Wednesday Chatter

Morning skies,
gray, rain on the way,
heat and humidity bringing on the storms
I see myself running between the raindrops.

 

Good morning everyone. Looks like we are in for a hot, humid, and showery day. Would be okay if the showers cooled it off some, but my understanding is that they are only going to make them worse. Oh well, this is August weather. To be expected.  Soon we'll be complaining that it is too cold.

This afternoon I have my opthamologist appointment and hope I can make it there through the raindrops. It's like 6 blocks away, but who wants to walk in in a heavy rainstorm. If we're between showers an hour before my appointment I'll just take my Kindle and head on over there. Coming home I don't care about getting wet.

I was so happy to be back at Brooklyn College yesterday. I really missed it. Didn't even sign up for the summer semester this year because I knew I'd be going through some dental woes. Speaking of Brooklyn College, I was talking to my daughter the other night about teaching there when I have my Nutritional Consultant and Holistic Healing Practitioner certificates. The program I am in is always looking for new courses, and you probably remember how disillusioned I was with the teacher they already had what with all the wrong info she was spreading and refusing to allow comments and questions from the class. So I figured I might try my hand at it. Just a thought right now. If anything it is still a year down the road.

Have a good one.

Enjoying a quiet morning,
of what will soon be a busy day,
peace, quiet, solitude,
soon to ends as the world around me comes alive.
(My morning writing for Awake August)

 

Good morning everyone. Looks kind of gray out there, and I understand that it is going to be a warm and humid day.  In fact, they say it is  going to be really miserable for the next few days. This morning I'm off to register for classes this morning. So excited and looking forward to September.   Stopped at the 99 cent store and bought all my supplies yesterday. 

 

Spent all afternoon tearing everything apart looking for my pencil case.  After the fiasco last year with my white jacket, I don't take any chances with my pens.  Couldn't find it and was ready to stop and buy a new one today when I sat at the table this morning, and there it was sitting in the back by my napkin holder.  I'd forgotten that I'd needed a pen a few days ago and had already taken it out of its summer hideaway. Oh, the aging memory.  (Sigh)

I'm thinking of having my lunch at the cafeteria before I come home, but that all depends on what is on the buffet. Still on soft foods so tuna should be fine, but what to have with it is the question. Also want to check out those pudding parfaits. Yummy.

Have a good one.

Monday Morning This and That

Good morning everyone. Looks like we are in for another fantastic weather day here in Brooklyn. This morning I am off to the bank to get some cash to enroll in school tomorrow and for Ralph's birthday on Friday.  I have been participating in a FB group called August Awake.  Each day in August we are supposed to post something little.  I usually write something about morning because that is what 'awake' means to me.  Here are a few of my gems....

Monday morning,
a new week begins
full of promise,
the sun is shining,
the air is cool,
so great to be alive.

 Woke early this morning,
too early, too abrupt, too soon
tried to get back to my awesome dream,
of youth, of times long ago,
but, alas, just as that time has passed,
so has my dream.

Cloudy skies cover the early morn
Grayness over the earth,
Late summer moodiness
Too hot, too humid
Welcoming the rain.

Afterwards I have to have my phone checked out. This is two months in a row that data has gone in two weeks despite using my phone less. I actually have cut my phone use in half. We're on a plan, and Ralph uses his phone more than I do but never runs out of data so he wants me to check and see if something is up with my phone or why else my data would be going so quickly before we pay on the 13th. 

Been making progress with my teeth. I always like to taste my food while I am cooking, and yesterday I was able to taste some small pieces of meat. I was able to lightly chew, but having a little difficulty with swallowing. I'm also have some issues with my jaw. It's feels really tense all the time, very uncomfortable. I think it is because my old bridge and partial were so worn down.  At any rate, I'll talk to the dentist about it.   I no longer have to blend my fruit, and last night I sat and ate my orange slices and strawberries without a problem.  In fact, I almost ate the whole box of strawberries as you can see.  Still not ready to dig my teeth into a juicy steak and haven't tried chicken yet, but  I am grateful for each small step.  I'm totally aware that this is not the finished product; that is still  months down the road.

Hitch your wagon to a star.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Good morning everyone. Slept a little late today, and it felt good. Wish I could do it more often, but I think this was a little catch-up from the night before. I was so excited when I got home from my son's  play Sunday night that I had a lot of difficulty falling asleep and then woke up at my usual early hour. So my little sleep-in this morning was very much needed.  

Had a wonderful time at the play, and I was such a proud mama.  He has worked so hard for this and got so many claps and cheers.  It was an awesome experience for me, one I will never forget.  Wish my mouth had felt better, but I keep reminding myself this could take months.  Part of me was glad that no one went out to eat afterwards.  It was pouring when we left, plus everyone had to get up early to be on set. 

Had a doctor's appointment yesterday.  First time I saw him in awhile.  Didn't get yelled at too bad. Did get a lecture though. (In one ear and out the other). Actually my appointment went well. Got my note for Weight Watchers. Now hopefully they will raise my goal weight. That's the one thing I find unfair with Weight Watchers.  I pay $44 a month and have never missed a week, yet I never get a break.  Someone comes in with only 7 pounds to lose and once they lose it, usually in a couple weeks, they become a Lifetime Member and get to attend for free.  I understand that they cannot give free to all of us, but I don't find that fair at all, and I feel they should do something for us regular members, some sort of incentive. 

Got an appointment for the ophthalmologist for Thursday evening. Definitely need to see him. My eyes are getting worse. Also had my blood drawn. I will say he was very gentle. I appreciated the fact that when he found my vein was rolling he pulled out and said, "I am going to try the other name. I don't like jabbing a patient." The second arm was okay and didn't feel a thing.

