Thurs 31 Dec

Last day of a momentous year in which I turned 60 and retired after many years of employment. We are going to De Pere for an overnight New Year's Eve celebration, something we have never done before. Food: 7:30 am 1 butterhorn, slice Bundt coffeecake, 1/2 grapefruit, 100 grapefruit, coffee Exercise: 9:40-10:40 am Jessica Smith Cardio Party and Core Walk DVDs

Wed 30 Dec

We now have "enough" snow on the ground for it to truly look like winter. Might even be enough to cross-country ski or snowshoe. No time to try it out until at least Fri afternoon or Sat though, with the New Year's holiday coming and going to De Pere tomorrow and with gym/Bootstrap and possible Tom N Jerry's with the Hartmans tonight. Tonight's supper was one that many around here wouldn't eat, but I thought it was delicious. Beef liver w/caramelized onions (w/cloves and balsamic vinegar), boiled turnip greens and leftover mashed potatoes. Good eating! Food: 7:40 am 3 butterhorns, 1/2 grapefruit, 102 g blackberries, coffee 11:10 am 2 slices Omega 3 toast, 2 tbl PB, 2 clementines 5:45 pm 5.5 oz beef liver w/caramelized onions, 1/2 c boiled turnip greens, 1/3 c leftover mashed potatoes Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill intervals 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 29 Jan

I have determined that my black and white long dress purchased for Doris and Richie's wedding looks acceptable with a black turtleneck and leggings underneath for the "black and white" themed dress for NYE at the Cafe Chanson. I can dress in my room and will not need to be outside in what looks to be quite a cold evening. I have either a white or a black shrug which I will take in case it's cold in the dining room/bar. Today I want to go to Target to get the A Walk in the Woods DVD which should be released today. Otherwise I have the day at leisure to fit in exercise and any other tasks I choose. I spent yesterday afternoon when the snowstorm hit reading in my recliner with an afghan and Christmas cookies, so I have had a dose of retirement laziness to last awhile. Food: 7:50 am 3 butterhorns, 1/2 grapefruit, 103 g blackberries, coffee 10:00 am Christmas cookies 12:30 pm Leftover Applebee's cedar-planked chicken w/wild rice blend 2:00 pm Spiked Eggnog chocolate bar Exercise: 11:15-12:25 pm Leslie Sansone 5 mile walk DVD 3:15-3:30 pm Jessica Smith Latin Dance DVD

Mon 28 Dec

Found my appointment card for my last haircut. I had to call Sue to determine the date/time because I couldn't find the card anywhere. Apparently I had stuck it under my computer keyboard and it worked its way too far to see. This morning it peeked out to tease me. Should have texted Mary before I walked to Suzuki to confirm that she meant this Monday and not next week. At least I got my 10,000 steps from the walk and the storm did not yet begin. Food: 7:35 am 3 butterhorns, 1/2 grapefruit, 100 g blackberries, coffee 11:25 am 2 slices Omega 3 toast, 2 tbl PB, med banana, 20 cal Nestle cocoa 12:25 pm 2 pc chocolates Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill intervals 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 12:45-1:00 pm Walk to Suzuki 1:05-1:20 pm Walk home

Sun 27 Dec

I have a feeling of "here we go again" this morning, like now that the holidays are over, it's back to life as usual. Let's do it. Painful Packers game, especially for Aaron Rodgers who just got pounded over and over again. Food: 8:15 am 3 butterhorns, 1 c fruit salad, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm Steel cut oatmeal, 1 tbl flaxseed meal, protein powder, 1/2 c frozen blueberries, soy milk, 4 TJ's dark chocolate stars 4:00 pm Christmas cookies & goodies 6:00 pm Uncle Will's meatballs, 1/2 c mashed potatoes Exercise: 9:40-9:55 am Walk to church 11:00-11:15 am Walk home 12:30-1:35 pm Jessica Smith Cardio Barre, Power Pyramid Walk, Fat Blaster Walk DVD

