days_unfolding

Overslept a little but made it into the shower. Got the recycling out. I'm so sleepy. Scrambled at lunchtime to put makeup on because I needed to be on camera for a meeting. (I'll have to do so tomorrow too.)

Mimi is giving me the cat pep talk (“Get your shit together and feed me.”)

I’m having IBS symptoms. Not a fun day.

I found a Panama Canal cruise in 2026 that I like. It starts from Panama, transits the Canal, and then goes to the "ABC" islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao). It ends in Miami, which I'd also like to see. Maybe I should book it. Oh, apparently I didn't check the singles rate, and it's going to be too expensive. Maybe I do need to take Celebrity again. Sigh. It is much more reasonable. I'm also looking at Holland America. Oh wow. Holland America has a reduced fare one for March of next year. It's quite reasonable. It also stops in Puerto Vallarta, which I'd like to see. I'd have to skip the St. Lucia trip though. There also is a Bermuda cruise in 2026. It ends in San Juan, so I'd get a chance to see what I missed there. But do I want to book two cruises in one year?

Maybe next year I should go to St. Lucia and Italy? (No, see above.) I asked the St. Lucia guide if there would be time to go shopping in Castries (I think that there is a large market there), and she said, "Yes, there is free time". So I just need to decide whether to book it or not. Hmm. I'm looking at flights to St. Lucia and they have either short connections or very long connections. Chicago to St. Lucia is not a popular route for the airlines :) I’ll sleep on deciding but I think that I’m going to do it.

Okay, now I'm thinking: 2025: Panama Canal cruise and Italy (Amalfi Coast). 2026: St. Lucia and Italy (The Lake District). Or do I want to go to Paris in 2026?

Urgh. I need to get my Christmas cards out.

Some serious snow is coming down. Okay, it stopped with some accumulation, but not enough to have to dig out. Good. I have some errands to run, but I think that I will wait until daylight tomorrow.

I received a really cool-looking and cozy set of pajamas (you could wear them with people over). I can't link to it because it seems to have been taken down off the Web site. Here they are.

I also received a ton of my new diet cookbooks. I just realized that I don't have tape flags to mark recipes, but I have some Post-It notes. Well, I just found tape flags. There are some interesting recipes. I'm kind of looking forward to cooking and "eating clean". There are some dessert-types of food too, such as chia pudding and rice pudding and yogurt with toppings. And the recipes that I've looked at so far emphasize protein. (It's Prevention's 28-Day Get Lean Diet for Women Over 40. The Skinny Taste Cookbook looks less interesting. Oh well, I can sell any cookbooks that I'm not thrilled with.)

I have to go get cash so that I can buy things off of Facebook Marketplace.

Hmm. I didn’t find a sparkly top for caroling, but I found a black top with gold, blue, and purple splotches plus a black velvet blazer that I would wear with black pants. It’ll do.

Lay down and dozed for a few minutes, then woke up. I need to practice piano and work on the kitchen. Now I’m thinking eat something, practice piano, go to bed, and get up early to clean.

Got the clothes in the dryer. Apparently, I washed the Honda key, but it's still working. Way to go, Honda key. My back is killing me.

Got the app to use for weight loss installed. Logged my first meal. I'm thinking of doing a weight-loss bet through HealthyWage to defray some of my costs (done).

Paid my YMCA bill (it was on my old card) and checked that I was registered for yoga.

Hmm. Another book club posted 1984 as the book for the month. I don't really want to read 1984. I was trying to talk myself into reading it, but why? I have plenty to do without reading a book that I don't want to read. So, no. Plus I have a weight-loss book to read.

I was wondering if I should try Zumba on Mondays. I had a feeling that I had something else going on on Mondays, and it's my weight-loss call. Fardles. Maybe I can reschedule it? Yeah, my coach said that it would be good for me to do Zumba, and we rescheduled for Thursday afternoons. Yay. I also brought up some exercise videos from my health insurance that I can do at home.

I made it to Yoga! I got my "scan card" (you scan it when you arrive and leave) and went to the class. Well. It was the toughest yoga class that I've ever been to. Another new person was next to me, and he got up and left partway through. I told the teacher that it was the toughest yoga class that I had been to, and she said "Oh no!" But I agreed to come back. (it's been hours since the class, and my abs are still twitching.)

