Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Hoping this slips in before the network OH is on goes down again...

117.2 - 3rd day in a row. Weird what the body does.

Thanks for the Safari advice. It does sound like it might be worth the expense but I don't think we are ready for a multi-week trip next year. We may see if we can get on the list for the following year (this organization does one per year and will take up to 20 people each time). At least one other couple (one of the ones we went on the charter with earlier this year) might be interested in going in 2027 so that would be fun.

We had our bucket list meeting yesterday. We threw out one destination (too far away from anything else and not enough to do there). The rest we kept and categorized. Obviously the Safari trip bubbled up. We categorized the trips into inexpensive/easy to get to (Bermuda, Bahamas, etc); expensive but definitely worth doing (Safari, Greece); and opportunistic - worth doing if combined with something else or if a good price/trip with friends comes up (Napa Valley, Alaska, etc). So we may knock off one or 2 of the easier ones in a year when we aren't too busy, then work toward the ones worth it. Gives some structure anyway.

Today after DH has his PCP appointment we are going to the beach club, then home to clean up and back there tonight for the Welcome Back party. It has a Margaritaville theme. Should be lots of fun - anyone back for the season is going. DH wants to talk with his PCP about what his ideal weight should be. All his test numbers are great for cholesterol, BP, etc. but he is still in an overweight BMI category as he is not very tall but has a lot of muscle in his legs and arms (not so much in his core). I think normal BMI would have him at about 165 which I think would be terribly thin for him (he is low 180s right now).

Our club is sponsoring a fundraiser for people in Jamaica. We have several employees from there whose families and friends are affected. They need food, water, electricity, you name it. One of the employees is going to coordinate getting all donations packed into barrels and will bring them personally to Jamaica to distribute (our Club will pay for the barrels and transportation). Makes it feel like a more directed donation in a way?

Time to get motivated for our long Justice walk. He is ready! Have a tippy Tuesday!

2027 sounds like the perfect year to go on the Safari. I like your club's hands on approach to getting donations to Jamaica. There are lots of great organizations, but it's always encouraging to know someone will personally see that donations get to the people who need them. Our Argentinian friends did the same during a crisis in their country. Their ex pat group here also started a monetary donation chain, and when one of them went to Argentina to visit, they brought the donated funds, and bought supplies there to disperse. Again, I think there are many charitable organizations who do good work with their donations, but there is a comfort in eliminating the middle man and knowing donations are going right to the hands that need them.

Possible snow predicted, but nothing here. Weak sun, and cold, but not bitter cold. Paula, no doubt not missing it for one minute : )

Today is working out, decluttering some spaces, and reading. When I finally got out of bed at 9am, after laying there awake for awhile (the house was cold is my excuse, we need to reprogram the thermostat so it doesn't set back again at 7am) I thought, wow, 2nd hour is starting at school. This is very,very, nice.

We started watching the American Revolution by Ken Burns on PBS last night. The first episode was aired Sunday, so we back tracked and watched that one on the PBS app. Each episode is about 2 hours long. But if you can'****ch it as it is broadcast, the app worked great. We enjoyed it. One of the historians framed it as our first civil war: the patriots vs the loyalists. Interesting thoughts. Actually , lots of interesting information. We will finish the series.

You all planted the pot roast idea in my head and I made one last night. It's so good, but I forgot how much I HATE my house smelling like long braised onions! I must have woken up 15 times thinking, "ugh, onion stink!" And it's too cold to air the house out, but it's clinging to every air molecule. I failed to think this through... AND if I had a KITCHEN VENT, this wouldn't be as much of an issue. Kimble'd again!

Raining and the "feels like" is 40. Brr. But I have a dog on my feet - his preferred napping spot.

No outside plans today. I need to write the neighborhood newsletter, which I always procrastinate, but looking back it feels good to have done it.

I just sent off the follow up information needed to the Trex people. Despite them paying for part of the materials of this adventure, it's still a 5 figure fix (on top of the 5 figures I already paid for the roof repair). This house...shaking my head. But I'm water tight today, so it's not all bad.

I think I need to go wipe down every surface to try to assist in the onion removal...

Have a great day!