Sat 26 Dec

Neighbors just packed into their car and drove away. I assumed they were taking their daughters back to college today, but I suppose it's also possible they are going to celebrate with out-of-town family members. I forget that other people do that. Saw Star Wars in Madison yesterday when we took Laura back, then met her again at Baldwin St pub for fish fry dinner. Saw on the Internet recently that Applebee's offers a 15% discount to those 60 and over. It's true. With the $25 gift card Bob got from someone he worked for, we had dinner with $.75 leftover. Food: 8:15 am Butterhorns, fruit salad, 100 g blackberries, coffee 1:15 pm Leftover catfish, shrimp, grits, chunk of peppermint bark 2:50 pm Christmas cookies 6:00 pm Applebee's large house salad, 2/3 portion cedar-planked lemon chicken w/rice blend Exercise: 3:45-5:00 pm Jessica Smith Walking DVDs

Thurs 24 Dec

Not sure if the butter horns are going to raise; it apparently got colder than I expected last night and the dough not only chilled but may have partially frozen. I was able to roll them out and they are currently on cookie sheets in the warmed oven to raise. I'll give them a try. Fireplace does not want to stay lit this morning. Bob thinks the chimney may have iced over in last night's storm. Doesn't look promising for a quick fix. On the brighter side, the butter horns did turn out. Another delicious brunch with Hartmans. Eddie was the only representative of the younger generation present. Kathy made wonderful breakfast enchiladas. Food: 8:30 am 2 wedges light spreadable cheese, 1/2 grapefruit, 100 g blackberries, coffee 9:30 am 2 butterhorns 7:30 pm 1 c Shreddies, 1/2 c light original soy milk Exercise: 3:25-4:45 pm Jessica Smith YouTube: Latin Dance; 1 mi interval; Belly, Buns & Thighs

Wed 23 Dec

Gym and Bootstrap today to keep me busy so I don't fret about the bathroom job. Yesterday afternoon was fine while I had presents to wrap, but afterward I had no specific plans. Reading always helps. Food: 7:45 am j skinner maple cinnamon roll, 1/2 grapefruit, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:45 am Slice Omega 3 bread, 54 g braunschweiger, Dora's croissant w/crema cocoa 12:30 pm Molasses Christmas cookies Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill, mostly walking 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 22 Dec

Having the bathroom torn up for painting a few days before Christmas sucks. Food: 7:00 am j Skinner double maple cinnamon roll, 1/2 grapefruit, 100 g blackberries, coffee 1:05 pm 4 cheese fries Exercise: 7:30-9:20 am Walk w/Kathy

Sun 20 Dec

Hopefully no more nasty surprises with my email or credit cards today. Opened Facebook yesterday to vent about my frustration and saw a post from a former coworker who was very glad to still be alive and unhurt. They were driving on the highway at 70 mph when a tire fell off the car. Put my little frustration in perspective in the grand scheme of things. Food: 6:50 am 1 c Shreddies, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, 101 g blackberries, coffee 9:20 am 2 small Christmas cookies Exercise: 7:45-8:00 am Walk to church 9:00-9:15 am Walk home

