Tuesday, July 1, 2025

It is July already! Just one more night in this apartment as we move to the hotel near the wedding tomorrow. And DH arrives around mid-day tomorrow. Yay!

We are using an app called Splitwise to keep track of expenses and split them up. Anytime one of us pays an expense for the group we enter the amount and check off who is splitting it and it keeps track of it all. Really helpful! To use the free version each user can only add 4 expenses per day but if you start it fairly early on that should be plenty.

I did take a long walk on my own yesterday (2.5 hours). I tried a walking tour I found online which started in our neighborhood but it kept me more in the neighborhood than I liked. This is a safe, sort of middle-class area but there is a lot of trash thrown out on the sidewalks to walk around which gets a bit disgusting. So I walked up to an area I had been through previously and walked streets fanning out from there. I also found a newer way back to the apartment which was more pleasant. I found what is supposed to be the world's largest Primark store and bought a lightweight dress for walking around during the day. Most women wear long flowy skirts or dresses here - they do also wear pants and shorts, but dresses/skirts are more prevalent. Yesterday afternoon I went with DSD to a few art stores to look at prints. I got one but she didn't find anything.

The Flamenco last night was fantastic and we enjoyed our dinner at the world's oldest restaurant. Hmmm...oldest and largest - seems like Spain likes to have the mostest LOL. The dinner at the restaurant was good but expensive. Our waiter was a bit cranky and seemed annoyed if we didn't make decisions quickly. One of those kinds of places where they want you in and out quickly to make way for the next group.

We are somewhat getting used to later dinner hours as most restaurants don't open until 7:30 or 8. The wedding on Thursday doesn't start until 7:30. Dinner is at 9:30 and the first bus back to the hotel is at 2 am (the last at 4 am). These Europeans like to stay up late.

This morning I want to walk back to the section we were in for dinner last night and explore. This afternoon we have a private tour of the palace booked where we will push SIL around in a wheelchair. Dinner TBD with the 6 of us (nephew and niece arrived yesterday and were with us at dinner last night).

Have a timely Tuesday!

Just came back from another 2.5 hours of wandering up and down some cute little side streets. More well SIL did not come again because she has a terrible cold. Hoping less well SIL and I don't get it!

Brazil also has that late night vibe (probably from Portuguese settlers) where dinner is at 8pm, and weekend night going out can start at 10pm and end with the sun coming up! Do stores shut down at noon, or is Madrid too go go for that? I like the southern European custom too of lunch being the main meal, and the evening meal is lighter. It's wonderful you have the stamina and the energy to go out in the heat and explore. all of your Justice walks and water aerobics etc are serving you well!

I am shifting back to normal, whatever that is in my new life. I took a LONG nap yesterday, and was worried I wouldn't be able to sleep last night, but I did in fact sleep deeply. I woke up naturally at 7:30am, read a bit in bed, and got up at 8am to have my Earl Grey Latte on the porch while I read the paper. A few little birds treated me to viewing when they stopped by the bird bath. Today is a perfect summer day. Bright sun, nice breeze, heading for the low 80s. Everything is green and vibrant from sll the rain we missed last week. I'm going to go work out in a bit. Today's plans include going for coffee when zdh gets home at noon, putzing with my flowers, and unpacking. I don't have a lot of laundry to do because I washed a load of clothes at my Aunt's house before we left.

DD and her beau continue to be having the sweetest time. The way she describes him, he treats her so well and she is smitten. If they are still dating in September, we will get to meet him then. She thought it was a little too early this visit, which was fine with me, because I was super tired when we got to her apartment.

I didn't gain any weight whie I was away, but my weight was a few pounds above my preferred range before we left. It floated up in April, and I am having a devil of a time getting it to stay down. I'll lose a few, and think, yes, here we are, and then it pops back up. I am increasing my dosage today to see if that is helpful. I've been using Wegovy for over 2 years, and maybe it's effectiveness is waning a bit. I thought stopping the cancer medications would cause my weight to shift downward, but that hasn't been the case. Well, now I have some time to work out, shop for groceries and eat well, so we'll see what the next few weeks bring.

Some of the restaurants shut down between meals but the stores are open all day. I don't mind eating later but I can't stop waking up when it is light out and have never been good at napping. I may have to try to nap tomorrow because the wedding doesn't start until 7:30 pm and the first bus back to the hotel is at 2 am. I think we have to be up and out fairly early the next day too as we will be be traveling to Barcelona that day.

I am glad you returned to such nice weather. Now you can really feel retired.

203.2 - So the water weight gone, it seems to me I really only gained about a pound over my 18 days of travel. That is a huge win for me. That has never been my norm - even post VSG.

Liz, you are a great travel adventurer! I love that you just get out there and GO! My brother is like that, too. I am less so. While Ron and I went off to the Hungarian countryside to see the horse exposition, my brother walked around Budapest exploring. I thought that was pretty cool.

DD, I still want to know - front porch or back porch for your reading and lattes??? I'm glad you are finding your flow. I am not sure I am finding my flow yet. I think I am spending a little too much time in the morning with coffee and the computer. But that's okay. I will find my flow soon enough. Maybe this will be it - Super leisurely mornings with most errands run in the late morning and afternoon???

PS consult was pretty much what I thought it would. He broke it into face work and body work. He suggested to start with what is most important. I decided face is first. (Ron was surprised I chose face before getting rid of the loose skin on my waist and belly, which then made me question my own priority.) One thing that was great for me was the surgeon's remark about the skin on my torso, arms. He told me that he was shocked by how well my skin responded to the weight loss. He said my skin had great "snap back". He understood my want to get the tummy tuck. He works out, so he gets it. He said, "Oh, yeah. You've got obliques under that fold. I can see them. I can see why you want that to show. I like my core work to show, too." I go under the knife on January 7, 2026. Deposit is paid. I think I'm doing basically what Liz had done at about the same age, if memory serves me: neck and lower face. It's basically from the eyes down. Focus for me is neck tightening, jaw line (I HATE the jowls), and nasolabial folds.

My goal is for a time on task Tuesday! Adios, muchachas!

Doing a facelift first makes perfect sense to me. It's the public part of you that everyone sees. Also, if you are still losing weight, it's not time for the tummy tuck yet. So new year, newly refreshed face! Congratulations on moving forward on your vision of your best life.

Yes, the same facelift. I still think it is helping my face though it has been 8 years since I did it. My jowls are getting a bit soft, but I'm not sure I will do it again. I had my face and my tummy tuck done at the same time.

And what is wrong with that daily flow? Very similar to DH and my day other than the Justice walk and exercise in the mid to late morning.

I was up and out early today to head to Flagstaff to get my blood drawn for my thyroid. They had my medication in the office so I was able to get enough to tide me over until they get the results and change my dosage. Hyperthyroidism is like whack a mole with dosages!

Then back home to give Kirby a bath. He's fine with the actual bathing, but transforms toweling off, blow drying, and brushing into full contact sports. If I'm not bruised tomorrow I'll be shocked. He's not fighting me on getting those things done, it's that he gets so excited, he can't contain his paws and teeth. But he's super soft and clean for our flight Thursday.

Storm clouds are brewing and it's 94 outside, but I don't think we'll be lucky enough for rain today. The forest is so parched. We need it! 40% chance tomorrow.

I think that's all for now. Be well everyone!

Ugh, thyroid treatment is such a moving target. Do you think the need for a change of dosage has impacted your progress on Zepbound?

Ooh, hadn't thought of that! We'll see!