Monday, November 17, 2025

117.2 - unchanged even after 2 meals out yesterday. DH probably didn't fare so well. He is really fighting the hungry horrors lately. A lot of Ben and Jerry's ice cream has been consumed but not by me.

The safari presentation was very interesting. It is a 2 week trip which several people that we know took last year. Really amazing places that they stay in and beautiful trips to wineries, etc. and actually on safari. The safaris are in areas where hunting is not allowed (DS was upset that we were contemplating it because he is very much against hunting exotic animals just for sport). The animals are just amazing. It probably would be the trip of a lifetime if we did it, but I don't think it is in the cards for 2026. 2027 will be our 5th anniversary so maybe then? Very expensive. DH nearly choked but I expected it to be as much as it was or more. Luxury accommodations all the way and all food and drink included. He wants to try and combine our bucket lists this afternoon LOL. Should I add the safari trip to mine?

Golf was fun but I swear I play worse in these things than with the women in my golf association. Lots more FISH and balls going the wrong direction than usual. Sigh.

This week is busy leading up to the arrival of DH's family on Saturday. We have 2 nights out - a Welcome Back dinner tomorrow at the beach club and a dinner out with friends on Thursday. DH suggested that we see some other friends outside of our community some other night. Then we have stuff at the house including the glass/mirror cleaning on Thursday.

But today will be a Justice walk, water aerobics, bucket lists meeting, and leftovers for dinner. Have a monstrous Monday!

An African photo safari is definitely on my bucket list for future vacations! I say add it to yours! What was the ballpark price quoted?

$16K per person

Our "balance" is slowly shifting to south eastern US ! Sadie and I are going to NY for Thanksgiving. She is really slowing down and flying is not an option. I am switching up indoor decorations from autumn to winter and have cleaned and staged my garage to shift seasons outside when I get back.

Paula, welcome to the south y'all ! PEPS grooming three day old puppies must be 99% socializing and exposing to grooming tool ! Puppy snuggles are the best. DD & CC continuing to send positive energy your way as you support your parents. BB, love the pictures of the girls on FB ! Diane, I enjoyed your skirt/shirt too. Liz, I still couldn't keep up with you if I tried.

Back on tirzepatide. When I was maintaining at 137-141 for months, I stopped and slowly put on ten pounds. The food noise just became overwhelming ! It wasn't healthy things I craved, either. I'm starting my second week through Noom + Meds and am settling right back in on track. Today, after being able to access Fitbit on the phone app, I realized I must have been living under a rock in that area of my life. Fitbi****ches applications are being replaced by Google Pixel ? Who knew. The Fitbit applications on my phone and computer are no longer being supported. I really need to upgrade my Samsung phone too, and I don't want an I anything. I may need to upgrade both phone and watch. Have you migrated from Fitbit already ? To what ?

Nice to "see" you.

Enjoy your trip to NY to celebrate with your family!

The house repair saga marches on. What would a week be without something breaking? Yesterday it was the steam generator for my shower flooding the mechanical room. I have never even used the steam shower! The mechanical room for that end of the house is accessed through an outside door, so it's not in the house, but jeez, come on. I called the hvac/plumber this morning to ask if they work on them. The office manager is going to ask their head plumber. I turned the water off to it and the power, so hopefully it won't get worse. But I was sponging up water in that hated cramped room with horror movie dim lighting and dead scorpions everywhere. Blech!

Today I need to go to the post office to mail a package to my UK friend's son's house in North Carolina that she's visiting next week. But that's all that's firmly on my list.

I am making Christmas cookies this year for people with or without the cookie exchange party, so I've been making dough recipes and freezing them for baking later. 3 kinds down. I might make another today.

So that's it from here. We got some rain yesterday, but not nearly the biblical downpour they were predicting. A few more chances this week...

Take care all!

202.4 up-down, up-down....

Disney Day! Yay!!!! As Liz says, the bus leaves at 10:15.

