Friday, May 30, 2025

118.2 - last weight before Aruba (I will probably weigh there but in a bathing suit in the gym).

I was thinking about my morning routines including writing on this forum. When retired one really does build a new morning. DH and I often wonder at the fact that ours were essentially the same even before we met. Get up early, have coffee, read news, etc. for about an hour, walk the dog, shower. The first things I do after coffee are to record my weight, go through my email, then read the comments from the prior day here. Ever noticed that I respond to those first before I post rather than responding as part of my daily post? Because I can't remember them all to carry forward! But you all are part of the start of my day and I thank you for that!

Yesterday was drizzly but productive as most everything got packed. Luckily it was dry enough in the morning for the usual Justice walk. We went to dinner at a new restaurant with DH's DD and SIL who arrived late yesterday with their dog. Good food and atmosphere - we will go back. They are driving us to get our rental car early this afternoon, then will stay the weekend and take Justice back to their house. They leave for a trip to France before we get back so my DS is picking Justice up from them on June 12 and bringing him back here to stay until our return on June 16. The logistics get crazy when you have a dog.

But before we leave, I am doing the last 2 loads of laundry, walking the dogs on the beach and finishing the packing. We are staying at a hotel closer to the airport tonight, then leave on our flight at 10 am tomorrow. Sunday morning at this time I will be drinking my coffee on the patio outside our Aruba room.

Have a fantastical Friday!

Congratulations Peps!!!

Back from the last Friday I will ever teach a class. Next Friday I am using a sick day to go help my parents, and the following Friday, June 13, is a grading day with no students. Yee haw, because Fridays this time of year are kind of crazy. Today I had kids fighting, whining, crying and dehydrating. The dehydrating one was funny. I got an email 1st hour from the sweetest student filled with panic. She was in her 1st hour class and she forgot to fill her water bottle, and the only water bottle station she knew of was on the other side of the building, and did I know where the other ones were, and it was okay if I didn't, but she thought I might be able to help, so she's asking... yes I did know. Sometimes it's easy to be a hero :)

Our pressure washer arrived! We have a busy weekend, (we can't miss coffee in St. Paul, which is a bit of a drive!), so I'm not sure how much we'll get to try it out. I'm especially anxious to try it out on the white Adirondack chairs. They're made of that lifetime type heavy plastic, and they have some texture. Texture, which just accumulates dirt. I've been cleaning them every spring with a spray bottle of diluted bleach and a scrub brush, but its a loathsome job.

I am thinking about the retirement overscheduling. Right now I am so tired, a little bit of nothing sounds good. Every summer since DH retired has been pretty full steam ahead. Now that we don't have to plan all the trips between mid June and the end of August, I'm looking forward to being home more. Summer here is lovely, and my flowers are growing. It's going to be great!

You are going to LOVE the pressure washer for the chairs! I have that kind of furniture in MI and it gets grimy and green. A pressure washer makes it effortlessly like new.

I agree with CC - I have used power washers on many things including that type of chair. They work great. But do it on a warm enough day as you may get a bit wet. And be careful not to directly power wash yourself - I got my leg once when power washing the deck stairs and ended up with quite a bruise.

I was released from grand jury duty! The number of people there who thought it was a one day thing amazed me. And the grousing when they heard it was 4 months! Lots of legitimate excuses why people couldn't commit. And vacations meaning you'd miss 3 or more sessions meant you were excused, but you had to wait to be seated in the jury box to be asked, and I was one of the last. I felt so uncomfortable listening to the people with no valid excuse lie. They were all bad at it. One guy was particularly determined to get out and said his religion meant he needed to be in the house before sundown and he lived an hour way. It's summer and the sessions don't go past 5pm. When that didn't work he pivoted to other lame excuses and the judge finally washed his hands of him. The judge was surprisingly accommodating, kind, and understanding of people's hardships. And most were very legitimate. He wished everyone well and thanked them as they were dismissed. Like the guy with prostate cancer and the one who just lost his job and needed to find a new one fast as his wife's income wasn't enough to have them be able to pay the mortgage, and the young kid with no car who borrowed his parent's to get there. I've had some jury duties where the judge requires you to be actively dying to be let off and then made you feel guilty for doing so. I will be getting $115 in mileage and jury duty pay reimbursement, which was a pleasant surprise. They give you a debit card with it rather than checks - interesting. I came home and promptly fell asleep. How did I used to function that early??

It's hot (92) and getting muggy. There is a storm in Baja that should bring rain here this weekend. Most to Tucson, but they need it.

I'm embarrassed to report I've had regain even with the 15mg. It just doesn't seem to do anything for me anymore. I'm envious of you who get benefit at minuscule doses.

Congratulations to our retiree and near retiree! I'm so pleased for you both!

Take care and have a great weekend.

CC, please don't feel embarrassed about regain. What have you done that makes the medication less effective? Nothing. But I am sad that the meds don't give you the same bang other people get. But that is not your fault certainly, just disappointing. My daughter took Saxenda for almost a year, and she lost nothing, even though some people do. Some people can't lose steadily on Wegovy, and need the extra umpf of Zepbound. There is another medication coming to the market soon ( I think it starts with an R), that is considered more effective than Zepbound. If Zepbound worked well for every person who needed it, this new medication wouldn't be necessary. Something to look into?

I am sorry you have had regain - DD is right - it just doesn't work the same for everyone.

I'm glad you got out of jury duty without too much difficulty. I was envisioning a judge of the type who doesn't accept any excuses (I saw one of those once when summoned). I was excused from the jury that time because one of the lawyers didn't want me - I think because I worked for an insurance company.

Greetings all

More sun here. Did my usual leisurely morning followed by walking at the gym. I make little bargains with myself to get myself to go (ie if you just go you can quit early if you are tired). Who is this other person that lives inside my head that I am always arguing with? I told her that exercising is the mortgage on a good life as per DD. True indeed and a good way to thing about it when feeling especially lazy.

Even worse I had a carby breakfast this am. I did not feel good. Not a good idea. Back to the eggs.

Also did some errands to CVS and the hippie grocery for a few needs. Coffee and wine are two of the four food groups. Then I went to the studio and made more stuff. Slugs won't make themselves. I really need to build up some stock.

Liz good that you and your DH are on the same schedule. I sleep late and myDH gets up. But at least that is when he does dishes. Safe travels.

DD your retirement is so close I bet you can taste it. Don't overschedule. Your soul will tell you when to get busy. I would say enjoy the power washer but that is a sort of foreign concept. But it sure sounds like a better way to wash deck chairs. Gosh kids having water bottles at school! We got no such thing and drank from fountains. Quaint.

CC hope Kirby is feeling better. Sorry you have to show up for the jury. Same issue in this county - people have to travel to show up. And people get called all the time here. Hope you get to escape with no drama. A grand jury would be an interesting experience but not at that distance.

Cheers all and Bon voyage Peps. Diane S

You have been so dedicated getting to the gym and walking. Is there no good place outside to walk on nice days? That might give a bit more incentive. Maybe at a track at a high school if looking for even ground?