicely balanced week too -- plenty of easy social and plenty of solo time. I'm eating better (feeling a little better). Getting outside. Spent more time in appreciation for this week. It was a kind of who's who of friendship week -- I'm very grateful for these women. 

I'm also grateful for the work I'm doing to sort out friendships, sort out where I put my energy and time. Understanding I'm not for everyone and everyone isn't for me. I can evaluate and trust my gut. I'm also better at accepting seasons of friendships. Realizing my energy attracts similar energy. Intentionally building. Lots of learning at this stage of life. Still struggling with the letting go aspect, but I'm keeping at it.

I know I haven't talked much about my birthday review and year going forward. I haven't forgotten ... stay tuned sometime soon-ish. 

I'll end with the best part of this morning ... HEAVY rains yesterday and I moved all the porch pots into the rain. NOTHING needs to be watered today. Why is this such a relief and a joy?!?! Summer is plants and more plants -- inside, outside, and everywhere. I love them though!!!!!

Have a good Saturday. I'm heading out for a sunrise run. It's been a minute. Lots of walk breaks to keep my back and shoulder happy (fingers crossed). I just typed this and checked the calendar, I'm running TOMORROW. Geez. Today is strength, balance, long meditation ... and a dog walk. I did a longer walk (4 miles) and a short run (one mile) with him yesterday. Easing back into running so my regular run waits until tomorrow. Glad I write things down hah!

Later gators. 

Hello!

Hello! This week got away from me. Lots of easy, fun, friendship-heavy days. 

I say this, but I'm not as appreciative as I should be and it's bothering me. My mind has been swirling some negative chatter all week. It's some self talk BS. My "stronger and lighter" year is not starting well. I've been eating like crap, exercise is off (shoulder), hormones are a mess (hot flashes, night sweats). 

I feel blah.

More like weaker and heavier.

And HOT, not like hot girl summer, like hot flash summer. 

I'm going to work on the one thing in my control today -- food. LIGHTER is the key word. This should help with some of the night time sweats. Not a diet (never again), just smaller portions and no grazing. Let's see if that feels better (of course it will, I'm not fooling anyone).

Tuesday was fantastic. Spent time with a friend touring a community garden, learning about a charity to help Refugee women (in particular), dined at an Iranian cafe. Home to babysit my grandson. Then a couple of phone calls to round out the evening. 

Here are some pictures of the gardens. There are beautiful murals and such all along the garden, but I'm not posting the pictures since the bots are active again. 

Squash hanging from the top.

Use everything as a trellis.
This was a mattress spring.

Making planters from old tires.

Everything works in a garden.

HUGE bean

Wednesday was equally lovely. Spent the day with a friend at a semi-local indy bookstore. Most excellent conversation with her all afternoon and the bookstore was another gem. A few more friend contacts (fun text exchanges) -- felt the friendship all day. 

Today is another friend day. Invited to lunch and a look at her garden. My friend who was widowed will be there too. It's friendship and support. The host started an elimination diet to see if she can figure out some joint pain. She's also an excellent flower grower. So what to bring to her house (she said nothing) -- no dessert or flowers given the circumstances?!?! An actual gift feels like too much. 

Then an idea ... reserved some large slicing tomatoes from the farm stand this morning. I'll bring enough for everyone since none of us have large tomatoes growing. Perfect. It's near my old house so a bit of a drive, but it's worth it. 

Here's a bit hard-to-see picture of the baby birds nesting in my herb pot. Google search says they're baby wrens. 

Tunnel nest

Little yellow beaks.

My "friendship week" continues until Tuesday -- it's a really nice homebody social streak. Lots to do, but nothing is hard or rushed. That's a good balance for me. I just need to feel better. It's a crappy circle partly of my doing -- trying to break it today.

Hope you have a good day. Later gators.