Sat 19 Dec

Eggnog pancakes for breakfast today! It's truly the Christmas season. Today is a day to wrap presents, bake cookies, and tie up any loose ends. Probably to plan my Christmas meal and make sure I have everything I need on hand. Nice to not have other obligations today to interfere. Tomorrow we will go to Mass at 8 am so we can leave immediately afterward for Mayville for an overnight at the Audubon Inn. If we go early, we will have lunch at a nice little Italian bistro in Mayville, then drive out to the Horicon Marsh to either drive or hike, dependent on weather. We will take in the Visitor's Center and plan a short jaunt, hopefully returning to check in at our hotel around 3 to take in the Packer game. I have ascertained that we do have a TV in the room, or we can choose to go down to the lovely bar room where I'm sure it will be also broadcast. This is Wisconsin, after all. Quite a day. I seem to have discovered a possible reason for the issues with my email. Apparently someone got some identifying information re: my Kohls charge, possibly from the email receipt from my online purchases. They then proceeded to order some other things, notably a large Keurig coffeemaker and a Ninja blender system, the first on 12/17 and the second today. The coffeemaker was delivered here this afternoon, to my amazement. I checked my account and it had been charged on my card as an online order. After talking to several people on the Kohl's line, I was able to get them to cancel the card and they are assigning an investigator to check things out. They suggested I call the credit agency and also file a police report, which I also did. We returned the coffeemaker to the local Kohl's store so it was taken off my bill. The woman on the phone seemed most concerned about cancelling any possible rewards earned by the purchases. The only motivation I can imagine is that whoever hacked my email got the Kohls cash numbers from the rewards emails and planned to use it to get free stuff in the store. Sigh. Food: 7:45 am 3 eggnog pancakes w/butter & maple syrup, 1/2 grapefruit, 98 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm Turkey soup, slice Omega 3 toast w/butter, 2 clementines 6:30 pm 4 cheese fries, orange, 6 oz scotch ale

Fri 18 Dec

Yahoo canceled my email account yesterday evening and I haven't yet been able to recover it. I opened a new one so they would have a place to communicate with me, but I want my own account back. I can't begin to think what a pain it would be to transfer all the emails I want to get to a new account. Yikes! Food: 7:40 am 1 c Shreddies, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, 99 g blackberries, coffee 11:30 am Polito's pizza, spaghetti, alfredo, breadstick, salad, cookies Exercise: 8:50-9:10 am Treadmill intervals 9:15-9:25 am Treadmill walk 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 17 Dec

Wow, December is flying by! Gotta still make cookies and get presents wrapped and stockings stuffed. Saturday is still pretty free, so it should be able to get done. I also have this afternoon open to get some things done, and I'd also like to put up the creche this year. Not yet in the groove of dressing for cold temps. Forgot to put leggings under my pants and my thighs were icy when I got home. Quickly rectified the omission. Food: 6:55 am 1 c Shreddies, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, 99 g blackberries 9:20 am Nespresso espresso, thin slice stollen 12:00 pm 2 large scrambled eggs, 1 tbl fancy shredded cheddar, slice Omega 3 toast w/butter, 2 clementines 5:15 pm 8 oz O'So's stout 6:00 pm Bowl bean soup w/collard greens, crackers Exercise: 7:30-9:10 am Walk w/Kathy to Schmeeckle 10:00-10:10 am Walk to St Steve's 11:20-11:25 am Walk home

Wed 16 Dec

Today should be a very busy day, with gym in the morning, a birthday lunch at Wooden Chair with my former coworkers, and Bootstrap this afternoon. I'm looking forward to it. I am very happy with the Christmas tree this year as I finished decorating it to my satisfaction yesterday. I am always so much more exhausted after Body Pump when she pulls an old routine series out of the hat and changes up the flow of familiar exercises. I know it's good to confuse the muscles, but they are sore! Food: 7:35 am 1 c Shreddies, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, 101 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill intervals 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 15 Dec

Today is one of those glorious days where there is absolutely nothing on my schedule. I can use the day as I please to get things done for Christmas at my own pace. I am looking forward to it. So far the only exercise I've done is to dance around to music while doing a few errands around the house. Still need a little more concentrated exercise this afternoon. Food: 7:55 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:35 am Slice Omega 3 toast w/butter, turkey soup, clementine 12:45 pm 1/2 c peppermint ice cream w/homemade hot fudge 5:45 pm 6 oz maple stout, pasty, 3/4 c Birdseye mixed veggies Exercise: 3:30-4:40 pm Jessica Smith walking DVD