Dog sitter from Seattle is a very close friend who has 2 of my puppies (now 6 and 4 years old). A snip, snip equals tail docking with three puppies requiring rear dew claw removal.

16K per does not sound unreasonable for a luxury safari. I am considering a Viking Cruise in 2027 that takes one around Iceland with an additional 5 days in Norway. It runs roughly 12K per.

Hoping the rain in Anaheim is less than originally predicted. We shall see! Fingers crossed.

If I have time, I will check in from the Mouse House! If not, see you all Thursday.

Everybody who goes on Safari seems to rave about it. If this is something you want to do, I would definitely put it on the bucket list, and soon. (2027?) Although it is luxury, it involves long flights to get there, and some physical stamina is required, bouncing around in jeeps, time changes, getting up early if you actually want to see animals... And I think these type of trips actually protect animals. If there is profitable sfaris that DON'T involve shooting animals, that adds incentive to not hunt them. One our friends went on, that sounded luxury, donates to animal protection organizations, and also gave people on the tour the opportunity to bring school supplies, and visit a school.

CC it sounds like Claudia has done her homework, but I get the pull to Mayo. I'm glad he is staying in the hospital, even though this is probably not what he wants at all.

Thank you all so much for your kind words and support about caring for my parents. It helps a lot!

Today started with our regular coffee trip. We were enjoying a chat with a very nice couple at the table next to us, when my BIL and SIL walkd in. They were thrift store shopping, and saw us in the coffee shop on their way to St. Vinny's. That was a nice surprise, and we chatted for a bit.

Home now, where I'm not going to do much, except read the paper, and a few simple chores like unloading the dishwasher. This weekend we are going to a graveside service for our friend's Dad. They are Jewish, and my understanding is the family gathers on the aniiversary of their loved ones death yearly, for, I think, 5 years. We have attended every year. Sometimes it has been bitterly cold, other times, not so frigid. One year an eagle circled overhead while the cantor sang. We also have tickets for a jazz concert at a club in Minneapolis. Other opportunities will probably present themselves as the week goes on. Right now I am very happy to have an unscheduled day.

Greetings all

It was raining this morning but the sun is out now. If I laze about long enough the weather improves. Air drying hair before I go out and about. The kiln opens and I will have new things to run up to the gallery. Just completed a business license form for the gallery and they wanted this weird form completed about industrial waste water. Jeez we are just a little retail store.

Safari Liz. You should do it. I would if I felt up to it. Agreed that eco tourism is good for animals - supports keeping them safe. Makes me think to ask DH about bucket list plans. He has mentioned Catalina island at times. FISH Lol.

Hellooooo Ocean Diane! Good to hear from you. Glad you have a holiday trip planned. Good on you for doing seasonal decorating. We are the neighborhood Scrooges as we don't do it but others do and we sure benefit. Wish I had advice on fit bit but I have grown unhappy with them - can't read the tiny numbers.

So peps enjoy the Mouse House. I used to know a guy who grew up in Anaheim and he had worked at Disney several times. He called it "working for the Rat". I think he played the trumpet in the toy soldier parade. He said all the workers tried to have sex in their Disney costumes. Do Mr. Toad and report back.

DD glad you survived the weekend. Glad to hear your dad had a fun time. He needed the break. Your presence was therapeutic in many ways. Enjoy your free day.

CC years ago I got a pseudomonas infection after one of my many hand surgeries. Nasty bug. I had an allergic reaction to an oral antibiotic and had to get a different one with benadryl or else go to hospital. Glad your dad is getting the iv stuff and that Claudia will keep him at it. Sorry to hear about the broken pump. hope it does not mean a third porta potty.

I got a dinner entree from the hippie deli - bbq pork and potatoes and corn. Looked good. We will find out. Meanwhile I wish I could just live on pizza.

We started watching Down Cemetery Road on Apple. It is good - a mystery thriller which so far has nothing to do with cemeteries.

The bra ads continue. They all reference senior saggy boobs. So I am indeed offended.

Diane S