Hi Jeannie and my OFF family:

I've been up and at 'em since 6:30 a.m. ... much too early for me. And I had to do it without coffee or food because I had to do fasting bloodwork. I just had water for most of that time. I started out the day at my favorite doctor, Dr. Whitacre, who put in the trial neurostimulator. We declared the trial a success, so now I have an appointment with the doctor who will put it the permanent one. It's about the size of a half dollar, maybe a little bigger. And it will be wireless. So cool. Kind of like a pacemaker, but for my back. My appointment to meet with that doctor is April 7. ... my dad's birthday. I think that's a good omen. Dad spent his last few years in pain from replacement hips that didn't work well, plus he had shrapnel in his legs from WWII. I think he also probably had fibromyalgia, but that was never diagnosed back then. I inherited lot of my arthritis and pain issues from my dad. Still love him though. He died in 1984, the year I moved to Montana. I moved there in March, he died in May, from colon cancer and kidney failure. I got home in time to say goodbye. 

Then I had to have blood drawn for some blood tests my PCP wanted. After that, I went out for breakfast, stopped at Sam's for a few things (good deals on peanuts, protein bars ... Premier Protein, hope I like them ... cat treats, etc.). Then I had to go do battle with Verizon again over my tablet that doesn't charge. I have insurance on the device, so either I'll get a new device or they'll send a box for me to ship it back to be repaired. I wanted to go grocery shopping, but I was pooped. Plus, I started having pain again, so I came home and started doing laundry.

Gary and I had a good time at the winery; we each bought three bottles of wine and will share them. Then we went to dinner at a new Mexican restaurant that was very good. I had fajitas with shrimp, steak and chicken ... there was so much there, I have enough for two more meals. 

It looks like rain today and my body is feeling it. I have a headache. Not feeling good at all. Jeannie, the most moving I did was walking around Sam's ... I thought about using the electric cart, but decided the walk would be good for me. Not a whole lot of moving, but anything is better than nothing. Can't go back to the pool until Friday ... but I can shower tomorrow!

This is gone on long enough. Hope everyone is good. 

Good morning Jeannie and Cindy and all my sistas,

The construction zone continues.  I'm sure all my neighbors on this little cul-de-sac wonder WTH is going on.  And I'm sure they're getting irritated with all the big trucks, trailers, equipment, etc. that's clogging up the entire circle!  Today is trash day and there's no room for the trash truck to come up in here.  It's a three-ring circus.

BUT--I do think it's coming together beautifully in the back yard! I just didn't realize how pretty that white stone would look against the black wrought iron. But I love it. I'm going to put the black mulch down after they get the roses and trees planted. And I'm going to LOVE my little raised vegetable patch! I had planned that feature for Butch, but I like to grow veggies too. I can have tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, herbs. And with the mild winters we have here, I'll bet I can grow carrots and lettuce and greens over the winter.

I just hope my yard is put back together for Easter this weekend.  It sure is a big mess right now.

We had a major bad thing happen this morning!  OMG.  My little dogs and the neighbor's little dogs had a FIGHT.  The doggie barrier around the bottom of my fence is off right now (they will put it back after they finish the beds), and Lulu and Patty Kate went right through the fence and got in a BIG FIGHT with the little wiener dog next door.  My neighbor is justifiably upset.  I'm upset.  We've been so careful to keep the dogs in during the construction this week, but Mom let them out around 7:30 a.m. to go potty before the guys arrived here.  Just really bad luck and bad timing that my neighbor let her dogs out at the same time.  Golly.  She went to work, but I have left an apology note on her door and have offered to pay any vet bills, etc.

BUT--and this is the good news of the day--I weighed 204 this morning!  I weighed 208.2 last Friday.  Whoo hoo!  All these shakes are worth it, although they do get harder and harder to choke down.  This morning's concoction is the orange protein powder with half a banana and a couple of chunks of fresh pineapple.  It's tolerable.  My favorite is the vanilla flavor with half a banana and a tablespoon of peanut butter, but I try not to make that one too often.  

Well, it's my turn to hold the baby, so I'll close.  Pics tonight!  Love you all!

Ladies,

I know today is going to be worry free for all of us. I have a busy morning but not so busy that I cannot spend a few minutes doing Yoga. When the students are not in class (spring break), we do Yoga in the lounge outside of my center...So, all of us Yoga enthusiasts are meeting at 10 and we are going to have an hour session.  

Other than doing a little sewing later today, I have a pretty restful day planned. My husband's internists called yesterday and said he isn't sure about releasing him for surgery because he has developed some heart issues.  After my husband called me, I called his doctor and surprisingly got right in and he said that from the blood work and the EKG he did, it looks as if DH has had a silent heart attack and he and the surgeon think a few more test should be done before they put him under general anesthesia.  So, he is going in tomorrow for a stress test and more lab...now here's the deal...a stress test on a man who has been on big doses of pain and nausea medication for kidney stone and gall stone pain! Does that make sense to anyone at all? 

Well, let me quit trying to second guess the medical community. I need to get ready and head to my office. 

Oh, this morning, we tried the new oats we bought at the health food store. They were so much cheaper than the boxed oats we buy in the regular store and they are organic.  I cooked them today thinking they were going to taste exactly like Quakers but I was pleasantly surprised. 

Ladies, have a great day...move a little...eat with a plan...and get a dose of sunshine. 

WOW!!!!!!!!!!! Have a GREAT TRIP!!!!!!!!!

Hi Linda and my OFF family:

Gary and I spent the day at a winery tour about 2 hours from here. We schedule it for the noon tour, but on the way there figured out they were on eastern time, so rescheduled for the 2 p.m. tour. I got it on Groupon for $19; it was a good deal. We got a pizza, two wine glasses, wine tasting, tour, and a cheese and cracker plate. So we got there early and had our pizza first, checked out their farmers market and bake shop, the cheese and ice cream shop and the gift shop before the winery tour. There were a lot of stairs (and I did them, although they weren't easy, but I wasn't in pain), but it was still very nice. We got to taste eight wines. We each bought three bottles of wine. It was a pleasant day, although very windy. Not in pain, although my feet hurt from standing at the wine tasting. It was a nice day. 

So we're back home and tired from all our fun. Even Juliette is sacked out on the couch ... all she did is sleep while we were gone. 

Have a good day.