Afterward, I went to the fancy smancy grocery store. It had great produce though. I got kiwi, pineapple, and mangos, some cut up pineapple, and some kiwi and strawberries to put into a infuser, and a salad mix. By then I was starving, so I got a yogurt parfait (I was proud of myself for getting something nutritious) and some plastic spoons. And some granola squares. And a silicone glove for baking. It was expensive. Like $90 expensive. But the produce was beautiful. Afterward, I sat in the car and ate the yogurt. And then I went home.

Mimi was chewing me out because she was hungry! And I hadn't been home! Well, I just ate yogurt in a car, so I can't complain too much :)

I have a boatload of stuff to do. The manager of my mom's trust said that I should get a payout to fix the house next week, so yay! But she asked for receipts, and that will take a while. Plus I need to make up time at work because I left early (done). I need to take pictures of my blobby self for the weight-loss coach (done). Etc.

I forgot to mention that I got my new glasses the other day, and I wore one pair for the first time today and love them. Like "I might want another pair" love them. I'll try to remember to take a picture of me wearing them.

I'm probably the last person to realize this, but yoga pants are oh so comfortable. I'm tempted to get another pair or two (done).

I found an "over 50" workout online that looks good, but I need to clear some stuff out to make room for it. And buy some hand weights (done).

I forgot to mention yesterday that I heard the news about Sinéad O'Connor and gasped. I hope that she has found peace.

I don't know why I'm so tired today. I got up early but went back to sleep because I was so tired. And I napped at lunch.

I'm wondering if I should start dieting and get BistroMD meals. I'm looking for diet-friendly desserts because I have a sweet tooth. I'm looking at frozen yogurt and fruit. Any suggestions welcome! I got some suggestions from ChatGPT and Google Bard. (Google Bard won because it linked to recipes.) But I'll need some mixing bowls and pans, and I haven't found any in the house. I just bought some metal mixing bowls. I could use a food processor too. Mom said that she had one, but I'm not sure where it is. I bought a refurbished Cusinart on eBay. I'll take it back with me.

I signed up for BistroMDs plan. We'll see how it goes. I also sent an inquiry to a weight loss accountability coach.

My motivation is to be able to walk more easily. (I get winded.) Looking better is a motivation too, but not my primary motivation. I bought some books on weight loss. Oh, maybe looking better is a major motivation. I'm kidding myself.

I left my glasses outside. Way to go.

I ran errands, singing Simon and Garfunkel's "America" in the car. The clothes returns are on their way. I've got my meds. I got some pretty nail polish at CVS for my toes. (I think that Walgreens will get my prescriptions back though because they are offering Doordash for meds.) I got a magazine about losing weight, also at CVS. And I got some sparkling water at Walgreens.

Aww. I closed my eyes briefly, and Mimi crashed out next to me. She's been very cuddly lately.

Somehow, it got late. I need to get to bed soon so that I can take my shower before work and run more errands at lunchtime.

I was sitting here singing, and Mimi started meowing back to me and jumped on my lap. Zara likes it when I sing or play piano. So two thumbs up (paws up?) from the critics. They hate my guitar though.

I've decided that I like Noom. It's making me more conscious of my eating. I like it better than low carb because the foods aren't restrictive. I think that I could do this for a while. Though I am hungry a lot of the time. I've discovered that yogurt is a good filling snack.

Found a rain jacket that I'd like to get, but need to wait until after my trip.

I read an article about how playing golf might lengthen your life. It's something that I've always wanted to learn (and, in fact, I have some golf clubs that I bought at a garage sale). The U of I apparently has group classes, so maybe I'll take some when I move there. Heartland had a class, but I missed the registration deadline.

I'm trying to figure out my meals for Madison. (I'm trying to eat cheap.) I think that I want to get a pizza on the Friday night so that I can eat pizza for lunch the following day. (I'm saving Madison-related stuff on Pinterest.) Then I'll have biscuits and gravy the following night or for Sunday lunch. Hmm, maybe Chinese food instead of pizza? That should have leftovers. And it's healthier. Decisions, decisions.

I need to buy a Madison map.

Well, I frittered away the evening. I've got to stop doing that. I think that I'll go to sleep and reset tomorrow.

Ugh. I'm wondering if I have some allergies. Sinus headaches out the ying-yang (which is a nice trick :)) And a sore throat. And my face is warm, so I might skip guitar tonight. I wonder where my thermometer is. I need to run out tonight though to run a couple of errands.