Mon 14 Dec

Yay, Packers! Now if we'd only had as good of success in getting Michael enrolled for health insurance. I don't know what the government website has in for him, but they refuse to verify his identity. We will try again this evening so we can meet the 12/15 deadline in case he doesn't qualify for BadgerCare, but he certainly should. It has been a real pain to get him there. Food: 7:20 am Morning bun, 1/2 grapefruit, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:05 am Slice Omega 3 toast w/butter, 101 g raspberries, 1 oz asiago w/rosemary, .85 oz baby swiss 12:15 pm 1 pc fudge 3:00 pm Christmas cookies Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill intervals 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 1:00-1:15 pm Walk to Suzuki 2:35-2:50 pm Walk home

Sun 13 Dec

Two years since we lost Grandma today. Bye, bye, Mommy! We miss you. Hope you are happy with Dad in heaven. Looking forward to trimming the new Christmas tree this afternoon. I really like this new tree - it is the right height, girth, the cord actually reaches the outlet. Nice tree. And we will cheer for the Packers in the afternoon with no interruptions for choir practice. You should get extra credit for getting your 10,000 steps when you have a lot to go and you really don't wanna. Food: 7:55 am Morning bun, 1/2 grapefruit, 99 g blackberries, coffee 11:30 am Veggie omelette w/cheese, 2 slices wheat toast, 1 Smuckers blackberry jam, slice cantaloupe, slice honeydew, coffee 6:30 pm Turkey soup, cornbread muffin, wine Exercise: 8:45-9:45 pm Jessica Smith 5 mile DVD

Sat 12 Dec

Looking forward to driving down to Madison to visit Laura today. I believe the temps are still supposed to be mild. Last chance to pick up items from Madison for Christmas. Food: 8:10 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, 99 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 11 Dec

Another week flown by, and only two more weeks til Christmas. Whew! The whirlwind is overwhelming at times. Hoping to get the tree set up this afternoon/evening, and hopefully get the decorations down from the attic to at least begin the trim. The box had some shipping damage, so I'm hoping the tree is okay. Spent some time yesterday evening with Loni and her family after the funeral formalities. We chose to go back to the hotel with everyone and eat Rocky's pizza and wine in lieu of going to church to hear Msgr. Mark preach. Tree assembled and fluffed. All lights appear to be lit. This is a MUCH nicer artificial tree, one I can be happy with for years to come. Food: 7:40 am Caramel roll, 1/2 grapefruit, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:30 am 4 pieces leftover WheelHouse pizza Exercise: 9:05-9:25 am Treadmill intervals 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 1:00-1:15 pm Walk to Suzuki 2:30-2:45 pm Walk home

Thurs 10 Dec

I expect this to be a very busy day. Walk with Kathy, tutor at St Steve's, Loni's mom' funeral, haircut/color, and evening meditation at Newman w/Mons. Mark. It's been a little daunting just thinking about it the last couple of days, but when it's done, it's done. And nothing requires an unusual level of participation from me, so it will be fine. Oh, I hate when you really need to pee during the last part of a walk, but it sure feels good when you finally get home to take care of the need. Food: 7:00 am Caramel pecan roll, 1/2 grapefruit, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:35 pm .8 oz baby swiss, .85 oz asiago w/rosemary, slice stollen, 99 g raspberries Exercise: 7:30-9:20 am Walk with Kathy

Wed 9 Dec

Feels like Monday, hard to remember it's Wednesday. Gym this morning to start trying to get back on track after a couple of truncated weeks now with illness and vacation days. Bootstrap this afternoon. Hope to get Christmas decorations down from the attic tonight so we are then poised to go. Last night, we moved the Pilates reformer downstairs and did some rearranging so I may actually be able to use it now! Tree was delivered while we were gone so the box is sitting in the tree spot. Inexorably it moves toward the season. Slept almost 9 1/2 hours last night, but time to get up occurred when I was in a deeper phase of sleep so I still didn't want to get up. Can't skip gym today though after missing on Monday. I'm slowly starting to wake up. The Body Pump routines were a little different this morning, so new muscle patterns left me a little more tired. Also got there just a tad later than usual so only had 15 min on the treadmill. Food: 7:50 am Caramel pecan roll, 1/2 grapefruit, 100 g blackberries, coffee 11:15 am Blueberry scone, .85 oz baby swiss, 1 oz asiago w/rosemary, 101 g raspberries 6:30 pm Homemade turkey soup, crackers 7:10 pm Schwan's peppermint ice cream, homemade hot fudge Exercise: 9:10-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 8 Dec