Next week I am off to register for school.  Can't believe it is that time already.  My correspondence classes are the ones that offer me my certification, but the campus classes offer me the opportunity to social and make new friends.  Hoping they have some good courses this year.

Have a good one.

My blood pressure was normal at the doctors yesterday. It's usually fairly normal here, the highest in months has been 144 over 90 but usually spikes when I see the doctor--white coat hypertension. Yesterday it was 134 over 84. I think that's because I was feeling strong when I went. Wasn't going to be bullied into running here and there to see doctors at this point....although he really never has bullied or never wasted time sending me to 10 different doctors like my doctor in Lutheran did.

Saturday Check in

Each fairy breath of summer, as it blows with loveliness, inspires the blushing rose.

Author Unknown

Good morning.  It's going to be another hot one with heavy showers on the way in the afternoon. No plans on going out. This morning I want to cook up some cauliflower and broccoli. When I cook them to the point where they are soft, I can eat them. I know I have probably cooked out most of their vitamins, but right now I have no choice. Will be cooking up two meals for Ralph as well.. Bought myself some tiny shell macaroni and I hope to be able to eat them with sauce.

All in all, though, life is good. I'm healing and making progress, and where I once felt depressed and hopeless, I am now looking forward to eating solid food again. I know it's a process, and once the pain goes away I will have to learn how to chew again, but one step at a time, and I will finally get there. Yes, life is good.

Lost another .6 pounds this week.  Slow but sure I am doing it.  Gosh, when I think of it, two years ago at this time I couldn't even walk a block without losing my breath or leaning against something because I was in pain.  Life is good.

My poor hubby.  He really tries. I had been whining the other night that I wished I could eat some chicken,  but I couldn't chew it at this point.  He went to work and brought me home a chicken pot pie from Kentucky Fried. I opened the fridge and there it was with a little note, "This is soft so you can eat this. Enjoy"  So sweet of him, and I love him for the thought, but it wasn't exactly something I could 'really' eat.   Soft is one thing, but healthy?  Have you ever checked the nutrients on this?

People that don't have deal with high blood pressure usually don't pay attention to stuff like this, but I am always concerned...and then there is Weight Watchers to think about.  You are going to be shocked at this one.  Looked it up online. 2,120 mg of sodium and 32 Weight Watchers points. And the day before weigh in? I took a spoonful to make him feel good, and then I guess I have no choice but toss the rest. He won't eat it. Never see any homeless around here. For me, it's a killer--both for my health and my weight.  I hate to waste food, but I just can't eat it.  Wouldn't it be nice if these places made their food healthier so we could ALL enjoy it? 

Got some great ideas for Lammas food.  I think soup is the way to go at this point.  

Have a good one.

Wednesday Check In

Old Time, in whose banks we deposit our notes
Is a miser who always wants guineas for groats;
He keeps all his customers still in arrears
By lending them minutes and charging them years.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Good morning everyone.  Sure has been hot and humid around here. It's been so hot here you can fry an egg on the sidewalk.  I've been staying in mostly.  Hate to see the AC bill, but I'd rather sacrifice in another area than suffer.  TodayI have to go out.  Bill time again.  I swear, these months fly by faster and faster.  We'll already be celebrating Lammas on Monday.  I can't even remember Beltane it went by so fast.  And soon it will be time to go back to school.  Have to get over to the college and register next month.

Been working hard on my schoolwork and just finished my project and final for Healing with Whole Foods and sent it in.  Now I wait for my grade.  Just received word on my Dietary Wellness course.  Got an A on that one.  Now I am working on Human Anatomy, not a favorite subject but one that must be done so I figured I'd just get it out of the way.

Still dealing with problems with my mouth.  I have pretty much adjusted to the top, but on the bottom I keep getting sores in one spot so I've been unable to eat anything but soft foods as of yet.  I realize it's not even a full two weeks yet, but I get depressed because I love to cook and love to eat what I cook.  Sometimes I wonder if I will ever have a piece of chicken or a steak again.  They have adjusted it twice, and when I leave the dental office I am feeling good, but by the time the day is over, I'm right back in pain.

This upcoming Sunday eve I am off to see my son in his first off-Broadway play.  I am so proud of him.  He knew what he wanted, and he went after it knowing how tough it was.  I'm so looking forward to it, but also secretly hoping that they don't want to go to a restaurant afterwards.  Don't know what to order if they do. Any suggestions?

Have a good one.

 

Friday Roundup

Even the woodpeckers owe their success to the fact that they use
their heads and keep pecking away until they finish the job they start.

Coleman Cox

Good morning everyone. Looks like we are heading into a heat wave here in Brooklyn. Won't catch me out there running about. I don't get along with humidity and only step out when absolutely necessary. Plenty to keep me busy here at home.

So, things went well at the dentist yesterday. I'd thought it was a husband/wife team, but it was his daughter who shares the office with him. A father/daughter team. And she was so nice. She fixed me up. hopefully, and now it is just a matter of healing up the sores. For now. As gums shrink more is to be expected. But I will say yesterday I felt so good and so proud in Weight Watchers.

 

Congrats to me. I did it. Not only hit the 50 pound mark but went past it. Lost 2.2 pounds bringing my total to 51.2. Granted I have been on soft foods, but I could have chosen higher point fattening soft foods, but instead I stuck with well cooked veggies and fruit smoothies. Check out my coin.

 

 

Speaking of Weight Watchers, a WW buddy pointed out that it has been a great July for me--Leadfoot left, teeth done and looking beautiful, and hit my 50. It has been a great July.

Had my first almost solid food last night and savored every minute of it. I made an omelet--eggs, creamed spinach, and one slice of Weight Watchers American cheese. Very little chewing involved and it tasted so yummy that it's a new favorite for me.

Have a great weekend.