I'm accumulating resources for learning Greek. I have a book and recordings waiting at the library, but I don't know when I'll get over there. Probably Tuesday or Thursday. Read an article: "Greece has reopened, but here's why you might want to wait to go". Bother. The upshot is that a lot of places aren't open, plus you have to find a place for a COVID test before going back. Well, the Greek islands are supposed to be nice in the spring. However, I'll be moving, so scratch that. May of next year?

Hmm. Costa Rica is open to people from the U.S., and TravelZoo is listing a $599 trip from the U.S. But the only departures from Chicago are May 11th and 13th. No can do. Oh, there are more departures at a higher rate. For that matter, there is one in November during my birthday. Hmm. I think that I'll ask about the rate for one person because it's double occupancy. But I'd have to drive, and I don't think that it would be a good idea to drive by myself where I don't speak the language. Tours are more expensive, not surprisingly. I did find one tour that wouldn't break the bank.

I'm thinking about abandoning low-carb and getting some oatmeal for breakfast. It'll keep me full a lot longer. I wonder if I have some sugar-free syrup to put in it? Hmm. I should start calorie counting. Weight Watchers will let you join for only $10 a month, although there are free calorie counters out there. Noom is much more expensive.

I did do guitar (I should just do things and not think that I have a choice), and it was okay, except I'm painfully slow on the chord changes. I need to practice. We were doing "Margaritaville," and I was wondering what the young girl in the class was thinking of it.

I ran errands...and forgot to get sugar-free syrup. Bother. Maybe tomorrow. I did get the oatmeal. I could put fruit in it.

I tried calling Mom tonight instead of tomorrow night, but couldn't get through.

I'm trying to get up the energy to do something constructive, but I'm tired. Maybe I'll study some Italian and Greek (done). That requires zero energy. Italian is really easy to spell. I was nailing the spelling exercises.

I just can't do more. I need to sleep. Pronto.

Crud. I didn't do laundry. I guess that I'll do it in the morning.

I didn't set an alarm, so I woke up at the time that I need to get up for work. Bah. And Zara, who usually doesn't sleep in the bedroom because Mimi's in there, was on my shoulder! Good to have her snuggling with me. I went back to sleep.

It just occurred to me that I need a kitchen scale to measure out portions.

It's nice when it's the weekend, and I can linger over breakfast. But Zara wants to be fed RIGHT NOW!

Nap time. Zara decided that she wanted to snuggle with me during my nap, but Mimi was already on the bed. Rude kitty noises were exchanged. Mimi went away (in the bathroom?)

Hmm. I found a salon in the Champaign-Urbana area that's supposed to be great. Maybe I should go there when I get my new hairstyle, although it's more expensive.

I didn't cancel Freshly in time, so I got meals today. But they're a ridiculous amount of carbs, so I won't be getting them again. I might look into Factor. No, Factor has even more carbs. Yikes. Need to look into low-carb food that I can prep on the weekends. I bought a Keto slow cooker cookbook. That will help.

Hmm. My ex-husband and his wife are considering retirement. I'm happy for them.

I'm trying to convince myself to throw myself together and go to the store. It's supposed to snow tomorrow, and I'd rather drive in rain than snow. No, the rain is coming down hard, so I'll wait until tomorrow. Or I could do a pickup on Monday. It'll be dry then. Yeah, that's what I'm going to do. Economy of motion. And I still have carb food to finish.

I was looking at ketosis test strips, but how do you know that they're accurate? I see reviews saying, "Oh, they're so accurate." Based on what?

I bought the cheesecake pan on Amazon. I'm supposed to get it on Monday, and like it better than Walmart's set of pans because I need only one pan, thank you. And a kitchen scale that measures in both grams and ounces.

Entered and submitted my grocery list and paid some bills. The rain is still coming down in buckets. It sounds kind of cozy.

Zara wasn't on my lap when I was on the computer, which is unusual. I found her in my, er, their bed. Zara and Mimi have reached an uneasy bed detente.

Talked to Mom. She sounded good. My aunt's hip surgery will be at the beginning of March, so Mom will have to go to Chicago the week before then. Mom is looking into getting the COVID shot, but having to go to Chicago for three weeks or so is making scheduling difficult.

Studied Italian. I need to get up earlier than normal on a weekend for the Italian class tomorrow, but I'll nap afterward.