Had an excellent time in Elkhart Lake. The Osthoff Resort is beautiful, our room was spacious and lovely, the Christmas Market was a lot of fun. We got in a little hike on the Ice Age Trail at the end of day on Monday, and we spent some quality time in a carriage museum at the Old Wade House site in Greenbush on the way home today. Cantered at Mass for the holy day, and all the Mary songs are in a very low register where my voice isn't working very well so I croaked a bit, but no one threw tomatoes. Lucky they're out of season.

Mon 7 Dec

Pearl Harbor Day. Grandma always remembered the soldier she wrote to who was on board the ship sunk at Pearl Harbor. This was before she started writing to Grandpa. Sadly, I don't remember his name. Excited about going to the Christmas market today. We watched Rick Steves' European Christmas DVD last night where he showed several European markets. I'm looking forward to seeing one in person. Food: 7:45 am Caramel roll, 1/2 grapefruit, 99 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 6 Dec

Concert went well last night, and for a change, the little church in Wausau was nearly full. One more this afternoon at St Paul's and this season is a wrap. The two-concert schedule is rather nice. Forgot to take my Fitbit off the charger before church so didn't get credit for walking to, from, and around St Stan's. Damn! Felt compelled to make up the count and allow the uncounted steps to be my extra over and above 10,000 for the day. Food: 8:00 am 1 Russian tea cake cookie, 1/2 grapefruit, 99 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 4:00-4:15 pm Jessica Smith Turkey Trot Walk YouTube 6:00-6:30 pm Jessica Smith Latin Dance Walk YouTube 6:30-6:40 pm Extra walking to get to 10,000

Sat 5 Dec

This morning we will go to Amherst for the annual craft sales at Jensen Center and around the town. First stop, the Lutheran church where all the Scandinavian ladies ply their yummy baked goods. We usually also bring home an assortment of Christmas cookies from the St James cookie walk. This evening is the choir concert in Wausau. Kind of nice only doing the two concerts - less running around. It was nice to have yesterday evening free, though Bob came rushing in after work, afraid he was late for the concert. It was also nice to have leisure on Fri afternoon to bake for the bake sale (and do laundry) so I don't have to fit that all in today. Food: 8:10 am 1 c Shreddies, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, 103 g blackberries, coffee 11:30 am Wheel house pizza 1:30 pm Several Christmas goodies Exercise: 2:30-3:45 pm Walk to Schmeeckle

Fri 4 Dec

A much happier morning in Packerland after the long frustration of most of the game and that sweet, sweet ending. Made it through Body Pump, though it was hard work. I backed down to the weights I had been using before my last recent increase, and made it through all reps. Food: 7:40 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, 106 g raspberries, coffee 12:05 pm Slice Omega 3 toast w/butter, SweeTango apple w/cinnamon sugar, 3 large oysters 3:05 pm 1/2 c Schwan's Peppermint ice cream w/homemade hot fudge sauce Exercise: 9:00-9:20 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 3 Dec

Hoping I have good energy to walk with Kathy this morning. My legs still feel a tad weak, but otherwise I feel okay. My scale was under 150 for the first time in quite a long time, so the decrease in appetite has been helpful. Hopefully I'll be able to work off of this when my full appetite returns. Successfully completed a walk with Kathy, and must not have been too slow as I got home around the usual time with my 10,000 steps. Fortunately, I'm also not totally wiped out so I will be fine for tutoring. Went out erranding this afternoon and got the goodie bag for the Advent tree from church done. Bought the ingredients to make cookies tomorrow afternoon for the choir bake sale on Sunday. And discovered a good selection of fairly reasonably priced artificial Christmas trees at Kmart so I'm taking Bob back to possibly buy one. It certainly is easier, and possibly cheaper in the long run than buying a stand and possibly replacing lights. I just can't bear using that ugly thing we had to buy at the last minute last year when the selection was so picked over. Cooked a Mediterranean quinoa mix from Aldi's to go with the salmon but it was so salty we couldn't eat it. Food: 7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, 99 g raspberries, coffee 12:15 pm 2 slices Omega 3 toast, 2 tbl PB, SweeTango apple w/cinnamon sugar 1:10 pm 20 cal Nestle hot cocoa 4:30 pm 8 oz TJ's maple water 6:00 pm 7 oz broiled salmon, 1/2 c winter squash, 1/12 Costco pumpkin pie Exercise: 7:30-9:05 am Walk w/Kathy 10:00-10:15 am Walk to St. Steve's 11:20-11:35 am Walk home

Wed 2 Dec

Definitely does not feel like it should be Wed already. It is quite disconcerting to lose Monday altogether when you weren't expecting it. But onward. Stayed up a bit late last night and finished the last book in the Outlander series, so it's time to move on to something else. Likely I'll go back to the Irish Country Doctor series next, as there's a new book I acquired a month or two ago but waited to finish the current series first. Not sure if I'll go back to the beginning or pick it up somewhere in the middle. Don't need to decide now. Had every good intention of going to the gym as usual today, but when I got up from the computer to make final preparations, my body said, "not a good idea". I kept making the preparations in hopes that I was just being lazy, but I really didn't feel right, a little light-headed and weak, so I decided to finish shoveling the light snow off the sidewalk and do Jessica Smith at home. I did the Stride & Strength first and the little amount of weight training included convinced me I had made the right decision. I managed the whole DVD plus a barefoot fusion walk that was really good to work my feet, but I was working hard to get through it. I didn't want to spend everything I had today as I have my Bootstrap shift this afternoon, so it was good that I didn't try Body Pump and treadmill. I'm pretty sure I would have had to quit or at least stop using weights part way through, and I might not have had anything left to work this afternoon had I made myself go. Food: 7:35 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, 99 g raspberries, coffee 12:00 pm 2 large oysters, 1 slice Omega 3 toast w/butter, sweeTango apple w/cinnamon sugar 3:00 pm 1 Nestle turtle, 1/4 c hot chocolate 5:15 pm 4 oz roast pork, 1 tbl Sweet Baby Ray's, 1/2 med baked sweet potato, 1/4 tbl butter, 1/2 c butternut squash 6:45 pm 1/2 c French vanilla ice cream, 1 tbl maple syrup Exercise: 8:45-9:00 am Shovel very light snow 9:10-10:10 am Jessica Smith Stride & Strength and Barefoot Fusion DVD

Tues 1 Dec

Yesterday was a non-day for me. Spent most of it in bed, and when I did make it down to the couch for a couple hours each in the afternoon and evening, it was just to read or watch Men on Ice on PBS with Dad. I managed one bowl of cereal and one 32-oz glass of water all day. I wasn't so nauseous that I needed to vomit, and really didn't have too much residual nausea after the night, though I had no interest in eating. I don't believe I had a fever and no cold symptoms. Don't know what it was, but I had no strength at all. I feel okay today, but understandably a little low on energy/strength after a day with virtually no food or water. Oh, and I already have considerably more steps today (496) than I got all day yesterday (350). Made it through the 4 Fast Miles DVD this morning. Got my treadmill videos of the Cotswolds in the mail today, so will walk on the treadmill in virtual England this afternoon. Food: 7:30 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, 31 g blackberries, 74 g raspberries, coffee 12:35 pm Leftover zuppa di panna 1:50 pm Slice turtle pudding cake 7:00 pm 3 oz roast pork, 1/4 c mashed potatoes, 2/3 c roast butternut squash Exercise: 11:00-11:45 am Leslie Sansone 4 Fast Miles DVD 1:45-2:45 pm Treadmill w/Cotswolds DVD